LANSING, Mich. (WILX) – Michigan State University is rolling back diversity, equity, and inclusion hiring practices.
It’s a direct response to President Donald Trump’s move to end what he calls “illegal” hiring practices.
This change applies to employment at Michigan State University (MSU), from students and faculty to administrative, academic, and support staff, which makes up the largest population on campus.
From equal opportunity for all, hiring with the intent of employing a diverse staff with a diverse set of skills.
Now, employment at Michigan State University will be based on merit according to the Trump Administration.
Students on campus have mixed thoughts on the end of affirmative action.
“If you work hard, you should no matter who you are, you should be able to get into a position, it shouldn’t really matter,” said MSU freshman Quinn Allison.
“I feel like it should be a mixed of both to a certain extent, everyone faces adversity, and everybody goes through different things, but you should be hired based on if you’re qualified as well,” said Atticus Carridine, a MSU sophomore.
University spokesperson Amber McCann says the university has made changes due to
President Trump’s executive order
, ending hiring practices based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, and national origin. University of Michigan Law School Professor Richard Primus says it had already been discontinued for faculty hiring statewide.
“The faculty are a relatively small minority of the total workforce, so this a change that would affect most of the employment positions at the university because the university hires more non-faculty than faculty,” said Professor Primus.
Long-term impacts are currently unknown, but students are questioning the change and whether this will end the progress affirmative action has made.
“I feel like it could impact students looking at their teachers, who maybe they look up to, seeing like, oh if they’re a certain race, they look like me, I could do it too,” said Carridine.
“I think we have a great staff here, so why change anything?” said Allison.
The original executive order on
affirmative action was enacted by Lyndon B. Johnson
in 1965 to address the ongoing effects of past discrimination, promoting equal opportunity for all, which the Trump Administration says diminishes the importance of individual merit, aptitude, and hard work
This move comes after several rallies on campus against the Trump Administration. That includes calls for more protection for international students and demonstrations against the limiting of academic freedoms.
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