Following the passing of Senate File 418, a bill removing gender identity as a protected class from the Iowa Civil Rights Act, leaders at Drake University took an opposing stance as University of Iowa leaders move in a different direction.
Drake University, a private institution, is not governed by the Iowa Board of Regents.
According to a report from Iowa Starting Line, Earl F. Martin, the president of Drake University, and Roscoe Jones Jr., the dean of Drake University Law School, each sent a mass email to the campus community reaffirming support for transgender and nonbinary students and emphasizing the value of diversity.
“Moving through life with our fellow human beings must not, thankfully, be a homogenous experience,” Martin wrote. “When we open ourselves up to the wide array of individuals and communities around us, our lives become more grounded, joyful, and fulfilling.”
Stating that an education at Drake University prepares its graduates to thrive in a wide range of post-college scenarios, Martin wrote that it would be “unimaginable” for the university to abandon its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, or DEI, initiatives.
He directly addressed recent legislation that strips civil rights from transgender and nonbinary Iowans, reinforcing the university’s stance against such measures and expressing support for impacted groups.
“Instead of working to find a shared path grounded in respect for the basic human dignity possessed by every person, too many public officials are seeking to marginalize and isolate our colleagues, neighbors, friends, and loved ones,” Martin wrote. “This is a moral failure against which we stand in opposition.”
He ended his letter by vowing to remain steadfast in ensuring Drake University is a welcoming, safe, and inclusive community.
Acknowledging the uncertainty and fear many students may be experiencing in the wake of the legislation, Jones reaffirmed Drake University Law School’s stance.
“Let me be clear: You are not just welcome here, you belong here. You are valued. And you have the full support of this institution,” Jones wrote.
The UI, as a public university, has taken a different stance. In a stated effort to comply with Iowa’s new restrictions on DEI initiatives, the university announced it would shutter its Division of Access, Opportunity, and Diversity by the end of March.
The Division of Access, Opportunity, and Diversity — previously known as the UI’s DEI office until a restructuring in April 2024— had overseen programs aimed at supporting underrepresented students, including LGBTQ+ communities, advancing inclusive hiring practices, and fostering campus-wide diversity initiatives.
The UI also announced last month its decision to end its eight diversity councils and its identity-based Living Learning Communities — student housing groups designed to offer support, programming, and a sense of belonging for students who share marginalized identities, including LGBTQ+ students and students of color.
The UI did not issue a public statement regarding the removal of civil rights of transgender and nonbinary Iowans.
Mallory Bradley, a first-year creative writing major, said she does not support the law removing gender identity from Iowa’s Civil Rights Act and believes Drake University’s response was more supportive of its students.
Referring to Iowa lawmakers and the Iowa Board of Regents, Bradley said Senate File 418 likely does not impact the individuals making those decisions personally.
“So, they don’t care how it affects other people,” Bradley said.
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In an email statement to The Daily Iowan, Brody Baker, the chairman of UI’s Young Americans for Freedom, or YAF, chapter, said he views the recent legislation as a restoration of “moral and common-sense ideals.”
“While we may disagree with the statements made by the president and law school dean [at Drake University], we stand firmly in defense of their right to express those views — just as we expect the same respect for our beliefs,” Baker wrote.
YAF is a nationwide conservative student organization that promotes individual liberty, national defense, free enterprise, and traditional values, according to its website. In his email, Baker also identified freedom of speech as a core YAF value.
“True freedom of expression means allowing diverse viewpoints to be heard without fear of censorship or retaliation,” Baker wrote. “We believe that universities should remain places where students are exposed to a broad range of perspectives, fostering critical thinking and mutual understanding.”
However, Ellen Koufer and Jackie Olberding, both pursuing Ph.D.s in genetics, said they prefer Drake University’s response to Senate File 418 as opposed to the UI’s recent removal of DEI measures.
“[The UI] should do better, and it’s not hard to do better,” Koufer said. “A statement is very easy. So, if they can’t even give a statement, they’re clearly showing what they think of their students.”
Olberding emphasized that, for members of marginalized communities, even a simple statement in support can have a large impact.
“It might be just words, but it also means a lot to people hearing that they are welcome here,” Olberding said. “A lot of people come to the University of Iowa because it is in a liberal city.”