The University of Wyoming launched its “The world needs more cowboys” campaign in 2018 with a video celebrating the diversity of students who embody the cowboy legacy — tenacious individuals who courageously pursued adventure and freedom through “fearless independence” in the American West.
Opinion
As students, UW asks us to embody “cowboy ethics,” but our institution isn’t “cowboy” anymore.
If UW applauds cowboys for their “unyielding courage” and “relentless curiosity” — as banners adorning campus lamp posts suggest — then the administration should be standing up to the fear and narrow-mindedness exemplified by the Wyoming Freedom Caucus’ attack on diversity, equity and inclusion.
After hours of testimony over the last year from professors, students and staff who spoke out against the Freedom Caucus’ push to defund DEI programs, the UW administration demonstrated they were more than willing to over-comply and over-censor essential university offices out of fear of legislative reprimand. This is not cowboy “unwavering integrity,” it’s bowing down to authority at the first point of resistance.
Even private funding for DEI initiatives is under threat. Senate File 103, “Terminating and defunding diversity, equity and inclusion,” a bill vetoed by Gov. Mark Gordon earlier this year, would have prohibited public institutions from accepting private donations designated for DEI efforts. That means when our community wants to support inclusion with our own funds, there are lawmakers who want to tell us we can’t.
What will happen once the University of Wyoming loses accreditation for programs that require DEI, putting students’ degrees in jeopardy?
In fact, enrollment at the state’s only four-year public university has already been declining.
Taking effect on July 1, House Bill 147, “Prohibition of institutional discrimination,” defines DEI programs and activities as inherently discriminatory. The rhetoric of a merit-based society is attractive, but what is not being conveyed is that we can’t have a merit-based society without DEI when there is systemic institutionalized discrimination. What gets lost in this definition is the truth: DEI is cowboy. Not the sanitized version we see on recruitment posters, but the real, historical legacy of the American West. One in four cowboys was Black. The vaquero traditions of Mexican cowboys defined cattle herding and ranch life. Native Americans, Asian immigrants and women all shaped the frontier. Cowboy culture has always been diverse; we’re just finally telling the whole story.
By rejecting DEI, we aren’t preserving tradition. We’re whitewashing it.
When did “relentless curiosity” mean allowing fear to dissuade us from inviting hard workers, creative thinkers and adventurous pioneers to have a seat at the table?
Cowboy ethics aren’t meant to be printed on a banner, attached to a light pole and forgotten when things get hard. If we only stand by them when it’s easy, they aren’t ethics, they are decoration.
Cowboy values are grit, speaking up when it counts, standing up to bullies and looking out for the people around you.
So, we urge the university to find its Wyoming cowboy backbone — reflect, course correct and remember what it truly means to draw a line and hold to it.
As a former grad student and also lecturer at UW, I am sad that the university is caving to those who would erase history and oppose programs that support diverse faculty, staff, and students of merit. DEI programs are there to ensure that those who are qualified actually have opportunity, since in the past they did not. I first enrolled at UW in the 70’s and taught for a year in the 80’s. My professors were the renowned African American novelist John Wideman and also Sylvester Brito. I took a class in Jewish American literature and later met Madonne Miner, the wonderful scholar in Women and Gender Studies. I had a recently arrived Vietnamese refugee in one of my classes and also had a student from the Wind River Reservation. As a So. Cal Chicana, I felt excited and at home. As the writers of the article state, the West is a vibrant and diverse place. I have followed the great strides UW has made, especially in bridging programs with American Indian nations. The recent developments of closing down opportunity and promoting a false, if comforting, version of history are deeply disturbing. In fact, I have met faculty desperate to get out. The true spirit of the West was there; it is now being replaced by something far more ominous.
Thank you to the Associated Masters Social Work Students of Wyoming for their articulate and well-informed response to the Freedom Caucus’s assault on anything they fear smacks of inclusiveness. Why is it suddenly threatening to allow qualified students to attend our only four-year public university and study history that includes all of us? If DEI is threatening, who gets to decide who the “we” are who will exclude the “they”? With the current administration in Washington and Wyoming’s Freedom Caucus working hard to limit Wyoming citizens’ freedoms, it’s a good bet that professors or the university itself won’t win a battle to continue inclusiveness in admissions and studies. But the “unyielding courage” and “unwavering integrity” banners around campus are almost embarrassing now given the complete lack of response to these assaults on our university and freedom of learning.
Thumbs up and thank you to these student voices who give me hope for the future of our state and our country.
And I would recommend Samuel Western’s short and powerful book, Pushed Off the Mountain, Sold Down the River; Wyoming’s Search for Its Soul.
“Pray, remember, Love,” says Ophelia to Hamlet.
How we’ve forgotten!
Ranger Doug would probably tell the unFreedom Caucus “That may be your way, but it’s not the Cowboy Way”. Sure glad the Legislature passed that Act adopting the Code of the West as the state’s official code of ethics.
As a graduate of UW, I am so pleased to see this opinion piece. You are talking about the Wyoming that raised me – let’s get back to our “live and let live” roots – you know, the one that says to take care of your neighbors, and let people be who they are. It might even help us keep more of our young people here.
Seconded
Well done by everyone involved writing this piece! It gives someone like myself, who was born and raised in Wyoming (in a kindlier and friendlier time), that there is indeed hope for a bright future after we emerge from the current darkness.
Be proud of standing up and speaking out while so many others cower and bend the knee to the freedom caucus and the Trump administration. By speaking out against this corrupt power grab, and it’s efforts to re-imagine American history and culture, you have all demonstrated what it takes to be the future leaders of this state and country. Unfortunately, the integrity you have all shown is sorely missing from most of our elected officials, business leaders, and college administrators right now.
Please continue this real cowboy spirit by encouraging your peers and family to turn out during future elections, run for office yourselves, or contribute to a campaign so that individuals like John Barrasso, Cynthia Lummis, Harriet Hageman, and everyone associated with the freedom caucus is removed from their positions then perhaps, we can truly make America great again. Go Pokes!
For example, see
https://www.wyohistory.org/encyclopedia/breaking-stereotype-black-rancher-alonzo-stepp
Thanks for the link, Phil. good read.
Bravo to the UW’s Associated Masters Social Work Students! I suppose Trump and the Freedom Caucus will soon call for the program to be banished. Can’t risk the danger inherent in nurturing independent thinkers.
Amen, and thank you. In order to grow and thrive UW needs to clean house of its President and it’s ‘establishment’ Board of Directors. But I’m afraid UW will be too diminished and relegated to third rate status by the time this happens. Enrollment is down and the writing is on the wall. Not proud of and certainly embarrassed by the University of Wyoming and indeed the entire state.
Surprised these students arent calling for either Cowboy to be changed to Cowperson, or removal of the mascot altogether due to the toxic masculinity and “whiteness” of the old west.
I don’t understand you “patriots”. You’re all afraid of things like DEI and CRT, but are completely okay with a felon with authoritarian beliefs and practices.
Not a trump supporter, is that all youve got ? Content of character, not color of skin. DEI is racism/sexism with “good” intentions, paving the road to you know where.
Awfully familiar to another closeted chrump fan who enjoys professional wrasslin’ a bit too much.
The fear of acronyms by the batshit crazy gop sycophants has gotten out of hand. Your initial post reflects the manufactured hysteria. I’ll applaud you for not crying woke, but not much more than that.
Btw, I don’t know “where” you refer to. I don’t subscribe to religious fantasies, but I’m assuming you mean your fairy tale definition of hell.
To those not stuck in the confines of religion, DEI is just an acronym that tries, but sometimes fails, to give all colors and creeds a bit of representation.
If you need a few pointers on how decent people should conduct themselves, you should read Mr. Moats response below.
Wasnt bringing up religion merely a well used euphemism regarding “good intentions”.
You seem to have a knack of accusing anyone that disagrees as a trump or “closeted” trump fans. Is it the result of polarized/partisan group think? Just because someone doesnt think like you doesnt put them in some other group that they may disagree with on completely different subjects.
We have been told until recently that we should all be colorblind/etc. to the best of our ability. DEI focuses on our differences and essentially divides us all into our groups/tribes.
DEI is exactly the opposite of MLKs words I quoted in my reply.
I’m glad the article helped you recognize your misconceptions. It takes a lot of courage to publicly admit that you’re wrong.
Kudos to these students. They are speaking truth to power.
You all describe the West that raised me. Be kind, be courtesy to a fault. I’ll live the way I live and you can live the way you live. Don’t wear your religion on your sleeve. Help your neighbor when he needs it. Charity starts at home.. Don’t get on your high horse and think you are better than someone. Take responsibility for your actions. Think for yourself.
Thank you for writing this excellent article! I long for our “live and let live” state to return. Well stated examples of history and the true cowboy way!
Thanks to the students in the Masters Social Work Assc for demonstrating the cowboy Spirit! May the Trustees read it as the University of Wyoming clearly needs new leadership.