Order spurs Rutgers to cancel DEI meeting
By: John Connolly
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey
..... Rutgers University has drawn the ire of New Jersey politicians for canceling a scheduled diversity, equity and inclusion conference after President Donald Trump's executive order on DEI this week. [01/21/2025]
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"We have been asked to cease all work under the auspices of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility HUB at Jobs for the Future, which the U.S. Department of Labor funds," Rutgers said Thursday [01/23/2025] in a email to registered attendees for the canceled January 30 [2025] HBCUS and Registered Apprenticeship Mini-Conference.
.... A Rutgers spokesperson said in an email to NorthJersey.com on Saturday [01/25/2025] afternoon that the conference "was canceled at the direction of th U.S. Department of Labor, which ceased all work that it funds through the Jobs for the Future's National Innovation Hub for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility. Most of the panelists were from Jobs for the Future and could not participate because of the execute order that direct federal agencies to ruminate federal contracts and grants related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion."
..... Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, both Democratic candidates for governor, took to X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday [01/25/2025] to denounced the university;s decision.
..... "Rutgers, and any other schools preemptively pulling DEI programming, is an utter failure of courage in the face of political foolishness," Barka posted. "Diversity, equity, and inclusion are not just buzzwords - they are proven strategies that make our workplaces more productive, our students more learned, and our economy stronger and more stable."
..... Calling Trump, a "bully," Baraka wrote: "I call on all private sector partners, responsible corporations, and those who believe in democracy to stand with our institutions against the threat of defending."
..... Fulop agreed, posting that "now is no time to cower to bullies."
..... He was also critical of the university's leadership. writing: "Rutgers as an instation has fostered a bully couture for a few years now. one that targets employees with instructional knowledge and memory, which does a disservice to the students. Look no further than the most recent additions to the Board as where the worst of NJ politics and higher education intertwine ..."
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He pledged that if elected governor: "I will end the university's bend toward corporate interest and machine favors, and I will nominate retired professors and staff to serve as members of the Board of governors."
..... Others also were critical of Rutgers' decision to cancel the conference.
..... "The capitulation continues. These ill-conceived moves are pushing American higher education backwards. We must fight back," the American Association of university Professors posted.
Trump DEI executive order
..... Trump signed tow executive order last week relating to DEI.
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On Monday, [01/20/2025] he singed "Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Referencing,' which among other things called for the government to terminate, "all discriminatory programs, including illegal DEI and ;diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility' (DEIA) mandates, policies, programs, preferences, and activities in the Federal Government.
..... On Tuesday [01/21/2025] Trump issued "Ending Illegal discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity,: which claims that the "Federal Government. major corporations, financial institutions, the medical industry, large commercial airlines, law enforcement agencies, and institution of higher education actively use dangerous, demeaning, and immoral race- and sex-based preferences under the guise of so-called diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) or 'diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility' (DEIA) that can violate the civil-rights laws of this nation."
..... The order calls on "all executive departments and agencies to terminate all discriminatory and illegal preferences, mandates, policies, programs, activities, guidance, regulations, enforcement actions, consent orders, and requirements."