BUZZ
Key Takeaways
- Lake Forest College opened a new office this week focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion, despite cuts to such programs nationally due to federal pressure under the Trump administration.
- The office aims to eliminate barriers and promote systemic equity through research, inclusive training, and community initiatives, with a commitment to integrate DEI work across the institution.
- This move contrasts with trends at many universities where DEI programs are being curtailed or renamed, indicating a broader resistance among some institutions against federal directives on DEI initiatives.
Lake Forest College opened an office dedicated to “diversity, equity, and inclusion” this week amid President Donald Trump’s ongoing DEI crackdown.
The school’s new Office for Community, Advocacy, Resources, and Empowerment “works to eliminate barriers, address systemic inequities, and build a community that honors the dignity and unique contributions of all its members,” according to a news release from the school.
The private liberal arts college hosted its ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new office on Aug. 25.
The office will focus on research pertaining to “inclusion, diversity, equity, and access,” which CARE staff will implement in the school’s “programming and decision making,” the news release states.
CARE will offer campus-wide initiatives such as inclusive leadership training, “identity-affirming” events, and workshops promoting skill development, “cultural humility,” and shared accountability.
“We’re looking to engrain this work in everything we do as an institution,” CARE Interim Associate Vice President Kim Davis said.
“It’s not a one off. It’s not a side department. We are building inroads for all of us as a community to create a Forester community where everyone belongs and everyone feels seen and heard and valued,” she said.
Davis also said that most of her professional and academic experience “has been in predominantly white spaces,” leading her to search for spaces where she felt “safe, seen, and supported.”
The news comes amid DEI cuts at universities nationwide following President Trump’s January executive order banning such programs.
The Trump administration has threatened to cut federal funding from public schools that continue DEI initiatives.
However, Lake Forest isn’t the only school contradicting this trend of cutting diversity programs.
Portland State University recently announced it is creating a university-wide Chief Diversity Officer position, The College Fix reported.
PSU Professor of Political Science Bruce Gilley told The Fix the university is blatantly defying federal orders.
“While other universities are at least smart enough to try to conceal their DEI programs, Portland State is giving the federal government a giant middle finger,” Gilley said.
A June College Fix survey found that nearly 90 universities have rebranded their DEI offices instead of eliminating them altogether.
Over the last two years, at least 87 schools effectively renamed their DEI offices. In contrast, 78 schools appeared to actually close their DEI offices and did not launch a similar program.
