AUGUST 2023
KENTUCKY KERNEL MEDIA
You made it! We’re so glad you’re here!
The hardest part is over — you’ve survived the college application process, made your big decision (and you made the right choice, by the way), completed your last year of standardized tests and started getting settled into your new home in Lexington! You’re going to love it, trust us. We are so proud of all you’ve accomplished to get to this point, and we can’t wait to see all the great things you do with your time at UK.
Even though your college experience won’t always look like the movies, the next four(ish) years of your life are ripe with possibilities. Take a deep breath and approach everything you can with an open mind. Every opportunity that crosses your path has the chance to help you grow into the best version of yourself, so don’t be afraid to jump right in. As an incoming freshman, it may seem intimidating to talk to new people, join a new club or get to know your new professors, but rest assured that everyone around you is in the same boat as you are — no one else has it all figured out, either. You have the unique experience in college that everyone around you is here to help you succeed, so don’t waste it! Talk to the person sitting next to you in class, show up to club meetings that involve the things you’re interested in and go talk to your professors — they might just prove to be valuable assets as mentors later on.
Though this may seem impossible at times, the biggest piece of advice we can offer is to find a balance between your classes, friends, family, work and personal time. While putting your best foot forward in your academics is essential as a college student, your time here is also meant to teach you how to live on your own, meet new friends and find what you enjoy doing. On the other hand, a time might arise when you need to step away from the social scene to catch up on homework or study for an exam, and that’s necessary too. By the time you graduate, you will have (hopefully) had the time to work hard, play hard and enjoy every moment in between.
The University of Kentucky is a huge, diverse community and there’s much to be learned from the people around you. You’ll find your group to laugh, cry, grow and make so many memories with. When you’re sad, stressed or feel alone, there is always someone around you to lean on for support, whether that comes in the form of a friend, roommate, mentor, advisor or counselor. (And, *wink wink*, the Kernel and KRNL are great places to form those relationships!)
So, Class of 2027, enjoy this ride. We hope it’s everything you imagined and more. We’re so excited to see all that you accomplish, so just relax, take it all in, go to class and have fun!
Go Cats!
Photo by Abbey Cutrer Hannah Stanley Editor-in-Chief of Kentucky Kernel Emma Reillya Kernelite is easy. Succeeding as a Kernelite takes hard work, dedication and a desire to be a part of one of the top collegiate media outlets in the nation. Take these simple steps to become part of the Kernel Media family. Kernel Media invites students from all majors and backgrounds to join us. We are always looking for writers, photographers, videographers, designers and more.
Kernel Media is a student-run organization that includes several publications. The Kentucky Kernel, UK’s independent student newspaper, publishes daily online at kykernel.com and produces a weekly print product. KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion publishes a magazine once a semester as well as blog content and more at krnlmagazine.com. Kernel Media also produces annual magazines such as Year in Photos and Inside UK.
Hannah Stanley Kentucky Kernel Editor-In-Chief
Contact: editor@kykernel.com
Emma Reilly | KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion Magazine
Editor-In-Chief
Contact: emma.reilly@uky.edu
Encourage your friends to join the Kernel Media team. We are always looking for unique and diverse voices from across campus.
Making the move from high school to college can be an overwhelming process, but you are not alone. While the average UK student has many priorities to manage, they also have access to an abundance of resources. This list addresses commonly asked questions about those resources and provides insight that incoming students may be unaware of.
HOW DO I MAKE AN ADVISING APPOINTMENT?
All advising appointments can be made in your MyUK portal. After clicking the “Degree Planning and Registration” tab, a list of your advisors will appear on the right-hand side of the screen. Depending on your involvement on campus, you may have multiple advisors. After clicking the “Make Appointment” button, an assortment of dates and times will be provided.
HOW DO I GET TICKETS FOR SPORTING EVENTS?
Upon presenting a student ID, students will receive free admission to baseball, cross country, track & field, golf, gymnastics, rifle, softball, soccer, STUNT, swimming & diving, tennis, volleyball and women’s basketball games. Football and basketball tickets can be purchased and claimed through your myUK Athletics student account. Students with season passes should aim to claim their tickets through the app a week before game day, as Kroger Field tends to exhaust space in the student section. See page 24 for more information on student ticketing.
WHERE CAN I PARK ON CAMPUS?
By now, you may have already purchased a residential (R), periphery (K) or remote (X) parking pass. Students with K permits must move their vehicles the day before football home games. UK will be in communication with students about the allotted spaces to move their vehicles to before game day. Game days aside, parking is relatively convenient on campus on the weekends. Most employee lots and student commuter lots are available without a permit after 3:30 p.m. on Friday until 5 a.m. on Monday.
There are seven bus routes on campus: blue, white, green, yellow, on-demand service, orange and Good Samaritan Hospital andWW Chandler Hospital Shuttles. The most typically used routes by students are blue, white and yellow. The blue route will take you clockwise around campus between the hours of 6:45 a.m. and midnight and departs every 7-10 minutes. The white route travels counterclockwise around campus and has the same hours of operation and departure time as the blue route. The yellow route runs Saturday and Sunday noon-midnight and departs every 15-17 minutes. Students often use this route for transportation to north campus and the various businesses off-campus.
Flex money is an allotted amount of funds available for current meal plan holders to spend on campus. It is attached to your UK student ID and can be used at any UK Dining location or the Wildcat Pantry. The Wildcat Pantry is a centrally-located convenience store where students can buy food, hygiene products and varied necessities. If you are a coffee lover, you can use your flex money at the Starbucks in William T. Young Library but not the Starbucks in the Gatton Student Center. You can reload your flex dollars at UK Dining’s website. There is a minimum of $25 to reload. Flex dollars are different than a Plus account because a Plus account serves as a debit program that has a greater variety of what you can purchase. Your Plus account is also attached to your student ID and is commonly used for purchasing food on & off campus, bookstore products, printing and prescriptions.
By Alexis BakerEric Monday
Ex. Vice President for Finance and Administration and Acting Co-Ex. Vice President for Health Affairs | Office of Finance and Administration emonday@uky.edu
Scott Lephart
| Dean, College of Health Sciences | scott.lephart@uky.edu
Danelle Stevens-Watkins
| Acting Dean, College of Education | d.stevenswatkins@uky.edu
Jennifer Greer
Dean, College of Communication and Information jennifer.greer@uky.edu
Katrice Albert
Vice President of the Office for Institutional Diversity | Office for Institutional Diversity vpid@uky.edu
Eli Capilouto
President Office of the President pres@uky.edu
Robert DiPaola
Provost and Acting Co-Ex. Vice President for Health Affairs | Office of the Provost rsdipaola@uky.edu
Simon J. Sheather
| Dean, Gatton College of Business and Economics | ssh378@uky.edu
Kip Guy
| Dean, College of Pharmacy | kip.guy@uky.edu
Christian Brady
Acting Dean, Lewis Honors College | christian.brady@uky.edu
Charles “Chipper” Griffith III
Dean, College of Medicine | cgrif00@email.uky.edu
Martha Peterson
| Acting Dean, Graduate School | gsdean@uky.edu
Mary Davis
Dean, Rosenberg College of Law | mjdavis@uky.edu
Kirsten Turner
Vice President for Student Success | Student Success vpss@uky.edu
Tom Harris
Interim Vice President for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement Office of Philanthropy philanthropy@uky.edu
Rosalie Mainous
| Dean, College of Nursing rosalie.mainous@uky.edu
Ned Crankshaw
| Acting Dean, College of Design | ned.crankshaw@uky.edu
Justin (Jay) Miller
Dean, College of Social Work justin.miller1@uky.edu
Jeff Okeson
Mark Shanda
Dean, College of Fine Arts | mark.shanda@uky.edu
Nancy Cox
Vice President for Land-grant Engagement | College of Ag, Food and Environment nancy.cox@uky.edu
Lisa Cassis
Vice President for Research | Office of Research rescomm@uky.edu
Heather Bush
| Acting Dean, College of Public Health heather.bush@uky.edu
Joe Reed
| Chief Accountability Officer and Audit Executive | Office of Internal Audit internalaudit@uky.edu
Mitch Barnhart
Director of Athletics | Department of Intercollegiate Athletics mbarn@uky.edu
Nancy Cox
| Dean,Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment | nancy.cox@uky.edu
| Dean, College of Dentistry | okeson@uky.edu | Dean, College of Arts and Sciences | ana.franco-watkins@uky.edu
Rudolph (Rudy) Buchheit Dean, Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering | rudolph.buchheit@uky.edu
Ana Franco-Watkins
Doug Way Dean, Libraries doug.way@uky.edu
This can mean anything you want it to! You can choose to get involved with on-campus organizations, on- or off-campus jobs, Greek Life and so much more. The campus life here at UK creates endless possibilities of how you can get involved. Regardless of what type of connections you’re interested in making, getting involved is sure to make you feel like you belong and are a part of something new during your freshman year.
With a new school comes new clothes, but when you’re working with a college student budget, things can get expensive quickly. Sure, we all want the cutest and latest trending clothes to wear to class, football games, tailgates and more, except with four long years here (and possibly even longer) you’ll be adding to that wardrobe more than you think. So rather than buying bundles of new Kentucky themed clothing at the beginning of your freshman year, start with some staples — a pair of blue jeans and a clean looking, white top
go a long way. As the years progress, you may find your taste in UK spiritwear will shift too, so these will be a great base to build off of or even to upcycle. There are also plenty of options at the UK Bookstore as well; however, the pricing can be more than some are willing to pay. A great alternative is looking at the local thrift stores, Goodwill or even a nearby Walmart. The UK fan base goes far beyond the university, and you’ll often find a few Wildcat pieces where you’ll least expect (and at a friendly college student price).
Your first few weeks can be exciting and chaotic your freshman year, meeting people left and right, going to the first few football games and having that freedom away from home. Nonetheless, we are all still here to get an education and degree. There may come a time where school feels like a damper to your social life or makes you miss out on something, but the best way to resolve the likelihood of it happening again is to follow a schedule that works for you. It is very important to set time aside for yourself and your school that will allow you to manage your grades and still have a great time here. While you and your friends may not always be on the same schedule, there are 32 weeks of school and plenty of weekends and breaks to make up for a missed opportunity.
Photo by Abbey Cutrer
As we gear up for the fall semester and start going back to school shopping, we wanted to create three staple outfit examples that are perfect for any occasion. The key to a great closet is the staple pieces you could wear to class, game day, coffee shop, a date or even an interview. Having a quality pair of jeans, a classic button-up, loafers and gold jewelry is the perfect base for any outfit. For the days you do not want to dress up, having cute elevated lounge wear will give you that perfect “it girl” look. Lastly, invest in a pair of stylish sneakers that look good with any outfit. Have fun creating new looks with your staple pieces: the options are endless.
UK strives to promote “diversity, inclusion, economic development and human well-being” with the help of various on-campus resources available to all Wildcats, all year round.
First-Generation Student Services supports first-generation students, meaning neither parent or guardian has a 4-year degree, from recruitment to graduation. Through “researchbased programs, resources, best practices, and campuswide advocacy,” First-Gen Student Services ensure that the needs of students who are the first in their family to attend college are met. First-Gen advisors meet these needs by advocating for first-generation students within their colleges and collaborating with other campus offices to provide special resources. The First-Gen Student Services programs include a First-Generation Living Learning Community as well as two first-generation-specific scholarships. More information and resources are available on their webpage.
Room C201, Bill Gatton Student Center
Email: firstgeneration@uky.edu
Website: uky.edu/firstgeneration
By Laurel SwanzLGBTQ* Resources is a campus-wide office working to make sure UK is safe and supportive for all students, faculty, staff and alumni, particularly those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or queer. They are UK’s central hub providing information, services and a sense of belonging for students with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. LGBTQ* Resources’ mission is to “highlight the wonderfully diverse experiences of LGBTQ* Wildcats while working to decrease marginalization in all forms.” A calendar of events as well as descriptions of LGBTQ* related awards, scholarships and internships can be found on their website.
Suite A250, Bill Gatton Student Center
Email: lgbtq@uky.edu
Instagram, Facebook and Twitter: @ukylgbtq
Website: uky.edu/lgbtq
The Human Development Institute “works to improve the inclusion, independence and contributions of people with disabilities and their families through education, research and evaluation, leadership and advocacy.” HDI’s mission is to build an inclusive community at UK by addressing inequities disabled individuals face on campus. In addition to promoting accessibility on campus, HDI strives to make Kentucky and the nation more equitable for people with disabilities through various leadership and community partnerships. HDI’s projects, event calendar, priority areas and additional resources are available on the organization’s website.
126 Graham Ave, Lexington, KY 40508
Phone: 859-257-4356
Website: hdi.uky.edu
Located in the Gatton Student Center, the Martin Luther King Jr. Cultural Center “seeks to empower University of Kentucky students across identities to improve their college experience by promoting access to academic, civic leadership, and cultural exchange opportunities rooted in Dr. King's philosophy.”
Events organized by the MLK Center “promote cultural awareness, leadership development, and foster community to enhance belonging and student success,” per their mission statement. The MLK Center’s full mission statement as well as a calendar of cultural heritage celebrations, services and initiatives can all be found on their webpage.
Suite A230, Bill Gatton Student Center
Email: mlkc@uky.edu
Twitter and Instagram: @UK_MLKCenter
Facebook: @UKMLKC
Website: uky.edu/mlkc
The Violence Intervention and Prevention Center provides students, faculty and staff in the UK community impacted by sexual or gender based interpersonal violence with confidential services. “While we can certainly connect any student to the resources we have available at UK, we deal with sexual and gender based violence, which can include sexual assault, rape, stalking, and intimate partner violence. Even if you’re not sure VIP is the right place for your needs, feel free to contact us and we will help you get the help you need,” the website says. The VIP Center’s services focus on getting students, faculty and staff the support they need, on their own accord. Trained advocates employed by the VIP Center will not direct those seeking help toward any services they do not want, like filing a police report, nor will they press for details.
Room C316, Bill Gatton Student Center
Email: vipcenter@uky.edu
Phone: 859-257-3574
Website: uky.edu/vipcenter
Note: all info on this page comes from the individual organizations’ websites.
As we near the start of the fall semester, it’s time to start getting excited and prepared for game days in Lexington.
Because of the high demand for tickets, Kentucky football and men’s basketball have a specific procedure for both season and single-game tickets. Late each summer, UK Athletics announces when the student lottery for the two teams will take place and how to secure your spot. The lottery typically takes place at the end of July, and students are notified of their status at the beginning of August. Credit card information is needed to enter the lottery but students will not be charged unless they are selected.
It’s important to note that the lottery is only for season tickets. Students interested in only purchasing single-game tickets for a desired game do not need to enter the lottery. So, if you missed out on the lottery this year, don’t worry. You can still purchase single-game tickets in advance to secure a seat in the student section at Kroger Field and Rupp Arena.
Listed below is the breakdown in prices from the 2023-2024 school year from the UK Athletics student tickets page.
• BBN Student Football Pass ($75) - admission for all home football games, provided a ticket is claimed during specified windows.
• BBN Student Basketball Pass ($200) - admission for all home men’s basketball games, provided a ticket is claimed during specified windows.
• Single-game student tickets ($11-$15 ea.) - a limited number of football and men’s basketball single game tickets will be available for students who do not wish to purchase a season pass or are unable to do so.
Single game tickets must be purchased prior to the game and cannot be bought at the door the day of the game.
The most important takeaway for any student hoping to attend a football or men’s basketball game is that a UK Athletics student account is necessary. Keep an eye out for emails from UK Athletics and read them thoroughly to make sure that you understand how to create your account and get your tickets before game day.
During football season, any students with periphery parking passes that park in K-Lot at Kroger Field will be REQUIRED to move their cars to another on-campus parking location for all home games. If you hold one of the affected parking passes, you will receive an email during the week of the home football game reminding you to move your car with information on when and where your vehicle should be moved.
Typically, the most popular alternative spot to park on gameday is Rose Street Garage on Central Campus (Parking Structure #2). Students are required to move their cars from K Lot the day before home football games.
For both football and men’s basketball games, spots in the designated student sections are first come, first served. So, if you have a student season pass or student single-game ticket, arrive early to guarantee you will have a spot in the student section. Overflow from the student section will be placed in the higher sections of the stadiums.
Photo by Carter Skaggs Photo by Abbey Cutrer Photo by Carter SkaggsWhile the argument of whether UK is a “football school” or a “basketball school” runs rampant, several other sports at UK have become notable and popular among students in recent years.
In the spring, the baseball team made its secondever Super Regional appearance and won 40 games for just the seventh time in the program’s over 100-season history.
UK’s men’s soccer team had an undefeated regular season last fall, making them the only undefeated Division I men’s soccer program in the nation during the regular season. The team went on to win the 2022 Sun Belt Conference Tournament Championship.
The volleyball team, which will now be playing its home games at the larger Rupp Arena instead of Memorial Coliseum, has grown its audience in the last few years after winning the NCAA National Championship title in 2020. UK was the first team in the SEC to win a national championship in volleyball.
Finally, UK’s co-ed rifle team, which placed third in this year’s NCAA championships, won two consecutive NCAA titles as champions in the 2021 and 2022 seasons. The team has four national championships under its belt since 2011.
These are just a few of the successful teams that round out UK’s noteworthy sports roster.
And the best part — student tickets for all other sports that are not football or men’s basketball are free. The University of Kentucky outlines the simple rules of its free admission for students under the “Student Tickets” page on the UK Athletics website:
“UK students are admitted free to the following regular-season, home sporting events by showing a valid student ID at the entrance. Students may sit in select general admission student areas for each of these events, based on availability.”
THESE
Baseball
Cross Country/Track & Field (Men’s & Women’s)
Golf (Men’s & Women’s)
Gymnastics
Rifle
Softball
Soccer (Men’s & Women’s)
STUNT
Swimming & Diving (Men’s & Women’s)
Tennis (Men’s & Women’s)
Volleyball
Women’s Basketball
There are many club sports offered at UK, and hockey is among the most popular. Starting in the fall, UK’s club hockey team has games at midnight on select Friday nights. Admission for all students and non-students is $10 at the door for hockey games. No online tickets prior to the game are sold.
2 3 4 5 6
Don’t wait to join the organizations that you’re interested in or try for a job or internship in your field. Now is the best time to build your network and use your resources because everyone at UK is genuinely here to help you get to where you want to be. Even though putting yourself out there and trying for something you may not feel qualified for is difficult, I promise it will pay off.
Emma Reilly, KRNL Editor-in-ChiefGet involved the second you step foot on campus. The earlier you get started with the organizations and clubs that you’re passionate about or are interested in, the faster you’ll be able to find a community of people that you relate to and eventually call your friends.
Rana Alsoufi, KRNL Lifestyle EditorDon’t feel bad about switching your major. Switch it a million times until you find what you’re passionate about.
Nupur Bendre, KRNL Assistant Digital Editor
College can be insanely overwhelming, especially your freshman year. The transition from high school to now is a whole new chapter in your life with a completely unknown plot. As someone who wanted to get the most out of everything happening on campus from social events to sporting events, it helped me to keep a detailed agenda of important dates. It is impossible to remember everything to do in a single week, but writing down the dates of basketball games, exams and Greek life events I wanted to attend helped me maximize my free time to make sure had the availability to do the things I loved most during the week.
Samantha Money, Kernel Assistant Sports Editor
Try it all. The worst that can happen is it not working out, and you never have to wonder “what if?”
Ashleigh Jones, KRNL Content Team MemberDon’t compare your freshman year to anyone else’s, may that be to your fellow Wildcats or to students at other schools. It’s easy to feel like you’re falling behind or doing something wrong if you focus too much on how good everyone else seems to be doing. Remember, social media is fake and establishing a social network in a completely new environment takes time. It’s a hard enough adjustment as is, the last thing you need is to beat yourself up because college isn’t what you wanted it to be right off the bat. Once I started shifting my focus to my own opportunities and relationships and away from everything I felt like I was missing out on, my mental health improved drastically. Don’t let FOMO make you miserable.
Laurel Swanz, Kernel Assistant News and Features EditorEDITORS-IN-CHIEF
Emma Reilly
Hannah Stanley
MANAGING EDITORS
Leanna Marji
WRITERS
Hannah Stanley
Gray Greenwell
Alexis Baker
Laurel Swanz
Samantha Money
Jackie Preston President
Doug Conley Business Manager Jimmy Preston Financial Secretary/Treasure
701 Allenridge PT Lexington, KY 40510 (859) 252-8337
www.plumbersandpipefitters452.com
Abbey Cutrer
DESIGNERS
Hunter Grace Hayes
Karli Fee
Bree Cox
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Abbey Cutrer
Carter Skaggs
Travis Fannon
Michael Clubb
BEHIND THE SCENES
Ryan Craig
David Stephenson
Bryce McNeil
Abbey Cutrer
Sydney Wagner
Mal Gray
Emma Reilly
Rana Alsoufi
Nupur Bendre
Jess Govea
Nia Chancellor
Ashleigh Jones
Kristen Roberts
Alexandria Landgraf
HAVE MORE QUESTIONS? ASK US!
“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.”
-John Dewey
“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.”
-John Dewey
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