Feet crunching through the still falling snow, a crowd of students and faculty filed into Carver 101 in February of 1983 to hear a message from special guest, Dr. Alvin F. Poussaint of Harvard Medical School. Dr. Poussaint, a psychiatrist who had been publishing research on the intersection of race and psychiatry since 1966, titled his lecture “The Psyche of a Racist Culture.” The event marked a first; while Black History Week had been recognized in some form or another previously at Iowa State University, this was the first time the initiative had been expanded to the full month of February (although it had been officially transitioned from a week to a month nationally by President Ford in 1976.) Student artistic performances, guest lectures, and special events were held on campus from the first week to the last with topics including (among others) the Great Migration, the cultural relevance and history of Buxton and the impacts of bias on research. Dr. Poussaint brought necessary fresh perspective to an audience clamoring to hear it; the 202-seat lecture hall was standing room only as he delivered his address.
Forty years later, Iowa Senate File 2435 awaits only the signature of Gov. Kim Reynolds to enact one of the broadest DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) bans in the country. This legislation bars public institutions from establishment and maintenance of a DEI office, hiring or tasking an employee with DEI duties, or even so much as creating an organizational DEI statement. However, these activities aren’t only restricted from public funding - a public university cannot engage in DEI work with donor or private funds either.
It is yet another step backward in what has been a succession of blows to the work of creating a more equitable and just community. It follows anti-CRT legislation passed in 2021 that banned public k-12 educators from teaching about divisive topics like structural racism and implicit bias, and the “School Choice Bill” that hands desperately needed public education dollars to private schools instead.
I reached out to Sen. Janice Weiner, D, Iowa City, for comment on how this legislation made it through from her perspective. “It was added at the last minute by House Republicans to the education budget - a must-pass bill. In arguing against it, we focused on how we have been starving public education at all levels for the last 8 years. In my view, it is not appropriate to dictate to the public universities what to do on this - that is for the universities and the regents to decide. In addition to a slew of bills that took local control away from cities and towns, they took this basic control away from the regents and universities,” Weiner stated.
Public universities have long served as a place where students have greater access to global perspectives, consider the systems and structures that form their world from a broader context, and form their more informed adult worldview. The college experience influences how we behave as citizens, who our friends are, how we vote, and the professional pursuit to which we apply their efforts. This last-second addition to the education bill and the K-12 public education legislation that preceded it will create a more myopic Iowa populace, but that seems to have been the point.
Dr. Poussaint, after serving at Harvard for over 50 years, retired in 2019. From the Havard faculty website, “He was instrumental in expanding the enrollment of underrepresented medical students at Harvard, integrating them into the fabric of the School, encouraging and mentoring them during their time at HMS and helping them to launch their careers… many of them in high-level distinguished positions in academic medicine.”
I cede the remaining space in this column for anonymous commentary from faculty and staff of Iowa public institutions of higher education, who have carried forward the work of those who have dedicated their labor to the often thankless and ever frustrating task of building this nation into a place that lives up to its promise, for all.
“Having grown up in this state as a Black woman, I hate to see the continuous deterioration of the fields of opportunity Iowa no longer is providing. It is more and more apparent that we are becoming insular in our thinking. It’s disappointing as a mother to know that a state that valued education now wants to contribute to a lack of creativity. The message sent is that we want to create workers for the benefit of industrialization but not in terms of being a part of global leadership on innovation, creativity, or sustainable efforts for future generations.”
“As a Black faculty member, the legislation and climate in this state not only make it more difficult for me to do my job, but sends the message that I am unwelcome here. This state is prioritizing the fragile feelings of its white/conservative residents over the well-being and safety of its Black, Indigenous, Persons of Color, LGBTQIA+ and other marginalized populations. Message received.”
“My heart goes out to my former DEI colleagues who were already spread incredibly thin and feeling burned out by the hiring freezes in their offices that are now permanent. As a former student, I’m saddened by the loss of resources and mentorship that will result from this. In tandem with the proposed changes from SF 2435 that would take effect July 2025, I am concerned that the quality of an Iowa education is being diminished.”
Sofia DeMartino is a Gazette editorial fellow. sofia.demartino@thegazette.com
Forty years later, Iowa Senate File 2435 awaits only the signature of Gov. Kim Reynolds to enact one of the broadest DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) bans in the country. This legislation bars public institutions from establishment and maintenance of a DEI office, hiring or tasking an employee with DEI duties, or even so much as creating an organizational DEI statement. However, these activities aren’t only restricted from public funding - a public university cannot engage in DEI work with donor or private funds either.
It is yet another step backward in what has been a succession of blows to the work of creating a more equitable and just community. It follows anti-CRT legislation passed in 2021 that banned public k-12 educators from teaching about divisive topics like structural racism and implicit bias, and the “School Choice Bill” that hands desperately needed public education dollars to private schools instead.
I reached out to Sen. Janice Weiner, D, Iowa City, for comment on how this legislation made it through from her perspective. “It was added at the last minute by House Republicans to the education budget - a must-pass bill. In arguing against it, we focused on how we have been starving public education at all levels for the last 8 years. In my view, it is not appropriate to dictate to the public universities what to do on this - that is for the universities and the regents to decide. In addition to a slew of bills that took local control away from cities and towns, they took this basic control away from the regents and universities,” Weiner stated.
Public universities have long served as a place where students have greater access to global perspectives, consider the systems and structures that form their world from a broader context, and form their more informed adult worldview. The college experience influences how we behave as citizens, who our friends are, how we vote, and the professional pursuit to which we apply their efforts. This last-second addition to the education bill and the K-12 public education legislation that preceded it will create a more myopic Iowa populace, but that seems to have been the point.
Dr. Poussaint, after serving at Harvard for over 50 years, retired in 2019. From the Havard faculty website, “He was instrumental in expanding the enrollment of underrepresented medical students at Harvard, integrating them into the fabric of the School, encouraging and mentoring them during their time at HMS and helping them to launch their careers… many of them in high-level distinguished positions in academic medicine.”
I cede the remaining space in this column for anonymous commentary from faculty and staff of Iowa public institutions of higher education, who have carried forward the work of those who have dedicated their labor to the often thankless and ever frustrating task of building this nation into a place that lives up to its promise, for all.
“Having grown up in this state as a Black woman, I hate to see the continuous deterioration of the fields of opportunity Iowa no longer is providing. It is more and more apparent that we are becoming insular in our thinking. It’s disappointing as a mother to know that a state that valued education now wants to contribute to a lack of creativity. The message sent is that we want to create workers for the benefit of industrialization but not in terms of being a part of global leadership on innovation, creativity, or sustainable efforts for future generations.”
“As a Black faculty member, the legislation and climate in this state not only make it more difficult for me to do my job, but sends the message that I am unwelcome here. This state is prioritizing the fragile feelings of its white/conservative residents over the well-being and safety of its Black, Indigenous, Persons of Color, LGBTQIA+ and other marginalized populations. Message received.”
“My heart goes out to my former DEI colleagues who were already spread incredibly thin and feeling burned out by the hiring freezes in their offices that are now permanent. As a former student, I’m saddened by the loss of resources and mentorship that will result from this. In tandem with the proposed changes from SF 2435 that would take effect July 2025, I am concerned that the quality of an Iowa education is being diminished.”
Sofia DeMartino is a Gazette editorial fellow. sofia.demartino@thegazette.com
Intent to Kill: Defunding DEI in Iowa
Iowa lawmakers passed one of the broadest DEI bans in the country.
www.thegazette.com
