U.S. Military Academy West Point has ceased all events, activities and meetings associated with cultural clubs.
West Point’s Deputy Commandant Chad R. Foster issued a memorandum on Feb. 4 stating the changes were in “accordance with recent Presidential Executive Orders, Department of Defense guidance and Department of the Army guidance.”
The Indianapolis Recorder obtained a copy of the memorandum, which states “Effective immediately, all Directorate of Cadet Activities (DCA) sanctioned clubs listed below are hereby disbanded.”
“This directive cancels all trip sections, meetings, events, and other activities associated with these clubs,” the memorandum continues. “Moreover, these clubs are not authorized to continue informal activities using Government time, resources, or facilities.”
The clubs listed to be disbanded include the Asian-Pacific Forum Club, Contemporary Cultural Affairs Seminar Club, Corbin Forum, Japanese Forum Club, Korean-American Relations Seminar, Latin Cultural Club, National Society of Black Engineers Club, Native American Heritage Forum, Society for Hispanic Professional Engineers, Society of Women Engineers Club, Spectrum and the Vietnamese-American Cadet Association.
Dana Pittard, a retired major general of the U.S. Army and West Point alum, said the school has a history of racial discrimination and had made concerted efforts to correct these mistakes over the years through the addition of cultural clubs.
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As a former member of the Contemporary Cultural Affairs Seminar Club, Pittard said West Point’s leadership “overreacted” to Trump’s directive to end federal diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
“I’m surprised the leadership did such a drastic move as to disband many of the culturally affiliated clubs,” Pittard said. “Of course, they didn’t disband the German club, the French club, the Spanish club, but they disbanded … the Contemporary Cultural Affairs Seminar, which is primarily African American.”
To see a club that is well over 50 years old go away “is a travesty,” Pittard said. The Contemporary Cultural Affairs Seminar Club began in 1972 and was one of the few places where Black cadets and other cadets of color could build community at school.
For many students, West Point is a culture shock, but especially for students of color. Clubs like the Contemporary Cultural Affairs Seminar Club were not about DEI in the traditional sense, Pittard said, but rather about aiding socialization and community building — which in turn made West Point an environment where people wanted to stay.
Moving forward, Pittard said he feels for the current and incoming cadets at West Point who will miss out on the opportunity to build community through cultural and affinity groups.
“I think that the letter needs to be rescinded because I don’t think that these cultural affinity groups in any way conflict with meritocracy,” he said. “It just sounds racist, and that’s what’s bad. The West Point leadership knows better.”
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.
Chloe McGowan is the Arts & Culture Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Columbus, OH, Chloe graduated with a degree in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a former IndyStar Pulliam Fellow, and her previous work includes freelancing for Indy Maven, Assistant Arts & Life Editor for The Lantern, and editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Chloe enjoys covering all things arts and culture — from local music, visual art, dance, theater and film, as well as minority-owned businesses. In her free time, Chloe enjoys reading, cooking and keeping her plants alive.
