NEWSROOM 4/14: JMU DEI, The masters, and tariffs

On Monday, Travelqueen7 and Princessgoose shared local, national, and global news stories about DEI being eliminated, Rory McIlroy winning the Masters, and global tariffs with the class.

On April 11th, James Madison University announced the removal of the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Charlie King, the President of JMU, expressed that this decision was made due to “guidance at the federal level.” This absence meant one staff member was put on admin leave, and the other two members were transferred to other divisions. The staff of the Office of Title IX and the Office of Equal Opportunity have also transferred. JMU made it clear that funding would come from the division and that new financial aid would support students, and the number would only go up in the next few years. Further funding will be issued to the Center for Multicultural Student Services. Not only did JMU do this, but the University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Virginia Tech dissolved their DEI within the past two months. King said that these actions don’t minimize JMU’s commitment “in creating a diverse campus community”.

All eyes were on Rory McIlroy as he won the 2025 Masters at Augusta National on Sunday, April 13th. After a long rollercoaster of 72 holes plus a dramatic one-hole playoff against Justin Rose, he finally ended his long wait for a fifth major championship. Ending an 11-year drought regarding major tournaments, he now holds the title as the sixth player to claim the career Grand Slam. The 35-year-old said it was his 17th time at this tournament, and he questioned whether or not it would ever be his time, and it was. McIlroy walked away with the iconic green jacket and $4.2 million. Born in Northern Ireland, Rory had overwhelming support from his home club. A huge moment that will go down in history, as there have only been five players from Ireland to do this. After sinking the winning putt, he fell to his knees and celebrated this emotional moment with his wife and daughter. It was estimated that 12.7 million viewers watched the final round, showing that sports journalism…. McIlroy’s triumph is proof that greatness is forged in discipline, through sheer grit, determination, and an endless love for the sport.

President Donald Trump has ignited chaos in the national and global economy by announcing sweeping new tariffs that have the potential to reshape international trade as we know it. His actions are described as a response to an “economic emergency” and aimed to help grow American businesses. The Trump administration has implemented a minimum 10% tariff on imports from all trading partners, with significantly higher rates for specific countries, especially China. The implemented tariffs represent a dramatic shift in U.S. trade policy, imposing a significant tax hike that citizens will have to pay shortly on a wide range of imported goods. 

The potential consequences of these tariffs are far-reaching. Economists predict an impact of a $400 billion tax hike on U.S. households. This tax hike can impact essential goods like housing, cars, clothing, and food. An additional impact the implemented tariffs can have is potential heightened tensions with key trading partners, which can ultimately snowball into a trade war. 

Trump’s rhetoric was quite aggressive in describing the current global trade conditions. Trump said the following regarding America’s trade status: “looted, pillaged, raped and plundered.” The administration continues to emphasize that these tariffs are necessary to protect the American people and jobs. 

Still confused about tariffs? Click the video below that goes over what tariffs are, historical tariffs that still impact our world today, and potential impacts of recently implemented tariffs.