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On Feb. 26, 2026, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry wrote a letter to the United States Department of Education calling for “investigation into every institution of higher education in Louisiana” to prevent “harmful diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.” Northwestern State University of Louisiana may see changes on campus as a result of this announcement.
Brittany Blackwell Broussard, director of Culture and Climate at NSU, said there will likely be adjustments to the programs and resources offered by the Gail Metoyer Jones Center.
The Gail Metoyer Jones Center “serves as a resource hub for cultural awareness, personal growth, and student engagement,” according to the NSU website. It is located in room 240 of the Friedman Student Union, where it houses educational literature on topics including world religions, international cultures, women’s studies and more. It also hosts events for the NSU student body to learn about history and promote thoughtful discussions, such as their series of 2026 Women’s History Month programs.
“We may expect some changes,” Broussard said. “We are reevaluating offices and departments for programming that may elicit scrutiny … There was a conversation with administration about how to proceed given the statement from the governor.”
Landry’s letter and public statement did not come out of the blue, but as a response to another letter written by Secretary Kimberly Richey of the Office for Civil Rights at the Department of Education. Richey informed Landry that the department was going to conduct an investigation “to determine whether its Master Plan for Higher Education violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI) by authorizing racially-exclusionary practices and initiatives.”
According to Richey, Louisiana’s Master Plan for Higher Education pushed discriminatory practices by “requiring schools to prioritize students of all races other than white [and] Asian.”
The Master Plan for Higher Education was introduced in 2019 with the goal of raising the percentage of Louisiana residents with a higher education credential. Currently, they are trying to raise it to 60% by 2030. According to the Year Five Update from 2024, they have reached 51%. In the original Master Plan document from 2019, it is stated, “white students are significantly more likely than African Americans to complete a postsecondary credential … Reaching our goal, therefore, requires deep attention to achieving equity – engaging underserved populations.”
The document does not contain any statement about withholding college admissions from white and Asian students, only plans to increase education opportunities for those who are not in those groups, especially Louisiana’s 32% Black population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Jasmine Wise, the professor and coordinator of Black Studies and the Gail Metoyer Jones Center, explained that hostility toward DEI is misplaced.
“People dislike DEI because the assumption is that highlighting and assisting one group automatically means other groups are suppressed, and that is not that case,” Wise said.
NSU previously had a number of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The Gail Metoyer Jones Center, originally called the Center for Inclusion and Diversity, was established in 2016. In 2023, it was renamed after Gail Metoyer Jones, an alumnus and faculty member who dedicated her life’s work to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion at NSU.
This office on the second floor of Friedman Student Union contains resources for minority students and hosts educational events. Although Broussard and Wise are anxious about the future of the Gail Metoyer Jones Center, its mission may still be preserved.
Drake Owens, executive vice president at NSU, said the university has not received explicit instructions to change anything.
“We didn’t get anything official,” Owens said. “We read about it in the newspaper just like everybody else, so we have not received anything formal on our end … We are aware of the governor’s request, but at this time, there’s nothing that involved any specific findings related to Northwestern.”
Although the university has not been told to close the Gail Metoyer Jones Center, Wise anticipates that the center might be forced to adapt.
“There have already been changes in operations and titles on campus because of the political climate of our nation and state,” Wise said. “The Gail Metoyer Jones Center may transition as it seeks to find a new mission.”
The center’s programs planned for April 2026 have not been cancelled, but the status of future programs at the Gail Metoyer Jones Center are unknown. However, Broussard is committed to offering necessary resources to students despite the threat to the Gail Metoyer Jones Center.
“The goal is still always to provide a safe space for students,” Broussard said. “How will that manifest? It may change a bit, but the overall mission here will still remain to have a space of belonging for students.”
Owens said that closing the center would only occur as a last resort due to a direct instruction from a higher office.
“We’re committed to ensuring that all students are treated fairly and have equal access,” Owens said. “The only thing we’re able to do is continue to monitor developments and wait until we receive any official communication to cooperate … If we do receive some formal communication, or some formal investigation, and they’re telling us that they find something contrary, at that point, we would probably take a step back and have a conversation with Brittany Broussard.”
The tense political climate in our nation is affecting universities in many states. NSU administration has unique challenges to face as they attempt to balance Gov. Landry’s demands with the university’s diverse student culture.
