BOISE, Idaho — During finals week, BSU administrators sent an email to students on Tuesday that said over Thanksgiving break, the university closed the Student Equity Center and the Gender Equity Center.
Over ten years ago, these centers were also known as The Multicultural Affairs Center and The Women's Center before their names were changed. These centers, under various names, have been on the BSU campus for decades.
KTVB obtained a copy of the email sent to students. Doors to the centers were closed Nov. 29, the email said.
"We want to acknowledge that the staff members who have worked in these centers over the last few decades have impacted the lives of thousands of students," administrators wrote in the email.
The email alluded to the university's decision was in anticipation of a resolution passing from Idaho's State Board of Education.
The resolution would restrict diversity, equity and inclusion programs on college campuses. It was first introduced at a Nov. 21 special meeting of the State Board of Education.
"We all have heard the conversations taking place this year across the nation related to diversity, equity and inclusion and higher education," BSU administrators said in the email. "The Idaho State Board of Education has developed resolutions for Idaho universities, and we have provided feedback. We remain steadfast in our commitment to serving all students while seeking to be responsive to our governing board’s expectations."
As a replacement, BSU will open a new Student Connections and Support Center. In the email, they said they've been planning for the new center for several months.
The new center will offer a first-generation program and resources like case management, crisis interventions, and other services.
The email did not detail when the new Student Connections and Support Center will open. KTVB reached out to BSU for additional questions. BSU declined to do an interview.
Boise State isn't the first to cut DEI centers and offices
The State Board of Education trustees haven't made a decision on the resolution yet, nor do we know if and when they will. But that hasn't stopped schools from getting out ahead of the possibility of this resolution passing.
Both the University of Idaho and Idaho State University were making plans to change DEI resources on their campuses before the resolution was even introduced.
On Nov. 14, ISU got rid of its Office of Equity and Inclusion. ISU President, Robert Wagner described it as a "restructuring and renaming" in an announcement that day.
Moving forward at ISU, it will be known as "The Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX."
Then, on Nov. 18, UI told its students and staff that its Equity and Diversity Unit (EDU) would be going away on Dec. 14. This unit includes the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Women's Center, the Black and African American Cultural Center, and the LGTBQ+ Office.
However, the day after the state board of education introduced its DEI resolution, UI backtracked and said it would hold off on making any decisions, and that they didn't want to act "too quickly."
The resolution is read by lawmakers
On Dec. 2 the states DEI committee met at the capital. Ironically, BSU students were in the room and told KTVB they were trying to prevent changes to DEI from happening on their campus.
"We are housed under these centers,' Charles Jones III, a BSU student, told KTVB that day. "These are things that come as a second home to me, as a place of community in a state where I don't really see people like me a lot... that aren't on the football team."
Among other presentations on the agenda, the committee heard of Josh Whitworth, who is the executive director of the state board of education.
Whitworth read the committee the resolution.
While other committee members didn't share much of an opinion on the resolution's language, Senator Melissa Wintrow, on the committee, pushed back on the resolution's intent.
"What is happening on our campuses here in Idaho is being reflected in the over 50 emails I received in two days," Wintrow said at the meeting. "I would encourage you to talk to students because that's who's contacted me. And they're scared about the things you're denying them."
KTVB obtained copies of Wintrows emails. All of them are in support of DEI on campuses of higher education. Some of them said it's crucial to have it on campuses, and others provided examples of how DEI units helped their college careers.
"I don’t think I would have succeeded in earning my B.A. and teaching certificate without the help and encouragement of the women’s center in particular," a former UI student wrote Wintrow. "The multicultural groups that you are looking at were important in rounding out my education and allowed me a perspective that served me well in later years."
"I'm a retired teacher," someone else wrote Wintrow. "I believe supporting DEI in higher education is very important for fostering a learning environment where everyone from student, staff, and faculty feel valued and respected. The whole community benefits from DEI initiatives as we gain a richer understanding of our varied world."