Michigan State University (MSU) abruptly canceled its annual Lunar New Year celebration, citing concerns over recent executive orders from President Donald Trump targeting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
The event, scheduled for Wednesday, was called off the day before. In an email obtained by The State News, the college's DEI director, Lauren Gaines, said the cancellation was in response to "concerns shared by members of our community regarding the current issuance of Executive Orders related to immigration and diversity, equity and inclusion."
"These actions have prompted feelings of uncertainty and hesitation about gathering for events that highlight cultural traditions and communities," Gaines stated.
A follow-up email from Dean Heidi Hennink-Kaminski stressed that the decision was not a formal shift in the school's policy. "I ask you to view this decision not as a statement of policy, but rather as an appropriate on-the-ground response given a very short decision window," she wrote. The dean also acknowledged internal disagreements over the move, thanking faculty and staff for their feedback.
The cancellation follows Trump's recent executive order directing federal agencies to review civil rights investigations into universities with DEI programs. MSU is among dozens of institutions targeted by the order due to its endowment exceeding $1 billion.
MSU has not clarified whether other cultural events, including Black History Month programming, will also be affected. The university previously postponed a discussion on "The Future of DEI Policy at MSU" due to similar concerns.
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