How have DEI changes at the University of Idaho impacted campus organizations?

This past winter, the University of Idaho made changes to its offices on campus that concern diversity, equity and inclusion.

The Idaho State Board of Education adopted a resolution on Dec.18, 2024. The resolution, in part, states that “institutions shall not establish or maintain a central office, policy, procedure, or initiative that promotes DEI ideology.”

Now, the university’s Equity and Diversity Unit offices, such as the Office of Equity and Diversity, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Diversity Center, the Black/African American Cultural Center, the LGBTQA Office and the Women’s Center have closed.  

Amid changes regarding DEI at the university, student-run clubs and organizations focused on serving diverse groups are still operating. That includes organizations like the Gender and Sexuality Alliance, Black Student Union and the Multicultural Greek Council. 

Blaine Eckles, the vice provost for student affairs and the dean of students, said that these student organizations are supported through student fees, rather than state funding. He says that’s why these groups are still running today.

“Everyone has a right to congregate under the First Amendment freedom of speech. You can gather with whom you want. That’s totally within your prerogative, and that’s your right,”  Eckles said.

Miguel Rios is a senior majoring in electrical engineering at U of I. He’s also a member of the Sigma Lambda Beta, a predominantly Latino fraternity, and the president of the Multicultural Greek Council.

“I did notice a change within my student organization, in terms of funding, because we (Sigma Lambda Beta) relied a lot on the Office of Multicultural Affairs for funding for events that we used to have,” Rios said.

Rios says multicultural events, such as a Día de los Muertos, were put on and hosted by some of the offices that closed. Rios said that since these offices closed, it will be up to the students to host and plan these events.   

For full transparency, Diana Romero is a University of Idaho student and a member of a multicultural sorority. 

Romero is a Voces intern working in NWPB’s newsroom. Voces Internship of Idaho is an equity-driven internship program that strives to bring in new and needed voices to Idaho’s news landscape by opening doors for young Latino Idahoans to get professional paid experience to kick start their careers.