Belmont University Faces Investigation Request Over Video of Employee

This article has been updated to provide further information.

Belmont University drew criticism Wednesday after a discreetly recorded video of an employee was posted online, prompting a federal investigation request from Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles. 

The employee in the video, Jozef Lukey, is seen discussing the purpose of Belmont’s Office of Hope, Unity and Belonging as well as the presence of undocumented immigrants at Belmont. The video gained traction after being reposted by political commentator Charlie Kirk. He views The HUB as contradictory to President Donald Trump’s February 2025 executive orders banning DEI programs, he wrote on X.

"The HUB is Hope, Unity and Belonging. That's DEI, let's be real," said Lukey in the video. "It's just higher ed right now. That is just the trend across the nation that people are starting to pick up on. It's more about belonging and inclusivity. It's not about DEI, it's about how can we be culturally competent."

The HUB was established in 2022 as part of Belmont’s 2030 plan to be the leading Christ-centered university in the country.

Subsequently, Ogles formally requested the Department of Education investigate Belmont University in a letter to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.

“Belmont’s actions demonstrate contempt for both federal law and for the taxpayers who finance higher education,” Ogles said in the letter, which was posted on X.

The HUB focuses on the topic of inclusion as well as Title IX compliance. At the time of its establishment, it drew criticism from students and faculty for replacing existing DEI policies.

Lukey has been on administrative leave for nearly two weeks for an unrelated reason and was not authorized to speak on Belmont's behalf, the university said.

“We are deeply saddened that these videos portray Belmont as having a ‘shadow operation’ as nothing could be further from the truth. It’s also disappointing that Rep. Ogles and others perceive such an approach as being representative of Belmont University’s character and values,” the university said in a statement.

Criticism of Belmont did not remain exclusively online. In the time since Kirk's and Ogles’ criticism of the school, student workers and campus security have received several calls about the video.

Luke Bowman, a student worker at Belmont, mans the welcome desk in the Jack C. Massey building. As part of his job, he answers the phone, fielding questions about general topics like admissions and tuition.

While working Wednesday morning, he was unaware of the criticism about Belmont online until he received a call complaining about the presence of immigrants lacking permanent legal status at the school.

“I was just really confused,” he said. “Why is someone taking the time out of their day to do this?” 

Despite the controversy, Belmont remains committed to the mission of The HUB, Belmont President Greg Jones said in an email to the student body on Friday.

“As a Christian institution, Belmont believes that every human being is created in the image of God and is worthy of respect. Our Office of Hope Unity & Belong, The HUB, was established in 2022 to inspire the campus community to live fully in the light of Christ’s resurrection,” he wrote. 

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This article was written by Nolan Russell