BRIDGEWATER, Va. – Since the beginning of the second Trump administration, Bridgewater College, along with other colleges and universities, changed DEI-related titles in response to mandates from the Department of Education.
The Department of Education sent out a “Dear Colleague” letter on Feb. 14. This letter stated that institutions must eliminate DEI-based programming due to race-favoring and discrimination. Bridgewater College decided to comply with the new mandates.
“Our students have federal aid, and our job is to make sure that we remain compliant and continue to create an environment where our students can be educated,” Dr. Leslie Frere, Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students at Bridgewater College, said.
Trump Administration Removes DEI Initiatives
According to the White House Website, Donald Trump signed an executive order on Jan. 20 that removed government DEI programs instituted under the Biden administration. Trump said that the programs were “radical and wasteful,” and the Biden administration forced “illegal and immoral” discrimination programs.
“The New York Times” reported that President Trump signed executive orders to ban diversity practices in educational institutions and threatened to withhold funding from those that do not comply.
(Wikimedia Commons)
Bridgewater College’s Response
Frere said that the college renamed positions, programming and other DEI-related content to comply with the mandates.
“We’re still doing the work, maybe calling it something different,” Frere said. “We’ve been doing this work since 1880. Calling it something different doesn’t change the nature of the work.”
“Who Bridgewater is is making sure that people feel included, that people are treated equitably,” Frere said. “The fact that this college admitted women from the get-go is the epitome of DEI,”
Frere said Bridgewater is renaming the Identity, Diversity, Education and Advocacy Center. It will be renamed the Center for Community Enrichment to fulfill mandate requirements.
Student Concerns
Ally Phalen, a senior at Bridgewater College, said students are worried if the removal of DEI policies would affect them. “It’s not only for students of different backgrounds and religions and identities, but it’s also students who need intellectual help and mobility help,” Phalen said.
Phalen brought her concerns to Nina Andrews, Coordinator for Community and Belonging at Bridgewater College. She asked questions about the removal of the campus drag show. Andrews said that the college removed the show to protect students who receive federal funding.
Click here for more information about Bridgewater College’s Office for Diversity Education
Click here for more information about Donald Trump’s Decision of DEI’s Removal
