JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion shut down to comply with state laws prohibiting state colleges from using public funds for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
As a result, some students are wondering what’s next now that the programs are gone.
“I think it’s a travesty we’re shutting down such great resources,” Emily Roles, a UNF student said.
The resources Roles are talking about include the school’s LGBTQ+, Women’s, Interfaith and Intercultural centers.
Those programs officially closed because they fall under the school’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
During a Florida Board of Governors meeting in January, the board voted to support a bill that would prohibit state colleges and universities from spending federal money on DEI initiatives.
In January, students on campus rallied against this vote.
Roles said she wishes the school didn’t lose the women’s center.
“It makes me feel sad and quite frankly a little bit frightened because although nothing has happened to me personally, I’m sure there’s people who stuff has happened to and they’ve needed to reach out to the women’s center for help and with that thing not there they might not have a support system,” Roles said.
For example, the women’s center used to offer programs like a lounge to express themselves in a safe space, an area where mothers could go to breastfeed or express milk, and organized programs to raise awareness of domestic violence.
Other centers within the office provided programs like:
Even though today is the first day those programs are closed, they’ve already been wiped from the web. UNF’s website shows “page cannot be found” when looking for programs like the Women’s Center.
Now that the programs are closed, UNF stated how students will be able to receive the services those programs provided.
“The University offers resources and support services available to all students, including health and counseling services. The Victim Advocacy Program, which was part of the Women’s Center, now operates out of the Dean of Students Office. In addition, student clubs are not affected by this law and may remain active,” a UNF spokesperson said.
The school said some staff members from the offices that were part of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion have left the university for other job opportunities, and the remaining employees have moved to other open positions in the university.