Earlier this week, John Quiñones visited the University of Kentucky's campus as a keynote speaker for the 2025 UNITE Research Showcase. When asked during the Q&A session what we can do when people hold positions of power and have the power to do the right thing, but don't, he shared advice passed on from one of his mentors, Peter Jennings: We can try and show those in high positions of power how things are being broken, shaken. Go to the people. Talk to the people who are broken and shaken. The people directly impacted.

And that is exactly what I intend to do.

My name is Sam Hacker, and I'm a queer, first-year graduate student at the University of Kentucky. I'm a first-generation college student, and I came to this school under the guise that those holding a position of high power truly care about what happens to its students. I was wrong.

President Eli Capilouto has shown time and again, especially within the last three weeks, where his views lie -- himself. From letting international students' visas get revoked, to now cancelling Lavender Graduation, Harambe Unity Graduation Celebration, and First-Generation pinning ceremonies, President Capilouto has let students fall prey to the attacks on academic freedom from the Trump Administration.

His reasoning behind these decisions is to "follow the law." Yet, when these "laws" target the population of this university, and directly contradict their mission statement of being "dedicated to improving people's lives through excellence in education, research and creative work, service and health care," are you doing the right thing? The answer is a resounding, "no."

Once again, these decisions are being made without students' voices being heard. Now is the time for him to hear you. I'm calling on ALL members of the University of Kentucky community -- donors, alumnae, staff, faculty, PhD, graduate, and undergraduate alike -- to sign this petition in solidarity with those impacted by the cowardly decisions President Capilouto has made.

Big Ten universities are making moves to band together and create a 'mutual defense compact' against the Trump administration. Harvard University rejected Trump's demands to adjust the curriculum to align with his agenda.

I'm calling on YOU, Eli Capilouto, to reinstate the Lavender Graduation, Harambe Unity Graduation Celebration, and First-Generation pinning ceremonies; to give protection to the international students on the campus YOU are the president of. At a time when policies are being created to promote hysteria, community bonding and community events are needed now more than ever. To take that away from the minority communities on this campus, so close to graduation, is disgraceful.

We, as the community, must hold this University accountable.