In May of 2024, Governor Kim Reynolds signed an act that banned diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices from public institutions of higher education into law.[i] The Act stated that public institutions of higher education, or universities governed by the Iowa Board of Regents,[ii] cannot establish or maintain a DEI office, hire someone to perform DEI duties, or compel anyone to write a DEI statement.[iii] More recently, President Trump issued an executive order terminating all DEI offices and positions.[iv] In issuing this executive order President Trump claims he is “[e]nding radical and wasteful government DEI programs and preferencing.”[v] 

            At first, the University of Iowa did not respond to Governor Reynolds or President Trump, despite state officials breathing down the University’s neck.[vi] Now, to be compliant with Iowa Code 261J, the University of Iowa has changed its policies surrounding DEI.[vii] Following the policy change, the University of Iowa will not establish or maintain a DEI office, and most notably has removed gender identity options from admissions forms.[viii] Conservatives oppose DEI because they view it as “racist” and “wasteful”.[ix] Further, they claim that DEI was “[a]bout enforcing ideological conformity and institutionalizing discrimination . . . .”[x] Elon Musk even takes it as far as claiming that “DEI makes people die.”[xi]

            This train of thought surrounding DEI and diversity is wrong. DEI is not a new concept, it just feels like it is because of all of the fear mongering surrounding the topic. Integrating women into the workplace counts as DEI, and no one would say that was sexist. DEI is rooted in Civil Rights Act of 1964, which authorizes suits to be brought to protect civil rights in public education.[xii] Protecting basic civil rights includes the right to not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, or national origin.[xiii] Removing DEI offices and protections for people of different races, religions, and national origins is a violation of the Civil Rights Act. 

Allowing people into spaces they have not traditionally been a part of is not a bad thing. In fact, the concept of the United States of America is DEI. Ronald Reagan said it best when quoting a letter written to him, “[B]ut anyone, from any corner of the Earth, can come to live in America and become an American.”[xiv] Anyone, from any background, can be an American and have a place in our country. America is diverse, and its diversity is what makes it great. America must be equitable and inclusive towards all its citizens, not just the most wealthy and privileged. 

Further, the dismantling of DEI programs at the university will negatively impact students. Students come to college seeking a well-rounded education. They expect to grow not only as students, but as people. A large part of the college experience is meeting people who are different and experiencing different ways of life. Without these experiences, Iowa students will not be well-rounded like students from other universities. The University of Iowa has previously boasted a reputation of graduating students that think critically of what they are taught and come out better for it. The University has produced many students who were simultaneously proud of and galvanized by the University’s legacy of being “a pioneer in ‘firsts,’ . . . for human rights.”[xv] Now, however, the University of Iowa is likely to find its students far less inclined to view its legacy favorably, especially as it remains complicit in disenfranchising many of them and providing its student population with homogenized and noncomplex educational settings.