In January, shortly after Northeastern changed its Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to the “Office of Belonging,” I wrote an op-ed addressing what this decision could mean for Northeastern’s students. At the heart of it all, I raised the question: Did DEI ever actually mean anything to Northeastern?

Now, roughly seven months later, it’s clear — DEI meant very little to Northeastern’s administration. 

In an Aug. 9, 2025 article, The Huntington News reported that at least four Office of Belonging staff members no longer work for the university. When The News asked Northeastern whether the positions were eliminated, a university spokesperson declined to comment, citing “personnel matters.” It is not a long shot to guess that these positions were cut, and Northeastern is too scared to admit it.

During the rebranding, each college appointed a “Head of Belonging” who monitored their respective college’s belonging initiatives. In June, the College of Science got rid of the position, which had been held by Marya Mahmood. When The News asked the university why it made such a major change, Northeastern refused to comment.

Every “Belonging” position that gets cut is one less person who has to pay attention to diversity, equity, justice and inclusion at Northeastern — and several more students will inevitably slip through the cracks as a result. If, or when, no one is left to protect the students that need DEI initiatives, it will be clear Northeastern never truly cared. Without the help of DEI, students from marginalized groups will struggle far more than their more privileged peers, only worsening the cycles of oppression that DEI initiatives had hoped to help alleviate.

Throughout the Trump administration, Northeastern’s comments have gone from indirect to completely generic. When The News asked why Mahmood’s position was eliminated, the university replied that “in accordance with longstanding university policy, we do not comment on personnel matters.” But this isn’t about the employees themselves, it’s about the positions. Now more than ever in this uncertain political climate, students deserve transparency to know what’s going on at their university.

These cuts, which affect the Northeastern community so widely, have shown that Northeastern views these positions — and belonging initiatives — as disposable. How long is it before the Office of Belonging is viewed as completely unnecessary? 

Northeastern claims to be committed to “embracing our entire global community” and “building a community of belonging,” but the truth is clear: Northeastern’s administration has stopped caring about its global community and has started focusing on what they decide matters — who they think truly belongs.

Now, “belonging” is nothing more than Northeastern’s empty promise, a word with no meaning, stripped of any actions that might make it matter.

Antaine Anhalt is a second-year communication studies major and columnist for The News. He can be reached at [email protected].