Students at Marshall University recently spoke up on the future of the school’s many Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), related programs.
The campus rally also brought out students concerned that their majors and minors may not lead to the career paths once expected.
Last week, more than 150 students chanted and rallied before a march across campus. Parkersburg senior Matthew Lebo said he worried about the future of the Office for Student Success at East Hall, and its diverse programs that help many simply adjust to a new environment,
“They have different centers available for LGBTQ people at Marshall,” Lebo said. “For racial minorities at Marshall, to enable them to find a place of community on campus, to feel welcome, to help them through struggles for living in what is a very hostile state towards a lot of marginalized communities.”
West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey, a Republican, was a prime protest target. He issued an executive order his first full day in office banning state funding for any West Virginia entity that has DEI programs. That includes Marshall University. But it is up to the West Virginia legislature to determine how state funds are allocated.
Among the campus crossing throng, was McDowell County graduate student Donald Hansbury. In 2021 he ran for Marshall’s homecoming court on a Diversity Equity and Inclusion platform. Hansbury had a message for those who pull the state pursestrings.
“I wrote a letter to the Capitol already about some of the ways I feel about the issues,” Hansbury said. “One thing that I would love to say about my legislators is to take a deeper look at who you are impacting and kind of what that legislation you’re trying to challenge is really doing for the people of the state that you’re in charge of.”
Many of those protesting felt the same way as recent Marshall graduate Lillian Ramsier. She worried that the loss of programs that support and offer security to those who are marginalized will cause irreparable damage.
“We may be over exaggerating and nothing can change,” Ramsier said. “But I highly doubt that will happen. We already have laws in place that say you cannot discriminate against people. So getting rid of this is just pandering to the right.”
It’s not just concerns over funding or collapse of DEI programs that these students have come out to protest. There are a number of executive orders on the federal and state level that are garnering concern.
Ella Hiles, a senior from Ohio, was one of many who rallied and marched out of concern for career futures. Hiles hopes to forge a career in library science.
“If library funding is cut, I don’t know what I will do as a job,” Hiles said. “Libraries have always been my safe, happy place, and seeing them cut would be awful, especially for future generations as well. I also grew up going to the National Park Service with my family. Those were our vacations. With the National Park funding cuts happening right now and effectively shutting them down to a minimum level – that is so detrimental to everyone.”
Marshall Communications Director Leah Payne said the university is now working toward DEI executive order compliance. Students like Matthew Lebo worried that compliance will go against what he sees as true Mountain state values.
“It is critical that West Virginia maintains our place as a state bound by love and acceptance for people,” Lerbo said. “We are a state that is famous for helping your neighbor no matter what. It is critical that our legislators not forget that message to ensure that West Virginia is a place where everybody feels welcome to live and build a life and secure a future for themselves and our state.”
No one from the university came out to meet with these students. Payne said that Marshall DEI program changes are expected in the coming weeks.
