Celebrating MLK Day; Your safety and well-being January 18, 2023

Campus community, 

On Monday, thousands gathered downtown to march together and honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This display of solidarity will be ingrained in my mind as we continue our efforts to build a more welcoming campus. 

These examples reminded me of a quote from Dr. Katrice Albert, our vice president for institutional diversity: 

“Inclusive excellence is a path forward for all of us.” 

This is what we must remember as we progress in our work: everyone in our community — everyone — plays an integral role in how we celebrate and uplift those with diverse backgrounds, ideas and perspectives. 

That idea — and that commitment — is the very essence of what it means to be a university.  

Monday’s march and ceremonies – and the events we held on our campus yesterday – should remind us of the progress we have made for nearly 160 years as Kentucky’s university.  

But they should also compel us, as Dr. King remarked, of the “rising expectations” we should have as a community continually committed to doing more and being more as we advance Kentucky.   

Campus safety

Ensuring the safety of our community is the university’s top priority, but to do so requires all of us to follow procedures and protocols and take responsible steps and precautions. There are several important things you can do and remember to keep yourself and your fellow students and colleagues safe: 

• Sign up for UK Alerts, our emergency notification system. 
• Become familiar with standard processes and procedures during threatening weather and other crises. 
• Follow these tips when driving or utilizing crosswalks on campus. 
• Download the LiveSafe app to message the UK Police Department (UKPD). 
• Be aware of the more than 50 blue emergency towers as you walk through campus if you need to reach UKPD. These towers also provide outdoor notification of UK Alerts.  
• Call 859-257-SAFE (7233) to be connected to our SAFECATS escort service, the after-hours on-demand CATS bus service, the Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) Center or Kentucky Wildcab. Use Kentucky Wildcab for a free, late-night, on-demand transportation option that operates both on and off campus. 

I encourage you to use these resources. Safety is a shared responsibility, and each of us must do our part in these efforts. 

Your health and well-being

At the start of a new semester, it’s important to prioritize your physical health and wellness.  

• It isn’t too late to protect yourself from the flu. Visit this page to find more information on flu vaccines, locations and appointments. 
• Stay up to date on your COVID-19 vaccine and schedule your next appointment here. 
• Students can participate in group fitness or virtual fitness classes as well as intramural sports, in addition to utilizing several other resources in Campus Recreation.
• Employees can find a variety of resources for their physical health at this website, including information about fitness membership options, exercise specialists, MoveWell rewards, step challenges and more. 

Thank you for being a community that cares deeply for each other and for the state we are called to serve. 

Eli Capilouto 

President