Affinity academic clubs share achievements amid challenges to DEI
Academic groups that support students of color across the University of Maryland are experiencing both accomplishments and challenges to their future with the Trump administration’s push to eliminate university diversity programs in the United States.
POC affinity academic groups aim to provide a safe space for marginalized groups to support one another, foster community and network for the career paths that they aim to pursue. However, with the White House’s plans to crack down on diversity operations on campuses, these groups are in grave danger despite the advantages that they provide.
The Black and Latinx in STEM group teamed up with Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation to host their “Language Is Your Superpower” event Tuesday Mar. 11, which spread the benefits of learning different languages when it comes to your career.
BLIS’ Programming Chair, Fatou Silimana, a junior public health science major, discussed how the club has emphasized connections with a variety of groups.
“Our collaborations with other groups is one of our common things that we’ve been trying to work on. Even if it’s not during Black History Month or Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re trying to make sure that we’re in the loop with what’s going on with other clubs,” Silimana said.
Sophomore government and politics major, Kara Mitchell, who is a member of Black Girls Vote also shared how her group’s emphasis on civic engagement and culture led her to join.
“The [BGV] president came up to me and she asked ‘Are you interested in civic engagement, politics, and helping your community?’ And I was like, ‘Sure, why not?’ And I saw that it was an all Black female organization, and that’s something that I really, really want to be a part of on campus because this is a PWI,” Mitchell said.
Black Girls Vote’s workshop Tuesday centered around the importance of learning about and fighting against misinformation and propaganda. The group touched on President Trump sharing an AI post on social media, which eventually sparked a discussion on the Trump administration’s decision regarding diversity programs on college campuses, which severely impacts all POC affinity groups.
The Department of Education gave universities until the beginning of March to end diversity initiatives or risk losing federal funding. The order threatens many experiences on campus including classes and campus organizations.
Despite efforts to push these groups back, they are staying persistent and working diligently on upcoming events.
BLIS currently has a mentorship chat event in the works, Black Girls Vote is preparing a community service event on Earth Day and the Black Pre-Law Association has a ‘How to Get Into a Top Law School’ webinar event on Mar. 27.
The Black Pre-Law Association Public Relations Co-Chair, Jori Watson shared her mindset on the issue.
“My personal view of it is we just keep going until they tell us we can’t. Obviously, it’s going to probably get to a point where they tell us that we can’t have our meetings. I know that we can still communicate through our newsletter so that people will still be able to get the resources,” Watson said.