SINCE 1891
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD VOLUME CLX, ISSUE 5
BROWNDAILYHERALD.COM
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2025
Universities, including Brown, may face funding risks after Trump admin declares race-conscious programs illegal Letter threatens federal funding cuts if colleges do not comply within 14 days BY CATE LATIMER AND SOPHIA WOTMAN UNIVERSITY NEWS EDITORS The Department of Education released a letter last Friday threatening to cut federal funding to schools that do not eliminate “illegal” race-conscious programs — including diversity, equity and inclusion — in the next two weeks. The move has sparked concern in higher education, including at Brown, but its direct consequences on College Hill remain uncertain. “We vigilantly continue to review all new federal guidance and announcements, including the Dear Colleague letter issued by the U.S. Department of Education on Feb. 14,” University Spokesperson Brian Clark wrote in an email to The Herald. “We remain committed to efforts to foster a strong academic community through initiatives that aim to help all faculty, students and staff thrive, feel welcome and participate fully in the life of the University while also complying
MAX ROBINSON / HERALD
Brown has moved to maintain diversity programs at Brown. Earlier this month, President Christina Paxson P’19 P’MD’20 appointed Matthew Guterl as the University’s new vice president of diversity and inclusion with his appointment set to begin March 1.
DEI initiatives sparked concern for the future of these programs at Brown and other universities, The Herald previously reported. Trainor claimed that these programs are “smuggling racial stereotypes and explicit race-consciousness into everyday training, programming and discipline” and exhibit preferences for certain racial groups over others. “In recent years, American educational institutions have discriminated against students on the basis of race, including white and Asian students,” Trainor wrote. The letter reaffirms that schools may not use factors such as personal essays or participation in extracurriculars as a means for determining a student’s race, “favoring or disfavoring” students in the admissions process. Trainor also specifically condemned the elimination of standardized test scores as a means of increasing a university’s racial diversity. Brown reinstated its standardized test requirement starting with the class of 2029. “Admitting students because of a racial preference rather than because of their academic qualifications puts them at a disadvantage in the classroom,” Heather
fully with the law,” he wrote. Brown has moved to maintain diversity programs at Brown. Earlier this month, President Christina Paxson P’19 P’MD’20 appointed Matthew Guterl as the University’s new vice president of diversity and inclusion with his appointment set to begin March 1. The Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity will also be renamed the Office of Diversity and Inclusion beginning next month.
In the department’s letter, Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor argues that DEI programs violate federal civil rights laws since they are “motivated by racial considerations.” He cited the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn race-based affirmative action in college admissions as a framework for this reasoning. Luther Spoehr, a senior lecturer emeritus in education at Brown, said it
is possible that Brown will be affected by the letter. “I would guess that enforcement will be selective,” he wrote in an email to The Herald. “And that the government will choose prominent targets to serve as warnings for all the others. Brown is obviously a prominent target.” At Brown, various program houses and affinity groups may be impacted. President Trump’s recent executive order to end
UNIVERSITY NEWS
METRO
SPORTS
ARTS & CULTURE
OPINION
New York Times columnist Bret Stephens strives to reach centrists
Rong Chic opens for Sichuanese menu tastings on Wickenden Street
‘The hardest-playing team on the floor’: Bears fight for Ivy Madness spot
Sabrina Carpenter and SZA are at the top of their game with deluxe releases
Guan ’27: You have a say in combating isolationism
SEE BRET STEPHENS PAGE 2
SEE RONG CHIC PAGE 4
SEE MEN'S BASKETBALL PAGE 8
SEE DELUXE PAGE 9
SEE GUAN PAGE 10
SEE TRUMP PAGE 3
METRO
METRO
ICE detains one undocumented resident in Newport, sparking concern
Alarms sound at Providence School District amid federal funding threats
Officials, lawyers, organizations support undocumented residents amid ICE raids
Teachers, students, Mayor Smiley expressed concern about impact of funding cuts
BY ANDREA LI SENIOR STAFF WRITER On Jan. 29, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officers detained one individual in Newport. The detainment came amid the new Trump administration’s recent federal policies targeting undocumented immigrants. Charlie Holder, the mayor of Newport, stated that “no one was notified” of the raid before it happened and the city did not work with federal immigration agents. The Newport Police Department does “not have any information on the activity that ICE con-
COMMENTARY
ducted,” including “who was arrested or where they currently are,” according to NPD Lieutenant Joseph Carroll. Holder added that Newport does not plan on cooperating with federal immigration agents to enforce detainments or identify potential undocumented immigrants. “We’re not here to come into anyone’s house or school or business and take people away,” he said, noting that “it’s a scary time for some people.” Newport’s first priority is calming residents’ fears following the detainment, Holder added. “We want to make sure that people know that we are here to protect you,” he said. Holder specifically highlighted the need for students to be comfortable in schools and hopes that undocumented
SEE ICE PAGE 3
PAGE 10
BY JOY CHEN SENIOR STAFF WRITER Last week, the Department of Education warned state education agencies may lose federal funding if they do not comply with the department’s interpretation of anti-discrimination laws that may limit diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Since President Trump has entered office, teachers, students and Mayor Brett Smiley have expressed concerns at the prospect of federal funding being removed from the Providence Public School District. For the fiscal year 2024-25, the PPSD proposed a total spending plan of $506 million. This included
post- Magazine
$78 million from federal funds and reimbursable grants, or 15.4% of the total budget. At a Feb. 12 press conference, Smiley said the cuts would be “catastrophic— not just for Providence, but for every school district in Rhode Island.” The PPSD is predominantly funded by local sources. In November 2024, the City of Providence reached an agreement with RIDE on funding the PPSD, stating that the city would pay an additional $15 million by 2025. Julianna Espinal, a 17-year-old PPSD student and a member of local activist group OurSchoolsPVD, said that federal funding greatly benefited her experience at school during the COVID-19 pandemic. Providence received over $120 million in federal relief funds, which were used for a variety of programs and
SEE PPSD PAGE 3
PAGE 6