EAST LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – On April 25, 2025, Michigan State University’s Black Student Alliance (BSA) led a march from the Hannah Administration Building to the newly established Multicultural Center. This demonstration, part of “Operation Blackout,” aimed to highlight ongoing issues of what they perceive to be hate speech, harassment, and administrative inaction on campus. Along the march, they chanted, “No justice, no peace” which was a rallying cry during the George Floyd riots of 2020.
The State News reported that BSA’s primary demand is the implementation of a “No Hate Ordinance” to bolster the university’s response to hate crimes. The proposed ordinance would be developed by a task force comprising BSA members, DEI professionals, university administrators, and legal experts, with opportunities for student feedback through town halls.
A stark national contrast to MSU’s DEI push.
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While MSU students advocate for enhanced diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) measures, the national landscape tells a different story. President Donald Trump’s administration has issued executive orders aimed at dismantling DEI programs across federal agencies, citing a return to “merit- based” practices.
These federal actions have led to the elimination of DEI initiatives in various sectors, including education and housing, with civil rights advocates warning about the possible erosion of protections for “marginalized communities.
MSU doubles down on DEI programs, insists compliance with the law.
While some colleges and universities are getting rid of their DEI departments so they won’t lose funding from federal grants and contracts, Michigan State University (MSU) continues to maintain its Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion (IDI), which serves as the central hub for DEI initiatives across the university.
In February, deans and university leaders ordered a review of MSU’s programs and activities to ensure compliance with anti-discrimination laws according to the Lansing State Journal.
In March, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) flagged 38 DEI faculty projects at MSU as part of a broader scrutiny of university funding according to The State News.
Also in March, MSU said they intend to continue with their DEI programs. According to The Center Square, the school said that MSU “feels confident we are continuing to operate within federal and state laws in the way we educate students, hire new employees and ongoing support for multiple stakeholders.”
Campus activism amid national rollbacks.
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In contrast to federal rollbacks concerning DEI, BSA’s efforts at MSU include proposals for mandatory DEI and anti-racism training for all incoming students, faculty, and staff, as well as the inclusion of DEI
statements in course syllabi. They also call for increased funding for the Council of Racial and Ethnic Students (CORES) and additional support for Black caucuses.
These initiatives underscore the group’s commitment to fostering what they see as an “inclusive” campus environment – even as national policies shift toward equal treatment without racial preferences or segregation.
