Cedar Rapids, IA, USA  
Digital Edition Digital Edition
Log in Log In My Account My Account
Subscribe Today
The Gazette The Gazette
The Gazette The Gazette
  • COVID-19
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Food and Drink
  • Business
Digital Edition Digital Edition
Log in Log In My Account My Account
Subscribe
CLOSE
The Gazette
Subscribe
My Account
  • News
    • All News
    • Election 2020
    • Coronavirus
    • Business News
    • Community
    • Crime and Courts
    • Education
    • Government
    • Health
    • Nation and World
    • Time Machine
    • Search Archive

    Our Journalists

    • Rod Boshart
    • Lee Hermiston
    • Erin Jordan
    • James Q. Lynch
    • Trish Mehaffey
    • Vanessa Miller
    • Kat Russell
    • Grace King
    • John Steppe
    • Gage Miskimen
    • Marissa Payne
  • Sports
    • All Sports
    • Iowa Hawkeyes
    • Hawkeye Football
    • Hawkeye Basketball
    • Prep Sports
    • Prep Volleyball
    • Prep Football
    • Prep Basketball
    • Prep Wrestling
    • Iowa State Cyclones
    • UNI Panthers
    • Small College Sports
    • Minor League Sports
    • Outdoors

    Sports Desk

    • Mike Hlas
    • Jeff Johnson
    • Jeff Linder
    • J.R. Ogden
    • K.J. Pilcher
    • Leah Vann
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Editorial Mission
    • Guest Columnists
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Political Cartoons
    • Staff Columnists
    • Staff Editorials
    • Submit a Letter or Column

    Our Columnists

    • Todd Dorman
    • Adam Sullivan
  • Food and Drink
    • All Food and Drink
    • Chew on This
    • Recipes
    • Restaurants
  • Business
    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Business Notes
    • Companies
    • Personal Finance
    • Economy
    • Employment
    • Energy
    • Manufacturing
    • Openings & Closures
    • Real Estate
    • Retail
    • Small Business
    • Transportation

    Our Journalists

    • Rod Boshart
    • Erin Jordan
    • John Steppe
  • Obituaries
    • All Obituaries
    • In Memory Of
    • Submit an Obituary
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • Daily News Podcast
    • Fact Checker
    • Hlastradamus Odds
    • Iowa Prep Sports
    • On Iowa
    • On Iowa Politics
    • On UNI
    • Pinning Combination
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Art
    • Books
    • Museums & Galleries
    • Music
    • Theater
    • Things To Do
  • Living
    • All Living
    • Health & Wellness
    • Home & Garden
    • Milestones
    • People & Places
    • Pets & Animals
    • Recreation
    • Religion & Belief
    • Travel

    Our Writers

    • Diana Nollen
    • Elijah Decious
  • Kids Gazette
    • See All
    • Kids Cooking Series
    • Kids Galleries
    • Printables
    • Activities
    • Articles
    • Submissions
    • Resources
  • Photos
    • All Photos and Videos
    • The Iowa Photo
    • Photo Store

    Our Photojournalists

    • Andy Abeyta
    • Liz Martin
    • Rebecca Miller
    • Jim Slosiarek
    • Gazette Visuals
  • Milestones
    • All Milestones
    • Anniversaries
    • Days To Remember
    • Engagements
    • Holidays
    • In Remembrance
    • New Arrivals
    • Thank Yous
    • Submit a Milestone
  • Data
    • Arrests
    • Building Permits
    • Interactive Maps & Charts
    • Salaries
  • Gazette Sites
    • Classifieds
    • Corridor Careers
    • Garage Sales
    • Gazette Gives Back
    • Gazette Rewards
    • Gazette Store
    • Green Gazette
    • HER
    • Iowa Wedding Experience
    • Holiday Light Finder
    • Hoopla
    • Iowa Ideas
    • Photo Store
  • Special Events
  • Special Sections
  • Other
    • About The Gazette
    • Archives
    • Article Removal
    • Business Directory
    • CR Arrest Database
    • Mobile Apps
    • Customer Care
    • Order Back Issues
    • Privacy Policies
    • Puzzle Answers
    • Sponsorship Requests
    • Submit a Letter
    • Weather
  • Digital Edition
Daily News PodcastDaily News Podcast
Daily NewslettersDaily Newsletters
Log out

FOLLOW US

The Gazette
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Food and Drink
  • Business
  • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
  • Entertainment
  • Living
  • Kids Gazette
  • Photos
  • Milestones
  • Data
  • Gazette Sites
  • Special Events
  • Special Sections
  • Other
  • Digital Edition
  • All News
  • Election 2020
  • Coronavirus
  • Business News
  • Community
  • Crime and Courts
  • Education
  • Government
  • Health
  • Nation and World
  • Time Machine
  • Search Archive

Our Journalists

  • Rod Boshart
  • Lee Hermiston
  • Erin Jordan
  • James Q. Lynch
  • Trish Mehaffey
  • Vanessa Miller
  • Kat Russell
  • Grace King
  • John Steppe
  • Gage Miskimen
  • Marissa Payne
  • All Sports
  • Iowa Hawkeyes
  • Hawkeye Football
  • Hawkeye Basketball
  • Prep Sports
  • Prep Volleyball
  • Prep Football
  • Prep Basketball
  • Prep Wrestling
  • Iowa State Cyclones
  • UNI Panthers
  • Small College Sports
  • Minor League Sports
  • Outdoors

Sports Desk

  • Mike Hlas
  • Jeff Johnson
  • Jeff Linder
  • J.R. Ogden
  • K.J. Pilcher
  • Leah Vann
  • All Opinion
  • Editorial Mission
  • Guest Columnists
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Political Cartoons
  • Staff Columnists
  • Staff Editorials
  • Submit a Letter or Column

Our Columnists

  • Todd Dorman
  • Adam Sullivan
  • All Food and Drink
  • Chew on This
  • Recipes
  • Restaurants
  • All Business
  • Agriculture
  • Business Notes
  • Companies
  • Personal Finance
  • Economy
  • Employment
  • Energy
  • Manufacturing
  • Openings & Closures
  • Real Estate
  • Retail
  • Small Business
  • Transportation

Our Journalists

  • Rod Boshart
  • Erin Jordan
  • John Steppe
  • All Obituaries
  • In Memory Of
  • Submit an Obituary
  • All Podcasts
  • Daily News Podcast
  • Fact Checker
  • Hlastradamus Odds
  • Iowa Prep Sports
  • On Iowa
  • On Iowa Politics
  • On UNI
  • Pinning Combination
  • All Entertainment
  • Art
  • Books
  • Museums & Galleries
  • Music
  • Theater
  • Things To Do
  • All Living
  • Health & Wellness
  • Home & Garden
  • Milestones
  • People & Places
  • Pets & Animals
  • Recreation
  • Religion & Belief
  • Travel

Our Writers

  • Diana Nollen
  • Elijah Decious
  • See All
  • Kids Cooking Series
  • Kids Galleries
  • Printables
  • Activities
  • Articles
  • Submissions
  • Resources
  • All Photos and Videos
  • The Iowa Photo
  • Photo Store

Our Photojournalists

  • Andy Abeyta
  • Liz Martin
  • Rebecca Miller
  • Jim Slosiarek
  • Gazette Visuals
  • All Milestones
  • Anniversaries
  • Days To Remember
  • Engagements
  • Holidays
  • In Remembrance
  • New Arrivals
  • Thank Yous
  • Submit a Milestone
  • Arrests
  • Building Permits
  • Interactive Maps & Charts
  • Salaries
  • Classifieds
  • Corridor Careers
  • Garage Sales
  • Gazette Gives Back
  • Gazette Rewards
  • Gazette Store
  • Green Gazette
  • HER
  • Iowa Wedding Experience
  • Holiday Light Finder
  • Hoopla
  • Iowa Ideas
  • Photo Store
  • About The Gazette
  • Archives
  • Article Removal
  • Business Directory
  • CR Arrest Database
  • Mobile Apps
  • Customer Care
  • Order Back Issues
  • Privacy Policies
  • Puzzle Answers
  • Sponsorship Requests
  • Submit a Letter
  • Weather
Daily News PodcastDaily News Podcast Daily NewslettersDaily Newsletters
LOG OUT

FOLLOW US

More Stories

Watch: Gov. Kim Reynolds holds news conference at 11 a.m.…

Woman testifies former lover killed man over meth quality

University of Iowa education dean Daniel Clay named 4th finalist…

Tiki Tacos ’n Burgers ’n Wings brings island vibe to…

Police looking into death of teenage girl at Iowa hog…

Highway 151 roadwork will close some lanes through fall

Iowa City Mosque damaged by fire

CJ Fredrick transferring stings Iowa, but college sports will survive…

Home / News / Education

University of Iowa condemns Trump order against diversity training

Vanessa MillerBy: Vanessa Miller Oct. 8, 2020 12:10 pm Updated: Oct. 8, 2020 7:34 pm
University of Iowa condemns Trump order against diversity training

IOWA CITY - University of Iowa administrators Thursday condemned an executive order issued by President Donald Trump that has led them to pause all campus diversity and inclusion training for fear the programming could risk federal funding.

The Gazette and others reported this week that the UI was putting the training on hiatus for two weeks while it reviews the programming to see if it violates Trump's order barring training that involves race and sex 'stereotyping” or 'scapegoating” for federal workers, contractors and grant recipients.

The ban appears to affect, among other things, implicit bias training that has become commonplace in private and public diversity efforts.

'We have heard from many on our campus regarding the chilling effect of Executive Order 13950 - and we agree with you,” according to a message from UI President Bruce Harreld, Interim Provost Kevin Kregel and Interim Associate Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Liz Tovar.

'The history of racism and discrimination in our nation is an unquestioned fact, and we must face that as a society if we are to become a stronger country,” they wrote. 'We are deeply disappointed in both the intention behind and the language used in the executive order, which carries the force of law.

'However, it would be irresponsible not to recognize its potential impact upon the university as a federal contractor and recipient of federal grant funding.”

Iowa's public universities annually receive hundreds of thousands in federal research grants from, for example, the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Department of Education and NASA.

The universities also annually have thousands of students on some form of federal financial aid.

Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa have said they're reviewing the matter, as has the office of Gov. Kim Reynolds.

Some colleges and universities elsewhere have disavowed Trump's order or decided to continue training and programming until receiving further guidance.

UI administrators said Thursday the pause on training is temporary.

'UI will continue with DEI training following its review,” which is being led by campus leaders who work in the diversity field.

Goals of the review, the message said, are to assess the training, update a database of UI offerings and resume programming Oct. 19.

'There are a number of sections of the executive order that need to be legally clarified, so taking a temporary pause to understand what we need to do to be in compliance is important given the financial resources at stake for our faculty, staff, students, and mission,” according to the message.

The UI has 923 active federally-funded projects, and in the 2020 budget year received $346.7 million in federal dollars.

Administrators said the pause won't delay implementation of the university's diversity action plan, work of a Reimagining Campus Safety Action Committee, evaluation and transformation of 'gateway courses,” support for a postdoctoral fellowship program or the UI's diversity seminar series.

'We look forward to resuming our training and continuing the work that we have in front of us as a campus and a community,” according to the message, which came after widespread public backlash including on social media.

'Dear uiowa,” one poster wrote, 'please cease and desist all fundraising and development marketing indefinitely. This alumna will be donating to the NAACP and ACLU instead.”

The UI has expanded its diversity efforts in recent years even as it struggled to find and keep a diversity leader. Its associate vice president quit last year after just six weeks on the job.

After that resignation, the UI initially assigned its diversity units to report to Provost Montse Fuentes, but she was moved from that role earlier this year - signing a settlement similar to one the UI had offered the departed leader.

Weeks later, the UI appointed another interim associate vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion - its sixth in three years.

Among UI programming on pause for the review is harassment and discrimination training for UI employees; a certificate program that allows faculty and staff to commit to creating a 'welcoming and inclusive environment”; 'exploring white identity for effective allyship” workshops; implicit bias training; and a LGBTQ safe zone project.

Trump signed the order Sept. 22 to upend what he called 'destructive ideology.”

'This ideology is rooted in the pernicious and false belief that America is an irredeemably racist and sexist country; that some people, simply on account of their race or sex, are oppressors; and that racial and sexual identities are more important than our common status as human beings and Americans,” the order states.

Comments: (319) 339-3158; vanessa.miller@thegazette.com

The Old Capitol Building between Jessup Hall (left) and MacLean Hall (right) on the Pentacrest on campus of the University of Iowa in Iowa City on Wednesday, April 30, 2014. (The Gazette)
Daily Report, University of Iowa
Vanessa Miller

Vanessa Miller

Reporter, The Gazette

Higher education reporter for The Gazette in Eastern Iowa. I love news tips, story ideas and reader feedback.

University of Iowa education dean Daniel Clay named 4th finalist…

University of Iowa among hospitals suing feds over organ-donation changes

3rd University of Iowa presidential finalist vows to tackle diversity,…

University of Iowa 3rd presidential finalist: Georgia State Provost Wendy…

Michael Richards, reappointed to the Board of Regents

All articles by Vanessa

Give us feedback

We work hard to provide fair, accurate coverage because we value your trust. If you find an error or omission in our reporting, please tell us here.

Submit a story idea

Do you have a story idea that we should look into? Please tell us here.

Related Stories

Iowa adds 549 virus cases, seven deaths

Iowa adds 549 virus cases, seven deaths

Gage Miskimen Health Care and Medicine Apr. 20, 2021 5:16 pm

Iowa adds 168 virus cases, five newly reported deaths

Iowa adds 168 virus cases, five newly reported deaths

Gage Miskimen Health Care and Medicine Apr. 19, 2021 3:47 pm

800,000 Iowans vaccinated so far

800,000 Iowans vaccinated so far

Gage Miskimen Health Care and Medicine Apr. 15, 2021 2:55 pm

Education

University of Iowa education dean Daniel Clay named 4th finalist…

University of Iowa education dean Daniel Clay named 4th finalist…

Vanessa Miller

Higher Ed 4m ago

University of Iowa among hospitals suing feds over organ-donation changes

University of Iowa among hospitals suing feds over organ-donation changes

Vanessa Miller

Higher Ed Apr. 20, 2021 8:29 pm

Students invited to ’plant their dreams’ and an apple tree

Students invited to ’plant their dreams’ and an apple tree

Grace King

K-12 Education Apr. 16, 2021 5:30 pm

3rd University of Iowa presidential finalist vows to tackle diversity,…

3rd University of Iowa presidential finalist vows to tackle diversity,…

Vanessa Miller

Higher Ed Apr. 20, 2021 10:41 am

News

Police looking into death of teenage girl at Iowa hog…

Police looking into death of teenage girl at Iowa hog…

AP

News 21m ago

Watch: Gov. Kim Reynolds holds news conference at 11 a.m.…

Watch: Gov. Kim Reynolds holds news conference at 11 a.m.…

The Gazette

Health Care and Medicine 2h ago

Woman testifies former lover killed man over meth quality

Woman testifies former lover killed man over meth quality

Trish Mehaffey

Crime and Courts 2h ago

Iowa City Mosque damaged by fire

Iowa City Mosque damaged by fire

Lee Hermiston

Fires 3h ago

Public Officials

Every Cedar Rapids traffic signal eventually will have observation cameras

Every Cedar Rapids traffic signal eventually will have observation cameras

Kat Russell

News Apr. 8, 2021 5:29 pm

Week in Iowa: Recap of news from around the state…

Week in Iowa: Recap of news from around the state…

Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau

News Apr. 1, 2021 11:00 pm

After 25 years of problem-solving, city of Iowa City’s attorney…

After 25 years of problem-solving, city of Iowa City’s attorney…

Lee Hermiston

Government & Politics Apr. 1, 2021 5:01 pm

Rita Hart drops Iowa 2nd District election challenge amid backlash

Rita Hart drops Iowa 2nd District election challenge amid backlash

By Tom Barton, Quad-City Times

News Mar. 31, 2021 9:24 pm

Government & Politics

How to improve Iowa’s bottle bill? Raise handling fee, allow…

How to improve Iowa’s bottle bill? Raise handling fee, allow…

James Q. Lynch

Government & Politics Apr. 20, 2021 7:29 pm

Iowa Legislature approves end of schools’ voluntary diversity programs

Iowa Legislature approves end of schools’ voluntary diversity programs

James Q. Lynch

State Government Apr. 20, 2021 6:57 pm

U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne, Iowa Democrats ask feds to investigate…

U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne, Iowa Democrats ask feds to investigate…

Erin Jordan

State Government Apr. 20, 2021 2:49 pm

Matthew 25 launches $1M campaign to revitalize Time Check

Matthew 25 launches $1M campaign to revitalize Time Check

Marissa Payne

News Apr. 19, 2021 9:42 pm

FOLLOW US

The Gazette is Iowa’s independent, employee-owned source for local, state, and national news coverage.

© 2021 The Gazette

All Rights Reserved.

  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy
  • Web Accessibility

Contact Us

  • 116 3rd St SE
    Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
  • customercare@thegazette.com
  • (319) 398-8333
  • Live Chat

Links

  • Puzzle Answers
  • CR Arrest Database
  • Article Removal Request
  • Gazette Archives
  • Green Gazette
  • Corridor Careers Jobs
  • Work at The Gazette
  • Customer Care

© 2021 The Gazette

All Rights Reserved.

  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy
  • Web Accessibility
Folience A Folience Company