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TRUMP’S DEI PLAYBOOK THEPOSTATHENS.COM
FEBRUARY 25, 2025
VOLUME 115, ISSUE 22
Trump orders DEI program cuts, sparking widespread concern
Gulf of America replaces Gulf of Mexico, Bobcats react
ABBY WAECHTER | ASST. A&E EDITOR
SUZANNE PIPER | FOR THE POST
The Trump Administration is demanding Ohio University and other public institutions dismantle their diversity, equity and inclusion programs by Friday or risk losing federal funding. Although a judge temporarily blocked the move, DEI-related bills are still advancing through federal and state legislatures, and the issue is expected to continue. On Feb. 14 the Department of Education issued an ultimatum in a letter titled “Dear Colleagues” that cited “divisive” concepts, such as DEI, critical race theory and social justice activism as subjects that must be eliminated to avoid violations of federal law. Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights, said the Department will no longer tolerate racial discrimination in educational institutions. “The law is clear: treating students differently based on race to achieve nebulous goals such as diversity, racial balancing, social justice or equity is illegal under controlling Supreme Court precedent,” Trainor wrote in the memo. At the Council of Student Leaders last week, Interim Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion Russell Morrow, said the university plans to comply with the new law but stressed current programs at OU do not discriminate based on race. The university also issued a response Feb. 18 reaffirming its commitment to nondiscrimination. “Ohio University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, or other legally protected status,” the university wrote in the statement. “Those involved in admission, scholarships, financial aid or conferral of other University benefits, programs or services, as well as those making hiring decisions, may not consider race, color or national origin as
The Gulf of Mexico was renamed from an executive order by President Donald Trump. The action received more attention than many other executive orders Trump signed since being in the Oval Office. According to a Jan. 7 video published by the Associated Press, Trump announced before his inauguration that he would sign an executive order changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. “The Gulf of America, what a beautiful name,” Trump said in the video. “It’s appropriate.” On Feb. 9, the U.S. Continental Shelf area was officially renamed the Gulf of America. The White House also declared Feb. 9 as Gulf of America Day and encouraged U.S. citizens to observe the day through ceremonies, programs and activities. Apps such as Apple Maps, Google Maps and Google Earth have officially erased the Gulf of Mexico and replaced it with the Gulf of America. Mexico has requested Google to change back the name or a lawsuit will be in order, according to the AP. “Kind of a political power grab that is what it is,” Ohio University geography professor Timothy Anderson said about Trump changing the name. “It’s a way of reclaiming.” For a body of water shared by both the U.S. and Mexico, Trump’s remarks primarily emphasized its significance from an American perspective. However, the Gulf is also important to Mexico in many ways. The history of the Gulf of Mexico’s name comes from European explorers who came upon the body of water in the 16th century, according to Britannica. Despite the legal change of the Gulf’s name, Anderson said people will still refer to it as the Gulf of Mexico because there
a factor.” Seda Feldman, a junior social work major at OU, is alarmed about the broader effect of defunding DEI programs. She said she believes the lack of education on minority groups could fuel ignorance and discrimination in future generations. From OU’s 2025 Diversity Distribution data, 78.7% of students are white and 15.7% of students are from historically underrepresented groups enrolled, according to OU’s Diversity Dashboard. “I think the fact that the majority of our school is white is a problem in the first place,” Feldman said. “If we weren’t able to get those diversity numbers up while DEI programs were funded and in place, then there’s no way those numbers are going to go up now.” Betsy O’Brochta, a retired Upper Arlington teacher, is also concerned. O’Brochta, who taught in an informal progressive program for kindergarten through fourth grade, said DEI programs are essential to quality education and shaping the future. “It bothers me when (people) say ‘DEI hire,’ because you make the assumption that a person of color is less than, and that’s not necessarily true,” O’Brochta said. “This whole ‘woke’ business revolves around white old men.” O’Brochta also criticized the negative portrayal of DEI initiatives and said the phrase “DEI” is politicized and mischaracterized. She said DEI is vital and encourages people to question what aspect detractors are truly opposed to. “My biggest point when I talk to people and they are anti-DEI is I don’t call it ‘DEI,’” O’Brochta said. “I call it diversity, equity and inclusion, and I ask which piece they’re against.” @ABBYWAECHTER AW087421@OHIO.EDU
is no way to enforce the name change. “Are you going to arrest someone who calls up the Gulf of America? No. So in Mexico, it will still be referred to as the Gulf of Mexico,” Anderson said. However, the White House restricted AP News reporters from entering a briefing because the AP Stylebook – a guide for American English grammar and vocabulary, created by journalists for journalists – has not changed the term, sparking a lawsuit citing freedom of speech. The AP sued three Trump administration officials Friday. The White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded, saying, “We’ll see them in court,” according to an AP report. Trump said AP reporters will continue to be restricted from entering events and news conferences if the AP Stylebook does not change the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. “President Trump was elected during this period when, obviously, there’s a part of the electorate that wants to reclaim an American identity,” Anderson said. Liam Thieme, a junior majoring in biological sciences and wildlife conservation, said he doesn’t understand how renaming the gulf is necessary. He said there are more important issues, namely health care and climate change, to focus on, and the name change feels disrespectful toward Mexico. “It just seemed like almost a way to get people distracted from the actual issues in the country and just almost a power move to try to create dominance over other people,” Thieme said.
@_SUZIEPIPER SP249021@OHIO.EDU