It’s shocking when rivals like Michigan and Ohio State agree on something.
Sadly, in this case, they both agreed to do the wrong thing, caving to the anti-DEI threats from the T**** administration and ending their DEI programs.
In February, Ohio State became one of the biggest universities to bow down to the White House’s racist anti-DEI mandate and “sunset” its Office of Diversity and Inclusion and Center for Belonging and Social Change as well as some of the services that were offered.
“I continue to believe that the best course for our university is to take actions proactively so that we can manage this new landscape in ways that best uphold the values of excellence, access and opportunity that we hold dear,” said President Carter.
The university stated it was complying with the law, which was an Executive Order entitled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing.” It called for the “termination of all discriminatory programs, including illegal DEI and ‘diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) mandates, policies, programs, preferences and activities in the Federal Government, under whatever name they appear.”
This past week, its arch-rival, the University of Michigan, followed in their footsteps and capitulated to the ridiculous EO.
Per the university, Michigan is, effective immediately, “closing the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the Office for Health Equity and Inclusion, as well as discontinuing the DEI 2.0 Strategic Plan.”
“These decisions have not been made lightly. We recognize the changes are significant and will be challenging for many of us, especially those whose lives and careers have been enriched by and dedicated to programs that are now pivoting,” wrote the school in an official statement.
The programs brought positive results to the university, which noted “First-generation undergraduate students, for example, have increased 46% and undergraduate Pell recipients have increased by more than 32%, driven in part by the success of programs such as Go Blue Guarantee and Wolverine Pathways.”
Yet that success is now overshadowed by hate from an administration that seeks to eliminate progress under the guise of merit and fighting against discrimination, which we all know is a farce.
Michigan is reallocating its DEI resources to other areas aimed at continuing the success it achieved with DEI initiatives, and while that’s good, the decision is just a camouflaged response to hateful threats.
The decision brought a swift response from Black politicians in the state.
State Rep. Amos O’Neal, D-Saginaw, chair of the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus said the university’s decision was “disheartening.”
He also blasted the T**** administration for “working its hardest to whitewash” institutions, culture and history.
So now the list of major institutions bowing down to the ridiculous and unwarranted threats from T**** to withhold funding over accusations of discrimination and anti-Semitism includes Michigan, Ohio State, and Columbia.
And as of Tuesday, Harvard, Yale and Princeton could join them.
These actions demand a collectively ferocious response, and as we’ve noted many, many times before, there is a force that can unite and fight back.
Black athletes.
Michigan has a controversial history with Black athletes as it includes both history-making athletes and the barring of Black athletes from playing football and basketball.
But over the last few decades, the majority of football and basketball athletes at FBS schools like Michigan and Ohio State are Black.
If they united in a refusal to take the field for or be recruited by these two schools, the withholding of their athletic talent would force the athletic department to hopefully unite with the faculty and administration to fight back against the threats from D.C.
Unfortunately, the NIL era has silenced athlete activism.
This is especially true of Black athletes, who are making money they never have before, so many aren’t interested in fighting for just causes if it will mess up their check.
That’s a shame for the power they wield now is greater than it was just ten years ago when Missouri football players stood with Black students to demand change after racist incidents occurred on campus. And when they, along with their teammates and coaches, threatened to boycott a game, which would have cost the school an estimated $1 million in revenue, change arrived swiftly as the president resigned and the school quickly pledged to address the racist incidents.
Could you imagine what would happen if Black Buckeyes and Wolverines players refused to take the field in their annual rivalry game?
Fox Sports, which airs the game, would be in a state of panic due to the ratings and revenue impact.
The host school would be at risk of losing millions in revenue and fans, especially alumni, would be outraged.
That’s the power Black athletes have to force change if they would recognize and utilize it fearlessly.
Yes, taking a stance could impact their future earnings.
And yes, they would be subjected to backlash similar to what some Black Texas Longhorns players faced after refusing to sing “The Eyes of Texas” song, a song that has ties to minstrel shows from the early 1900s.
But this is not an ordinary situation.
The attacks on education, society, culture and marginalized groups are far more vicious than anything we’ve witnessed since the early days of the Civil Rights Movement.
In some ways, it’s not fair to ask this of Black athletes, especially with all they already endure.
But this is a moment that will have harmful repercussions for many years to come if it remains unchecked, especially at the pace that it’s advancing.
We are quickly moving to an ugly place unfamiliar to the current generation but all too familiar to those from generations past.
Athletic talents cannot solely be used on the field of play. It must be viewed as a source of power that can change not only game outcomes but also the direction of society.
Black athletes, you have a power that demands responsibility, so if you can be educated about financial responsibility, you can be educated about social responsibility as well.
Sports can shield you from the harsh realities of life for only so long, which is why they must be harnessed to bring change when necessary.
And as Senator Cory Booker quoted in his marathon, record-setting speech yesterday, “The power of the people is greater than the people in power.”
If you recognize that, you can lend your weight to the fight against those threatening the fabric of what thousands paid the price to win.
And that includes the right to play at Michigan despite your skin tone.
