DEI efforts have become a lightning rod for debate in American higher education. At the private Houston university, officials admit impact is hard to measure — but they also see progress from their work. Alexander X. Byrd is having his team in the diversity, equity and inclusion office discuss a divisive debate that erupted at Yale University after a professor portrayed administrators’ guidance against racially offensive Halloween costumes as an affront to free speech. But Byrd didn’t want to debate costume etiquette. He focused on a larger, admittedly abstract and difficult goal: How to confront conflicting opinions while fostering a campus culture where everyone feels heard and respected. For Byrd, this kind of conversation lies at the heart of his goals as vice provost for the Rice’s DEI office.
