The Student Life Editorial staff believes that these six departments — and their academic independence — are imperative to the WashU community, especially given the Trump administration’s attacks on academic freedom, marginalized communities, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). As such, we are skeptical of the University’s stated intentions due to their lack of transparency in this process so far.

The Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) program, which began at Washington University in 1972, has been granted departmental status. Professor Mary Ann Dzuback, who was previously the director of the WGGS program, has been appointed as the chair of the new department.

A pair of girls at a recent Alpha Phi date party brought to light a little-known fact: Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) and African and African American Studies (AFAS) […]