By: Nyles Stone, Politics Reporter
Editor’s note: As of February 10, 2025, the “Inclusive VT” site appears to be live
Virginia Tech quietly removes web pages dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion following President Trump’s Executive Order, Sparking concern among the student body.
For months Virginia Tech has been implementing small changes to its inclusion initiatives, But President Trump’s executive order to dismantle DEI has led into the quiet removal of Virginia Tech’s DEI-related websites, raising questions about the future of inclusion and belonging at Virginia Tech.
“It feels like they’re taking advantage of everything happening around us to secretly get rid of everything,” said Emon Green, a senior majoring in philosophy, politics, and economics at Virginia Tech.
Virginia Tech has not provided any information or explanation about the quiet removal of the websites, leaving multiple students concerned about their safety and the protection of marginalized groups on campus. Other schools like the University of Virginia, Old Dominion University, and James Madison University all still have their own websites and DEI statements on the pages even though the executive order prohibits the practice of anything DEI related.
The now missing pages on the Virginia Tech websites offered various information, from certain links to specific college mission statements about DEI to a page dedicated to the certain required course modules for undergraduate and graduate students and faculty to take to learn about DEI.
Many students expressed their frustration and confusion about the lack of transparency about the changes, Leo Hoffman, a senior majoring in wildlife conservation at Virginia Tech, said “I think it’s unfortunate they got rid of the DEI websites, they provided a safe space for BIPOC students, and I haven’t heard it be talked about much. It’s a bit of a bummer.” reflecting a broader concern among the student body.
Despite the removal of the DEI websites, Virginia Tech University Spokesperson Mark Owczarski provided a website dedicated to “Inclusive VT”, a broader initiative of Virginia Tech’s commitment to diversity and inclusion but it fails to directly address the recent website changes. Owczarski, who has been at Virginia Tech since 2003, was not able to clarify the reasons behind the removal of the websites and the lack of response from the school.
For Green, the removal brings “ a sense of urgency and persecution,” Green said” Attacks on DEI are really just attacks on the progress we made, it’s crazy that something so ingrained and useful is now being dismantled.”
Green also emphasized his belief that Virginia Tech’s lack of response in regards to DEI lines up with Virginia Tech’s own political interests. “Virginia Tech will always acquiesce to the broader system. The responsibility falls on us to protect what we’ve built and find new ways to support each other.”
The timing of the removal of the websites directly ties to the recent changes in political climate. On January 23rd, President Trump signed an executive with the intention of dismantling all federal DEI agencies across the U.S. including public universities, which are primarily funded by grants. President Trumps attempt to get rid of DEI promotes the importance of Merit Based Hiring ,with President Trump saying, “My administration has taken action to abolish all discriminatory diversity, equity, and inclusion nonsense – and these policies were absolute nonsense – throughout the government and private sectors.” told to the World Economic Forum.
Many universities across the country are scaling back their own DEI programs in response to the new executive order, with many programs across the country being cut, or paused. While Virginia Tech has not acknowledged the changes, the website’s quick removal aligns with the national trend toward dismantling diversity-focused initiatives across higher education in America.
“It’s frustrating because it’s not impossible to say something, I’m more worried about if Virginia Tech is going support its students through action,” Green said, “If they’re not going to support students through action, we need to take an approach to push back and shift the university’s priorities,” believing activism will be able to hold Virginia Tech accountable for the administrations’ lack of response.
Green also encourages students to get involved in advocacy efforts, saying, “It is on us to sustain what we have and push back,”
The removal of DEI impacts various students and faculty who have relied on these resources to make their work and school environment safe. With the uncertainty in these resources many claim there is a “fear of being protected.” Additionally, the removal raises even more questions about the University with what happens to the dedicated DEI courses, certain organizations dedicated for minorities, grants and scholarships.
As the concerns for transparency grow, students and faculty will be able to attend Virginia Tech President Tim Sands’ State of the Union address on February 5th in the Moss Art Center, in hopes that the removal of DEI resources will be acknowledged, and more of the unanswered questions hopefully being answered. It is uncertain whether President Sands will address the removal or not, but for students like Green, this is just one step in the for inclusion at Virginia Tech.
> THE NEWS FEED < 