West Point Axes Clubs Aimed At Women, Minority Students

WEST POINT, NY — A dozen student clubs have been cut at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point following President Trump’s executive orders related to diversity in the federal government.

In a memorandum dated Feb. 4, the U.S. Military Academy indicated the following groups would be disbanded:

• 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
• Vietnamese-American Cadet Association

Most of the clubs are for students from various ethnic backgrounds. Spectrum is a campus gay-straight alliance club, and the Corbin Forum is a club for female cadets.

The memo ordered the immediate cancellation of all meetings, events and activities associated with the clubs. They are also not allowed to continue informal activities using government time, resources or facilities.

Other clubs at the academy are being evaluated to ensure they align with presidential executive orders and guidance from the Department of Defense and the Department of the Army, according to the memorandum, which was signed by Col. Chad Foster, deputy commandant.

“In accordance with recent guidance, the U.S. Military Academy is reviewing programs and activities affiliated with our former office of Diversity and Inclusion,” the U.S. Military Academy Communications Office said, in an emailed statement to Patch on Friday.

According to the statement, the disbanded clubs were sponsored by the Diversity and Inclusion office. More than 100 clubs remain at the academy, according to the communications office’s statement.

“Our leadership will continue to provide opportunities for cadets to pursue their academic, military, and physical fitness interests while following Army policy, directives, and guidance,” the statement said.