President Donald Trump released an executive order on Jan. 21 that revoked many initiatives addressing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) within corporations and the government.
The executive order stated that institutions in America have “adopted and actively use dangerous, demeaning, and immoral race- and sex-based preferences under the guise of so-called ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ (DEI) or ‘diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility’ (DEIA).”
Following Trump’s executive order, some large companies, including Walmart, are also scaling back or eliminating their DEI initiatives.
“Federal DEI being eliminated is impacting people worldwide, and it impacts things like grants such as Medicaid, food stamps, and other things,” said Nakayla Clohé, president of the Black Student Union.
Clohé, a senior double majoring in psychology and criminal justice with a minor in social justice, has witnessed several DEI policy changes, including those enacted by the UNC System.
“As far as the UNC System, that’s also important, but it was just about the schools under the UNC System, while the federal change affects things in almost every state in the country,” Clohé said.
With companies scaling back DEI efforts, some Western Carolina University students who support such initiatives are becoming more selective about potential employers.
Students are not only concerned about which corporations they will apply to but also whether those corporations will hire them now that DEI policies are being eliminated.
“I think it’s also making people we know that identify as Hispanic, Black or Native American more scared to apply to these higher corporate jobs,” Clohé said.
She believes this fear will lead some individuals to remain in part-time jobs rather than pursue full-time corporate positions.
“Now I think they are just going to stay at their part-time jobs because they understand and think, ‘Why should I do it if they’re just going to deny me?’” Clohé said.
Some WCU students believe the problem extends beyond the removal of DEI policies.
“My biggest concern is the narrative,” said Morgan Burgess, president of the Global Black Studies Club. “If we’re getting rid of DEI, people might have the assumption that we are in a society that doesn’t deal with forms of prejudice when that’s simply not true.”
Burgess, a sophomore minoring in Black studies, has observed the challenges created by the elimination of federal DEI policies.
“Not only is it hard to seek out a job with these new policies, but people who already have a job in DEI are having increased job insecurity,” Burgess said.
Both the Black Student Union and the Global Black Studies Club are planning events to advocate for equity and highlight the importance of diversity, even as they become more mindful of how their events are presented.
“I’m trying my best to operate the same as we always have until something gets said to us,” Burgess said. “We are becoming more conscious of the wording we use for our events.”
On Feb. 20 Chancellor Kelli Brown and Provost Richard Starnes released an email to faculty, staff, and students of WCU addressing Trump’s new executive orders.
The email addresses DEI in the curriculum at WCU, stating that the UNC System announced that colleges must follow Trump’s executive order and “immediately suspend all general education requirements and major-specific requirements mandating completion of courses related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.”
Brown and Starnes did not see any requirements of DEI classes in general studies and made no changes.
“We determined that WCU’s liberal studies program does not have a required DEI component, so no action was necessary to become compliant,” Brown and Starnes said in the email.
Read Brown and Starnes’ full statement at westerncarolinian.com/2025/2/21/executive-order-statement.
Although there are no immediate changes at WCU, recent executive actions are still sending ripples through some people’s everyday lives.
Both Burgess and Clohé encourage students to continue advocating for equity and standing up for their beliefs.
“I feel like you just need to fight sometimes harder,” Clohé said. “You’re going to get denied, and if you keep fighting 10 times as hard, they’ll see that you want it, and your voice is going to be heard.”
Despite these challenges, Burgess reminds students to remain true to themselves.
“Don’t hide any part of your identity,” Burgess said. “Try not to let this fear make you react in a way that’s not true to yourself.”
