kentuckykernel
Monday, January 28, 2019 est. 1892 | Independent since 1971 www.kykernel.com @kykernel @kentuckykernel
BEDSHEET SIGNALS SECRET SOCIETY PAGE 4
DYNASTY UK CHEER WINS 24TH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
SCOUTING THE CATS IN THE NFL DRAFT PAGE 10
CALLING ALL ARTISTS PAGE 8
Monday, January 28, 2019
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Monday, January 28, 2019
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LOOKING BACK, MOVING FORWARD WILL THE FEDERAL SHUTDOWN AFFECT FINANCIAL AID?
University officials feel that the ongoing federal shutdown will “create minimal disruptions” for institutions like UK, a UKNow press release stated last week. Officials believe that, for the time being, the shutdown will not affect federal financial aid as those laws were signed last year, a UK website designed to answer questions about the shutdown stated. Many of the most important federal funding agencies were also signed into law last year and will likely be able to continue function through the shutdown, the press release stated. UK officials promise to continue to monitor the situation and will update the campus if anything seriously changes. Those with questions can visit the following website, which lists answers to frequently asked questions about the shutdown: http://www.uky.edu/president/partial-federal-government-shutdown.
MAYOR WANTS TO ATTRACT HIGH-TECH AG BUSINESS WITH HELP FROM UK
Linda Gorton, Lexington’s mayor, said that she aims to work with UK’s College of Agriculture and other local agriculture businesses to attract and grow high-tech agriculture business. In her first state of the city address, Gorton told the crowd at the Hyatt Regency hotel that Lexington is in good shape to pursue technology companies that specialize in agriculture, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported. More than 250 acres of undeveloped land on the city’s north side, which UK previously gave to the city in exchange for control of some roads around campus, will be a ready asset in the city’s campaign to attract more business, Gorton said.
SUPER BLOOD WOLF MOON ECLIPSE
Super blood wolf moon eclipse: Try
JORDAN PRATHER I STAFF The ‘super blood wolf moon’ photographed during full eclipse early on Monday, Jan. 21, 2019, in Corinth, Kentucky.
CONTACT saying that five times fast. A total lunar eclipse, which occurs when the moon passes fully into the Earth’s shadow, began late on the evening of Jan. 20 and ended early on the morning of Jan. 21. This eclipse occurred during a super moon, when the full moon is at the closest point of its orbit to Earth. There’s still more to the moniker: It was called a blood moon because the moon appears to be a red copper color during the eclipse, though the moon doesn’t turn red. Lastly, a wolf moon comes from a Native American saying about January full moons.
HOW TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR
Time is running out for you to finally get your chance to become commander-in-chief of the state’s militia. The deadline to run for Kentucky governor is 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 29. So if you have $500, a running mate and a couple signatures, you could run for the highest office in the state. Of course, you’ll also have to be older than 30 and have had lived in the state for more than six years. Should you win the general election in November, you would be in control of the “army and navy of this Commonwealth,” the state constitution states, and of course will have veto power over legislation, be able to pardon your friends and will be charged with taking care that the “laws be faithfully executed.” If you so choose to register, you will be joining several other candidates who have already declared their intentions to govern this Commonwealth. Four Democrats have entered the running so far: Attorney General Andy Beshear and running mate Jacqueline Coleman; state House minority leader Rocky Adkins and running mate Stephanie Horn; Adam Edelen, a former state auditor, and running mate Gill Holland; and Geoff Young and running mate Joshua French. On the Republican side, only state representative Robert Goforth and running mate Mike Hogan have officially filed, but incumbent Gov. Matt Bevin will likely join the race.
Editor-in-chief
Bailey Vandiver editor@kykernel.com
Managing editor
McKenna Horsley
News editor Rick Childress news@kykernel.com Asst. news editors
Jacob Eads Sydney Momeyer
Sports editor Erika Bonner sports@kykernel.com Asst. sports editor
Chase Campbell
Opinions editor Sarah Ladd opinions@kykernel.com Asst. opinions editor Hannah Woosley Lifestyle editor Akhira Umar lifestyle@kykernel.com Asst. lifestyle editor
Emily Baehner
Art director
Arden Barnes
Photo editor
Jordan Prather
Assist. photo editor
Michael Clubb
Social media editor Makenna Theissen kernelsocial@kykernel.com KENTUCKY KERNEL OFFICES 340 McVey Hall University of Kentucky Lexington, KY 40506 P: 859.2571915 www.kykernel.com
ON THE COVER
JORDAN PRATHER I STAFF A UK cheerleader flies through the air during the Blue team’s performance of its competition routine during the team’s sendoff at the Seaton Center on Jan. 17, 2019, in Lexington, Kentucky.
spring 2019 | 3
Monday, January 28, 2019
news Bedsheet signals secret society’s presence on UK campus By Rick Childress news@kykernel.com
An ominous bed sheet, hung from a UK parking garage, heralded the possible existence of a century-old secret society. A large painted sheet, which hung from the Rose Street parking garage on the morning of Thursday, Jan. 18, may have been the insignia of a controversial secret fraternity which has reportedly vied for power on American college campuses since the late 19th century. The banner, which displayed a skull above two crossing keys, was tied to the roof of the parking garage on the south side, which faces the Don and Cathy Jacobs Science Building. Theta Nu Epsilon is spelled out in Greek lettering on the skull’s forehead, and below the keys is XVIII, which is 18 in Roman numerals. “We do exist,” was
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ARDEN BARNES I STAFF A painted sheet depicting the Theta Nu Epsilon insignia was placed on the Rose Street Garage on UK’s campus in Lexington, Kentucky, on Jan. 17, 2018.
painted prominently above the skull. Upon closer inspection, two Miller Lite beer cans were duck taped to the bottom corners of the sheet, presumably to weigh the banner down in the wind. UK spokesperson Jay Blanton told the Kernel
that the banner bore the insignia of the Theta Nu Epsilon fraternity, and that campus officials were looking into the incident. The sheet was taken down by the afternoon. Theta Nu Epsilon is not listed on any university list of official Greek orga-
nizations. Various media outlets and university historical archives have stated over the years that the fraternity is a secret society that operates at some schools across America. An article, published by the University of Oregon’s special collections library, states that the fraternity started in 1870 at Yale University as an offshoot of the Skull and Bones society. Theta Nu Epsilon came to the Oregon campus in 1900 and by the 1930s had significant control of the student government association and other facets of student life. “Theta Nu Epsilon developed outside the fraternal infrastructure, incorporating members from each fraternity on campus in order to form a cabal that controlled student government and student life behind the scenes,” the article states. There is little evidence of previous Theta
Nu Epsilon activity on UK’s campus. Terry Birdwhistell, UK’s lead oral historian, said he did some searching in the university archives but only turned up one UK student who ever publicly claimed to be part of the fraternity. Leon Frankel, a UK graduate and engineering faculty member, had the fraternity listed in his 1907 and 1908 yearbook entries, according to a snippet of an old yearbook that Birdwhistell sent to the Kernel.
Frankel
The fraternity has reportedly had a firm grip on power at the University of Alabama for close to
a century. According to a dissertation on collegiate secret societies penned in 2015 by Mackenzie Crane, the Theta Nu Epsilon chapter at Alabama is commonly referred to as “the Machine.” The Machine, which is open to Greek life members chosen by the fraternity, uses its network of students and alumni to make sure that Machine-backed students get elected to prominent SGA positions at Alabama, the dissertation stated. Numerous opinions pieces published in the University of Alabama’s student newspaper and on AL.com, the state’s largest newspaper, claim that the fraternity runs much of Alabama’s student government and is responsible for limiting diversity in that university’s Greek system. John Thelin, a UK ed-
See SOCIETY on page 5
Monday, January 28, 2019
Dunnigan statue ‘home’ in Kentucky; at UK for celebration of her life By Bailey Vandiver news@kykernel.com
During her life, Alice Dunnigan excelled at walking through doors people didn’t think she could or should go through, such as in the White House or Supreme Court building. Decades after her death, she had the same experience in sculpture form: After several minutes of angling and measuring and removing of handles, the crate that held Dunnigan’s statue made it through a door in the basement of William T. Young Library… just barely. The statue of Dunnigan, sculpted by Lexington sculptor Amanda Matthews and her husband and business partner Brad Connell, now stands in the library’s rotunda and will for the next several weeks. On Feb. 4, the UK School of Journalism and Media will host an event, “Celebrating Alice Dunnigan,” which will feature Matthews, Gran Clark of Russellville, and Carol McCabe Booker, who edited Dunnigan’s autobiography. Mike Farrell, interim director and professor in the School of Journalism and Media, said that Dunnigan is “very significant.” “You can start with the fact that she is a role model for African-Americans,
SOCIETY
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 ucation professor who is widely known for his historical research into higher education, said he did not know much about Theta Nu Epsilon, but
PHOTOS BY ARDEN BARNES I STAFF LEFT: The statue of Alice Dunnigan, the first black female journalist to gain credentials to the White House, was placed in the rotunda in William T. Young library on UK’s campus on Jan. 19, 2019. ABOVE: Lexington sculptor Amanda Matthews laughs while moving her sculpture of Alice Dunnigan into the William T. Young Library on Jan. 19, 2019. The statue was previously on display in the Newseum in Washington, D.C.
for women, and for young people who were born in poverty,” he said. “She overcame all three of those to rise to the height of journalism and cover the White House.” Matthews and Connell completed the bronze statue of Dunnigan last fall. Dunnigan is a Russellville, Kentucky, native who moved to Washington, D.C., and became the first black female journalist to gain credentials to the White House. Clark, a leader in the West Kentucky African American Heritage Center in Rus-
sellville, came to Matthews with an idea for a project to honor Dunnigan. Matthews and Connell began working on the statue, which is based on a photo of Dunnigan standing on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. Originally, the statue was planned to go straight to its permanent home in Russellville. Instead, it spent most of the fall in Washington, D.C., on the fourth floor of the Newseum. Matthews said she and Connell met with Newseum staff when they uninstalled the statue. “They said she had
been a really big hit at the Newseum while she was there and they hated to see her go,” Matthews said. Matthews and Connell brought the statue back from D.C. in a bright yellow Penske moving van. It was a long process transporting the statue from the van at the Willy T loading dock up to its spot on the first floor, behind the security desk. “It did feel like bringing her home,” Matthews said about bringing Dunnigan, who she said “seems like an old friend at this point,” back to Kentucky.
UK employees and Matthews’ friends and family helped transport the statue. Among the helpers was Natalie Fields, Matthews’ elder daughter and a civil engineering junior at UK. She said it’s exciting for her mom’s art to be on her campus. She said her mom has art all over Lexington, but not always in such a recognizable place. “This one’s cool because I can be like, ‘Hey you know that statue literally in the rotunda of the library?
Yeah, that’s my mom’s.’ So that’s exciting. I’m going to brag about it a lot,” she said. The “Celebrating Alice Dunnigan” event will on Monday, Feb. 4, 2019, at 7 p.m. in the William T. Young Library auditorium. The statue’s next stop is planned to be the Truman Presidential Library in Missouri, but the government shutdown had stalled those plans. The statue will be put in its permanent place in Russellville in early August.
could speak to the influence of collegiate secret societies. Nationally, the most famous secret societies are at Yale University, Thelin told the Kernel. The Skull and Bones society, which began at Yale, has famously hosted five generations
of the George Bush family. “When the late George Bush was having a rough spot in his career, Skull and Bones members assembled in New Haven (Conn.) and summoned him for a ‘bucking up’ dinner– a tough love ad-
monishment to shape up, chin up and be a leader, etc.,” Thelin wrote in an email. Many college deans don’t like secret societies because they often resist control, Thelin said. “On the other hand, often deans and presidents
who are alumni may themselves be members of the secret society,” Thelin said. “Hence, the societies often are able to resist intrusion or reform or control.” Birdwhistell said that obtaining information on a group that intentionally
tries to hide itself can be challenging, especially for those looking to prove their existence. “Now, of course, the paradox in learning about college secret societies is that, well, then they really would not be secret!” Thelin wrote.
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Monday, January 28, 2019
DYNASTY
UK CHEER WINS 24TH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Story by Erika Bonner | Photos by Jordan Prather
It’s been quite the year for Kentucky Athletics. Ten wins that include a Citrus Bowl victory for UK football, an SEC Championship title and NCAA tournament run for volleyball, an Elite 8 appearance from the men’s soccer team, and in the second week of January, UK had seven ranked teams (gymnastics, men’s and women’s basketball, rifle, women’s track and field, men’s and women’s swimming and diving). And as of Jan. 20, there is one more accolade to be added to that list: a 24th national 6 | kentucky kernel
title for Kentucky cheerleading.
competition takes place in Orlando, Florida, where some of the best cheer programs in the country go head-to-head for the chance to win it all. Kentucky came in first place in Division IA, with Ohio State University in second, and the University of Alabama in third. UK and Alabama were the only two SEC schools to place in the top-10 in Division IA. But what sets the Wildcats apart from the other top cheer programs in the country?
UK cheer and national championships are synonymous— the program has had 24 of them, after all. The Cats won their first crown in 1985, and would then go on to claim the 1987-88, 1992, 1995-2002, 2004-06, 200810, 2012, 2014 and 2016-19 championships. If you don’t feel like doing the math, that’s 24 national titles in the last 35 years. 2019’s championship makes a quadruple triumph, the second time in school history the team Cheerleaders Riley Aguiar and Josh Marsh has done so, while the school record is eight both emphasized focus. straight. “Just two minutes and 30 seconds of just The Universal Cheerleaders Association straight focus. We don’t deviate from any-
Monday, January 28, 2019
thing that we have not practiced, we stick to the script, everything that Jomo (Thompson, head coach) has taught us, all the reps that we have done, countless, countless hours that we have spent in the gym, it all comes out when we do the routine,” Marsh said. “It’s our job to show the process and show the world what we’re capable of and trying to make it look as easy as possible and clean as possible.” And they did just that. After it was announced that the team won, many fans took to Twitter to express their congratulatory statements, including UK men’s basketball head coach John Calipari and former UK men’s basketball player Devin Booker. “Congrats, Kentucky Cheer. Domination at its finest!” Booker wrote. Championships aren’t new to UK Cheer, but for them, this year felt different. Both Marsh and Aguiar said they believe there’s a little something about this year’s team that added to the winning recipe. Marsh said experience; Aguiar said chemistry. “The road itself has been a little bit easier because we have a really, really athletic team, people that have been in cheer for a good bit so they kind of know the ins and outs of everything, so we really don’t have to teach them the stuff that’d you kind of have to teach people in the previous years,” Marsh said. Junior Pittsburgh native Aguiar said this year’s team is full of chemistry, honesty and trust, three things that are key for a successful showing on the mat. “There’s not really any cliques, like we all just really work together and help each other, we’re honest with each other, we give corrections and everyone’s been taking the corrections really well to get those little mistakes out,” Aguiar said. “If you don’t trust your teammates, like you really have nothing. These skills are extremely high in difficulty so you have to do your job and you can’t do any more or any less, and you have to trust the per-
son you’re with to do their job, and then it all works out.” For them, it’s not the championships or being on the floor at Rupp Arena that makes it all worthwhile— it’s wearing UK across their chests that make those things even more special, and Marsh specifically credits those who wore it before him. “People who paved a way for us to— for us to receive the benefits and stuff that we get today, receiving the notoriety and the respect that we get at UK and country-wide,” Marsh said. For Aguiar, being a UK cheerleader is all she’s ever dreamed of, and she said she didn’t even look at any other schools because of it. “And just being able to represent our school and show the school that cheerleading is something that should be recognized because other schools know who we are and take us so seriously,” Aguiar said. “It’s just an incredible feeling wearing my school across my chest.”
LEFT: Kentucky cheerleading championship rings lay on the court in the Seaton Center before the team’s send-off performance on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019, in Lexington, Kentucky. ABOVE: UK cheerleading’s Blue team performs its competition routine during the team’s sendoff at the Seaton Center on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019, in Lexington, Kentucky.
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Monday, January 28, 2019
lifestyle
Bridget Nicholas: UK’s face of international outreach By Hailey Peters
lifestyle@kykernel.com
Being a high-achieving university with global impact that focuses much of its efforts on cultural enrichment is one of UK’s core values, and it can be reflected in its mission statement and as part of the new Kentucky Can: The 21st Century Campaign. This university is made up of all its students, faculty, and alumni, and it is up to them to bring this vision to life while achieving their own personal and professional goals. That is exactly what UK grad Bridget Nicholas has accomplished. On Dec. 6, 2018, the UK Office of Competitive Awards announced Nicholas, a 2018 modern and classical languages (Chinese studies) and international studies graduate, as one of 30 Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellows. This program will allow Nicolas to receive funding for her master’s degree in a foreign service field and give her the guarantee of five years’ work experience as a foreign officer, either in the nation’s capital or at an international U.S. embassy. Nicholas acknowledged that the application process was extremely rigorous and extensive, and she said she feels fortunate and honored to be selected to continue to represent Kentucky abroad. She previously interned with the State Department, and her undying interest in Chinese language and culture is what pushed her to apply. “I have always been drawn to learning about other languages and cultures and have wanted a career where I can travel,” Nicholas said. “I interned in the Taiwan Coordination Office in D.C. and in the Public Affairs section of Embassy Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan. I realized that the Foreign Service offers the perfect way to put what I have learned to work and a constantly challenging career: FSOs change jobs
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Young Artist Competition underway By Akhira Umar
lifestyle@kykernel.com
PHOTO PROVIDED BY BRIDGET NICHOLAS UK graduate Bridget Nicholas was named as one of 30 Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellows, allowing her to recieve funding for her master’s degree and five years of work experience as a foreign officer.
and posts every one to three years, so they’re constantly learning and adapting.” Prior to being selected as a Pickering Fellow, Nicholas spent time as a Princeton in Asia Fellow, a program that she thoroughly enjoyed, but she missed the bonding experiences with other Fellows. She hopes to enjoy all the benefits of being able to spend time with her new cohort of Fellows before being assigned to a location abroad. “Fellows and their cohort spend a week at orientation together,” she said. “Then [they] follow the same path— two years of graduate study and internships before entering the Foreign Service together.” In her time at UK, Nicholas’ professors agreed that she had the character, work ethic and vision that it takes to be a positive change in the country’s future with foreign affairs. “[Nicholas] has always been passionate about international studies,” said Jeorg Sauer of the French department. “This program will be good for her, and she will be good for America
and representing UK internationally.” The university has always put an emphasis on international outreach — always pushing kids to study abroad and recruiting new freshmen from international locations. Nicholas said she agrees that the university’s message about going beyond Kentucky is vital for personal growth.
“The world is so big— and it only seems bigger the more I have traveled,” she said. “Kentucky is such a small corner of the world that I think not gaining a perspective on somewhere outside of it, whether through study, travel, language learning, or another method, would be a great pity.” Nicholas urges everyone to learn more about the world, through whatever means they can. The Pickering Fellowship is a perfect opportunity for she and students with the same dreams as her to be able to make a difference within the community at UK, the commonwealth of Kentucky and beyond to the world’s farthest reaching, untouched corners.
Calling all artists! It’s time yet again for the annual Young Artist Competition. For the seventh year, the Student Activities Board will be hosting its competition for all young artists here at UK. Students have the chance to win an art supply shopping spree and an opportunity for their artwork to be displayed for all to see. The Young Artist Competition has a history dating back to the old student center. The Director of Cultural Arts was charged with bringing professional art exhibitions to showcase in Risdell gallery. It was then thought of to showcase hopeful professionals’ art along with the professional, said Katie Creech, current director of cultural arts for SAB. “The purpose of the competition is to give students a chance to display their work. It’s also very encouraging to a young artist who is just starting out to be put into an exhibition,” Creech said. By “young artist,” Creech means anyone who considers themselves to be an artist. Though this is a competition of the arts, that doesn’t mean entries can only come from those majoring in the arts. Creech said there have been a variety of students who have entered, with the average number of submissions being 20 to 30 per year. Not only do the students who enter vary, but so does the art they submit. “To my knowledge, most of the work has been 2D and under the ‘Fine Art’ category, and a few sculptures,” Creech said. “There really hasn’t been a certain theme among the artwork, we always get a va-
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PHOTO PROVIDED BY MEGAN LO Megan Lo poses with her artwork at last year’s Young Artist Competition reception gallery.
ARTIST
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
riety of subject matter. However, I am hoping we get a few digital media or performance submissions this year.” Like any other art competition, students are given the chance to submit a portfolio to be judged and potentially awarded. A panel of art professors from the School of Art and Visual Studies will choose which pieces go on display while also choosing an overall winner to award a $500 scholarship for Michael’s Arts and Crafts. Two other artists have the chance to win via audience choice and receive a $300 scholarship. Third-year pharmacy student Megan Lo was one of the latter winners of last year’s competition. While students this year are able to enter up to 15 pieces, Lo only entered four, all of which went on display. Lo said although she had been making art for as long as she could remember and she was always confident in her abilities, she wanted to see where she stood against others. So when she was announced as one of the winners, it was a rewarding experience. “I was ecstatic,” Lo said. “I didn’t want to set my expectations too high as it was a very real possibility that I’d go home with nothing but the experience. I was grateful for the support and proud of my ability to create art that people enjoyed.” Those interested in entering the competition should go to BBNvolved.com and fill out the Young Artist Competition form. All competitors will fill out a questionnaire, provide an artist statement and a statement explaining how the scholarship would further their creative process, and submit a portfolio of up to 15 art pieces. The gallery reception will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on March 20 in the School of Art and Visual Studies atrium. At that time, the three winners of the competition will be announced. All artwork will remain on display for one week after the reception, where they will then be picked up by their artists.
Monday, January 28, 2019
opinions
Coast Guard another victim of government shutdown HANNAH WOOSLEY Assistant Opinions Editor
NBC News reported on Jan. 15 that 42,000 active-duty Coast Guard members missed their scheduled paycheck that day, resulting in hard, dedicated and, at times, life-threatening work going unpaid. Our Congress and president should be ashamed of themselves.
Some of the people we’ve elected are so unable to sit down respectfully for more
than a few minutes to open a conversation of compromise to ensure federal workers are paid again. But now, it’s affecting even more people than those federal workers we’ve heard about every day; it’s affecting the very people who sacrifice their lives for ours. Active-duty Coast Guard members jobs include maritime safety, which is Search and Rescue, maritime security, like preventing intentional damages of sabotage, terrorism and maritime stewardship, which includes protecting our waters from hazardous materials and examination of foreign vessels. Jan. 15 was the Coast Guard’s first missed paycheck, and as of Jan. 23, they’re still
unpaid. All of this crucial work is unpaid because the Coast Guard is under the Department of Homeland Security, so all of its employees are working unpaid during the government shutdown. A bill signed by President Donald Trump on Jan. 16 agreed to retroactively pay Coast Guard members, but not until the shutdown is over. Essentially, our Congress and our president are asking our Coast Guard to operate without pay, to continue to do a job that is crucial to our national security as a country without any money– something so disrespectful it should’ve immediately urged conversations to find solutions to end the shut-
down, not to only pass a bill taunting our service members that they’ll get their pay later, after the shutdown is over.
USAA Bank stepped up in a way our government isn’t; they donated $15 million to help aid Coast Guard members and their families. And that will help, yes, but it won’t last forever– especially with no end to the shutdown in sight. While no one should ever work without pay, it’s deeply saddening that a branch of our military, those who took an oath to protect our country we so cherish, are given this treatment. They deserve better, and our Congress and our president owe them that.
Protest altercation reminds us to unite in spite of political differences has a lot of people up in arms.
SARAH LADD Opinions Editor
We have recently had a season of marches, from the Women’s March, MLK marches, The Indigenous Peoples March, to the March for Life. In Washington, D.C., on Jan. 18, a now-famous altercation between indigenous leaders who were part of the Indigenous Peoples March and high school students from Covington Catholic High School in Park Hills who were part of the March for Life
The Covington mayor responded to reports that the students were mocking Native Americans and said those actions do not represent his constituency. The high school promised to take action. The initial videos were later expounded upon and some argued that the Native Americans stepped in to stop an altercation between the students and other protesters, and therefore were provoked.
The main high schooler from the videos later issued a statement saying that he and his group were verbally attacked by other protesters, and he said they never did anything other than
chant their school’s chants in response to those attacks. No matter how it got started or the intricacies of the confrontation, the incident represents the problem of hate in our country and state. No, those actions don’t represent the Kentucky we know and love. But we are still responsible for changing it. I’ve seen a lot of social media posts since the incident of well-meaning people condemning the actions of both sides, but it’s not enough. We have to commit, on this campus right now, to stepping in when we see people slander other cultures and other people. We have to commit to never letting people bully others when we can step in and do or
say something. We should also learn from this and similar events to wait until more details emerge before we jump to anger. It takes time to uncover the whole truth of situations, and we should refrain from harsh comments until we know more. Lately, our country has slipped into a dangerous mentality. That is, the idea that if you disagree with someone politically, you have a right to demean their humanity. Both sides of this altercation claimed the other side treated them in this way. This is a dangerous and slippery slope, and we have to fight this in order to avoid the more gruesome points of human history.
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Monday, January 28, 2019
sports
By Mohammad Ahmad sports@kykernel.com
With the NFL Draft coming up in late April, the UK football program has a chance to make a splash. The Cats could see up to 12 players drafted in Nashville, starting on Thursday, April 25. “In the neighborhood of 11 to 12 guys that could potentially get drafted,” Stoops said after a practice before the Citrus Bowl. No Kentucky players have been selected in the last two drafts since linebacker Josh Forrest went in the sixth round to the Los Angeles Rams in 2016, and only two Cats have been drafted in the first round since Tim Couch was the first overall pick in 1999. Linebacker Bud Dupree’s 22nd overall selection by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2015 is the most recent.
Scouting the Cats in the NFL Draft
Speaking of linebackers, another Wildcat has a chance to be a first round linebacker– Josh Allen is the highest projected Kentucky player available. According to WalterFootball, he is the top-ranked outside linebacker. The 6-foot-5, 260-pounder was named a consensus All-American and was a Bednarik award winner, Nagurski Award winner, Lott IMPACT Trophy winner and SEC Defensive Player of the Year winner. ESPN’s Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr. have each projected Allen as a top-10 pick. McShay projects Allen going to the Detroit Lions as the ninth overall pick, while Kiper has Allen going to the San Francisco 49ers as the second overall pick. Allen recognized his potential after the Cats’ 2019 VRBO Citrus Bowl win, when he stated at the end
ARDEN BARNES I STAFF Kentucky Wildcats players Josh Allen, Jordan Jones and Derrick Baity Jr. celebrate after stopping a Middle Tennessee play during the game on Nov. 17, 2018, in Lexington, Kentucky.
of the press conference, “If I don’t go No. 1 [in the NFL Draft], I don’t know who is.” Linebacker Jordan Jones is also projected to be selected anywhere from the third to fifth round, according to WalterFootball. In his final season at UK, Jones had 68 tackles, 1.5 sacks
and a forced fumble. Multiple UK defensive backs could have themselves a day in the draft. Safety Darius West is listed by WalterFootball as being the 20th-best safety available. The site projects him to be a mid-round pick like Jones. West came up with 86 tackles in 2018 and showed
his prowess in pass coverage with six interceptions and six broken passes, and he was also invited to play in the Reese’s Senior Bowl. Mike Edwards is also projected to be a mid-round pick. Edwards had 82 tackles with two interceptions and was one of the main leaders on defense. Cornerbacks Derrick Baity Jr. and Lonnie Johnson Jr. are each projected to be selected as well, according to WalterFootball. The site projects Johnson to be an early to mid-round pick and Baity a projected late-round pick. The duo combined for 60 tackles and nine passes broken up in 2018. On the other side of the ball, running back Benny Snell Jr. has a chance to rush his way into the NFL. WalterFootball named Snell the third-best running back available. Snell had a dominant season, rushing for
1,449 yards and 16 touchdowns with five yards per carry in 2018, becoming UK’s all-time rushing leader and all-time career rushing touchdown leader. Tight end C.J. Conrad is listed as the seventh-best tight end available and a projected mid-round pick, according to WalterFootball, and drew comparisons to former UK tight end Jacob Tamme. His 30 receptions for 318 yards in 2018 earned him an East-West Shrine Bowl invitation. George Asafo-Adjei, Bunchy Stallings, Chris Westry and Dorian Baker are either listed as latedraft picks or undrafted free agents. Pre-combine workouts could help their chances. 1951 saw nine Cats selected in the NFL Draft– the most in school history, but this April presents a chance for UK football to overshadow the 1951 draft.
‘Sophomore Nick Richards’ performing in unexpected ways By Chase Campbell sports@kykernel.com
Since the UK men’s basketball trip in the Bahamas concluded, Cats fans have desired and pleaded for “Sophomore Nick Richards” to show up to games. In the Bahamas, Richards volleyball-spiked shots and put up hooks that started above the rim. He hustled up and down the floor, outmuscling the opposition on the glass. Then, like it never even happened, Sophomore Nick Richards disappeared. The starting center for much of last season, Richards strug-
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gles to maintain a consistent positive presence on the floor for the Cats. He’s averaging fewer points and rebounds than he did a year ago, but on severely reduced minutes. He’s been rotated out of the starting lineup and was in serious danger of completely falling out of the rotation in lieu of E.J. Montgomery. For the Cats, Richards was an enigma his freshman season. He was capable of dominating the offensive boards and dunking on anybody in his path, much like former Cat Bam Adebayo. Only problem was, he’d never do it against stiff com-
petition. This year, UK head coach John Calipari has been very specific about Richards’ role. He comes off the bench as a rim protector, making his living on the defensive end as he deters any opposing team from coming into the lane. His natural 6-foot-11 stature is something that P.J. Washington and Reid Travis can’t provide the Cats. Calipari has said on numerous occasions that the team needs Richards to be national contenders, and that assertion is beginning to show. Over the course of this season, after his role was
defined, Richards threw himself into defense. He now posts a frustrating (for other teams) 93.9 defensive rating (lower is better, 100 is average) and blocks a gaudy 12.2 percent of shots that come his way. Last season, when Richards played more minutes, his block rate was only 7 percent, and he came up with a 99.2 defensive rating. In conference play, Richards has been downright terrifying on defense. He boasts a gaudy net rating (offensive rating minus defensive rating) of 45.2, blocking six shots every 100 possessions. He gets a block
or a steal on an estimated 15 percent of possessions. He’s doing all of this while averaging a mere 12 minutes per conference game. For reference, only Braxton Key of Virginia and Kyle Alexander of Tennessee have a higher offensive rating in their conference schedule while playing that level of defense for Power 5 schools. Sophomore Nick Richards isn’t what we were all expecting him to be. To assume he’s playing poorly because he’s not scoring, however, is grossly unfair to the show he’s been putting on this season.
JORDAN PRATHER I STAFF Kentucky sophomore forward Nick Richards makes a two-point basket during the game against Mississippi State on Jan. 22, 2019, at Rupp Arena.
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