While the university remains committed to DEI initiatives, it acknowledges that it has conducted a thorough review of its programs.
By Aisha Marilyn Abdulbary-Knotts | Staff Writer
On Feb. 14, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights issued a letter criticizing educational institutions for employing race-based preferences in admissions, financial aid, hiring, and cultural programs. The letter also condemned practices like race-based segregation in graduation ceremonies and dormitories. Schools were given 14 days to comply or risk losing federal funding.
The four-page letter stated, “American educational institutions have discriminated against students on the basis of race, including white and Asian students.” The letter alleges that DEI initiatives are being used as a banner for discriminatory practices.
“Educational institutions have toxically indoctrinated students with the false premise that the United States is built upon ‘systemic and structural racism,’” the letter asserts.
The letter also cites the 2023 Supreme Court decision in Students for Fair Admission vs. Harvard as precedent for their decision, noting that the ruling, “clarified that the use of racial preferences in college admissions is unlawful.”
University Response
In response, the University of Lynchburg has conducted a thorough review of its campus programs. Dr. Daniel P. Hall, chief of staff and organizational strategy, assured students that the university’s core values remain unchanged.
“We are confident that our support of underrepresented students aligns with principles of non-discrimination and have made minor adjustments to ensure complete clarity regarding our practices,” Hall said.
Dr. Robert L. Canida II, Chief Inclusive Excellence Officer, echoed this sentiment. He noted,“We continue to actively analyze the directive, consult legal counsel, and engage with national and state organizations to navigate potential legal challenges so we can ensure continued support for all of our students.”
Canida acknowledged the complexity of the situation, noting that the university is watching closely for updates while remaining committed to serving the campus community.
“This situation is ever-evolving,” Canida said, adding that while the university has not released an official statement, it remains “steadfast in our dedication to providing every member of our Hornet community a strong sense of place.”
Student and Organization Response
Za’lexia Bogan ’26, explained the impact of the national shift in DEI policy on her personal experiences. She reflected on the feeling of isolation many minority students face, particularly in the context of a predominantly white institution.
“I feel like I don’t belong because I always think that someone is judging me based on how I look,” said Bogan. “It is hard to be at a predominantly white institution and not have students or professors relate to you.”
Bogan explained that the lack of faculty and staff identifying as people of color exacerbates this sense of exclusion.
“I haven’t seen any dire change, but I do know that there is not a lot of faculty/staff who identify as people of color or more specifically black. I think out of my three years this is the only time I had a professor that looks like me,” Bogan noted.
In response to the national debate and concerns over the reduction of DEI programs, Bogan acknowledged the importance of maintaining spaces where minority students can unite to support one another.
“We can have talks with the minority groups every once in a while to see how they feel living on campus, especially through the DEI programs closing. Lastly, we as minority students need to come together more than ever instead of dividing into our own groups to support each other,” Bogan said.
As for what comes next, Bogan hopes the university will remain committed to supporting underrepresented students, even in the face of shifting national policies.
“The school claims to be huge on diversity, but I feel more like the token black girl or another black girl on campus,” Bogan expressed.
Bogan also emphasized the need for broader engagement with diversity and inclusion efforts at the institutional level, suggesting that more faculty members of color would help better represent the diversity of the student body.
Student leaders, too, are paying close attention and expressing their concerns. The Black Student Association (BSA) expressed concerns about the national climate surrounding DEI programs.
“Even though our university still supports DEI, the removal of these programs elsewhere is concerning and can create uncertainty about the long-term commitment to diversity and inclusion,” the organization stated.
The BSA emphasized that DEI programs on campus are essential to the community and help foster a sense of belonging.
“DEI initiatives help Black students feel seen, heard, and valued,” BSA said.
While the organization reported no immediate changes on campus, BSA noted that membership remains low.
“I would be interested in polling more minority students to understand how these changes have affected them,” BSA said, adding that nationally, students are “losing access to mentorship programs, scholarship opportunities, and cultural programming that celebrate Black history and identity.”
The organization praised the university’s continued support despite national shifts: “I have no reason to feel otherwise! The university has still been supportive, and I do believe that this university values its Black students.”
As for what comes next, the BSA outlined a collaborative vision.
“We would like to see students actively engage in DEI initiatives, attend cultural events, and stand in solidarity with marginalized communities,”. BSA called on faculty to “incorporate diverse perspectives into their curriculum” and for administrators to “increase support for Black student organizations and implement policies that address racial disparities on campus.”
Beyond race and ethnicity, the university is also working to preserve inclusive spaces for religious diversity.
The Spiritual Life Center (SLC) released the following statement regarding their commitment to inclusion on campus.
The statement read: “We believe religious diversity is a fact and a gift to be embraced and shared rather than something to be avoided or erased. We also believe that we become better and fuller Christians, Buddhists, Muslims, etc. when we learn from and practice with others from different religious traditions.
The SLC emphasized that it “will continue to prioritize interfaith and interreligious initiatives as well as ensure that our students, no matter their religious preference or spiritual or ethical path, can practice their tradition while on campus.
To read the full statement, click here
Alyssa Dawson ’25, Treasurer for the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA), also shared her perspective on the shifting campus climate in the wake of these developments. She stated that the anti-DEI measures have “urged us to advocate more and to build connections with organizations off campus, like Lynchburg’s Queer Town Hall and the Lavender Lodge, to gain and provide support for the Lynchburg community as a whole.”
While she feels “safe on campus,” Dawson notes that, “being supported is different.”
She explained, “I feel supported by the Office of Belonging, the other affinity groups, and by GSA itself, but I don’t feel supported by anybody else.” Dawson added that the lack of meaningful engagement from the broader campus community is concerning.
“I think it’s because people tend to look the other way when things don’t involve them, and I haven’t been able to have meaningful conversations (outside of the groups previously mentioned) about the potential changes under Trump’s administration that scare me,” Dawson said.
Reflecting on the importance of DEI initiatives, Dawson emphasized that, “DEI is extremely important because it can create safe places for students of multiple backgrounds to come together and help each other,” adding that “hiring and training staff to be more inclusive” is a necessary part of fostering such spaces.
Dawson also urged the university to do more to engage with queer students.
“Our voices as queer students matter and we should be able to talk to somebody to make sure that measures are being taken so that we never feel brushed aside or put down, which unfortunately happens frequently,” Dawson said.
As the national debate around DEI unfolds, this university has positioned itself as a community intent on honoring its history of inclusion even as it adapts to new challenges. Officials say communication regarding future program changes will continue through established university channels such as the President’s newsletter.
