Texas University Faces Backlash for Shutting Down DEI Offices: ‘The Cruelty is Stunning’

By: Georgia | Published: Apr 12, 2024

The University of Texas at Austin has come under fire for its decision to shut down DEI offices, igniting significant controversy across the campus.

Irene Mulvey of the American Association of University Professors condemned the move, saying “The problem is it’s really the cruelty is stunning because these are employees whose work it is to help students succeed” in her address before a pivotal conference.

Job Cuts Stir Campus Unrest

It’s not just a policy shift as UT axed around 60 DEI positions to align with new state laws, according to CNN.

A student with a backpack walks up the steps towards the University of Texas at Austin Tower under a bright blue sky

Source: The University of Texas at Austin/Facebook

Many argue that this isn’t just a reshuffle—it’s a major hit to the community fabric of the campus.

Vocal Opposition to Layoffs

In anticipation of a major conference, Mulvey articulated the profound impact of the layoffs: these were individuals committed to fostering student success.

Three people smiling for a photo at a conference room, with a man and woman in the center, and another man on the right

Source: imulvey/X

The university community is now grappling with the consequences of these cuts.

Critical Questions Arise

“How does this help students?” Mulvey challenged, stressing the vital support DEI initiatives provided to veterans, students with disabilities, and first-generation students.

A smiling woman and man, both wearing UIC Faculty Union apparel, stand in front of a crowd holding 'Faculty On Strike' signs

Source: imulvey/X

She argued that these cuts represent significant setbacks for the most reliant on these services.

Student Backlash Against State Intervention

Fox News reports that UT’s student body has vehemently opposed the state’s mandate, leveling accusations of yielding to an “extremist Texan government” and citing “wrongful termination.”

A busy scene of students walking across the plaza in front of the main building of the University of Texas at Austin, with the US flag and Texas flag flying

Source: The University of Texas at Austin/Facebook

The policy has clearly polarized the campus community.

The Legislative Context

DEI activities have stopped, following a state law that mandates the elimination of such offices.

Two smiling men dressed in business attire, one with a tie and the other with a blazer, standing in front of a banner that reads "LIBERTY HEALTH"

Source: CreightonForTX/X

Senator Brandon Creighton promotes this policy as a move toward a “merit-based environment.”

Loss of Cultural Celebrations

UT’s decision to shutter DEI offices also led to the cancellation of important cultural graduation ceremonies such as Black Graduation and Latinx Graduation.

Illuminated signage on a building reading "The University of Texas at Austin UT Health Austin" at dusk

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Such a move erased cultural affirmations and achievements that were central to the university’s efforts.

The Significance of Cultural Ceremonies

Erin McCormick, a UT sophomore, shared her deep frustration over the cancellation of key cultural events.

A close-up of graduates clapping their hands, viewed from behind, with their black mortarboards in focus and a podium with a speaker blurred in the background

Source: Patricia Beatrix Villanueva/Unsplash

McCormick said “It’s kind of bummy that they closed it because I feel like Black graduation – it really celebrates the achievement. Just because given the history of Texas and UT alone, Latinos are not always welcome here, not wanted to graduate from here.”

Emotional Impact on the Campus Community

The closure of the Multicultural Engagement Center has ended cherished traditions and significantly lowered morale among UT’s liberal student base.

View of the University of Texas at Austin Tower in the background with a large marigold flower bed in the shape of the UT emblem in the foreground

Source: The University of Texas at Austin/Facebook

With McCormick saying the university’s “large liberal student population” was “pretty irritated or pretty annoyed.”

Intensifying DEI Debates

Discussions about DEI are heating up, reflecting a broader national debate about the role of such programs in addressing historical inequities.

A symmetrical view down a tree-lined street leading to the University of Texas at Austin Tower, with manicured hedges and buildings on either side

Source: Wikimedia Commons

However, figures like Senator Creighton contend that such programs represent unnecessary discrimination.

An Uncertain Road Ahead for Diversity Initiatives

With the closure of DEI offices, there is palpable concern over the future of diversity and inclusion initiatives at UT.

Overhead view of several people's hands placed together on a wooden surface, symbolizing diversity and unity

Source: Clay Banks/Unsplash

The university is now at a critical crossroads, facing both new legislative restrictions and internal pressures.

What’s Next for UT Austin?

Following the enactment of Senate Bill 17, signed by Governor Greg Abbott in June 2023, UT Austin is facing new challenges. This legislation requires all governing boards of public colleges and universities to ensure that their institutions do not establish or maintain DEI offices or issue “DEI statements.”

An elevated view over the University of Texas at Austin campus with the iconic Tower standing tall among the surrounding buildings and greenery, under a vast sky

Source: The University of Texas at Austin/Facebook

As UT conforms to these new legal standards, the broader university community is keenly observing the impact of these changes.