Student leaders at 10 Virginia universities ask to meet with Youngkin over changes to DEI programs
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) – Student body presidents of 10 Virginia public universities want to meet with Gov. Glenn Youngkin to discuss the experiences at their schools in the wake of what they called “politically driven changes” concerning Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, or DEI. In a letter Tuesday, first reported by the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the elected student body presidents told Gov. Youngkin (R) they were urgently writing him “to address recent concerns regarding the longevity of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs at our public institutions.” The elected student body presidents of the schools – George Mason, James Madison, Longwood, Mary Washington, Virginia Tech, Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Virginia, Norfolk State, Christopher Newport and William & Mary – wrote they represent over 180,000 students and called for a meeting with Youngkin. “Recent politically driven changes to offices and programs that offer academic support, community-building opportunities, safe spaces for mental health discussions, trusted mentors, and professional development have left many students fearful for the future of the services they rely on for both their education and personal growth,” the students wrote. “The absence of these support systems will only make college more difficult for many students.” VCU Board of Visitors ‘supports’ racial literacy courses but will not mandate them Earlier this year, Youngkin’s administration reviewed the syllabi for courses at VCU and George Mason about DEI and race, leading to outrage from some students and faculty. In April, VCU students protested the review in Richmond. After the reviews, both of the schools opted not to require their students to take courses on DEI, race or racism in Fall 2024. VCU’s Board of Visitors voted 10-5 in May -- a majority of members being Youngkin appointees at the time -- to not require students to take a racial literacy course. George Mason pushed back a requirement for students to take two DEI-related courses until the 2025-2026 year. Also, Youngkin has renamed Virginia’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, replacing “equity” with “opportunity” and claimed it has “gone off the rails.” "Regardless of individual discomfort or political ideology, the facts are clear: these programs have been instrumental in creating safe campus environments and driving academic success, empowering countless students across public institutions in the Commonwealth," the students wrote to Youngkin. READ MORE: ‘Unprecedented intervention’: VCU professors concerned after Youngkin requests to review racial literacy curriculum The student body presidents wrote that the letter was meant to be “a united, nonpartisan invitation” for Youngkin and other elected leaders to learn from diverse political ideologies and backgrounds about their experiences and expertise to inform the decisions they make. “By instituting these practices, we can refocus our attention on what truly matters: prioritizing students’ interests,” the students wrote to Youngkin. Christian Martinez, a Youngkin spokesperson, did not respond when asked multiple times if a meeting would be scheduled between the governor and students. “Since day one, Governor Youngkin has prioritized students by making historic investments in education to create vibrant, safe learning environments while focusing on mental health solutions and fostering a culture that embraces freedom of expression and diversity of thought,” Martinez said in a statement. FROM 2023: Wilder says Youngkin wanted VCU’s Research Institute for Social Equity renamed In his statement, Martinez added that Youngkin "continues to focus on actions that make our schools and higher education institutions welcoming for all students.” The students added that an environment of constructive critique and open dialogue must be fostered to lead to and promote progress, writing that without it, “prejudice takes hold” and divisions are created. “Given that your decisions regarding higher education directly impact students at all of our Universities, we stress the importance of upholding our nation's founding principles, which are too often lost in today’s partisan and hyper-politicized reality: the principles of democracy and the right of citizens to voice their concerns and be afforded an audience to do so,” the students wrote. The students asked for a meeting with Youngkin "to discuss student experiences at the universities we represent to ensure that student voices are actively heard and centered in the decisions shaping our education and future," they wrote.
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) – Student body presidents of 10 Virginia public universities want to meet with Gov. Glenn Youngkin to discuss the experiences at their schools in the wake of what they called “politically driven changes” concerning Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, or DEI.
In a letter Tuesday, first reported by the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the elected student body presidents told Gov. Youngkin (R) they were urgently writing him “to address recent concerns regarding the longevity of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs at our public institutions.”
The elected student body presidents of the schools – George Mason, James Madison, Longwood, Mary Washington, Virginia Tech, Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Virginia, Norfolk State, Christopher Newport and William & Mary – wrote they represent over 180,000 students and called for a meeting with Youngkin.
“Recent politically driven changes to offices and programs that offer academic support, community-building opportunities, safe spaces for mental health discussions, trusted mentors, and professional development have left many students fearful for the future of the services they rely on for both their education and personal growth,” the students wrote. “The absence of these support systems will only make college more difficult for many students.”
VCU Board of Visitors ‘supports’ racial literacy courses but will not mandate them
Earlier this year, Youngkin’s administration reviewed the syllabi for courses at VCU and George Mason about DEI and race, leading to outrage from some students and faculty. In April, VCU students protested the review in Richmond.
After the reviews, both of the schools opted not to require their students to take courses on DEI, race or racism in Fall 2024.
VCU’s Board of Visitors voted 10-5 in May -- a majority of members being Youngkin appointees at the time -- to not require students to take a racial literacy course. George Mason pushed back a requirement for students to take two DEI-related courses until the 2025-2026 year.
Also, Youngkin has renamed Virginia’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, replacing “equity” with “opportunity” and claimed it has “gone off the rails.”
"Regardless of individual discomfort or political ideology, the facts are clear: these programs have been instrumental in creating safe campus environments and driving academic success, empowering countless students across public institutions in the Commonwealth," the students wrote to Youngkin.
The student body presidents wrote that the letter was meant to be “a united, nonpartisan invitation” for Youngkin and other elected leaders to learn from diverse political ideologies and backgrounds about their experiences and expertise to inform the decisions they make.
“By instituting these practices, we can refocus our attention on what truly matters: prioritizing students’ interests,” the students wrote to Youngkin.
Christian Martinez, a Youngkin spokesperson, did not respond when asked multiple times if a meeting would be scheduled between the governor and students.
“Since day one, Governor Youngkin has prioritized students by making historic investments in education to create vibrant, safe learning environments while focusing on mental health solutions and fostering a culture that embraces freedom of expression and diversity of thought,” Martinez said in a statement.
FROM 2023: Wilder says Youngkin wanted VCU’s Research Institute for Social Equity renamed
In his statement, Martinez added that Youngkin "continues to focus on actions that make our schools and higher education institutions welcoming for all students.”
The students added that an environment of constructive critique and open dialogue must be fostered to lead to and promote progress, writing that without it, “prejudice takes hold” and divisions are created.
“Given that your decisions regarding higher education directly impact students at all of our Universities, we stress the importance of upholding our nation's founding principles, which are too often lost in today’s partisan and hyper-politicized reality: the principles of democracy and the right of citizens to voice their concerns and be afforded an audience to do so,” the students wrote.
The students asked for a meeting with Youngkin "to discuss student experiences at the universities we represent to ensure that student voices are actively heard and centered in the decisions shaping our education and future," they wrote.
