A new poll reveals that Americans remain sharply divided on the role of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at colleges and universities.
According to a survey conducted earlier this month by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, only 4 in 10 Americans said they “strongly” or “somewhat” support DEI programs in higher education. Meanwhile, 3 in 10 expressed opposition, and another 3 in 10 are neutral on the matter.
Unsurprisingly, the poll also showed a clear partisan divide, with a majority of conservatives opposed to DEI programs on college campuses, while most liberals supported them.
“I’m dead set against DEI,” said 81-year-old Robert Ayala, a poll respondent who described DEI as “giving someone a free ride” or hiring based on race instead of merit. Ayala, who is of Mexican ancestry and grew up in rural South Dakota, said he does support initiatives that offer scholarships or mentoring to disadvantaged students.
“If I was offered a scholarship or training or had somebody to guide me, I might have found my way faster,” he added.
President Donald Trump has made opposition to DEI a central issue of both his campaign and his administration. Since returning to office, Trump has signed multiple executive orders aimed at dismantling DEI initiatives within the federal government and has threatened to cut federal funding to colleges and universities that continue to implement them.
In the private sector, a growing number of companies have also pulled back from DEI programming over the past year. Some firms have disbanded their initiatives altogether, while others have rebranded them in response to shifting public opinion.
