Kentucky Kernel: April 19, 2021 by Kentucky Kernel

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Monday, April 19, 2021

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Prospective students see a university prepping for normal | pg. 6

RALLY SUPPORTS TEEN HIT BY POLICE CAR PG. 2 • NCAA WAIVER USE PG. 8

SCIENTISTS UNCOVERING THE UNKNOWN

LEXINGTON CITY BUDGET FOR 2022

SOPHOMORE A NATIONAL NO. 1

Monday, April 19, 2021

news

Artivism rally a show of support for teen whom police hit with cruiser By Natalie Parks editor@kykernel.com

Local organizations are continuing to push for justice for Liam Long, a 19-year-old Lexington resident whom Officer Nicolas Gray hit with a cruiser while responding to a mental health call for Long, who is autistic. A news release from Lexington police said Officer Caleb Wade, also on the scene, said “due to Long’s current mental state, verbal statements to the case worker, and making threats with the knife which was still in his hand, he felt Long was a danger to himself and others and needed emergency detention.” In body camera and other footage released by the police department, Gray and Wade can be heard saying Long ‘darted out’ in front of the cruiser. But bystanders heard in the audio say Gray “hit him on purpose.” LPD Accountability, a group dedicated to reforming the Lexington Police Department, hosted an ‘artivism’ rally on Saturday, April 17, to shed more light on Long’s case. Rally attendees made cards and signs for Long, who is still in the hospital recovering from injuries, including a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder. His mother, Kendra Long, hopes that Liam can come

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MICHAEL CLUBB I STAFF Participants fill out cards during the Artivism For Autism event held by LPD Accountability on Saturday, April 17, 2021, at the Courthouse Plaza in Lexington, Kentucky.

home in the next week. “He still doesn’t understand that he was hit by a motor vehicle, he has absolutely no idea. He doesn’t remember anything about being at UK Hospital. So when he does get discharged, we just have a lot of integrating to do and explaining,” Long said. Though Long’s focus is on Liam, she does want more education and training for police in responding to mental health calls.

“When children are sensory-overloaded, when they’re already upset, [understanding] is important because when you’re telling them to do something, or commanding them to do something, or threatening them in any way, their automatic response is fight or flight,” Long said. When police officers confronted Liam, she said he was actually running to her house, which is very close to where he lives.

Autistics United Kentucky attended the rally to show support for Long and their other members who have had similar encounters with police. AUK members strongly believe that police should be not be called during mental crisis. “If I was having a mental health crisis, and somebody called the police, I would never speak to that person. And I would treat them as though they wanted me to dead,” said Sky-

ler, an autistic teen with AUK. Winter Sherman, a member of AUK, said they believe the only reason they have survived interactions with police is because they are white – Liam Long is Black, which officers read as violent, Sherman said. “Police only really have one mode of interaction, and that is violence. They see a person who’s acting in a perfectly normal way for an autistic person, and

they see it as erratic, threatening behavior,” Sherman said. “Every time I’ve had an encounter with a cop, they have thought that I was on drugs because I was acting autistic.” Police transparency and reform is the main impetus behind LPD Accountability, represented by April Taylor on Saturday. Taylor has honed in on obtaining form 111 – the official document needed to lodge a complaint with LPD – that has not been shared with the public. Taylor said that in this case there were many practical steps the police did not take before police hit Liam Long with the cruiser. “The way things are currently set up, they could have reached out to the family and involved them in assisting Liam, which they did not do. They also could have reached out to the New Vista Crisis Response Team for assistance, which they also did not do,” Taylor said. Taylor said there would be no need for the complaint form if the mayor’s office followed a recommendation from Commission for Racial Justice and Equity, which suggested appointing a community liaison to oversee the complaint process and separate those concerns from the police department. See SUPPORT on page 11

Monday, April 19, 2021

LOOKING BACK, MOVING FORWARD

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CONTACT Editor-in-chief: Natalie Parks editor@kykernel.com

PAUSE ON JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE CONTINUES The University of Kentucky halted its administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after federal agencies called on federal vaccine sites to stop using their J&J doses following reports of an extremely rare blood clot issue. Initially announced on Tuesday, April 13, the CDC and FDA said the nationwide pause could be expected to last another week as they investigative the reports. “This is important, in part, to ensure that the health care provider community is aware of the potential for these adverse events and can plan for proper recognition and management due to the unique treatment required for this type of blood clot,” said the joint statement from the CDC and FDA. The six cases were reported among women between the ages of 18 and 48. According to the CDC, the symptoms emerged between six and 13 days after vaccination of the single dose shot.

One woman died and a second is in critical condition. The incidence rate of the clotting issue is less than one in a million, lower than the risk of clotting from many oral contraceptives and the rate of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. UK has administered more than 400 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after opening walk-up clinics at two COVID-19 testing sites on campus for two days last week. Freshman journalism major Caroline Paddock received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine on Thursday, April 8 at K-Lair. “It’s definitely scary whenever something goes wrong with a vaccine that’s supposed to prevent a virus that I never even got,” Paddock said. However, Paddock said she’s not worried because only six cases of blood clots have been reported. “I will definitely keep a watchful eye over my own health for the next two to three weeks,” Paddock said. Matthew Logsdon, a junior chemical engineering major, recently had COVID-19 and is waiting to receive a vaccine.

JACK WEAVER | STAFF A group of UGP leaders and interns are pied with plates of whipped cream during Underground Perspective’s UGPie Day on Friday, April 16, 2021, outside the Gatton Student Center in Lexington, Kentucky.

“Based on what I heard this morning, I don’t think I’m going to hop on the Johnson & Johnson train,” Logsdon said. “I’d opt for Pfizer if it’s available, and I’d probably wait until the Pfizer is available if not.” The university planned to operate a more regular Johnson & Johnson vaccine site in the Gatton Student Center beginning the same day the CDC called for providers to stop use of Johnson & Johnson. UK will continue vaccinations at their Kroger Field and other sites, which use the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

FOUR-STAR TWINS COMMIT TO KENTUCKY FOOTBALL Destin and Keaten Wade, two four-star prospects from Summit High School just outside of Nashville, committed to Kentucky Friday afternoon. Both considered top-300 prospects in the 2022 class, Keaten Wade, an outside linebacker and edge rusher is ranked as the No. 18 OLB in the nation by Rivals and No. 156 overall. His brother, Destin Wade, a quarterback recruited as an athlete, is ranked No. 23 in the nation at his position. Destin Wade accumulated 1,509 rushing yards, 1,390 passing yards and was responsible for 37 combined touchdowns his junior season. He’s a versatile player who can hurt the defense either by his arm, or rolling out of the pocket and making a play with his feet. Keaten Wade is a 6’5, 225-pound explosive outside backer who also played running back in high school; but don’t expect him to run the football for the Wildcats. He will most likely play jack linebacker and with his size and speed, he has the potential to cause some damage to opposing SEC offenses. The twins chose Kentucky over Tennessee, Louisville and Virginia. With their commitment, Kentucky jumps to the No. 18 recruiting class in the nation for 2022, according to Rivals. The commitments from these two give Kentucky their sixth and seventh recruit for the 2022 class, joining Jackson Smith, Andre Stewart, Jeremiah Caldwell, Treyveon Longmire and Grant Bingham.

Managing editor: Michael Clubb editor@kykernel.com Asst. news editor: Hannah Stanley Brooklyn Kelley Sports editor: Braden Ramsey sports@kykernel.com Asst. sports editor: Eric Decker Opinions editor: Sarah Michels opinions@kykernel.com Asst. Opinions editor: Gillian Stawiszynski Designer: Ryder Noah From Social media manager: Sarah Simon-Patches KENTUCKY KERNEL OFFICES 340 McVey Hall University of Kentucky Lexington, KY 40506

ON THE COVER: JACK WEAVER | STAFF Tour guide Emoni Dix talks to a tour on Thursday, April 15, 2021, at William T. Young Library in Lexington, Kentucky.

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Monday, April 19, 2021

news

Kentucky researchers play role in groundbreaking physics experiment By Brooklyn Kelley news@kykernel.com

A landmark study conducted through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Fermilab has proven that some fundamental particles do not obey the known laws of physics, what scientists call the Standard Model. These particles, known as muons, may be acted upon by an unknown force like another undiscovered particle. Simulations run at Fermilab and at UK’s own supercomputer support this idea, first indicated by a previous experiment at Brookhaven Laboratory. Early studies showed that the speed of muons, which occur when cosmic rays hit Earth’s atmosphere, is slightly off from what the Standard Model would predict, leading to a ‘wobble.’ “Turns out there’s been signs in the past that the theory cannot predict the correct number. So, what that means is that there’s possibly forces and/or particles that are not in the theory,” said Dr. Renee Fatemi, a professor of physics at UK and co-lead investigator of the Fermilab experiment. Fatemi is one of a team of researchers at the university who contributed to the study, including several postdocs and graduate students. “We have four graduate students. Two of them are women. One of them is Hispanic. And one is from China. And my postdoc is a woman as well,” Fatemi said. Members of the UK team

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helped analyze the data from the experiment, which first began simulations in 2018. According to a release from Fermilab, only 6 percent of the planned data has been analyzed so far as researchers are currently analyzing numbers from the second and third runs of the muon g-2 ring, with a fourth run underway and a fifth planned. Still, the initial numbers show strong evidence of a new phenomenon in physics, though falling just short of the significance threshold to claim a discovery. “This is interesting because it turns out that you can do this experiment, but you can also calculate what the value should be in theory, and you can calculate it to the same precision as you can measure it,” Fatemi said. Fatemi was the simulations manager for the Muon g-2 experiment, which was primarily conducted in a 50-foot-diameter superconducting magnetic ring through which muons are beamed. As the muons, which are similar to an electron but about 200 times heavier, circulate in the particle accelerator, they interact with other subatomic particles in a “quantum foam.” Fatemi’s team studies the decay of muons and is able to determine their magnetic properties based on their decay when put in magnetic fields. Though particle accelerators can calculate this to an extremely precise level, the numbers on muons’ g-factor – the rate at which forces cause muons to wobble – were not adding up, and Fatemi’s

REIDAR HAHN | FERMILAB The Muon g-2 ring sits in its detector hall amidst electronics racks and the muon beamline. This experiment studies the precession (or wobble) of muons as they travel through the magnetic field.

team saw that. The difference led the physicists behind the g-2 experiment to conclude that there is more matter out there than the field of science currently accounts for. Fatemi’s team includes Brad Plaster and Tim Gorringe, among many others. They started the experiment back in 2014, but these are the first results released. Fatemi said the “unblinding” or reveal of the final number that pointed to the significance of this study was announced to them on Feb. 25. Beyond being a part of this

experiment, Fatemi was excited to work alongside a very diverse team of individuals. “We did this amazing experiment. And we did it with all these underrepresented minorities,” Fatemi said. As simulations manager, she developed some of the systems allowing the simulator to interpret the data. Fatemi explained that theorists are coming up with ideas about what is causing the difference they are seeing in this experiment. She said that it is currently theorized that this could be due to supersymmetry, or SUSY, par-

ticles that they have not yet discovered. SUSY expands the current Standard Model, explaining additional symmetry and pairing between particles. Another theory is that the difference could be caused by dark matter. “I think what we have to do is rely on our theory friends. They develop new models of what could be explaining it, and it’s their job to sort of figure out if their model fits in with this data,” Fatemi said.

Monday, April 19, 2021

news

Mayor reveals proposed city budget By Gillian Stawiszynski news@kykernel.com

Lexington government and businesses like to market the city as a city on the up, touting tourism attractions and suburban lifestyles perfect for college graduates and young families alike. This year’s city budget aims to correct some of the existing problems within Lexington. “It’s bold and it’s sensible. No matter the neighborhood, no matter your age, no matter your walk of life, this budget has something for you.” Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton said in her speech to the public on Tuesday, April 13, where she delivered her budget plan proposal for the 2022 fiscal year. The $398 million spending plan is a 5 percent increase from the current year’s budget of $379 million. The new budget does not raise taxes. Federal stimulus money along with conservative spending during the pandemic allowed Lexington to use the 2022 fiscal budget to invest in new areas, Gorton said. Lexington will receive $10 million from the American Rescue Plan. Among the allocations are funding for road improvements, better bike and pedestrian access and money for government vehicles, Gorton also announced financial support through the mayor’s Commission on Racial Justice and Equality. The task force was created in June of 2020 after weeks of protests following the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. In its first progress report in October, the nearly 70-person committee listed 54 recommendations including a citizen’s advocate for filing complaints

MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton laughs with members of the media on Saturday, March 13, 2021, at the mobile vaccine clinic at the Charles Young Center in Lexington, Kentucky.

against the police. This commission suggested fully funding the Office of Homeless Prevention and Intervention with $750,000, and an additional $700,075 to the Hope Center for those experiencing houselessness, substance abuse and/or mental illness. City employees will receive a 3 percent raise, their first 2018 and a change from last year when many positions were cut to save money. Total, the raise amounts to $3.1 million of the budget. One of the biggest single item allotments is $4.8 million towards capital projects like park improvements. Playgrounds, pool slides and basketball courts are all promised upgrades. Infra-

structure-wise, $14 million will go towards paving projects, including $1 million for paving a portion of Man O War Boulevard. After congratulating herself and other leaders for what Lexington has done for affordable housing since 2014, Gorton admitted that Lexington leaders need to do more. She announced an additional $1 million for a total of $3 million in the city’s annual affordable housing fund. According to real estate service MSL, the median price of a residential listing is $293,465. Cities across the U.S. have seen a wave of evictions during the pandemic and the federal moratorium on evictions expired on March 31. Related to housing, the code

enforcement fund will receive $200,000 for the fiscal year. However, Gorton doesn’t want their main job to be enforcing rules and regulations onto neighborhoods. “The commission also suggested our Division of Code Enforcement could be an agency designed to help neighborhoods thrive rather than just an enforcement agency,” Gorton said. Gorton also announced funding to hire six additional officers for the Lexington Police Department. These hires will include a sergeant, as well as five neighborhood resource officers, whose job will be to improve police relations with the Lexington community. LPD is currently under

fire for their handling of a mental crisis call, when an officer hit a mentally ill teen with his police cruiser. LPD will also soon be implementing body cameras that automatically activate as soon as a weapon or taser is drawn. “The goal is to improve quality of life and reduce crime through conventional and unconventional methods.” Gorton said. She has also “beefed up” funding in Human Resources to “...improve minority recruiting in police and throughout the government.” City police will also get $2.3 million to upgrade their vehicles and another $1.8 million will go to fire trucks and ambulances. A further $2 million will go towards new vehicles for the city like new dump trucks. The city budget affects UK students and year-round Lexington residents alike. A total of $1 million in the proposed budget goes to various employment programs, including $500,000 to attracing high-paying jobs to Lexington. UK students can benefit from improvements to public spaces like parks, sidewalks and roads, as the 67 percent of students who commute to campus can attest. Gorton’s budget proposal is yet to be finalized and will now move to the council to make alterations before it can be implemented. A 2022 fiscal budget must be passed by June 30, 2021 before the new fiscal year begins on July 1. “Together we are investing in, we are taking care of our hometown. That’s where our heart is,” Gorton said.

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Monday, April 19, 2021

news

UK hinges on return to normalcy in attracting prospective students By Rayleigh Deaton news@kykernel.com

Dubbed the “living room of campus,” the University of Kentucky’s Gatton Student Center is a carnival of campus life. Students congregate on the social staircase, eating lunch, studying and chatting with friends, a cheerful cacophony of sounds filling the atrium. Around every half hour, a group of prospective students and their parents emerges from the Visitor Center down the hall, following a blue-shirted tour guide on a 90-minute trip around campus. Mostly high school juniors and seniors, these students face a difficult choice, one that will most likely determine the trajectory of their life: where to spend their college years. This decision is hard enough in a typical year, much more so in the midst of a pandemic. In addition to sports, majors and tuition costs, COVID-19 safety is at the forefront of parents’ and students’ minds when looking at higher education, and colleges know this. COVID testing and vaccines have become amenities for students, helping to assure families that the administration is doing everything in its power to create a safe environment

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JACK WEAVER | STAFF Tour guide Emoni Dix walks a tour towards the Jacobs Science Building on Thursday, April 15, 2021, at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky.

for living and learning. UK recently announced that it would offer vaccinations to 21,000 admitted students and their families, even if the students do not choose to attend UK in the fall. In the wake of UK president Eli Capilouto’s announcement that the fall 2021 semester would be a return to normal operations, students and faculty

have lived and worked under the assumption that the days of “Zoom University” are numbered. This optimistic sentiment is echoed by the UK tour guides, students who work for the university’s Visitor Center. Surprisingly little is mentioned on tours about the changes COVID has caused at UK, but when tour guides do turn to the

subject, there is an underlying assumption that those changes will not be present next semester. Tour guides focus on the promised return to normalcy, assuming most if not all COVID restrictions will be lifted. At the same time, parents are assured that the university offers students an “inherently safe environment,” as one tour guide put it.

Similarly, prospective students and parents seem relatively unphased by the idea of coming to college in a pandemic. Tyree and Elizabeth Toohey, a mother and daughter from Bourbon County, Ky., visited the UK campus for a recent Admitted Students Day. Currently a junior in high school, Elizabeth Toohey plans on

attending nursing school after graduation in 2022, and UK is on the short list of her college choices. “It’s close to home; it’s really big, and it’s not what I’m used to, because I’m from a small town,” Toohey said. She plans on living on campus during her first year and is not particularly apprehensive about attending college in the time of COVID. “I feel like everything’s calming down a little bit, so it’s not a huge concern,” she said. High school junior Drew Chastain and his parents Andrew and Denise Chastain toured the campus and were excited about life at UK, one of several universities the family is considering. That morning, they had driven in from their home in Atlanta and were headed to Knoxville, Tn., to tour the University of Tennessee after stopping in Lexington. Drew Chastain is planning on majoring in business, although he is unsure about which specific path. Like the Tooheys, the Chastain family seemed unconcerned about their son going off to college during the pandemic. “He’s been in-person in high school, at least since January, so we’re pretty comfortable,” Denise Chastain said.

Monday, April 19, 2021

news With the exception of masks and social distancing, this semester’s recruitment events look quite similar to a “normal” year’s. Last year, all orientation and Admitted Student days were either cancelled or moved to an online format. The freshman class of 2024 was fewer in numbers than in previous years, and the university is wanting to get back on track with the class of 2025. In a statement to the Kernel, UK’s Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management Christine Harper said that the university expects an incoming freshman class of more than 5,000 students. “That would be consistent with the last few years (with the exception of this current academic year) when we’ve averaged between 5,000 and 5,500 students each fall,” Harper said. She said the current freshman class that enrolled in fall 2020 checked in at just under 5,000 students. As one might expect, the dip in numbers is due to COVID, but Harper told the Kernel that UK was not surprised. “[It was] a decrease we expected and planned for that was directly the result of COVID-19 and families making tough choices in the face of the challenges associated with the pandemic,” she said. In spite of the downward trend seen this past year, Harper said the goal now is to get back to pre-pandemic numbers, and she is confident UK will do just that. “We have over the last several years, on average, been increasing enrollment, a trend we hope and

expect to continue this fall. That’s part of our obligation to Kentucky to educate and graduate more students to help grow Kentucky’s economy,” Harper said. “In fact, we had a record overall enrollment this fall of more than 31,000 students – a reflection of our consistent, strategic growth in recent years.” Adjustments like cancelling the ACT/SAT requirements have helped UK and other colleges maintain a level of interest from potential students only slightly diminished by the pandemic. According to UK’s enrollment statistics site, the numbers for current first-time students took a hit this year, dropping from 5,348 in 2019-2020 to 4,891 in 2021-2022. However, the current total number of enrolled students is the highest is has been since 2011, rising from 30,545 in 2019-2020 to 31,110 in 2020-2021. This number has been trending upward in recent years, according to the table. Marketing from UK and tour guides highlights the “normal” college experience to prospective families visiting campus. Though enrollment levels for first-year students dipped this past year, staff members like Harper are fully confident that the emphasis on returning to regularity will appeal to students and parents, helping to rebuild those numbers.

JACK WEAVER | STAFF Elizabeth Kalinyak, a freshman animal sciences major, works on her computer while sitting in a hammock on Friday, April 9, 2021, outside William T. Young Library in Lexington, Kentucky.

Right: JACK WEAVER | STAFF A tour guide begins a tour on Thursday, April 15, 2021, at the Gatton Student Center in Lexington, Kentucky.

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Monday, April 19, 2021

sports

Some athletes utilize eligibility waiver for extra year playing college sports By Braden Ramsey sports@kykernel.com

Nate Sestina came to Kentucky as a graduate transfer in 2019-20 looking to use his final year of collegiate eligibility to compete for an NCAA Championship. With the Cats on their typical perch atop the SEC and rounding into form come tournament time – as they seemingly always did – this goal seemed more than attainable. In fact, it was nearly within his grasp. COVID-19 ripped that dream away. Not only from him and his one-and-done teammates, but every spring sport athlete on Kentucky’s campus. The news hit particularly hard for the seniors anchoring those squads. “We were packing up our stuff, about to go to Vandy. Like almost walking out the door,” Kentucky baseball first baseman T.J. Collett recounted. “Then they told us that’s canceled, and the next day they said we needed to go home.” “I tried to erase it all,” he continued. “For three or four weeks, I thought I was done playing baseball for the rest of my life. I thought baseball was over for me.” “I was really sad… I didn’t think I was ever going to get to play softball again,” UK dual-threat star Autumn Humes said. “I’d devoted so many years of my life to this sport, and just to see it end not on my terms was very disappointing and depressing.” “There was a period where I

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JACK WEAVER | STAFF César Bourgois celebrates during the University of Kentucky vs. Louisiana State men’s tennis meet on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex in Lexington, Kentucky. Kentucky won 4-0.

was really low,” she described. “I was feeling like I just wasn’t complete. I felt anxious all the time just because I didn’t really know what to do.” Collett, Humes and countless others needed a miracle in order to close things out the right way. Many in the college athletics industry called for the NCAA to step up and provide relief. There were rumored to be discussions within the organization about doing so in March of 2020, but nothing was announced. Until April 5, 2020, when the Division One council officially granted a blanket waiver for all spring

sports if universities accepted. “The Council’s decision gives schools the flexibility to make decisions at a campus level,” Council chair M. Grace Calhoun said at the time. This meant that, while the option to return was available, nothing was guaranteed. Athletes would have to summon the courage to have conversations with high-ranking faculty. Thankfully, those actually weren’t difficult. In fact, in some instances, it was the athletics staff that reached out. “I forget if it was that day or the next day [after the waiver approval], but [Athletic Director Mitch] Barnhart called me and

told me that they were going to stay true to my scholarship and ask me back,” Collett said. “That was a huge weight off my shoulders.” Collett made it clear he had no intention of leaving when it became apparent he could stay. “There was no question on my end,” Collett laughed. “Once I found out I could come back, that was my choice.” Two of his teammates, Zeke Lewis and Jaren Shelby, also exercised the waiver. Collett said there was a pretty quick consensus among the three of them that they were returning.

‘“I texted them and was like “what are you guys doing?” And they were like “we’re coming back,’” he said. “It was a short conversation… I don’t think there was much hesitation from any of the guys.” Baseball head coach Nick Mingione detailed the impact each of the three have had on the program, starting with Collett, whose career has been drenched in adversity. “He’s a guy I get emotional talking about… he’s been through a lot. He’s been through five surgeries. This is his fifth year,” he managed to say before momentarily choking up. “He has given everything he has to this place... you don’t get to coach a lot of people like him.” His admiration for Lewis and Shelby isn’t lacking either. “Jaren and Zeke may not have the at-bats or innings, but their presence is just as important and their voices are just as loud,” Mingione said. “[They’re] two of our better leaders… When they speak, everyone listens. Players, coaches, everybody… they’re just special.” Humes thought through what to do, eventually deciding to call softball head coach Rachel Lawson and ask what she thought about her remaining on the roster for 2020-21. “At the time, I was debating if I wanted to come back or wanted to hang up the cleats. But that just didn’t feel right to me,” she said. “I remember calling Coach Lawson and saying, ‘hey, if this See WAIVER on page 9

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sports WAIVER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

by chance happens to allow me to come back, can I come back? And she says, ‘absolutely.’ Once we got wind that we were going to get the extra year, I just felt like it was right for me to come back.”’ While the move was primarily made to continue athletic competition, it was beneficial in more ways than one. Humes, who was returning to school for an additional semester anyway, added a coaching minor. Men’s tennis player Cesar Bourgois – who graduated in Spring 2020 with a marketing degree – also added a minor to his academic record, seeing the opportunity as a winwin. “I mainly came back for tennis,” Bourgois said. “But I think I won on both sides, tennis and academics… it still helps me for my resume.” Like Collett and Humes, the graduate student out of Paris didn’t see himself playing another match for the Cats because of the cancellation. He considered the NCAA’s decision to be fantastic. “When the season got canceled… I thought, and I think everybody thought, that the seniors would be gone,” Bourgois said. “For a couple weeks, I really thought I was done… I think it was a great choice from the NCAA.” The waiver has enabled every Wildcat to play a big role in a successful season. The baseball team is back on the NCAA Tournament bubble after two down years. Softball began its season 19-0, a record that now stands as the best start in program history. Akvile Parazinskaite, of women’s tennis, is part of the No. 1 ranked doubles tennis duo in the country

with freshman Fionna Arrese. Lithuanian grad student Lesedi Jacobs and Diana Tkachenko helped power that program to both a perfect non-conference record and a top-25 ranking. Not to be outdone, the men’s tennis team – of which Bourgois is a team captain – went a sparkling 15-0 at home. This includes a Senior Day triumph over then No. 16 Mississippi State 4-0. Ahead of the match, Bourgois was, as one could expect, in his feels. “I had a great time here. It went by so fast,” he said. “I’ve achieved a lot of things since I’ve been here… for sure a very emotional day.” More than anything, he was grateful. “It was a weird year last year… I was just really happy about the chance to come back,” Bourgois said. “Extremely relieved… I’ve enjoyed it even more than I could ever [have imagined]… It really feels great to be back for one last ride.” Collett echoed that sentiment - not with regards to his historic accolades, but to the relationships he has established over his lengthy career. “[I’m] more thankful for just the opportunity to be on the field or in the dugout with these guys,” he said. “You ask any player that’s been done playing, they don’t say they missed the home runs and the doubles. They say they miss the guys, competing, being part of a team.” Humes struggles every so often not to press when on the field, feeling obligated to rise to the occasion. When those moments bubble to the surface, she remembers to view her playing time through a different lens. ‘“Sometimes I put a lot of pressure on myself to perform well because ‘you came back. If you’re gonna come back, you better be the best… you’re not allowed to have bad days.’ You’re

JACK WEAVER | STAFF Kentucky Wildcat Autumn Humes (7) slides into home plate during the UK vs. Eastern Kentucky game on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, at Cropp Softball Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky. UK won 6-5.

supposed to perform well all the time,”’ she said. “But I try to look at it in a different way… you’re lucky and blessed to be able to take the field again… [this is] an additional opportunity rather than something I’m pressured to do.” Her teammates also help her relieve that pressure. “They always have my back, whether it’s putting up runs or picking me up whenever I do do something wrong,” she said. “I just know if I don’t get it done, the person behind me will.” And, like the others, she possesses a sense of gratitude just to be in the heat of battle one more time. “It’s been such a blessing, to say the least,” Humes said of the waiver. “I am not even supposed to be here. For me to be able to take the field and play games like Alabama is something I shouldn’t take for granted and ever forget.”

MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF Kentucky Wildcat T.J. Collett (5) celebrates after hitting a homerun during the University of Kentucky vs. Murray State University baseball game on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, at Kentucky Proud Park in Lexington, Kentucky. UK lost 13-8.

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Monday, April 19, 2021

sports

National no. 1 in singles aims to push himself, and Kentucky tennis, to new heights By Hunter Shelton sports@kykernel.com

The newest star athlete for Kentucky is not making waves on the hardwood or the gridiron, but on the tennis court. Liam Draxl, a sophomore out of Newmarket, Ontario, has taken the collegiate tennis world by storm in 2021. The Canadian boasts a 19-2 regular season singles record this spring and is ranked No. 1 in the ITA Collegiate Tennis Rankings singles poll as of April 14. Success wasn’t immediate for the 19-year-old, however. In his freshman campaign, he fin-ished just above .500, recording a 6-4 singles record before the season was cut short due to COVID-19. Despite the abbreviated first year, Draxl was still given a small taste of what college tennis was like. Not shockingly, it was a big change. “It’s a lot of pressure that freshman aren’t used to,” he said. “It’s different from playing in high school and singles tournaments. It’s a culture shock.” That quick introduction to NCAA tennis proved to play a major part in the elevation of Draxl’s game going into his sophomore season. He learned how to integrate himself into a group environment and take the court with a greater sense of belonging. “When you come to college, you’re playing for more than yourself. You’re playing for your school, your teammates, your coaches,” Draxl noted. “Having that experience and getting a sea-

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JACK WEAVER | STAFF Liam Draxl celebrates during the University of Kentucky vs. Louisiana State men’s tennis meet on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex in Lexington, Kentucky. Kentucky won 4-0.

son under my belt really helped me. This season I know what to expect now.” As a result, he has surpassed the wildest of expectations as a sophomore. Nine of his 19 wins on the year have come against ranked opponents, six of whom were inside the top-20 at the time. Those include a three-set win over the former No. 1 player in the country, USC’s Daniel Cukier-man, back in the beginning of February, and a two-set victory against the most recent ITA No. 1

player, Daniel Rodrigues (South Carolina) on Apr. 2. Draxl also claimed a win in the summer of 2020 against Aslan Karatsev, the current No. 27 player in the world according to ATP Rankings. Successes like these drive him to continue get-ting better and provide confidence that he can reach the sport’s highest levels. “It’s motivating when I play good matches and get good wins against high-ranked opponents,” he said. “It’s inspiring and makes

me believe I can be a pro one day.” One of the main reasons Draxl has become a must-watch for fans is the pure emotion he shows out on the court. It’s no secret that he plays with his heart on his sleeve, but he won’t let being in the moment get in the way of his tennis. “I’m a very good competitor, and the college type atmosphere is so competitive. Your teammates are cheering you on, you’re getting so hyped up, you can be super loud out there… it can be

really fun,” Draxl explained. “That’s how I act naturally. I just try to go out there, have some fun, compete hard and just let everything fall into place.” Collegiate tennis was not the only option for Draxl coming out of high school. Going pro right after you turn 18 is a popular choice among those looking to close the gap in competition in the tennis world. “I could’ve gone pro right off the bat. I was pretty high in the ATP rankings for my age, and I was doing pretty well in the juniors,” Draxl recalled. “[But] my dad wanted me to go to college. He thought it would be really good for me, and I think it’s paying off.” Growth in his tennis game is not the only growth Draxl attributes to a college career being the right move. He thinks growing as a person has made the continuation in school the right move. “I still had some improvement to do… I was not as mature and didn’t have some life skills that I’ve learned at school,” he said. “I think I’ve just grown as a person.” When looking for a place to call home after of high school, Kentucky stuck out because of its coaches. “[The reason] I committed here was the coaching staff, having a head coach and assistant coach who I really liked made UK really stand out from other schools,” said Draxl. That assistant coach is Matthew Gordon, who Draxl had faSee TENNS on page 11

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miliarity with from his time at Lau-rel Springs School in Ontario. Draxl said he and Gordon got along great when they collaborated back then. “I trust Matt and his coaching skills. We worked so well together when I was in high school,” he said. “The entire staff really helped my game… I think it’ll really translate because we’ve put a lot of hard work in and put my game in the right direction.” Draxl is not the only Canadian on the Wildcat radar. There are currently five on the ros-ter, making it easy for him to get accustomed with his teammates. “I’ve known all of them since I was young. It’s super cool having teammates

who you’re really comfortable with… definitely a bonus,” Draxl said. “Who would’ve known we’d all go to the same school?” As a sophomore, Draxl is just getting started – but his next goal is a big one. When asked about the one thing he wants to accomplish while at Kentucky, he replied without hesitation: “Win an NCAA championship.” Another spring forward like his success this season, and that goal might just be in reach for Draxl and his team. JACK WEAVER | STAFF Liam Draxl returns a hit during the University of Kentucky vs. Louisiana State men’s tennis meet on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex in Lexington, Kentucky. Kentucky won 4-0.

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“Right now the way it stands, we are required to provide a statement to a police department officer who then transcribes that for us. Seeing as how a formal complaint becomes a sworn affidavit, we don’t believe we should allow our words to be transcribed by a person who represents the entity we’re filing a complaint against,” Taylor said. For Lexington attorney Daniel Whitley, even access to the form would not be a satisfying result. “I think this whole internal police report thing is just a way for them to cover up the injustice is still not transparent...I myself as an attorney have filed a complaint, and I’ve got no movement at all,” Whitley said. Whitley is pursuing the collision involving Long until justice is served – whatever course that takes. “If that comes in the legal arena, that

comes in the legal arena. If that comes in accountability of holding the city council members and the mayor accountable, then it come in that way. If it comes for the resignation of the police chief, we should never limit ourselves on how we’re going to seek justice for a young man,” Whitley said. The outpouring of support has been overwhelming, said Kendra Long. But so was the immediate aftermath of the collision. All she was told was that Liam had run out in front of a car, leaving her with many questions. Liam is awake and talking now, and during the artivism rally called his mother without knowing she was at the event. Long held up the phone while everyone present cheered “we love you Liam!”, which Long said brought him to tears. UK freshman Jamioa Green, a nursing major, brought supplies to the artivism rally and made cards. She participated in

LPD Accountability rallies over the summer in the wake of the police killings of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. “As a Black female, seeing a black child who is my same age get ran down by a cop and then justified by the police department - it’s just really, it’s really frustrating and aggravating,” Green said. She hopes above all for accountability. “They shouldn’t still be employed and be they shouldn’t still be able to respond to calls because the same thing can happen again. Just for the to see that the department is justifying their actions, you can tell that the accountability is not really anywhere,” Green said. Police reforms aside, Saturday’s rally was a hopeful endeavor to show love to Liam Long. . “I think it’s a very healing space, a place where we can gather and organize for future action,” Sherman said. Taylor, who organized many of Lexing-

ton’s Black Lives Matter protests, is tired of having to pursue justice. “It is exhausting to continue to have to do this over and over and over again. But we will continue for as long as we have to,” Taylor said. That kind of support means the most to Kendra Long as she thinks of the long road ahead for Liam’s health. “I’m a Mama Bear. So Liam’s recovery is my top priority, anything legal, that will have to be deferred to Daniel Whitley and William Davis…that is their baby to rock. I’m gonna rock my baby,” Long said. She hopes Liam will gain back his voice and memory, and then be able to speak for himself in the issue. The cards made at the rally are the first thing Long plans to show her son when he is able to understand what happened. When he opens them, he’ll see messages like this one from Green: “Liam, we love you. We’re fighting for you.”

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Monday, April 19, 2021

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