Sports bar offers fun atmosphere without the booze See POP, page 3
NOVEMBER 5, 2009
THURSDAY
WWW.KYKERNEL.COM
KENTUCKY KERNEL CELEBRATING 38 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE
Resource powers debate
THE FACE OF COAL
All-day campus event aims to educate friends, foes By Tilly Finley news@kykernel.com
With last week’s approval of the “Wildcat Coal Lodge,” members of the UK community have got coal on the mind. UK will host “A Forum on Coal in Kentucky,” as the kickoff event for a documentary being developed by the Center for Visualization and Virtual EnWhat: A Forum on Coal vironments. The event will explore both sides in Kentucky of the issues concerning the past, present When: Thursday from and future of coal in 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Kentucky. The keynote Where: Hilary J. speakers are Senior Boone Center at 510 Vice President of Rose St. Government RelaAdmission: Free tions of Peabody Energy Fred Palmer; DiWhen: Thursday from 7 rector of Kentucky to 9 p.m. Resources Council Where: Memorial Hall Tom Fitzgerald; auAdmission: Free thor of “Big Coal” Jeff Goodell; and Joe Craft, president and For more information: CEO of Alliance Rewww.coalinkentucky.com source Partners, L.P., and main donor to the “Wildcat Coal Lodge.” The speakers will focus on issues including coal economics, the impact of coal, coal research and coal regulations. The goal of the event is to offer a balanced discussion by bringing together a wide variety of speakers that might not otherwise share the same stage, said Julie Martinez, technical communications specialist at the Center for Visuali-
PHOTO BY ADAM WOLFFBRANDT | STAFF
If you go
See Coal forum on page 2
Free speech cost UK $45,000 By Casey Wheeless news@kykernel.com
When former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert spoke on UK’s campus three weeks ago, parking lots were shut down and protests were staged along Rose Street. But with the controversy came a price tag — a $45,000 speaking fee, with several hundred dollars more spent for hotel accommodations — all paid by UK. Assistant Provost Richard Greissman said The Great Talent Network Agency, based in New Olmert York, contacted UK to see if Olmert could stop in Lexington for his “Tour of American Universities.” The funds came from discretionary funds from donations, Greissman said. “As an alum, when you donate to UK, you can give your donations to a specific fund … if the donor had been notified, that donor would have said, ‘This is where I want my money to be spent, getting world leaders to come to UK to speak,’ ” Greissman said. UK did not spend any money on extra security, with UK Police providing the security for the event. Israeli and U.S. Secret Service supplied the bulk of the security detail, Greissman said. Having Olmert come was a stepping stone to having more world leaders come to UK, Greissman said. Greissman said he was also looking forward to Palestinian legislator Hanan Ashrawi coming to speak. UK will be paying Ashrawi a $15,000 honorarium, Greissman said, with an additional $10,000 possible for air travel from Jerusalem and a two-night stay in Lexington. “We can’t get world leaders to come to UK for lunch,” Greissman said. First issue free. Subsequent issues 25 cents.
PHOTO BY ALLIE GARZA | STAFF
Top: Protesters participate in the Capitol Climate Action rally on March 2. Bottom: Miners work at a coal mine near Red Fox, Ky., in Knott County on Sept. 16.
Craft to speak on culture, importance of coal in Ky. By Laura Clark lclark@kykernel.com
A coal-less Kentucky is an image Joseph W. Craft III cannot picture, especially since he believes coal is the largestgrowing fuel in the world. “I’m basically just a business man, but I see the tremendous value of coal not only for the state of Kentucky, but for the world,” Craft said. “I can’t imagine what the state of Kentucky would be without it.”
Wildcat Coal Craft, the president, CEO and director of Alliance Re-
source Partners, L.P., based in Tulsa, Okla., recently headed a $7 million donation to support the “Replace Wildcat Lodge Student Housing” project, which included renaming the current Joe B. Hall Wildcat Lodge to include “coal” in its name. Craft, who provided the new name, formed a group of donors called the Difference Makers to assist in contributing to the gift for UK Athletics. On Oct. 27, the UK Board of Trustees approved the new name and accepted the $7 million gift for the construction of the new residence hall. Students and community
members protested immediately after the vote was made, which caused the board to call a recess and security to escort the audience out of the board room. Danny Cotton, an English senior and chair of Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, attended the meeting and disagreed with the vote. “The fact that they named it after an industry unnecessarily politicizes the basketball team,” Cotton said.
Early years Craft was born in 1950 in Hazard, Ky. Growing up, Craft said the coal industry was in a “down period.” However, when former President Lyndon B. Johnson declared a “War on Poverty,” he began noticing changes. See Craft on page 5
Craft’s largest contributions $3,248,786 — Capital Project Gifts Fund, 11/9/05 through 10/26/09 $175,000 — Mining Engineering Development Fund, 12/12/06 $45,000 — Men’s Basketball Boosters Fund, 8/7/08 through 9/17/09 $23,045 — K-Fund, 11/26/84 through 3/8/06 $23,000 — Hoover Dawahare Fund for Rural Health, 6/10/05 $3,150 — College of Law Restricted Fund, 11/14/85 through 10/28/08 For a full list, www.kykernel.com
Forum targets young voters’ interests By Brandon Farmer news@kykernel.com
Students had a chance to hear six of the nine Senate candidates address several issues of public concern currently facing Kentuckians at Wednesday’s Citizen Kentucky public forum. Candidates present were Republicans Rand Paul, Bill Johnson, Roger Thoney and Brian Oerther, and Democrats Darlene Price and Maurice Sweeney. All had a chance to speak about their plans on assisting the welfare of residents of the Commonwealth. Journalism professor Buck Ryan, organ-
izer of the event, said the event was focused on the Senate race because of the importance of young voters paying attention in the election. Paul was first to speak, emphasizing his view on reduced government involvement in public affairs and the economic system. “I’m a Constitutional conservative,” Paul said. “That means I believe that government should be severely and strictly restricted by the Constitution.” Johnson, a 10-year military veteran, pushed concern over national security and preserving the safety of the U.S. “Our country is under attack,” he said.
SG committee drafts proposal By Andrew Pillow news@kykernel.com
The Internal Affairs Committee of Student Government drafted a compromised version of the proposal to eliminate all senatorat-large positions that did not pass at last week’s Senate meeting. The Senate Membership Constitutional Amendment as originally proposed would have taken away all senator-at-large positions and the freshman senator position and added one sophomore senator position. The reworked version will take away five of the current senators-at-large and redistribute them to other colleges. The act will also keep the number of freshmen sen-
ators at four. The total number of senators would be 40. Senators decided eliminating all the senator-at-large positions was too drastic. “We didn’t feel comfortable eliminating the senator-at-large totally because there are still students that aren’t connected to a college who deserve to be represented,” Senator-At-Large Kara Osborne said. “Change isn’t always the remedy.” Senators are confident the compromise solves enough of the problem of representation, while keeping the popular position of senator-at-large in tact. The full Senate will vote on the proposal at next week’s meeting.
Senate election n The primary election will be held on May 18 n The general election is on Nov. 2
“We have terrorists who are trying to kill Americans. We have domestic forces that are literally trying to destroy our way of life.” Thoney said the greatest state and national concern should be the economy. The economic crisis revolves around political irSee Senate on page 2
Banners protest new lodge name Students from an unnamed organization staged a multibanner drop throughout campus Wednesday in response to the “Wildcat Coal Lodge.” The banners were intended to send the message that
the university was turning campus into a corporation. There were six banners and one poster hung at 4 a.m. and all were removed by 5:30 a.m. — KATIE PERKOWSKI
Members of an unnamed organization posted banners on campus buildings protesting the “Wildcat Coal Lodge.” PHOTO COURTESY OF ANONYMOUS SENDER
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PAGE 2 | Thursday, November 5, 2009
COAL FORUM Continued from page 1 zation and Virtual Environments. “My hope for the event is that students, as well as other attendees, will leave the event with a much greater understanding of the variety of perspectives that exist on this issue and the motivation to learn more and engage with the issue,” Martinez said. The forum, as well as the documentary, was made possible through a $145,000 grant the Kentucky Cabinet for Energy and Environment awarded UK. Steven Gardner, president and CEO of Engineering Consulting Services, Inc. and chairman of UK’s Mining Engineering Foundation, was among those who helped write the grant. “Our mission was to organize a forum presenting both sides of the issue ... such as giving workers in the (coal) community a 4puz.com
SENATE Continued from page 1
Heidi’s gleaming makeup line Heidi Klum gave birth to her fourth child, daughter Lou, on October 9, but her other baby — Exotic Jewels, her third makeup line with Victoria's Secret — debuted the week before. Her inspiration? "Two years ago, my husband [Seal] and I took a trip to India and I bought some jewelry that's gold and purple. I used those colors in this set," Klum, 36, tells Us of her collaboration with her longtime makeup pro Linda Hay. "The shades are great to play up your eyes." How Shakira Got Her Body Her hips don't lie! Us has the secrets of the singer's sexy shape “I'm a chocolate addict," Shakira confesses to Us. "So I have to work out twice as hard, because I can't quit sugar!" Enter Tracy Anderson, the NYC trainer who's worked with Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow. "Shakira wasn't getting the results she wanted in the gym," says Anderson. "She wanted muscle definition, yet didn't want to lose her sexy curves." After three months of training six days a week for up to two hours a day, the 4-foot-11 Colombian singer was ready to flaunt her sleek physique in her "She Wolf" video. (Her album is out
November 23.) Rigorous routine "I love dance aerobics and abdominal exercises," Shakira, 32, says. That passion is essential for Anderson's intense regimen. (Find her workout DVDs at tracyandersonmethod.com.) "She looks amazing but is still evolving," says Anderson. "I'm not done with her yet!" Heavy metal! Hollywood stars are draping their napes with chunky charms When it comes to A-list jewelry, bigger is better. Just ask Tinseltown trendsetters such as Molly Sims, Kristin Cavallari and Olivia Palermo, who are suddenly sporting supersize necklaces to add spark to their style. "They dress up the simplest of outfits," Cavallari (who recently rocked her blinged-out bib over a classic black dress, left) explains to Us. As for the best way to rock them, balance is key. Designer Roberta Freymann (who created Palermo's piece, left) advises: "Pair it with a basic top or solid colors." And Rachel Bilson recommends, "You can wear one with a T-shirt!" COPYRIGHT 2009 US WEEKLY
responsibility and lust for power, he said. “I am fed up with Washington politicians who put their political agendas first,” Thoney said. “We simply are economic casualties in a war for power, control and domination.” Oerther, a candidate from Frankfort, made a point to restore power to the people and giving the public the upper
Horoscope To get the advantage, check the day's rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is a 6 — Other people appear to agree with you early in the day. Follow that path and inject your own insight. Imagination moves work forward. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 5 — What you say directly affects what you get. Optimistic words result in delightful conversation. Gemini (May 21-June 21) — Today is a 5 — You have the facts. Turn them into wisdom through your actions. Good results appear certain. Cancer (June 22-July 22) — Today is
chance to respond,” Gardner said. “To my knowledge, there has never been a balanced discussion on campus on the subject before.” Brad Luttrell, former editor-in-chief of the Kernel and winner of the Associated Collegiate Press’ 2009 Feature Story of the Year for a story about coal in Kentucky’s Appalachian region, will also speak at the event. Luttrell said what became most evident to him during his research for the story was no real absolutes exist with coal mining. “It’s foolish to be absolutely pro-coal and not be hopeful that we can start utilizing green energy and stop filling in streams and creating so much wasteland in Appalachia,” Luttrell said. “But it’s also foolish to expect these coal companies to be the ones to start using wind and solar, because that’s going to put them out of business. Our state is the third leading producer of coal in the country, so we have to step up and take part in the conversation, and this forum is a great step toward an answer for the future of coal.”
hand in national decisions. “I believe that the people in Washington, D.C., no longer represent ‘we the people,’ ” Oerther said. “I believe it’s time for the people of Kentucky to represent my average Kentucky.” Price, former special agent and a counter-terrorist expert, argued her stance against corruption in government. “The disease is ‘crony campaign financing’ and it’s affecting every part of the government,” Price said. Sweeney took a platform on public service and assisting
the ‘little man,’ a policy advocating term limits. He also encouraged voters to choose leaders who have a history of public service or are active in assisting public welfare. “You shouldn’t have to be a lawyer, a doctor or a baseball player in order to serve, but you ought to have a record of service, and it ought to be about what you’ve done, not what you will do,” Sweeney said. During the forum, students were given the opportunity to interact with candidates and to register for the primary.
a 6 — Say what's on your mind early in the day. Then follow directions from others. It's a win-win situation. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is a 6 — A family member tells you a secret in the morning. By afternoon you've imagined all sorts of ramifications. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is a 6 — What you hear today changes your thinking regarding relationships. A sibling needs your support now more than ever. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 5 — Wrap up a project or catch up on phone calls and e-mails. This makes room in your thinking for new ideas. Scorpio (Oct. 23—Nov. 21) — Today is a 6 — Change is in the air. Be sure you jump on the bus before it leaves the station.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 5 — Speak now. You've thought long enough. Your ideas contain the essence of healing and joy. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 5 — Tackle errands within your neighborhood and save longer trips for later. Purchase liquid refreshments. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is a 5 — You feel extra lucky today. Is it just a feeling? Maybe you can test the water and buy a lottery ticket. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is an 8 — Warm feelings should be shared. If you bottle this stuff, give samples to all your closest family and friends.
(C) 2009 TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES
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The dreaded first date How to survive that initial awkwardness Carrie Bradshaw said it best — first dates are really just job interviews with cocktails. I doubt there is a soul in the world who will not experience a bad first date in their love lifetime. It’s inevitable and you might as well face it — you will, at some KATIE point, be paired SALTZ up with some Kernel creeper who has columnist an aversion to personal hygiene practices and an impressive collection of Beanie Babies. Even if that is a slight exaggeration, bad dates happen. But there are some things you can do on your part to make sure a date goes well. Here are a few dating dos and don’ts to ensure you at least made your best effort to make a good impression. Do be on time. Fashionably late is not cool. It gives your date the message their time is not as important as yours. If you are meeting somewhere, be on time, and if they are picking you up,
don't make them wait while you finish getting ready. Do be a good listener. Ask open-ended questions you are genuinely interested about, not just so you can turn the conversation toward yourself. Narcissism is a huge turn off, so make sure you don’t get on a nervous ramble about me, myself and I. Do go in with a positive attitude. Maybe you've been having bad luck in love lately, but don't take that out on this poor soul. Keep an open mind and be optimistic, not thinking “I wonder what loser they set me up with this time.” Don’t get drunk. If you are of age and your dating location includes a bar, watch your alcohol intake. When your date is a disaster, it might be tempting to throw back a few to at least entertain yourself. But this leads to bad decisions and is just sloppy. Keep yourself sober enough to be clearheaded. Don’t get too personal. Surface questions about family, work and school are all good. But when your date starts spilling about how they secretly hate their mother, things can get intense and a little awkward. Keep conversation casual in the beginning. Don’t talk about exes. Steer clear of past relationship dishing. It’s just too soon and could lead to some judgments before you really get to know the person. Don’t be patronizing. Some
people get the nervous giggles, but laughing at every word your date says gets annoying. It tells the other person you are just trying to please them and seems fake. So limit laughter to the real thing. Hopefully your date will take the same considerations you do in trying to have a nice time. Yet, sometimes the chemistry is just not there. If that's the case, thank the person for the date, but be up front that you probably won't be going out again. If your date is just absolutely not your type and you feel your evening is going so badly you must be on a hidden camera show, then keep it short. If you are at dinner, get your check as soon as you are finished eating. Don't be rude about it, but be firm that you want the evening to be over. And if these don’t work, text your friend an SOS under the table. When they call you can always jump up with “Oh my gosh, my dog/sister/neighbor is in the hospital! I’m sorry, but I have to leave right now.” Don't give up hope though — there will be plenty more first dates (good or bad) to come. Katie Saltz is a journalism senior and the Kernel’s relationship columnist. E-mail theheartbeat@kykernel.com.
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Megan Hurt Features Editor Phone: 257-1915 mhurt@kykernel.com
Big Gigantic to bring saxophone with beats to Cosmic Charlie’s By Derek Brown features@kykernel.com
A few years ago, Dominic Lalli began producing beats with fellow Colorado artist and close friend Alex B of the Pnuma Trio. With a master’s degree in jazz performance from the Manhattan School of Music and a spot playing saxophone in the Boulder jazz/funk group The Motet, the electronic beats were unlike anything Lalli had produced to that point. Before long, Lalli knew he wanted to take his side project more seriously and recruited drummer Jeremy Salken. The two created Big Gigantic. At the time, the duo didn’t have the studio set up to record Lalli’s saxophone. However, eager to share the new material, Big Gigantic released their debut album, “Fire It Up,” for free on their Web site, composed exclusively of the electronic beats Lalli had produced earlier in the year. “I honestly just wanted to get our music out to as many people as possible,” Lalli said. “We (were) a fairly new band so I thought the best way to do that was to just spread it for free all over the Internet.” The album accumulated sub-
If you go What: Big Gigantic When: Saturday at 8 p.m. Where: Cosmic Charlie’s Admission: $8 in advance, $10 at the door stantial Internet hype, which helped the pair land a spot on tour with STS9 and the closing slot at the 2009 Rothbury Music Festival in Michigan. They also played with more established artists like The Disco Biscuits and Lotus. With no vocals in Big Gigantic’s music, Lalli’s saxophone became the equalizer throughout their electronic arrangements. “It's definitely a different experience not having a vocalist,” Lalli said. “I try to fill that void with the saxophone and try to connect with people through my sax. With that sort of being the lead instrument, it creates a unique connection between us and the listener.” Big Gigantic was beginning to create a reputation for themselves, but they had nothing recorded that really captured the unique electron See Gigantic on page 5
OPINIONS Thursday, November 5, 2009
KERNEL EDITORIAL BOARD Kenny Colston, editor in chief Austin Schmitt, asst. opinions editor Melissa Vessels, managing editor Ben Jones, sports editor Allie Garza, managing editor Megan Hurt, features editor Wesley Robinson, opinions editor The opinions page provides a forum for the exchange of ideas. Unlike news stories, the Kernel’s unsigned editorials represent the views of a majority of the editorial board. Letters to the editor, columns, cartoons and other features on the opinions page reflect the views of their authors and not necessarily those of the Kernel.
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Forum provides opportunity for education, debate ■ KERNEL EDITORIAL The synonymy between coal and Kentucky is undeniable. Coal has and will continue to provide so much for the state historically, culturally and economically. Kentucky is the third leading state in coal production and the little black rock is huge for sustaining the well-being of the state. The problem is, coal is causing a huge divide between its supporters and the environmentalists who wish it would go away — leaving the debate and quest for solutions void of the necessary civility to make real, substantive change. On one side, coal supporters cite the need for cheap, affordable energy along with the economic and employment benefits of the rock. Environmentalists will rebut with the long-term effects on the environment and the continuous number of jobs that are being lost to automated methods. One thing is clear, however — somebody has to find some answers soon. To help move Kentucky forward in this area, UK is hosting “A Forum on Coal in Kentucky,” on Thursday, which hopes to showcase the various perspectives about coal. Not everyone believes coal is here to stay, and not everyone believes coal is the evil, big business hell-bent on destroying our planet, something the forum plans to address. Several information sessions, including the “History of Coal in Kentucky” and “Environmental Impact of Coal” will give a general backdrop on the issues. The evening will cap off with the “Impact of Coal, Today and Tomorrow” at Memorial Hall, which will feature huge names in coal — Tom Fitzgerald, president of Kentucky Resource Council; Jeff Goodell, author of “Big Coal;” Fred Palmer, senior vice president of Government Relations at Peabody Energy; and Joe Craft, president and CEO of Alliance Coal. Students have a unique opportunity to gather a great deal of information from informed, influential individuals. Additionally, students must attend the events and ask the tough questions and hold accountable those who are shaping the way the state operates. Regardless of your stance on coal, it is clear that coal will not be around forever. This is a chance to hear from and talk to the people who are shaping the future, have your voice heard and learn a little about an extremely polarizing issue — take advantage of it.
Citizens should respect president Think back to this time last year. What were you doing? A major event in American history was about to occur, but who even realized what it was? Think back to AUSTIN middle SCHMITT school. Kernel Remember columnist when it was time to split up teams for recess kickball? There always seemed to be that one kid who would be the best and would naturally assume that leadership role. Well that kid happened to be on your team and no matter how good he was, you always wanted him to fail. Yet, at the same time, he was on your team and if he didn’t hit a home run then your team wouldn’t succeed. It was a difficult situation. Last week, I caught a glimpse of Bill O’Reilly on his daily show “The O’Reilly Factor.” I’m usually not a big fan of those talk shows because they tend to dive too deep into partisan issues that do not really matter in the grand scheme of things, but this segment was different. Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich was his guest for a particular portion of the program and they were discussing an issue all Americans should contemplate. Of course, they were discussing President Barack Obama, but more specifically the position of him. They both seemed to agree that Americans want to have a strong president to represent their country on a global scale and most Americans want their president to succeed. Since the television was on mute, I was reading the translation. I blinked a couple times thinking the words may have been misprinted, but the dialogue continued on topic. In this situation, I believe O’Reilly and Gingrich are wrong. Unfortunately, I do not believe most Americans want the president to succeed. And this is not a
recent development. As long as I can remember, the position of president has been one of the most scrutinized positions. I grew up with Bill Clinton as president. What’s the one thing I remember most about Clinton? Let’s just say the words “affair” and “oval office” ring through my mind. Now, how many people wanted to impeach President Clinton? If not everybody, it’s fair to say there was a good amount. The next president was George W. Bush. Need I say more? If President Bush did not get enough criticism while he was in office, he is still getting it to this day. Obama may be president right now, but an infrequent visitor to the U.S. might assume Bush is still calling the shots if he or she just turned on the late night news. There was a time when Americans took pride in their president. Anybody know why the desk in the oval office has a baseboard in the middle? That would be for former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to hide his paralyzed legs. Americans did not want to see their president with this type of hindrance. They believed if their leader had a condition of weakness it would, in turn, make their country look weak. This is almost unheard of today. If Obama cut his finger sorting papers, it would be the talk of every household from sea to shining sea. Revisit the kickball team that you played on for 25 minutes out of the day. As you stand next in line to kick and the kid you envy is up before you, how do you feel? Knowing if he fails to get on this time, the inning will be over and you won’t get to kick, do you still want him to swing and miss? Next time you go to discredit one of your own, think, “What’s best for him may be what’s best for the team and may be what’s best for you.” Austin Schmitt is an accounting and finance sophomore. E-mail aschmitt@kykernel.com.
JESSICA HATTERMAN, Contributing cartoonist
UK officials must serve their constituents Last Tuesday, the Board of Trustees voted against the interests of some students, faculty and staff when they chose to name the new Wildcat Lodge, the Wildcat Coal Lodge. However, this should not come as that big of a surprise to us anymore. The board seems to have a clause in their bylaws requiring JUSTIN them not to work in LAMB Contributing the interest of the students or the universicolumnist ty’s employees. They have been dragged, kicking and screaming, to every bit of progress this university has had in recent memory. Remember the green fee? It took years before the board, in their infinite wisdom, decided to placate the student body with a meager, and as of yet meaningless, fee. I could go into more examples of the board’s ineptitude but I simply don’t have the time or, more importantly, the space to adequately describe them all. The most recent transgression by the board leads me to a question I’ve asked myself a dozen times since coming to UK: why is the board and the administration so fervently anti-student? It’s not that I expect to agree with the board in every decision they make, but I do expect them to look out for, and take interest in, the students as well as the faculty and the staff. I don’t think that’s too tall an order, but I would apparently be wrong. To use the example of the Coal Lodge, it’s not so much they voted to
name it after coal and the coal industry, but more the board couldn’t care less about the opinion of the students or the rules and regulations of the university. Ernie Yanarella, one of the faculty representatives on the board, suggested the board seek legal council on whether or not naming the building “Wildcat Coal Lodge” met the requirements UK set out for itself for the naming of a university building. It was, of course, shot down. I say “of course” because seeking legal council when there is a legal question is a logical move and ultimately in the best interest of the university. I suspect it is for that reason the board chose not to do it.
If the Board of Trustees really gave a damn about the university, they would have tabled the issue until the next meeting. This is very telling of how the board and the administration feel about UK. It is their own little, multi-million dollar playground, where they may do as they please without the tiniest amount of consideration for anyone or anything else, be it the students or the rules that govern the very university they are entrusted with. If the Board of Trustees really gave a damn about the university, they would have tabled the issue until the next meeting. Thus giving them the time to seek legal council and give the UK community ample time to have their voices heard.
I’m not quite sure what the official job description is for a member of the board, but I think I can say with a reasonable amount of confidence that it is not to ignore students, faculty and staff and then flout the rules. Even so, one look at the board shows that it is structured to do just that. There is a grand total of one student representative on it, two faculty representatives and one staff representative. That’s four people. Four people on a 20-person board. I would love to hear the argument that says the students, the faculty and the staff account for one-fifth of what goes on at UK. The remaining board members are appointed by the governor to six-year terms. I would imagine that being appointed by a governor, to a term that is longer than that of the governor himself, might give a person reason to believe the rules don’t really apply to them. These 16 board members are essentially accountable to no one, and even if they were, they wouldn’t be accountable to the groups most affected by their actions. I think it’s high time that we reconsider how our university is run. The current system, under which the students get screwed, the faculty gets screwed even more and the staff are screwed the most, simply cannot continue to exist unchecked. The power of the flagship university of the Commonwealth needs to be vested in the hands of the people who make the university what it is day in and day out, not some random friend of the governor with more money than sense. Justin Lamb is a political science junior. E-mail opinions@kykernel.com.
Addictions difficult for anyone to control Congratulations to Billy Gillispie for getting his life back on track. It was made official earlier this week as Gillispie plead guilty to drunken driving, taking the maximum AUSTIN penalty for HILL a first time Kernel offender. columnist He will be losing his license for a month, paying a fine and hitting the mandatory alcohol classes all DUI offenders go through, and for Billy G, I think this is the best thing that could have ever happened. I was at the introductory press conference when he first arrived, where a reporter asked about a previous suspicion of DUI charge that occurred in Texas prior to his taking the UK job. At the time I thought it was classless to pry into someone’s private life, speculating on speculation. Who
would have known that question would embody the future of what was to be Gillispie’s downfall just a short time later. Gillispie’s tenure here at UK was marred by rumors, and gossip of his late night adventures, yet he still established himself as a rock star in the eyes of many. Truth was, Billy G. was nothing more than an alcoholic. He suffered from something common in our society — addiction to substances. Combined with an ego, money and the power that comes with coaching one of the most historic franchises in college sports, Gillispie fast tracked himself toward the drain, spiraling down one sip at a time. His job performance suffered from it, his relationships, along with his overall well being. Gillispie let the alcohol take over, creating another entity to himself, and now through his recovery hopefully he shall prove those many wrong and go make something more of his life. He is not any different
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from a large number of people who suffer from addiction issues except he was rich, he was famous, he became hated and then he got caught. Billy Gillispie, whatever his motive, at least did the right thing and finally sought help for his problem. With the help of John Lucas, a former NBA coach who now runs a treatment facility, Gillispie began to get himself back in shape — body and mind, heart and soul.
People don’t understand how hard it is to take your life back from an addiction until you recognize the problem. People don’t understand how hard it is to take your life back from addiction until you recognize the problem. From the looks of the tailgating I have witnessed this year, there are many who kick the
man who need to check themselves in the mirror first. I took my life back from alcohol over four years ago, and it was not an easy road to take. More importantly, it is not an easy road to stay on. My hope for Billy is that even when the road gets bumpy, he can remember how rocky his life had gotten and maybe that will keep him on the straight path. For the John Calipari worshippers who think Billy was such a bad coach or a bad hire, remember this: Gillispie has the same number of national championships as Cal, has two less major violations on his former programs’ behalf, cost approximately $24 million less and has a better record against Tennessee. Just saying ... Good luck to Billy Clyde. I hope his future is much more productive than his recent past. I hope he finds the forgiveness he needs, for the redemption I know he could have. Austin Hill is an English senior. E-mail opinions@kykernel.com.
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Thursday, November 5, 2009 | PAGE 5
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“There's not really anything missing, in my opinion,” he said. “I mean, they have tons of TVs, good atmosphere, pool table, good food and great drinks.” Abigail Billings, a Lexington businesswoman, sits at the bar with her laptop. She’s a regular at Bar None because she can come late after work to use the Wi-Fi while she has dinner. Like Trumble, Billings likes Bar None’s atmosphere. “There aren’t people over-indulging in alcohol,” she said. As a single female, Billings said she feels more comfortable at Bar None than at a traditional bar. Sims said UK coaches are another group that like the idea of Bar None, and it’s popular with some student athletes. People tired of the bar scene, religious customers and recovering alcoholics are also drawn to Bar None, though Sims said his establish-
ic saxophone sound that they had mastered. “After we released (“Fire It Up,”) I had people asking for the sax with the beats. That's why we released “Wide Awake,” our new EP. It's more of a representation of what we sound like at a live show,” Lalli said. “Wide Awake,” a five-track EP, was released late summer on their Web site, biggigantic.net. The composition, like the prior album, is available for free download. With so much success this early in their career, Lalli admits to being somewhat surprised and feeling the pressure to keep pushing forward. “It's definitely a little crazy,” he said. “I was hoping to be where we are now a couple years from now, but I love playing and making music so it's really fun for me.” Big Gigantic will make their first stop in Lexington on Saturday. The Colorado natives will play at Cosmic Charlie’s at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at the venue. Individuals under the age of 21 will not be permitted. Lalli said to expect “a high-energy dance party with some dope lights and a lot of raging going on.”
CRAFT Continued from page 1 “To see the transformation of an area where there was no potential for jobs — then there was all of the sudden opportunity for jobs,” Craft said. “It was quite a contrast to see the benefits of the coal industry coming back to life.” After graduating high school in 1968, He attended UK and majored in accounting. Craft spent a year at a Certified Public Accounting firm after graduation, then returned to UK to attend law school. Little did he know he would soon be making a decision that would change his career. In the 1970s, the U.S. became victim to an energy crisis, going from a “low energy economy to a high energy economy,” Craft said. He said the energy policy was refocused on coal, which led to employment opportunities for Kentuckians, especially in the eastern part of the state. “I was faced to decide whether I wanted to proceed in business or as a tax attorney,” Craft said. “But I was persuaded — I figured I’d be better off selling my ideas instead of selling my time. I took the risk and learned the coal business.” Almost immediately, since there were more jobs than employees, Craft took on a large amount of responsibility at the first mining company that hired him. He said that gave him experience to take on more as coal continued to grow.
PHOTO BY SCOTT HANNIGAN | STAFF
Bar None patrons order non-alcoholic drinks on Oct. 22. Located on Old Vine Street, Bar None is an alcohol-free alternative to the traditional bar scene. ment isn’t religiously driven. “I separate politics and religion from business,” he said. Bar None has a growing lunch crowd, Sims said, and hosted several Greek parties last month. But for Sims, Bar None isn’t just about money. “I’m in it to provide something for the community,” he said.
Craft moved to Tulsa, and in 1986 became president of MAPCO Coal Inc., which held mining complexes in Kentucky, Illinois and Maryland. Craft had previously been that company's general counsel and chief financial officer, making him the youngest to hold those positions of a Fortune 500 company at the time. In 1996, in response to MAPCO’s decision to go out of business, Craft led a buyout which changed the company’s name to Alliance Coal Company. After three years of being private, Craft sold half of the company to be publicly-traded and Alliance Resource Partners, L.P., the fifth largest eastern U.S. coal producer, was formed.
Donations Not including the $7 million pledged for the new Wildcat Coal Lodge, Craft has donated $880,000 in 2009 alone. The recent gift for the lodge is the largest private gift in UK Athletics history. It is still pending approval from the state organizations Capital Oversight and the Council of Postsecondary Education. “Joe Craft loves his Kentucky roots and his university,” said UK President Lee Todd in a statement to the Kernel. “He is a loyal UK alumnus, and we greatly appreciate his support and generous contributions to university student scholarships, academic programs and campus facilities.” Craft said the largest benefit of athletics is education, not only in youth but in “all walks of life.” Craft said the
If money was his primary concern, Sims said he would have stayed in the traditional bar business where alcohol mark-ups allow him to make $150 off of an $8 bottle of bourbon. “People just don’t think it will work,” he said. “I challenge them to get up, come down and try it out.”
UK basketball program should set high standards to enthuse and help youth reach their goals. “I’m a strong believer in athletics,” Craft said. “Some people took the very narrow view of, ‘Why would you give such a large gift to only nine or 10 people?’ But I personally believe that gift touches millions of people. “Look at the culture of the (UK basketball) program. (It is) more than just a sport for nine guys, it’s a culture.” UK Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart said Craft provides the resources for UK to set appropriately high standards. “Our coaches and student-athletes strive to achieve high levels of success and bring pride to the Commonwealth,” Barnhart said in a statement to the Kernel. “It is only through the generosity of those who love the Kentucky Wildcats that the resources needed to attain those goals are possible. “Joe Craft has been a vital part of the continued growth of UK Athletics, and we are extremely grateful for his support and financial contributions.”
A key contributor Craft decided to include “coal” in the new lodge’s name so UK and visitors to campus could “pay tribute as well as have that display to provide education on the many advances of coal, technology and education opportunities.” Craft said the display of “coal” will attract and teach visitors its positive contributions in the state and on campus.
Coal is part of Kentucky’s heritage. It’s still a significant part of the economical engine for our country.” — Joe Craft, president of Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.
Cotton, however, said “coal” will do the opposite. “Particularly right now, when we’re moving away from coal, when coal is destroying the environment in Eastern Kentucky … It’s just not good policy for UK to be doing that,” Cotton said. Craft will be speaking at Thursday’s “Forum on Coal in Kentucky” to provide knowledge of coal to the discussion. He said more publicity is needed to communicate “an education for people to see the positive things” of coal, and to improve the quality of life. “(Coal is) a key contributor to the wealth of a nation,” Craft said. “Electricity is an outlet to improve life.” Those opposed to coal and those for coal should have the same goals for the country, Craft said. The “animosity” that followed the “Wildcat Coal Lodge” deci-
sion was unnecessary, he said. “All Kentuckians and Americans should respect the coal miners for what they do,” Craft said. “They’ve been a pillar in providing for this country … they’ve driven the wealth this country has today.” The Wildcat Coal Lodge will begin construction in the summer of 2010 and is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2011, according to a UK Athletics release. However, Craft and his Difference Makers have already brought “coal” to the center of attention on campus, representing the face of the highly debated, heavily scrutinized black rock. “I’m proud of that,” Craft said of being considered the face of coal. “Coal is part of Kentucky’s heritage. It’s still a significant part of the economical engine for our country.”
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High expectations follow Wall to UK By Metz Camfield mcamfield@kykernel.com
He’s never played a college basketball game before. That seems to be the only knock on UK freshman point guard John Wall. Some say his jump shot needs improvement, some say he can’t hit his 3-pointers with the regularity that others can. But when the UK men’s basketball team talks about just how good Wall is, there’s usually a shaking of the head in disbelief, raising of eyebrows and very complimentary words. “John is very good,” freshman forward DeMarcus Cousins said. “Everything you hear, everything on paper is true. He is good, he’s not overrated at all. Everything is good.” When asked if he could be the national player of the year, Cousins responded with a simple, “Oh yeah.” That’s just the recognition Wall got from CBSSports.com senior writer Gary Parrish, who labeled Wall the Preseason National Player of the Year. Wall wouldn’t comment on if he can be the national player of the year this year because he has yet to play a game at the college level — not even an exhibition game. Wall was ruled ineligible by the NCAA for the Cats’ first exhibition game and first regular season game because he received money from his AAU coach who was a former agent. On Friday night, Wall will finally get to take the court at Rupp Arena against an opposing team. Hailing from Raleigh, N.C., Wall chose the Cats over Miami (Fla.), Duke and hometown North Carolina State, among others. Wall was close to giving a commitment to Memphis before then-Memphis head coach
John Calipari had left for UK. The move reopened Wall’s recruitment and the Cats became one of the top schools on his list. “It’s just an offense to have fun,” Wall said of Calipari’s Dribble-Drive Motion offense. “If you can score and get to the basket, this is a great offense for you.” In the offseason, Wall organized off-court activities and pick-up games with his current teammates. He said he’s always been that way. Along with junior forward Patrick Patterson, Wall said he’s trying to become a more vocal leader on the team and that overall the team has a lot of good leaders. Being the point guard, the leader of the offense and the No. 1 recruit in the country comes with high expectations and praise from many different sources. Calipari said it’s not uncommon to see Wall in the gym by himself at 11 o’clock at night. Calipari also said Wall, like the great players he’s had in the past, defers the attention to his teammates and is taking it all in stride. “He thinks Patrick Patterson is the best player in the country,” Calipari said. “He’s going to do what he can to help this team win. His best friend on this team, his closest brother, is Eric Bledsoe. They’re going to be competing and also playing together, and yet that’s his best friend.” Wall said his strengths include getting to the basket and getting his teammates involved. He also said he dives on the floor for loose balls, something he said you might not expect from a top-10 recruit in the country. “He’s definitely made an impact on this team for him being known as a passer,” said senior guard/forward Ramon Harris. “He makes guys want to run the floor, he makes guys want to get open because you know he’s going to pass it to you.”
PHOTO BY ALLIE GARZA | STAFF
Senior forward Tim Crone scored the game’s lone goal in the 68th minute. The 1-0 victory clinches a spot in the Conference-USA Tournament for the Cats.
UK tops SMU, clinches place in conference tournament By Clark Brooks sports@kykernel.com
The UK men’s soccer team clinched a spot in the Conference USA Tournament after defeating Southern Methodist University 1-0 Wednesday at the UK Soccer Complex. Both teams started the first half extremely aggressive on both sides of the pitch by tackling hard and creating plenty of opportunities to get good looks. SMU forced the issue early when Paulo da Silva forced a diving save from UK keeper Dan Williams. Da Silva would have had a goal in the 25th minute if not for an offside call. “I felt we didn’t start the game well,” UK head coach Ian Collins said. “SMU came out focused and determined.” UK responded offensively with a cross pattern started by Tim Crone to Taylor White to an open C.J. Tappel, but the shot was just wide. In the 36th minute Crone delivered a pass between two SMU defenders to Tyler Burns in the box but the junior midfielder wasn’t able to put enough on the shot. “We always like to fly around,” Crone said. “We knew they would come out with a high intensity and we needed to match it. Both teams had to win, so we felt we needed to be on the offensive.” The Mustangs answered right back to UK’s assault creating three chances in the Cats’ box, but all three were eventually cleared by the stout UK defense. SMU’s Pana de Almeida tried to give the Mustangs the lead going into halftime with a header in the 45th minute, but UK defender Barry Rice deflected the ball away nonchalantly, and both teams jogged to the
locker rooms scoreless after a teeter-totter first half. “We stuck to our game plan,” Collins said. “Since the rain has been making the field soft, we wanted to put the ball in the air more. And after a slow start, I was relieved to go into halftime tied.” The second half began much like the first. Both teams knew this game could mark the end to their respective seasons. Going into the game, the Cats needed to at least win or tie the Mustangs in order to make the C-USA Tournament. SMU, on the other hand, needed to beat the Cats and FIU to close out their season to clinch a C-USA playoff spot. “It seems like we play a little better under pressure,” Crone said. “I like it.” Both UK and SMU had free kick opportunities in the opening minutes of the half, but neither was able to capitalize. As the game went on, both teams continued to have good chances to score a goal. In the 68th minute, however, UK broke the deadlock with a solo goal from Crone off a fastbreak, his second in 2009. “The defense got back quicker than I thought they would,” Crone said. “But, Taylor (White) took a good wide path and gave me a crease. After that, I just aimed for a spot and hit it.” After the goal, UK didn’t lose any effort offensively, mustering three shots in five minutes after netting the game-winner. “After our first goal,” Collins said. “We started to get a feel for it on offense and could’ve ended up with three or four more goals.” Despite having their season all but cut short, SMU never gave up until the final
gun. The Cats improved to 125-0 (5-3-0 C-USA) on the season and are currently riding a four-game winning streak. “A while ago, the seniors talked to the rest of the team and wanted to turn things around,” Crone said. “Since then, we have gone into training sessions more focused and determined.” Collins said he was proud of the team for coming through after a rocky start to the season. “I’m real happy with these guys,” Collins said. “Most teams would have folded the way the beginning of the season went, but we have a lot of tough kids.”
Freshman point guard John Wall comes to UK as one of the most highly touted recruits in the history of the program. During the offseason, Wall scheduled pick-up games with his teammates. PHOTO BY BRITNEY MCINTOSH STAFF
Wall has become a YouTube legend through his play in both AAU tournaments and high school. He averaged 22.1 points, 5.5 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 2 steals per game his senior season at Word of God Christian Academy, leading them to a runner-up finish in the North Carolina Class 1A state championship. One of Wall’s biggest YouTube moments came when he threw down a huge one-handed slam in the face of two-time NBA All-Star
Jerry Stackhouse. For Cousins, the legend of Wall appeared at a younger age. Cousins met Wall at an under-14 AAU tournament. “I didn’t know who he was at the time but he was good then,” Cousins said. “He was a lanky kid and he was fast as hell then. He dunked on one of my teammates and he said that was his first dunk. I was like, ‘Your first dunk you slammed on somebody.’ It was a pretty sick dunk.”