A page on the College’s website that outlined the Theme/Affinity/Program/Special Interest (TAPSI) housing program was taken down during the week of Feb. 14. Dean of the College Gretchen Long said that the College is not planning any changes to the program, but that senior staff decided to take down the page following the Department of Education’s Feb. 14 Dear Colleague letter.
The letter threatened to rescind federal funding to educational institutions that continue to offer certain forms of race-based programming.
“These pages were taken down temporarily out of an abundance of caution to make sure that the description of the TAPSI houses is current, accurate, and clearly conveys that these residences are open to all students who are committed to the mission of the house, regardless of race, ethnicity, or other identity,” Long wrote in an email to the Record. “No policies regarding TAPSIs will change,” she added. “They are an exciting and positive aspect of Williams housing options.”
An archived version of the page, which remains available online, described the mission of TAPSI housing at the College and provided a list of communities available in previous years.
A March 1 Department of Education FAQ about the Dear Colleague Letter specified that institutions receiving federal funds may not “treat students differently based on race, engage in racial stereotyping, or create hostile environments for students of particular races” under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The FAQ notes that programs focused on specific races or cultures but open to students of all backgrounds are not unlawful. “Schools must consider whether any school programming discourages members of all races from attending, either by excluding or discouraging students of a particular race or races, or by creating hostile environments based on race for students who do participate,” it states.
TAPSI housing communities at the College, while often focused on a shared identity, are open to students of any background.
“Theme/Affinity housing grants students who share an aspect of their identity the opportunity to live together in an intentional community with shared values and goals, allowing these students to feel supported and have their identities affirmed by those who live around them,” the archived website page stated. The mission statements for each community, which were listed on the page, all state that being a member of a specific race, ethnicity, or group is not a requirement for joining the community.
Other educational institutions across the country have also altered or removed pages on their websites in response to the Dear Colleague Letter. At the time of publication, it was unclear whether the College was planning to take down any additional webpages, such as those relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
