kentuckykernel
Thursday, September 30, 2021 est. 1892 | Independent since 1971 www.kykernel.com @kykernel @kentuckykernel
Debate: Abortion and vaccine mandates | 12
news
4 Back to in-person learning
news
Student employment during COVID-19
5
sports
11
Game preview: Across the (By)Line
2 | kentucky kernel
Thursday, September 30, 2021
Humans of UK:
kentuckykernel
Annalei Canter travels outside her comfort zone By Sophia Shoemaker news@kykernel.com
This is Humans of UK, inspired by the Humans of New York Instagram series by photographer and author Brandon Stanton. This series dives into the individuals of UK as well as their stories, strifes and passions. Freshman fashion merchandising major Annalei Canter has lived in several states and countries throughout her life, and she is working to meet new people in her newest home at UK. Canter was born in Chongqing, a municipality in central China, and was adopted at 12 months old. She lived in Georgia with her parents and four siblings, one of whom was also adopted from China. She came to UK knowing nobody, and she said since she grew up in a big, tight-knit family, being at UK was an entirely different experience. “I love my family so much, so being away has been hard at times, but I was also excited to experience new things,” Canter said.
JACK WEAVER | STAFF Annalei Canter poses for a photo on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, at the Gatton Student Center in Lexington, Kentucky.
In order to meet people, Canter said she just “walks up to random people and starts talking.” She also often plays piano in the student center, and can play with her eyes closed, arms crossed, and even turned around backwards. “I learned to play piano when I was six,” Canter said. “I taught myself
and I play by ear.” Canter prioritized both education and campus activities when choosing a college, and she is currently a member of the Delta Zeta sorority at UK. “I wanted a bigger school that had a good reputation in academics, a big social community and a big panhellenic community,” she said.
Though Canter described herself as an “outgoing person,” she said going to an out-ofstate college where she knew no one was “a big adjustment.” “My life at UK in the beginning was a bit rough. I struggled,” she said. “That didn’t stop me from putting myself out there and really pushing to meet new people, and I have already made some really good friends. Being in Delta Zeta has also helped me meet amazing people.” Despite the rocky start and her homesickness, Canter is adjusting well and said she loves being on UK’s “cute and diverse” campus. “I love the city of Lexington. I’ve always liked to hear the cars and the busy streets when I wake up, and having people everywhere is an aesthetic that reminds me of being at home. I also love how safe I feel on UK’s campus,” Canter said. “Even though I do miss my family, it’s been going great so far. I can’t wait to meet even more people and have more new and fun experiences my freshman year.”
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MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF Senior Ethan Wallace gives his opening speech on abortion for the Democratic side during the Abortion and Vaccine Mandate Debate between UK College Democrats and College Republicans on Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021, at the Gatton Student Center in Lexington, Kentucky.
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Thursday, September 30, 2021
news
UK students and faculty share excitements, concerns over return to in-person learning By Abbey Cutrer news@kykernel.com
UK has been back in-person for months and students and professors are still adjusting from the flexibility of at-home learning. With mostly in-person classes and events happening physically on campus, students are no longer able to roll out of bed and into their desk chairs to attend online classes. The increased commute to class is a complete flip for students and professors alike. “Walking to classes is a lot when the weather sucks,” said Jordan Russell, a freshman Arts & Sciences major. The switch is a shock to students like junior psychology student Camille Harn, who said they have a lot of mixed feelings on the return to in person classes. “I personally like having school in person, but the transition from online to in-person is like being thrown into ice-cold water, the deep end,” Harn said. “While I enjoy school in-person, I know there’s a lot of risk for COVID, especially with how high cases are. I feel confident in my vaccine that I won’t get super sick, though.” Many students, like freshman biology major Taylor Bailey, find it easier to learn through in-person classes and are grateful for their return. “I struggled with grades in high school when we were virtual, so being in person really helps me learn,” Bailey said. “I feel like there’s a way to stay safe if people wear masks and listen to the university’s guidelines.” Freshman Sophie Kelley agreed, saying she is “relieved” to have classes on campus. “Being online stressed me out, and I couldn’t focus,” she said. “I’m glad we have masks; I would feel unsafe if we didn’t.” UK has taken measures to combat the
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MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF University of Kentucky students gather in the Gatton College of Business and Economics building during the first day of classes on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, in Lexington, Kentucky.
existing concern of COVID-19, including requiring both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals to wear masks indoors. In August, UK began requiring weekly COVID-19 testing for unvaccinated faculty, staff and students. There are consequences for not following these guidelines. After the first missed testing period, students will have a hold placed on their accounts, preventing them from registering from classes. Faculty and staff will be sent a letter, with their supervisors copied, after their first missed testing period. The consequences continue to increase through four weeks, ending with a potential interim suspension for students and unpaid administrative leave until fully vaccinated or the four weekly testing periods are completed for faculty and staff. Freshman finance major Ashton Roe accepts the safety masks provide, but also said they can make things difficult.
“In classes that require communication, it’s difficult with masks, but I understand the reasoning,” Roe said. “It is just hard to have conversations in certain classes, and the thought of a hybrid schedule takes away from one of the sides [of discussions], Zoom or in-person.” Additionally, COVID is still a source of anxiety in students’ lives, including freshman computer engineering major Cameron Webne. “Some days when people cough or sniffle, I get nervous,” Webne said. Russell shares this anxiety; though he is not struggling in his classes, he believes their modality may change again. “When I hear people coughing in class, I think we might go back [to being] virtual,” he said. Dr. Michelle Sizemore, a professor in the Department of English in the College of Arts and Sciences, said she never got ac-
customed to online instruction, especially in her discussion-based classes. “We had a pretty good thing going on with small groups, and it felt effortless,” she said. “As soon as we went on Zoom, it became a lot harder for everyone, both in terms of the medium … [and] also because of what everyone was grappling with being sent home, not knowing what was coming.” Sizemore said she is appreciating the return to the community she has built with her students. “I think there’s a palpable excitement and energy from the students,” she said. “I think that they’re enjoying this experience.” Like Sizemore, Jeorg Sauer, a senior lecturer in French and Francophone studies, is happy about the return. “I support in-person classes wholeheartedly. I think that [being] online works in certain situations and certain contexts, but human beings want to learn with other people,” Sauer said. “When you do attend class, you actually learn because your brain has feedback. It has facial expressions, and there are other people to talk about things with.” However, Sauer is another UK faculty member who has reservations about the health risks of a return to in-person classes. “My issue, at the moment, in present circumstances has to do with health and safety,” she said. “[The return] should not be at the expense of any one single human being under any circumstance, because we don’t know what everyone’s experiences are.” Sauer has an 11-year-old daughter, who, due to her age, is still ineligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. “I don’t want to carry that risk to her, and I don’t want to carry that risk to any of my students who might have similar circumstances or difficulties, because it’s just . not equitable,” she said.
Thursday, September 30, 2021
news
The state of student employment during COVID-19 By Kaleb Littleton news@kykernel.com
While COVID-19 has affected Americans’ lives for almost two years, the job market has been hit especially hard. UK is responding by implementing measures to protect its workers. Last year’s lockdown and the high number of infections across the U.S. have caused issues for young people who are working or seeking employment. In October, the Economic Policy Institute estimated that those between the ages of 16 and 24 were hit hardest during the pandemic, due in part to being ineligible for some of the stimulus payments and working in industries most affected by COVID-19. UK took steps to assist employees affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and further support them financially in May 2021. Following efforts from the United Campus Workers union to improve working conditions for UK employees, the university announced it would increase its minimum wage to $15 an hour and provide a 2 percent merit increase on Jan. 1, 2022. At the same time, UK announced childcare provisions if one or both parents are sick, in addition to $1,000 bonuses for some employees. However, customer service employees face other, non-financial difficulties, such as having to readjust to in-person work. On Sept. 25, UK president Eli Capilouto announced UK will require vaccinations for employees; however, protection against COVID-19 is not the only factor student employees have to consider when returning to jobs. Another issue is travel. Students did not have to allocate time for when working and attending classes remotely. “One of the biggest challenges impacting currently employed students is the ability to have flexibility in their work,” said Sadie Barton, a senior employment consultant with UK. “Due to the nature of the
work, many student positions require the employee to be present, in-person during specific times.” Barton said returning to in-person work after a long period of working remotely can negatively affect student employees’ well-being. “Students are having to manage … not only with their work obligations, but also their academics,” Barton said. “Although some of these changes can be welcomed, they can also increase stress and anxiety.” Returning to in-person operations also raises the question of when and where people should wear masks. Over the summer, Kentucky lifted and re-instated several mask mandates. The most recent change, on Sept. 10, saw Kentucky lawmakers vote to scrap a statewide mask mandate in public schools. Despite this, UK has maintained the universal mask requirement it established in August; everyone, regardless of vaccination status, must wear masks while inside UK buildings. These changes place an additional responsibility on employees: making sure their customers wear masks. In several student workplaces on campus, the mandate hasn’t caused many issues. For example, everyone is fairly COVID-conscious at the Cornerstone gaming lounge, student worker and junior computer engineering major Leni Broady said. “Usually, it’s not a problem,” Broady said. “If someone doesn’t come in with a mask, we tell them to put on a mask, or we give them one. There’s not many issues with that.” Kaley Wolfe, a junior kinesiology major who works at the NuHealth food store in the Gatton Student Center, and Ariana Spencer, a freshman education major who works for UK Dining, have had similar experiences. “Everyone’s been following the rules, which is nice,” Spencer said.
JACK WEAVER | STAFF Kayla Holleran, a senior accounting major and UK Bookstore employee, hangs merchandise on Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, at the UK Bookstore in Lexington, Kentucky.
It’s not always easy, though. Junior accounting major Nathan Stroud and senior accounting major Kayla Holleran, coworkers at the UK Bookstore, said that while compliance has been good overall, enforcement can be difficult at times. Stroud said that while it took a while to readjust to the reinstalled mandate and some customers still do not wear masks in the bookstore, “that’s to be expected.” Holleran said she doesn’t think it’s as hard as an outside retail job would be, and that all things considered, the bookstore does a good job maintaining cleanliness and compliance. “I haven’t noticed anything ridiculous,” Stroud said. “There are of course those who won’t comply, or want something to be in person when we can’t offer it that way. Retail is retail, customer service is customer service.” Across the Gatton Student Center, the Alumni Gym has had a tougher time. One of the gym’s employees, kinesi-
ology major Courtney Williams, said she has had “pushback with following the guidelines with masks.” These guidelines have changed over the past year, from a requirement to wear masks at all times, to the current rules that allow patrons to remove their masks only when actively exercising. Several months into the reopening process, mask mandate compliance is only one of the problems employers and employees face. Meg Brennan, student worker at the Gatton Student Center Auntie Anne’s, said that when she was hired a month ago, UK seemed “pretty desperate” for her to come in. UK Spokesperson Jay Blanton said that there are many student worker jobs currently available, especially in areas like UK Dining and the UK Bookstore. “These jobs offer good pay and good work experience for our students,” Blanton said. “I can’t quantify the numbers, but we are not unlike a lot of institutions and companies right now that need more workers for important jobs.”
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Thursday, September 30, 2021
CHARGES DROPPED AGAINST
The six UK football players are reported to retur immediately following the dismissed burglary ch
Story by Hunter Shelton and Barkley Truax Photos by Michael Clubb
Kentucky football players Earnest Sanders IV, JuTahn McClain, and Joel Williams (left to right) leave the Fayette County District Courthouse after their preliminary hearing on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021, in downtown Lexington, Kentucky.
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Thursday, September 30, 2021
T PLAYERS
rn to practice harges
Scan here to see a statement from Mark Stoops about the six Kentucky football players during a press conference on Sept. 28.
C
harges have been dropped against six University of Kentucky football players, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader. R.J Adams, JuTahn McClain, Andru Phillips, Earnest Sanders IV, Vito Tisdale and Joel Williams all had first-degree burglary charges dismissed against them by a Fayette County grand jury on Tuesday. A wanton endangerment charge that was filed against Tisdale was also dropped. “Nobody believed it would go this far,” head coach Mark Stoops said after practice Tuesday afternoon. “We’re glad to welcome the players back to the team [and] to be eligible to play this weekend.” All six players who were indicted in August are reportedly permitted to return to practice immediately. “Part of that was we knew they had a hearing coming up and wanted to give them time to get back into shape, [and] to get the acquisition period back under their belt,” Stoops said. Per NCAA rule, athletes must practice eight full days with no live tackling in helmets and shoulder pads before they’re allowed to participate in full pads at practice. “They’re definitely back,” Stoops said about the six players being behind the rest of the team. “I noticed it today. We’re excited to get them back; I’ve been watching them, but they definitely need a lot of reps. They were back last week knowing they weren’t going to play. With game speed, game reps — I don’t know how fast that can happen,” Stoops said we’ll have to see about whether or not those six see the field this Saturday against Florida.
Kentucky football player Vito Tisdale leaves the Fayette County District Courthouse after the players' preliminary hearing on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021, in downtown Lexington, Kentucky.
The report comes following a tweet from BBN Tonight’s Anna Tarullo on Monday night that stated the six players were allowed back at practice. The initial police report stated that an incident took place at a Lexington residence on March 6 which saw three individuals enter a private fraternity party uninvited. Once asked to leave, the subjects threatened to return. Later that night, they returned with other individuals, forcing their way into the residence. Court documents obtained by the Associated Press claim that a “physical altercation” took place, leaving multiple people injured. The UK Office of Student Conduct cleared the players in June, but the burglary charges were still filed against them on Aug. 19. All six players pleaded not guilty at arraignment on Aug. 20 and waived their preliminary hearing on Aug. 26. “I’m glad the truth has finally come out as my fabricated charges have been dropped,” Adams tweeted. The players had been held from team activities since UK learned of the players’ involvement in the incident. “I appreciate the University, Dr. Capilouto and Mitch Barnhart,” Stoops said. “We stuck by our players and we believed in them and believed that at the end of this process, they’ll be exonerated.”
“ Nobody believed it
would go this far. We’re glad to welcome the players back to the team [and] to be eligible to play this weekend. ” - MARK STOOPS
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Thursday, September 30, 2021
news
Professor Carol Chavez speaks on American logistic faults in Afghanistan withdrawal By Ryan Brokamp news@kykernel.com
The last few weeks of the news have been dominated by accounts of the Taliban retaking control of Afghanistan in the midst of American military departure. Stories of Afghan salons vacating their properties, prospective soccer players falling from planes leaving Kabul and interpreters left behind fearing capture combined to form a bleak perception of U.S. involvement in Afghanistan. The images associated with these articles include the Taliban reenacting the Imo Jima flag raising in American equipment and air bases left full of planes and helicopters. These depictions provide a glimpse of how a hurried withdrawal can lead to a peculiar situation where a former adversary of the United States is now using American weapons. Carol Chavez, a lecturer in supply chain at the Gatton College of Business and Economics, offers a unique perspective in the matter of military logistics. Prior to
Chavez’ time lecturing at UK, she spent 20 years in the United States Air Force and worked in the private sector for companies such as Capital One and the McKesson Corporation. “In the military, being able to get the supplies and equipment to the theaters is critical to life, whereas being able to ensure that you get your products to the marketplace rarely involves people’s lives,” Chavez said. With human lives on the line, the military is required to use rigorous processes to ensure their equipment doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. However, Chavez said no amount of serial number tracking can protect against situations caused in the chaos of war. “In order to operate overseas, you have to have civilian personnel who are local nationals working with you,” she said. The need to rely on foreign civilians creates a high risk of damage and theft. Civilians who have no loyalty to the United States are more likely to sell equipment on the black market or give it directly to
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adversaries, according to Chavez. This can be seen by the manner in which Afghan police left armories filled with U.S. weapons unattended while the Taliban closed in. She said the truth of the matter is that evacuating a warzone is a complicated and often imperfect endeavor. “When you are evacuating a losing situation, you just can’t get it all,” Chavez said about the military’s efforts in recovering equipment used in deployments. Dire circumstances, such as an enclosing enemy force, can often cause the military to rush procedures, according to Chavez. “Normally, during peacetime, there is a very specific process that we go through to make sure we are getting the most value out of equipment in use,” she said, but when those processes fail, the results can be dangerous. According to an article by the Wall Street Journal, the Taliban has seized up to 600,000 small arms, 76,000 vehicles and 208 airplanes. While U.S. forces tried to disable as many as they could, the Taliban
flew an abandoned U.S. Black Hawk helicopter over Kandahar earlier this September. While this is a discomforting sight to a nation that spent the last 20 years engaged in a war with the Taliban, it should not become a national security concern, Chavez said. As a former Air Force supply officer, she understands what it takes to maintain military aircraft; the logistics needed to maintain and support an air force are “intense,” she said. “When you are ensuring aircraft are ready to fly and fight, the type of manufacturing done is considered make-to-order,” Chaves said, going on to explain how replacement parts are produced specifically to repair issues when they arise. Because of the complexities involved in maintaining a collection of aircraft, Chavez said the Taliban could make more practical use of their captures by selling them to a country with an existing air force. See FAULTS on page 12
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Thursday, September 30, 2021
sports
Kentucky Swimming and Diving prepares for the 2021-22 season By Barkley Truax sports@kykernel.com
The horn sounded on the 2021-22 Kentucky Swimming and Diving season Friday afternoon for the annual Blue and White meet. Family, friends and fans all showed out to pack the Lancaster Aquatic Center in anticipation for another historic and eventful season where we saw some ‘Cat on ‘Cat action. The meet featured competitive swimming events and convoluted diving combinations while their teammates’ cheers echoed over the splashing water in the pool throughout the afternoon. Last season was one for the history books as Kentucky’s women’s team captured the first SEC championship in program history. Their 1,124 points in the championship meet bested their previous record-high of 987.5 and brought home three gold medals at the tournament. Lauren Poole (400 IM) and Riley Gaines (200 free) won individual SEC gold. Gaines doubled her gold medal count by winning another gold with Kentucky’s 800 freestyle team composed of Gaines, Izzy Gati, Kaitlynn Wheeler and Sophie Sorenson. Kentucky also won three silver medals and six bronze and have high hopes to follow that up this season. "We're excited to get the season underway, and we have a competitive schedule this year that will expose the team to high-level talent to prepare them for the SEC and NCAA Championships," head coach Lars Jorgensen said. "The women are ready for the challenge of defending their conference title, and the men are eager to continue moving up the rankings as we compete at the highest level." While the women blew their competition out of the water at the SEC Tournament last season, the men were no slouch either. The men’s team also scored their best point total ever at the meet with 759 — 35 points better than their previous best. The score
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JACK WEAVER | STAFF Kentucky swimmers compete in the Blue and White Meet on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, at the Lancaster Aquatic Center in Lexington, Kentucky.
marked the fifth consecutive year that the men have broken their previous point total record at the SEC tournament. Kentucky returns 29 of the 35 point scorers from the men’s and women’s teams from last season, including all eight women’s freestyle competitors — those 29 amassed 1,133 of the 1,433 regular season points in 2020-21. On top of the wide variety of returners back in Lexington for the 2021-22 season, the freshman class is one of the most highly-touted to come through Kentucky in a while. Louisville-native Meredith Bauer, Megan Ciezczak and Kaelan Daly on the
women’s side and Michael Belair, Nick Caruso and Victor Martin Roig for the men lead the incoming class for this season. “We're excited to welcome this freshman class to Lexington," said Jorgensen. "The coaching staff is eager to see them step up and stand out on Friday at the intrasquad meet, which will be an excellent opportunity for the newcomers to compete for travel spots and conference team selections." Kentucky doesn’t have to worry about rust for their top swimmers and divers. Nine different swimmers qualified for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials over the summer
where Sorenson (100 and 200M back) and Gillian Davey (200M breast) advanced to the semifinals in their respective events. Three divers also qualified for the Trials — Chase Lane ended up a finalist in the 10M platform while Kyndal Knight qualified for the semifinals of the one-meter springboard event. Despite not having a swimmer qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, to have 12 of their swimmers/divers compete against the best competition in the country is something that can’t be understated and is an experience that can only prepare them even more for the upcoming season.
Thursday, September 30, 2021
Across the (By)Line: Florida Gators
By Hunter Shelton sports@kykernel.com
Kentucky
The “Across the (By) Line” series will give Kentucky football fans an indepth look at their opponent for this week — from the mind of the opposing school’s sports editor. This week: Michael Hull, The Alligator, Florida. Do you think QB Emory Jones has turned a new leaf following his first two performances of the season?
Michael: Yes I do. Since his interception in the Alabama game, it’s been six and a half quarters or so, he’s been a completely different quarterback. He’s completed 30 of 41 passes for 328 yards and two touchdowns, while running for 187 yards and a touchdown on 27 attempts. He’s been efficient, he’s looked decisive, which is a big thing with him. Early on, against Florida Atlantic and South Florida and early against Alabama, he looked a step slow. He was very hesitant to make throws, he was very slow, even on his scrambles, which was surprising because that’s what he does best. But that second half against Bama and against Tennessee, like I said he looked efficient, decisive, all the things you want a
sports
JACK WEAVER | STAFF Kentucky quarterback Will Levis (7) scrambles with the ball during the University of Kentucky vs. South Carolina football game on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina.
quarterback to look like. Will Anthony Richardson be fully available for Florida on Saturday? How often will he be on the field?
Michael: Yes. Dan Mullen (UF head coach) said after the Tennessee win that Anthony was close to 100 percent, they wanted him to stay in that emergency backup role last week just to make sure that everything was good, but Mullen said that Richardson should be full-go from here on out. I do think he will be a complimentary
option, I think he’ll come in, be that change of pace from Emory for a few reps here and there and try to create some explosive plays because that’s what he’s been doing best. He has three touchdowns over 70 yards this season and he’s only played in two games. He’s top 10 in the SEC in rushing yards, he creates the big plays, he jump starts the offense, so he could definitely see the field some. I wouldn’t expect it to be very much, though. Will Florida be prepared for their first big road
game of the season?
Michael: It’ll be interesting to see. UF hasn’t had a true road game yet, technically South Florida was a road game but there were many more Florida fans in that crowd than USF fans, it was basically a Gator home game. It will be a good test for Jones to see where he’s at. I personally think he’ll be fine, he’s played on the road before, it’s not like he’s a freshman. As far as jitters for the rest of the team, it’s a pretty experienced group. I think Mullen will have See ACROSS on page 12
Stats:
• Offense- 31 points per game, 16 touchdowns, 1763 total yards, 440 yards per game, 11 turnovers • Will Levis- 66-101, 902 yards, 7 TD’s, 5 INT’s, 23 rushes, 67 yards, one TD • Wan’Dale Robinson- 25 rec, 402 yards, 16.08 yards per reception, 2 TD’s • Josh Ali- 16 rec, 233 yards, 14.56 yards per reception, 1 TD • Chris Rodriguez Jr- 85 rushes, 513 yards, 6 yards per carry, 3 TD’s • Defense- Jones, 24 tackles (13 solo,) 1 INT; Square, 24 tackles (18 solo,) 1 sack; Weaver, 3.5 sacks
Florida • Offense- 36 points per game, 20 touchdowns, 2163 total yards, 540 yards per game, 6 turnovers • Quarterback- Emory Jones- 70-104, 668 yards, 4 TD’s, 5 INT’s, 57 rushes, 375 yards, 2 TD’s; Anthony Richardson- 6-11, 192 yards, 2 TD’s, 11 rushes, 275 yards, 2 TD’s • Jacob Copeland- 10 rec, 232 yards, 23.20 yards per reception, 2 TD’s • Malik Davis- 41 rushes, 257 yards, 6.3 yards per carry, 3 TD’s • Dameon Pierce- 26 rushes, 172 yards, 6.6 yards per carry, 5 TD’s • Defense- Dean III, 26 tackles (11 solo,) 0.5 sacks; Diabate, 26 tackles (8 solo;) Carter, 4.5 sacks, 7 tackles for loss fall 2021 |11
Thursday, September 30, 2021
news ACROSS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11
them confident and ready to go. You could see some false start penalties here and there, especially along the offensive line that’s a bit banged up right now, especially if the Kentucky crowd shows out like I’m assuming they probably will. Will defensive coordinator Todd Grantham prepare his defense differently for Liam Coen’s offense?
Michael: I hope so. I think it would be effective for him to do so. I don’t think that he will. They’ve played well so far this year, give them credit. Grantham needs to do something especially on third down defense, which has been his Achilles heel as a defensive coordinator. That was a big part of why they lost to Alabama, so I will say that’s an area that Kentucky could potentially expose. Does the UK vs UF rivalry mean as much to Florida as it does to Kentucky?
Michael: I don’t know if it means as much as the rivalry against Georgia or Florida State or maybe even Tennessee, but that rivalry is still there. Whenever it’s an SEC opponent, that fire and hatred for the other team is going to be there, which will make Saturday really interesting. The rivalry, from my perspective, is a tier below Georgia and Tennessee, but Kentucky is right there.
12 | kentucky kernel
College Republicans and Democrats bring issues of 2021 politics to UK By Ryan Brokamp news@kykernel.com
On Sept. 28, 2021, the UK College Republicans and College Democrats met in the Gatton Student Center Senate Chamber for their first in a series of debates. They were also joined by UK’s political science honor society, Pi Sigma Alpha. The debate kicked off with remarks from moderator Benjamin Neal, a senior member of Pi Sigma Alpha, who welcomed the attendees and introduced the participants. The College Democrats were represented by University of Kentucky sophomore Jack Dugan and senior Ethan Wallace. On the other side of the table sat Jacob Patterson, chair of the College Republicans, and Samantha Sholtz, vice president of Pro-Life Wildcats. The debate centered on the pro-life vs. pro-choice conflict, the separation of church and state and vaccine mandates. Questions were presented to members of each side, who offered their group’s stance before their opponents cross-examined them.
The bulk of the testimonies revolved around the contradiction abortion causes between Republicans’ support of a child’s right to life and Democrats’ protection of a woman’s right to liberty. Although the groups’ opinions conflicted, they were able to find common ground in their desire to reduce the harm unexpected pregnancies have on women. The crest of the debate came after Neal asked if “states should be able to enact legislation that directly contradicts federal cases or statutes.” As an example, he brought up the recently passed Texas Senate Bill 8, a piece of legislation that bans abortions past approximately six weeks of pregnancy. Wallace and Patterson used the question as a platform to give their party’s perspective on the pro-life vs. pro-choice argument. The pro-choice movement focused on the idea that abortion restrictions limit women’s personal autonomy. “It is a woman’s unalienable right to govern her own body,” Wallace said. He supported his assertion by citing case law favoring the legal-
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All things considered, Chavez does not consider the lost equipment to be much of an issue for the United States. “Our presence in Afghanistan was more of an issue than our withdrawal from Afghanistan,” Chavez said, as she saw the war as a drain on the country’s resources. During her time in active duty, Chavez spent time in South Korea and was familiar with the military’s plans to evacuate all US civilians in the event of an invading force. She
ity of Roe v. Wade and stressing the need to reexamine political ethics in the 21st century. The Democrats continued to emphasize that abortion is required to ensure that women and children will will not become stuck in a cycle of poverty in the absence of an adequate welfare, childcare and foster system. The Republicans approached the issue in a much more personal manner.“Just because the people in black robes make an opinion about what is legal says nothing about whether it is moral or it should happen,” Patterson said. Patterson referenced judicial rulings from infamous human rights cases, such as those made in Dred Scott v. Sandford, Buck v. Bell and Korematsu v. U.S., to support his point. Patterson went on to counter the Democrats’ criticism of the state’s childcare system by referencing Kentucky Republicans’ efforts this year to reform child-placing agencies with House Bill 524, a bill relating to the rights of child-placing agencies and child-caring facilities. As the debate proceeded, the panelists continued to exchange
said that “the non-combatant evacuation operation (in Afghanistan) went as good as it could go,” but she also recognized that withdrawing as a loser in a war is extremely hard. Chavez’ perspective on the complexities of leaving a warzone leads to a better understanding of why U.S. equipment is being used by a former enemy. Going to war involves a great quantity of resources, which can’t always be successfully recovered or secured by allied forces before leaving. Developing armed forces often use captured enemy weapons to equip their soldiers, and the new Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is no exception. Years of guerilla warfare have
contrary views on the role religious organizations play in the political process and the ability of the government to regulate citizens’ medical care. The entirety of the evening’s events can be viewed on the UK College Democrats’ Instagram page. While the debate was a chance for the opposing sides to challenge the other’s rhetoric, bipartisanship was a focal point of the night. Representatives from the College Democrats offered to assist all members of the audience in registering to vote and College Republicans provided the crowd with refreshments. The debate series is planned to continue with new topics as they drift into the national spotlight. Neal concluded the event by thanking the clubs and audience for their engagement in civil dialogue. “I think it’s a beautiful thing that happened tonight,” Neal said. “This is a great example of how even though four people disagree, they can all sit down and reasonably disagree without fighting, screaming or bashing anyone personally.”
already organized the tribes of the country into a cohesive military force. However, the newly formed government will have major setbacks establishing the logistical support necessary to use the equipment that was left in Afghanistan. Chavez illustrates the Taliban’s inability to maintain their equipment by comparing it to survivors on AMC’s show The Walking Dead. In the show, the further the group survives past the collapse of society, the less they are able to maintain their modern day equipment. They get to the point they don’t have the ability to repair and reload their weapons and can no longer use them. Chavez suggests that “eventually, the same will happen to the Taliban.”