The attack on our universities is something that should give us pause and move us to action.
As a graduate of Eastern Michigan University, where I studied Arts Management, I am deeply concerned by the way the U.S. Department of Education has been attacking the university system. These attacks center around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Let that sink in.
As a young person, the diversity of EMU changed my life for the better. That time was pivotal in making me see the world as a bigger and more beautiful place than I previously knew. My experience is not unique; a diverse student body and faculty enrich the educational environment for everyone. It prepares students for a complex and globalized world far better than any monoculture ever could.
As a former Eagle, I feel a sense of duty to protect this precious resource in our universities. The efforts to dismantle DEI initiatives are a direct assault on the very values that made my time at EMU so transformative. They aim to reduce opportunities and narrow the perspectives available on campus.
I am someone who will continually fight for all of us, and I invite all EMU students and faculty to join me in protecting the school's most precious resource: each other. We must stand together to ensure that Eastern Michigan University remains a place where diversity thrives and every member of our community feels valued, included, and empowered to succeed.
Editor's note: The Eastern Echo accepts letters to the editor from the community. Joanna Whaley is currently running for the Michigan House of Representatives. This letter was chosen based on its relevance to The Echo’s audience and is not a political endorsement. Letters should be 300 words or less, address an issue of interest to Echo readers, include the writer's name, hometown, email and telephone number (email and number won’t be published), and be sent to editor@easternecho.com.
