“Emotional terrorism.” “Censorship.” “Hyper-nationalism.” A period of tumult likened to “the late 1960s.” These are the words and phrases faculty members used when describing what the next four years under President Donald Trump and what the state of diversity, equity, and inclusion may look like. 

Throughout the campaign for his second administration, Trump and his team spent months crafting a proposal around his disdain for DEI initiatives, claiming that they were “dangerous, demeaning, and immoral.” On the first day of his presidency, he declared he would end “illegal discrimination” and restore “merit-based opportunity.”

Tim Riley, associate professor of journalism, spoke to the “abnormality” of the Trump presidency and his attempt to efface all things related to DEI.

“It’s time [for] somebody [to] sit him down and ask him what he means and what the problem is. I mean, he has not articulated a single problem around it,” Riley said. “He’s on a warpath, and it’s almost like we’re letting him go to battle against this thing, and nobody’s even clear about what it is.”

While the initial executive order targets federal agencies by withholding funding if a given agency uses it for “DEI,” another order proposed to pause federal loans, grants, and other financial assistance could make it easier for  Trump to unravel programs related to DEI. That order was reversed less than two days later.

The ramifications of these actions for educators at higher institutions are apparent to some, like Lu Ann Reeb, chair of the journalism department. 

“I think the faculty that do research in this particular area [of DEI]—of which there are many—are super worried about this,” she said. “It’s their livelihood. They have children, loved ones.”

Other faculty members, like Journalism Professor Cheryl Charles, are still contemplating how the impacts of Trump’s actions will be felt at Emerson.

“My journalism course on reporting issues of diversity would probably be one of the [first] ones to go,” said Charles. “It is not something that I am looking to worry about now—if it happens, it happens.”

Although Emerson is a private institution, it still receives some federal funding—namely through financial aid, like the Pell Grant. Other private institutions of similar status have historically not been protected from the effects of similar policies. Black student enrollment fell by more than 4% at Harvard Law for the class of 2027 after the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action, prompting Harvard to change its admissions practices. Harvard University recently advised researchers to “stop work on DEIA-related [diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility] activities,” the Boston Globe reported. Other Boston universities, such as Northeastern University, have removed words relating to “diversity and inclusion” from sections of their website.

To Reeb, seeing other New England institutions like Harvard and Northeastern roll back DEI initiatives doesn’t deter her. Not only is Emerson smaller, but in her words, “we’re stronger.”

“We have a whole organization behind our initiatives,” Reeb said. “As far as I can tell, they’re holding. And they have the support of the faculty.” 

Riley shares a similar view as Reeb, and said the college’s commitment to DEI is strong.

“I think our legal protections are very sound,” he said. “I think [Trump is] going to face serious opposition in a town like Boston.”

Riley went on to say why he does not think Emerson will roll back DEI initiatives. 

“We’re having a teach-in on race next week. We are not letting him intimidate us out [of this]… but it’s exactly the kind of event that he wishes he could erase,” he said. “I have every confidence that our administrators, faculty, staff, and students will do everything we can to uphold our civil rights and carry on with a DEI program if we choose to.”

Emerson’s web page on diversity, equity, and inclusion remains unchanged from the way it was before Trump assumed office. However, as a private institution, Emerson does not have to uphold the same constitutional rights and protections as public universities. For example, the interim protest and political speech policies, which came after the encampment last year, where 118 students were arrested, restrict student’s ability to protest and express political speech. President Trump signed an executive order to revoke the visas of international students who’ve participated in pro-Palestine rallies if they are reported to the White House in the next 60 days.

Charles touched on the heightened emotions around censorship on campus, given the context of what happened last spring, and in light of the new federal policy.

“People do not feel as protected as they felt before all the demonstrations against the atrocity in Gaza, and the administration’s response to the protest,” she said.

Doug Struck, a journalism professor, told The Beacon that he believed the Trump administration would give the college an excuse for continued censorship of students “under the guise of” not wanting the attention of Trump.

“They are not in the position of acting these days,” said Struck.

Cristina Kotz, a professor and BFA program coordinator, explained that “an institution is looking out for their own interests.”

“They’re certainly curtailing [free speech]. There’s a lot of people on campus afraid to speak out about things,” Kotz said. 

A wide range of student organizations on campus, from cultural to professional, feel the pressure of DEI’s potential elimination. 

“The elimination of DEI obviously does pose a threat, because our values as an organization are to be inclusive and to welcome anybody from any different background,” said Jaeel Beato, the president of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists at Emerson (NAHJ). “We ensure that everyone has fair access to the opportunities and resources that we offer as an organization.” 

However, Beato told the Beacon that this is not hindering NAHJ in their mission, and that they will continue their work: “This is motivating us to go further and expand and try to reach more groups that are also under attack as well,” he said.

One of those aforementioned groups also anticipating challenges from the Trump administration is the Boston Black Creative Collective, BCC,   which serves as an outlet and platform for Black creatives in the Boston area.

Kenza-Noe Clayton is an Emerson student and the co-founder of the Boston BCC, which he describes as a place for “authenticity” and “sharing art” for Black creatives at Emerson and beyond. He said the objective for BCC in the coming Trump years is to rely on one another. 

“I think it’s really up to us to find other alternatives to continue our mission,” he said. “I think we need to start thinking more outside the institution itself.”

One of the tangible ways BCC is looking to do that is to remain unaffiliated with Emerson College. While they were considering becoming an official Emerson student organization, the recent events of the encampments, new school policies, and now, Trump administration policies are making them rethink that. Clayton was also concerned about his organization being censored if they were to become affiliated.

“I wouldn’t say we’ve been directly censored, but it’s more the fear of it,” he said. “Once we start receiving the school’s money, it’s a whole different thing…the money’s conditional.”

Beato says censorship would be detrimental to the college and its student body. “[It] just means less representation, a less inclusive campus culture, things like that, which obviously is harmful in so many ways,” he said.

Beena Sarwar, a journalism professor, said she is not afraid of potential censorship from either administration—Trump’s nor Emerson’s. She thinks that many will instead begin to practice self-censorship when they see fit. 

Sarwar described experiencing this phenomenon of self-censorship while living under a military dictatorship in Pakistan. She is of the opinion, however, that this is not the fault of the Emerson administration. Reeb, who shares this opinion, elaborated on it further.

“I think part of it is the college trying to protect itself from any intervention from the Trump administration,” said Reeb. However, she said that she has never personally felt censored by the Emerson administration. “I think the restrictions were a reaction to what happened with the arrests, which were horrible, and I think the Trustees drove that train.”

Reeb elaborated further and said that she thinks the Emerson administration will comply with the Trump administration, but explained that there would be a lot of pushback from faculty.

“There would be so many faculty members who would quit,” she said. “I think people would walk out.”

Riley echoed Reeb’s belief, making it clear that he would not go down without a fight.

“If I were to publicly make anti-Trump comments, and I felt pressure from the administration to step down or step aside or be quiet, I would consider that a violation of my First Amendment rights,” he said. “It’s something I need to reflect on hard.”

What gives Reeb hope, she said, is the “camaraderie” of the faculty and students she works alongside every day. 

“I don’t feel like I need the support of the President [of Emerson]… I put my confidence in my colleagues and my students,” she said. “That’s who I really care about. I would hope that we are not tested in that as an institution, [but] a statement [from the College] really isn’t the end test of a college community in my mind anyway.”

“Emerson remains unwavering in its commitment to inclusion, respect, and support for each and every Emersonian,” Emerson spokesperson Michelle Gaseau told The Beacon in an email. “The college’s goal over the coming months and years is to make sure everyone in our community is strongly supported by the college, so they can focus on their education and well-being. [Emerson] will continue to operate within the laws and policies that pertain to our institution, and we are closely monitoring updates that may affect our community.”

Many faculty expressed that the main problem is that the impact of the Trump Administration’s DEI rollbacks on Emerson is unknown.

“We don’t know yet what this government is going to do when it comes to impacting private schools,” Kotz said. “I think there’s more of a wait-and-see attitude.”

Every faculty member The Beacon spoke with is confident the college will not preemptively comply with the Trump administration’s policies.  

“[Emerson] is working on a strategic plan for the future of Emerson, and [DEI] is embedded in that strategic plan,” Reeb said. “I don’t see Emerson cowering in the corner about it.”

Riley pointed out that some faculty are more vulnerable than others based on their areas of expertise, and whether they’re tenured or not.

“I’m very concerned about how intimidating it is for people in certain spaces,” he said. “But part of being in Boston is you’re part of the liberal institutions … they’re not going to blow us down.”

Despite the uncharted territory, several faculty members expressed that the fervor of the Emerson community’s beliefs and values will outweigh any attempts made by either administration to quell initiatives of diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

“Emerson has more control over its destiny,” said Reeb. “This is part of the lifeblood of Emerson College.”