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University of Kansas student leaders outline diversity plan

Students at a KU Diversity forum last week
Students at a KU Diversity forum last week

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — University of Kansas student leaders who are facing an attempt to oust them have outlined proposals for increasing diversity within student government.

Student Body President Jessie Pringle, Vice President Zach George and Chief of Staff Adam Moon issued a joint statement Monday night outlining 11 proposals.

A student government committee is pushing for their resignations or impeachment, based in part on what members see as an inadequate response to demands to the university from a campus protest group called Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk.

Their proposals include increasing the number of student senators from the current 86 to increase the Senate’s diversity, and creating an election fund to help students who want to run for office. The measures also include raising a student fee to increase diversity programs.

A top official at the University of Kansas says it is creating a team to address demands from student protesters and expects to release an “action plan” by mid-January.

Provost Jeffrey Vitter released a statement Tuesday in response to demands made last week by the Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk group. They include increasing faculty diversity, forming a team of counselors for students of color and requiring “inclusion and belonging” training for all students and staff.

Vitter said messages from across the university have expressed solidarity with the group’s aims.

He said the team would include faculty, students, staff and administrators. He said its action plan would include mandatory education for students and staff.

Leaders of the student group did not immediately respond to cell phone and email messages seeking comment.

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