‘Come and see for yourself’: University of Idaho student voices want to be at the forefront of the discussion about possible closure of diversity offices

A group of University of Idaho students who use diversity offices at risk under a proposed statewide policy said in a survey that the services have improved their college experience and, in some cases, prevented them from dropping out .

Nick Koenig, a UI graduate student, compiled a report with fellow students on Monday that includes the experiences of 55 students who use the diversity offices. The Idaho Board of Education is considering a resolution to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs at all colleges in the state.

At last week’s board meeting, members decided they wanted more input from universities on their diversity offices before making the decision to close them.

Since then, Idaho Board of Education Executive Director Joshua Whitworth has had conversations with some university presidents and lawmakers, particularly those lawmakers who are part of a “DEI task force” within the Legislature, said Mike Keckler, spokesman for the Board of Education.

Koenig says that’s not enough – students’ voices must be at the forefront of the discussion.

“I would love it if they could talk to the students and refocus the student voice in the process. I think that’s the point of education. “What we should do,” Koenig said, “is not let people who are not in the classroom talk to each other. If they made a decision without talking to the students, that would be extremely problematic.”

Koenig’s report surveyed 55 students who attended rallies and meetings about the possible closure and were given a QR code.

All respondents reported positive experiences with the diversity offices. However, Koenig admits that the surveys are not representative of the entire university, “but they represent the voices of the students.”

More than half of those surveyed said that if the offer were removed they might consider leaving university because they would not know how to continue without the offer.

One student wrote in his report card about the UI Office of Multicultural Affairs: “I had a resurfacing of sexual trauma that resulted in a panic attack. When I went to the women’s center, the staff supported me and gave me a shoulder to cry on. OMA helped me make friends and learn how to survive freshman year.”

Another student wrote in his testimony that the office “assisted in the 2022 murders” of UI students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle. Bryan Kohberger, who is accused of their murders, is scheduled to go on trial for the murders this summer.

After the murders, the course of the university was completely changed. Many students left campus, police increased patrols throughout the city and national media flocked to the school.

“It touched me emotionally,” Koenig said of the student who was helped after the murders. “It shows that we can’t turn our backs on these offices.”

Testimonials also include people who said they wouldn’t have been able to get a degree without the offices, that they felt more comfortable on campus, that the offices helped them educate themselves about things like reproductive health or sexual health, and that they were worried about their friends using the offices.

There are children at the school with a “broad background,” Koenig said, so even teachers will use the diversity offices to better understand and support their own students.

Koenig, who uses they and the pronouns “them,” said he fears other services such as veterans affairs or disability offices could be threatened.

“If I didn’t know how to support a student who was a veteran, I don’t know what I would do if this office didn’t exist. The same goes for students who need the women’s center. I worry about what comes next.”

Those critical of diversity practices have raised concerns about reverse discrimination, or the alienation of students who are not part of the demographic these offices serve. Education committee member David Turnbull said at last week’s meeting that “identity has become a way to divide us rather than bring us together.”

But Koenig said as a white person, they have never gone to the Black and African American Cultural Center and felt hostile behavior there. In fact, Koenig said, when Koenig had questions about how to teach a class about how environmental changes can affect people of different races, people there were friendly.

“Come to the centers and see how supportive they are. Come to campus. Come and see for yourself,” said Koenig in an interview with the board members. “Meet the students and staff and listen to them.”

University of Idaho officials did not respond to comment Tuesday.