Kentucky Student Newspaper Sues University Over Denied Records in Rape and Strangulation Case

Lexington, Kentucky – The Kentucky Kernel, the student newspaper at the University of Kentucky, has initiated legal action against the university for failing to release records related to a reported rape and strangulation incident that occurred in a campus dormitory. The filing comes in response to an incident involving the arrest of Chase McGuire, who has been accused of assaulting a UK student in Chellgren Hall in September 2024.

Abbey Cutrer, the editor-in-chief of the Kernel, submitted a public records request on October 2, seeking documentation regarding the enforcement of non-student guest policies in university dormitories. Specifically, the request asked for records of non-student guests who signed into Chellgren Hall the night of the incident and details on when McGuire had signed into any dormitory as a guest during the current academic year.

In the lawsuit filed on November 25 in Fayette Circuit Court, Cutrer expressed concerns regarding the university’s commitment to student safety and transparency. She stated, “The records I requested pertain to a serious matter of student safety and it’s concerning that UK is using exemptions that don’t apply in order to withhold them.” Cutrer emphasized the importance of uncovering the truth for the well-being of students.

UK has declined to release the requested documents, citing privacy concerns and stating that the records are considered “preliminary” as they pertain to an ongoing internal investigation. According to Whitney Siddiqi, a spokesperson for the university, the institution is confident in its legal stance and believes it has complied with the Kentucky Open Records Act while also protecting individual privacy rights.

The situation harks back to a previous legal dispute between the Kernel and the university in 2016, in which UK was found in violation of the open records law for withholding investigation documents related to sexual misconduct. That case ended with a ruling from the Kentucky Supreme Court mandating that the university disclose the records in question.

In the current legal battle, the Kernel asserts that individuals entering public places lack a reasonable expectation of privacy, particularly in matters concerning campus safety protocols. The lawsuit argues that the public’s right to know whether university policies designed to protect students were enforced outweighs any privacy claims. “Our first obligation as journalists is to the truth and our loyalty is to the people,” Cutrer remarked, reiterating the need for transparency in such critical matters.

The outcome of the lawsuit could have significant implications not only for the Kernel but also for the broader discourse on campus safety and transparency at the University of Kentucky. As the case unfolds, it raises important questions about the balance between privacy and the public’s right to know in situations involving student safety.