In the wake of President Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) efforts and transgender rights, Indiana’s educational institutions are experiencing significant turmoil. Educators, administrators and students stand at a crossroads - some choosing silence, others sharpening their voices in defiance. The battle for Indiana’s classrooms has begun, and at stake is not just curriculum or policy, but the very identity of education itself.
While Indiana’s Republican-led legislature has introduced bills reflecting the federal rollback of DEI, many educators and institutions are resisting the changes, arguing that the policies erase essential conversations about race, gender and inclusivity from the classroom. In response to Trump’s executive orders, Indiana lawmakers have introduced Senate Bill 289, which prohibits mandatory DEI training in K-12 schools, and Senate BIll 235, which aims to eliminate DEI offices in public universities. Supporters of these bills claim that DEI programs promote division rather than unity. “This bill would help ensure we as a state look at each person as an individual who brings different views, experiences and talents to the table, and that is something to be celebrated,” said Senator Gary Byrne, a leading advocate for the legislation.
Critics, however, argue that eliminating DEI programs suppresses historical narratives and limits educators’ ability to prepare students for an increasingly diverse society. “If we’re not fostering an ability to live with others and appreciate how they contribute to our society, to question our own experience as right or the default, we’re weakening our democracy, which is based on difference,” said Professor Sheron Fraser-Burgess from Ball State University.
The impact of Trump’s orders is being felt acutely at DePauw University. On Feb. 14, 2025, DePauw received a letter from the Department of Education instructing the university to dismantle its DEI programs within 14 days. DePauw’s Vice President for Institutional Equity, Dionne Jackson, acknowledged the directive but reaffirmed the university’s values. “As we move forward, we will continue to be guided by our mission and institutional values, which include affirming and supporting all members of our community,” she stated. DePauw is consulting legal experts to determine next steps.
Meanwhile, Putnam County educators have expressed deep concerns over the effect these policies may have on teachers and students. “While state laws and federal actions are not yet finalized, the College is acting now to protect our federal and state funding so we can ensure uninterrupted services and provide ample time for adjustment in our operations,” Ivy Tech President Sue Ellspermann wrote to students. Ivy Tech is the first Indiana institution publicly announcing plans to close its diversity office. Some Ivy Tech staff working in diversity, equity and belonging are facing the possibility of losing their jobs after the plans are implemented.
The executive orders have also sparked significant reactions on social media platforms. On Instagram, users have voiced their concerns and criticisms regarding the administration’s stance on DEI initiatives. One user commented on The DePauw’s post, stating, “These Trump’s administration orders are clearly authoritarian and anti-democratic in nature.” Another user expressed, “As an enlightened society, we cannot tolerate this kind of coercion. Collectively, we have to find effective ways to resist.”
While specific reactions from Putnam County officials or the local community have not been extensively documented, the development at DePauw University shows the challenges educational institutions face in navigating federal directives and public sentiment surrounding DEI initiatives.