As an alumna of Kennesaw State University and its Black studies program, a former student affairs staff member, and the spouse of a former international student at KSU, I have seen firsthand how meaningful identity-based support and inclusive education can transform lives.
What KSU’s current leadership has done — eliminating six identity-based resource centers (Global Village, LGBTQ Resource Center, Women’s Resource Center, Cultural Awareness Resource Center and African American Male Initiative, Hispanic/Latino Outreach & Leadership in Academics, and the Unity Center) and two equity-focused academic programs (Black studies and philosophy) — is not just a policy shift. It is a betrayal.
These closures are not accidental or isolated. They are part of a sweeping national attack on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives, fueled by political pressure from those who feel threatened by progress. Rather than standing firm in its stated values, KSU has caved — aligning not with students and their futures, but with fear.
KSU’s reputation was as a forward-thinking institution where students could thrive
This rollback is especially devastating because KSU was once a leader in inclusive innovation. The university had a reputation as one of the most forward-thinking institutions in Georgia when it came to evaluating student needs and building creative solutions to meet them…