Kentucky
Lawmakers question presidents of several universities in Kentucky about DEI practices on college campuses
Lawmakers questioned the presidents of several universities in Kentucky about diversity, equity, and inclusion practices on college campuses during a meeting of the Interim Education Committee on Tuesday.
This happened a few weeks after Dr. Eli Capilouto, the president of the University of Kentucky, announced that the school would disband its office promoting diversity and inclusion efforts. The school took action after state lawmakers debated whether to limit diversity, equity and inclusion practices at public universities.
In a campus-wide lettersent in August, Capilouto said the Office of Institutional Diversity (OID) would shut its doors, and diversity training and diversity statements for staff and faculty would no longer be required.
A new office, the Office for Community Relations, would take the place of OID.
“If we are to be a campus for everyone, we must demonstrate to ourselves and to those who support and invest in us our commitment to the idea that everyone belongs — both in what we say and in what we do,” Capilouto wrote.
Capilouto stressed that the school’s core values remain intact — to protect academic freedom and promote a “sense of belonging” for everyone on campus, regardless of background or perspective.
“But we’ve also listened to policymakers and heard many of their questions about whether we appear partisan or political on the issues of our day and, as a result, narrowly interpret things solely through the lens of identity,” he said. “In so doing, the concern is that we either intentionally or unintentionally limit discourse. I hear many of those concerns reflected in discussions with some of our students, faculty and staff across our campus.”
In February, Capilouto called anti-DEI bills lawmakers were considering at the time “deeply concerning.”
“We don’t speak as an institution on public policy unless the issues will impact our entire community in potentially significant ways,” Capilouto said in a campus-wide letter sent in February. “This is one of those moments.”
“As the University of Kentucky’s president, let me be clear: I am opposed to the legislation regarding both DEI and tenure,” he added then. “I have voiced my stance in a manner that I hope is respectful and thoughtful. I will continue to do so.”
But in August, Capilouto said the school would change course and eliminate its DEI office as the issue was not going away.
“Kentucky legislators have made clear to me in our conversations that they are exploring these issues again as they prepare for the 2025 legislative session,” he said.
So, did UK make its changes due to pressure from Kentucky lawmakers? Capilouto did not answer LEX 18’s question regarding the situation.
However, Sen. Reggie Thomas said he believes the school read “the tea leaves,” realized the legislature was not going to stop, and took action.
“It was clear that the legislature still wasn’t going to let DEI go. They still wanted to do something to reduce the emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion,” Thomas said. “So, UK got ahead of it.”
On Tuesday, some lawmakers expressed concern that the General Assembly is demonizing DEI programs.
“This entire process isn’t a micro-aggression. It’s a macro-aggression against universities who are trying to ensure that all of their students are being met – their needs are being met,” said Rep. Tina Bojanowski. “I’m uncomfortable with the situation and I’m, honestly, embarrassed that we are here today.”
“From my perspective, the problem is the demonization of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs by certain members of this body,” she added.
But some lawmakers expressed concern that DEI is causing division on college campuses.
Rep. Steve Rawlings said while people understand the value of DEI, he has concerns with some of the concepts “taught within that bubble.”
“Some examples of that like victim ideology, micro-aggressions, intersectionality which includes white privilege, toxic masculinity, and I could go on — there are so many things, so many accounts that are so disheartening to hear about,” Rawlings said.
Sen. Lindsey Tichenor said that while DEI was intended to create a more inclusive environment, she worries it has done the opposite.
“Last session, we had some testimony regarding our DEI legislation we pushed forward for post-secondary education and one of the students that came and testified was sharing her story as an applicant to be an RA, that she was not chosen because [she’s] too white and too Christian,” Tichenor said.
“The efforts of DEI, I think at their beginning, were not to be divisive but to create a more inclusive environment,” she added. “But unfortunately, we see that it has created divisive and exclusive situations for a student to be told she couldn’t be hired because too white and too Christian.”
Supporters of DEI initiatives believe they provide critical opportunities for people who have been marginalized or face hurdles because of their identity. They worry getting rid of DEI could roll back gains in minority enrollments and stifle campus discussions about past discrimination.
Critics of DEI believe they are counterproductive and unfair, leading universities to make decisions based on factors like race and gender, instead of merit.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
13 things more likely to happen than winning the Powerball jackpot
Hoping to win the Powerball jackpot? Here are 13 things more likely to happen than becoming an instant millionaire.
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Kentucky
Fayette County school board chair, KEA sue to block Kentucky law that would oust current members
LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX NEWS) — Fayette County Board of Education Chair Tyler Murphy and the Kentucky Education Association have filed a lawsuit challenging a newly enacted Kentucky law that would overhaul the governance structure of Fayette County Public Schools and force all current board members out of office at the end of 2026.
The lawsuit names the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the Fayette County Board of Elections and Fayette County election officials as defendants.
At the center of the legal challenge is Senate Bill 4, which lawmakers passed over Gov. Andy Beshear’s veto earlier this year.
Under the law, the seven-member Fayette County Board of Education would be reduced to five district-based seats, the lawsuit reads. The terms of all current board members would end Dec. 31, 2026, and new elections would be held for the restructured board.
The lawsuit argues the law is unconstitutional and asks the court to block its implementation, including any election-related actions tied to the measure.
Court filings contend the legislation unlawfully targets a single school district and interferes with the terms of duly elected local officials. Plaintiffs also argue the law violates provisions of the Kentucky Constitution governing local elections and public officeholders.
Attorneys included exhibits detailing criticism of Murphy and Fayette County Public Schools leadership from state lawmakers, including a petition seeking Murphy’s removal and a letter from state Sen. Chris McDaniel calling for the resignations of Murphy and Superintendent Demetrus Liggins.
The lawsuit seeks a declaration that the law is invalid and requests expedited review from the court due to upcoming election deadlines.
No hearing date had been announced as of Wednesday.
The lawsuit comes as Fayette County Public Schools continues to face scrutiny over budgeting decisions, district spending and governance issues that have drawn attention from state lawmakers over the past year.
In a statement, Representative Matt Lockett criticized Murphy as he highlighted what he stated are district failures under Murphy.
“This lawsuit is nothing more than an attempt to distract from the disaster that Fayette County Public Schools is under Tyler Murphy’s leadership as board chair. Under his watch, the district has spiraled into a financial crisis so severe that it is now seeking to borrow up to $110 million simply to keep the lights on and make it through the school year. Students have been failed. Families have been failed. Teachers and staff have been failed. Taxpayers have been failed. And the Lexington community has been left paying the price for years of mismanagement and poor oversight.
Rather than taking responsibility for the district’s financial failures and focusing on what is best for students, he has chosen to file a lawsuit challenging a law that was duly passed by the General Assembly and enacted through the constitutional process. He may be emboldened by recent rulings by activist judges, but there are no legitimate grounds for overturning a duly enacted statute simply because you can’t do the right thing by this community. The General Assembly has both the authority and the responsibility to establish standards for public offices and governance structures across the Commonwealth.
At a time when Fayette County schools are facing unprecedented financial turmoil, the focus should be on accountability, transparency, and fixing the problems that have brought the district to this point. The only filing Fayette County taxpayers should be expecting from Mr. Murphy is his resignation.”
LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda has been causing fear around the world, and a Lexington doctor is preparing in the event a case is found in Kentucky.
According to the CDC, there have been 49 deaths and over 300 confirmed cases across the two countries, with more suspected cases still being investigated.
UK Healthcare is working to become a Level 2 Special Pathogen Treatment Center through the National Special Pathogen System, which would allow the facility to treat Ebola patients in-house.
Dr. Nicholas Van Sickels, an infectious disease physician at UK Healthcare, said the current outbreak is serious, but Kentucky residents are not at significant risk.
“Ebola scares people just because of the mortality, the death rate, associated with it and some of the long term consequences when you do survive. Fortunately, the strain that we’re seeing in Eastern (Democratic Republic of Congo) is thought to be not as deadly, but either way it’s a very serious disease. It carries a lot of stigma and fear,” Van Sickels said.
Here in Kentucky, however, is a very safe environment, Dr. Van Sickels said.
Currently, Dr. Van Sickels says UK Healthcare operates as an assessment hospital, meaning it can evaluate patients with symptoms who have traveled to regions with active outbreaks, coordinate testing with the state, and transfer patients to higher-level care centers if needed.
Once the Level 2 designation is complete, UK Healthcare will be the only facility in Kentucky with that capability.
“We’re the only facility in Kentucky that is able to have a level 2 designation once we finish this grant award and get approved,” Dr. Van Sickels said.
In January 2026, UK Healthcare received a grant from the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center (NETEC), the governing body of the National Special Pathogen System.
“It’s approximately half a million dollars to transform our institution,” Van Sickels said.
The funding has been used to run simulation drills in coordination with Lexington Fire, EMS, and the state health department. The grant also enabled UK Healthcare to upgrade its protective outerwear, with all seam points covered to provide additional protection. Ebola is transmitted through bodily fluids.
During a recent site visit and simulation, evaluators identified vulnerabilities in the facility’s previous protective suits.
“When we had our site visit and had our stimulation, for example, they said that the seams that we had on our old suits, you could pull and stretch, and that they were rather porous,” Van Sickels said.
Van Sickels had been working on the preparedness project since the beginning of the year.
Citing lessons learned from the 2014 West Africa Ebola epidemic, which spread to the U.S. and resulted in 4 cases and 1 death.
“Ebola 2014 taught a lot of hospitals in the US about high consequence infections, established what is now NETEC, the educating body for our country, uh, about high consequence pathogens,” Van Sickels said.
“We’re constantly wanting to push preparedness, uh, because that is the key to success in evading further outbreaks,” Van Sickels said.
UK Healthcare expects to complete its Level 2 Special Pathogen Treatment Center designation by the end of summer.
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