I want to provide updates following the recent violent and racist assault that horrified so many of us and deeply traumatized Black students, employees and community members.
Dr. Newman will serve as EVPHA until the end of this calendar year and then transition to this new role. I will announce plans for acting leadership in UK HealthCare in the coming days and will follow up soon with how we will proceed in searching for the next EVPHA.
We have pledged to keep you informed regarding our response to the racist assault captured on video last Sunday on our campus. I want to emphasize that this behavior was disgusting and devastating to our community. We stand by our students who were targeted by this unacceptable hostility and violence.
While we cannot simply move on from — and we must never deny — what happened or the hate that finds its way into our world and on our campus, we must find a way to move forward. We must find a way for everyone in our community to sit at humanity’s table equally and with respect for one another. That is our responsibility as Kentucky’s university.
Early this morning, an incident involving violence against our students, racial slurs and offensive language occurred in one of our residence halls. One of the victims was a student employee who was working an overnight shift at the front desk.
This past week, as we celebrated 107 years of UK Homecoming, many of us participated in time-honored traditions alongside friends, loved ones and fellow members of the UK family.
Midterms are quickly approaching, and with so many activities consuming our time, it can be easy to forget to pause and reflect on who we are at the University of Kentucky.
