“Angry White Male Studies” course at KU appears to run counter to KBOR directive

A three-credit-hour course being offered at the University of Kansas, entitled “Angry White Males Studies,” is raising eyebrows as the class appears to be in conflict with recent Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) directives aimed at eliminating the emphasis on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in college and university operations.

HUM 365.  Angry White Male Studies.  3 Credits:

“This course charts the rise of the “angry white male” in America and Britain since the 1950s, exploring the deeper sources of this emotional state while evaluating recent manifestations of male anger. Employing interdisciplinary perspectives this course examines how both dominant and subordinate masculinities are represented and experienced in cultures undergoing periods of rapid change connected to modernity as well as to rights-based movements of women, people of color, homosexuals and trans individuals. (Same as AMS 365, HIST 364 and WGSS 365.)”

Last year, the Kansas Legislature passed Senate Bill 125, overriding Governor Laura Kelly’s veto. Among its provisions was this one made effective on July 1, 2025:

Language directing the Department of Administration to certify that state agencies have eliminated Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion positions, policies, programs, and related grants or contracts;

Pivoting off the new law, KBOR issued this directive to universties that effective no later than July 31, 2025:

1. eliminate any positions that relate to diversity, equity and inclusion;
2. eliminate any mandates, policies, programs, preferences and activities relating to diversity, equity and inclusion;
3. eliminate any training requirements in diversity, equity and inclusion for any employee;
4. cancel any state grants or contracts relating to diversity, equity and inclusion; and
5. remove gender identifying pronouns or gender ideology from email signature blocks on state employees’ email accounts and any other form of communication.

We sought comment from both the university and the Board of Regents to our question of whether this class complies with the KBOR regulations, but neither responded.

Late last year, The Sentinel reported on another potential violation of SB 125 at Kansas State University.