W&L students seek “cultural safe space” amid campus DEI changes
Washington and Lee students gather during ReggaeFest, sharing Caribbean food and conversation. The event, hosted by Irie, a Caribbean cultural club, drew about 100 students to Sankofa House on Saturday, March 29, 2025. Photo by Cami Knott.
Written as a final feature story for Introduction to Digital Journalism at Washington and Lee University.
Washington and Lee University has changed administrative titles as colleges nationwide respond to growing scrutiny of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs — and students are taking notice.
Dean Tamara “Tammy” Futrell, who had served as the Dean for Diversity, Inclusion and Student Engagement since 2018, is now the Dean of Student Engagement and Leadership. The university framed the change as a promotion in an April 1 email from Vice President for Student Affairs Alex Miller.
“I’m not surprised, but I am disappointed,” said Maren Barclay ’27, an Africana studies minor. “I wish the university would have been more honest with the student body about this because it impacts our everyday life and the safety of students on this campus.”
DEI changes reach staff and students
Miller confirmed that Futrell’s new title had been in effect since March 1. According to his email, Futrell’s updated responsibilities now include overseeing student organizations, outdoor education and recreation, health promotion and emergency needs support.
Though the university has not publicly addressed any policy shifts, recent edits to staff titles and student leadership roles reflect a broader trend aimed at complying with new federal guidance.
Heidi Bustos, the assistant director of inclusion and engagement, declined to comment on whether her own title might change in the future.
The Office of Inclusion and Engagement, located in Elrod Commons 201, supports student programming and cultural organizations. Bustos says its role remains in focus as the university navigates federal guidance and reconsiders its approach to DEI. Photo courtesy of The Columns, October 2022.
But Bustos wrote in an email that the Office of Inclusion and Engagement (OIE) is committed to meeting students’ needs as conversations about inclusion and diversity change.
“The team continuously assesses programming and resources to ensure they align with student needs and broader conversations around identity and inclusion. This includes responding to student feedback and staying informed on best practices in the field,” she wrote.
Nava Berwick ’27, the Panhellenic delegate for Pi Beta Phi, said she has already seen the ripple effects beyond administrative offices.
“In my sorority, we had to change the name of a role that was specifically for DEI,” she said. “It’s the same thing, but we had to basically take out any suggestion of the name. That was the first direct link I had to the type of changes the administration is trying to bring.”
She said Panhellenic leadership explained the change was necessary to help preserve eligibility for federal funding for their respective Greek organizations.
Administrative shifts reflect federal pressure
These updates follow a Feb. 14 letter from the U.S. Department of Education, which warned that race-based programming could violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Schools receiving federal funding were given 14 days to review and revise any noncompliant practices, according to the Department of Education.
Only two institutions on Washington and Lee’s peer institution list have made official changes to DEI-related programs or messaging following the U.S. Department of Education’s February 2025 letter. Graphic by Cami Knott.
W&L is one of only two schools among its 22 self-identified peer institutions to make visible changes to DEI language or structure so far, according to reporting from student newspapers at those institutions. Wellesley College removed DEI-related links from its website and changed DEI-related administrative titles. All institutions receive federal funding through grants, research or work study.
But in the midst of these changes, students say they are working to strengthen community through cultural programming.
ReggaeFest fosters space for connection
ReggaeFest, Irie’s annual celebration of Caribbean culture, took place March 29 outside Sankofa House, the university’s theme house focused on Black culture and identity. The event included Caribbean food, live music and a scholarship fundraising effort.
“I really wanted this to be like an all W&L community type event,” said Eric Bazile ’25, president of Irie. “It’s like welcoming but also, people trying new things and learning about the culture overall.”
Despite being one of the smallest cultural organizations on campus, Irie drew a crowd of about 100, Bazile said.
Berwick, who is also a Jamaican-American, said events like ReggaeFest give Caribbean students a rare space to unwind.
“When they can all come together and just, like, relax and really finally be around people that understand them, I think that’s a great thing,” she said.
Professor Nneka Dennie, club advisor for Irie and a core faculty member in Africana Studies, shares a laugh during ReggaeFest on Saturday, March 29, 2025. The Caribbean Vibe Steel Drum Band plays in the background. Photo by Cami Knott.
“I really wanted this to be like an all W&L community type event,” said Eric Bazile ’25, president of Irie. “It’s like welcoming but also, people trying new things and learning about the culture overall.”
Despite being one of the smallest cultural organizations on campus, Irie drew a crowd of about 100, Bazile said.
Berwick, who is also a Jamaican-American, said events like ReggaeFest give Caribbean students a rare space to unwind.
“When they can all come together and just, like, relax and really finally be around people that understand them, I think that’s a great thing,” she said.
Berwick said the event came at a time when many students felt uncertain about the university’s direction.
“It felt steady. We all need this as a cultural safe space right now.”
Nava Berwick ’27
Bazile said that sense of togetherness is what Irie is all about.
Campus culture tensions persist
But beyond events like ReggaeFest, he said students of color still face tension in the broader campus environment. One example is the annual Confederate history commemorations held just blocks from campus — traditions that Bazile said are unique to the W&L experience.
Each January, groups gather in downtown Lexington to commemorate Lee-Jackson Day, a tradition honoring Confederate Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, according to the News Gazette. Though Virginia stopped recognizing the day as a state holiday in 2020, the events have continued with parades and memorials organized by private organizations.
“They just marched right through downtown,” Bazile said. “And personally, I feel like the school wasn’t doing enough to combat that.”
He said the university typically sends an email to alert students that the event is happening, but that does not feel like a sufficient response.
“I just feel like the school should, and can, do more,” he said.
Bazile said creating spaces like Irie is one way students have stepped in where they feel that W&L and OIE have fallen short. He said he hopes future students continue that effort, protecting the spaces that make W&L feel more inclusive, despite the Trump administration’s scrutiny of DEI practices.
“When we have a place that’s diverse and everyone’s welcoming, I think there’s a lot to learn,” Bazile said.