Interim U of A provost, faculty senator spar over 'mandated' DEI cuts

The back-and-forth occurred after Marx told the Faculty Senate Monday that UA administrators are reviewing diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility-related activities based on federal directives.

He said he, along with vice provosts at the UA, are engaging with university leaders and student, faculty and staff representatives to figure out how to move forward and carry out the changes ordered by Trump administration directives.

UA administrators are updating university websites and materials to align language with federal guidance and are evaluating university activities, including programming and scholarships to ensure they’re open to everyone, he said.

Faculty Senator Lucy Ziurys then said there is a difference between “federal mandates” and “federal laws.”

“What is the university doing to make sure that these mandates are actually legal?” Ziurys asked. “Because in many cases of DEI, this is violating First Amendment rights. And the first and foremost important thing for the university community is to support the U.S. Constitution. What are we doing to make sure we’re supporting the Constitution of the United States of America?”

Marx responded by saying UA administrators are reviewing all of the “legal ramifications for every one of these,” without specifying any one course of action. He said some of these “legal issues,” like most, are “always indeterminate” and have “ambiguity associated with them,” so they try to reduce ambiguity as best they can.

“If the federal government decided to investigate something about the University of Arizona,” he continued, gesturing with his arms thrown in the air, “What if they decided as part of that investigation to suspend Pell Grant payments? ... It would devastate our university, with 22% of our students receiving Pell Grants. So, our decisions about how to respond are going to be conditioned by our judgment about how much risk we can take to stand up on the battlements and sing ‘Les Miserables.’”

Ziurys came back with, “The only thing I can say is that at some point, it’s just going to be a losing battle. You’re going to have to stand up. Because they’re (the Trump administration) just going to keep pushing and pushing and pushing.”

The Trump administration, since being sworn in Jan. 20, has issued orders cutting federal research funding for universities and demanding an end to DEIA initiatives in education.

UA President Suresh Garimella announced Feb. 18 in response that the UA was taking inventory of its DEIA-related programs, jobs and activities. This was the same week the UA took down two of its diversity-related websites and removed the words “committed to diversity and inclusion” from its land-acknowledgement statement.

Marx, whose role as interim provost and interim senior vice president for academic affairs will end after incoming provost/vice president Patricia Prelock arrives on May 19, said he would behave differently in the role of a professor than as provost, since his responsibility as an administrator is for the $1.35 billion university budget and what it delivers for the community.

“With hundreds of millions of dollars in federal research grants, more than $380 million in total state funding, and nearly $71 million in federal Pell grants supporting 22% of our student body, we are deeply committed to advancing our mission and supporting the success of our students, faculty and staff, while preserving the long-term financial stability of the university,” he said.

“Most importantly, as we navigate these changes together, we continue to uphold our values of compassionate care for every member of our university community,” said Marx. “We are and will continue to actively listen to your concerns and provide clarity when we can,” he said, without addressing any specific issues or concerns.

Marx did not address the widely protested centralization plan that some faculty, staff and students say they’ve been told the UA has for its Cultural and Resource Centers. UA has not confirmed such a plan.

In opposition to the supposed centralization plan, approximately 100 faculty, staff and students hand-delivered a petition to the UA’s Old Main building, which houses the offices of administrators, including UA President Suresh Garimella and Marx, on March 27.

Marx told the Faculty Senate he was sticking to his prepared remarks because the issues are “delicate.”

In an announcement sent out later that day, Marx offered further information on the federal impacts, listing a federal landscape page with information and links, including to mental health support.

He said UA has published a new webpage about its “commitment to an environment free from discrimination,” including antisemitism and Islamophobia.

“You will also find important immigration and travel reminders for international students and for international faculty and scholars,” Marx wrote.