“The university does not require or ask for diversity statements in hiring, as mandated by the University of Idaho Board of Regents resolution and the Idaho Legislature last year. We do strive to attract and retain the best employees who bring the backgrounds and skillsets we need to provide for the needs of our students and our state,” is a statement made by the University of Idaho in an email when asked about the recent bill that may be passed, Senate Bill number 1274.
The bill would, if passed, impact diversity statements in hiring and admissions decisions and omit them from any applications.
This would impact centers on campus, such as the Women’s Center, the Black/African American Cultural Center, and more.
“The Black African American Cultural Center (BAACC), a key haven for students like myself, might suffer a severe hit if any reference of diversity is ever removed from the financial structure,” Rim Tekle, President of the Black Student Union, said in an email. “We have a strong bond with the BAACC. It’s more than simply a center. It’s our lifeline in a scholarly setting where our presence is often overshadowed.”
“To strip away the language of diversity is to strip away our identity, our worth, and our very essence,” Tekle added when asked about the bill in an email. “It’s a betrayal of our hopes, a denial of our existence, and an indifference to our hardships. The BAACC is about being honored, accepted, and empowered—not simply about being visible.”
“Removing diversity language threatens our existence, but we won’t be silenced,” Tekle said. “The BAACC serves as a symbol of resiliency, a light of hope, and a constant reminder that when we work together, nothing is impossible and that being black is beautiful and a privilege.”
More students with ties to the BAACC also commented on the bill.
“[Mario Pile Director of the BAACC] and the BAACC is what provides a space for our community to operate, feel comfortable, feel supported, connect with other communities, and overall feel welcomed as well as provide a sense of belonging on the University of Idaho campus,” Maria Ceron said in an email. “I have already experienced what campus life is like without Mario and this space, because it is so new, and prior to its opening it was so difficult to connect with my black community on campus. During that time, I only had one place I really felt I could go to do things like study, connect with students of similar background/experiences, etc.”
“During the second semester of my first year of college is when the BAACC was opened and Mario was hired, since then the number of students, not just black students, that have walked through those doors and used the space as well as Mario as a resource has tripled and continues to grow.”
“Removing or restricting DEI programs would not only hinder the academic and personal growth of minority students but also undermine the university’s commitment to diversity and equity,” Blaire Hess said in an email. “For many prospective students evaluating the University of Idaho, the presence of DEI programs and centers holds substantial weight in their decision-making process. This is especially true given the location of the university. When students are advised to avoid nearby communities due to racial tensions, safety in the community becomes a prevalent issue.”
A student with ties to the Women’s Center on campus also spoke out about the bill.
“Diversity statements are a huge part of the hiring process, that’s how it’s made sure the environment curated serves the community and gives individuals a safe space,” Kelly Weber wrote in an email. “Without a diversity statement, getting a clear idea of the individual’s values, experiences, and beliefs while hiring is virtually non-existent. Merit and work experience tells the Women’s Center staff that you work hard and have experience, but it doesn’t tell them if your values align with what the Women’s Center has to offer, and truly care for the people that utilize the space.”
“By my experience and understanding, the Women’s Center is a safe space for all willing to show respect and appreciation for those marginalized or otherwise oppressed by our society and the systems in place,” Weber continued to write. “But that doesn’t mean the center was created just for that demographic. Any gender, race, religious orientation, etc. is allowed to utilize the resources our center has to offer. Employees are hired because they show a genuine sense of responsibility, awareness, care and action for the on-campus community, along with those living outside it.”
“Banning diversity statements or inclusive language from admissions applications, while just looking at merit, is inefficient at best,” Weber wrote. “People are more than they achieved on paper, and to not take account adversity, life experiences, discrimination, and other extremely real factors affecting education, discriminates against those who face more adversity. People deserve to tell their stories, and they deserve to have spaces and people that truly understand and care for their success.”
When asked about the bill, Weber continued:
“As a student, my thoughts are ‘why does it matter?’” Weber wrote. “I can think extensively about how it will hurt our Vandal community and drive diversity off campus.”
Students who were asked to comment on the bill seemed to have different responses on what the bill would mean for them.
“Everybody who works at that job already should just be already accepting and ready to include whoever,” Zachary Callos, a first-year student and a physics major, said. “It doesn’t matter who shows up as long as they show up and do their job. It doesn’t matter where they’re from or who they are. Just as long as they treat others respectfully and do their job properly.”
“I think it’s in good spirit,” Thomas Hubble a first-year student and a computer engineering major said. “I am very for it because I don’t think that in universities and government jobs should be looking at qualities that don’t affect the exact job position or university you are applying to. I think that those jobs and positions should be more of a meritocracy application process. I do think that when people are hired for a job or accepted into a school, it should be based off of their accomplishments and experiences and not something that they can’t control such as their race and gender.”
The total impact the bill would have on the UI and students who later enter the workforce is still unknown.
“If you feel like you don’t understand the purpose of DEI centers, or they are alienating you in some way, I encourage you to visit them, and thoughtfully engage with the people working for and utilizing these spaces,” Weber wrote in an email. “When approached with respect and honest curiosity, these spaces are for you as well.”
Andrea Roberts can be reached at [email protected].