University of Iowa Will Halt Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Training After White House Executive Order

The University of Iowa will temporarily halt diversity, equity, and inclusion training provided by federal contractors and federal grantees after evaluating a White House Executive Order that aims to “combat offensive and anti-American race and sex stereotyping and scapegoating.”

The email was sent Friday, Oct. 2 by Interim Associate Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Liz Tovar to the President’s Cabinet and Council of Deans. 

Tovar wrote in the email that since the Executive Order was issued, the UI began preliminary evaluations of institution-based training related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

Throughout President Trump’s tenure in the White House, he has not always been forthcoming about condemning white supremacy. During the Sept. 29 presidential debate, Trump did not directly condemn white supremacy after being asked to do so.

Trump has also called the Black Lives Matter movement “a symbol of hate” and said “it’s bad for Black people. It’s bad for everybody.”

“Let us state unequivocally that diversity, equity, and inclusion remain as core values within our institution. However, after consulting with multiple entities, and given the seriousness of the penalties for non-compliance with the order, which include the loss of federal funding, we are recommending that all units temporarily pause for a two-week period …” Tovar wrote in the email.

The executive order, signed by Trump on Sept. 22, states that a federal contractor shall not use any workplace training that “inculcates in its employees any form of race or sex stereotyping or any form of race or sex scapegoating,” including, but not limited to, the following concepts:

• one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex
• an individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously
• an individual’s moral character is necessarily determined by his or her race or sex
• an individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex
• any individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of his or her race or sex
• meritocracy or traits such as a hard work ethic are racist or sexist, or were created by a particular race to oppress another race