The national attack on all things Black – Critical Race Theory, Affirmative Action, etc. – has found root in the Lone Star State in many aspects. One of those tangible statewide impacts has been the aftermath of Senate Bill 17 (SB 17), legislation that bans diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs at public colleges and universities throughout Texas.
Critics say the bill’s vague language has left university officials scrambling to take an overreach approach to ensure compliance and avoid the state denying funding. As a result, multiple state-funded colleges and universities closed all DEI and DEI-related offices and programs and fired hundreds of faculty and staff in related positions.
The Defender was able to speak with Lacey Reynolds, a current University of Texas at Austin student, about the impact SB 17 has had on her, other students, and student organizations on her campus.
Defender: How has SB 17 and the end of DEI on UT’s campus impacted you personally?
Reynolds: A personal impact that I have experienced from UT ending its DEI programs is access to funding for my organizations and the loss of some of the faculty previously on campus who were a second family to me. It was an adjustment to come back to campus with the new changes.
Defender: How has this new, anti-DEI reality, impacted Blacks students as a whole?
Reynolds: This change is impacting Black students on campus by having them become a student and an advisor. Some of our support systems, such as faculty, are no longer at the university. Many students have started GoFundMe accounts for their organizations and many students have lost the very programs that gave them access to study abroad opportunities and scholarships. This has caused many of our students to become leaders within our campus to advocate for our students and staff members, whether that be through interviews, press conferences or events held on campus to get the attention of our state and university. So, for a college student to focus on both being a student and a student leader and worrying about funding cuts and opportunities for themselves to grow as a student; it can be difficult to wear many different hats to help support themselves and uplift their peers during trying times.
Defender: What are students and organizations to respond to these massive funding and program cuts?
Reynolds: Efforts that students and organizations are engaging in to combat the changes on campus and DEI include reaching out to our alumni for support; reaching out to those who paved the way for us to understand what we are going through. Many students have started new organizations in light of the shutdown of their old programs to continue to support each other’s initiatives. Additionally, students at UT have reached out to other schools to compare various changes on other campuses due to SB 17.
