The University of Iowa is ending three of its identity-based residential communities, acting on orders from the U.S. Department of Education.
Three of the UI’s so-called Living Learning Communities will not be offered starting next school year: All-In, Unidos, and Young, Black and Gifted. They’re the only three organized by identity.
Daniela Pintor-Mendoza is president of the university’s Latino Student Union.
“We love to be Hawkeyes. We love to be from Iowa,” she says. “You know, I’m hecho in Iowa. Born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa. It’s their job to protect us and we feel like they failed us in that.”
Pintor-Mendoza says the UI’s actions were in response to a letter issued by the federal agency, targeting DEI programs and race-based initiatives.
“It was the university complying, and at the same time, in complying, they were giving up any type of protection that they gave to us as students,” she says. “It was really disappointing, and it was like the university failed us, failed us students.”
Pintor-Mendoza says the university should focus on allocating funds to existing programs that help underserved students.
Many of these programs are also being investigated for compliance with Iowa Board of Regents directives.
(By James Kelley, Iowa Public Radio)