Kansas State University

"Manhattan is the home of Kansas State University, with more than 20,000 students from all over the world. Radio commentator Paul Harvey once called the university the "student scholar capital of America." Since 1986, KSU has been number one among the nation's 500 public universities in having students receive nationally prestigious scholarships. Its students have won ninety such scholarships compared with fifty-eight for the second-place public university. KSU's agricultural teaching and research programs are internationally recognized; its student livestock and crop judging teams have won numerous national championships and are consistently among the best in the nation; and in 2002 the university was selected as the site for the Food Safety and Security Research Center to combat bioterrorist threats on our agricultural systems. KSU's speech and debate teams have won several national championships in recent years. The College of Veterinary Science performs more rabies testing than any other lab in the world. KSU is the home of Colbert Hills Golf Course. Developed by KSU alum and PGA golfer Jim Colbert, it successfully integrates nature conservation with economic development and university education. In 2002 it was one of only six golf courses in the world that met requirements to be designated an Audobon International Silver Signature Sanctuary."

"I know a spot that I love full well, 'Tis not in forest nor yet in dell; Ever it holds me with magic spell, I think of thee, Alma Mater."

"K-S-U, we'll carry thy banner high. K-S-U, long, long may thy colors fly. Loyal to thee, thy children will swell the cry. Hail, hail, hail. Alma Mater."

"When I graduated in 1958, K-State was a good university. By most measures, Kansas State was a good university through the 1960s's, the 1970's, and into the 1980's. Then came Jon Wefald, or, as I have said at numerous K-State pep rallies, "And now, the man who has led us from the valley of despair and defeat to unprecedented pride and victory... Jon 'Moses' Wefald." This book is about the Wefald years at K-State, when a very good university aimed high and became an excellent university. During the Wefald years, Kansans have pointed with pride to the greatest turnaround in the history of Division I football, and K-State becoming a football power among the nation's elite. They know that between 1986 and 2000, student enrollment also reversed a serious decline and increased from 14,000 to 22,000. Alumni and visitors to campus see a new library and a new art museum. And there is much more attributable to Jon Wefald's term as president."

"In assessing the "Wefald Years," one is reluctant to single out accomplishments because in truth, there were many, large and small. (Don't ever tell Jon Wefald something can't be done!) In sum, they illustrate what can be accomplished by creativity, team planning, and- most of all- leadership at the top. K-State has a long and grand history, written by good and respected presidents: Denison, Anderson, Fairchild, Will, Nichols, Waters, Jardine, Eisenhower, McCain, and Acker. Now, we add the Wefald years and the contributions of a man who, during difficult times, literally grabbed a university by the scruff of its academic and athletic neck and gave it a good shake. They are years of progress and striving for excellence in all areas of the university. They are the renaissance years."

"Kansas State University has erased further influences of diversity, equity, and inclusion programming after receiving a student whistleblower complaint alleging some lingering policies did not align with state law. This month, a top campus official reported to the State Finance Council it has resolved the complaint and ended mandatory DEI training for the student government and student fee funding allocations to groups that promote DEI, the Kansas Reflector reported. Kansas last year passed Senate Bill 125, which included language prohibiting the funding of DEI programs after August 2025. The new law caused the university to take steps toward the reduction of DEI, such as eliminating diversity initiatives, removing pronouns from email signatures, and replacing the word “diversity” with the word “all” in its mission statement."

"Marshall Stewart, executive vice president for external engagement at K-State, told the council campus leaders took the complaint “very seriously” and “there was language in student government where they were providing funds for DEI-related work that would be in conflict with Senate Bill 125.” It led him to inform the student government of the need for changes, as reported by the Journal. Stewart said the KSU Student Government cancelled any funds scheduled toward groups promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and distanced itself from those with mission statements promoting the ideology. The College Fix sent multiple emails to the Kansas State University Student Government Association, Stewart, as well as Kansas State University media affairs division, and did not receive a response. However, Reagan Dugan, director of higher education initiatives at Defending Education, told The College Fix that “DEI programs inevitably lead to divisive identity-based and ideological groups. While Kansas Senate Bill 125 was clear that these sorts of things have no place in higher education, it is entirely unsurprising that compliance with the bill has taken so long.”"

"The presence of DEI at KSU had inspired Young America’s Foundation, a conservative youth organization present at campuses across America, to also weigh in, issuing its own complaint last year to the Department of Education civil rights office last March. In its 29-page complaint to the Office for Civil Rights, the group warned the department of “significant and ongoing civil rights violations against conservative students” at the university, including the presence of a “Spectrum Center,” diversity-focused policies, and a “Committee on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging.” A major focus of Trump’s second administration has been the elimination of DEI and gender politics in higher education. The president issued multiple executive orders within his first couple days in office, while cracking down on colleges promoting the ideology. State legislators continue their attempts at improving the quality of education in Kansas, raising concerns about the effects of permitting diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in higher education. “At Defending Education we’ve found more than two hundred institutions across the country still operating DEI offices, many of which merely changed the office’s name on the website,” Defending Education’s Dugan told The College Fix. “Passing legislation is only the first step in cleaning out the rot. I’m encouraged that the state of Kansas sees the importance of enforcement too.”"