The Trump administration is giving American colleges and universities two weeks to eliminate diversity initiatives or risk losing federal monies. A US Department of Education (DOE) directive Feb. 18 ordered colleges to stop using “racial preferences” as a factor in admissions, financial aid, hiring or other areas. Schools were given 14 days to end any practice that treats students or workers differently because of their race.
University of Portland President Robert Kelly told the North Peninsula Review that the university is collaborating closely with other institutions of higher education to understand the full extent of the DOE action. Kelly also told the UP community that the new Trump Administration policy allowing federal agents to make immigration arrests on college campuses is “misguided” and “conflicts with [UP’s] institutional values,” according to the Beacon, a student newspaper.
A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) statement said the change rescinds the Biden Administration’s guidelines for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that “thwart law enforcement in or near so-called ‘sensitive’ areas.” Sensitive areas include schools, churches and hospitals. According to the DHS, the new policy means that “Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest.”
Kelly emailed students, faculty and staff urging them to immediately report any federal ICE activity on campus to the Office of Campus Safety, according to Tiffany Marquez Escobar, who writes for the Beacon.
The UP president said that since federal agents on campus still cannot enter private areas such as residence halls and faculty offices without a warrant, he urged people to ask agents for a warrant, and alert and wait for Campus Safety to arrive. Campus Safety staff have received guidance on how to interact with federal agents. Kelly also advised them to decline to answer questions about another person’s immigration status.
Portland Community College President Adrien Benning said the new Trump administration has issued several executive orders, memos and actions that may have an impact on higher education. The college is closely monitoring all related developments. The implications of many of these measures is still unclear.
Humboldt neighborhood.