13-03-2025
Ohio University Lancaster pauses Women's History Month event, citing Trump DEI directives
Ohio University is pausing a National Women's History Month event at one of its regional campuses, citing Trump administration directives and proposed state legislation.
Ohio University Lancaster will no longer hold its Celebrate Women 2025 event, scheduled for March 21, the university said in a press release.
"In light of recent guidance from the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights and proposed State of Ohio legislation, Ohio University is reviewing programming that includes elements that may not comply with the recent guidance," according to the press release. "When necessary, the University is placing events on hold to allow time to review program elements and reimagine events as and if necessary to ensure compliance."
The event aimed "to promote and advance gender equity by recognizing the past, present, and future achievements of women from diverse ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds. We believe this is achieved through education, enlightenment, and inspiration," according to its webpage.
This would've been the conference's 19th-annual event.
Study up on education news: Subscribe to The Dispatch's weekly education newsletter Extra Credit
'We are disappointed that we need to put this longstanding event on hold, and we will continue to be committed to providing a space for accomplished women leaders to connect with and inspire our students, staff and alumni,' said Ohio University Provost Don Leo. 'We deeply appreciate the sponsors involved who have helped make this event possible, and we look forward to partnering on future events.'
The news comes days after Ohio University said it was canceling it Black Alumni Reunion scheduled for April. Ohio University cited the changes as a direct result of several mandates from the Trump administration to wipe DEI practices from colleges and universities.
In a "Dear Colleague" letter sent on Feb. 14, the U.S. Department of Education gave schools an ultimatum: Eliminate "race-based decision-making" from their campuses by the end of the month or risk losing federal funding.
Schools must stop considering race in "decisions pertaining to admissions, hiring, promotion, compensation, financial aid, scholarships, prizes, administrative support, discipline, housing, graduation ceremonies, and all other aspects of student, academic, and campus life," according to the letter.
Though the department has shared more guidance since the deadline on what programs need to end — and confirming that schools would not immediately lost federal funding if the U.S. Department of Education thinks they've broken anti-discrimination laws — many schools continue to make changes in line with the letter's asks.
In lieu of OU Lancaster's Celebrate Women conference, a group of community leaders are planning an alternate event for the same day.'We Rally & We Rise Women's Conference' will be held at Crossroads Event Center from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The event is not affiliated with Ohio University.
Sheridan Hendrix is a higher education reporter for The Columbus Dispatch. Sign up for Extra Credit, her education newsletter, here.
shendrix@
@sheridan120
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio University pauses Women's History Month event amid Trump DEI bans
