Students at Northern Kentucky University are rallying against anti-diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) legislation in the commonwealth.
Demonstrations are planned at all of the state’s public universities on Friday.
At NKU, the first phase of the rally is set for 10 a.m. throughout the Student Union plaza, Griffin Hall lawn and the Eva G. Farris Outdoor Amphitheater. At 12 p.m. the group plans to convene at the Student Union plaza. A campus march is scheduled for 1 p.m.
NKU junior Tyana Rasberry is helping coordinate the event in Highland Heights. Rasberry said the demonstrators hope to bring awareness to what is happening at the state and national levels, as well as highlight the potential impacts on students.
House Bill 4 (HB 4) was introduced by the Kentucky House of Representatives earlier this month. The bill seeks to eliminate all DEI programs and initiatives at public universities by preventing institutions from using any resources on DEI. This extends to a student’s university admission, scholarship eligibility, housing assignment and more.
Rasberry said she feels the anti-DEI movement is hindering social progression.
“These initiatives and stuff were originally put in to help minority and marginalized groups, who weren’t at first given the opportunity to even come to college, and were supposed to help kind of give us a leg up,” the junior said. “Now that we feel like they’re trying to take that away, it’s like we’re kind of moving backwards.”
Throughout the week, some NKU students have participated in sit-ins to express their support for DEI.
On Monday, about 15 students gathered during the Student Government Association (SGA) meeting. Some held up signs with phrases like, “History has its eyes on you” and “Keep our programs.”
During the SGA meeting, Vice President Collin Jarrell gave his weekly legislative update, which included news about HB 4.
Jarrell referenced a Faculty Senate meeting which discussed the potential exceptions to the bill. Things like independent student organizations and academic freedom can not be infringed on by the passage of the bill.
HB 4 has not received a committee hearing at this time, but it has been assigned to the Postsecondary Education Committee.
Students who protested the legislation spoke with The Northerner after the meeting about their purpose in attending.
“I think the reason we came here today was just to display that we actually care… to show the power, the importance behind DEI and its initiatives,” Robert Butler II said.
Along with the SGA demonstration, students also hosted sit-ins throughout the week on the eighth floor of Lucas Administrative Center, where the Office of the President is located.
Rasberry said, while it felt out of place to sit in an area not frequented by many students, that was the group’s goal.
“We go into their spaces because we don’t see them as much in ours,” the junior said.
Rasberry said the demonstrators were acknowledged by Provost Diana McGill and President Cady Short-Thompson. The administrators asked the students about their concerns and what information they wanted to know, Rasberry said.
“We more so let [Short-Thompson] know we want to be a part of those conversations, especially because they do specifically target us,” Rasberry said. “So we feel like we should be in those meetings when they’re talking about next steps for planning.”