Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs are increasingly coming under attack in recent years, with critics arguing some initiatives are discriminatory. In 2023, the Supreme Court ended affirmative action in college admissions, sparking fears of a broader rollback of DEI initiatives in higher education. Since 2020, over 100 anti-DEI have been introduced in more than 30 states, aiming to restrict or ban DEI initiatives in public institutions and government offices.

This We Need To Talk discussion will explore the history of DEI programs, their successes and areas for improvement, the recent backlash, and the current state of DEI efforts in Nevada.

Host

Brittani Sterling, Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies Librarian, UNLV Libraries

Panelists

• Athar Haseebullah, Executive Director, ACLU Nevada
• Imani Patterson, Senior Assistant Director, UNLV Office of Student Diversity Programs
• Quentin Savwoir, President, NAACP Las Vegas Chapter
• Claytee White, Director, UNLV Oral History Research Center

We Need To Talk was created in 2020 by the UNLV Libraries and the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs to foster discussions on race and seek solutions for a more inclusive society.

The conversation will be streamed by UNLV TV.