Dear UP community,
The Trump administration’s ongoing attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) have left many feeling worried, afraid or even angry. Now, with higher education becoming one of Trump’s latest targets, we face an even greater challenge: How do we continue to protect and uplift DEI at UP?
My answer: Many of you are already doing it.
When I look at our student body, I see a strong commitment to fostering diversity on campus. I see this with the Vietnamese Student Association and Filipino American Association moving their cultural shows to Chiles, drawing crowds from outside the Portland community. New clubs like the Social Justice Club and Reproductive Justice Club serve as a space for students to be politically engaged. I see it with the way students have protested and voiced their concerns to our own university’s administration.
So where does The Beacon come in?
As this year’s DEI Editor, I worked to continue my predecessors’ work toward uplifting diverse stories on campus. We are not just here to inform you of news. We are here to tell your stories. We are here to make your voices heard. But we need your help to continue this work.
The truth is, the DEI section — even The Beacon itself — would be nothing without you. I urge every single one of you to use us as a platform. Submit a story idea. Submit an opinion piece. Contact the editorial board personally at upbeacon@gmail.com. We want to stay connected with the student body — and we need you to do that.
We’re living through some difficult times, and I understand many of you may be feeling hopeless. But my promise to you is that the DEI section is here for you. Trump may be trying to get rid of DEI, but really, our work has only just begun.
Tiffany Marquez Escobar is the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Editor for The Beacon. She can be reached at marqueze25@up.edu.
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