Kentucky Kernel: December 2, 2021

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Thursday, December 2, 2021 est. 1892 | Independent since 1971

LOOKING BACK AT FALL 2021 A semester in the 'new' normal

Thursday, December 2, 2021

opinions

Looking back at fall 2021

By Editorial Board opinions@kykernel.com

The fall 2021 semester has not passed without its challenges, but the feelings associated with it are vastly different — and far better — than the last.

Following three semesters that were radically changed by COVID-19, this semester could be deemed a representation of the new normal.

Although our smiles in the classroom are masked, we are beginning to reach a point where we can recognize the remnants of what life was before COVID and the joys that came with it. We have learned not to take those simple things for granted because we now know they could be gone tomorrow.

We have had in-person classes and exams, gotten to meet individuals in our classes face-to-face and been able to work on group projects in an actual room, rather than in a Zoom breakout room.

This was the first semester in which students had a true college experience since the beginning of the spring 2020 semester, meaning that many students currently enrolled at UK had their first in-person semester of their entire college experience.

For many sophomores, this was their first encounter with classes that were not held over Zoom or asynchronously online.

Incoming freshmen were able to experience a relatively normal first semester of college.

UK’s decision to return to in-person classes made students feel like a relatively normal college semester was possible once again. We wished for a semester that felt like college did before the pandemic, and for the most part, we were given just that.

Online classes came with the challenges of a lack of communication between students and professors, less interaction between students and more forced screen time. We have found that being able to do classes from bed does not necessarily outweigh the positives of having class in-per-

2 | kentucky kernel

JACK WEAVER | STAFF Fallen leaves collect under a row of trees outside of William T. Young Library on Friday, Oct. 30, 2020, in Lexington, Kentucky.

son.

The ability to speak with professors beyond just Zoom office hours and the opportunity to immerse ourselves in in-person lectures have helped many students’ grades and mental health exponentially.

There is no doubt that being in the classroom and being able to see one another face-to-face has helped this semester to be more productive than the two prior, although it still brought its own unique set of challenges.

Not all staff, faculty and students were excited to return in-person because of the impending threat of COVID, especially

with the emergence of the Omicron variant outside of the U.S., but UK did implement measures to protect everyone starting at the beginning of the semester.

UK offered incentives for students and faculty to be vaccinated, such as free tuition, tickets to sporting events, free parking and more. As of Nov. 19, the vaccination rate on campus was 89.7%.

Those who are not vaccinated are required to be tested once a week and complete their daily screening. Mask mandates are also enforced in classrooms for both vaccinated and unvaccinated students.

Many things returned to normal this

year — in-person classes, sporting events at full capacity and regular organization meetings and gatherings — but COVID outbreaks were much less common compared to previous semesters.

We saw the UK community come together and protect one another, whether it be through getting vaccinated, getting tested regularly or being sure to stay home when not feeling well.

As a result of the virus, we have had a first semester of the 2021-2022 academic year that we cherish just a bit more because we remember what it was like to only know each other through a screen.

Thursday, December 2, 2021

kentuckykernel

Humans of UK:

Matt Dunlap shoots his shot at filmmaking

By Hunter Shelton

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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.

Asst. news editors:

A UK student is seeing his dream of filmmaking come true before he even graduates.

From home movies to mini projects, all the way to his upcoming short film “Burning in Trial,” Dunlap has immersed himself in the world of cinematography as he pursues his goals.

A senior at UK, Dunlap has always had the creative itch to make movies, long before he arrived on campus in 2018.

“Ever since I was young, my cousins, my sister and I would make home videos, just acting things out and filming it,” Dunlap said.

“Ever since then, it’s been fun for me to make stuff.”

Born and raised in Frankfort, Illinois, Dunlap began his hobby of filming around the age of eight, where he, a VHS recorder and whoever else was around were subject to be featured in his next creation.

From the get-go, Dun-

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Photo provided by Matt Dunlap.

lap recalls he and his sister, who now works in the same field as an editor, having the complete support of their parents to chase their objectives, no matter how lofty.

“My parents just love watching our stuff,” Dunlap said. “They’re all so supportive of it, so it’s pretty cool.”

While Dunlap had always pondered about filmmaking as a career growing up, he points toward the beginning of high school as being a catalyst to him giving some serious thought into pursuing his aspirations.

“I remember always

slowly thinking about doing it. Then in my freshman year, I was making movies with my friends, and I thought ‘Hey, I want to do this,’” Dunlap said.

Fast forward four years, and Dunlap was making the move to Lexington, attending UK with a major in Media Arts and Studies and fully committing to studying what he’s passionate about.

“I wanted to really do this, so I got a major in it and surrounded myself with friends who also love doing that, and that’s how I led to making [‘Burning in Trial,’]” Dunlap said.

With the help of his

friends, Dunlap got the idea for “Burning in Trial” off the ground, beginning the writing process in January 2021 and finishing the script in the summer.

Dunlap and his crew shot the film over the course of four days at an abandoned cabin by the Red River Gorge in Slade, Kentucky.

Being the biggest shoot of Dunlap’s young career in film, there were plenty of hoops to jump through along the way.

“The cabin had no electricity, no water, so we had some challenges trying to figure out things like how

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See DUNLAP on page 5

fall 2021 | 3

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What stories do you want to read next semester?

Contact the Kernel with topics you're most interested in!

• Sports • Arts • COVID-19 • Community action • Political issues • Local news

Keep up with all things UK over winter break at kykernel.com!.

Thursday, December 2 2021

opinions

Spending the holidays with Hallmark

By Morgan Luster opinions@kykernel.com

Hallmark Christmas movies may have a reputation of lacking substance and being predictable, but this only makes them more entertaining. Through their cliché storylines, these lighthearted movies are intended to comfort viewers and get them into the holiday spirit.

There are many common tropes that appear throughout these holiday movies, such as the enemies-turned-lovers and the cold-hearted big shot who doesn’t care for Christmas but who ultimately changes their mind about the spirit of the holiday. If these spark any interest, then these personal favorites are an ideal watch.

First is “A Christmas Tree Grows in Colorado,” which has the perfect enemies-to-lovers sequence. This movie is about Erin, who is organizing a holiday

DUNLAP CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

to have batteries the whole day and using lights,” Dunlap said.

Fighting through the occasional struggles, Dunlap wrapped in August, proud of the production he and his peers were able to make.

“I’m very thankful for all of them coming out to help,” Dunlap said.

“Everyone going out there, spending time to be on the production, it was really awesome.”

Following the four days of filming came

event to attract tourists in order to generate money for the town and happens to be the daughter of the mayor. She then stumbles upon Kevin, a single father and lieutenant firefighter, who has the perfect spruce tree for the event right in his front yard.

Erin tries to convince Kevin to donate his tree and things take a turn when he refuses as he is opposed to the upcoming event because he believes the money should go to the fire department. The two come to an agreement that Kevin will help Erin with the holiday event under the condition that Erin will stop asking the tree.

As anticipated, the two fall for each in classic Hallmark fashion through a series of decorating cookies and making snow angels. Although this movie follows the stereotypical scenario the audience is used to seeing, it still provides a great story to get invested in — even if the ending is predictable.

five long months of editing for Dunlap. Multiple hours of editing in front of a laptop everyday proved to be the most strenuous in the filmmaking process, he said.

“It’s tough, I’d never edited something that big,” Dunlap said.

“There’s so many different steps that go into editing that you don’t really think about.”

From shooting to doing the sound design to editing the project, Dunlap has sacrificed countless hours into polishing up his short film, which is finally

ready to be shown to the world.

“Burning in Trial” is a 27-minute thriller about two people stuck in purgatory, losing their memories and trying to survive the horrors of the outside world. The film is set to premiere at the Worsham Cinema in the Gatton Student Center at the University of Kentucky on Friday, Dec. 3, at 7 p.m.

Despite the jitters that come with showcasing one’s art to the public for consumption, Dunlap is hoping that viewers will come away with an enjoy-

Next is “An Unexpected Christmas,” which possesses a twist on the enemies-turned-lovers trope. In this movie, Emily, a rising star at her marketing firm, runs into her ex-boyfriend Jamie, who is a speechwriter for the governor, along with his family.

Since Jamie has not told his family that the two had broken up, he makes a deal with Emily to pose as his girlfriend for the next week under the condition that he will help with her marketing campaign by getting the governor to deliver a Christmas Day address.

This movie differs from the rest of the Hallmark collection since the main characters were lovers before enemies. Even though the “acting-like-a-couple-eventhough-they’re-not-a-couple” storyline has been done numerous times, this film is unique for Hallmark as they experimented with a different trope.

Last is “If Only I Had Christmas,” which follows Darcy, a publicist from Kansas City, who travels to Emerald Educational Trust to help Vice President Glen Goodman assist a charity in time for Christmas.

In this movie, it perfectly mixes the enemies to lovers with the work-obsessed big shot who has forgotten the meaning of Christmas. While Darcy exudes a cheerful attitude towards the Christmas project, Glen has a more serious approach. However, after spending time together working on the project, the two realize that they have more in common than they assumed.

As predicted, at the end of each movie a kiss between the likely pair serves as an anticipated conclusion.

For many — especially college students — the holidays are a time to unwind and decompress, which is why these movies are a perfect watch.

Photo provided by Matt Dunlap.

able, memorable experience.

“I just want people to enjoy it, have fun with

it,” Dunlap said. “When you watch a movie, the most important thing is you had a good time

watching it, so that’s what I’d like people to hopefully get out of mine.”

fall 2021 | 5

Thursday, December 2, 2021

news

Pediatric vaccination clinic opens at UK HealthCare

By Emily Girard news@kykernel.com

On Nov. 9, UK HealthCare and the Kentucky Children’s Hospital collaborated to open a pediatric vaccination clinic and distribute COVID-19 vaccines to children.

The clinic, located in the UK HealthCare outpatient facility at 245 Fountain Court, aims to give children a positive immunization experience.

“Lots of these children that we're seeing are not children that have massive amounts of medical interventions,” Dr. Jennifer Guilliams, the Child and Family Life Coordinator at Kentucky Children's Hospital, said. “We wanted this experience to be something where we could build upon positive coping so that children would feel successful [and] have a good experience to build upon.”

On Oct. 26, the FDA authorized the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to be administered for emergency use in children ages five to 11. The CDC authorized vaccination distribution to this age group on Nov. 2.

“We got word that the FDA was going to approve this vaccination, so we kind of wanted to mirror the way that we did it at Kroger Field,” Madison Owens, an administrative fellow for UK HealthCare, said.

“We really worked well with our pharmacy team, the ones who had set everything up at Kroger Field.”

Owens worked with Dr. Lindsay Ragsdale, the interim chief medical officer at the Kentucky Children’s Hospital, to open the clinic.

“There's so many different details that we needed to make sure we were all thinking of. You’ve got to have computers … syringes and needles and people, all of these moving parts,” Ragsdale said. “A whole group of us in information technology, pharmacy, Child Life [and] pediatrics [got] together … to make sure that we have

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JACK WEAVER | STAFF A dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is injected into a patient’s arm on Saturday, April 10, 2021, at UK’s COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky.

all of the details squared away. It has been an awesome team to work with.”

Owens said that designing the pediatric clinic was “a completely different ball game” compared to designing a clinic for adults.

“These are small kids who really see vaccination as a stressful time,” Owens said. “How can we make this easier on them? How can we make it easier on the parents? What can be the fun part about it?”

Ragsdale agreed and said one of her

main priorities was making the child the center of the immunization process.

“So often, we in medicine, we’re kind of like, ‘This is what a patient needs;’ we're just going to give it to them without thinking about what the patient goes through,” she said. “[Children] have been through a lot in two years. Their whole lives have really been upended, their schooling, their social connections. Some of them have lost loved ones to COVID-19. We wanted to make sure that that child was engaged in the process instead of just [sitting] down

and [getting] a shot.”

To make the pediatric patients more comfortable, clinic volunteers give them “treasure maps” when they enter the clinic.

This allows children to move through the clinic and receive their immunizations at their own pace.

“They have different stops on the map, and they get to pick out a set of stickers that they like and put a sticker on each stop they go to, and then at the end they get a prize,” Owens said. “We can … really let See VACCINE on page 7

Thursday, December 2, 2021

VACCINE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

them lead it, and also just make sure that it’s their own story.”

Ragsdale, who occasionally mans a volunteer booth at the clinic, has seen the effect these treasure maps have on the attitudes of both children and parents.

“Sometimes … I can see [a child] in the hallway and … they have that nervous look on their face. They don't want to come in because they're nervous about the shot, and then the first thing that they get is this treasure map. ‘Hey, come do a treasure hunt with us! We're gonna have prizes and pick some stickers out and it's going to be so fun,’” Ragsdale said. “All their nervousness drains away, and the parents are so excited: ‘Hey, this is going to be fine.’”

In addition to giving children autonomy over the vaccination process, the clinic also trains its staff on how to interact with children to create a safe and comfortable environment.

“We’ve been able to … have a team of Child Life Specialists out there, one per day, that's actually helping the volunteers to understand some of the ways to interact with the child that makes them a little less fearful,” Guilliams said. “Whenever a new set of volunteers and pharmacists come on, we do a small training with them … about specific language that you want to use with the children and specific ways to encourage them.”

Guilliams said that staff utilize the “one voice” technique, where one person talks to a child at a time to avoid overwhelming the child. The clinic utilizes pain management techniques such as Pain Ease anesthetic sprays and vibrating devices that numb injection sites. Parents are also informed on ways to hold and comfort their child while the child is being vaccinated.

“The parents that come in, they are aware that we have Child Life specialists, and that's part of why they're there,” Owens said.

Another point of discussion among patients and parents is the clinic’s sensory room.

“When we were planning this, [we made] sure that we had a space that was somewhat safe for those children that are a little neurodiverse or have some sort of a diagnosis that would create more stress for them being in the active environment

that this clinic is in,” Guilliams said. “We were able to create a room that can actually have a door closed, lights, music [and] some sensory-friendly equipment to help children who would need some regulation from a sensory perspective to remain calm … or feel a little bit more at ease in this environment.”

The clinic will be open through the end of January. Normally, the clinic is open from 1 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, as well as from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. The amount of vaccination slots vary based on the availability of volunteers, but currently, the clinic is distributing a minimum of 130 vaccine doses each day.

“It's great that we're able to start with that minimum every day and look at the numbers and open more and more [slots] each day,” Owens said. “As of yesterday [Nov. 28], we have reached well over 1,000 [doses distributed].”

The clinic is also seeing children come back to receive their second dose, which Owens described as “really exciting.”

“They're coming back, and they're coming back to a place that they are comfortable with,” Owens said. “I just think it's great that the parents are wanting them to bring them back and didn't have a terrible experience.”

Guilliams has also seen the positive effects of the clinic within her own family.

“My daughter, who was extremely fearful of vaccinations from just going to the regular doctor, went out to the clinic and got her shot, and she rocked it,” Guilliams said. “[She] has told all the other kids that they need to come to this clinic, that it was easy … and she's excited to come back on Friday and get her next shot.”

Ragsdale said her ultimate goal with the clinic is to strengthen prevention and create an environment in which “kids can be kids.”

“It's been really fun to talk to kids … they're like, ‘I get to see grandma at Christmas! I'm so excited; I can finally see her and give her a hug!’” Ragsdale said. “I think that this is somewhat hope for kids to get back to their regular lives. Maybe they can see the loved one they haven't been able to see. Maybe they can stop wearing a mask if it's safe. Those are all really amazing things in kids' lives.”

Parents and guardians can register children for vaccines by visiting www.ukvaccine.org.

news

JACK WEAVER | STAFF Bags of prepared syringes are transported in a box at UK’s COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky.

fall 2021 | 7

Thursday, December 2, 2021

features

Perseverance through community:

How High on Art & Coffee is giving back

By Corrie McCroskey news@kykernel.com

Affectionately known as “Grandma” and “Pappy,” Ellie and Tim Harman own the inventive High on Art & Coffee, a shop that combines a passion for creatives and homemade cuisine.

“Our vision before we even opened was that people were going to talk together … about the community, about everything,” Ellie Harman said. “We wanted a community spot for people to come on a Saturday afternoon and do a backgammon tournament or open mic or poetry nights … good food and good coffee.”

Nestled on the side of High Street in Lexington, the store offers over 30 flavors of ethically sourced coffee.

“It’s all fair trade and organic.

We get it from Mountanos Family out of San Francisco. They’re the same people that supply Trader Joe’s coffee,” Ellie said.

“That we’re aware of, we’re the only people east of the Mississippi that carry this coffee other than Trader Joe’s.”

They also offer a variety of other items including smoothies, ice cream and food, ranging from their own “womelets” (omelets on a waffle iron) to the bestselling crangerine turkey club sandwich.

Inside, the walls and tables are covered with artwork ranging from pottery to earrings.

Over 100 artists currently consign their work within the store.

Following the initial idea to start the business, the Harmans

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PHOTOS BY CORRIE MCCROSKEY I STAFF Ellie Harman, co-owner of High on Art & Coffee, poses for a portrait in front of her art on Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021, in Lexington, Kentucky.

left their white-collar jobs in 2015 and have been all in ever since.

The two met on Match.com and have been married for 17 years. They said they work at their shop six days a week, 10 hours a day. While Tim focuses on the kitchen managing the extensive menu, Ellie takes orders

from customers, files paperwork and oversees artwork sales.

“We love each other, and we are very blessed to be able to work together and not kill each other,” Ellie said. “I wouldn’t recommend it for every couple; you have to have a special relationship.”

Many small businesses have

faced challenges throughout the pandemic to maintain enough income to stay open, but the Harmans have risen to the challenge.

Though the inside of the store is still closed to the public, coffee, food and art is sold through a sliding window on the side of the building.

“We’re high risk. Although

we’re fully vaccinated … we don’t want to die. I have COPD and other health issues, my husband as well. If I was to get it, even vaccinated, I don’t know that I would make it,” Ellie said.

“Rather than risk my life we’re doing it this way. Thankfully it’s See COFFEE on page 9

Thursday, December 2, 2021

features COFFEE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

working. We’re not selling as much art and jewelry as we used to, but the food is always what paid the bills anyways.”

Luckily, Ellie says that sales are now back to where they were before the pandemic.

“We had a big drop off for a while, but we’re back up to about pre-COVID numbers, even just through the window … We just adapt; we had no choice.”

The couple feels responsibility to care for their community and says it is a part of their success.

“In the spring we will be holding some Narcan training, because unfortunately, we have quite a few homeless people in the area, and we’ve had quite a few ODs in the last few months, and it’s heartbreaking,” Ellie said. “We want to have Narcan available here and make sure people know how to use it to help to stop all of this … Taking care of people and [the] community in general, I’ve been very passionate about.”

Having personally dealt with addiction in her family, Ellie feels a pull to help those who cannot help themselves.

“My husband says I’m too soft-hearted, because I tend to give out a lot of free food to these people but they’re hungry and they’re cold. I’ve got to give back. I couldn’t live with myself if we didn’t. I think the community gives back to us in return.”

Ellie said.

In the future, Ellie says that she would like to run the shop for as long as she can and eventually pass it down to her daughter.

“I hope I’m still alive in 10 years; the women in my family don’t make it past 70,” Ellie she said. “I’ve got 10 years, and then

I have to beat them all.”

For now, the Harmans are focused on maintaining their business, helping those around them and, of course, selling fantastic coffee.

“I can give you a very good example of what happened today. A customer came to the window who works at another coffee shop in town. She’d never had our coffee,” Ellie said. “She ordered a black, hot coffee. She took a sip and came back to the window and said, ‘This is the best coffee I’ve ever had.’ …

That’s an indication that we’re doing something right.”

My husband says I’m too soft-hearted, because I tend to give out a lot of free food to these people but they’re hungry and they’re cold. I’ve got to give back. I couldn’t live with myself if we didn’t. I think the community gives back to us in return.

- Ellie Harman

Sign gleams in afternoon rays.

To the left: Mugs sit on a shelf inside of High on Art & Coffee.

Coffee machine aglow in afternoon light.

fall 2021 | 9

Thursday, December 2, 2021

features

‘A win for us all.’

UK alumna crowned Miss America 2021

By Natalie Parks and Rayleigh Deaton news@kykernel.com

Elle Smith’s résumé is impressive: UK graduate, professional journalist and now Miss USA. During the 70th annual Miss USA pageant on Nov. 29, Smith represented the Bluegrass as Miss Kentucky and was crowned the winner — an incredible feat in and of itself, but especially since it was only Smith’s second pageant ever. She also shares a special tie to UK, where she was a 2020 graduate of the School of Journalism and Media. Smith is now stationed in Louisville as a multimedia journalist for WHAS-11.

Smith was preparing for the pageant for six months leading up by working on her interview skills, physical fitness and confidence. She and her coach Becky Minger offer the inside scoop of pageant life and how the competitions work.

Minger, once Miss Ohio America, has over 15 years of experience in the pageant industry and coaches eight contestants across four states for their national competitions. She said that the final broadcast is only a small portion of the entire competition.

"What a lot of people see on TV, that's a very small snapshot of everything that they've done to prepare to get there and the week that they've been there,” Minger said. “They go from photoshoots to appearances to rehearsals. They're up early, they are up late, and there's just a lot that goes into it.”

The contestants arrived a week before the pageant; once they were in the host hotel, they were separated from their teams, families and coaches until the competition ends. Minger described the week before the Miss USA as high intensity, fast-paced and go-go-go. Along with filming segments of the show, contestants must learn

10 | kentucky kernel

ISSAC JANSSEN | STAFF Elle Smith poses for a portrait on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020, in Lexington, Kentucky.

specific choreography for the opening numbers and placements for camera shots.

The pageant begins three days before a winner is crowned; this year, contestants participated in a preliminary show on Saturday, Nov. 26, and a state costume show on Nov. 28. The competition itself is broken down into three parts: swimsuit, evening gown and an interview with the judges.

What qualities are the judges are looking for? Minger had one answer.

“Confidence, confidence, confidence,” Minger said. She believes true confidence comes when a woman truly knows herself

and is unapologetically herself.

“You want to be able to tell the judges your whole life story, right? Like you want to be able to stand there and talk to them for ever and ever. But it's really about picking those specific things that make you unique that you're extra passionate about and that you really want to take into your year as Miss USA,” Minger said.

Smith explained that the pageant is broken down into rounds. All 51 contestants participate in the preliminary round, which features swimsuit and evening gown, and was filmed ahead of the live broadcast this year. Those who continue into the top

15 repeat swimsuit and evening gown on stage and must also answer a topical question.

“That's where that political debate comes in — they want to see your stance on highly politicized issues,” Smith said.

Contestants like Smith spend hundreds of hours preparing for the competition and have such a small amount of time in comparison to prove themselves.

“That's actually very unique about the USA system and kind of exciting and special about it because truly it is about that first impression. And do you shine as an individual … do they seem natural? Do they seem authentic? And can they see you holding the title of Miss USA?” Minger said.

According to Minger, the two greatest things a contestant can do to succeed in the interview are be educated and know their opinion.

“You want to hear them actually answer the question. You don't want to hear an answer that doesn't actually end up tackling what the question is. So if you are educated and you know your opinion, and you know how to speak respectfully to both sides, that's going to be the makings of a great answer,” Minger said. Empathy and the ability to respectfully take in a differing opinion are also signs of a strong contestant.

Following her victory, Smith received an outpouring of support and encouragement on social media; a tweet from WHAS11 said, “Our Elle Smith is your new MISS USA!” Smith wrote a tweet thanking those who “encouraged” her on her journey, saying she is “thrilled” to be Miss USA 2021. “Kentucky this is a win for us all!” she said.

As Miss USA 2021, Smith will soon be heading to Israel to compete in the Miss Universe pageant, taking place on Dec. 12.

Thursday, December 2, 2021

N E D R U B STORY

F O O R P OF

PARKS E I L A T

BY NA

Alcohol violations widespread amongst Kentucky IFC T he death of an 18-year-old student from presumed alcohol toxicity has thrust alcohol use into the spotlight at the University of Kentucky.

Thomas “Lofton” Hazelwood was pronounced dead in the evening of Monday, Oct. 19, after being found unresponsive in the on-campus chapterhouse of UK fraternity FarmHouse. According to UK’s crime log, police reported 20 counts of liquor violations in the chapterhouse.

Those violations arose during the investigation of Hazelwood’s death, when police found alcohol in a room that could have been accessible to as many as 20 people in the hour before Hazelwood’s death. These violations were recorded as underage possession due to the age of the students accessing the fraternity house.

FarmHouse is a member of Kentucky Interfraternity Council, the governing body for 20 of UK’s fraternities. Conduct records reveal that 40% of IFC fraternities — excluding FarmHouse — violated UK’s alcohol policy in the last 14 months.

UK’S APPROACH TO ALCOHOL

Trisha Clement-Montgomery, UK’s dean of students, said the way alcohol misuse is reported highlights group use over individual use, making alcohol use look concentrated in IFC. “We can't really show the impact or the effects that it has on college students alone,” Clement-Montgomery said. “I will say though, that from what we have seen and what we do know in relation to alcohol use in IFC, I think it's something that really highlights an issue that we know to be true across the board nationally for most institutions - is this use of alcohol and maybe not necessarily having enough information and education related to how you use that and how you partake in that in a safe environment.”

The University of Kentucky is a dry campus. According to the university’s alcohol policy, alcoholic SEE IFC ON PAGE 12

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Thursday, December 2, 2021

IFC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11 beverages are prohibited in “fraternity and sorority houses (on or off campus), and the undergraduate sections of university apartments” in part because the majority of students are underage. Hazelwood’s death differed from other alcohol violations by UK fraternities because it occurred on campus at the fraternity house, instead of at off-campus residences rented by fraternity members.

Though the circumstances of Hazelwood’s death are still under investigation, alcohol has been established as a factor by the Fayette County coroner and UK police. But the problem of underage drinking is not new to UK or to UK’s fraternities.

UK’s most recent Clery report lists almost 700 liquor law violations on or in close proximity to campus that were referred to the university in 2020. According to archived Kernel reports, that number has increased from the early 2000s, such as 375 incidents in 2005.

In an incident from September 2020, a new member of UK fraternity Kappa Alpha Order was taken to the hospital for overconsumption of alcohol during an off-campus party, according to records from Kappa Alpha’s conduct investigation.

RECENT VIOLATIONS

TI

The most publicized instance of alcohol violations at UK was the 2018 death of four-year-old Marco Shemwell, who was struck by Alpha Tau Omega pledge Jacob Heil. Shemwell died two days after the collision from head and neck trauma.

Heil, now 21, was convicted of driving under the influence after partaking in beers at his fraternity’s tailgate earlier in the day. According to a blood sample, his blood alcohol level was 0.038. The legal limit for those under 21 is .02.

Heil was recently found not guilty of reckless homicide. His fraternity, Alpha Tau Omega, was suspended by UK until 2033 and is one of multiple fraternities at UK who have faced disciplinary action in connection to underage drinking.

Excluding FarmHouse, seven fraternities at UK are currently on disciplinary probation or suspension

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for alcohol-related infractions; several of the fraternities committed concurrent infractions against COVID-19 guidelines and harm or threat of harm. Pi Kappa Alpha was also put on probation for alcohol misuse, a penalty that ended in September.

All of the fraternities who committed alcohol infractions are members of Kentucky’s Interfraternity Council. Combined with other violations, more than half of IFC member organizations have faced disciplinary action this school year.

“One of the things that I think can get misrepresented is a lot of times, if there is an investigation regarding fraternity and alcohol use, it doesn't automatically mean that everyone in the fraternity is responsible for it,” said associate dean of students Brandon Thompson.

IFC has 20 member fraternities. Of those 20 fraternities, 45% have faced disciplinary action for alcohol misuse this school year. More than half — 55% — of IFC fraternities currently face disciplinary action from UK, including FarmHouse, whose investigation has not yet yielded a sentence.

IFC INVESTIGATIONS According to UK administrators, investigations are pending for alleged alcohol misuse and alleged hazing by other fraternities, in addition to the 10 already on disciplinary action. Allowing time for those investigations to conclude is part of the reason UK suspended new member activities for IFC fraternities, according to Thompson.

“Our Conduct Office is working their hardest to make sure that they get through the investigations but to do that, that means that it takes time,” Thompson said. “They don't want to compromise on the integrity of the process.”

Administrators declined to say how many additional fraternities are under investigation currently because the allegations may be unsubstantiated.

Conduct investigations are reported to UK’s conduct website only once an investigation is concluded, not while they are ongoing.

“We wouldn't be able to put a timeline on it, it really is dependent on all the individuals involved,” said Clement-Montgomery of the ongoing investigations.

All 10 student organizations currently on probation or revocation are fraternities and all are fraternities in IFC. These 10 fraternities, along with FarmHouse’s ongoing investigation, put IFC at the center of questions raised by Hazelwood’s death.

Hazelwood’s death was listed as an accident and foul play is not suspected, according to the university.

NATIONAL STATISTICS There have been 77 fraternity-related deaths

in the U.S. since 2005 and at least one hazing-related death annually since 1970.

Not all hazing deaths are alcohol-related, and not all alcohol-related deaths are hazing. But the two often go hand-in-hand.

A recent high-profile case ended in the indictment of 11 Virginia Commonwealth students in relation to the hazing death of a fraternity pledge, who died of alcohol poisoning. Adam Oakes, 19, had received a bid to Delta Chi and found dead the morning after passing out on a couch after a party.

Hazelwood’s death aligned with national trends in similar cases, which often surround the death of a freshman pledge. Hazelwood, 18, was a first-year agricultural economics major and “new member” of FarmHouse, according to the fraternity’s CEO. “When we look at concerns that we have had with the IFC community this fall, they have centered around new members,” Thompson said.

UK’S RESPONSE Three days after Hazelwood’s death, UK administrators indefinitely suspended all new member activities for Kentucky IFC. Because fraternities on probation can still recruit new members, this ban impacted 16 of IFC’s fraternities. The four organizations not impacted are on revocation, which means they were already prohibited from recruiting new members.

New member activities are often the source of alcohol violations. Kappa Alpha Order’s infraction occurred at a bid day event where new members were instructed to drink.

“Once at the house new members were taken to the basement and handed a bottle of vodka that they were told to finish as group of brothers. It is unclear how big the bottle was,”said the tip inititally reporting KA said. “There were 23 new members there to consume it. Further it was shared that supposedly it was optional to drink no one was 'forced' (sic) to drink it.”

According to the tip, new members were welcomed to the fraternity after they finished the alcohol by “a large number of members.” Drinking continued for the remainder of the party. This led to a student being taken to the hospital for overconsumption.

“One of the new members was taken to the hospital after drinking too much on his own free will given that there was no provided alcohol,” Kappa Alpha’s president told UK officials.

Kappa Alpha Order hosted at least three other parties in the fall of 2020 despite instructions from the university to “1. cease new member operations, and 2. not to host any in-person events and/or events with alcohol.”

Fraternity brothers provided alcohol to other members at at least one of these parties. UK’s conSEE IFC ON PAGE 13

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U A C

IFC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12 duct office concluded that the fraternity was responsible for these violations given that Kappa Alpha’s recruitment chair invited students to the bid day party.

Like Kappa Alpha Order, Sigma Alpha Epsilon received a citation from UK for alcohol misuse because they provided new members with alcohol during the rush process.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon hosted an off-campus party on Sept. 1, 2020, at which beer was provided. “Based upon the fact that September 1, 2020, was a fraternity recruitment period, it was reasonable to believe that it was more likely than not that individuals attending this event were under 21 years of age,” states the summary of Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s conduct investigation.

UK’s Code of Student Conduct says that “alcoholic beverages may not, in any circumstance, be used by, possessed by, or given to any person under twenty-one years of age.”

Members of UK fraternity Triangle, an IFC member organization, pooled money in order to purchase alcohol for a costume party on Halloween of 2020.

“One member was accepting money from underage members to purchase alcohol, and that the chapter members who were present were drinking,” states the summary of Triangle’s conduct hearing.

Triangle members planned rides to and from the party in case guests became too intoxicated to drive, according to the case notes. Triangle members were aware that underage guests would be present.

“Everyone Venmo’ed and asked about – bought for both of and not of age guest – not everyone was of age,” the case notes say.

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also confirmed cleaning took place. The later two examples demonstrate personal servitude,” said an email sent from UK’s conduct office to Delta Tau Delta.

As part of their probation, Delta Tau Delta is required to complete both alcohol and hazing programs by the end of November.

Two other fraternities – Alpha Sigma Phi and Phi Gamma Delta – have also been cited by UK for misuse of alcohol. UK has not filled a Sept. 7, 2021, open records requests related to Alpha Sigma Phi and Phi Gamma Delta.

Clement-Montgomery said UK was discussing changes to its Code of Student Conduct, which includes policies related to alcohol and fraternity and sorority life, prior to Hazelwood’s death.

“I do anticipate that there will likely be changes, but again, not based on this particular loss,” she said.

UK fraternity Delta Tau Delta was suspended by the university for misuse of alcohol and hazing. The initial tip submitted to UK alleged that one member was arrested for public intoxication after walking back from a Delta Tau It's just imparty. portant that “One of these pledges also got arwe equip our rested the other night because he was kept after one of the parties and forced students and to drink. He was so drunk they left him empower on a couch and walked home covered in them to feel mayonnaise and ketchup,” the tip said.

This allegation was strongly refuted comfortable

by Delta Tau Delta’s president in an inin these ternal report submitted to UK officials. situations.

He said the new member in question “wanted to emphasize that he was nevAnd to be ALCOHOL TRAINING AT UK er, nor has ever been forced to consume able to act alcohol by anyone including active Following Hazelwood’s death, UK anquickly when nounced that all IFC members would unmembers and New Members. This New Member had been at a local bar with they are in dergo bystander intervention training and three of his pledge brothers where he “an additional course around hazing presituations had gotten intoxicated and taken back vention and university expectations.” that may be to the Waller house by his group in orThe University of Kentucky requires all der to prevent getting in trouble at his unsafe or are incoming students to pass an online subdorm. “ stance abuse program though AlcoholEuncomfortAccording to the internal report, the DU. The course is intended to educate stuable. mayonnaise and ketchup was a prank dents about the effects of alcohol and how by other pledges. Based on a police reto handle potentially unsafe situations; but port and testimony from Delta’s previ- Trisha as alcohol misuse continues, how effective ous president, UK officials found Delta Clement-Montcan these trainings be?

Tau responsible for alcohol misuse beAccording to Corrine Williams, associgomery, dean cause the new member was intoxicated ate vice provost for student well-being, the of students while underage and taken to the Waller programs used by UK are the “gold stanaddress, a Delta-related party house dard” in alcohol education, widely-used known as “the Fort.” and evidence-based. Because most stuUK also found it “more likely than dents undergo those trainings as freshmen, not” that hazing did occur in Delta Tau UK is considering whether to require the Delta, including confirmation by fraternity mem- trainings for all students on an annual basis. bers that they did pour condiments on an intoxicated “For some of these students, it's been two or three brother. years since they went through that training, and “A witness for [redacted] confirmed that new essentially using it as a refresher …we know after members would bring food to older members ‘as a way to get to know the upper classment.’ [Redacted] SEE IFC ON PAGE 14

fall 2021 | 13

Thursday, December 2, 2021

IFC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 about a year, people start to forget some of the key pieces, and so doing those refreshers is really important to making sure students have the information,” Williams said.

One of the benefits of annual refreshers is that after some time in college, students are more likely to have the context to understand alcohol misuse and are better prepared to act on skills training. New members of IFC, National Panhellenic and United Greek Council will have two alcohol skills training sessions this week, Thompson said.

“They've had some more time on the campus as well, may have seen or been around alcohol more, and so this might mean something to them now, given the current circumstances, that it didn't mean earlier in the year,” Thompson said.

Thompson, Williams and Clement-Montgomery all emphasized the importance of education, intervention and prevention in alcohol misuse.

“It's just important that we equip our students and empower them to feel comfortable in these situations,” Clement-Montgomery said. “And to be able to act quickly when they are in situations that may be unsafe or are uncomfortable.”

AN ONGOING ISSUE “This is a problem that it's constantly evolving,” Williams said of alcohol misuse. “And so our solutions have to keep adapting, and we keep changing, trainings change a little bit every year to try to adapt.”

In the last 20 years, alcohol use has been identified as a problem at UK over and over again despite repeated attempts at change. Incidents of alcohol misuse have risen in the last two decades, according to Kernel archives.

In 2000, the university was one of eight colleges to receive a grant to reduce risky drinking behavior among college students. But deaths connected to drinking culture still happened, according to Kernel archives.

In 2005 a UK sophomore, Thomas Joseph Byers III, was struck and killed by a train while running away from UK police, who had been called to break up a party at Conn Terrace.

The year prior, 19-year-old Brian Anthony Muth was arrested for alcohol intoxication. After a friend signed him out of jail, Muth walked into the road, was hit by a tractor-trailer and pronounced dead on the scene.

A third UK student, Tevis Shaw, died in 2006 after walking off a cliff while camping in Red River Gorge. Though Shaw’s friends told authorities they had been drinking, the Wolfe County Coroner declined to release the results of Shaw’s toxicology

14 | kentucky kernel

MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF The FarmHouse Fraternity house on Monday, Oct. 18, 2021, at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky.

report out of respect for the family.

That cluster of deaths put a renewed emphasis on drinking at UK in general. But IFC also has a history of attempts at curbing alcohol misuse. Archived Kernel editions from the 1990s show repeated attempts to reform IFC’s drinking policies.

One proposal, reported in the March 24, 1992, edition of the Kernel, described a policy brought to IFC by the Alcohol Revision Committee. The policy would require a security guard and designated drivers at each IFC party and for fraternities to post signs warning against underage drinking.

Two years later, IFC again attempted to reform their alcohol use by stating “only beer brought by individual students may be allowed at Greek house parties.” Any alcohol would be handed over to a third-party vendor who would oversee distribution.

Underage students were supposed to wear wristbands so they would not get any alcohol. Additionally, the policy called for stricter enforcement of guest lists.

“The new policies, while a little strict, can only help chapters to avoid legal problems that could be detrimental,” then-UK student Phil Skiermont told the Kernel. Skiermont was a member of Phi Gamma Delta, a fraternity now on disciplinary probation for misuse of alcohol.

According to Kernel archives, the IFC president at the time – Jonathan Bruser – said that Panhellenic, the governing body for sororities, already had comprehensive policies. This new proposal centered on

IFC because they were “more active in sponsoring open, informal parties.”

The threads identified by Skiermont and Bruser carried through to the alcohol violations committed

by UK fraternities in the last year. IFC fraternities were cited for off-campus parties where alcohol was provided to underage students, often informal gatherings that spread past the fraternity.

A 2016 study from Monmouth University researcher Pietro Sasso and Old Dominion University researcher Alan Schwitzer asserts that alcohol abuse in fraternities is tied to social expectations.

Fraternity members believe alcohol lets them “have more positive associations from social interactions with others; engage in more gregarious behavior with others; feel more stimulated or aroused; or experience sexual gains.”

The pair also cite evidence that Greek organizations consume alcohol more than other groups on university campuses and that “Greek men report comparatively more use of, and more negative secondary negative effects from, alcohol than Greek women.”

According to Sasso and Schwitzer, this is because heavy alcohol consumption is a marker of traditional masculinity.

“Students may engage in heavy drinking, decline to confront peers regarding their alcohol misuse, or both, due to a culture which defines alcohol use as well as silence about its consequences as socially desirable,” Sasso and Schwitzer said.

Thursday, December 2, 2021

sports

Mark Stoops, Kentucky agree to contract extension through 2028

By Hunter Shelton sports@kykernel.com

Kentucky football will not be entering the coaching carousel this offseason.

Mark Stoops has “agreed in principle” to a contract extension with the program, UK Director of Athletics Mitch Barnhart announced on Tuesday.

The contract will run through June 2028 and continues guaranteed extensions for any season with seven wins (one-year extension) or 10 wins (two-year extension).

“We have been in discussion with Coach Stoops in recent weeks and are excited about his ongoing commitment to Kentucky,” Barnhart said. “Coach Stoops has done an outstanding job in building the UK football program and we look forward to continued success under his leadership.”

The agreement takes into account UK’s current 9-3 season, which earned Stoops a one-year extension through June 2027.

“I’m excited to continue to build this program to national prominence,” Stoops said. “We’re on our way and I’m more confident in Kentucky football than I’ve ever been.”

Stoops arrived in Lexington in 2013, taking over a program that finished the 2012 season with an abysmal 2-10 record.

Since his arrival, Stoops has led the Wildcats to five winning seasons in nine years, including five bowl game appearances, with a sixth to come this season.

“Our football and athletics programs have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to success for our students — on the field and in the classroom,” UK president Eli Capilouto said. “Our football program, under Coach Stoops, has only

JACK WEAVER | STAFF Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops watches his team from the sideline during the UK vs. New Mexico State football game on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky.

strengthened the commitment that we have as an institution to putting students first in everything that we do. We are preparing our students for lives of meaning and purpose when they leave UK, no matter what path they take.”

Stoops’ name was rumored to be in contention for multiple high-profile head coaching vacancies, including LSU and Oklahoma. The 2022 season will make Stoops the longest-tenured head coach in program history.

Stoops thanked Capilouto and Barnhart for their support.

“The continuity among us for the last nine years is extremely valuable and I’m looking forward to more success together," Stoops said.

fall 2021 | 15

Thursday, December 2, 2021

sports

Kentucky falls 2-1 at Clemson, ending season in Sweet 16

By Cole Parke sports@kykernel.com

No. 9 Kentucky men’s soccer fell short on the road against No. 8 Clemson, falling 2-1 and ending their season in the Sweet 16.

The Wildcats were able to find the net late in the second half but allowed the game-winning goal with just one minute left, sealing their fate.

Kentucky outshot Clemson 11-5 in overall attempts but were outdone 4-3 in shots on target; both goalies recorded two saves in the match.

The Cats committed 14 fouls to Clemson’s eight, though the Tigers received more yellow cards than UK. Kentucky entered the matchup after defeating Santa Clara 2-0 in Lexington in the second round.

Both Kentucky and Clemson were seeded, granting them first round byes and home field advantage in the second round.

Starting the match, Kentucky shot first with senior captain Bailey Rouse quickly putting up two attempts within the first 9’, both missing the mark.

The response by Clemson was much more dire, as the Tigers’ Callum Johnson got one past UK’s Jan Hoffelner in the 14’, when the goalie appeared to stumble on the save attempt.

Johnson was assisted by Ousmane Sylla and Oskar Agren on the play.

Kentucky was not deterred, continuing to put up shot attempts after the goal allowed, though the team entered the halfway break

16 | kentucky kernel

MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF Kentucky Wildcats forward Eythor Bjorgolfsson (9) reacts after missing a goal during the UK vs. Santa Clara NCAA Tournament game on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021, at The Bell Soccer Complex in Lexington, Kentucky.

without recording a shot on target.

The Wildcats trailed at the break for just the second time all season. UK had quadruple the amount of fouls as Clemson in the first half, though both had received just one card.

Despite Kentucky leading in shots attempted, the team had been without a single clear opportunity for the first 45’.

In the second half, Kentucky once again attempted to strike first, with Enzo Mauriz putting up the first shot on target for the Cats early in the half, but the shot would be saved by Clemson goalie George Marks.

The attempt would be the only shot on goal for Kentucky for quite some time, as it failed to record another for the next 30’.

With the season on the line, Kentucky pushed forward and eventually found its next shot on goal, which would turn out to be a big one, as Lucca Rodrigues knocked it past Marks with a header for the Wildcat equalizer in the 85’.

“We haven’t been chasing that much [this season],” UK head coach Johan Cedergen said. “I think when you’re able to rotate as many guys [as we have] and keep fresh legs on [the pitch], eventually you’re gonna find

some open chances and we definitely found some of those today.

I think it really shows the character of the group and that they’re willing to do their part.”

Momentum appeared to be on the Wildcats’ side as they quickly put up another shot on target which was saved, but the Clemson recovery spelled disaster for Kentucky.

With barely over one minute left to play, Alvaro Gomez scored the game-winner for the Tigers off an assist by Justin Malou.

Kentucky was able to set up a corner kick with one final attempt to tie, but it was defended

by Clemson, who swiftly kicked

the ball to midfield and won the match for the Tigers.

“You could see it on the players' and staff’s faces, we were shell shocked,” Cedergren said.

“We had worked so hard to fight our way back into the game with that little time left. Unfortunately for our guys in a knockout tournament, at some point it has to end even if we didn’t want it to.

I just told the guys coming back that I loved them and told the guys that have to move on that I’m happy to do whatever I can for them in the future because those guys really gave everything for this team.”

The loss ends Kentucky’s historic season just one round short of the Elite Eight, which the Cats reached for the only time in program history in 2018. The Wildcats graduate 13 seniors this season, including Hoffelner and Rouse.

Despite the loss, the appearance marked the third time in four seasons Kentucky has appeared in the Sweet 16, a testament to the program built by Cedergren in his 10 years as head coach.

“I think we’ve raised the bar,” Cedergen said. “We’ve gotten three Sweet 16 [appearances] and two conference titles. Now it’s just about getting to a place like this and getting a result. I think we did more than enough to get a result today, though, and had this game been at home I think it would’ve been a lot different.”

With its win, Clemson will go on to face No. 1 Oregon State.

The Men’s Soccer National Championship continues on, with the Elite Eight kicking off Dec. 3.

Thursday, December 2, 2021

sports

Kentucky volleyball earns No. 7 seed in NCAA Tournament

By Cole Parke sports@kykernel.com

Kentucky volleyball earned the No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament during Sunday’s bracket reveal.

Only the top 16 teams in the country receive seeds, while the rest of the field earns at-large bids.

The seeds guarantee home field advantage for at least the first two rounds, three in Kentucky’s case.

The Wildcats won the SEC Championship and conference auto-bid last week, sweeping Florida 3-0 to clinch the title.

Kentucky finished its regular season 24-4, with a 17-1 conference record. The team’s lone SEC loss came against South Carolina on the road, while its non-conference losses came against Creighton, Wisconsin and Louisville early on. All four teams also heard their names called in the bracket,

with Louisville clinching the No. 1 overall seed.

UK’s round one opponent is Southeast Missouri State (SEMO), who finished 26-7 and earned the auto-bid from the Ohio Valley Conference. The Redhawks were the only team from the OVC to make the tournament.

If Kentucky is successful against SEMO, the team will host the winner of Illinois and West Virginia, two at-large teams, with

the Mountaineers earning their first ever at-large bid to the tournament.

Barring an upset in the first two rounds, Kentucky would then be paired against No. 10 Nebraska in the Sweet 16. The Cornhuskers finished 21-7 and earned an atlarge bid into the tournament.

Continuing with the assumption that the bracket proceeds as chalked, the Elite Eight would feature a National Championship

rematch between the Wildcats and this year’s No. 2 seed, Texas.

UK beat the Longhorns in four sets to claim its first National Championship in program history in last year’s tournament.

The road has been mapped for Kentucky volleyball as the team seeks its second straight National Championship. Kentucky will host SEMO at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 3, in Memorial Coliseum.

JACK WEAVER | STAFF The Wildcats celebrate during UK volleyball’s game against Southern California on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Kentucky.

To the left: JACK WEAVER | STAFF Kentucky Wildcats setter Emma Grome (4) sets the ball during the UK vs. Missouri volleyball game on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Kentucky. fall 2021 | 17

Thursday, December 2, 2021

sports

What went wrong in Kentucky’s losses

By Barkley Truax sports@kykernel.com

For the fifth time since 1949 and the second time in four seasons, Kentucky football has won at least nine games in a single season. What that also means is Kentucky dropped three games over the course of the 2021 season.

As Kentucky and the rest of the college football world await bowl selections on Dec. 5, there’s no better time to look back on how Kentucky lost those three consecutive games.

GEORGIA

At the time, Georgia, who finished the regular season undefeated as the No. 1 team in the nation, had only allowed two offensive touchdowns coming into their matchup against Kentucky. Thanks to UK quarterback Will Levis, that number was doubled after the game.

The positives end there, however.

Kentucky was held to just 51 rushing yards on 27 attempts (1.9 yards per rush).

Offensive coordinator Liam Coen was forced to throw the ball for the majority of the second half; Levis ended the match up throwing 32-42 for 192 yards with two scores. Compare that to Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett’s 250 passing yards on 14-20 attempts through the air and three touchdowns.

Georgia recorded three sacks and eight tackles for loss as well. With Georgia’s defense being one of, if not the best pass rushing defenses in the nation this season, Levis had no time in the pocket to read through his progressions and make plays down the field.

MISSISSIPPI STATE

Kentucky led the Bulldogs 10-0 halfway through the first quarter, thanks to a Matt Ruffolo field goal and a 74-yard

18 | kentucky kernel

JACK WEAVER | STAFF Kentucky tight end Justin Rigg (83) is tackled by a group of Tennessee defenders after catching a pass during the UK vs. Tennessee football game on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky.

Josh Ali punt return touchdown. It was all downhill from there. Mississippi State outscored the Wildcats 31-7 for the remainder of the night.

Bulldog quarterback Will Rogers completed 92% (36-39) of his passes for 344 yards and one score against the Wildcats — an SEC record on 30-plus passing attempts. Bulldog head coach Mike Leach went away from his typical Air Raid scheme near the goal line, replaced by Jo’Quavious Marks and Dillon Johnson’s three combined touchdowns, which Kentucky struggled to defend all game long.

Overall, Kentucky was out-gained 438216 yards and relegated to under 100 yards rushing for the second game in a row.

TENNESSEE

Kentucky’s offense could do no wrong against its rivals in Tennessee. Putting up 42 points and 612 total offensive yards, the stat sheet implies that Kentucky took home the victory. Thanks to its defensive play, however, Tennessee took advantage of one-on-one matchups and made the Kentucky secondary pay more than once.

Volunteer quarterback Hendon Hooker completed 15 of his 20 passing attempts for 316 yards for four touchdowns. Tennessee had three receivers with over 75 yards on the night (Venus Jones Jr, Cedric Tillman and Javonta Payton) while they rushed for 145 more and another score.

Kentucky held the ball for over 46 minutes, running 99 plays on the night while Tennessee was held to 13:52 minutes of possession on just 47 plays. Tennessee’s offensive efficiency played to its advantage, which caused Kentucky to play catch-up the entire ball game.

Thursday, December 2, 2021

Fall 2021 sports in review

By Hunter Shelton sports@kykernel.com

Long gone are the days of Kentucky Athletics being ruled solely on the hardwood.

While the legendary basketball program remains in the upper echelon of collegiate athletics, Lexington has witnessed the growth of multiple programs over the past couple of years, helping the University of Kentucky stack up against its Southeastern Conference cohorts.

This fall has seen multiple teams and athletes exceeding expectations and breaking program records, creating what is currently one of the more successful periods in Kentucky Athletics history.

FOOTBALL

Year nine under Mark Stoops has solidified Kentucky football into no longer being a bottom-feeder in the SEC. The Wildcats began the season 6-0 for the first time in 71 years. Achieving an AP Top 25 ranking as high as No. 11, UK reached multiple milestones during the 2021 campaign.

A 20-13 win over thenNo. 10 Florida marked the first time the Cats claimed victory over the Gators in Lexington in 35 seasons.

The next week saw the Wildcats vanquish LSU 42-21 for UK’s first win over the Tigers in 14 years.

Despite a three-game

losing streak in the middle of the season, Stoops rallied his troops, powering through UK’s final three regular season opponents easily, ending with a 5221 thrashing of rival Louisville for the Governor’s Cup. The Wildcats now await to hear which bowl game they will be attending on New Year’s Day, as they will attempt to win 10 games for just the fourth time in program history.

Stoops will be sticking around for years to come in the Bluegrass, as the head coach and Kentucky recently agreed on a contract extension, keeping Stoops in Lexington through June 2028.

SOCCER

Kentucky men’s soccer etched its name into program history this season, finishing with a 15-2-4 record, which is tied for the fewest losses in a single season.

Head coach Johan Cedergren finished his tenth season at the helm, leading the Cats to their third Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament in the last four years.

The No. 9 overall seed in the tournament, UK fell victim to a last-minute goal to Clemson, ending its historic season.

UK went unbeaten in its first 14 matches of the season and finished the year undefeated at the Wendell and Vickie Bell Soccer

Complex, where the team went 9-0-2.

The women’s team did not find the same success, however. A 6-2-2 start to the year was quickly derailed by just one win in 10 SEC matches.

Star striker duo Jordyn Rhodes and Hannah Richardson combined for 19 of Kentucky’s 33 goals on the year.

Former head coach Ian Carry, who began the season as his fifth in charge of the team, was relieved of his duties in October.

After the Cats finished the season 7-10-2, UK hired Troy Fabiano as the new head coach in November. Fabiano takes over after spending seven seasons as head coach at Milwaukee.

GOLF

Both the men’s and women’s golf teams secured two top five finishes in four tournament appearances in the fall.

Senior Garrett Wood paced the men’s team to a second place finish at the Steelwood Collegiate invitational in October, the team’s highest finish of the season. A 7-under-par third round helped Wood clinch second place individually in the tournament.

The highest finish for the women’s team came at the Mason Rudolph Championship, where Jensen Castle led the team to a fourth place finish. Castle, the 2021 U.S. Women's

sports

MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF Kentucky’s bench reacts to a Kareem Watkins basket during the UK vs. Central Michigan men’s basketball game on Monday, Nov. 29, 2021, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.

Amateur champion, shot an 8-under-par 208 over three rounds, totaling the second best 54-hole score in program history.

Both teams will return to action in the spring.

VOLLEYBALL

After winning the 2020 National Championship, Kentucky volleyball is poised to make another run for glory as they hold the No. 7 overall seed in this year’s tournament.

Finishing the regular season 24-4, Kentucky blitzed the SEC, winning 17 of 18 matches in conference play, en route to the Cats’ fifth consecutive SEC Championship.

Behind Alli Stumler and Madi Skinner, the Wildcats lost just one of 13

matches at Memorial Coliseum.

The SEC clinching sweep of Florida on Nov. 26 was win No. 400 for UK head coach Craig Skinner.

Kentucky’s journey to repeating as National Champions begins on Friday, Dec. 3, where the Cats will host Southeast Missouri State in round one at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington.

BASKETBALL

Not to be outdone, Kentucky men’s and women’s basketball are both poised for big seasons in 2021-22.

John Calipari is amidst season No. 13 at UK, where his team currently ranks ninth in the latest AP Top 25 poll.

Following a sea-

son-opening loss to Duke, the Cats have rattled off six consecutive victories. Behind Oscar Tshiebwe, the nation's leading rebounder, Sahvir Wheeler, the nation’s leader in assists and TyTy Washington Jr, UK’s leading scorer, Kentucky has the core necessary to do big things come tournament time in March.

Meanwhile, Kyra Elzy enters year two as head coach of the women’s team, led by star player Rhyne Howard.

Howard and Dre’una Edwards are both averaging over 19 points per game through the Cats’ first five contests.

A 4-1 record and the No. 16 ranking have Elzy’s group on pace to contend in the SEC once again this season.

fall 2021 | 19

Thursday, December 2, 2021

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HELP WANTED

Administrative Assistant, flexible hours, part time/ full time position. Apply within Wayne Michael Properties, 860 S. Broadway Lexington Ky.

Writers Needed ASAP! 100% Remote Work.

Sophomores, Juniors, Senior, Grad Students. Write web content. Learn on job.

Earn extra $. Paid weekly.

Apply at https://verycopy. com/ or email lyndsay@ i2w.uk

Plasma Center Medical Helper No experience necessary.

Flexible schedules. Must be available rotating weekends and until 10pm weekdays, during the next semester and holidays.

Apply for the Customer Service - Donor Support Technician position R-079800 at Lexington 404 in the “Career” section at www.cslplasma.com, and also email resume to chris.otto@cslplasma. com. 859-254-8047

FOR RENT Great campus area properties for rent for August 2022. (859) 619-3232. kmartin.lex@gmail.com www.myuk4rent.com

Walk to campus. WM Properties. Pre leasing 1-6 bedrooms for Fall Semester 2022. Tell your friends!

859-513-1206 www.waynemichaelproperties.com August 1. Newer 2, 3, 4 and 5 BR, 2 car garage homes near campus. From $569.00 per person per month including utilities.

James McKee Builder / Broker 859-221-7082 (call or text). Lexingtonhomeconsultants.com

Subscribe to the Kentucky Kernel newsletter for FREE! Go to kykernel.com and find the paper airplane on the home page!

New Donors can donate plasma and receive up to 700 this month!

EARN UP TO

100 TODAY

1840 Oxford Circle (Versailles, Rd.) 859-254-8047

817 Winchester Road, Suite #140 859-233-9296

UK STUDENTS GET $10 EXTRA ON THEIR FIRST DONATION WHEN THEY MENTION THIS AD! (Valid for New and 30+ Day Inactive Donors)

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