Last week marked one year since the official installation of the Trump administration. Although figures such as President Donald Trump, his family and his close advisers are often the ones taking up the majority of the news spotlight, the president’s cabinet picks are of similar, if not equal, importance.
Of all of those cabinet picks, few are more controversial and debated over than current U.S. Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos. Her nomination was met with major backlash from many members of Congress and a large portion of the public. The opposition was not entirely Democratic either; Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski defiantly voted ‘no’ against DeVos’ appointment, tying the Senate vote. However, Vice President Mike Pence stepped in and broke the tie, officially confirming DeVos as Secretary of Education on Feb. 7, 2017.
Skip forward a year later, and as we approach the anniversary of DeVos’ appointment a lot of college-related matters have transpired under her tenure that deserve analysis. Her actions in such a powerful role have definitely had repercussions that can be felt on a college campus.
Whether it was her decision last July to remove several regulations protecting students of for-profit colleges or her decision in October to revoke more than 70 different guidelines outlining disabled students’ rights or one of the many other events that transpired last year because of Secretary DeVos, college campuses are at the center of the decisions made by the Secretary’s office.
DeVos has definitely been feeling the heat for her decisions. She has been met several times with protests, including several members of the graduating class of Bethune-Cookman University standing up and turning around as she gave her commencement address. While it could be argued that some of these dissenters involved might be more driven by political affiliation, many are also concerned with DeVos’ capabilities as Secretary of Education.
These are perceived by many, myself included, as difficult times for the school system. The education program has never been perfect, not many would argue that, but it seems that we are pointlessly cutting protections and regulations meant to protect those who need them most.
Furthermore, I fear what the future may hold for students across America, including college and university students. Between DeVos’ choice to revoke the guidance policies for disabled students in October and her facing major backlash for comments earlier this month where she criticized both many public educators and her own office of Secretary of Education, it seems that the momentum for highly controversial and uncalled-for action is just beginning. The year 2018 is looking to be an equally difficult and volatile for the newly-appointed secretary if we follow the same pattern.
College students have reason to be a bit suspicious about the trajectory of DeVos’ office. No one knows what might be next on the chopping block. Perhaps student loans could be threatened, or maybe the rights of certain student groups, similar to what happened to disabled students’ rights guidelines, could be attacked because they are “outdated” or “ineffective.”
It would be wise for us as students to start preparing for whatever DeVos’ plans are for the coming years. As we have seen in the past few weeks, not even “Dreamers” are in the safe zone when it comes to the new administration, so preparing for major changes to universities might have to be something we all start doing.
While her term is just beginning as Secretary of Education, the current direction is looking more than unsettling for many. The Secretary’s duty is to ensure the operation and efficiency of educational institutions, including universities. Considering DeVos’ track record both before and after her appointment, it is understandable why many students might be nervous about what comes next.
