Utah's universities feel the pinch of funding cuts, Pride flag bans and DEI purges.
Hits & Misses
By Katharine Biele @kathybiele
Miss: College Try
Sometimes you have to lose to win. But when money's involved, humanity gives way to institutions. We are seeing this now more than ever as the president wields his tariff gun, as he threatens law firms with stripping their access and, of course, as he bleeds universities of their very essence. The lobotomizing of education may be the most serious peril we face. As Utah universities are told to rid themselves of diversity, equity and inclusion, they're also being charged with eliminating "inefficient" programs with fewer than 40 students. The U of U is warning its faculty against flying Pride flags or to at least hide them, as the Chinese did during the purges of the Cultural Revolution. And it's all money. Stephen Mihm of the University of Georgia had this to say in an op-ed for Bloomberg: "Harvard and its peers are in a no-win situation: They can bow to Trump's demands, which will intensify no matter how much they do to placate the president. Or they can cut themselves off from the funds that have sustained their rise to greatness." Utah is already capitulating.
Miss: Get Out
Meanwhile, even legal immigrants are fearful for their futures. The Trump administration served notice on dozens of international students that they'd better go home. If you want to guess why, it may be because they're smart and often protest things MAGA fears—like free speech. Anti-semitism seems to be the rationale, as immigration officials comb through documents to find students they can deport for being "terroristic sympathizers." Private prisons are reaping the benefits and environmental activist Tim DeChristopher can tell you just how inhumane the conditions can be. The Salt Lake County Jail has already detained 198 immigrants and has holds on 138 more. No one wants to be sent to El Salvador, but they don't want to come to the United States, either. While it's unclear if illegal immigration has been affected, Trump certainly has made an imprint on legal immigrants.
Hit: Water, Water Everywhere
When all else fails, turn to art. Salt Lake City has been a hub for public art. You see it at TRAX stations, along the Jordan River and at intersections throughout the city. That's just the beginning. Now, with water being a major concern, several local artists were commissioned to create decorative water droplets that now hang from light poles along North Temple, from State Street to 400 West. One droplet, depicting a large eye, represents "the consciousness of nature," artist Trevor Dahl told a walking tour during an unveiling of the pieces on Friday. The art installation, "Hidden Waters," follows the underground path of City Creek and its effect on local plant life and even culture.
About The Author
Katharine Biele
A City Weekly contributor since 1992, Katharine Biele is the informed voice behind our Hits & Misses column. When not writing, you can catch her working to empower voters and defend democracy alongside the League of Women Voters.
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