Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs have been at the forefront of the Trump Administration’s policy changes, creating uncertainty and fear around the future of these programs, especially in education. But why should Breck students care?
Frequently, DEI in education is talked about as something that only involves teaching about race, gender, and sexuality; however, this is not entirely true. Yes, this is a part of DEI, but it is so much more. Diversity in a classroom looks like students learning about a wide variety of perspectives that sometimes challenge their point of view, causing them to question their biases. DEI programs are why special education exists, why individuals cannot be fired because for things like their disability, race, or gender, and why Breck has accessibility ramps and elevators. Without an emphasis on DEI, students won’t just stop learning about race; they could lose access to special education programs, rarely have their views challenged, and things as crucial as accessibility ramps may no longer be built in schools. If the government eliminates these policies, students’ education and the overall culture of schools will be severely harmed.
Donald Trump made eliminating DEI programs a major target for his second term, signing executive orders banning it from public and private sectors. On January 21st, 2025, Trump signed an executive order titled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-based Opportunity”. This order claims all DEI programs are discriminatory and, therefore, in violation of civil rights laws. The document specifically calls out higher education, stating, “Institutions of higher education 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)…(these preferences) can violate the civil-rights laws of this Nation.” Another Executive order threatening DEI initiatives in education was signed on January 29th, 2025, titled “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling”. This order informs the public that the Trump Administration will ensure K-12 schools receiving funding from the government will eliminate DEI programs. Furthermore, the document claims that public schools are forcing “anti-American ideologies” on children, who are being “forced to accept these ideologies without question or critical examination”. Preventing both public schools and higher education institutions from implementing DEI initiatives is a major threat to education. Without DEI programs, students will undoubtedly miss out on a large part of learning that comes from examining personal biases, and critical resources will be taken away from students in need.
Breck is a private school, meaning we receive minimal funding from the government. This makes it easy to feel like Breck students have no reason to be concerned about these policies; however, this could not be further from the truth. Although Breck specifically is not at risk of its funding being cut, federal DEI programs being erased could result in a school-wide chilling effect. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression defines the chilling effect as “people…being discouraged or intimidated from engaging in expression for fear of negative consequences such as social disapproval, retaliation, or lawsuits.” At Breck, a chilling effect surrounding DEI could manifest in several ways. Even without formal restrictions, faculty members might feel threatened by Trump’s policy changes, leading to fewer DEI programs, less classroom discussion of DEI, and reduced conversations about topics like gender and race. A chilling effect could also look like the student body having less frequent conversations about DEI, causing students to become more closed-minded and assess their personal beliefs less frequently.
If we want Breck faculty to continue to emphasize and create DEI programs, we need to have intentional conversations about how DEI is changing and how we would like to see it show up in the Breck community. We also have to ask for more clarity around Breck’s future regarding DEI. If Breck is ambiguous about whether they plan to change their policies under the current administration, a chilling effect is sure to follow. In order to prevent the Trump administration’s threats from affecting Breck, it’s imperative that the school be clear and honest with students about its future regarding DEI.
