Dear President Ono,

Your decision to dismantle the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and abandon the DEI 2.0 Strategic Plan under the pretense of "adapting to federal actions" is nothing short of cowardice. Rather than standing firm in the face of political pressure, you have chosen to capitulate—betraying the very students, faculty, and staff you claim to support.

The rhetoric in your message attempts to paint this retreat as a measured response, but the reality is clear: these changes do not reflect a commitment to fostering inclusion, but rather a willingness to sacrifice equity efforts for convenience and compliance. The programs you are eliminating were not just administrative endeavors; they were lifelines for marginalized students, crucial spaces for community-building, and tangible efforts toward a more just university.

Your claim that you remain committed to "fostering an environment that values and supports every member of our community" rings hollow when you have just announced the dismantling of the very structures designed to do so. Reallocating resources does not replace institutional commitment, and vague promises of “student-facing investments” do not make up for gutting the infrastructure that ensured marginalized voices were heard.

This decision signals to students, faculty, and staff—particularly those from historically excluded backgrounds—that when push comes to shove, this university will choose political expediency over principle. That is the legacy you are writing today.

But we, the students and allies, will not stand idly by. Let us use our collective voices to demonstrate student power and demand the return of DEI at the University of Michigan. Our advocacy, our organizing, and our unwavering commitment to equity will not be erased.

- The University of Michigan Community Members