excerpt from article
Charlotte HBCU president says UNC system’s DEI policy repeal is ‘disservice’ to students
August 01, 2024
When the University of North Carolina System repealed its diversity, equity and inclusion policy in May,
Valerie Kinloch was disappointed — but not surprised.
At Johnson C. Smith University, where Kinloch is entering her second year as president, she says equity, diversity and inclusion have been “part of the fabric” from the beginning.
Enrollment and percent Black enrollment: 1,166 (1,122 undergraduate) 72% (but 24% show race unknown)
While the school was founded for Black Americans, students of any race and ethnicity are welcome to attend. “Universities in this state and around the country have banned diversity, equity and inclusion without understanding fundamentally that diversity, equity and inclusion should be seen as cornerstones to everything we do,” she told The Charlotte Observer. “I think it’s a disservice.”
Launched in 1867, JCSU is a private school and not part of the UNC system. It is among the country’s 100 historically Black colleges and universities. While its policies are not affected by the decision. Kinloch says the decision is misguided.
“I’m disheartened that many universities are erasing, banning or disarming any kind of critical perspective when it comes to diversity equity and inclusion,” she said. “Diversity is not about just Black people ... Diversity is about understanding that we form a collective of critical, conscious individuals who pursue equity and justice because we have racial, ethnic, linguistic and gender differences.”
Kinloch believes it’s a step in the wrong direction. “It just baffles me, but I’m not surprised,” she said. “When we talk about equity, we talk about a redistribution of resources to the people and communities who need those resources the most, and at times, when you have people in positions of power who don’t want to share resources, then it becomes an outright attack on diversity, equity and inclusion.”
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