Students meet with UK President, demand changes

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – University of Kentucky students from the Basic Needs Campaign and the UK Black Student Advisory Council met with President Eli Capilouto in the Main Building of the University of Kentucky.

The basic needs campaign has three demands for the university: Creating a basic needs center, a basic needs fund, and a full time basic needs staff position, all would help students with food and housing needs.

“80% of student’s who responded to the food access survey were food insecure. Four our of five!” organizer Beau Revlett told Capilouto.

President Capilouto passionately ensured students he’s committed to helping.

“Meal swipes, as many as you need for the rest of the semester. And that fund, I guarantee you, whatever the demands are, were going to meet those,” Capilouto told the students.

The university says it’s also taking action by expanding the hours of the Big Blue Pantry, and has an emergency fund to immediately address student needs.

According to the council, it plans to stay in the building until its needs are met.

The councils demands include: a spot on search committees, revising the William C. Parker scholarship, which is a scholarship for diverse students.

The council also wants standard procedures for the roles of college diversity officers.

It wants the findings from the 2016 Cook Ross Survey on campus climate released, and the council wants the O’Hanlon mural in Memorial Hall removed.