Investing thousands of dollars a semester in our education just to be gaslit by university administrators is not what we had in mind, yet here we are.
Pagán Smith stated that students’ referring to the Intercultural and Inclusion Student Services Office (IISS) as DEI raised concerns, which contributed to the removal of the university office. Following Trump’s inauguration in January, two executive orders have been passed into law that demand the termination of “unlawful DEI programs in federal operations.” Since the passing of these executive orders, anti-DEI bills have been introduced to the SC state legislature.
She states IISS “was never DEI,” yet records prove the IISS office was a subdivision of the university’s previous DEI department.
While The Chanticleer staff understands the hesitation to admit a DEI office was once in place due to the recent political climate, transparency is warranted. Although these are federal regulations and therefore difficult not to comply with, ongoing communication is also warranted.
There has been a concerning lack of communication with the student body about past, current and future possible altercations. As students, it is unnerving being in the dark about where the future of the university may lie.
It is important to stand up for the right to know what is happening around you, and we are hopeful that the university respects this right in the future.
