Afternoon Update: LGBTQ Students at Religious Colleges Ramp Up Fight for Recognition

What "DEI" really means; Wayne State U. suspends professor over post allegedly advocating violence; Iowa Wesleyan U. to close; and more. ADVERTISEMENT [Afternoon Update Logo]( Did someone forward you this newsletter? [Sign up free]( to receive your own copy. You can now read The Chronicle on [Apple News]( [Flipboard]( and [Google News](. 'A CONSTANT SOURCE OF REJECTION' [Demand Grows for Religious Colleges to Recognize LGBTQ Clubs. Often, the Chances Are Slim.]( By Sylvia Goodman [STORY IMAGE]( Colleges across denominations are being challenged on campus and in courts by a student population that is increasingly demanding equal resources and acceptance. ADVERTISEMENT RACE ON CAMPUS [What Does ‘DEI’ Really Mean?]( By Fernanda Zamudio-Suarez [STORY IMAGE]( The abbreviation stands for diversity, equity, and inclusion, but definitions of those words, and the concept, have been politicized and compromised. CAMPUS SPEECH [Wayne State U. Suspends Professor Over Social-Media Post Allegedly Advocating Violence]( The professor, in the Michigan university’s English department, [posted on Facebook]( “Although I do not advocate violating federal and state criminal codes, I think it is far more admirable to kill a racist, homophobic, or transphobic speaker than it is to shout them down.” The professor’s lawyer [called the episode]( a “tempest in a teacup.” (Detroit Free Press, The South End, The Detroit News) ATHLETICS [Allegations of Emotional Abuse Persisted at Iowa State Under 3 Women’s Soccer Coaches]( Players say one of the coaches, Tony Minatta, now at Stephen F. Austin State University, in Texas, beat them down with demeaning and profane language, bullying, and unfair treatment. Minatta’s lawyer characterized the complaints as a “witch hunt” led by the parents of a disgruntled former player. Iowa State said players’ concerns “are taken seriously” and responded to “appropriately.” (USA Today) SHUTTING DOWN [Iowa Wesleyan U. Will Close After 181 Years]( The institution’s trustees voted unanimously to close at the end of the academic year because of such financial challenges as falling enrollment, higher operating costs due to inflation, and a drop in donations. Teach-out agreements with Culver-Stockton College, the University of Dubuque, and Upper Iowa and William Penn Universities will enable its 850 students to complete their degrees. (The Gazette) EVENTS [Browse Upcoming and On-Demand Virtual Events]( [STORY IMAGE]( Join a discussion with national experts and leading practitioners on how to navigate an uncertain future and what new ideas your institution can pursue. NEWSLETTER [Sign Up for the Teaching Newsletter]( Find insights to improve teaching and learning across your campus. Delivered on Thursdays. To read this newsletter as soon as it sends, [sign up]( to receive it in your email inbox. Upcoming Workshop [Join us this spring]( for a virtual professional development program on overcoming the challenges women leaders in academe face and creating a strategic vision for transformational change. [Reserve your spot today!]( SPONSOR CONTENT | NACUBO [Institutional Strategic Finance is for Everyone]( ADVERTISEMENT FROM THE CHRONICLE STORE [Reimagining the Student Experience - The Chronicle Store]( [Reimagining the Student Experience]( Many colleges are rethinking and reshaping what has broadly become known as the student experience. [Order your copy today]( to explore the many forces affecting the student experience with the goal of making students’ time on campus more engaging. NEWSLETTER FEEDBACK [Please let us know what you thought of today's newsletter in this three-question survey](. This newsletter was sent to {EMAIL}. [Read this newsletter on the web](. [Manage]( your newsletter preferences, [stop receiving]( this email, or [view]( our privacy policy. © 2023 [The Chronicle of Higher Education]( 1255 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037