Duke University students, staff and faculty rally in support of keeping DEI
ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH
SEVERAL FELONIES, INCLUDING
FIRST DEGREE MURDER. PRESIDENT
DONALD TRUMP HAS SIGNED MANY,
MANY EXECUTIVE ORDERS SINCE HE
TOOK OFFICE LAST MONTH. A LOT
OF EYES ARE ON ONE INVOLVING
THE FUTURE OF DIVERSITY.
>> EQUITY AND INCLUSION
INITIATIVES OR DEI. THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS
GIVEN SCHOOLS. NOW A DEADLINE
OF THIS FRIDAY TO COMPLY OR
LOSE THEIR FEDERAL FUNDING.
WRAL'S MONICA CASEY IS LIVE
AT A PROTEST PLANNED BY DUKE
UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AND STAFF
MONICA, OF COURSE, THE PEOPLE
IN THIS PROTEST URGING THE
UNIVERSITY THERE NOT TO COMPLY.
>> AND AND THAT'S RIGHT.
YOU CAN SEE OVER HERE BEHIND
ME, A SMALL GROUP OF
ADMINISTRATORS ARE EMPLOYEES
OF DO AT THIS INTERSECTION.
THEY ACTUALLY TOLD THE
PROTESTERS THEY COULD NOT COME
ON CAMPUS. IF YOU COME DOWN
THIS WAY, YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE
JUST ABOUT 100 PEOPLE HERE
PARTICIPATING IN THIS MARCH.
THEY'RE NOW GOING AROUND DUKE'S
CAMPUS. THEY ARE HERE TO
ENCOURAGE DUKE TO KEEP ITS DEI
POLICIES. THEY ARE ALSO ASKING
THE UNIVERSITY NOT TO LET ICE
ON CAMPUS AND RESCIND ITS
PROTEST POLICY ALLOWING MORE
DEMONSTRATIONS ON CAMPUS.
>> DUKE STUDENTS, STAFF AND
FACULTY GATHERED A TREATY PARK
IN A SHOW OF SOLIDARITY FOR
DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
INITIATIVES. DUKE FOR A STAFF
MEMBER MAGGIE HARRITY TELLS
ME IN HER VIEW, DEI IS ABOUT
ACCEPTANCE AND BELONGING.
THAT IS ACTUALLY ABOUT
ATTACKING.
>> OUR BLACK AND BROWN
NEIGHBORS ARE AND TRANS
NEIGHBORS, OUR UNDOCUMENTED
NEIGHBORS AND OUR STUDENTS HERE
ON CAMPUS. SHE AND OTHERS NOT
TO COMPLY WITH THE EXECUTIVE
ORDER POINTING TO THE
ENDOWMENT. THEY SEE AS A SAFETY
NET. THIS IS TELLING DUKE THAT
IT HAS A UNIQUE ROLE TO PLAY
AS A UNIVERSITY THAT HAS A
LARGE ENDOWMENT BUT IT CAN
REALLY AFFORD AND IS WELL
SITUATED TO SAY NO. ACCORDING
TO THEIR WEBSITE, DUKE HAS AN
OFFICE FOR INSTITUTIONAL EQUITY
WHICH SAYS IT, QUOTE, HELPS
ADVANCE DUKE'S CULTURE OF
DIVERSITY INCLUSION, EQUALITY
AND BELONGING THROUGH
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND
RESOURCES.
>> EARLIER THIS MONTH, UNC
CHAPEL HILL ENDED ITS
REQUIREMENT FOR STUDENTS TO
TAKE COURSES FOCUSED ON DEI IS
A CONDITION OF GRADUATION.
>> AND LAST YEAR, THE UNC
SYSTEM BOARD OF GOVERNORS
REMOVED ITS DEI POLICY,
REPLACING IT WITH ONE THAT
EMPHASIZES NEUTRALITY AND
EQUALITY. IT'S ALSO A
DISCUSSION AT THE NORTH
CAROLINA STATE AGENCIES AND
HOUSE BILL 171, WOULD PROHIBIT
ANY STATE AGENCY FROM
MAINTAINING DEI INITIATIVES.
>> THIS PROTEST STARTED AROUND
5 O'CLOCK. THEY STARTED
MARCHING AROUND 5.15, STILL
GOING STRONG HERE. I HAVE
REACHED OUT TO DUKE ABOUT HOW
THEY PLAN TO HANDLE THIS FRIDAY
DEADLINE AND WHETHER THEY'LL
BE KEEPING THE DEI POLICIES
HERE. I HAVE NOT YET HEARD BACK