kentuckykernel
Thursday, November 18, 2021 est. 1892 | Independent since 1971 www.kykernel.com @kykernel @kentuckykernel
'Defenders of democracy.' UK hosts State of First Amendment Address | 2 news
features
Black Friday shopping during COVID
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5 Curtain opens on UK theater
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Reflecting on Thanksgiving as a college student
Thursday, November 18, 2021
news
UK College of Communication and Information hosts 2021 State of the First Amendment Address
By Rayleigh Deaton and Audrey Fones news@kykernel.com
The University of Kentucky College of Communication and Information hosted the annual State of the First Amendment Address on Wednesday, Nov. 17, featuring an address reinforcing journalists’ rights to report without restrictions from the government. The address focused on the Kentucky Kernel’s win in May 2021 against the University of Kentucky in the Kentucky Supreme Court. After UK failed to comply with an open records request from the Kernel regarding a sexual assault accusation against a professor, a legal battle ensued. After a four-year legal battle, the Kernel won the case. The court said that the university “failed to comply with its obligation” under the Kentucky Open Records Act (ORA). Elizabeth Woodward and Tom Miller, the attorneys who defended the Kernel, gave the address. They spoke on the case itself and the rights of journalists, touching on the difference between a journalist’s rights under the First Amendment and their rights to open records. Woodward explained that cases such as the one between the Kernel and the University of Kentucky can result in changes of the ORA. For instance, in summer 2021, the number of days public agencies have to handle requests increased from three to five days, and the law changed to grant only Kentucky residents the ability to request open records. “The Supreme Court held that the university had treated the investigative file as if it were one giant record unable to be separated,” Woodward said on the case. The attorneys also said that access to information from public agents is in the public interest, making open records cases important to the future of journalism. “The most rewarding type of work we do is working with journalists, who are the defenders of democracy,” Miller said. He went on to explain other cases that he had worked on involving other journalism institutions like the Louisville Courier-Journal and the Lexington Herald-Leader.
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MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF A person walks up the ice-covered steps of the Kentucky State Capitol on Friday, Jan. 29, 2021, in Frankfort, Kentucky.
The event also recognized two of the most recent recipients of the James Madison award, an honor given to individuals who championed the public’s right to access information at the national level. The recipients, Benny Ivory and Stan MacDonald, spoke on their experiences as journalists and their time defending the First Amendment. “The First Amendment was under attack during the good old days, and it is today,” MacDonald said. “The First Amendment is sacred, and it should be protected with everything we have, because without it democracy dies.”
The Kernel was the recipient of the James Madison award last year in recognition of its fight for rights under the First Amendment and the ORA. Students, faculty and staff were given a chance to ask the attorneys questions about journalists’ rights and the case at the end of the celebration, including what steps citizens can take to prevent further weakening of the ORA. Miller said that the most important thing people can do is vote. “Remind [elected officials] how much you care about government transparency,” he said.
Thursday, November 18, 2021
Humans of UK:
kentuckykernel
Ben Morrison and Jasper Peeno bring beekeeping to UK By Kaleb Littleton 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. Ben Morrison and Jasper Peeno are buzzing about their new beekeeping club at the University of Kentucky. Morrison, a forestry major, and Peeno, an environmental sciences and natural resources major, are freshmen trying to bring the hobby to UK. The two have a passion for bees and wanted to start beekeeping once they got to college, but they were disappointed that UK did not have any opportunities for them. “We’ve both had a great interest in it but have never had the opportunity, so our first conversation when we got into college was that we should join a beekeeping club, because we thought there would be one here. And then we were like, ‘Oh wait, there isn’t, that sucks,’” Morrison said. “Jasper came to me a couple days later and said we should start the beekeeping club, and now
AMANDA BRAMAN | STAFF Jasper Peeno (left) and Ben Morrison pose for a portrait on Monday, Nov. 15, 2021, at the Gatton Student Center in Lexington, Kentucky.
we’re here.” Though their club is not yet official, Morrison and Peeno have begun the work to register it with UK. They are in the process of drafting a constitution and sending it to their prospective advisor, UK entomology professor Ric Bessin. “[Bessin] has been beekeeping since he was 12, and now he’s 60,” Morrison said. Morrison and Peeno plan to keep their bees at the UK
Horticulture Research Farm, also known as the South Farm. They plan to have an apiary of three hives by spring 2022. “[An] apiary is a beehive, but there’s a lot of them,” Morrison said. “It’s like a farm, basically.” Morrison said his love of nature led to his fascination with bees. “I’ve always just been into environmentalism, and bees are just cool [with] the interactions between the
hives and everyone having a role,” Morrison said. “It’s kind of like ants, but they’re pollinators and extremely important.” Morrison and Peeno aren’t sure what to do with the honey their bees produce. “We’re not too worried about the honey. Once we get situated, then we’ll worry about the honey and the beeswax and all that,” Peeno said. “For now, we’re just worried about taking care of the bees.” Morrison and Peeno also said they hope to expand others’ knowledge about beekeeping, as well as their own. “We kinda just want to have the opportunity to beekeep and to teach others about pollinators and their importance in nature,” Peeno said. Both students were surprised by how much interest their prospective club has gotten, with multiple people interested in joining. They hope that the club will grow and thrive well after their college careers end. “Our biggest expectation would be nine hives, and that would be by our senior years,” Morrison said. “Then we can pass it down to other people and see it continue expanding.”
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JACK WEAVER | STAFF The Kentucky State Capitol on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, in Frankfort, Kentucky.
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Thursday, November 18, 2021
news
UK employees suspended for noncompliance with COVID-19 testing By Kaleb Littleton news@kykernel.com
Twenty-four University of Kentucky employees are on administrative leave for not complying with COVID-19 testing requirements. In August, UK mandated that students and employees who
have not received a COVID-19 vaccine must be tested for the virus once a week. For each week an unvaccinated individual goes without testing, they undergo escalating disciplinary actions. Employees who do not get tested regularly face potential administrative leave without pay and are not eligible for the 2%
merit-based raise. Students who do not get tested risk being unable to register for class or attend social and athletic events. They may also be suspended. UK spokesperson Jay Blanton confirmed that there are 146 students who have not complied for four or more weeks, out of 412 total students who have not com-
plied as of last week. Blanton these numbers are out of the 26,523 students and 20,710 employees who are required to receive a vaccination or test as of Nov. 9. However, he said these cases make up a small percentage of the total campus population. “The numbers who have faced some disciplinary sanction are
very small,” he said. Blanton also said that the community is 90 percent vaccinated, and the majority of those that aren’t get tested every week. As of Nov. 12, UK has a more than 89% rate of vaccination for COVID-19, according to an update from university president Eli Capilouto.
Black Friday in the time of COVID By Alison Walters news@kykernel.com
As COVID-19 continues to loom over us this holiday season, consumers and retail workers are altering their personal regulations in order to create a safe experience for Black Friday on Nov. 26. Some shoppers see the stress of Black Friday and the airborne illness of the coronavirus to amalgamate for the worst. Thus most shoppers this season, much like the last, are relying on the e-commerce experience. “When the big department stores started offering their deals online, I took advantage of it,” avid shopper Jojo Stephens said. “I choose to pay a little more and wait on shipping over what Black Friday has become: a circus. It was completely ridiculous and dreadful.” For those who choose to shop in-person, many big stores, such as Walmart and Target, are doing away with the COVID-19 restrictions seen in Black Friday 2020. Vaccination rates may be going up, but as of November, COVID-19 cases are also slowly but surely increasing. For workers, working in this situation is unavoidable. They must go into work
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dealing with great amounts of crowds in a community where no mask mandate exists except while in a government building. Although there are no Black Friday deals at most coffee shops and fast-food chains, workers still report having increasingly large numbers of customers coming in to fuel themselves for their morning of shopping. Many workers who get called into work during Black Friday say they are ridden with anxiety, not only by the possibility of becoming ill for the holidays, but being within the fast-paced environment. “There’s a lot of pressure to take safety precautions due to COVID but also having the searing eyes of customers stare you down,” Leestown Road Starbucks barista Logan Stivers said. As for retail workers in general merchandise and department stores, some say the weight of the crowd can feel just as unbearable. “Even when I worked on Black Friday last year, a lot of the restrictions that were in place didn’t really stop the crowds and definitely didn't stop me from being stressed my entire seven hour shift,” Nicholasville Road Walmart employee Andre Williams said. “Now, there are no earlier sales prior to Black Friday to try to slow
When the big department stores started offering their deals online, I took advantage of it. I choose to pay a little more and wait on shipping over what Black Friday has become: a circus. It was completely ridiculous and dreadful. - Jojo Stephens the crowd down, so it’s going to be hectic that Friday for sure.” Some people, like UK freshman Noelle Schulkers, worry about the older generation and their underlying health conditions, as well as the potential threat the large Black Friday crowds present to their wellbeing. “I used to go Black Friday shopping with my Nana every year,” Schulkers said. “It was a holiday tradition for us, but when COVID hit, we had to transition from walking into Kohl's to opening our laptops
for the sake of her health. The spirit and rush of it all is definitely condensed, but it makes me feel better knowing we’re probably better off enjoying online deals as more stores post their deals online.” As Lexington mandates from the coronavirus die down, community members are continuing to keep themselves safe by implementing personal safety measures within their workplace, or altering how they celebrate the holiday season to do so in a . healthier way.
Thursday, November 18, 2021
features
The resurgence of UK theater:
Department presents ‘The Laramie Project’ By Anna Byerley news@kykernel.com
After a non-traditional season with a mix of live and pre-recorded performances, the UK theater department is eager to return to a full season of live indoor performances with in-person audiences. During the height of the pandemic last year, the UK Department of Theatre and Dance had a non-traditional season called the Relevant Creativity Series. This series included live and streamed performances that focused on where humanity is as a society and as artists in particular. Last year’s Relevant Creativity Series included two video installation pieces, a musical theater Cabaret and three pre-recorded and streamed plays — two recorded in UK’s Guignol Theatre and the other recorded over Zoom — for the theater. The dance department included two live, in-person concerts, one in the fall in Kroger Field’s Orange Lot and the other in the spring at the Arboretum. “This is not a return, but a resurgence,” Tony Hardin, theater and dance department chair said. “This year we are continuing this trend but returning to more live, in-person events.” Last month, students performed “The Thanksgiving Play” to a live, in-person audience inside the Briggs Theatre in the Fine Arts Building. Later this week, audiences are invited to join the cast in viewing “The Laramie Project” in the Guignol Theatre. Both fall productions rehearsed for approximately five weeks. Safety was always paramount, and several students needed to miss rehearsals due to potential quarantine scares and other COVID-19 stressors. “The students, staff and faculty have met the challenges with, to borrow a phrase from President Capilouto, ‘grit and grace,’” Hardin said. “What we are discovering and leaning into is the idea that this is our new normal, and I am proud of the students, faculty and staff for continuing to create our art forms in this pandemic.” “The Laramie Project” is about the murder of Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming, in Oct. 1998. “Although it is 20-plus years later, the play remains an important reminder of LGBTQ+ rights and issues and is an important platform for our students and the university community,” Nancy Jones, director of “The Laramie Project,” said. The story is told via interviews that the Tectonic The-
MARK CORNELISON | UKPHOTO The Laramie Project on October 29, 2021.
ater company conducted with the Laramie community in the weeks following Matthew’s murder. “This play was very intense and emotional for our students to work on,” Jones said. Physical distancing, mask-wearing and other protocols complicated the traditional rehearsal and production process. “As director, I held auditions for the play in early September, and the 13 members of the cast rehearsed in masks for seven weeks,” Jones said. Due to the university’s continued mask mandate and the important of language to the play, Jones chose to film the play outdoors so that the actors could be unmasked. On Oct. 30, the cast was able to perform “The Laramie
Project” with the costumes and props at the Buckley Wildlife Center right outside of Frankfort, Kentucky. “We did the show under a pavilion, with the bucolic sounds and sights of nature surrounding us,” Jones said. “It was a very moving day.”
The video team is now editing the film, and “The Laramie Project” will be available for audiences to enjoy Nov. 18-20 at the Guignol Theatre at 7:30 p.m. and on Nov. 21 at the Gatton Student Center Cinema at 2 p.m. “This was a very different experience for our actors,” Jones said. “They will be attending the showings next week and are looking forward to engaging with our audience after the show.”
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Thursday, November 18, 2021
Wildcats win conference title, secure first round BYE in NCAA Tournament PHOTOS BY MICHAEL CLUBB I STAFF Kentucky celebrates forward Ben Damge's (27) goal during the University of Kentucky vs. Duquesne men's soccer game on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, at the Bell Soccer Complex in Lexington, Kentucky. By Cole Parke news@kykernel.com
Kentucky men’s soccer defeated Florida Atlantic 2-1 in overtime to win the team’s Conference USA championship on Sunday. The win earned the Wildcats an auto bid to the NCAA Tournament and contributed to the Cats earning a first round BYE and home field advantage as the No. 9 team in the bracket. Despite stumbling late in the regular season with a draw against South Carolina
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and a loss on the road against Charlotte, the Cats dominated the FAU Owls 3-0 in their season finale. Their momentum carried over into the conference tournament as Kentucky shut down Coastal Carolina 3-1 after having tied the Chanticleers in their season opener. The Cats moved on to a second-round matchup against the No. 1 seeded FIU Panthers, another team Kentucky drew in the regular season. In a dominant display, the Wildcats beat the Panthers 3-0 with senior forward Daniel Evans recording two
second half goals in the shutout to punch the Cats’ ticket to the championship game. In the title match, Kentucky once again met the Owls, who were in the midst of a “Cinderella” tournament run, defeating Charlotte with penalty kicks and upsetting Marshall in the semi-finals. The Owls drew first blood, forcing Kentucky to enter the second half trailing for the first time all season, but Marcel Meinzer scored on a penalty kick to tie the game at one and force overtime. Not five minutes through the extra period, Eythor
Bjorgolfsson would score and win the game for the Wildcats, earning himself a tournament offensive MVP award in the process. When the NCAA Tournament bracket was revealed, the Cats heard their name called to be the No. 9 overall seed in the tournament, granting Kentucky a firstround BYE and guaranteeing home-field advantage in the second round. Kentucky was one of four C-USA teams to make the tournament, with Marshall and FIU also earning first-round BYEs, while Charlotte
Thursday, November 18, 2021 will enter the first round. The Wildcats’ first opponent will be the winner between Santa Clara and Akron. Santa Clara boasts an 11-1-4 record, with its lone loss coming against No. 3 Georgetown. The Broncos won the West Coast Conference, finishing undefeated in the WCC. Akron, on the other hand, weighs in at 9-5-3. The Zips enter the tournament following an overtime loss against Western Michigan in the MAC. If Kentucky is able to knock off their second round opponent, the Cats will play either No. 8 Clemson or its opponent,
the winner of a first-round bout between Grand Canyon and Denver. The road to glory would not get any easier if the Wildcats were to make it out of the third round, as they find themselves within the same quadrant as the No. 1 overall seed Oregon State. If the Cats were able to advance further, there would be just two games separating UK from winning their first ever NCAA National Championship. UK’s second-round matchup kicks-off this Sunday, Nov. 21, though the time is TBD. The game can be viewed on ESPN+.
To the right: Kentucky Wildcats forward Ben Damge (27) and midfielder Martin Soereide (16) celebrate after a Damge goal during the University of Kentucky vs. Duquesne men's soccer game on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Kentucky celebrates forward Luke Andrews's (19) goal during the University of Kentucky vs. Duquesne men's soccer game on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021. To the left: Kentucky Wildcats forward Eythor Bjorgolfsson (9) pushes the ball upfield during the University of Kentucky vs. Notre Dame men's soccer game on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021.
To the far left: Kentucky Wildcats forward Marcel Meinzer (8) cheers his team on during the University of Kentucky vs. Notre Dame men's soccer game on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021.
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sports
No. 13 Kentucky improves to 2-1, defeats Mount St. Mary’s 80-55 behind Tshiebwe and Washington By Hunter Shelton sports@kykernel.com
No. 13 Kentucky improved to 2-1 on the season Tuesday night, fighting past the Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers 80-55 in Rupp Arena. The Wildcats were once again paced by Oscar Tshiebwe. The West Virginia transfer finished with 24 points, 16 rebounds, three blocks, an assist and a steal. Through three games, Tshiebwe is averaging 18.3 points and 18.7 rebounds a contest. The big man from the Congo isn’t just lighting it up from under the rim. Tshiebwe knocked down multiple 15-foot jump shots on Tuesday against the Mountaineers, adding yet another layer to his game. “I told you all that he can shoot the ball,” UK head coach John Calipari said about Tshiebwe. Tshiebwe shot 11-14 from the floor against The Mount, improving his field goal percentage to a team best 61 percent. While it’s early into the season, Tshiebwe is well on his way to earning numerous postseason accolades. At six-foot-nine and 255 pounds, Tshiebwe’s size makes him a menace for any fellow forward to guard. “If you hit him and you’re running fast, what do you think is going to happen?” Calipari said. “You hit 255 [pounds,] seven percent body fat, you are going to spin and look like you got smashed.” Mount St. Mary’s head coach Dan Engelstad applauded Tshiebwe’s hustle and rebounding prowess following UK’s victory. “That motor that he has is just different,” Engelstad said. “Averaging 11 of-
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fensive rebounds through two games is no fluke ... he really has a knack for finding the basketball.” TyTy Washington excelled in the first half for Kentucky, pouring in 12 points on 5-6 shooting to go along with two assists. The freshman point guard out of Phoenix finished the game with 16 points, including his first two made 3-pointers of the regular season. Washington also hauled in three rebounds, three assists and a steal. Despite the solid performance, Washington knows that he’s capable of providing much more to his team. “I feel like as the season progresses, as we keep playing these games, keep practicing at a high level … I'm getting more and more comfortable," Washington said. "I know I'll be perfectly fine." Washington’s backcourt partner, Sahvir Wheeler, was once again excellent for the Cats. The Georgia transfer poured in 12 points to go along with his eight assists, which led the team. After allowing seven turnovers against Duke on opening night, Wheeler has given the ball up just one time in his last two outings while dishing out 20 assists. While Kentucky’s scorers excelled, the Cats were able to shut down Malik Jefferson, MSM’s leading scorer and rebounder. UK held the forward to just 4 points on 2-8 shooting and four rebounds. UK exploited a huge weakness for the Mountaineers, the turnover battle. Through MSM’s first three games, The Mount turned the ball over 35 times, averaging 11.7 a contest. The Cats would beat that average, forcing 16 turnovers. The Mount was held to 34% shooting from the field while also missing eight free
MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF Kentucky Wildcats forward Oscar Tshiebwe (34) dunks the ball during the UK vs. Mount St. Mary’s basketball game on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.
throws. MSM averaged 16 assists-pergame coming into Tuesday’s contest but were held to half that, finishing with eight against the Cats. Kentucky was once again without Jacob Toppin, who has now missed the past two games due to a bruised shoulder. Lance Ware did not suit up for the Cats on Tuesday either due to an ankle injury. Ware played just one minute in UK’s season-opening win against Robert Morris. Calipari said post-game that he did not have a timetable for a return for either player.
Up next for the now 2-1 Wildcats is the final game of the Kentucky Classic against the Ohio Bobcats. OU will waltz into Rupp Arena with a 3-0 record, having averaged 40 points a half. Like any opponent, Calipari will not be taking the Bobcats lightly.
“I haven’t watched tape yet … [Ohio] shoot 30 3’s a game and make 12," he said. "If they make 12 against us we’ll lose.” The game between Kentucky and Ohio is slated for this Friday, Nov. 19, and is set to tip-off at 7 p.m. EST.
Thursday, November 18, 2021
sports
Stoops appreciative of his team ahead of UK football’s Senior Day By Hunter Shelton sports@kykernel.com
A 34-17 victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores on Saturday snapped a threegame skid for Kentucky. The win clinched UK sole possession of second place in the SEC East for the first time since the conference split into divisions in 1992. Up next for the now 7-3 Wildcats is a non-conference matchup with New Mexico State in Lexington. The Aggies will enter Kroger Field with a 1-9 record, having lost their last six games by an average of 24 points. While Kentucky is heavily favored to win on Saturday, the Cats will have even more motivation to put on a show for Big Blue Nation, as it will be the last game of the season inside Kroger Field. “I encourage and ask our fans to continue to come out and support,” UK head coach Mark Stoops said. “It's been an amazing year as far as [the fans'] presence in packing the stadium, we greatly appreciate it.” If the home finale wasn’t enough, Saturday will also serve as Kentucky’s Senior Day. “This will be the last time quite a few players are playing in this stadium and we ask for your support to come finish this thing off with our last home game,” Stoops said. 22 seniors will be honored on the field pregame as part of the festivities. Dubbed the “Super Seniors,” Wildcats Josh Ali, Luke Fortner and Justin Rigg were honored on Senior Day 2020 but will still be suited up on the field for UK this Saturday. “I greatly appreciate our seniors; they've meant so much to our program,” Stoops said. “You look at some of the guys that have been here six years and you know, arguably, [it’s been] one of the greatest six years in the history of this school.”
JACK WEAVER | STAFF Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops waves to fans before the UK vs. Tennessee football game on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky.
Fortner, one of UK’s Super Seniors, first arrived in the Bluegrass in 2016. Almost five seasons and over 50 games later, the offensive lineman is nearing his finale in blue and white. Before the 2021 season began, it was announced that Fortner would be moving positions from guard to center, taking over the role of graduated, longtime starter Drake Jackson. Ten games into the season, Stoops is pleased with the transition that Fortner has made. “I think it's just been a great move all the way around. It's been really good for our team. To replace somebody like Drake [Jackson] that's so intelligent and can direct so much, [Fortner’s] done that,” Stoops said. “It's really helped him and shown his versatility.” Darian Kinnard, one of Fortner’s fellow
O-linemen, will be one of the 22 seniors celebrated on Saturday. In the lead-up to the year, Kinnard was tabbed with numerous preseason awards, headlined by being named a preseason First-Team All-American by multiple outlets including ESPN, USA Today and Pro Football Focus. During the season, Kinnard has done nothing but impress his coaches and teammates. Despite Kinnard having his approval, coach Stoops is quick to note that everyone should not let Kinnard’s talent go unnoticed. “I don’t want to say take [Kinnard] for granted because we don’t, but people don’t talk about him enough because he is a dominant player,” Stoops said. “He played exceptionally well this past week, and that’s really good to see a guy that
you know is going to have a bright NFL future, finishing the way he is. That says a lot about him and that will help him and that will help us.” On the defensive side of the football, no one has earned the respect of BBN and the UK coaching staff more than Josh Paschal. “You cannot say enough good things about Josh. I’ve bragged on him and he deserves it. He truly is one of the most special players,” Stoops said. Like Fortner, Paschal is in his fifth season as a Wildcat. A three-time team captain, Paschal has done it all on the field but also off the field. Aug. 7, 2019, saw Paschal complete a year-long immunotherapy treatment plan for melanoma found on the bottom of his right foot. Since his return to the field, the defensive end has made a consistent impact, earning multiple All-SEC honors. “The way [Paschal] empties his tank, the way he goes about his business, the way he impacts players, he leads, he is so selfless, he has overcome so much,” Stoops said. “One of the most special players, if not the most, I’ve ever coached.” A defender who has flown under the radar during his time at UK, at least compared to Paschal, is defensive back Yusuf Corker. On Nov. 24, 2018, Corker made a tackle against Lousiville in that year’s Governor’s Cup, a game that saw the Cats rout the Cardinals 56-10. Fast forward to this weekend against NMSU, and Corker has recorded a tackle in all 35 games between the Cards and the Aggies. “[Corker’s] just been sturdy. He’s been an anchor for us the past several years … and he’s one of those guys that’s there every day,” Stoops said. “[He’s] just physical as heck, very reliable, always working hard and trying to influence and impact others and take charge. So, I have great reSee SENIOR DAY on page 11
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Thursday, November 18, 2021
opinions
‘Dune’ 2021: A classic gets its due
By Kaleb Littleton opinions@kykernel.com
Despite heavy delays due to the pandemic, the 2021 film adaptation of Frank Herbert’s “Dune” has arrived. There’s no time to waste, and fear is the mind-killer. Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” is the second film adaptation of Herbert’s novels. Unlike David Lynch’s 1984 adaptation, this film is split into two parts, so judging it by the story is difficult. It also faces the hurdle of being both an adaptation of a legendary sci-fi series and the remake of Lynch’s cult-classic. “Dune” is the story of Paul Atreides, the heir to the dukedom of House Atreides. It follows his journey on the desert planet of Arrakis as Baron Harkonnen, an ancient enemy of House Atreides, attempts to assassinate him. Arrakis is home to a desert-dwelling people called the Fremen, who worship the psychoactive agent known as Spice. However, Spice is also a vital component for use in interstellar travel. One of the first things you notice in the 2021 film is its distinct political angle; there are strong parallels between the plot of “Dune” and the War on Terror. When the novel was written in 1965, as well as when the Lynch film was released in 1984, the idea of
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Timothée Chalamet in the movie "Dune." Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.
invading a desert-dwelling civilization to strip them of their resources wouldn’t hit close to home. However, current politics add a new interpretation of the plot. In the 2021 version, the film clearly sides with the Fremen from the beginning. It’s made clear that the Fremen have been oppressed by the Harkonnen regime, to whom Arrakis only matters as a source of fuel. House Atreides, meanwhile, attempts to reason with the Fremen and make an alliance instead of wiping them out on sight. Many movies prioritize
actors and visual effects in their production, but “Dune” allows the cinematographers to shine. Unlike movies like “Lord of the Rings,” which use the verdant landscape to show off the beauty of the world, Arrakis is harsh from the beginning. Arrakis is a planet-wide desert, and the location shots in the United Arab Emirates and Jordan allow for breathtaking shots of the vast desert. The deserts of Arrakis are both brutal and beautiful. The film’s score is equally as important, allowing the tension of dra-
matic yet slow scenes to be properly conveyed. The soundtrack is like Arrakis itself, intense yet sacred. “Dune” (2021) airs closer to the original novels than Lynch’s version. Details that had been changed in the 1984 film are restored to their book-original form. One non-story example was casting Timothée Chalamet for the role of Paul Atreides. While Chalamet is 25, he looks more age-appropriate for the 14-year-old Paul Atreides than Kyle Maclachan from the Lynch film. Thirty-seven years of
advancement in special effects benefit this movie, allowing concepts like the Voice, shields and the sandworms to be better integrated in Villeneuve’s take. The film’s technology is visually distinct but identifiable in its purpose. Lynch and Villenueve have distinct visual interpretations of the book. “Dune” (1984) was a brightly colored movie, with flashy effects for the time. It was also an intentionally ugly movie, with the designs for characters such as the Navigators and much of House Harkonnen
being aesthetically horrific. “Dune” (2021), meanwhile, aimed for a realistic take on Dune’s world — not “realistic” in the sense of the DC Extended Universe, where the colors are washed out and everything is grim, but rather an attempt to create what these devices would look like if they existed in our world. The winged airships (or “ornithopters”) of the 1984 film are blocky designs while the 2021 film uses a sleeker design resembling a modern military helicopter. For example, the personal shields of the 1984 film are golden blocks that obscure most of the actors and are rarely used, while the 2021 film establishes them with a blue or red shimmer when the shield is activated, struck or broken. In spite of this, aspects created for Lynch’s Dune, such as the Baron’s antigravity apparatus and the way the Voice is conveyed, are retained in new ways. “Dune” (2021) is a breath of fresh air compared to recent blockbusters such as those in Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars or Mortal Kombat; unlike them, the film doesn’t feel the need to lighten the mood every few scenes. The film sets the stage for war early on, and the looming threat awaits behind every corner. The newly-released “Dune” is available to stream on HBO Max and is still in theaters.
Thursday, November 18, 2021
opinions
Thanksgiving: A holiday glow up By Sarah Michels opinions@kykernel.com
I used to abhor Thanksgiving. For a holiday marketed as some fantastic feast, I couldn’t fathom why turkey was the star of the show. I personally preferred ham, and I could never understand why anyone would feel differently. The sides didn’t impress me either; as a picky eater, I wouldn’t willingly touch anything but the rolls and the macaroni and cheese. Unfortunately, my family tended to frown upon that, forcing me to at least pretend to eat a vegetable. Tragically, they also frowned upon fun. Typically, my siblings, cousins and I spent hours on Thanksgiving bored out of our minds in some empty dance hall we’d rented to fit our entire extended family, second and third cousins included. One such year in the infamous dance hall, with hours to go and not a toy or game in sight, we discovered our saving grace — a disco ball in a back room. If we had to endure this
monotonous dance hall, we could at least be dancing. The disco party lasted upwards of five minutes before someone complained, shutting the music off and the lights back on. Banned from screen time, second helpings of dessert and now, dancing, us kids retreated to our corner, staring at each other with defeated looks in our eyes. If the gossiping adults noticed our agony, they paid it no mind. An eternity later, our parents finally said their goodbyes, and we breathed a sigh of relief, truly thankful for the first time all day. To be fair, even if it weren’t for my personal experiences with Thanksgiving, Halloween is a tough act to follow. When I was younger, no turkey could ever compare to a magical night spent breaking all the normal rules — taking free candy from strangers, dressing up in costume outside the house and staying up hours past bedtime to experience a for-once-encouraged sugar rush. But now I make my own rules, and I don’t have to wait until Oct. 31 to break
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spect for Yusuf.” Senior Day often brings excitement that could take away from the task at hand on the football field. Stoops knows that while Saturday’s spectacle will be different
them. As the magic of Halloween has faded, the appeal of Thanksgiving has taken its place. Now, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, partially because our family finally ditched the dance hall, and I’ve joined the turkey fanbase, but more so because I place a higher premium on family. In middle school and high school, parents were more like rule enforcers than friends, and relatives were constantly around. Spending another day with them on Thanksgiving didn’t seem like anything special. But after going off to college, that dynamic changed. My hometown is only an hour or so away, but between academic work and extracurriculars, I rarely have time to stop by. I’ve spent my college summers interning instead of attending the semi-annual summer family vacations, so I only see my relatives on major holidays. Thanksgiving is one of the few times to catch up and reminisce with my relatives while watching my younger cousins grow up
MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF A slice of sweet potato pie is served on Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021, in Lexington, Kentucky.
before my eyes. Thanksgiving has a troubled history that should be acknowledged. It began as a farce, a manipulation of Native Americans by settlers who would soon employ genocidal violence to claim their declared Manifest Destiny over the natives’ lands. But I don’t think that negates what it has become — a day spent expressing gratitude for our
from previous games this season, his group will carry the same approach. “They’ve been through more than this. I don’t consider [Senior Day] a distraction. Different? Yes. But by the time they come through and are here as many years as they are, they’ll be able to handle that,” Stoops said. “I think [they’ll be] excited family is here. They’ll take the 10 minutes it takes to go through Senior Day, come back
loved ones and blessings, revitalized by good food and better company. Perhaps the solution is not to dismiss the holiday’s rotten foundations but to take a few moments this Thanksgiving to recognize these less-than-wholesome origins. Maybe we can even devote some of our Christmas gift money to support indigenous groups that still encounter discrim-
ination today. Although our nation has certainly not completed its redemption arc, we can still give thanks for the progress we have made since as well as the people working toward progress still to come. While my disappointed post-disco-ball-disaster younger self would never believe it, in time, something good can indeed come from something bad.
in and regroup and want to go out there and play well.” Despite the ups and downs that the past two seasons have brought the Kentucky Wildcats, Stoops is aware that at the end of the day, when it comes to taking care of his players, football comes second. “We’ve had a lot of conversations. With COVID and with Senior Day, I want to make sure I do these young men and their families properly,” Stoops said.
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