Following the closure of the central office of Diversity and Inclusion on Nov. 1, UMKC faces a new deadline to comply with anti-DEI legislation demanding the removal of all diversity and inclusion programs.
As of Feb. 18, Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe stated that all state agencies, including the University of Missouri, have 90 days to review and remove all diversity and inclusion initiatives.
UMKC’s compliance with anti-DEI policies has sparked concern among faculty and students who fear how getting rid of diversity and inclusion programs will impact the school.
“Racism, sexism, classism and ableism are systemic in nature, meaning they require systemic changes to address them,” said Dr. Deja Beamon, associate professor of Race, Ethnic and Gender Studies.
Beamon said that the anti-DEI effort at UMKC was well in effect before the elimination of the DEI office in November.
Beamon believes that UMKC’s often preemptive compliance strays from the university’s mission to educate an engaged and independent student body, rather than a complacent one.
Programs like AACE and Avanzando are prime examples of diversity initiatives that exist to help Black and Latinx students connect with mentors and receive support and guidance to succeed in the university.
While those programs still exist, “the cultural piece of them has been stripped in an effort to ‘make it for everyone’ which defeats the purpose of why students, community members and faculty fought for these programs to exist,” said Beamon.
Josephine Sebunyenzi, senior chemistry student and president of the Multicultural Student Organization Council (MSOC), credited diverse student organizations for making her feel welcome at UMKC.
“Before I found organizations like the African Student Association and Sister Circle, I wanted to transfer back home and find a school there because I did not feel like I belonged at UMKC,” said Sebunyenzi.
Sebunyenzi states that engaging in campus welcome week and FSE activities did not compare to the sense of belonging she felt by attending events hosted by the aforementioned student organizations.
“So much of what makes today’s universities great is because of the DEI,” said Beamon. “These are the improvements made when universities listen to their student populations and address them.”
