UPDATED: This story was updated at 3:40 p.m. CST on Dec. 8 to clarify that the statement from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to MOSAIC student leaders was intended to be distributed to MOSAIC participants.

Medley of Students and Ideas Connecting, an annual, overnight community-building experience for admitted prospective first-year students, was canceled for the current application cycle. The decision was made amid university officials’ concerns that MOSAIC’s focus on diversity may be inconsistent with the Trump administration’s executive orders against diversity, equity and inclusion. 

The MOSAIC Student Recruitment Committee is a student organization that partners with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to support cultural and ethnic diversity in the admissions process. The MOSAIC program used to invite a diverse group of students to stay overnight with current students and participate in campus life so they can experience Vanderbilt. The event was held annually in conjunction with Anchor Day, which has not been altered. 

Reasons for cancellation 

Following the Supreme Court’s ruling against universities using race as a factor in admissions and President Donald Trump’s multiple executive orders limiting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, the university and Vanderbilt University Medical Center halted or changed several programs that may be interpreted as DEI.  

In a statement to MOSAIC leadership from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions obtained by The Hustler, executive director Mike Drish said the cancellation reflects the current legal landscape, citing a July 29 memo from United States Attorney General Pam Bondi about DEI in institutions receiving federal funding. The statement was sent to MOSAIC student leaders to share with MOSAIC participants.

“In alignment with federal civil rights laws, Vanderbilt’s programming for admitted students is open to all,” the admissions office statement reads. “In other words, we cannot extend invitations to admitted students to participate in special events based on race, sex or other protected characteristics.” 

The statement added that Vanderbilt plans to direct resources toward ensuring all admitted students feel a sense of belonging and engagement at Anchor Day and other admitted student events. It also said the Office of Undergraduate Admissions hopes to collaborate with students to find meaningful ways for current Vanderbilt students involved with MOSAIC to share their stories and perspectives with admitted students. 

In a statement from Vanderbilt University to The Hustler, a university representative said the cancellation came after a recent review of programming to ensure alignment with legal requirements. Bondi’s memo outlines a series of “unlawful practices” and nonbinding “best practices,” and it lists race-exclusive university programs as an example of a civil rights violation. Its guidance is not legally binding, and many of its examples have not been evaluated by federal courts, but it signals which types of programs the Department of Justice believes are illegal and threatens to revoke federal grants. 

“We have decided to expand our on-campus events to all admitted students and no longer offer MOSAIC as a standalone program,” the university statement reads. “This shift will allow us to ensure that every admitted student feels a sense of belonging and engagement at Anchor Days and other added yield events.” 

Between Oct. 8 and publication, the MOSAIC page on Vanderbilt’s admissions website was updated to remove all mentions of belonging, community, multicultural, individuality and “variety of identity and thought,” apart from one section naming cultural organizations that partner with the program. That section was renamed from multicultural organizations to cultural organizations. 

Student reactions 

Junior Gabrielle White, a MOSAIC student co-chair, said the cancellation of the program will make it more challenging for some prospective students to experience Vanderbilt’s campus. According to White, the program allowed students to experience a more realistic simulation of life as a Vanderbilt student than other admitted students’ programs.   

“Oftentimes, MOSAIC does give travel stipends to prospective students in the program, thus, its removal does create a substantial financial gap in prospective students’ abilities to visit campus,” White said in an email to The Hustler. 

White said the program contributed to her decision to attend Vanderbilt. She said she worries that its cancellation will lead to a broader erasure of diversity at the university as future prospective students feel less welcomed. 

“MOSAIC convinced me that I would not have to create space for myself at Vanderbilt because there were already spaces for students that looked like me,” White said. 

Senior Ishaan Gadiyar, MOSAIC co-chair, echoed this sentiment and said he felt disheartened to see the program go.  

“For me, it’s been inspiring to meet the next generation of Vandy students and help them envision how our campus can fit their specific needs and backgrounds,” Gadiyar said. “With MOSAIC cancelled, we take away another opportunity for students to understand how Vanderbilt best serves them and also another experience that helps them understand what college life may actually entail.” 

White also said the decision came as a surprise. MOSAIC’s executive board has been meeting biweekly throughout the semester to plan events for the soon admitted Class of 2030, and neither of the co-chairs was consulted before the final decision was made to cancel the program.  

“All of the diligent work done by our Executive Board for general body meetings, host recruitment planning and brainstorming for the LiveVU showcase is now going to waste unfortunately,” White said. “We were completely blindsided by the decision to completely get rid of the program that we all cared so deeply about. It was a slap in the face to us.” 

Sophomore Keyla Suarez, who serves on the Publicity and Outreach Committee for the MOSAIC board, said she was disappointed by the decision to cut the program. While she could not participate in MOSAIC weekend during her time as an admitted student, she served as a host for a prospective student during last year’s MOSAIC weekend and still shares a bond with them. 

“I am overall very frustrated and disillusioned with this decision. With everything going on in higher education and politics around race and affirmative action, I saw MOSAIC as a way we could make an impact in creating more diversity and representation on campus,” Suarez said. “I think this is also an issue that’s hard to not take personally, but I am looking forward to working alongside the MOSAIC exec board and mentors for creative ways in which we can still uphold MOSAIC’s mission considering recent changes in policy.”