kentuckykernel
Tuesday, April 14, 2020 est. 1892 | Independent since 1971 www.kykernel.com @kykernel @kentuckykernel
‘We appreciate you!’ Parade honors front-line workers By Emily Girard news@kykernel.com
A parade of vehicles drove near UK’s campus on Thursday to honor front-line workers in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The parade passed UK’s Chandler Hospital and Good Samaritan Hospital, showing appreciation to healthcare workers. Rick McDonald, concrete superintendent at campus construction company Gooch Construction, collaborated with UK Police
and UK HealthCare to organize the parade. McDonald said he organized the parade out of a desire to show support for those fighting the pandemic. “Seeing our governor every day come on and talk about all this tragedy and the loss of lives, I thought to myself, what can I do as a company to do something for these frontline workers?” said McDonald. The vehicles in the parade included Gooch Construction
vehicles, cement mixers and UK police cars. Some vehicles were adorned with balloons, and people held signs in the beds of pickup trucks. One trailer had a banner reading, “We appreciate you!” In keeping with the CDC’s social distancing guidelines, community members were asked not to attend in person, instead watching the parade live on UK HealthCare’s Facebook page. Despite these restrictions, McDon-
ald said he was still impressed with how many people were willing to help. “Everybody immediately was on board,” said McDonald. “My heart’s so big [with] the way people are...involved in this. It’s overwhelming.” Gooch Construction is also giving $2,000 to a community-nominated front-line worker. (The winner of this giveaway will be announced on Gooch Construction’s Facebook page.)
However, McDonald said the parade and the giveaway are not intended to promote Gooch Construction. “It’s not about advertisement; it’s about showing respect and thanks to these selfless people that are coming in and working 12 hours a day, seven days a week,” said McDonald. “When you’re good to somebody, and somebody’s good to you, you want them involved with whatever you do.”
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
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Tuesday, April 14, 2020
kentuckykernel
LOOKING BACK, MOVING FORWARD NO ACT/SAT SCORES NEEDED FOR ENROLLMENT
An email sent from President Capilouto to the campus community announced that UK will change enrollment requirements for prospective students as a response to the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. The email, sent on Friday, April 10, listed three main initiatives to give students and their families extra time and support. UK will move the enrollment confirmation date from May 1 to June 1 and accept self-reported GPAs from students who cannot access their school’s documents. Additionally, standardized test scores will be an optional part of the application process for fall 2020. This step was a response to the cancellation of spring ACT and SAT testing days. “We will instead use all other aspects of the application, high school course performance, essays, leadership and involvement in our review process,” wrote Capilouto. A video explaining these initiatives was sent to prospective students and their fam-
ilies. Capilouto said that Associate Provost Christine Harper and the Enrollment Management team will announce additional steps in the coming weeks. -Natalie Parks
SOME CAMPUS BUS ROUTES SUSPENDED
The coronavirus pandemic and UK’s shift to online classes has led to less ridership on campus buses, forcing the university to temporarily suspend service on some of its bus routes. Beginning Tuesday, service for the campus Blue, White and Green routes will be suspended. The Yellow Route, which has been suspended since March 27, will remain closed, a UK Transportation Services release stated. The routes will remain suspended for the rest of the spring semester and for the summer semester. These services will be gradually reinstated as the campus returns to normal operations. The Orange Route, which serves UK HealthCare, will remain open, as will the
ARDEN BARNES I STAFF The University of Kentucky campus sits mostly empty on Wednesday, April 8, 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic in Lexington, Kentucky.
CONTACT Red Mile Route, which has operated on a reduced schedule since March 19. Passengers are asked to maintain at least one empty seat between individuals in keeping with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s social distancing guidelines. -Emily Girard
MAXEY HEADED TO NBA DRAFT
Freshman Tyrese Maxey has announced via social media that he’s leaving the University of Kentucky to pursue an NBA career. “Even though I didn’t get a chance to compete for my ultimate goal, this season was everything I signed up for. I know I’m a better player and man for embracing the challenge of playing for Kentucky,” Maxey said. “It’s time for my next challenge though. My dream has always been to play in the NBA and I know I’m prepared for this because I’m Wildcat made.” Maxey plans to sign with an agent and forgo his remaining collegiate eligibility. The smiley, 6-foot-3 guard from Garland, Texas averaged 14 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. He also shot 42.7 percent from the floor and made 33 3-pointers this season. Maxey had six 20-point performances, highlighted by his career-high 27 points in late December in Kentucky’s win over Louisville. “Tyrese made that leap this season,” Wildcats head coach John Calipari said in a UK press release. He met every challenge and became one of the best guards in the country. Not only was it his dream to play at Kentucky, he wanted to be coached. He’s going to do great in that league because there’s nothing he can’t do. He can handle the ball, he can shoot, he’s got great athleticism and he really defended as the season went on. In a lot of ways, he reminds me of what Jamal Murray was able to do and we know how well he’s done in the NBA.” Maxey is the third Wildcat of this offseason to announce his departure, and the second Wildcat to declare for the NBA, along with guard Ashton Hagans. -Erika Bonner
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ON THE COVER A parade of police and construction workers organized by Gooch Construction honors front-line health and public safety workers on Friday, April 10, 2020, on South Limestone outside of the UK Chandler Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. JORDAN PRATHER | STAFF
spring 2020 | 3
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
news
Housing, dining refunds are in student accounts, university spokesperson says By Emily Laythem news@kykernel.com
Most UK housing and dining refunds landed in myUK accounts by the end of the day on Friday, according to UK spokesperson Jay Blanton. Housing refunds be-
gan appearing in myUK accounts on April 6, only one day after they were initially announced by President Eli Capilouto in a campus-wide email. The refunds reflect 36 percent of each individual student’s original housing and dining cost for the year.
Refunds will be applied automatically to outstanding UK balances, including those incurred for tuition, housing and dining. Students with outstanding balances will not have the option to transfer the funds to another account, according to Blanton. This includes
graduating seniors. Graduating students without outstanding balances will be refunded by Student Accounts Services within 14 days, according to Penny Cox, UK’s acting treasurer. Students receiving housing and dining refunds who
enroll for Fall 2020 will also receive a $125 Flex credit for the semester, Blanton said. Parking pass refunds will follow a similar refund procedure, with one vital difference: Students seeking a refund for their Spring 2020 parking pass will need
to submit a request form by Friday, May 1. Forms can be mailed to UK Transportation Services or physically dropped off. Students may also submit the form through email alongside a photo of their parking pass. Refund amounts will vary by lot.
A single red Mini Cooper is parked alone on Monday, April 6, 2020, in a portion of K-lot surrounding Kroger field at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky. JORDAN PRATHER | STAFF
A sidewalk in the academic center of campus is vacant is on Monday, April 6, 2020, at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky. JORDAN PRATHER | STAFF
4 | kentucky kernel
The chairs in Champions Kitchen ate flipped upside down as the dining hall only offers to go meals in accordance to state requirements on Monday, April 6, 2020, at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky. JORDAN PRATHER | STAFF
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
opinions
Increase your grocery-shopping mindfulness during COVID-19 By Kelly Walker opinions@kykernel.com
As is true for many students, this pandemic has thrown my future for a loop. This season has involved canceled trips, reduced income and, for us graduating seniors, a sense that there are fewer opportunities awaiting us in the real world. As the initial shock of my new reality settles in, I’ve found peace with my situation and have come to acknowledge that I am very blessed and privileged in this time of crisis, unlike so many others. Watching panicked people ransack grocery stores for
a little extra of everything, leaving grocery workers scrambling to restock and the more vulnerable without the resources they need to survive, is alarming. If you suspect that you might be, even a little bit, on the privileged end of the spectrum during a time in which virtually no one is benefiting, I implore you to consider others a little more. When it comes to sustainability and food systems, these are some ways to be more considerate to others during this time. Aside from only purchasing what you need and staying home as much
as possible, an easy way to think of others is to avoid purchasing WIC approved items at the grocery . The women, infants, and children who qualify for the WIC Program have few other options. If the items labeled “WIC” are out of stock, these people are left hungry and potentially malnourished. An even better way to reduce pressure on grocery stores is to check as many items as you can off of your grocery list at the Lexington farmers market, or another local market near you. Aside from supporting your local farmers and diverting demand from struggling gro-
ceries, a visit to a weekly farmers market can provide a sense of sanity and routine; it’s a welcome excuse to get out of the house and take a walk or bike ride if you live close enough. You can even get some social interaction with humans other than your quarantine-mates — but be sure to brush up on their current measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 before you go. Outside of reasons associated with COVID-19, supporting farmers markets has many benefits. Shopping for groceries at a farmers market increases the mindfulness you have in your food pur-
chases. Studies show that those who shop at farmers markets are more likely to consume several servings of fruit and vegetables in a day. Farmers markets also often offer produce fresh from harvest, which has been shown to have higher nutrient values than older produce shipped from other places. Overall, farmers markets are essential for creating and maintaining a vibrant local food system, as they connect consumers to farmers and expose people to where their food comes from. Though so many things feel and are uncertain right now, I urge you to
take control of what is within your power. Be considerate of your neighbor. Love people from afar. Aim to be all-around more mindful. Food is a powerful way to express creativity, and the source and means by which you purchase it says a lot about your values. If you have the financial capacity during these times and are among the bored-and-quarantined community, use your extra time to slow down, purchase mindfully, and maybe even fall in love with new hobbies. Stay safe, stay healthy, and don’t forget about your neighbor.
Social mingling is the new drunk driving By Thomas Hart opinions@kykernel.com
As the COVID-19 crisis continues to unfold, many of us are adjusting to the new social-distancing life. Even this far into the pandemic, though, some people are still not taking the situation seriously. Despite frequent reminders to social distance and the knowledge that thousands of Americans have now died from COVID-19, some people continue to gather in
crowds and live their lives as if nothing has changed. As a result, the virus keeps spreading and local and state governments have been cracking down. Many states have issued stay-at-home orders, requiring that people avoid being in public except for necessary activities. Some states now prohibit gathering in groups of more than ten, and those who test positive for the virus are required by law to self-quarantine. Some local govern-
ments have taken it a step further to enforce these rules. In Louisville, and Kanawha County, W.Va, for instance, those who refuse to self-quarantine after testing positive for the virus are now forced to wear GPS-tracking ankle bracelets. All of this seems a bit crazy. Being forced to say at home? No public assembly? Even tracking devices for people who don’t comply? Aren’t these regulations infringing on our freedom?
The answer is yes, they are. But considering what is at stake, this is hardly different from laws already in place. When peoples’ lives or safety are threatened by the behavior of individuals, the government creates regulations to protect the community. Consider the laws against drunk driving or smoking in public areas. These regulations limit your freedom, but the point is that they protect those who could fall victim to the behavior of a few individ-
uals. Drunk driving is illegal because we know that when intoxicated, drivers lose control of their vehicles and kill people. Smoking in many public areas is banned because we know secondhand smoke can lead to disease and premature death. Now in the wake of the greatest epidemic our country has seen in decades, we have banned social mingling because it spreads this disease which is killing hundreds of peo-
ple every day. No one intends to spread COVID-19, just like no one intends to crash their car after having a drink or two. But every person, whether you have symptoms or not, could be a carrier of the virus without knowing. The decision to go into public is now an ethical choice, just like deciding to get behind the wheel after drinking. Lives are at stake here, and we all must consider our actions carefully in this time.
spring 2020 | 5
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
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Juzang to join UCLA while Cats add Creighton grad transfer By Erika Bonner & Braden Ramsey sports@kykernel.com
While several athletes have announced their departure from the University of Kentucky, one has just made his commitment to the Cats. Creighton graduate transfer Davion Mintz announced on social media Friday morning that he’s now a part of the UK family. Mintz is a 6-foot-3 guard who redshirted the 20192020 year after suffering an injury in the preseason. In 2018-2019, he averaged 9.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. The grad transfer commitment comes on the heels of former Kentucky guard Johnny Juzang decision to return home. The freshman an-
nounced on Twitter on Thursday that he would be continuing his college career as a Bruin at UCLA, just 15 minutes from where he grew up. “I’ve always followed UCLA and dreamed of playing in Pauley Pavillion,” Juzang said in his Twitter statement.”Bringing a title back home is something that motivates me like nothing else. I can’t wait to put on that blue and gold.” He also said that he would be applying for an immediate eligibility waiver in an effort to suit up this coming year. Otherwise, he would not be able to play until the 2021-2022 season. Juzang played in 28 games for the Wildcats, scoring in double digits twice, including the season finale at Florida.
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Kentucky freshman guard Johnny Juzang watches Kentucky sophomore guard Immanuel Quickley shoot a free throw during the UK vs. Vanderbilt University menís basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. UK won 71-62. MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF
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