Kentucky Fairness Alliance Statement on Accreditation of the University of the Cumberlands Proposed Pharmacy Program
April 20, 2006

Frankfort --- The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education offered assurances yesterday that the University of the Cumberlands policy of prejudice against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students would not interfere with the university's ability to receive approval for its proposed pharmacy program, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported.

Kentucky Fairness Alliance Executive Director Christina Gilgor gave the following statement:

"The ACPE's stance on this matter is disappointing for those of us who believe that all students deserve equal opportunity in education. President Jim Taylor of the University of the Cumberlands has asserted that the proposed pharmacy program will serve the needs of the people of Eastern Kentucky. However, the university's unapologetic dismissal of dean's list student Jason Johnson clearly illustrates that the University of the Cumberlands is not interested in serving all the people of Eastern Kentucky.

"The accreditation issue does not change our efforts to halt the appropriation of millions of taxpayer dollars to the university in what amounts to state-subsidized discrimination. The appropriation on its face violates Section 189 of the Kentucky Constitution, which prohibits the use of tax dollars to fund church, denominational, or sectarian schools.

"The particulars of this case strongly reinforce the need for Kentucky to implement a statewide Fairness law that would protect all Kentuckians from discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Johnson's dismissal from the University of the Cumberlands, while appalling, should at least silence the critics of statewide Fairness who insist such acts of discrimination never happen."