By Brittney Ball
Trinity Times Correspondent

When Mistura Muritala walks onto the campus of Trinity Washington University, where she is a senior nursing student, she normally feels an immediate sense of safety, a small refuge from a world that often questions her belonging.

Lately, however, that comfort has been harder to hold onto.

Many U.S. college students of color worry that a broad assault on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) would weaken the support programs, campus resources and institutional commitments that help them feel safe, represented and positioned to succeed within systems that have historically excluded them.

They also fear the Trump administration is moving to dismantle that very support structure – concerns that are not unfounded. The administration has issued executive orders rolling back DEI initiatives in federal agencies, warned universities they could lose funding if they continue race- or gender-based programs, and even placed DEI staff on leave or eliminated their positions altogether.

“The attacks on DEI by the current administration has left me feeling vulnerable,” Muritala told Trinity Times. “Leaders in very important rooms now have the power to be biased toward students, and that possibility alone is scary.”

Muritala worries not only for herself but also for her undocumented friends. “Whenever they come inside the Trinity doors, they feel protected,” she said. “They know nothing’s going to happen to them. Outside, it’s different. They’re fearful. But here, people like (Trinity) President (Patricia) McGuire make them feel seen.”

Her words capture a growing unease among students at Trinity, where conversations about the national rollback of DEI programs have taken on a deeply personal tone.

In recent months, more than 50 universities have come under investigation as part of President Donald Trump’s anti-DEI crackdown, which accuses schools of using “racial preferences and stereotypes” in education programs.

In September 2025, at least seven Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) received bomb threats, prompting lockdowns and fear. Law enforcement, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, confirmed it was investigating the incidents.

McGuire, who has served as Trinity’s president for decades, has publicly spoken out about the issue, warning that proposed cuts to Minority-Serving Institution grants would devastate schools that serve low-income and first-generation students. She described DEI as “fundamental, not optional.”

She has accused the Trump administration of weaponizing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act in its campaign against DEI programs. Specifically, the administration is using Title VI to challenge or investigate universities for race-conscious initiatives or programs aimed at supporting underrepresented students.

“The Trump administration is misusing Title VI,” McGuire said. “It was created during the Civil Rights Movement to protect Black students, not to protect white people. This perversion of the law’s purpose is stunning to see.”

Despite federal threats, Trinity has doubled down on its DEI commitment. McGuire told Trinity Times that the university’s mission, grounded in its Catholic identity, demands that it protect marginalized communities.

This point was stressed during Trinity’s Oct. 24, 2025, symposium titled “From Leo XIII to Leo XIV: A Century of Social Justice Shaping Trinity,” which explored how Catholic social teaching addresses modern issues.

Trinity’s fight to defend DEI is not new. The university has a legacy of producing women who have shaped national conversations, from Nancy Pelosi, the first woman to serve as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, to Kathleen Sebelius, former U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services, and Cathie Black, former chair of Hearst Magazines. Other alumni include political strategist Kellyanne Conway and federal judges Rosemary M. Collyer and Claire Eagan.

Members of Trinity’s administration and faculty stress that this lineage of leaders across politics, media and law underscores what’s at stake. For Trinity, DEI isn’t just about today’s students – it’s about preserving the pipeline of women who go on to shape public life.

Senior nursing student Precious Udorji said she generally feels safe at Trinity but still experiences moments of isolation.

“Sometimes my ethnic name and background make me stand out,” Udorji told Trinity Times. “I think Trinity does a lot for Black and Hispanic students, but I’d love to see more spaces for other cultures, like an African club or support for the Asian community.”

Udorji’s comments echo what many students describe as both gratitude and longing. They appreciate Trinity’s inclusive mission and hope for even broader representation in the future.

Trinity Provost Carlota Ocampo sees this progressive balance as central to the university’s mission. She points to the institution’s strategic plan, Trinity DARE, which integrates inclusive pedagogy, equitable career pipelines and research on racial justice.

“The very first Catholic social teaching is about the dignity of the human person,” Ocampo said. “Being anti-racist and upholding diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging all flow from that. It’s written into the core of who we are as an institution.”

Her words frame DEI not as a trend, but as a moral responsibility.

The Trump administration and its supporters justify their attacks on DEI programs by framing them as undermining “merit-based” systems, fostering illegal racial or gender preferences, wasting government resources and promoting progressive ideology they consider un-American. They cite civil rights laws and Supreme Court rulings to argue that race-conscious initiatives in admissions, hiring and campus programs violate federal law. Critics counter that these claims mischaracterize DEI, which is designed to address systemic inequities, provide support to historically marginalized students and create more equitable access to higher education.

Education researchers and civil rights advocates warn that eliminating DEI programs would likely deepen existing racial and economic gaps in college access and completion, including experts such as University of Southern California professor Darnell Cole and leaders at the Education Trust.

At Trinity, where more than 90% of students identify as women of color, that threat feels especially real. Cuts to federal programs could endanger the scholarships and support systems many students depend on.

Still, Trinity’s community remains resilient. Faculty and staff continue to advocate for inclusivity, even as national politics grow more polarized. Students, meanwhile, hold onto the hope that the university’s small size and strong mission will shield them from the storm.

As the fight over DEI intensifies, Trinity stands at a crossroads. Its leaders insist DEI is non-negotiable. Students affirm its daily importance but question whether national politics might erode the progress they’ve made.

The contrast between institutional commitment and student anxiety mirrors a broader national tension: Can colleges stay true to their values in an era of political backlash?

For now, Trinity’s stance is clear. It will continue to defend inclusion, not just as policy, but as purpose. Whether it becomes a model or a warning for others may depend on how the country defines equality in the years ahead.