The News for 11/22/25
The content you hear on this program has not been reviewed by WRFL prior to broadcast and is produced under the discretion of its host DJs, and does not reflect the views of the University of Kentucky, WRFL, or its underwriters.
We’ll get back to the music on 120 Minutes in just a moment, but first, it’s 12:30 and it’s time to check the news, for this week, November 22nd.
The Kentucky Kernel reported this week that as the University of Kentucky continues to rush to comply with federal guidance and the state’s House Bill 4, students say they’re being left almost entirely in the dark about what’s happening. As we’ve told you about on the show in recent weeks, UK has revoked support for what it calls “identity-based” student organizations, eliminated gender-inclusive housing, halted preferred name and gender updates on student records, and according to students, frozen their organizational bank accounts that contain not only public funds, but privately raised donor money as well. Some students also told the Kernel they’ve had scholarships removed without warning, learning of the change only after checking their online accounts. All of this has unfolded with no public announcement and little to no written explanation to those most impacted, the Kernel said.
Instead, UK academic leadership has sent internal emails to faculty instructing them not to discuss UK’s DEI compliance with the media, even when they’re asked about their own experiences, telling them it could carry risks. UK’s PR office says it’s meant to protect employees. The Kernel’s reporting confirms that nearly everyone who has commented on the new restrictions has done so anonymously. The Kernel also said that UK has still not clearly defined what “identity-based” activities are, and religious groups have only now been quietly added to the list of restricted organizations after the Kernel pointed out those inconsistencies on UK’s website. Meanwhile, fraternities and sororities appear to be exempt from these restrictions due to separate federal classifications, the Kernel said.
UK officials insist they’re following the law and are trying to provide only “targeted communication,” but students argue that the secrecy is the problem. One student leader described the process to the Kernel as “shrouded behind a curtain,” saying that even a basic acknowledgment from UK explaining what’s happening and why could help reduce fear and confusion. Others told the Kernel that UK’s approach has left some of its most vulnerable students unsure of where they stand or whether their organizations will survive at all. The moderator of a student panel on the issue said, “UK is under a lot of pressure right now, but there is a conversation to be had about the consequences of its full-throated, almost enthusiastic, compliance with these guidelines,” the Kernel reported. More updates on this ongoing situation can be found at kykernel.com.
In other news, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported Friday that the fight over dense student housing on East Maxwell took a major turn Wednesday night, when the city council voted 8-7 to deny a zone change for a 332-unit HUB apartment complex. The vote came after a marathon 7-hour public hearing where neighbors argued that the block of 1920s multi-unit homes has already been overwhelmed by two other large student complexes approved earlier this year. Residents warned that demolishing yet another block of historic buildings would worsen traffic on an already narrow Maxwell Street and erase some of the last affordable units near campus. The narrow vote underscored wider tensions between UK and the city of Lexington, with some council members calling for the revival of a long-disbanded committee that once coordinated housing planning. More details on that story can be found at kentucky.com.
Finally tonight, WKYT reported Friday that dozens gathered in Lexington Thursday night for the Transgender Day of Remembrance vigil, honoring lives lost and calling attention to the dangers trans Kentuckians continue to face. Organizers say that constant hostility is driving a mental-health crisis in the community, and events like these remind trans people in Kentucky that they’re not alone. District 4 council member Emma Curtis was at the event to announce a proclamation officially recognizing Transgender Day of Remembrance in Lexington, making it the first city in Kentucky to do so.
And that’s… the news.