SAU Media major and Buzz e-news reporter Grant Ward continues their special spring semester series on the issues of DEI at St. Ambrose. In part 2, they explore reactions from students and the administration.
SAU continues to respond and react to state and federal pressure to review its DEI program.
During Wednesday, February 26th’s faculty and staff Q&A forum to discuss ongoing policy and legislation developments, St. Ambrose President Dr. Amy Novak announced that “We do believe we’ll need to reconfigure the organizational structure of DEI…
“The positions of the office will not be removed…the work itself won’t change.
“There are suggestions to say we need to do this before we can undo it.”
At this time, student clubs and organizations, activities, recognition events, and the curriculum have not been impacted.
However, title and job descriptions have been changing. Ryan Saddler went from the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to the Associate Vice President for Access, Opportunity, and Community.
During an interview with SAUTV, Dr. Novak clarified that the forum was organized because “We just have a lot of political policymaking coming at us…
“There’s always questions about ‘How does that impact me?’ And ‘Does that change my work?’
“This was really an opportunity for people to be able to ask questions and, to the best of our ability, answer those for what we know right now.”
State Legislation Updates
Much of the updated legislation comes from the state level, with the forum touching on HSB 60, HSB 62, and HF 583. If enacted, these pieces of legislation will eliminate DEI offices for Iowa’s private institutions, affect the Iowa Tuition Grant program, and remove “gender identity” as a protected status from the Iowa Civil Rights Act.
In the days following the forum, the Iowa Committee on Higher Education voted seven yeas and four nays to pass HSB 60, HSB 62 has been recommended for passage, and HF 583 was voted to pass by the Iowa Legislature.
HSB 60 is “An act prohibiting private institutions of higher education that participate in the Iowa tuition grant program from establishing diversity, equity, and inclusion offices.”
The Iowa Tuition Grant is a program that “offers qualifying Iowa families up to $8,500 per year for four years of attendance at an Iowa private college or university.”
During her interview, Dr. Novak shared her concern with HSB 60. “At the state level last year, the state legislature votes in some particular legislation that restricted DEI offices at…any community college or state institution…who received Iowa tuition grant funding.
“That decision sort of ricocheted into this year’s session and now has an impact on all private institutions who also receive Iowa Tuition Grant funding…”
Student Reactions to Updated Legislation
Brandon Staffney-Attical, Student Government Association Senator, believes that this legislation in his words is “Truly an attack on DEI.”
As a black man from the Southern United States, Staffney-Attical says he recalled his high school experience during President Trump’s first term.
“When Trump won in 2016, everybody just got 10 times more openly racist.
“We had teachers getting fired for posting the n-word online. He just made people comfortable being racist…
“But you couldn’t do anything about it…as a black man from the South, you had to be so much better than your peers.
“Because of DEI,” Staffney-Attical continues, “I can get the opportunities I couldn’t get back then.
“DEI doesn’t hurt anyone. Why would you want to take away an office that promotes inclusivity?”
MacKenzie Kent, St. Ambrose President of College Republicans and Secretary of the Iowa Federation of College Republicans, wasn’t surprised about the ongoing policies and legislation: “However, the DEI office seems to have good opportunities for students in various ways.
“DEI means making opportunities equitable and more open for people of diverse backgrounds, specifically minority groups…
“In a way, as a female, DEI has helped open opportunities…to include more women in certain activities to balance out the gender ratio. Especially in politics and Republican groups, men do tend to dominate the field.
“It’s allowed me to explore more political activities as a young, female Republican.
“But it’s negatively impacted me with people having certain beliefs and biases that I only have certain positions and titles due to my being a female.
“Organizations might also want a diverse perspective from a female, hence making it my only qualification.”
Affects on SAU’s DEI Office
When asked by SAUTV about how the legislation may affect St. Ambrose’s DEI office, Dr. Novak said, “In many respects, there was an outcry by many of the legislators in Iowa that those acronyms and statements really reflected a certain political ideology.
“Unfortunately, St. Ambrose got caught in the middle of that…
“The work that happens in our DEI office…it was always about student success; it has never been about promoting a particular ideology. That being said, we know we’re likely to have to make some changes in that space…
Kent says she isn’t surprised. “Ambrose welcomes and accepts people from all identities and backgrounds…St. Ambrose can keep its core values even if the DEI office shuts down.
“Based on Dr. Novak’s statements…it sounds as if she will stand firm on DEI, specifically inclusion…with a Catholic foundation and values welcoming everyone.”
When asked about student organizations, Dr. Novak stated, “We’ll continue to be able to support our student groups across campus who might align around particular areas, in part because those groups are open to all students.”
Due to Staffney-Attical’s role in the Student Government Association and SGA’s close relationship with the DEI office, he was able to volunteer at Night to Shine, an event in partnership with the Tim Tebow Foundation “to create a glamorous night out for members of the disabled community.”
Staffney-Attical said “It was one of the greatest experiences of my life.
“We all have nametags, but apart from that, you can’t tell us apart.
“When you’re talking to people, you understand that we’re all the same.”
How Legislation Will Affect Ambrose & the Nation
Moving forward, Kent says she believes “the nation will develop a system based on merit, and opportunities will go to the best-qualified people, no matter the person’s background…
“I believe America is at a point in which people do not care about gender, race, ethnicity, identity, etc.
“Overall, the country is very open and welcoming to diverse groups of people.”
Staffney-Attical says, “The reason people are against DEI is because they don’t understand what it is for.
“We have students from all different races, sexualities, genders, religions…if they’re feeling out in the cold and alone, why not make them feel included?
“We want to make things more inclusive so that everyone gets a chance. We still have to be more qualified, but we at least get the chance for them, thanks to DEI.”
For St. Ambrose, Dr. Novak told SAUTV, “I think all of our faculty and staff are committed to honoring the legislation but are also recognizing that this is work we want to make sure continues…
“We’re going to support all of our students. That’s our commitment, and so our faculty and staff will remain focused on doing that as we move forward.”
If you have any questions about ongoing changes to the University, please contact sauquestions@sau.edu
Buzz Reporter Grant Ward will continue to follow the story as it develops on campus.
Read Brandi Crawley’s story on how anti-DEI laws hit close to home for SAU students.
Read Part 1: SAU Leaders Review DEI After Federal & State Pressure
Read Part 3: Administration Closes DEI Office, Answers Student Questions
Read Part 4: “We’re Not Going Away” – SAU Students March Towards A United Future
