Kenosha, Wis. — In a move that has already sparked significant controversy, Ritu Raju, President of Gateway Technical College (GTC), announced the dissolution of the institution’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) program today. The decision, conveyed through a mass email to faculty and staff, comes in the wake of President Donald Trump’s sweeping new policies on DEI. According to Raju, the college is adjusting its approach to comply with new federal guidelines, which threaten institutions with the loss of funding should they continue race-based programming.
In her message, Raju sought to ease concerns, stating, “Given the guidance and deadlines issued by the United States Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights regarding potential investigation and loss of funding for institutions providing race-based programming, we have made the difficult decision to dissolve Gateway’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the vice president of DEI role.”
Raju reassured staff that Dr. Tammi Summers would continue in her role as Acting Vice President of Student Affairs, though many are left questioning the broader implications of this move.
But insiders within the college have raised doubts, alleging that Raju’s public statement is a mere smoke screen designed to placate both the federal government and the GTC community. According to one senior staff member, “DEI isn’t going anywhere. She’s just making it look that way, so she doesn’t lose funding.”
This development follows a series of federal education policies under the Trump administration that seek to curb race-based initiatives in colleges and universities across the country. While Raju’s compliance may save the college from potential funding cuts, critics argue that her actions reflect a deeper issue: a lack of transparency and accountability in her leadership.
Raju’s decision to announce the end of DEI programming, however, is not just a matter of policy—it raises larger questions about her leadership at GTC. Despite recent efforts to paint the move as a necessary sacrifice for the future of the institution, Raju’s contract was recently renewed amid widespread faculty and staff distrust. A school-wide survey indicated a staggering lack of confidence in her leadership, with staff at all levels voicing concerns over her ability to effectively guide the college through times of change.
Even as the college faces intense pressure from the federal government, Raju’s handling of the situation has done little to reassure many within the GTC community. Instead of fostering unity, her response seems to have only deepened the divide, suggesting that employees are disappointed in Trump’s policies.
As the college looks ahead, one question remains: Will President Raju truly keep DEI out of Gateway? Only time will tell, but for now, trust in her leadership seems at an all-time low.
74 Responses
Her lack of payroll theft accountability is apparent with over 50% of her staff ‘working’ from home.
Isn’t the COVID pandemic over?!?!
Make your employees ALL come to work and maybe we wouldn’t have so little faith in her abilities.
Not to mention the multitude of husbands & wifes, parents & children, all working closely sometimes even in the same dept. as supervisor and employee roles!
RIDICULOUS how many of these people are getting paid to sit at home, absolutely RIDICULOUS!
Also, many are promoted without actually having the credentials or experience to do the job. Example: HR
Which person are you referring to specifically?
The whole department, they cost taxpayers over a million a year for salaries & benefits. Only way to fix problem is to get rid of Jacqueline Morris and her buddies.
But doesn’t every company need an HR department? They have important functions. No one gets paid without HR. Complaints don’t get resolved.
HR never existed before women got in the workplace……
The explosion of HR bureaucrats is a result of 50+ years of creeping leftism. An HR department produces nothing.
It was called the “Personell” department . It has always existed in companies that are large enough to need a full time employee to manage policy, hiring, firing, etc.
Yes it did. And it was primarily staffed by men until the ’70s or so I think
Bigger companies have smaller HR departments.
No – a company does not need an HR department. You would be surprised how many super successful companies actually run beautifully without an “HR” department. The employees generate revenue and the accountant handles payroll every two weeks – not a bureaucrat who is primarily a glorified babysitter focusing on the lowest common denominator.
No such company exists except in your imagination.
GTC’s HR doesn’t do much, example is long job description form employees had to do for outside service. HR doesnt know what I do? One size fits all form that was very time consuming. How much time was wasted on employees trying to navigate, no instructions. Then how much time wasted by supervisors reviewing it.
It’ll be just like Energage survey, nothing done with the results. Or they spin the results to say what they want it to say.
Wonder how much money was wasted when HR has all those employees earning $100,000+
The Village of Pleasant Prairie has employees who “work from home” as well. I’ve tried a couple of times to call the Development of the Community and no one answers, or is working from home. I have a good friend who has worked for the Village for over 20 years on Green Bay Road and was told that there is one employee that works consistently from home at least one day a week. Everyone knows this employee is stroking it. I’m tired of my tax dollars being waisted on lazy ass employees who want a government job but don’t want to be in government building doing the job they were hired to do. Check into this Kevin. My DPW source is not making this up. Just like last time with Jr. Everyine knows what’s going on and bosses look the other way. Their asses should be fired as well for mismanagement of tax dollars. I really hope the board flips so the Village Board can go back to making policy and not the HR department. Time to clean house.
Not just Pleasant Prairie, everywhere. Called the DOJ last week, no answer several times. Called Governors office to find out why, no answer. Called my Insurance agent 4 times for 3 days straight. Answering machine, no call back as the machine is in the Office building, nobody there. He lives out of town. Contacted or attempted to, “Customer Service” DEI for sure answers with cheap Radio Shack quality headset that sounded like shit, baby crying, Wheel of Fortune on TV in background.
Needed a new fridge, called Grand Appliance at 11:30am, opens supposedly at 10:00am only got pre recorded message that the call will be answered in the order received. After 12 minutes, tried again, same thing. Called the Sturtevant number, evenually some young guy picked up, no enthusiam what so ever, sounded like I woke him up. Told me he’d try to call Kenosha store. I’m thinking, this sounds like a solution. Came back a few min. later and said,” Dunno, no one answered.” Fauci made a wonderful new world, didn’t he? Gateway Pres. totally disingenuous as everyone is now on board illiminating DEI. They have to spew this BS to keep the gravy train rolling. Most companies, Institutions will say they rolled back, they are liars, keep an eye on HR. see for yourselves. LOL Spoke to a DEI KPD newby the otherday. Jesus, the way he spoke , his vocabulary, things he said. Thought to myself, I think they eliminated to 60 college credit requirement or lowered to bar as this dude seemed as though he couldn’t pass HS with a diploma.
The lack of people with customer service skills is appalling. Even walking into some businesses/ stores. These people act irritated that they need to ring up products, etc. Like I’m sorry my patronage is interrupting your day of texting. Then we wonder why so many brick and mortar stores are closing. Obviously Amazon didn’t help that either. We need to get back to real life. In person life. So people learn interpersonal skills and customer service skills.
Or maybe some people are really good at their job and thus their life isn’t to be at your beck and call during your 9-5, ever think of that?
If their job is 9-5 then yes they should be at the beck and call.
Aww is it too difficult to get out of bed, travel and put in the time that you are getting paid for?
This is the thinking that got us where we are today. Tell us you are 20-30 years old, without telling us you are 20-30 years old.
You must not be familiar with employment.
To the Anon that posted: “no call back as the machine is in the Office building”. You DO realize many phone systems are now internet based, on an individuals computer and you get your VM no matter if you’re at home or in the office? Way to tell everybody you’re an older generation that is unwilling to change.
DON”T buy anything at Grand Appliance in Racine! We bought a fridge and when their delivery crew removed our old one, they drug it across our hardwood floors, leaving deep gouges. Grand refused to pay for repairs or even come look at it. Cost me $1500 out of pocket. I’ve read other horror stories too – look them up on Nextdoor.
You just like to complain!
We need change!! VOTE ERIC
Yes! Vote Eric Meadows! Get some yard signs and put them in your car windows!!! We need a change!
Voting for Klimisch is giving Steinbrink another term. Vote Eric
You just sound jealous that you can’t work from home. If you had ever worked from home you’d know that if you’re not doing your job, it becomes apparent pretty quickly. For me at least, I’m the only person that does what I do in my department and if I were to be slacking on performing my duties I’m 100% certain my boss or coworkers would be able to notice within days. So what does it matter if I’m “sitting at home” or “sitting at work” when I do my job? Either way it’s getting done.
It’s possible that at least in the case of the Federal Government they have a problem with a person working two jobs, one of which may be in conflict with gov’t expectations and work rules.
This paragraph makes me think you’re promoting or indifferent toward DEI.
For many faculty and staff, the decision to dismantle DEI programming is an unforgivable step backward, especially at a time when educational institutions should be prioritizing inclusivity, diversity, and fairness. Raju’s leadership, according to critics, reflects a disconnection from the core values that should guide the institution and its commitment to students of all backgrounds.
Wow, including everyone equally is SO offensive.
Just don’t include people by excluding and demeaning others.thats what DEI does. White privilege is about hating white people and blaming them for all the problems of minorities. Take responsibility.
Down with DEI! Let’s hire people based on their qualifications and experience – not on their gender or color.
Her lack of payroll theft accountability is apparent with over 50% of her staff ‘working’ from home.
Isn’t the COVID pandemic over?!?!
Make your employees ALL come to work and maybe we wouldn’t have so little faith in her abilities.
Not to mention the multitude of husbands & wifes, parents & children, all working closely sometimes even in the same dept. as supervisor and employee roles!
RIDICULOUS how many of these people are getting paid to sit at home, absolutely RIDICULOUS!
What’s crazy is it many of the people working from home are at home caring for their small children. Tell me how you can do a productive job when you’re caring for 3 and 5-year-old kids. It’s not possible. Most days working here is like a ghost town.
I work remote, no kids & get more done at home then at work with the clowns.
There are so many in the office not working, you’d think it was a country club.
How would you know what’s going on in the workplace when your at home?
Emails from clowns.
Too many are doing what they shouldn’t be doing at home just like in the office. Some employees do slack off right infront of their direct supervisors.
The problem is no two departments have the same rules. In our department there’s two sets of rules & the VP blantly lies about it to face.
One half the department has to take day off when working at home if child is home sick. The other half doesn’t have to.
Wonder how many different rules there are throughout the college.
There was another Energage survey completed fall 2024. Wondering if you by chance requested those updated ones? The discussion would have taken place sometime Jan 2025 at the college. Did the college share those results and comments?
No they did not
DOJ hotline coming up ..
They sure are overpaid
gateways dei and other race based BS has been going on for a long time. special treatment and testing assistance based on the color of your skin has been going one since at least 2009. only real grades and skills should matter.
More corruption
Since Dr. Summers husband also works for Gateway, why is she being retained as a VP?
What does the fact that he’s an instructor have to do with her leading a different division? She does not supervise him. And it’s he ex husband.
There are many spouses in same department.
Fire them all
What’s the problem if people meet and get married while they’re working together? So you’re saying that if somebody marries another person at their workplace they should quit their job? And nobody supervises their family. That’s against policy.
GTC hires already married couples. Only know if twi office romances that got married. Companies would have one leave.
Tammi Summers isn’t competent to fill in for postion open because of Stacy Riley leaving. Maybe the position isn’t needed at all.
Stacy Riley’s husband works at GTC, how he got hired many question besides fact married to Stacy.
This page really riled up that caputo lady. She seems like she’s lost it on her page. Sheesh
Who is the Caputo lady?
https://kenoshacountyeye.com/2023/10/01/a-profile-of-a-troll-in-kenosha-county-steffany-caputo/
Thanks. She looks like a treat …
DEI
Didn’t
Earn
It
Reminds me of the end of Saving Private Ryan where Tom Hanks character Captain Miller, says to
Private Ryan “ Earn This “
https://youtu.be/5f6bF3jyDz4
Diversity, everywhere you go, means less white people. Every time a show is too white, a workforce is too white, a student population is too white, only then do they say we need more diversity. Never do they talk about diversifying the HBCU campus or the NBA or any other place that has a lot of non-white people. That’s race-based!
In a nearly every circumstance DEI lowers standards so that less achieving minorities can allegedly have the same equal opportunities. That’s racist.
Not trying to ruffle any feathers but wonder how much DEI/Affirmative Action played into Ms. Ritu Raju getting hired?
Long ago legislature should have done major revisions on how tech colleges like Gateway are funded and ask hard questions on how so much taxpayer money can be spent by unelected officials.
Of course that’s not gonna happen because elected officials count on getting a piece of that pie.
How does her contract get renewed?
Why do Energage survey nothing changes, employees stressed no faith in Ritu.
90%
The ELC (Executive Leadership) is a joke. DEI hires that meet to cover each other’s ass.
Ritu incompetent non-white
VP/CEO incompetent woman of color received position thru promotions
VP Talent & Culture (HR) incompetent woman of color received position thru promotions
VP DEI incompetent woman of color received position thru promotions (she won’t give up DEI)
All are grossly overpaid.
The entire Talent & Culture department is incompetent & overstaffed. All unqualified promotions. Costing taxpayers over a million a year with salaries & benefits.
Talent & Culture doesn’t hire from outside, if they did they’d get rid of person for knowing more than them.
Wake up taxpayers & board members.
So sick of taxpayers money wasted on Employee Learning day (not what you’d think, swing dance, bee keeping, etc). Also each department has a retreat or two a year, leaving departments uncovered. And the endless amount of useless meetings.
If Employeee Learning day, retreats & useless meetings were stopped just think how many less employees would be needed.
I get paid to work not slack off as so many do. The problem is there’s so many incompetent employees in each department putting more stress on the one’s that work & don’t brown nose.
The ones that brown nose earn more & get less work. I don’t brown nose, never had, never will so I’m lowest paid in department. Being white doesn’t hurt.
Newer employees are paid more then those with years of experience. Doesn’t matter if your an instructor or staff.
Too many of color saying white privilege, no white privilege at GTC, just the opposite. That’s why they’re keeping DEI.
Anyone know the federal goverment whistleblower email or phone number?
EEOC.gov
GTC pays inexperienced more then those with experience. Not right, you have to train someone earning more.
When will GTC start removing all the positions paid by federal grants. It’s been obvious since November when Trump won the election federal grants would be greatly reduced.
Many HR departments are advising their employees:
“The use of any other personal information including logos flags statements religious and pronouns is not permitted”
Not GTC, even VP of Talent & Culture uses she/her/hers as do other VPs & Directors.
It’s bizarre that they do that anywhere. Do you not know what the person is by looking at them?
Just think the amount of taxpayers money would be saved if they actually ended DEI department & bs and let go all those with grants ending. Do the employees paid by grants actually only work on grants, are students benefiting? NO!!
You can fool all of the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time, but you can’t fool all the people all of the time – P.T. Barnum.
In discussions about DEI, I’ve found educators to be the ones most likely to claim it doesn’t exist, even when it’s completely obvious to the rest of us. Unfortunately, while these people may (or may not be) skilled at their specialties, they seem not to be perceptive enough to see that they’ve been indoctrinated by this American Marxism, and don’t recognize it for what it is when they’re in their “training” (e.g. indoctrination) sessions. Perhaps this woman thinks she can fool GTC, the community, AND the feds? Lol, if so, she’s going to be in for a big surprise.
Complete subterfuge.
Why does an organization the size of Gateway need all these different HR specialists rather than just a couple generalists? Just 10 years ago they didn’t have this number of people and somehow they were operating just fine. There’s a lot of favoritism in this department and the promotion of people without any posting of the jobs and without the requisite qualifications.