Last week, USC released a statement announcing that “diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)” would be replaced with “community” in the university’s unifying values, alluding to “evolving federal legal guidance” as justification for the change.
The university’s move appears to be a response to recent Trump administration policies targeting DEI initiatives. Starting with several executive orders banning DEI practices across government, corporate and educational workspaces, now the Trump administration has narrowed its focus to universities for what it has deemed antisemitic practices, according to the Department of Education’s (DOE) website.
Most recently, in a letter to federally funded universities and schools, Craig Trainor, assistant secretary for the DOE, threatened to pull federal funding from all institutions that do not comply with the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The letter claims that universities have utilized DEI programs, race-based admissions and even dormitory assignments as a way to discriminate against and segregate students. Some schools have already lost funding, while others, including USC, are on the visitation list.
In the letter, Trainor advised that institutions “cease all efforts to circumvent prohibitions on the use of race by relying on proxies or other indirect means to accomplish such ends.”
According to the March 27 statement released by the USC Office of the Senior Vice President of Human Resources, the term DEI has “increasingly become embroiled in broader cultural and political disagreements,” and “‘community’ better captures the breadth of our purpose and mission.”
“[’Community’] also reinforces USC’s commitment to diversity in thought and background where ideas are vigorously researched and debated,” the statement continued. “This dedication has cultivated a vibrant Trojan Family of changemakers and global leaders, as generations of graduates have demonstrated through their service to one another, our local communities, and the world.”
Around the nation, universities have reacted similarly to political pressure. The UC system has banned “diversity statements” in faculty hiring processes, while the University of Colorado replaced its main DEI webpage with a website for an Office of Collaboration.
Many USC students disapprove of the university’s reaction to federal pressure. Freshman environmental science and health major Matilda McLaren said she is confused by the changes.
“I think it’s very random. I don’t see how diminishing DEI will really help in any sense,” McLaren said. “The fact that [DEI] was getting integrated into university policies, classrooms, clubs and jobs and everything on campus… I endorse that, and I support it. I think substituting it for ‘community’ is a bit more vague, and I just don’t know what they’re striving at.”
Freshman biological sciences major Lara Sadi said she believes DEI is an important part of USC, especially as an international student.
“DEI is much more inclusive than the word ‘community’ is. It feels more global,” Sadi said. “Community feels more centered, especially to L.A., and as an international student here, I think I have more support with [DEI].”
Sophomore acting major Jackson Sinatra said he thinks it is important to continue DEI practices, despite the language change.
“I think it’s important that they’re still upholding the values and the systems they had in place when they were still using DEI,” Sinatra said. “I think that it is a shame that they felt the need to give in and change the name…it’s hard to know because I don’t know what kind of pressures the administration faces. I wish they could have put up a little more fight.”
Despite his frustration with the administration’s decision, Sinatra said that as a white male, he does not feel directly impacted by the change.
“I think, given my demographic, I’m not really affected in any way,” Sinatra said. “I am only affected in that I know a lot of people who are more negatively affected and who are more aware of the greater implications of this change.”
The university has yet to respond to student opposition regarding the shift in values. It is unclear what changes await given the use of the new term. The university has not directly attributed the change to Trump’s recent executive orders, and has not commented on how it plans to address the new guidelines.