Following the nationwide string of anti-DEI legislation, in Iowa, diversity, equity and inclusion programs at universities are under attack. The Iowa House of Representatives recently passed HF 856, barring public, private and community colleges from spending any money on founding or funding DEI offices and programs.
As a private institution in the state of Iowa, these changes would directly impact Drake. This includes potentially becoming ineligible for the Iowa Tuition Grant if the University continues its existing DEI programming.
DEI is a central pillar of what Drake represents as an institution. As a queer person living in a very conservative state, Drake has always felt like a bubble to me. While it is by no means perfect, campus has felt like a place where I can safely express my identities and feel supported in them.
Due to recent legislation, Drake President Marty Martin sent an email to the Drake community reaffirming Drake’s commitment to DEI. In the email, he noted that diversity is essential to Drake’s mission statement to “prepare our students for meaningful personal lives, professional accomplishment, and responsible global citizenship.”
As students, we come to institutions of higher education to learn. We learn from textbooks and class materials, but we also learn how to be successful in our lives after graduation through diverse in-person experiences. Having a diverse and accepting community prepares us to be open-minded, kind and empathetic community members in our lives well after we walk across the graduation stage. If someone is unable to understand or work with people with different identities than themselves, they are not going to be successful in their professional life, and they will definitely not be prepared to interact responsibly with an increasingly diverse society.
Attempting to remove DEI offices, programming and education from Drake and other private institutions in Iowa does not make diversity go away, but it certainly makes it less visible. These bills, if passed, will hurt communities at a time when they need our support as an institution the most.
As a predominantly White institution, it is our responsibility to build an equitable experience for all students. It is a fact that marginalized groups, especially people of color, have been excluded and mistreated by the higher education system in the United States. DEI programming is a way of recognizing this history while providing solutions and making higher education accessible moving forward. Drake has made significant progress throughout my time as a student here in regard to DEI, and it would be a waste to undo all of this progress because of a poorly disguised, unfounded and hateful campaign against minorities by a certain party of Iowa legislators.
And while an email from President Martin is a start, it isn’t enough. Actions speak louder than words, and while words are an important starting place, they must be backed up by action. Drake as an institution needs to take tangible, defined steps to ensure that all students and DEI programming remains safe.
DEI has never been the problem; it is a useful tool. DEI should be an essential part of any well-rounded education at any university. DEI enhances understanding. Understanding builds empathy, and empathy makes a better world. Any institution of higher education should prioritize acceptance, understanding and learning. By forcing private institutions to end their DEI programming, the Iowa Legislature is forcing them to prioritize hate.
