Kentucky Lantern reports on political response to Accuracy in Media’s University of Kentucky video
February 5, 2026
Some Kentucky Republican lawmakers are questioning if the state’s flagship university is following a law that bans diversity, equity and inclusion policies in higher education.
A viral video shared Wednesday by conservative media watchdog Accuracy in Media shows a University of Kentucky employee speaking with someone he believed to be a prospective student about whether DEI principles are part of the sociology department’s curriculum.
Rep. Shane Baker, R-Somerset, asked UK President Eli Capilouto about the exchange during a subcommittee meeting on universities’ budget requests Thursday.
A spokesperson for Republican Attorney General Russell Coleman’s office told the Lantern that it was aware of the video and reviewing the matter.
The video shows Justin Conder, who is an administrative assistant, saying to the person he thought was a prospective student that “it’s there, and it’s an important part of the curriculum” before adding that DEI can also be found in course syllabi.
Later in the video, Accuracy in Media’s Adam Guillette goes to Conder’s office to ask him about the recorded conversation. Conder said he doesn’t remember it and appears bewildered by the questions. An unidentified person intervenes and asks Guillette and his camera person to leave and to direct their questions to the university’s legal counsel.
Some Republican lawmakers shared the video on X and criticized UK based on Condor’s answers. Last year, the GOP-controlled General Assembly passed a law banning DEI initiatives at Kentucky’s public universities. The law specifically exempts course content and instruction from the legislature’s prohibitions on DEI.
Rep. TJ Roberts, R-Burlington, said online the video shows that “UK lied through their teeth” about complying with the state law. Rep. Josh Calloway, R-Irvington called for “accountability” in another post.
During the Thursday meeting of the House Budget Review Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education, Baker asked Capilouto about the video, saying it shows that “DEI is still there at the University of Kentucky.” The university president had just finished presenting UK’s funding request for the next state budget, which lawmakers must decide this legislative session.