The Impact of DEI Cuts and the Meaning of Words at Public Universities
(DEI) Diversity, equity, and inclusion have been discussed for quite some time around the United States. DEI programs are designed to allow people who are minorities in specific spaces to feel welcome and equal. DEI is a central topic of discussion because it was cut from public universities in certain states like Oklahoma, and the federal government ended government DEI programs and references. These events all took place within the last couple of years.
DEI has been a catalyst for positive change, opening many doors for minorities. The principles of equity and inclusion in a workspace or school environment make people feel heard and included. However, the recent DEI cuts have overshadowed these achievements, affecting and touching many people and communities nationwide. The University of Oklahoma, for instance, has seen several multicultural organizations, such as the Black Royalty Pageant, suffer from these cuts. The university previously funded this pageant, a scholarship competition, before the 2023 cuts.
In 2023, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed an executive order that defunds state agencies, especially public colleges, to have their diversity, equity, and inclusion offices and initiatives cut funding. The executive order refuses state allowance and state” property or resources ” from being used for such actions. In 2025, President Donald Trump terminated all government DEI programs. According to President Trump, DEI programs are illegal and immoral, ” illegal and immoral discrimination programs.”
However, the impact of these cuts is most keenly felt by the students at the University of Oklahoma. Many think that the DEI cuts have significantly hurt the funding of their multicultural and minority organizations. Sha’Marie Portis, the sponsorship chair for the Black Royalty Pageant, shared that the cuts made it increasingly difficult to secure sponsors for the pageant, forcing her to change the tone of her emails to local companies.
” So it was really about reframing, whether through our missions or verbiage just by asking for money. So, instead of maybe, like, talking about the rich black history on OU’s campus, just reframing it into a more academic thing.”
Sha’Marie made adjustments to approaching different companies about sponsoring the Black Royalty Pageant. However, she thought the changes diminished the pageant’s actual meaning. This also made her feel like people did not care about the event or the contestants who competed for the scholarship money. The issue was that she thought talking about predominantly black events would scare off sponsors. Portis shared that there is very little funding from local companies and the university. The contestants would then have to raise money for themselves.
“Since there was limited funding from local and corporate businesses, the contestants primarily raised their money independently. So whether that was through bingo cards that I created for them to distribute amongst their friends and families. whether that was selling plates or even just going to their family church and asking for money.”
Moving forward into the future, Sha’Marie thinks the Black Royalty Pagent should present its sponsorship package in person instead of sending an email out. The former sponsorship chair says having an in-person encounter with who you are trying to sell to will be more beneficial.
” Having a more personable interaction so that they have to put a face with a name,” Portis says.