The United Campus Workers unions in numerous Kentucky universities recognized Jan. 28 as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Awareness Day in an attempt to fight anti-DEI legislation.
Murray State’s United Campus Workers Coalition advocated in the free speech zone to raise awareness of anti-DEI legislation that has plagued both the state and nation. As of this legislative session, lawmakers have yet to introduce anti-DEI legislation. The legislature resumes session on Feb. 4, and the last date for senators to file a bill is Feb. 18 and Feb. 19 for representatives.
According to CNN, DEI was created to create better job opportunities for “marginalized communities” that have not always had access to equal job opportunities or “felt a sense of belonging” in their workplace.
Introduced last year, Senate Bill 6 sought to not require students or employees of a public postsecondary institution to support or endorse any divisive concept. The bill also would not require students or employees to endorse or support any specific ideology or political viewpoint to be eligible for graduation, hire, promotion, tenure or contract renewal. The bill did not pass.
Brian Bourke, professor of higher education, and the United Campus Workers Union organized the tabling event on Murray State’s campus. Bourke said the anti-DEI legislation is a large concern for any institution.
“One of the things that is alarming and an area of concern is that DEI represents a lot of things,” he said. “If funding is stripped away from so-called ‘DEI efforts’, that has a potential impact on threatening funding that benefits students across a wide range of efforts.”
Bourke said it isn’t just about opportunities, it’s also about losing funding.
“As a professor of higher education, my research is focused directly on student diversity and the roles of social justice in higher education institutions,” he said. “The reality is that every effort to chip away at funding that benefits students impacts the University as a whole. If they say ‘Oh, we are going to cut these DEI programs.’ then that limits the ability of students to pay and that has the ability to really limit who can come to college.”
DEI isn’t strictly focused on race, sexual orientation or gender but also opens doors to those with disabilities, class status, military statuses, religion, age and others.
Antje Gamble, professor of history, assisted with the tabling and encouraged passersby to stop for a free donut or cup of coffee accompanied by a friendly conversation about the DEI efforts. Gamble said this is especially important for students.
“We have a lot of low income, first generation students and a chronic defunding of public education will take away their access to education,” she said.
Murray State Public Relations reported 44% of the 2024-2025 enrollment were first generation students. The University also opened a first gen student lounge located in the lower level of the Lowry Center to help first generation students “thrive rather than survive.”
The legislature resumes its session on Feb. 4.
