Faculty Perspective: The attack on Dei

Things have been crazy since the election and Inauguration Day, not only just within the overall country, the federal government, but also in the frontlines and how the chaos is impacting so many on different levels. Speaking from my perspective, I've only seen federal employees be directly impacted by the decisions of the new administration and the decisions being made on the current and future states of the United States. However, these decisions are trickling down into various sectors, such as academia and research.

Due to the attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion [DEI], which by the way, consists of more than just race, ethnicity, and gender, is presenting challenges for the field I am in, my research and others', and teaching important topics and/or courses, such as multicultural issues in psychology or in research in general. Scientific integrity, ethical concerns and considerations, years worth of research, not only in psychology, are being disregarded (i.e., medical research on vaccinations and their effectiveness). I'm sure you're wondering "what does this have to do with your faculty perspective of the attacks on DEI?"

Well, because of these changes and the lists of words, books, resources, tools, access that are "banned," that limits faculty at the higher education level, as well as other education levels that are able to conduct research for publication from applying for federal funding. The research we need, especially for those who have been historically marginalized, is, for lack of a better term, being "silenced." Not only does this impact the individual, but the students, the department, the college, and overall academic institution. Think about the funding of research labs for those who are in humanities, social sciences, public health, and education, and how this significant hurdle prevents us from doing we are passionate about, contribute practical implications, and changing the "system" that has caused an ongoing list of issues for those who do not identify as White, identity as a different gender besides a cis male, having a different sexual orientation, or simply put intersectionality of the many identities an individual who does not identity as what the current administration and their supporters see as the "majority."

It's concerning for me to know that some of my students, past and present, my colleagues, peers, their support systems, may not have their voice heard anymore and are silenced. SO, regardless of your field, socioeconoomic status, sexual orientation, gender, race and/or ethnicitiy, education, I challenge you to be an advocate for DEI initiatives, goals, resources, and tools. Again, DEI is more than race, ethnicity, and gender, so please be sure to do your research.

That's it, that's the rant.

Candace