A planned Lunar New Year lunch event at Michigan State University has been canceled, influenced in part by President Trump’s recent executive orders targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across federal organizations, as reported by Bridge Michigan.
The executive order, issued last week, lacks a clear definition of DEI but mandates federal agencies to investigate “illegal private-sector DEI preferences, mandates, policies, programs, and activities.” Notably, institutions with endowments exceeding $1 billion, like Michigan State with its approximately $4.4 billion fund, have come under increased scrutiny.
Impact on Educational Institutions
In light of this directive, various educational institutions have begun reevaluating their DEI content online or have scrapped events.
One notable cancellation was a conference at Rutgers University, focused on registered apprenticeships and historically Black colleges and universities, which was called off following a directive from the Department of Labor to the event’s organizers—not by the university itself.
Cancellation of the Lunar New Year Lunch
At Michigan State, the cancellation of the Lunar New Year lunch, initially set for January 29 and a celebrated event in previous years, stemmed largely from concerns voiced by Chinese students about the event’s connection to a specific racial group.
The College of Communication Arts and Sciences, which organized the lunch, received feedback that contributed to this decision.
The director of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion explained in an email, obtained by Bridge Michigan and the State News, that the executive orders related to immigration and DEI policies had stirred anxiety within the community.
This individual emphasized the necessity of being sensitive to the feelings of those who might hesitantly participate in cultural gatherings during these uncertain times.
Responses and Future Celebrations
In a follow-up email, the college dean noted that the cancellation should not be seen as a broader policy decision, but rather as an appropriate response to the immediate circumstances, given the urgency of the matter.
Though Michigan State representatives did not respond to a request for comments at the time of publication, they later confirmed the event’s cancellation while assuring that other Lunar New Year celebrations would proceed as planned.
Source: Insidehighered