1. Stay fit
Develop a plan for exercise.  You may be stuck behind a desk for eight hours a day instead of walking around campus.  Plus, without the convenience of the Johnson Student Recreation Center, it may be difficult to stay active.    It will be important to find ways to exercise, like taking the stairs at work or scheduling workouts into your daily routine.

2. Kick the habit
The longer you smoke, the harder it gets to stop.  If the UK smoking ban didn’t help you kick the habit, this is a great time to try as you transition into your new life.  UHS has tools that can help you quit.  Call 323-APPT to schedule an appointment with a Tobacco Cessation Specialist.

3. Are You Covered?
Up to this point, you may have had some type of health insurance.  Some students may now find themselves without coverage.  If you have some “lag time” between graduation and when your new job starts, then continuation coverage may be an option during this transition period.   Contact your carrier to see if you have the option to continue your coverage.  If you are enrolled in the Academic HealthPlans/Humana insurance plan you may elect to utilize the “continuation plan”.  Email studentinsurance@email.uky.edu for details.   Also, if you are under the age of 26, you may be eligible for coverage under your parent’s health insurance policy based on the Affordable Care Act.

If you will be buying your own plan, compare more than just monthly premiums.  Before you purchase anything, be sure you understand their out-of-pocket costs, provider choices and covered services.  Tools are available online to help you make a well-informed decision.  A guide to choosing a health insurance plan and glossary of insurance industry terms can be found through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website at www.ahrq.gov.

4. Don’t stress out
Some people may find that they feel anxious or stressed about graduation.  It may be overwhelming to think about life after UK and being in the “real world.”  This is normal and is something that many graduating seniors experience.  You may find it helpful to talk to friends who are also graduating.  They may share similar feelings, and it may be easier to cope with your own anxieties or fears.  It may also be helpful to talk to someone in UHS Behavioral Health (323-5511) or the Counseling Center (257-8701).

The staff at the University Health Service wishes all graduating seniors the best of luck in their future endeavors.

Jill Kindy is a registered dietitian at the University Health Service and UK students can schedule one-on-one appointments with her by calling 323-2778. Email opinions@kykernel.com.

Born and raised in the same city (Lexington), I naturally gravitated toward what was comfortable and safe. Though I attended the university of my hometown, I made a conscious effort to try branching out through evolving friendships and involvement throughout my community. I generally ignored the nagging feeling telling me that I wasn’t reaching my potential and after two years of an intense clinical program training to be a therapist, I was confident that I finally figured myself out. I felt solid in my insight, relationships and beliefs (as much as anyone could be).

But, after I completed my degree, I began to heavily feel the cost of safety and certainty in regards to missing out on opportunities to stretch and grow. I decided to take advantage of my new-found unemployment and plunge into a journey that I had dreamed about — I took a five month trip to volunteer and taught English as a Second Language in Palestine, studied Arabic and traveled in the area.

Away from my environment for the first time, I gained a new lens that perhaps can only be worn if you are at a distance from your life and your relationships. In a foreign country, I was thrown out of my comfort zone, surrounded by internationals and learned that open-mindedness went beyond others and into having that attitude toward myself.

I have always found hindsight to be a powerful teller of information, and what it has told me is that the changes I’ve gone through are not all together sudden. Rather, each experience gradually shaped me to become who I already was. Those parts of me always existed; I just never gave them a chance to be known.

I learned the hard way that again and again, the definition you have for yourself is only fleeting. Part of being “who I am” is accepting that it won’t be one state of being, but is fluid, adaptive and ultimately a beautiful thing. It turns out that it was less about being afraid of who I was and more about realizing that it is okay to not always have a sure idea of who I am.

In all honesty, this concept can be frightening. To put in the work and effort to learn more about yourself, only to have to start over every so often can feel confusing and defeating. But each time you go through the process, you will gain a new layer of understanding, depth and ease with yourself. I have never come out of a change that hasn’t shaped me for the better, regardless of what led me there.

So in the search to “be yourself,” you don’t have to look far. It’s in you, waiting to be noticed. Live more. Do something different. Try a new coffee shop. Make a new friend.  Be daring— leave everything you know, even if just for a short time.  After all, you can always come back.

Fatimah Shalash is a recent graduate of the marriage and family therapy program at UK. Email opinions@kykernel.com.

A lucky few are able to retain Internet connection long enough to have time to complete certain online assignments and submit them before losing service.

For the rest of us, logging onto Blackboard is a major challenge. One must refresh the window multiple times, switch back and forth between Resnet connections, or just give up altogether. I cannot even begin to count how many times I have just grown so frustrated with having to jump from connection to connection before just giving up.

Forget about attempting to do any research for a paper in the dorms. Granted uky.edu is an excellent service. It’s fast, reliable and accessible in major buildings on campus such as the Student Center or library. Such locations are great places to get assignments done.

Many people, however, are more comfortable doing their homework in the privacy of their own rooms so they can listen to music or whatever else helps them be more productive. Students cannot do that when they are constantly losing connection.

Even online video lectures that a teacher posts for a class take an eternity to load when using Resnet. Attempting to enjoy any free time as well with the use of Netflix, Pinterest, StumbleUpon or Skype or to keep in touch with family and friends becomes a battle to maintain a decent connection.

From personal accounts, I know a multitude of people who, during the week of registration, got no Internet service for two days. They tried connecting in their rooms and in the dorm study ultimately resulting in perhaps 10 minutes of solid Internet usage.

The University of Kentucky is not the only college that uses Resnet services. In fact many schools such as University of Illinois, Purdue and University of Texas also use Resnet as their Internet provider. Even in these schools the Resnet service is less than reliable.

No matter which university a student attends, if he or she is living on campus then for nine months out of the year that student is using Resnet. Why make those nine months any more stressful than they already are?

As college students, we have enough to worry about with exams, living on our own, balancing our finances, and making friends. Accessing the Internet should not be a source of concern. By improving the Internet service or switching to another provider, the university will help in creating a less stressful environment for its residents.

Neal Querio is a freshman. Email opinions@kykernel.com.

People are very quick to remember that our government is “for” the people, and yet more often than not, the “by” the people eludes them.

I’d like to propose an amendment, as follows, to a popular saying:

America: Love it, leave it or get off your rear and govern it.

We have a duty as citizens to participate in our government. It’s part of the deal.

That means voting. That means paying taxes (to those few of you who don’t use public roads or schools or the police or the fire department, ignore that). That means participating in the legal system when we are called to jury duty.

And it means, and this is key, if we have a problem with our government, we have a duty to address it with responsible action.

Sometimes, that’s as simple as writing a letter to a representative. Sometimes it means going to the state or federal Congress to present our views formally or informally.

For the record — it never means to whine on Facebook unless you are doing so in a way that promotes further knowledge and intelligent exploration of the issue at hand and presents a logical action to redress your issue (for example, a link to more information, a plea to contact reps, whatever) and accepting and respecting that people will not always share your views or passion.

And when that isn’t enough, and you still have problems, you have the final duty of a citizen — to participate in your government.

Let’s take a look at some numbers — I’ll start big and get smaller, so don’t get discouraged.

Lexington has about 300,000 people. Getting on the Urban City Council of Lexington took an average of about 3,000 votes — that’s 1 percent of the population.

There are 12 districts, each with one representative, and then six representatives-at-large voted upon by all districts.

Seven of the 12 district seats ran unopposed in 2010. What does that mean? It means either everyone is in perfect agreement with the representatives (who are predominately white, college educated and older than 40 years of age, incomes unknown) or people aren’t doing their civic duty.

Diana Merritt

This means you can effectively divide those 3,000 votes in two and say that it takes about 1,500 votes to get on the council. District one took only 900 votes.

Let’s look at a few more. To be a state representative in the 47th District (Oldham County) took 2,000 votes. Unopposed.

Now, if 2,000 votes sounds intimidating, look at these numbers:

It took 1,000 votes to become the mayor of the city of Crestwood, who ran unopposed.

It took 269 votes to become the mayor of the city of Goshen. That’s not a typo. Also unopposed.

It took 364 votes to become the mayor of Pewee Valley.

The entire city council of Pewee Valley ran unopposed, with an average of 22 votes.

It took 30 votes to become the mayor of Prospect. Unopposed.

Now, you may make the argument that Prospect Valley isn’t that big. So, more numbers.

The population of Prospect is 5,838. Let’s assume roughly half are legally old enough to vote, and then half again of those old enough to vote actually bother. That’s about 1,500 people.

You need to reach 22 — 22 out of 1,500. Manageable? Yeah. Yeah.

To check out your own Kentucky city, the results for the 2010 election are at results.enr.clarityelections.com/KY/22208/45378/en/summary.html. Just click on your county and take a look.

So, do your research. Run for office. You’re 18, you’re old enough (note — some state representative spots require 24 years of age or older, but most city councils are 18).

If you’re old enough to complain, you’re old enough to act like a citizen.

Diana Merritt is a first year business administration graduate student. Email opinions@kykernel.com.

Being in the ‘wrong’ UK more than 3000 miles away when it happens? Painful.

The most agonizing aspect of it all (other than the difficulty of streaming games over a temperamental Internet connection) was the fact that there was no one here to celebrate. No CATS cheers, no sea of UK blue adorning every corner of town. No couch fires either, albeit thankfully on that one. But the final knife to the heart was a friend commenting on my excitement for March Madness with, “Really? Basketball is so boring. All they do is run up and down the court.” After I dried my little blue tears, I reminded myself that sports are an important aspect of cultural diversity and that the UK is in the midst of its own exciting year in sports.

Recently, we had the Six Nations Championship, an annual rugby union tournament between the countries of France, Italy, Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland. Opposed to the single-elimination bracket style of the NCAA basketball tournament, teams in the Six Nations Tournament all play each other once. The winners of the tournament receive the Championship Trophy, although a variety of other trophies are also awarded. This year Scotland triumphantly received the Wooden Spoon – meaning we came in dead last.

There’s always next year, right? It might take me that long to actually understand the sport of rugby. All I’ve figured out at this point is that it is a more violent form of American football, minus all the padding, and seemingly a few players’ teeth. But don’t ask me the difference between rugby league and rugby union just yet. One day I hope to figure it all out.

Also, this month was The Boat Race, an annual competition between the rowing clubs of Oxford University and Cambridge University. Millions of spectators watch the event (live on the River Thames, or on the television), which generally consists of no more than 20 minutes, two boats and less than 20 people.

This year, Cambridge emerged victorious, although that was the least important aspect of the entire event. Partway through the race, a man deliberately swam out into the middle of the river and after nearly getting his head chopped off by a rowing blade, caused the race to be stopped for 30 minutes, and again restarted. Why? Apparently it was an “an act of civil disobedience against elitism.”

If that wasn’t strange enough, the remainder of the race was subject to a boat clash, a broken oar on the Oxford boat, and a rower collapsing from exhaustion and requiring extraction from the boat by medical personnel. Thrilling.

And of course, there is the culmination of all sporting events — the 2012 Summer Olympics — to be held in London in July and August. The games will feature 26 distinct sports and happen to coincide with the year of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, a celebration of 60 years since her accession to the throne. Needless to say, London might implode on itself this summer with the pending excitement. You thought State Street was bad?

So as a sport lover of all kinds — running to rowing, foosball to football (both the American kind and what the rest of the world plays) — and an entire ocean away from my alma mater, I still wear my CATS shirt proudly. But nothing beats a good game of basketball.

Jordan Covvey is a 2010 Doctor of Pharmacy graduate from the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate and Fulbright-Strathclyde Postgraduate Scholar at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland. The monthly column “From one UK to another” will follow her experiences and cultural education across the pond. For more information on the US-UK Fulbright Commission, visit www.fulbright.co.uk

Jill Kindy

What about vitamins, minerals, fiber and anti-oxidants? The trick is balancing out how much we eat, with what we eat.

Fad diets usually only focus on the weight management piece. For example, some diets suggest cutting out all carbohydrate foods. The problem isn’t the carbohydrates themselves — it’s the amount of carbohydrates.

Or, how about a diet that recommends only eating cereal for breakfast and lunch along with a sensible dinner.

This doesn’t allow enough room to fit in all the nutrients you need from the other food groups.

Also, it’s hard to eat sensibly when you’re ravenous after only eating two bowls of cereal all day!

Yes, as a society, we do need to work on maintaining a healthy weight and this can be done with portion control. Unfortunately, portion control is something that our culture is not very good at.

We are so skewed from what a normal portion is supposed to look like — when was the last time you got a 12-ounce can of pop from the vending machine? And we like to get more for our money. We love king size candy bars, buffets and large oval platters rather than regular, circular plates full of food.

However, we also need to think about a dietary intake that includes heart healthy fats, fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, high fiber foods, whole grains and lean proteins.

If we eat healthy and watch our portion sizes then we can have room for dessert or something fried — occasionally and in moderation, of course!

March was National Nutrition Month but it’s always a good time to think about eating healthier.

Jill Kindy is a registered dietitian at the University Health Service and UK students can schedule one-on-one appointments with her by calling 323-2778. Email opinions@kykernel.com.

Alli Sehon

But how do we measure up in the arena of human rights? It turns out that UK keeps stats on this as well, through our athletics department and the division of Collegiate Licensing.

Our sports teams use a lot of apparel between jerseys, training gear and coach and staff attire. To ensure that our university isn’t supporting sweatshops, UK contracts the Fair Labor Association, through the Collegiate Licensing Company, to monitor factories producing UK apparel.

The FLA is responsible for conducting reviews of factories by visiting the sites and observing working conditions to ensure companies are not discriminating against minority or female employees, employing children or using violence to control employees, among many other concerns.

The FLA is a flawed organization despite its seemingly noble purpose. The FLA has come under fire for poor reporting habits, ignoring reports of rights abuses and systemic conflicts of interest.

The Board of Directors even includes representatives from those companies being monitored for labor violations. Allowing companies to monitor their own labor abuses is like allowing players to call the fouls they make on other players. This may be fine for a pick-up game in the community court, but at the level of a global and wealthy corporation like Nike (think Final Four of the NCAA tournament) outside referees are needed.

Now, if those referees also happen to be employed by oh, let’s say, the University of Louisville, could anyone be really sure a fair game had been played?

But the FLA isn’t monitoring a game, they are responsible for ensuring real human beings are not abused simply because they are poor.

As Kentucky’s flagship institution and a leader in college sports, UK has an opportunity to set the standard for how universities do “good” business.

The FLA does not work and we should not be spending money on a failing system. Even our competitors, like U of L, UNC and Auburn are using a different method: the Worker Rights Consortium.

Rather than being led by corporate representatives, the WRC is led by students, experts in international and labor law and representatives of charitable organizations.

The WRC is a direct line between factories and universities, reducing lost and misleading information which plagues the FLA and would give UK the power to make informed decisions in our business practices.

As a student and a sports fan, I’m calling on our administrators and our Wildcat community to switch to the WRC and institute higher standards for UK’s partnerships.

We are on the road to having the best sports program in the nation and moving toward a “sweat”-free future is an essential part of that goal.

Alli Sehon is an anthropology undergraduate. Email opinions@kykernel.com.

There are citizens who will sing coal’s praises because of the jobs the mining industry creates and its direct impact on low cost electricity. There are those who recoil at the mere mention of the word.

However, when you take the emotion out of the equation, and look at hard facts, it becomes apparent that Kentucky truly is dependent upon coal.

Coal accounts for Kentucky enjoying the fourth lowest utility rates in the nation.

These low rates are a benefit to citizens of the commonwealth in many ways. Not only do we have lower utility bills thanks to coal, but these low rates have attracted a variety of industries that provide high-paying jobs for Kentuckians.

These industries include aluminum smelters (Century, Rio Tinto Alcan), auto manufacturing plants (Toyota, GM, and Ford) and assembly plants like General Electric.

The auto manufacturing industry alone employs 84,000 Kentuckians, making Kentucky the third largest producer of motor vehicles in the U.S.

It’s not surprising that the coal industry provides an estimated 134,000 direct mining jobs it creates and supports another 500,000 support jobs; jobs that UK students will be vying for in the coming years.

In recent opinions shared with your readers, several UK students have called for the university to end its dependence upon coal.

Idealism is a good thing, but idealism without any acknowledgement of reality is not only useless, but also dangerous.

It may sound great to want UK to be carbon-neutral and to rely entirely on alternative, non-coal sources of energy in the future.

Unfortunately though, this idea is far-fetched and would only serve to increase costs for the university — costs that would be passed on to future students.

Alternative energy is simply not yet capable of supporting present or future energy demands.

The coal industry in Kentucky is far more than coal miners and coal transportation. Even while these high-paying jobs are an asset to our economy, it is crucial that every citizen of the commonwealth understand that coal touches their lives.

Whether it’s through low utility bills or through the low rates that attract large industry to the state, everyone has skin in this game.

Coal is vital to the well-being of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the University of Kentucky.

Tyler Phipps is an agricultural economics senior. Email opinions@kykernel.com.

It was the best of times, thanks to March Madness. It was the worst of times, given the devastating and deadly tornadoes.

It was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair—and that happened in just the first week with the back-to-blizzard-to-back school days of March 2, 5 and 6.

Buck Ryan

Whiplashed Journalism 101 students at the University of Kentucky were put to the test to record their memories of this historic month. They range in age from 18 to 47 and hail from 12 states, plus the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Their reflections on the Unforgettable March of 2012 run from surprise to inspiration. Who could forget when a Friday tornado lockdown was followed by a Monday snowstorm, then a Tuesday that heated up to a high of 64 degrees from a morning low of 24.

“I think it’s time Mother Nature and Kentucky go into relationship counseling,” said Rich Doyle, 19, a broadcast journalism major from Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., who tried to keep his head during the scary moments. “Their marriage has been hot, cold and just a whirlwind of anger.”

Imagine the surprise for Kayla Pica, 18, of Hermitage, Pa., when she got an 8 a.m. phone call from her weather-watching parents, telling her not to go to class.

Brandon Farmer, 22, a journalism major from Stanton, Ky., was surprised when a professor canceled a midterm exam.

“You could walk into White Hall,” he said of UK’s main classroom building, “and feel the ‘stormxiety’ of the students.”

For Lauren Thompson, 19, a marketing and journalism major from Louisville, an extra-credit opportunity for her economics class got blown away as U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) canceled his campus speech.

An image from Oz crossed the mind of Cristy Anderson, 21, a secondary English education major from the U.S. Virgin Islands, a far stretch from Kansas.

“I had never experienced a tornado besides the movie I saw with the cow flying across the farm,” she said. “I did not want to be that cow.”

Stephanie Anderson, 21, an English and Spanish major from Versailles, Ky., found inspiration on a sunny day.

“The brave little flowers in my front yard stood up and smiled again,” she said, after enough snow fell on them to cancel Fayette County schools, but not UK, of course.

Taylor Norberg, 25, a journalism major from Union, Ky., turned his attention to the end of the month when the focus was not the lion and the lamb but the Wildcat and the Cardinal. For him the month turned to only “March Gladness.”

Farewell, March 2012: We knew you well. Let’s hope that in April we all will be going direct to weather heaven, not going direct the other way, as Dickens put it.

Buck Ryan is director of the Citizen Kentucky Project of UK’s Scripps Howard First Amendment Center. Email buck.ryan@uky.edu.

Nevertheless, while all the hoopla was dominating the news waves, an important email was sent out by President Eli Capilouto last week – one that I think at least deserves mentioning in the opinions section of the Kernel.
In an email to students, staff and faculty, Capilouto revealed the results of the two-year state budget that had been passed that morning by House and Senate members.  He detailed how it will cut our university’s operating budget by 6.4 percent, or around $20 million, as well as deny UK the authority to accumulate up to $200 million in debt capacity.  The only good news from the new legislation was that $175 million was authorized to move forward with the public-private housing partnership over the next two years.

Essentially, means that UK will be able to follow through with its initiative to privatize housing, i.e. transferring ownership of on-campus dorms to private companies in exchange for them to front the building and renovations costs.
On the other hand, however, UK would not be able to make much, if any, headway regarding the failing classroom infrastructure around campus over the next two years, as the new budget prevents it from accumulating the necessary debt.
A 2007 study performed by Vanderweil Facility advisers said that UK’s facilities were in worse condition than those of any other university the company had evaluated in the previous five years, according to an article published last year by the Lexington Herald-Leader.  The company also said that about 75 percent of UK’s 167 buildings needed some form of remodeling.

When Eli Capilouto arrived as UK’s 12th president and expressed his desire to focus more on the undergraduate experience and on-campus renovations, I as a student was delighted.  It was nice to see a shift from perhaps overly-lofty research goals to goals that were more realistic and visible to the normal student.  After almost a year of his presidency, however, it is a shame that he will not be allotted the adequate resources to immediately pursue his goals.
I covered the rally for higher education for the Kernel in February to protest the projected 6.4 percent budget cuts.  I left feeling happy that students declared a message, but aware that the proposed cuts would probably still take effect.  Indeed they did, and it comes as no surprise that UK was also denied the $200 million in debt capacity, as the ability for the university to repay such substantial debt was most likely in doubt given the economic circumstances.
It is clear that the state does not have the appropriate funds to remain on par with past higher education spending.  The university also clearly has no substantial reserve funds from which to finance classroom renovations.  Is there any place to look?  Why, let’s just look to the news.

UK’s 2012 athletics budget is around $82 million annually, according to an article published last week by the Lexington Herald Leader.  According to an article published last year by the Kernel, it gives only $1.75 million of that back to the university’s general fund.

This argument has been made before, and it is true that UK Athletics is one of the only programs to be entirely self-funded.  It also brings large amounts of awareness to this university, and who can put a price tag on that?  We must be sure to give credit where credit is due.

Nevertheless, it remains true that the university is currently struggling for funds, while its athletic program is generating more money than ever.
At a time where tuition is set to increase for the third consecutive year, but men’s coach John Calipari just made $700,000 in the last month based on the team’s NCAA tournament run, shouldn’t there be a little more balance between these two entities?

I’m all for basking in the glory of a hard-fought national championship, but some consideration should be given to other urgent priorities as well.

Brian Hancock is an English junior and the Kernel’s assistant opinions editor. Email opinions@kykernel.com.

For a student in the School of Journalism, sustainability has not been in the forefront of my mind during my college career. Nonetheless, the environment is just as important for journalists as it is for scientists, and sustainability should be incorporated into all of our lives, starting with me.

Coming home from spring break, I realized that I must have left my lights on during the entire week, since I was in a rush on my way to the airport. I felt like I must not be the only one to make this type of mistake, and that eliminating my energy wasting habits can at least make a small difference so that my impact on the environment is minimal.

This is when I researched the many ways the University of Kentucky brings awareness to the practice of sustainability. Various programs make it possible for anyone to make changes in their lives in order to positively affect the environment, regardless of what they study.

First, the Common Reading Experience is an initiative designed to bring incoming freshman together with a common literary work, introduce the new students to academic discourse before classes commence and provide the students with a common intellectual experience, according to the Common Reading Experience website. This year’s assigned reading was “No Impact Man” by Colin Beavan. The Assistant Director of New Student and Parent Programs, Michelle Ashcraft, said the book removes the mysticism of sustainability for students.

“The problem is that many students believe they cannot make a difference in the environment by changing their habits,” Ashcraft said. “This book shows that even little changes can make a difference.”

Jenny Zimmerman, a kinesiology freshman, says that the writing style indeed made the book more compelling.

“I like how the book isn’t just a bunch of facts,” Zimmerman said. “Some of it relates sustainability to happiness and fulfillment in life, and I appreciate that.”

“No Impact Man” also had an impact on K-Week, according to Ashcraft.

“Sustainability has been a topic discussed during K-Week since I’ve been here,” Ashcraft said. “When we chose ‘No Impact Man’ this summer, we decided to practice sustainable living conscious during K-Week.”

Ashcraft said between encouraging students to bring water bottles to avoid using tons of paper cups and the use of dining services’ recycled materials, K-Week is now more environmentally friendly than ever.

Making the knowledge of sustainability easy to implement is also the goal of empowered.uky.edu, according to the Sustainability Coordinator, Shane Tedder.

“Empowered.uky.edu offers a variety of interactive features designed to focus on how people can practice sustainable living,” Tedder said. “It has things that everyone can do to elevate awareness and make a difference.”

Now students and faculty from all majors have the opportunity to learn about sustainability in a comprehensive, fun to use website. The website offers data for the energy usage, carbon emissions, and cost of operating different household appliances. These same data are recorded for the buildings on campus, as well. The site also has facts about sustainability, the top ten things we all can do to practice sustainable living and the Campus Energy Saving Project.

Between replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent ones to save energy, avoiding the use of space heaters which are “energy hogs” according to the website, or just remembering to turn off the lights when you leave the room, the website has a comprehensive solution for almost any energy question.

UK’s different sustainability initiatives are likely to impact people and the environment in the coming years. Hopefully, they will help many people make changes in their lives. For me, at least, I am working on reducing my environmental impact as ­­­much as possible.

Steven King is a broadcast journalism senior. Email opinions@kykernel.com.

By some stroke of fate, the UK Cats and the Louisville Cardinals have both advanced to the Final Four and will face off in what some are calling the biggest game in NCAA Tournament history.

As if you need to be reminded.

Campus has been buzzing with excitement since UK’s win over Baylor, and rightfully so. Never before and, most likely, never again, will students have the opportunity to witness a national championship run like this.

Although the Cats have been chosen as the favorite in Saturday’s game, there’s no denying that the Cardinals are going to show up big in New Orleans.

With a rivalry as heated as ours and a national championship on the line, fierce competition is practically guaranteed.

That being said, I want to emphasize how important it is for UK students, faculty and fans in general to conduct themselves appropriately before, during and after Saturday’s game. Win or lose, there will be plenty of opportunity for rowdy behavior.

I encourage everyone to enjoy the contest, but I also hope that our fans will remember that they are representing not only UK, but the city of Lexington and the state of Kentucky.

By now everyone has heard about the couch-burning and breast-revealing that took place in Lexington following our victory on Saturday. There’s just something about tournament time that makes everyone a little bit crazy.

I can imagine that Lexington police and firefighters are preparing for madness of even greater magnitude following the Final Four game.

Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites are already exploding with comments about the match.

I’ve learned that fans will express their love for the Cats in any way they can. And obviously there is no shortage of outlets for them to do so. Unfortunately, fun is sometimes had at the expense of our university’s dignity.

When students behave drunkenly in the streets and make snide marks about U of L, they may not realize their actions reflect poorly on our school, city and state.

The media documents much of this foolery to be shared with others and I’m sure that not everyone is as impressed with our means of celebration or comments about the upcoming game as we are.

You may already be shaking your head and dubbing me “Negative Nancy,” but let me finish.

I was raised a die-hard UK fan and despise U of L as much as anyone else on this campus. On Saturday, you’ll find me making jabs at the brave U of L fans who dare to enter Lexington, yelling at the TV screen (Calipari-style) and going wild somewhere on State Street after the game.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; I’m certainly going to embrace it. However, I plan to do so respectfully. There are lines that shouldn’t be crossed, and as college students we should be mature enough to recognize them.

I urge everyone to focus on cheering the Cats to victory this weekend, rather than talking smack about Rick Pitino and Peyton Siva.

No matter the outcome, I know that my basketball team, my university and my city are superior.

People love to hate UK. I’ve always chalked it up to jealousy. Let’s give everyone one more reason to be envious: a big, humble fan base that beats any other in college basketball.

Amelia Orwick is a journalism sophomore. Email opinions@kykernel.com.

Drake Staples

We know that, if elected, we have the ability and determination to make both of these goals realities within our one year term.

Mary Ellen and I believe SG’s job is never complete and there is always room for the addition of new initiatives and programs. From a text book lending library to short-term, interest free loans, we will work to lessen the financial burdens college expenses can impose.

With Redbox movie rentals, improved wireless printing and other on-campus improvements we will work to make Kentucky a better place to live and learn.

We plan on revamping the lottery system to reward loyal fans and to increase attendance at home football and basketball games.

Finally, we will work to turn more money back to the student organizations that play a crucial role in so many students’ undergraduate experiences. We will dedicate ourselves to implementing these and other programs with the knowledge that SG has a commitment to ensuring the best Kentucky experience for as many students as possible.

As is demonstrated through our diverse Senate tickets, Mary Ellen and I are dedicated to making SG a true representation of the student body. With a ticket that includes ROTC members, Greek and non-Greek campus leaders, club and varsity sports athletes and members of religious and diversity organizations, our ticket is a reflection of our dedication to making SG a more diverse and open organization.

We will maintain this dedication in our own executive cabinet with the creation of a group of 40 on-campus leaders that will meet directly with us once per month, eliminating any middle men and allowing us to hear the concerns and issues most pressing to the entire student body.

Finally, through our One Kentucky campaign, Mary Ellen and I will work to create a feeling of unity, eliminate ignorance and promote the commonalities that every member of the Big Blue Nation shares.

Through a lecture series, a large marketing campaign and the promotion of events co-sponsored with other campus organizations, we will work to show every student, regardless of Greek affiliation, race, sex or religion, that the things that unite us are much greater than the things that divide us.

The above is only a brief outline of our extensive plans for Student Government. Please visit stapleswimberly.com for more information.

We look forward to the coming days of elections and ask for your support on March 28 and 29.

Drake Staples is a finance and marketing junior.

Taylor Cox

In the upcoming elections, I find myself in a difficult position. I know each of the main candidates well and consider each a friend. However, given careful consideration of both the Bilas-Kington and Staples-Wimberly tickets, Stephen Bilas and Mary Katherine Kington emerge as the candidates best suited for the roles of student body president and vice president.

Having served as the president of a large, Greek organization (Phi Delta Theta fraternity) and a small, non-Greek organization (Student Development Council), in addition to my involvement in organizations across campus, including the acoUstiKats and the K Book Editorial Board, I understand the various issues that face our diverse student body.

Given these considerations, I strongly support Bilas and Kington in the upcoming election.

First, consider the experience of both candidates. Bilas has extensive experience in the executive branch of Student Government across multiple administrations, which is an invaluable experience for a president-elect.

Bilas began his SG service by participating in the freshman Leadership Development Program, ultimately helping organize a successful campaign in his first year. During his sophomore year, Bilas served as the Student Government comptroller, a position requiring oversight of the entire SG budget — at the time, more than $500,000.

This year of service with direct control of the financial operations of the executive branch — a group often criticized for its big-ticket expenses — has fostered an attitude of fiscal responsibility and pragmatism that will define the Bilas-Kington administration.

This past year, Bilas served as the chief of staff for current President Micah Fielden’s administration, observing and facilitating the day-to-day operations of the administration and developing significant relationships with current members of the UK administration, Board of Trustees and SEC members of the national Board of Student Body Presidents.

Simply put, there is no individual on UK’s campus with better experience than Stephen Bilas, and this experience will translate into a highly effective administration.

While Bilas has extensive experience in the executive branch, Kington has spent her three undergraduate years becoming deeply rooted in SG’s legislative branch. During her time on UK senate, she has served as the chairman of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee and vice-chair of the Appropriations and Revenue Committee, managing all legislation impacting the student body and helping disperse more than $100,000 in grants to UK student organizations, respectively.

While she has had a distinguished career as a UK senator, she has also maintained cross-campus connections through her involvement in UK Leadership Summit. As the student body vice president maintains a close relationship with the Senate, Kington will be perfectly suited to fill this role in addition to her responsibilities within the executive branch.

Bilas and Kington have distinguished their ticket through their selection of college and at-large senators.

In the past, the senator selection process has been criticized by some as a method of “buying votes” from the various constituencies on campus. To avoid this, Bilas and Kington sought out senators who were deeply involved with their college and who were prepared to discuss how they, individually, could work to serve the students within their colleges and constituencies.

In fact, before any senator joined the Bilas-Kington ticket, he or she was required to highlight prior service to the college and outline plans for the upcoming year, if elected.

The careful, purposeful selection process for senators is a prime example of the team-centered, goal-oriented approach that Bilas and Kington have taken during the entire election process.

Finally, consider the candidates’ stated platform. Where past administrations have pushed large, costly projects through the Senate approval process and into action, Bilas and Kington have other plans for their administration.

Before developing another big-ticket project like TallyCats or the Cats Cruiser, Bilas plans to carefully examine the effectiveness and operations of each of the three main projects developed by the past three administrations: TallyCats, Cats Cruiser and the Wildcat Interest Group.

Where improvements need to be made, Bilas and Kington will act in the necessary and appropriate manner to limit financial waste while maximizing the benefits each of these programs have for the student body as a whole.

Simply put, we do not need another hastily formed $250,000 project from SG.

What we do need is an administration focused on how SG can most effectively serve the students, rather than an administration interested in making its mark through a bloated, expensive program that may or may not succeed.

After examining the efficiency of these large programs, they will turn their attention to closer financial management of SG promotional and advertising budgets, opening more resources for direct student services in the upcoming months and years.

Bilas-Kington are not the only two individuals running for president and vice president in the upcoming elections, but they are certainly the most qualified and best-prepared candidates in this year’s field.

Based on their mutual records of integrity and efficient leadership, both will thrive as the leaders of our student body and will serve as the best representation of our great university.

Taylor Cox is a political science and pre-dentistry senior and Student Development Council President. Email opinions@kykernel.com.

Stephen Bilas

Stephan Bilas and Mary Katherine Kington:

What’s the difference between your teacher accountability program and ratemyprofessor.com?

Unlike ratemyprofessor.com and modeled after successful programs at universities across the country, our teacher accountability program would gather an individual evaluation from every student who completes the course.

Ratemyprofessor.com relies on polarized reviews — majorly negative or positive — but our system would publicize all students’ perspectives to provide a more accurate and holistic evaluation. Additionally, it would detail the course structure and teacher’s measurement preference (exam or assignment-based evaluation).

We believe such a system better prepares students, aligning their interests with teacher expectations.

Our conversations with faculty and academic administrators made it clear: students need more information to better register for classes and our teachers hope to attract students better suited for differing teaching styles and grading systems.

Mary Katherine Kington

We want to ensure no student is unprepared on the first day of classes and teachers are not subject to consistently apathetic learners.

I am currently one of the coordinators of the College of Arts and Sciences Ambassadors. In two years with the program, we have seen our senators one time — at the end of last school year. This year, I was in contact with SG for about a month before learning that A&S had no senators. If elected, how will you ensure that your college senators are representing their college, as opposed to personal affiliations?

The unique, unrivaled aspect of our ticket is that our college senate candidates are highly motivated, firmly established leaders within their colleges. These are students who have already connected with deans and college administrators and have developed interests in and passion for their respective colleges and its students.

Early discussions with our candidates showed each was eager to represent his or her college in a way that benefits those students never approached by their college senator, historically underrepresented. Each candidate provides fresh ideas and immeasurable passion for the opportunity to give back to his or her college and do good for student peers, and each is committed to year-long total representation.

How do you plan to increase military support (ROTC) in its time of need?

Stephen is the son of a military family and we recognize the commitment of our military students. We want to better promote Student Government’s funding opportunities and connect with all student groups to enhance each individual’s campus experience.

In preparing for this campaign, we reached out to military veterans and ROTC students to investigate their concerns and goals. We have found there are unique ways to connect Student Government with the mission of our campus military community — co-sponsoring like-minded events like Day of Remembrance and funding military organizations’ initiatives.

This is another example of our mission to connect with our diverse student body and reach out to all students groups, encouraging each organization to seek Student Government’s assistance.

If financial circumstances require budget cuts, what would you first eliminate from SGA’s budget?

The advantage of our platform is that it does not compromise Student Government’s budget by introducing a handful of expensive, unfeasible, unnecessary programs. Those new initiatives we do want to implement are cost-effective and efficient. We want to evaluate Student Government’s current programming to cut wasteful spending and redirect funds toward exciting, satisfying opportunities all students can enjoy.

If funding circumstances did require cuts, however, our administration would first eliminate executive staff salaries. Our team committed to this campaign because of passion for the organization and enhancing the student experience, not because of financial benefit.

In regards to the $600,000 budget, is it true that if you don’t use it, you lose it?

Currently, all remaining funds from Student Government’s annual budget transfer to the next administration. In our current roles, we are working with the existing administration to develop a clause to cap leftover rollover funds. Any monies that exceed that capped allotment would be contributed to the University Scholarship Fund to assist students needing financial aid. This is an exciting amendment to challenge our senators to responsibly allocate funds to the most important initiatives and consider our students’ financial need in years of limited programming.

As Senate Appropriations and Revenue committee member and Chief of Staff, respectively, Mary Katherine and I have extensive experience developing Student Government’s budget and ensuring fiscal responsibility. Our administration will balance an efficient, transparent budget that eliminates waste and considers our students’ scholarship needs.

You both touched on improving the experience of the unmotivated/average college student. How would you reach out and develop programs to get these students involved?

Studies show students involved on campus are better retained, more likely to return to campus. We want to develop a mutually beneficial relationship between students and their government. This relationship of shared satisfaction will establish a tie to this campus and its opportunities for each student. If Student Government reaches out to this campus’s networks and addresses the interests of all students, we hope our peers feel more inclined to get involved on campus, joining organizations that enjoy success with the help of Student Government, and develop a passion for enhancing the student experience.

Engaging organizations to assist in recruitment and empowering students are easy efforts to involve the entire Wildcat community. Our student body is talented and passionate, and we want to attract our peers to our proposed “Legacy” initiative, a new approach to a current yet underdeveloped, under-utilized program. This program will allow students access to Student Government’s resources and team to develop their own, programs and initiatives, leaving their own personal legacy on campus, establishing a tie to this community and potential programming that benefits all students.

On your platform you say that you want to increase diversity on SGA. Staples-Wimberly has a program called ONE Kentucky planned. What do you have planned on increasing diversity?

Student Government’s primary role is representing its constituents, the students and their diverse interests and concerns. We believe our ticket provides a unique, diverse approach to total representation.

We intentionally selected each candidate based on his or her campus involvement, background and passions — students from large and small, Greek and non-Greek, service and faith-based organizations, as well as in-state and out-of-state students.

Some have Student Government experience, others are young, passionate and eager to get involved for the first time. Our full ticket includes the interests of all colleges on this expansive campus and our graduate and undergraduate students, an effort to fully represent.

Outside of student representation, Student Government must commit to the programs and initiatives of our student’s diverse backgrounds and concerns, projects like SAB’s “It Gets Better.”

We want to maintain direct, open lines of communications with our student organizations, using administration liaisons to frequently poll those organizations, engaging them to identify new ideas and concerns and report to Student Government, so our administration is up-to-date on campus issues and student concerns.

How do your current positions make you the most qualified candidates for the positions you are seeking?

Mary Katherine and I provide unequaled executive and legislative experience. Our history with funding allocation, budget development and student organization engagement showcases preparedness.

We have unique, close relationships with faculty, staff and administrations, having worked with university leadership for three years — relationships we can rely on to surpass constructive red tape and successfully implement Student Government’s initiatives.

More importantly, we are involved outside of Student Government in big and small organizations across campus, providing a more expansive understanding of this diverse student population, its interests and its needs.

Additionally, our experiences prepare us to lead from day one on the job. Having navigated the intricacies of the executive and legislative branches, Mary Katherine and I escape any learning curve an inexperienced administration would naturally face.

Drake Staples and Mary Ellen Wimberly:

Drake Staples

First and foremost, we would like to thank everyone who came out to Wednesday’s debate. We were happy to have the opportunity to discuss many of our ideas and are looking forward to putting these ideas into place next year.

Unfortunately, innovation nearly always brings harsh criticism. We are happy to confront these criticisms in the hope that readers will see that our ideas are not only fiscally responsible and feasible, but also include concrete plans for making Student Government Association a more representative organization that can better serve the entire student body.

Instead of slamming our opponents’ platform (or lack thereof), we want to keep this letter positive and focus on the tangible benefits our administration would provide to UK, as we have throughout the entire campaign process.

Leadership is about trying new things and suggesting ambitious plans as opposed to solely playing devil’s advocate.

Many of our plans would be invaluable to students once implemented, but were falsely decried as being too expensive, too risky and not a smart use of SGA money. This is simply not the case. Our interest free loans would bear very little risk and cost to SGA.

Mary Ellen Wimberly

We would not be handing out loans to every student who came knocking on Student Government’s door. Instead, at the beginning of the semester we would set aside a specific amount to be loaned out to students who struggle with costs of school supplies, textbooks, rent and other expenses at what is often the most costly time of the school year.

This loan would be charged to the same account used for tuition, room and board, parking fines and nearly every other charge imposed by UK. Due to the extremely high volume of charges placed on and paid on the myUK system daily, this program would represent a miniscule portion of myUK traffic.

Most of these loans would automatically be paid off as financial aid comes in and payments are made on the account. Unpaid loans would result in holds on registration, graduation and advising. SGA would thus be able to collect almost the entire amount loaned out in the first months of the semester, with the rest being collected before the end of the semester.

Since the number of loans available will be capped at the beginning of each semester based on current budget situations, there is no risk of the program costing more than originally planned due to a high volume of loans requested.

While we do anticipate that the program will be very successful, we are committed to an extensive research process before it is made available to the student body.

It is also important to note that this program, and others that we have suggested, will not create unnecessary constraints on the budget.

As of March 21, 2012, SGA has spent less than half of its allocated money. We do not see it as careless to propose new programs and services, as it would allow the SGA resources to benefit those who directly fund Student Government.

We see a great parallel between this loan program and Cats Cruiser, which was also proposed during campaigning but underwent a significant vetting process with UK Legal and a number of other UK departments after the candidates were elected. It is important to note that Cats Cruiser evolved significantly from its original plan in this vetting process, but through dedication, Cats Cruiser emerged as a program that remained true to its original intent.

We will explore the idea of possibly restricting these loaned out funds to plus account, where money could only be spent on food, textbooks, etc., and not on alcohol, which was a valid concern of many in attendance at the debate. However, we recognize that the program would be most effective if students were able to get cash.

It is also very important to note that this type of program, which was so wholeheartedly bashed by our opponents, is already a service that student governments at many of our benchmark schools, such as Michigan State University, offer.

The next issue that concerned our opponents and some members of the audience was the cost of our proposed textbook lending library. While we do recognize that there will be a large initial expense, we believe that the potential reach and usefulness of this program undoubtedly justifies the cost.

By devoting just $20,000 to the textbook lending library, SGA could potentially purchase over 400 used textbooks at an average cost of $50.

These books would be selected for popular classes where students often spend hundreds on a book only to use it a couple of times each semester. If 10 students use each of these books during the school year, we will have reached around 4,000 students, or approximately a quarter of the undergraduate student body, in this program’s first semester.

By offering these books on a reference basis in the library, we would be able to serve the maximum amount of students and ensure fairness in distribution since the books would be available on a first come, first serve basis.

Furthermore, there will be a vast amount of surveying done in order to establish which classes could benefit most from this service. In response to one of the questions posed to us, we never planned to offer this service to all 100 and 200 level classes. It is very unreasonable to expect SGA to provide textbook accommodations for every student, but it is our hope that each student will benefit from this program in at least one class during their undergraduate career, saving them several hundred dollars.

Our other plans for Student Government involve making it a more representative and transparent organization. As was discussed in the debate, this is already evident through the diversity of our Senate ticket, which includes students not only involved in Greek Life, but also ROTC,Club Sports, Varsity Athletics, Residence Life, Religious Life and countless other organizations.

In selecting these senators, we chose students who we know will challenge us and provide insight that is reflective of the entire student body, instead of students who share the same background and involvement that we do.

In addition to working toward representation for all students within Senate, we will also make Senate voting and attendance records easily accessible and increase their visibility, ensuring their accountability to the students and colleges they represent. Also, our plans for direct discussions with leaders of student organizations will cut out the “middle man” and allow us to directly serve these groups.

This, along with expanded funding options for these organizations, will play a huge role in countless students’ Kentucky experience, and will help them reach out to a wider range of students and bring them closer into the UK community.

Under Staples-Wimberly leadership, students would truly see change in Student Government with innovative programs designed to increase involvement, aid students who are struggling financially, and promote ideas of respect, equality, and unity on campus. Next, we will address other concerns that were brought up during the debate. We have answered all questions that were asked via our in-depth summary above and the following Q & A section.
DanceBlue is a very influential event on campus that Student Government has significantly contributed to financially in the past. Will you continue to allocate a certain amount to the marathon or do you feel there is better use for that money?

DanceBlue is a great example of what incredible feats UK students can achieve when we stand and work together for a common cause. It is because of this impact that we feel funding for DanceBlue should undoubtedly be continued.

We’re excited to work with Ethan Ritter, next year’s Dance Blue overall chair, to extend the reach of DanceBlue not only within the university, but also throughout the state. Funding for Dance Blue will remain the same, if not increase, depending on their need for a larger operating budget.

I am currently one of the coordinators of the College of Arts and Sciences Ambassadors. In two years with the program, we have seen our senators one time — at the end of last school year. This year, I was in contact with SG for about a month before learning that A&S had no senators. If elected, how will you ensure that your college senators are representing their college, as opposed to personal affiliations?

This is an excellent question and an issue that we are particularly passionate about. When selecting senators, especially those who were running for College seats, we looked first to students involved in the college organizations that do a phenomenal job of representation within the college. Greek affiliation was never the focus, as choosing students who would do a good job is more important to us than winning the infamous electoral vote from Greek chapters.

We are particularly excited that one of our senators running for the A&S Senate seats, Kaylin Oldham, currently serves as an A&S Ambassador and, if elected, would represent the entire college exceptionally well.

If financial circumstances require budget cuts, what would you first eliminate from SG’s budget?

One of the first places where we believe money could be saved is in the amount paid to SG staff. This year, $38,400 was dedicated to salaries of Student Government employees. We have proposed a new executive staff structure, which would eliminate superfluous positions and save Student Government thousands.

Why do you think it is appropriate, through your platform for a new LDP, to force a group of staff on an administration that had no hand in picking them, and a group of students that has not proven themselves besides being chosen for their merits from high school at the beginning of their freshman year?

Although we did not get a chance to detail specifics of our plan for LDP expansion at the debate, this is definitely a misinterpretation of our proposed plan.

LDP’s focus has always been to connect freshmen with a multitude of campus organizations, and there never has been, nor are we advocating for, a guaranteed spot in next year’s Student Government staff.

Instead, we want to expand the program so that more students are able to reap the benefits. This will include marketing the program more effectively and to a wider range of people.

In regards to the $600,000 budget, is it true that if you don’t use it, you lose it?

Money can be carried over from year to year, but stays within Student Government. Running a huge budget surplus only leaves the responsibility for spending in the hands of your successor.

Since SGA funding comes from student fees, it is important to use it in a way that benefits the students who pay the fees while they are currently students.

We believe that fiscal responsibility includes using the resources that have been given to SGA in a way that provides programs and services to the students who are paying for them.

Is it really realistic to buy books for all 100-level classes? How many books would you buy for a class of 200 kids?

Buying books for all 100-level would not be a good use of Student Government funds and we did not advocate this idea at the debate on Wednesday or in our platform.

Instead, we plan on extensively surveying students to find out which classes would most benefit from this service. We would begin very conservatively by buying only a few books for large classes and then strategically expand based on use.

It is our goal that every UK student would benefit from this program at least once during their undergraduate career, saving them several hundred dollars.

Without knowing the current Kentucky legislation, which applies to UK, how are you going to effectively represent the student body?

We recognize and apologize for the mistake concerning the tax code surrounding textbooks and acknowledge that there is a large learning curve for whatever students take office.

You will always be able to expect this kind of accountability and recognition of mistakes from our administration. We understand that by suggesting a complex and innovative platform that some of these ideas may not come to fruition.

We are still dedicated to assisting students financially through our textbook lending library and will also lobby for what is colloquially known as a “Textbook Tax Holiday,” which also exempts other necessary school supplies.

Once in office, we will work with Wildcat Interest Group, UK’s professional lobbyists and the president’s office to promote a common goal that will benefit the university.

Furthermore, we will recruit students for WIG in order to have a large group to visit Frankfort during legislative sessions.
You are saying that the money we students are paying in student fees will potentially go to someone who “can’t afford” to go on spring break without it?

As was discussed above, the loan program would be capped and available on a first come, first serve basis, so the loans most likely will not be available by spring break.

While funding spring break may be your only concern, many students have indicated that this program would be incredibly useful in alleviating the financial burdens that result from a number of expenses at the beginning of the semester and/or emergency expenses.

Additionally, the cost for this program would be very minimal since the loans would require repayment in 30 days.

Essentially, students using this program would be borrowing money from other students, which would later be paid back and used to provide other programs and services. Therefore, the same money is able to provide more benefit to students.

The current economic crisis is due in large part to banks giving out bad loans. Would it not be irresponsible to give out loans for students to blow on spring break? How would you decide who or who not to give money to?

Loans would be given on a first come, first serve basis to students who are in good academic standing with the university. By establishing a cap on the monetary amount to be spent on loans each semester and connecting the loan to a student’s financial obligation to the university, we would ensure the loan program would not stress SGA’s financial resources.

How do your current positions make you the most qualified candidates for the positions you are seeking?

Although we have both been very involved with SGA for the past two years, we feel that our experiences outside of Student Government is what makes us the most qualified candidates to represent the entire student body and bring fresh ideas that benefit a broader range of students.

Regardless of anyone’s current positions and titles within Student Government, there is a huge learning curve when stepping into the chief positions and this is why we think it is of the utmost importance to not only be plugged into the inner workings of SGA, but to have diversified experiences in other areas on campus, which is one of our greatest assets.

One would be naïve to think that just Student Government experience would qualify one to serve the entire student body. Collectively, we’ve been involved in organizations that reach many corners of campus and the Lexington community, including Greek Life, Team Wildcat, Honors Program, IGPA, LFUCG Town & Gown, GSP/GSA Alumni Club and organizations within the Gatton College.

These experiences have helped us become more aware of the issues facing our student body and truly make us uniquely qualified for these positions.

Stephen Bilas is a management and finance junior. Mary Katherine Kington is a finance junior. Drake Staples is a finance and marketing junior. Mary Ellen Wimberly is a finance economics junior. Email opinions@kykernel.com.

Jordan Covvey

Every once in a while when living abroad, you have to do something distinctly American. Whether it’s complaining about student loans or streaming March Madness online in the wee hours of the morning, little pieces of home can make all the difference.

Hence, I recently set out on a mission to make cheddar biscuits.

I have a feeling that you know exactly what I’m talking about. Does anyone actually go to Red Lobster for seafood? I must say the seafood is drastically better in Scotland, but the endless baskets of biscuits are certainly lacking.

Thankfully  I managed to get my hands on a good recipe. It’s probably the type of recipe that Paula Deen’s diabetes doctors would encourage her to avoid, but being that I hadn’t even seen a biscuit in more than six months, I figured I was safe.

A couple hours and a couple cups of buttermilk later, I was covered in flour and had whipped up a batch of delicious heaven. Crumbly, salty, cheesy — everything a good American biscuit should be.

I brought the batch into my office at the university and attempted to feed some colleagues. Expecting to be greeted with cheers and incessant drooling, I instead got a host of repulsed facial expressions and comments like, “Biscuits? With cheddar? Disgusting.”

I couldn’t imagine why anyone would ever say that, but it seems I missed one small but very important detail — biscuits in the United Kingdom are essentially what we would call a hard cookie.

Flat, crunchy and sweet, they are the kind of treat you would eat with a cup of coffee, rather than with a dose of warm cheese.

I managed to figure this out conversing with my Scottish colleagues and finally understood why I was met with such reluctance. Nonetheless, after a little convincing, I managed to get them to try the “biscuit.”

One bite later? “Oh, a delicious cheese scone!”

I inadvertently had launched an office discussion on the merits and uses of the American biscuit as opposed to the British scone. I’m still not convinced they are the same thing, but we’ll set that aside for the time being.

Discussing the vast versatility of the American biscuit, I mentioned the most traditional of breakfast cuisine — biscuits and gravy. Again the groans and sickened faces. “Gravy? For breakfast? And it’s white?”

I continued my lesson and described the process of making white gravy — sausage drippings, butter, flour, milk and southern charm. Let’s just say I was digging my hole even deeper.

But I could see why this might scare them a bit. After all, the “full Scottish breakfast” traditionally includes black pudding, a sausage that contains thickened and congealed blood, fried in a griddle. Not scary at all …

In the end, the biscuits, er, scones were more a source of Scottish entertainment than an American treat.

Although you know what else has become distinctly American for me? Creating entertaining cultural confusion.

Jordan Covvey is a 2010 Doctor of Pharmacy graduate from the UK College of Pharmacy. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate and Fulbright-Strathclyde Postgraduate Scholar at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland. Her monthly column will follow her experiences and cultural education across the pond. Email opinions@kykernel.com.

Obiora Embry

This “food” has been chemically processed and refined while adding artificial ingredients to produce it in different shapes, sizes, tastes, colors and forms.

Since our government allows genetically modified organisms to be consumed by humans and farm animals, our “food” may contain foreign genes, which have been spliced together in laboratories.

In the 1950s, petrochemical companies started cheaply mass producing synthetic chemicals from petroleum and developed a partnership with the food industry that still exists today. This partnership made it possible for “food” to be mass produced and preserved for long periods of time while using a minimal amount of natural ingredients.

The “food” we have been consuming is sold and marketed as food but does not taste, smell or have the nutritional value that food did prior to “the great experiment.”

If you were born prior to the unauthorized experimentation by the people of our food supply, then you grew up eating real, whole and natural food — grown and raised by your family, neighbors and/or community residents.

However, if you were born after 1950 and did not grow up eating locally grown, raised and/or produced food, then you may not know what’s on your plate.

The “food” we have been consuming has taken a toll on the natural environment that we need to live — the land, air and water; our individual and collective health; and our state’s economy.

In putting an end to the toll on nature, our health and the economy, we can heed the advice that George W. Carver gave while working at the Tuskegee Institute.

In a 1916 article, Carver wrote, “few, if any realize the wealth within our county and the ease with which we can, not only live, but accumulate much above a living.”

In doing so, we Kentuckians should resurrect our agricultural heritage and begin to value land and our connection to it by growing food locally.

In addition, we should convene with farmers, elected officials, business leaders, educators, chefs, the faith community, community activists, the youth and other citizens to create a regional food system.

The food system we develop can revitalize our health, nature and our state’s economy, while creating an alternative to the industrial food system.

Save the date, register and make plans to attend the 2012 Bluegrass Local Food Summit. The three-day Food Summit is from March 22-24 in Lexington.

For more information, visit sustainlex.org or call Jim Embry at 859-270-3699.

Obiora Embry is a former UK student, Kentucky native and Kernel reader. Email opinions@kykernel.com.

Patrick Johnson

As a senior environmental science student at UK, I recognize the impact my school and my community are having on the global climate. Despite incessant pleas from a significant portion of the student body, the university and the community insist on contributing further to global climate change without any substantial discussion about moving toward cleaner, renewable options.

Carbon pollution from coal plants is one of the leading contributors to global climate change, as it is leading to the creation of a thicker blanket around the planet’s atmosphere. This allows more heat to remain within the Earth’s atmosphere, causing global temperatures to rise.

As a result of these rising temperatures, the entire planet is changing dramatically. Rising sea levels and more extreme weather will likely impact developing countries located on the coast and will lead to millions of deaths worldwide.

I would like to support Lisa Jackson and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as they plan to establish new regulations regarding carbon pollution from coal plants.

The new standards are referred to as New Source Performance Standards. These air quality protections will allow the EPA to focus on the industries that create the lion’s share of the nation’s carbon pollution and will also help reduce life-threatening air pollutants like dirty soot, asthma-inducing smog and toxic mercury.

Global climate change is real. And it has been proven time and time again by peer-reviewed scientific research to be directly influenced by human activity. As a young person, I am tired of big coal and big oil lobbyists influencing policy decisions that prolong the life of these extractive industries.

These decisions are a direct result of greed and selfishness, and are remarkably shortsighted. Garnering public support for the New Source Performance Standards protections is extremely important as we continue to show the power of the people.

The EPA should be commended for their recent Mercury and Air Toxic Standards, as this will save thousands of people from dying from mercury-related illnesses each year. However, the most important battle for my generation and for the future of this planet is the fight to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

We need to stand up to the big coal and big oil lobbyists and tell them that we are tired of their continued greed and exploitation. Support Jackson and the EPA as they embark on this crucial endeavor.

Patrick Johnson is a natural resources and environmental science senior. Email opinions@kykernel.com.

Taylor Moak

JOPLIN, Mo. — There is still hope in Joplin, Mo.

Ten months ago, a tornado leveled miles of the city, leaving homes flattened and lives changed forever. Hundreds of people died and thousands of homes and businesses were destroyed, but Joplin has not been left behind.

Volunteers are everywhere. For example, more than 12,000 volunteers have gone through the Joplin Family Worship Center alone since May, said Lowell Lane, community liaison at the center. In the months since the tornado, Joplin Family Worship has served as a disaster relief center.

And Joplin residents are not shy to let volunteers know they are grateful for the help.

“Thanks for coming to Joplin.” “Where are you from? We’re glad you’re here.” “Your smiles lift our spirits and give us hope.”

And that’s the word Joplin has adopted for its own — hope.

When the tornado hit the high school, the letters J, L, I and N of Joplin were blown away, leaving only O and P. Someone taped H before the remaining letters and E after them, so the sign now reads HOPE High School.

The scars of the tornado will always remain, but residents don’t try to forget what has happened to them.

There’s the woman who would have been driving through the city at the time of the storm with her nine-month pregnant daughter if it hadn’t been for a flat tire, or the man who survived the storm by covering himself with a couch and praying, or the Chik-Fil-A worker who had 15 friends die in the storm.

Locals say the tornado that hit Joplin was so massive that it would be classified as an EF 6 or 7 if the scales went that high.

They say the path of the tornado extends for 17 or so miles, and since it was slow moving — taking about 45 seconds to go over one house — the tornado had time to put thousands of homes and businesses through a shredder. To put the force of the tornado into perspective, St. John’s Hospital was moved 6 inches off its foundation.

With such destruction, clean-up will continue for years and years, and Joplin will never be what it was on May 21, 2011.

And as much as volunteers have given the city, the people of Joplin offer volunteers a refreshing view of perseverance. With hope, Joplin will rebuild.

Taylor Moak is a journalism junior and the Kernel’s editor-in-chief. Email tmoak@kykernel.com.

Stephen Bilas

Mary-Katherine and I enthusiastically announce our candidacies for Student Government president and vice president not because they fit in a three-year plan, but because we wholeheartedly believe our ticket truly represents the diverse interests of this student body.

Our experience in Student Government is not a hindrance, but rather an unparalleled qualification.

As an elected senator and chief of staff/comptroller, Mary-Katherine and I have engaged generally underrepresented student organizations and managed a $600,000 budget, respectively. It is this unique, unrivaled balance of executive and legislative experience that sets us apart in this election.

The positions we seek are tasked with representing this university’s students and their interests, using appropriated funds to provide unique, enjoyable opportunities and experiences. We campaign to represent our peers because we believe our platform establishes an affordable, effective plan for the next year.

We are eager to work with UK Athletics to implement a ticket lottery that rewards loyalty, but we recognize Student Government does not solely dictate such an effort. We intend to persistently engage UK Athletics, voicing the concerns of neglected student fans to ensure they are fully represented in future discussions.

We are focused on improving class registration. We plan to develop a system that aligns student needs with teacher expectations.

The last few weeks, Mary-Katherine and I have met with student organizations to measure what matters to our students. We are passionate about student representation and believe the most effective way to address equality is to approach organizations and establish new relationships with groups generally overlooked. Only then can we ensure those organizations and their initiatives enjoy the funding and resources that produce success.

This campaign is not about me, or Mary-Katherine, and it is not limited to our initiatives.

It is, instead, a blend of passionate students — young and old, experienced and new, to Student Government — and their ideas to enrich the student experience. We join in an effort to enhance worthwhile opportunities and invest in affordable new programs that will not jeopardize current student fee rates, and we vow to represent all students across this expansive campus and their equally expansive concerns and goals.

Stephen Bilas is a finance and management junior. Email opinions@kykernel.com.

As an engineering student, I go to school six days a week. I have homework due online every night except for Saturday, so it is amazing to me how bad the wireless, and even the ethernet, is in the dorms. Sometimes it takes upwards of 10 minutesjust to open my Gmail. The wireless is constantly flickering on and off, and even the wired connection will turn off and make me unplug and plug it back it to reestablish the connection.

The math website I have to go to for homework takes forever to load, as does checking my email, connecting to blackboard or MyUK, etc. I am aware that wifi is bad, but the wifi in the dorms is absolutely ridiculous to the point that it is almost unusable. So I beg of you, anybody in the IT department, please fix the wireless, and even the ethernet. Doing online homework is almost unbearable in the dorms. Sure, I could go to the library, but for every single 10-question homework assignment?

Please, PLEASE do something about the Internet.

Kyle Hermann is an engineering student. Email opinions@kykernel.com.

Amelia Orwick

Even simple precautions, such as heading to the basement during a storm, seemed like a waste of my time before Friday.

But after witnessing first-hand the serious damage from the storms this weekend, my attitude has changed.

Today I am so grateful for all of the extra precautions that were taken to keep the citizens of Kentucky safe. They may not all have been necessary, but there was no way of knowing until all was said and done.

My new motto is “better safe than sorry.”

When bad weather swept through Lexington Friday evening, much to my dismay, my manager sent me home early. With an expensive spring break trip quickly approaching, I was eager to work as many hours as possible.

My car was packed and ready to make the trip home to La Grange, Ky., as soon as I got off work, but of course my mother insisted that I wait out the storm before hitting the road.

I made my way back to my sorority house, only to be rushed, against my will, into the basement to take shelter. As we waited, many of my sisters expressed their disappointment at the delay of the DanceBlue marathon.

The storm passed quickly and I walked outside to see everything in its place. What the weathermen made out to be the storm of the century was simply a spring shower.

I shook my head thinking of all the wasted precautions that had been taken and hopped into my car to head home.

Upon my arrival, I found my mother hysterical. West Liberty, Ky., her hometown, had been leveled by a tornado.

For hours we remained torn between making the three-hour drive to West Liberty or waiting on a phone call that confirmed our family was safe. We opted for the latter, and luckily received a call from my aunt around 1 a.m.

She told us that my grandmother and other aunt were out of harm’s way and had minimal damage to their homes. However, I learned that many others were not quite so lucky.

I watched, horrified, as the news coverage showed the town, that I’ve spent so much time in, completely demolished. I know West Liberty like the back of my hand, but suddenly I couldn’t recognize anything.

I had seen damage like this before following disasters like Hurricane Katrina and the tornadoes that hit Alabama, but I never dreamed that I would be affected by this type of catastrophe.

In the aftermath of the storm, I realize how silly it was of me to believe that I was “exempt.” I rolled my eyes when my manager sent me home, when my mom told me to stay put and when my house mother sent us to the basement.

Fortunately, the storm had little effect on Lexington, but I wondered what would’ve happened if it had gotten serious and we hadn’t been so lucky here, like West Liberty?

I cannot say how happy I am that my family and friends in West Liberty had more sense than me.

The citizens of West Liberty knew it was important to protect themselves, the National Guard realized it could prevent chaos during the rescue mission by keeping people out of the city and the whole town remembered that it’s imperative to stick together when tragedy strikes.

The city has quite a bit of rebuilding to do, but with all the efforts being made, I’m certain that everything will get done quickly and efficiently.

If there’s one thing that I’ve learned over the past few days, it’s that you can never be too careful.

When you’re threatened by something serious, whether it’s a tornado or something else, you should hope for the best, but plan for the worst.

I commend UK for all of the measures that were taken to guarantee that our students were safe that afternoon, and I also praise the folks of West Liberty for doing their best to protect one another, then and now.

As young people, we often think we’re invincible, but this weekend opened my eyes to the fact that this assumption is wrong.

I have a newfound respect for all of the authority figures who put rules into place to guarantee the safety of Kentucky citizens.

I will think twice now before questioning the decisions that are made for my protection and I hope you will do the same.

Amelia Orwick is a journalism sophomore. Email opinions@kykernel.com.

Mary Ellen Wimberly

Despite the inclement weather, which cut the 24-hour dance marathon to 12 hours, dancers adopted the mentality of “half as long, twice as hard.” Although most dancers understood the severity of the weather and realized that the postponing was necessary, Twitter and Facebook were filled with dancers mourning the loss of 12 hours of the marathon.

Not once did I hear a dancer admit he or she was happy to have a chance to sleep after a week of midterms, or secretly excited to not have to stand the entire 24 hours.

In fact, several groups began dancing when the marathon was originally scheduled to start in order to dance the entire 24 hours.

Since its beginning in 2006, DanceBlue has raised more than $3.5 million for pediatric cancer. While this incredibly impressive sum of money should be commended, DanceBlue reaches far beyond the monetary support it is able to provide for the UK Pediatric Oncology Clinic.

Perhaps the most impressive accomplishment of DanceBlue is that each year the DanceBlue experience grows, not only through money raised, but also through excitement and support on all corners of campus, throughout the Lexington community and to members of the “Big Blue Nation” across the country.

Few experiences bring together the entire UK campus like DanceBlue. Whether participating as a dancer, volunteer, committee member, morale team leader, chair or spectator, everyone in Memorial Coliseum on Saturday was a member of the DanceBlue family.

In light of recent columns in the Kernel advocating for and against the merits of UK’s Greek system, I would like to invite students on both sides of the argument to take a close look at DanceBlue.

For 24 hours, we forgot about the lines these writers seem so eager to divide students on, and join together to dance for one reason: the kids.

It is this fervor of all students for such a worthwhile cause that remind us, first and foremost, we are all members of the Big Blue Nation.

The things that unite us are far greater than the things that divide us. More than anything, DanceBlue shows what incredible feats UK students can achieve when we stand and work together for a common cause.

On behalf of the students and dancers, I’d like to extend a huge thank you to all of the DanceBlue chairs, committee members, morale leaders, dancers, volunteers, spectators and everyone else who made this fantastic experience possible.

I can’t wait until #DB13!

Mary Ellen Wimberly is an economics and finance junior. Email opinions@kykernel.com.

Taylor Moak

Daybreak the day after a disaster is a time of shock.

Once the sun rises, the debris and remains of what was before are exposed, and devastated people are left to pick up the pieces.

Saturday was the “day after” for West Liberty, Ky., a small town in the eastern part of the state that was largely destroyed by tornadoes on Friday afternoon.

Before daybreak on Saturday, I left Lexington with Kernel photographer Brandon Goodwin to travel to West Liberty. News reports from Friday had shown the town leveled and said many people had completely lost their homes. Others were reported to have lost their lives.

I couldn’t sleep on Friday night thinking about the story I was covering the next day. I kept mulling nervously over the questions I would ask and how I would approach people whose lives had been radically changed in a matter of a few minutes.

By sunrise, Brandon and I arrived in West Liberty. When we tried to get into town, we were turned away, but we were told we could see the tornadoes’ path on the hill beside the hospital. So that’s where we headed.

Before we rounded a bend that gave us a full view of the town, we could see the damage, but I wasn’t prepared for what we would find.

The whole hillside looked like it was covered in toothpicks, the insides of what had once been homes.

Over the hill, all of West Liberty was in view. No building downtown seemed to be left untouched.

Many businesses and houses were completely flattened. Others were still standing, but only partially, with roofs and walls gone. Cars looked liked miniature Hot Wheels that had been run over.

I almost cried when I stepped out of my car.

Throughout the day, Brandon and I met and talked to more people than I can remember.

Forest Gillespie, an HVAC mechanic, rode out the storm in a Jeep. The windows were busted out, and the car had been picked up by the wind and turned 180 degrees, but Gillespie was fine.

“It was a smack in the face — real quick,” he said.

We also met Doris Shuck, who had a fire truck go through her house. Shuck took shelter in her basement and emerged to find only her front porch still standing.

“My kids have to have a mom,” she said. “That’s how I got out of here.”

From early until mid-afternoon, Brandon and I kept observing, kept asking questions, but most importantly, kept listening. We were trying to understand the immensity of what we were witnessing.

One woman walked by me crying and just shook her head. She didn’t need to use words to tell me she was feeling pain and disbelief.

At one point during the day, Brandon and I walked to the tallest point on the hill to see everything.

As we walked, we stepped over items that used to be in someone’s home — an old family portrait, a painted sign with the name “Julie,” bars of soap, salt and pepper shakers.

As journalists, we were surprised to see a newspaper had survived the storm and was lying among the rubble. It was a Lexington Herald-Leader from Sept. 12, 2001, the day after 9/11.

Brandon and I noted how odd it was that of all the days it could have been, the paper was from the “day after” one of the most memorable disasters in this nation’s history.

“This is the worst disaster we’ve ever had in the county. Ever,” said Jerry Stacy, a resident who lost his home.

But for residents of West Liberty, Friday’s tornado will not be forgotten; neither will the days after, as the town begins to rebuild.

Taylor Moak is a journalism junior and the Kernel’s editor-in-chief. Email tmoak@kykernel.com.

Shelisa Melendez

The truth is, there are so many thoughts, feelings and emotions that come along with crossing the stage at graduation and shaking President Capilouto’s hand.

Initially the feeling is of excitement, to know you’ve finally made it through all of those grueling hours in the library, last minute papers and group projects. But then there is the feeling that suddenly begins to seep deep within; the feeling of anxiety and confusion.

The real question presented is “now what?” Now that you have successfully received the degree you came here for, what are you going to do next? Or better yet, how are you going to do it? Are you going to purchase a new car? Buy a house? Start an investment portfolio?

So let’s say that is what you wanted to do after graduation, where do you start?

Here at UK, incoming freshmen and new students are required to take UK 101 to help get them acclimated to the college experience, campus, and so forth.

But there isn’t an option for seniors who may want answers about life post-grad.

It would be extremely beneficial for UK to offer an optional exit course for graduating seniors; UK 401K.

The course would be for a span of eight weeks or so, and would provide students with education on how to address real-world scenarios; such as how to go about getting a mortgage, investment plans, the purpose and importance of a 401K plan, how to negotiate a benefits package at work, and making your credit score work for you, just to name examples.

It doesn’t seem like many colleges and universities are recognizing this need to better prepare their seniors for well-rounded success.

Yes, we have taken all of the courses to fulfill requirements to receive our degree, but college is also a tool used to prepare us for life and all that may come with it.

UK 401K is not a course for UK to “parent” us, but to use faculty and staff to inform students, just like UK 101 is set out to do.

If it is UK’s mission to provide students with the best education possible upon graduation, I believe this optional exit course should strongly be considered.

It is for the greater good of future Wildcat Alumni.

Shelisa Melendez is a journalism and merchandising, apparel and textiles senior. Email smelendez@kykernel.com.

Aaron Fowler

Think about it, mostly everything our generation does is loud; the way we dress, the music we listen to and the pop culture we accept.

However, it seems we become more vocal about the latest episode of Jersey Shore than “situations” in Frankfort, and for that I classify us as a silent generation.

We cannot afford to be silent any longer.

We cannot afford to allow the state government to deprive the institutions and colleges of this state from the funding it desperately needs. According to each universities’ website of the 12 current SEC schools, UK has the fourth highest undergraduate tuition for in-state residents taking 12 or more credit hours, only ahead of the University of Auburn, University of Florida and Vanderbilt.

Students from my high school who were accepted into UK and were capable of succeeding had to pass on the opportunity because the price was already too steep. That should never happen. Secondary education should never be just for those who can afford it, but should be for those who want to continue their education because of their ambitions or hunger for a better life.

As a student, I will put it in a more enticing perspective. The budget cuts from the state government would increase tuition, and dare I say, possibly reduce or completely eliminate the money you’re using for spring break. Are you furious yet?

We are the minds of the future. We are the innovators who will fix the agricultural problems troubling our local farmers. We hold the creative ideas on how to replace energy and jobs in the eastern mountains of Kentucky. We hold this potential, yet our government seeks to penalize us for flaws within the state’s economy.

You should be morphing into a raging Hulk from such injustice, yet collectively we do nothing. But I guess we were those kids who had their lunch money stolen and never decided to fight back because clearly we are getting bullied by the lawmakers in Frankfort.

One rally at the Capitol or one phone call doesn’t show the persistence we need to spark change. To truly make an impact, we must be united as a student body.

We are the ones who will be affected from these decisions, not those who are making them. We are the ones who must be heard.

So call your district legislator, email the suites in Frankfort, visit our Student Government and ask for ways to get involved, tweet how mad you are — do something.

Are we only capable of standing up for an Anthony Davis dunk, or will we stand up united and face the state government? Are we too cool to make a difference, or is this the year we put our imprints on the Commonwealth?

Aaron Fowler is a biology freshman. Email opinions@kykernel.com.

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, a signee, made a statement that highlights the very base of the debate: “This is not a Catholic issue. We will not tolerate any denomination having their religious freedoms infringed upon by the

Luke Glaser

government.”

Despite what proponents of the mandate will have you think, this is not an issue of abortion or contraceptive care. While the Catholic Church does not believe in these practices, they are the law of the land and must be respected as such.

This issue has been, and regardless of what is otherwise said, will always be about religious freedom.

Catholic’s doctrine teaches that all life is sacred, and as such it is a sin to use contraceptive coverage or receive an abortion in order to prevent life. Supporters of Obama’s mandate, crying foul against the primary antagonist that is the Catholic Church, point to the issue as one of women’s health, to beliefs that the church holds on contraceptives to be archaic, unsafe and unrealistic.

Maybe so. Maybe the church is holding on to old views, ignoring the fact that 98 percent of Catholic women have engaged in contraceptive practices.

That does not dilute the fact that these are unshakable and uncompromising religious beliefs. Hypocrisy of the followers of a religion is not an excuse for a government to impose regulations that directly conflict with what a religion holds as belief.

Catholic institutions that will be affected by this mandate (hospitals, schools, etc) do not ban their employees from using contraceptive products. Men and women employed by these institutions are free to do as they wish with their bodies.

But these institutions will not, and by right of the first amendment are justified, in not paying for or covering these practices.

Other critics have pointed to the Church as hypocritical in not standing up for other beliefs that the government has intervened in, such as the Mormon belief of polygamy.

An important distinction must be made here. The 1897 Supreme Court Case Reynolds v. United States, which struck down the Mormon view of polygamy, ruled that the government has a right to legislate against religious practices if they view such practices to be antagonistic to civic aims.

The difference here is that the Catholic Church is not participating in a practice, but rather refusing to do so.

And still others point to the president’s willingness to compromise. I too admired our Commander-in-Chief’s willingness to extend the hand, until research showed that the mandate is the same gift wrapped in a different package.

Per the words of University of Notre Dame professor Richard W. Garnett, “Under the promised new version, it is supposedly the insurance companies, instead of employers with religious objections, that will pay for employees’ abortion-causing drugs and contraceptives.

But, of course, even the president cannot make these items free. Someone will foot the bill and, in the end, it is not going to be the insurance company.”

A last demographic I wish to address is those who point to the fact that these institutions are willing to accept government money, but unwilling to accept the rules that come with. That one may not have one’s cake and eat it, too.

The prevailing argument in this issue is that the government may take these funds away at any time they wish. There is no mandate that forces these two institutions to financially assist one another. The government provides assistance to schools and hospitals that undeniably promote good, both religiously and civically.

The unshakable bottom line, regardless of all else and all accusations, is that the president is requiring the Catholic Church’s institutions to pay and cover practices they religiously view as a sin of murder.

One would hope that a progressive society such as ours would respect this view, like it or not.

This issue is not about abortion or contraception. Individual views on abortion or contraception should not matter. This is an issue of a religious belief, and while the president is to be commended for attempting to compromise, there is very little room for compromise when it comes to Constitutional rights.

The evangelical protest against Obama’s mandate is a testament to the fact that all who hold our constitution and its first amendment dear should stand up to this regulation as oppressive, illegal and wrong.

Luke Glaser is an English junior and the Kernel’s feature editor. Email lglaser@kykernel.com.

Nolan Jackson

This time, however, it is with the heaviest of hearts.

Yesterday evening, our student body suffered the loss of one of its own. Alex Ehr, 19 – diagnosed just six months ago – lost his battle with cancer. By all accounts, Alex possessed considerable presence. His academic and extracurricular merits testify to steadfast leadership and positive ambition. Alex has been recognized as outgoing, devoted, enlightening, and encouraging. His passing is a tragic loss to the Greek community and university student body.

As our Wildcat family copes, I humbly ask three things: 1) That you reach out to Alex’s friends and brothers of Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity to embrace and console as they grieve; 2) That, henceforth, you cherish each waking moment, for sudden loss is a reminder of how tragically and decidedly our circumstances can change; and 3) That you continue to celebrate efforts like DanceBlue, and when you dance in just a few days, remember that this year, your support is especially meaningful.

Nolan Jackson is the Interfraternity Council president. Email opinions@kykernel.com.

The fact that the university still relies on such outdated technology is nothing short of ridiculous, and it’s past time we recognized the harmful effects this situation has for our campus, community and environment.  A phenomenal new report from Dr. Shannon Bell’s sociology class details some of the harmful effects of these coal-fired power plants: soot collected from on-campus parking garages was found to contain arsenic, cadmium, cobalt and other carcinogens.  Needless to say, this is not good.

While Kentucky is certainly a coal state (one need look no farther than the Wildcat Coal Lodge for proof of coal’s influence on our university), this historical legacy hardly precludes the need for modern-day solutions.  The report suggests a number of steps that the university can take right away to begin addressing these issues, including signing a nationwide pledge to commit to more environmentally friendly policies (which almost 700 other universities have already done) and conducting feasibility studies to look at both alternative energy solutions and funding sources to make them happen.

It’s obviously unrealistic to think that the boilers could be switched off tomorrow, and no one is asking for that.  But the process of finding alternative means for heating our homes and powering our campus is certainly a challenge we’re capable of meeting.  Many schools in our region have already committed to substantially reducing their environmental impact and are leading the move toward a truly sustainable energy future.  The University of Louisville has committed to reach climate neutrality by 2050 and already has stopped burning coal on campus.  Ball State has found affordable ways to introduce geothermal power on campus, substantially reducing their energy consumption.  If UK truly aspires to be a top-flight academic institution, how can we go on ignoring such a fundamental part of our world’s future when other schools in our region have proven that such solutions do exist?

The continued operation of these coal-fired boilers is antithetical to the nature of this university’s mission, which is supposed to be home to some of the brightest minds and most creative thinkers in the state.  Given the overwhelming evidence against coal — the destruction of mountains, the rise of global temperatures, the release of these toxins into our environment — it’s beyond time we begin to consider the alternatives.

Sam Beavin is a chemistry sophomore. Email opinions@kykernel.com.

Moreover, I never realized the dire need for dedicated teachers. As a child, my dreams were encouraged and education was promoted as the means to obtain any of my adolescent fantasies.

Graduating high school and continuing my education at a university was a not only an expectation, but virtually a guarantee. My hometown, Lexington, Ky., ranks 10th among the Census Bureau’s American Community
Survey’s list of most educated cities, with 39.5 percent of residents having at least a bachelor’s degree.

Data by the 2000 Census Bureau on incomes shows the median income for year-round full-time workers with a bachelor’s degree is $42,877, twice as much as high school dropouts, who on average earn only $21,332.

The ideal that highly educated people will develop better economically abides as a truth. Yet in our society economic success is not dependent solely upon educational merits. One’s socioeconomic status also contributes to educational success rates.

A 2010 study by University of California -Santa Barbara reveals that 60 percent of upper class students complete college, compared to only 7 percent of lower class students — a ratio of more than 8 to 1.

Drive two hours east of Lexington toward Appalachia and slowly the view of mansions, manicured lawns and glamorous horse farms fades, replaced with trailers, Dollar Marts and decrepit strip malls. Poverty in the 49 counties residing in Appalachia is not considered a mere circumstance, but a simple reality.

Of the total U.S. population, only 13.3 percent live in poverty. In Kentucky’s Appalachia Region, 16.1 percent of the total population lives in poverty, earning a median personal income per capita of $15,883. In Owsley County, distinct for having the highest poverty rate in the Mid-Appalachia region, 40.9 percent of the total population lives in poverty.

Only two hours away from one of the most educated cities in the U.S. is a community structure believing the relationship between education and wealth is strictly endogenous — where the youthful strive for a new life most often returns to regression.

A 2004 Appalachian Regional Commission study reported that in 2000 every county in the Kentucky Appalachia Region had a higher percentage of adults, 23.2 percent, with less than a high school diploma than the rest of the U.S. combined, at 19.2 percent.

In the region, higher education is not viewed as the pathway leading to the gates of success, as I was raised to believe. Most high school graduates do not continue their education. The current college attendance are 63.3 percent nationwide, while only 35 to 55 percent of Appalachian high school graduates go directly into post-secondary education.

In Appalachia, and nationwide, higher education and wealth is seen as a perpetual societal pendulum — those with a higher education use it to obtain wealth, those with wealth use it to obtain a higher education — that cannot be disaggregated.

But the pendulum must stop, perceptions must change and the achievement gap must diminish.

As a society, we must begin changing our conversations. Every student deserves the privilege of knowing that graduating college is a viable reality — of knowing that one’s ability to learn does not correlate to one’s economic status.

Kentucky must invest in providing not only the best education to every student, but providing hope and encouragement that we all can achieve our dreams. We must eliminate the acceptance of an impoverished lifestyle. We must end the achievement gap.

I never wanted to be a teacher — but now I truly understand why. The life of a teacher consists of motivating students who have been raised to believe they will not succeed, of inspiring students who have little faith in their own future to strive for greatness; it is the most important job there is — and it is crucial that it is pursued, honored and supported statewide.

Eva McEnrue is a journalism senior and the Kernel’s opinion editor. Email emcenrue@kykernel.com.