ECU students and staff react to suspension of all DEI graduation requirements

GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) - ECU is making headlines after announcing it is doing away with controversial classes needed to obtain a degree.

In response to recent guidance from the University of North Carolina system, the school is changing certain policies in education, but not without backlash.

East Carolina University on Thursday said it is suspending all graduation requirements related to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Charkera Hinnant says she believes the move is a step backward.

“I honestly think we should keep it in with the college because that’s history. And like if you take away history, it’s like what will the people or the generation like above us, like is gonna learn. It’s like it’s gonna be taken away and it’s gonna be like this huge gap, it’s gonna be like well, what happened in this point of time,” says Hinnant.

The university says the change includes courses focused on Global and Domestic Diversity.

ECU said in a statement: “It is important to note that the system directive does not “impair the academic freedom of faculty within the University of North Carolina to pursue teaching, research, and service, or of our students to pursue the coursework of their choosing.”

Sociology Teaching Instructor Jennifer O’Neill says in her opinion, the action is politically motivated.

“Our society has been very built and centered around the experience of particularly, wealthy white men. And so when wealthy white men start to see their position being challenged a little bit, they have a knee-jerk reaction and they start trying to push back in the other direction,” says O’Neill.

Meanwhile, Emma Vincent is outspoken on the matter, saying she agrees with the suspension.

“I don’t want to be taking LGBTQIA classes. I don’t want to be in the critical race stuff because I don’t believe in it. So, just like I would hate for someone on that side to forced to take a Christian class, you should hate that I’m being forced to take a LGBTQIA class,” says Vincent.

Officials say the move comes as the Trump administration is trying to eliminate all DEI requirements in the federal government.

WITN reached out to the Chancellor and Chair of the Board of Trustees and they refused to comment on DEI.