Gov. Ernie Fletcher of Kentucky has announced he will not veto $11-million in state spending for a pharmacy school at a private Baptist college that suspended an openly gay student, the Associated Press reported today. But Governor Fletcher, a Republican, said that before he releases the money to the University of the Cumberlands, in Williamsburg, Ky., he will ask state courts to rule on the constitutionality of providing state funds for construction projects at private institutions.

Critics of the pharmacy plan have said that the state should not help finance a private college that discriminates against gay students. University officials suspended the student, Jason Johnson, earlier this month after he stated on a personal Web page that he is gay (The Chronicle, April 8 and April 20).