UA board chair: More reasons behind Rethinking Race cancellation than DEI | Opinion
Lewis W. Adkins Jr.
Chair, University of Akron Board of Trustees
With the Beacon Journal’s recent decision to publish a misleading op-ed, “Akron has always prioritized conversations about equity. Now, that’s under attack,” I’d like to help contextualize recent media coverage of the University of Akron (UA). As chair of UA’s Board of Trustees, I would be remiss to passively allow assumptions to dictate the community’s understanding of the facts.
The op-ed properly identifies Akron as a community open to robust discussion on tough topics. The University of Akron prides itself on being the intellectual center of the city. The collective people of this area have often joined together in one voice to speak truth to power, even at times when political policies were at issue.
What the op-ed gets wrong, however, is that the University of Akron's decision to not budget for the series is “egregious" and that “our university has stepped away.” But equating stepping away from our mission with changing the way things are done is wrong and misinformed.
Several factors influenced last year’s decision not to budget for this specific program, one of which was the guidance we received, and continue to receive, at both the state and federal level.
The program was founded by the university and, at times, other supporters contributed with the bulk of the money going to highly paid outside speakers – most recently, Montel Williams, a 1990s talk show host. The lasting impact on students was, at best, tenuous.
Rethinking Race was held last November. Shortly after last fall’s Rethinking Race programming concluded, the Office of Community Engagement, Opportunity & Belonging made the decision not to budget for this specific program for future years.
Rethinking Race was a program that involved students, faculty, staff and community members alike to discuss issues of race relations, equity and other salient topics. Its history traces back to the Clinton administration. Last year, however, there was a significant decline in attendance.
This fact, coupled with the desire to connect more people, prompted the university office charged with this type of programming to retool and revitalize its offerings. As such, in looking toward the 2025-2026 academic year, the Office of Community Engagement, Opportunity & Belonging did not budget for Rethinking Race in its present form.
As was the case with Rethinking Race in November 2024, that office will continue to offer its planned programming during this academic year, including April’s E3 Male Summit: Empower, Elevate and Excel.
And, as the university previously released in a statement, it will, in light of continuing guidance at the state and federal level, continue to evaluate all programming.
The multiple ways these facts have been portrayed in the media are simply not reflective of the University of Akron’s ongoing commitment to the community at large, especially the incorrect perception that this budgetary decision was recently made or meant as an affront to the Black community during Black History Month (BHM). The university is offering a full slate of BHM events and celebrates the contributions of trailblazing Black individuals now and throughout the year.
As a Black man and the chair of the UA Board of Trustees, I can attest to the fact that the institution is committed to compelling programming that affords students, colleagues and the entire community maximum opportunities and a welcoming environment to hold forums for open discussion of all the issues that shape modern life.
Lewis W. Adkins Jr. is the chair of the University of Akron’s Board of Trustees.
(originally published February 10, 2025 - Akron Beacon Journal)