Attack on DEI Voices

By Staff Writers Rajorshi Chatterjee, Navya Chitlur, Alex Duan &  Janet Guan

What have you previously heard about DEI, including its history or controversies regarding the program?

 

“I think of [DEI] as an extension of something that’s been going on since the 1970s — so 1970s is when we had the start of affirmative action, which was especially in higher education, but also included in careers, giving opportunities for groups that previously were not very represented, either in again, classrooms or in that specific job. I think it was supposed to counter … actual racism, but also just the bias, like you hire people who you were familiar with, and most of the people who had the jobs were men who were white. Then, as we kind of go forward, there are different names that get given for it. I know in the 90s there was … the idea of PC culture. So, it is something that has a really long history, even though how it looks like has changed, and I think especially in the last 20 years, DEI has also meant inclusion of people who have different sexual orientations and gender identities.” — Social Sciences Teacher Katherine Williams

 

“ … I’ve only really heard a lot of things about DEI when conservatives started making a big deal about it a couple years ago, though I’ve been aware of its existence since around 2020 with the George Floyd protests, as a lot of companies tried to tackle racial justice” — Lia Le-Nguyen, 12

 

How do you feel that these orders will affect schools in America?

“I think anti-DEI orders will be detrimental to disabled students, students of color, and LGBTQ+ students. The idea that creating an inclusive space for these students is somehow discrimination will only set us back. Reading about how certain history articles on government pages are being wiped for being “DEI” make me worry about how the history of people of color or the LGBTQ+ community will be taught, if at all” — Lia Le-Nguyen, 12

 

How do you feel diversity in educational environments impacts students? 

 

“I think in terms of in our classrooms, talking about diverse topics makes everyone feel included in the curriculum, and I think it leads to people being a bit more engaged in the class. I think for college … [in] a more diverse environment, you learn a lot from people who have different experiences and perspectives from you.” — Social Sciences Teacher Katherine Williams

 

“I honestly believe that diversity is a strength, as students can learn about a wider range of experiences they would not otherwise be exposed to. It promotes tolerance and understanding, which are necessary for living in a multicultural society like the United States”  — Lia Le-Nguyen, 12

 

“Every space benefits from diversity! Sharing ideas coming from different experiences and learning from others benefits everyone. Learning to accept people with different cultures and lifestyles allows us to bring joy and life to our work. It also builds empathy for others, allowing us to see that while people may appear, speak, believe, or even think differently from us we are all humans. We all have dreams, desires, fears, etc. I’m really waxing poetic here, sorry! Basically: diversity is cool because we get to spend time with people who think differently from us while building empathy and respect!” — US History Teacher Joseph Usrey

 

What do you think are the implications of Trump using DEI to explain events like the LA wildfires and the Washington DC plane crash?

 

“I know in the case of Los Angeles fires, it was because they were women who had been the head of the LAFD, but they had decades of experience and were highly qualified — and you can’t control the wind — so I think it’s just a way to demean somebody’s experience, even for people who are very qualified.” — Social Sciences Teacher Katherine Williams

 

“This type of scapegoating can lead us down a dangerous path. Not only by vilifying people that have been marginalized, giving folks a reason to continue marginalization, but more importantly, it avoids looking for the true cause of these terrible events. Blaming DEI feels like a “handwave” allowing government agencies to avoid taking a close look at their procedures and policies in an effort to prevent things like this from happening in the future” — US History Teacher Joseph Usrey

 

In your view, has the US been able to support meritocracy? How do you think DEI affects meritocracy?

 

“Claiming that diversity and meritocracy are somehow diametrically opposed is just wrong. You can have people from diverse backgrounds who are perfectly qualified for their jobs. No one has questioned American meritocracy when for decades, well-connected white men have dominated corporations and government. No one questions if these men were “qualified” in the same way minorities are scrutinized. Yet, when efforts are made to include these minorities, suddenly we start questioning their qualifications and expertise. It’s a ridiculous contradiction.” — Lia Le-Nguyen, 12

 

“[No] .. Because of our diverse backgrounds and experiences, the concept of a meritocracy is a myth, in my opinion. Of course, there are people that work much harder than others and put in tremendous amounts of effort to be successful! But, there are also aspects of our experiences that allow us to get ahead without any effort on our part. It is much easier for a student to get into a great school if they’ve been taught by private tutors, taken test-prep courses, and had family members encourage and coach them. A student that doesn’t have a home or deals with food insecurity may put in just as much effort as the first student, but will not achieve nearly at the same level. In theory, I don’t feel that DEI relates to the idea of meritocracy. Success is a combination of hard work and luck. I can see how some may construe DEI initiatives as elevating the less-deserving based on their identity and not their effort or skill, but I understand it more as an effort to diversify the ideas and experiences of those in power.” — US History Teacher Joseph Usrey