Piranas Jeyanathan, a history and politics graduate from Northeastern University London, was taken aback when he discovered that the university was changing its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in alignment with shifting U.S. norms.
The university’s DEI website recently underwent a significant transformation, changing its title to “Belonging at Northeastern London” on March 16, as verified by records from the Internet Archive.
Just a few days later, on March 19, the university communicated via a newsletter to students and faculty, referencing what was once its annual “DEI Report” now as the “Belonging Report.”
Despite this rebranding, the term “DEI” continued to surface on the Northeastern London website into July, particularly in subheadings related to data on staff and students and the official DEI policy.
However, those subheadings have since been replaced, now using the term “Belonging” instead of “DEI,” even though links such as “Belonging Data for Staff” could still direct users to pages entitled “DEI Data Staff.”
Jeyanathan expressed his frustration regarding the changes, noting, “It was just a leadership decision without any consultation, which obviously students are frustrated about.”
This language alteration comes in the wake of Northeastern’s decision to erase DEI language from its main U.S. website around January 24, transitioning the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to the Office of Belonging.
This significant shift followed an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on January 21, which mandated a federal investigation into “illegal” DEI programs at higher education institutions with endowments exceeding $1 billion.
Kevin Plante, an attorney and founder of General Counsel Law, explained that while international campuses of U.S.-funded institutions are outside the jurisdiction of the U.S. government, they could still face scrutiny from enforcement authorities.
He noted, “The risk exists that enforcement authorities like the Department of Education consider the executive order applicable to international operations and will expect compliance, especially if the school uses federal funds to operate the international campuses.”
In an email sent to The Huntington News, Renata Nyul, Vice President for Communications, stated that all “relevant” offices and staff titles at NU London were revised to align with existing policies on U.S. campuses.
Nyul acknowledged a potential lag in updates to relevant websites to reflect these changes in a July 7 email.
A statement released on March 19 regarding Northeastern’s “Navigating a New Political Landscape” FAQ page described the institution as taking a “reimagined approach” towards DEI, emphasizing the importance of embracing individual experiences across its global campus system to maximize institutional impact.
Senior Vice President for External Affairs, Mike Armini, shared in an interview that the university commenced a reevaluation of its DEI policies over a year ago.
Yet, the ramifications of President Trump’s executive order remain ambiguous for Northeastern’s London campus.
The campus’s obligation to adhere to the executive order may hinge upon its federal funding status and its contractual relationship with the U.S. campus.
Additionally, U.K. laws play a significant role, with Plante noting that the Equality Act, which protects individuals from discrimination, is a critical legal framework that NU London must comply with.
Executive orders enable the president to issue directives without requiring Congressional approval. While binding, these directives primarily function as guidelines for federal agencies and can be overturned by future administrations.
According to Plante, the vagueness of the January 21 executive order renders it challenging to ascertain Northeastern London’s compliance responsibilities.
He stated, “If it was legislation from Congress, it would be very detailed. This executive order is six pages, depending on how you print it out.”
As an international institution accredited in both the UK and the U.S., Northeastern London finds itself navigating complex legal challenges.
The campus offers students a unique opportunity to earn a “double degree,” receiving education from both countries within four years.
Given this dual accreditation, Plante contended that both U.K. and U.S. laws could apply to NU London. However, any legal disputes that arise would fall under U.K. jurisdiction due to the campus’s location.
Since the shift from DEI to “Belonging,” many students have expressed their confusion and dissatisfaction regarding the changes.
Jeyanathan, whose image was utilized in the university’s promotional materials for the new “Belonging Report,” requested the removal of his image to avoid being associated with the rebranding.
Students voiced a lack of understanding regarding the university’s rationale for the shift.
“For U.K. students, it’s like, why are we calling [DEI] a different name? Why are we following what Boston is doing?” Jeyanathan remarked.
Similarly, Tatyana Itaye, a third-year politics, philosophy, and economics major at NU London, conveyed her concern.
She asserted that her identity qualifies her for the DEI initiatives previously implemented by the university, fearing that the new “reimagined approach” signifies a reduction in the university’s commitment to these efforts.
“No one really knew it was being changed,” Itaye expressed, labeling the decision a “cop out” by the university.
In an effort to address these concerns, the university’s “Belonging Team” scheduled discussions for students to express their views on diversity and inclusion issues during the week of April 28.
In response to the shift, Jeyanathan advocated for the formation of a student referendum through NU London’s Student Union, allowing students to voice their opposition to the new terminology.
In April, a request for signatures for the referendum appeared in the Student Union’s weekly newsletter, which called upon the university to revert to using the title “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” in all reports and communications.
Despite his understanding that the referendum may not alter the university’s policy, Jeyanathan considered it vital for students to express their discontent.
“I think it’s a clear stance that students here do care about the change and are upset with the change,” he said.
Unfortunately, the referendum did not conclude before the end of the 2024-25 school year and Jeyanathan’s graduation.
While student dissent continues to grow, the faculty response to the university’s DEI modifications has been more subdued.
Celal Özkızan, an assistant professor in international relations and politics at NU London, remarked that the term change appears superficial and is unlikely to substantially affect university practices.
“It seems like it is a practical change, rather than a change in the ways we do things,” Özkızan stated, commenting that it feels more like a name change to navigate around U.S. political pressures, particularly those imposed by the Trump administration.
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