Coming together amongst the Madness: UK basketball playing their best in March
See page 6
TUESDAY
MARCH 23, 2010
WWW.KYKERNEL.COM
KENTUCKY KERNEL CELEBRATING 39 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE
UK, 70, MICHIGAN STATE 52
PHOTOS BY SCOTT HANNIGAN | STAFF
The UK hoops team celebrates advancing to their first Sweet 16 since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams. The Cats will face either Nebraska or UCLA on Sunday.
SWEET VICTORY Cats make history with 70-52 win over Spartans By Nick Craddock
Fast facts
ncraddock@kykernel.com
LOUISVILLE—The key matchup entering the Cats’ second round game was Michigan State’s size vs. UK’s speed. Quickness won out this time, as the fourth-seeded Cats (27-7) defeated the fifth-seeded Spartans 70-52 to advance to the Sweet 16 in the Kansas City Regional. This is UK’s first trip to the regional semifinals since 1982, when the inaugural NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament was competed among a
n This is the Cats’ first trip to the Sweet 16 since the tournament expanded to 64 teams. n The Cats will face either No. 1 Nebraska (30-1) or No. 8 UCLA (24-8) in Kansas City, Mo., on Sunday at a time to be announced. field of 32 teams and UK head coach Matthew Mitchell was 11 year old. The win also extended the school record for wins in a season. “Before the game, I told them I
was afraid that this could be the last game we play together,” Mitchell said. “We couldn’t play with any fear, we had to put that behind us, and I thought they played remarkably confident tonight for this situation. I didn’t think any fear crept in at all.” A UK win was anything but a certainty coming into the game, especially considering UK’s history of troubles with teams with solid size and rebounding skills. Mitchell said following UK’s first-round win that rebounding needed to be a point of emphasis.
Freshman guard A’dia Mathies scored eight points and dished out five assists in the Cats’ second-round win in the NCAA Tournament.
See Hoops on page 6
Student Affairs picks Mock as vice president By Katie Perkowski kperkowski@kykernel.com
After numerous on-campus public forums to hear from the candidates for the new vice president for Student Affairs position, the selection committee has reached its verdict. Robert Mock Jr., the current associate vice provost for Student Affairs at the University of
Arkansas at Fayetteville, has accepted the position. He will begin his tenure on July 1, contingent on the Board of Trustees’ approval, according to a UK news release. Mock was out of the office at a conference and could not be reached for comment. In the news release, UK Provost Kumble Subbaswamy said he and UK President Lee Todd determined Mock was the best fit for
UK based on input from those who participated in the search. In an e-mail to the Kernel, Jim Wims, co-chair of Mock the search committee, said all the candidates were capable of the role, but Mock stood out to those involved in filling the position.
Honors societies that make the cut How to avoid getting scammed By Fink Densford news@kykernel.com
Every year at UK, some “selected” students receive letters inviting them to join prestigious honor societies, but some of these societies may not be as honorable as they claim. The National Society of Collegiate Scholars is one of many honors societies that invites freshmen and sophomores ranking in the top 20 percent in their class to join, according to its Web site. Mishri Someshwar, manag-
er of communications for NSCS, said some students are asking whether the groups they are invited to are legitimate or not. “It’s important to make sure the honors these societies are offering to their members is merited,” Someshwar said. “Anytime you get an invite, you want to make sure you understand what the group has to offer.” Holly Miller, a graduate student at UK, said she enrolled in a society as an undergraduate that turned out to be a scam. She said after joining the only information she received was a single invitation to a dinner the society held.
First issue free. Subsequent issues 25 cents.
“I never re-enrolled because I didn’t feel like it offered anything to me,” Miller said. Students with high grades could receive numerous invitations. Maggie Evans, a psychology junior, said she receives between three to four invitations every semester. “I throw them away because they seem like things to put on your resume and not real groups to get involved in,” Evans said. The NSCS provides guidelines, which the Association of College Honors Societies priSee Honors on page 3
“ ... the decision to hire Dr. Mock is reflective of what seemed to be the overall sentiments of those who participated in the search process," Wims said in the e-mail. Mock earned his bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering at Southern Illinois University and received a master’s and doctoral degrees at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Mock has also served as the assistant chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and as the Student Services division chief and director of Recruitment and Retention at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. For more information, visit http://www.uky.edu/Provost/files/M ock.pdf.
Middle East dialogue gives voice to Palestinian side By Katie Perkowski kperkowski@kykernel.com
Five months ago, protestors gathered outside the Singletary Center for the Arts in opposition to former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s visit to UK. Now, members of the UK community have the opportunity to hear — and perhaps protest — the Palestinian side. Hanan Ashrawi, a Palestinian legislator, has served as a political activist for years and will present the Palestinian side to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The speech is part of UK’s initiative for yearlong dialogue on prospects for peace in the Middle East. Terry Anderson, a UK journalism pro-
fessor and former chief Middle East correspondent for the Associated Press, invited Ashrawi to UK when the university was looking for a Palestinian spokesperson to Ashrawi balance Olmert’s speech. Anderson has known Ashrawi since the mid-1980s and said no one would speak better for the Palestinian side than she. “This is a particularly crucial time in Israeli-U.S./Palestinian relations, there’s a lot going on, and Dr. Ashrawi has been a voice for peace for many years,” he said. See Ashrawi on page 3
Newsroom: 257-1915; Advertising: 257-2872
PAGE 2 | Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Features
Benjy Davis Project improves sound, stays lighthearted on new album
4puz.com
p
‘Hot Tub’ is no ‘Hangover’ "Hot Tub Time Machine's" title may say it all. But just in case it doesn't, here's an alternative — "Back to The Hangover." A sloppy, raucous, time travel farce in the grown-men-gone-wild "Hangover" style, it's a surprisingly satisfying, if not exactly "LMAO," riot. Nick (Craig Robinson) works at a dog grooming parlor, 'Sup Dawg.' But back in the day, he had a band. Adam (John Cusack) just got dumped. Again. He's a lonely insurance agent, but once upon a time, he had friends. And Lou (Rob Corddry) has become a "raging alcoholic," a guy whose life is so trapped in the past that he's hospitalized after jamming out to hair metal in his vintage Trans Am in his garage — nearly asphyxiating himself. He used to be the life of the party, "Lou-cipher, aka Violator." Lou's carbon monoxide moment forces all of them to ask "What happened to us?" "We were young," Adam whines. "We had momentum. We were winning." They resolve to recapture past glory by making a road trip to the ski lodge of their youth, reviving Lou with a little snow and hedonism. Kodiak Valley is now a dump, the bellhop (Crispin Glover, a hoot) now an embittered, one-armed
jerk. But a short circuit in a hot tub changes everything — the hair, the clothes, the "Alf" playing on the TV in the background. The male-bonders have landed back in their alleged heyday, the '80s. Adam's nerdy nephew (Clark Duke of "Sex Drive") is the one to figure it out, because "I write 'Stargate' FAN fiction!" What follows is a hit-or-miss riff on a decade that has never provoked the sort of fond nostalgia that the '50s, 60s or '70s did. As Cusack's Adam mutters, "Reagan. And AIDS. I HATE this decade!" But as they struggle to take what they know of time travel from bad movies ("The Butterfly Effect" is a point of reference), they discover where they went wrong, the details their memories got wrong, how they let each other down, how their "momentum" changed. There are some big laughs (Robinson lands most of them), a few great running gags (How Glover's character lost his arm) and the "Back to the Future" sweet moments of reflection mostly work. It's not "The Hangover," but at least this "Hot Tub" won't have you hating yourself in the morning. MCT
Taking yourself seriously doesn’t always result in good music. See: Benjy Davis Project. That isn’t to say they took themselves seriously and made a bad album. In fact, it means quite the opposite. “Lost Souls Like Us” is the fourth studio effort from the folk-rock duo out of Louisiana, and levity seems to be the theme pervading most of the album. It has its share of ballads, but as a group who MATT has made such drastic sonMURRAY ic improvements from their Kernel previous record, it would columnist seem almost natural that more serious tones would accompany their newfound polished sound. It doesn’t. And it’s a good thing. Lead vocalist Benjy Davis started the group with drummer Mic Capdevielle in 2001. The group has since signed to Rock Ridge Music and has opened for acts such as John Mayer and Sister Hazel. The southern influence on their album is evident and shouldn’t be a surprise considering guests that join their back-up band on the album. Musicians from acts such as Lynyrd Skynyrd, Lady Antebellum and .38 Special are
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 — Don't try to think outside the box today. Just get the work done. Don't expect it to be fun. Your partner applauds your diplomacy. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 6 — Whatever balls you have in the air, keep them in motion. The flow of communication at work needs to continue. Increase intensity later in the day. Gemini (May 21-June 21) — Today is a 6 — You feel boxed in when friends and neighbors make emotional demands. You'd rather stick to the practical cash decisions. Cancer (June 22-July 22) — Today is a 7 — Hard work today pays off. Don't avoid responsibili-
among those that make up the ever-changing revolving door that is the Benjy Davis Project studio band. As far as the album’s lyrical lightheartedness, no song sums it up better than “Get High.” With lyrics that are far from subtle — “Everybody’s so serious/Everybody’s so scared/It’s enough to make a man delirious/Enough to make him lose his hair/We need to get a little beer in us/We need to pull up a chair/Sit it on down, pass it around” — the song essentially sums up a message that agrees with the entire album. Don’t take life too seriously and make every day a good one. The album isn’t flawless. Some of the songs drone on with no real hook, while others struggle to find a contemporary sound. However, the albums’ bright spots outshine the flaws, making them easily forgiveable. For anyone looking for a fitting soundtrack to welcome the warm weather, the Benjy Davis Project serves as a perfect complement to album collections already featuring artists ranging from Dave Matthews to Lynyrd Skynyrd. Just don’t take the Benjy Davis Project too seriously. They wouldn’t want you to. Matt Murray is a journalism junior. Email mmurray@kykernel.com.
ties. Smile even if you're not having fun. You can get through it. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is a 7 — Get in gear early in the day. Review your schedule and contact a professional who has the advice you need. Full speed ahead until quitting time. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is a 7 — What starts out gloomy can turn to sunshine if you ride the horse in the direction it's going. Let someone else assert pressure. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 6 — If you want to get anything done today, establish structure early. Consider all the angles before you reach the completion phase. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is a 7 — Perhaps the biggest challenge today is to bring imaginative ideas into the workplace and make them solid. Bring the new kid up to speed.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 5 — Assert your love in definite terms. State your feelings loudly and often. Others may take time to return the favor, and they may be hard of hearing. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 7 — One of your favorite people tells you how to run your life. Put them in charge of your appointment calendar only if you want changes. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is a 7 — You get a lot more work accomplished when you dip just below the surface of consciousness to grasp creative images and language. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is an 8 — Get in the mood to break the ice at a social gathering. Others may mask feelings, so prime the pump by engaging them with questions about themselves. (C) 2010 TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES
Tuesday, March 23, 2010 | PAGE 3
Cheap Seats returns with a bite By Allison Fister news@kykernel.com
Students who want to get a taste — or rather a bite — of a vampire, can do so while giving to a good cause this week. The UK Student Activities Board will host its first Cheap Seats event Tuesday and Wednesday, and the movie of choice will be “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.” SAB is working with the UK chapter of the Student United Way and will donate half of all admissions to charity. United Way works to advance the common good, focusing on education, income and health, according to its Web site. The goal of the organization is to create changes that prevent the problem from happening in the first place. Brad Elliott, Cheap Seats director, said the United Way organization contacted him to help establish the new student organization’s initial fund. Elliott said the popularity of the movie should bring tons of viewers. “Because of this, we chose this movie to work
HONORS Continued from page 1 marily drafted, to help students avoid scams. The ACHS Web site has a list of accredited honors societies that Someshwar said have gone through rigorous tests and hold high standards. “Some groups may not belong to that list, but may still be legitimate,” she said. Someshwar said students should watch out for basic red flags when selecting an honors society. “Check the GPA requirement. It should be within the top 20 percent of your school,” Someshwar said. “If there’s no academic requirement, or it’s not explained,
If you go What: “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” When: Tuesday and Wednesday at 8 p.m. Where: Worsham Theater, Student Center Admission: $1 with (Student United Way) so that they could benefit as much as possible,” he said. Elliott said Cheap Seats aims to raise at least $150 for the organization. Elliott said Cheap Seats can be a good opportunity for students, particularly those without a car, to get off campus to see new movies. “It’s hard for some students to get off campus during the school year to see movies, and movie theater tickets can be really expensive,” he said. Cheap Seats will show the movie Tuesday and Wednesday at 8 p.m. in Worsham Theater, located in the Student Center. Admission is $1. Admission price includes popcorn, and the event is a TallyCats event.
Honors societies Things to pay attention to: ■ Applicants should have to be at least in the top 20 percent of their class ■ Listed on the Association of College Honors Societies Web site ■ If it has a physical address and phone number listed on the organization’s Web site ■ Where the money paid goes to and who is in charge of it ■ Make sure society officers’ names are listed on the Web site you should be wary.” Someshwar said it is important to check out things like the society’s financial reports, how much revenue it is
Last lap in health care marathon to begin in Senate By David Lightman McClatchy Newspapers
WASHINGTON — The final lap of the historic healthcare marathon is expected to begin Tuesday in the Senate, where Democrats are confident that they have the votes to complete revamping the nation’s health-care system. First, though, the measure has to survive a last-ditch Republican effort to derail it. Their major challenge is expected to involve Social Security policy, and the outcome could depend on the Senate parliamentarian’s ruling. The next phase of debate will start after President Barack Obama signs Senate-authored health-care legislation Tuesday that the House of Representatives approved Sunday night. Once Obama acts, the Senate will consider a package of House changes to that measure called “reconciliation.” Debate will be limited to 20 hours, and 51 votes will be needed for passage. Democrats control 59 seats in the Senate. Republicans began their Senate assault Monday, as Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky charged that Democrats “want us to endorse a raft of new sweetheart deals that were struck behind closed doors last week so this thing could limp over generating and where all that revenue is going. It should be easy to find out who is in charge of the money, she said. “There should be clear member participation as well,” she said. “Not being able to find information on chapter presidents or board members can be a bad sign.” Someshwar said other things to look for on a society’s Web site are its physical address and phone number. “Honors societies, when they are legitimate, offer great benefits,” she said. “You want to make sure the group does offer those things. Making sure you join the right group and use it to your advantage is our goal.” The ACHS guidelines are available at www.achsnatl.org.
MAP COURTESY OF MCT
the finish line.” The reconciliation package, which the House approved Sunday night with no Republican support, would make a series of changes to the bill that Obama will sign Tuesday. It provides more government help with insurance premiums for lowerand middle-class families, more prescription-drug benefits for most Medicare beneficiaries and help for states with Medicaid, the state-federal health program for lower-income people. The legislation also delays a new tax on high-end insurance policies to 2018, and in-
creases the Medicare payroll tax for the wealthy. Single people who earn more than $200,000 annually, and joint filers who make more than $250,000, would see the tax increase 0.9 percentage point in 2013, to 2.35 percent. They’d also pay a 3.8 percent tax on dividends, interest and other unearned income. Republicans plan a twopronged effort to stop the Democratic plan, through parliamentary challenges and amendments. Former New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly Ayotte, a Republican Senate candidate, said Monday that
ASHRAWI Continued from page 1 “ … it’s only right and fair that we should hear the Palestinian side, and I can’t think of a better spokesperson for the Palestinian side than Hanan Ashrawi.” Ashrawi is not a radical or someone who hates the United States, Anderson said, but she is a person who has been working for peace and democracy for many years and someone directly involved in the issue. Although Olmert’s visit was met with protests, Anderson said he does not know what to expect when Ashrawi gives her speech. “I don’t know why anybody should protest Dr. Ashrawi, but it’s OK,” he said. “It’s a country where we thankfully have free speech, isn’t it?” It is also important that as a university, the people of the UK community hear both sides of the issue, Anderson said.
if she were elected, “I’d be the first to back this bill,” because “New Hampshire citizens tell me every day that they don’t want a federal takeover of health care.” Republicans’ best hope for thwarting the Democrats in the Senate probably lies in the parliamentary process. Under the “Byrd rule,” named for master tactician Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., reconciliation measures must relate directly to the federal budget process. The bill would delay a Senate-approved excise tax on high-end insurance policies by five years, until 2018. That delay, Republicans say, would encourage employers to continue offering more elaborate insurance policies in lieu of increasing wages. Since wages up to a certain level are subject to Social Security tax, the change is likely to mean less Social Security revenue. Reconciliation isn’t supposed to affect Social Security, Republicans contend. If Senate Parliamentarian Alan Frumin agrees, Democrats could need 60 votes to overturn his ruling, and a failure to get those votes would effectively scuttle the reconciliation bill. Staffers from both parties met with Frumin for an hour Monday and reported no decision.
According to the Singletary Center Web site, the Peace House Living-Learning Community will sustain the dialogue in cooperation with the Office of Residence Life. The Peace House is a student residential community that is dedicated to local and international peace. Ashrawi received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in literature at the American University of Beirut and earned her Ph.D. in medieval and comparative literature from the University of Virginia, according to an online biography. Ashrawi’s role as a political activist began almost at the same time as her academic career. Her roles include head and founder of the Preparatory Committee of the Palestinian Independent Commission for Citizens’ Rights in Jerusalem, founder of the Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy and an elected member of the Palestinian Legislative Council for the Jerusalem district, according to the biography. Tuesday night’s speech is at 7:30 in the Singletary Center and tickets are no longer available.
OPINIONS Tuesday, March 23, 2010
KERNEL EDITORIAL BOARD Kenny Colston, editor in chief Wesley Robinson, opinions editor Melissa Vessels, managing editor Ben Jones, sports editor Allie Garza, managing editor Matt Murray, features 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.
Page 4
KERNEL EDITORIAL
Fraternity’s lapse should signal its end Nothing good happens after midnight. A few bad apples can ruin things for everyone. Those cliches are uttered on an everyday basis, but one week before this campus went on Spring Break, they both hit home after an incident at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon house Friday, March 5. According to the police report, a student wrapped in toilet paper was lit on fire early Saturday morning. Even in a world where college kids’ pranks become even more elaborated (no doubt fueled by the stunts they see on MTV), when was lighting someone on fire ever considered funny? Answer: Never. Whether or not it was a few out-of-control SAE members who may or may not have caused this, or whether the whole fraternity is at fault, the response is just as simple: Whatever happens on property adorned with Greek letters is the responsibility of the entire organization. And anyone that’s part of an organization represents the whole overall group, regardless of where that person is. Simply put, the incident falls on the shoulders of the UK chapter of SAE. Take the Kernel for example. Last year, a Kernel staff photographer and the photography adviser were arrested during the Republican National Convention. These photographers were not on assignment for the Kernel, but because they were current staff members of Kernel, the newspaper was asked to atone for the two photographers. SAE has the same responsibility. Since the incident occurred at the house, and the culprits are an SAE members, the blame doesn’t lie solely on individuals. The gross oversight that allowed this type of culture to even surface is to blame. This is not a bashing of Greeks or the Greek system. Through events like DanceBlue (which, ironically, was ongoing during this incident), the Greeks on this campus give back to the community and university. The SAE incident isn’t an overarching condemnation of Greeks at UK. It is, of course, a condemnation of the reckless attitude one fraternity exercised, and for that reason, UK should suspend SAE from campus for a finite period of time and all leadership be expelled from the fraternity. If the same situation happened in a dorm, the resident adviser in charge would be fired, the students expelled and the dorm supervisor would probably lose their job as well. SAE deserves the same fate. It only takes a few bad apples. So let’s rid both the Greek system and the university of them.
Follow the Kernel at twitter.com/KernelOpinions for the latest campus updates
Submissions Please limit letters to 350 words or fewer and guest columns should be no more than 600 words. Be sure to include your full name, class, major and telephone number with all submissions. Telephone numbers will only be used to verify identity.
E-mail opinions@kykernel.com
Respond Online Go to www.kykernel.com to comment on opinions pieces. All online comments may be used in the paper as letters to the editor.
Comment at www.kykernel.com
WILLIAM KILUBA, Kernel cartoonist
Health care vote will doom Democrats It took congressional Republicans 12 years to lose touch with the American electorate to the point voters were willing to relieve them of their majorities in both houses of Congress. In a classic case of “anything you can do, I can do better,” it has taken Democrats four years to do the same. WES Late Sunday, the BLEVINS House of RepresentaGuest tives narrowly passed columnist a profoundly unpopular health care reform package with no Republican votes by a 219-212 margin. A jubilant President Barack Obama later said, “We proved that this government — a government of the people and by the people — still works for the people.” But wait a minute — if our government works for the people, as Obama said, then why would Democrats force a bill through Congress that the majority of Americans vehemently oppose? In polls taken over the past two weeks, only one has shown a majority of respondents who favor reforming health care in the way the president and Democrats have proposed. In fact, the gap between those that disapprove of the bill over those who approve have ranged from 4 percent to 20 percent. In case Democrats haven’t noticed, American voters are angry — angry over government inaction on unemployment, federal spending that remains out of control, bailouts to companies that continue to dole out millions in executive bonuses and members of Congress who remain more concerned with their own electoral futures and the welfare of their parties, rather than doing what is best for the nation and getting millions of laid-off Americans back on payrolls. We have seen American frustration in the growing Tea Party movement, which emerged in the wake of the 2009 federal stimulus package and has continued to grow in the last year. Democrats and their liberal allies are quick to paint Tea Partiers with a broad brush as members of the rightwing fringe, who still question the president’s citizenship and stockpile ar-
senals of arms and ammunition, hoping they might eventually get to use them against a Socialist takeover of American politics. To be clear, I find many of the socially conservative elements of the Tea Party movement repugnant. Religion has no place in public schools, women should maintain the right to choose in matters related to their bodies and the generations that would cast gays aside as second-class citizens are, thankfully, coming to an end. But where I do sympathize with the movement is in the genuine frustration that lawmakers just aren’t listening to the fiscal concerns of their constituents. In this year’s State of the Union address, Obama promised to place job creation at the top of his list of priorities for the coming year. What has he done since? Campaign tirelessly on behalf of the 10 percent of Americans who remain unemployed? No. Instead, the president has done his tireless campaigning on behalf of the health care reform bill, going as far as canceling a planned trip to Asia to put some last-minute pressure on wavering Democrats. And what have jobless Americans gotten in the meantime? A token jobs bill, signed on the eve of the health care vote that economists estimate will create 200,000 new jobs, out of 8.4 million within the past two years. American anger has also been shown in a more concrete fashion earlier this year, when Republican Scott Brown won control of the Massachusetts U.S. Senate seat formerly held by Ted Kennedy. Democrats quickly blamed the inept campaign run by Brown’s opponent, Martha Coakley; but this race was not run in a political vacuum. In most years, a Democratic candidate could have waltzed to an easy victory in that race, but this isn’t most years. The Massachusetts special election came after a year of vitriolic back-andforth in Washington over health care, while unemployment continued to climb higher and higher and reductions in federal spending seemed nowhere in sight. It is striking that nearly half of Massachusetts voters are registered as independents. In a national poll re-
leased about a week after the election, only 23 percent of independents favored Obama’s stance on health care. Those who disapproved more than doubled that figure, at 49 percent, with 37 percent saying Obama’s handling of the health care issue was “unacceptable.” On the overall economy, only 4 percent of independents rated Obama as “excellent,” while 20 percent fell into the “unacceptable” category. Our own Sen. Mitch McConnell perhaps summed up the Massachusetts election results best: “There’s a reason the nation was focused on this race. The American people have made it abundantly clear that they’re more interested in shrinking unemployment than expanding government. They’re tired of bailouts. They’re tired of the government spending more than ever at a time when most people are spending less. And they don’t want the government taking over health care.” This is what Democrats still don’t seem to understand. Obama was elected in a landslide, and the president and other Democrats made the mistake of assuming they had a mandate to go all out with their party’s platform, rather than taking in the reality that they won because there was no “R” beside their name. Americans, by and large, don’t want most of the things Obama campaigned for. Government-regulated health care, classic Democratic tax-andspend policies and the president’s version of federal stimulus remain largely unpopular with American voters, particularly among independents, who often determine the outcomes of elections. A Republican takeover of the U.S. Senate, considered a long shot before Sunday’s vote, seems more and more likely with each passing month. Take a good look at what is now most likely a lame duck Congress and know this: The last 30 years of American political history show the federal government does its best work when we have divided government. Thankfully, Democrats have been far better at getting us there than Republicans have proven to be. Wes Blevins is a staff support assistant in the department of Hispanic Studies and a history graduate student. E-mail opinions@kykernel.com.
Summer program offers cross-cultural opportunities for growth How did you celebrate “the day the dragon raises its head?” I found myself marveling at a Chinese barmaid pouring green dye into beer at the Blarney Stone Irish Pub in the French Concession district of Shanghai. BUCK March 17 fell in the middle of RYAN Guest my Spring Break columnist trip to China as part of a UK delegation consummating a Confucius Institute agreement with Shanghai University. As the first UK faculty member to be a professor in residence at SHU, I was consumed with questions, but my only serious concern was how to celebrate a high holy day of my Irish heritage in a Communist country. As I came to learn time and again, any-
thing is possible in China if you have a Zen-like desire to solve cultural paradoxes. For starters: ■ Keep your calendars straight (lunar or solar) but never give clocks as gifts. ■ Offer your business cards using two hands, not one. ■ Know one word is really two words. ■ Hear “she” then prepare yourself to meet a “he” (men go first through doors, by the way). ■ Learn the path to financial enlightenment among three swirling economies. This year St. Patrick’s Day arrived on the second day of the second month of the lunar calendar, the perfect time, sure and begorrah, to get a haircut for good luck and to eat pancakes (dragon ears) or noodles (dragon’s beard). When navigating the academic calendar at Shanghai University, you need to know the difference
between the lunar calendar and the solar calendar, or you’ll risk mixing up dates for the all-important Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, break. The word “clock” when pronounced in Chinese sounds just like the word for “die,” so imagine a gift that counts down the minutes to the death of your host or hostess. The business card ritual is not to be underestimated so don’t be like me and run out of cards before the end of your trip. At least I was loaded with gifts for exchange, also an important ritual upon meeting people, and my boxes of Kentucky bourbon chocolates were sweet success. Chinese words tend to run in twos, so Shanghai is really shang (above) and hai (the sea), so that’s why the shorthand for Shanghai University is SHU. On one tour of Shanghai University’s old downtown campus, my guide announced he was taking
me to the south entrance. There, students can catch a bus to the massive new campus 20 minutes away with its sculpture gardens displaying larger-than-life images of the world’s great scholars. As we arrived at the south gate, my guide said, “I mean north.” For solving the mystery of the three swirling economies, I turned to my Chinese Nancy Drew, UK’s new Confucius Institute director, Huajing (wah-JING) Maske, an Oxford-educated art historian. She came home from school one day as a little girl in Shanghai to see her father’s name crossed out on a street banner during the Cultural Revolution. So she not only knows Chinese history, she also has lived it. The three economies run from the people’s prices (low-cost neighborhood shops and restaurants), to the shopper’s prices (negotiated: no way, no way, walk away, then settle at a third of the
original price tag) and the hotel’s prices (highway robbery). The purpose of Confucius Institutes, non-profit public institutions based in Beijing under the Office of Chinese Language Council International, or Hanban for short, is to promote the teaching of Chinese language and culture. The benefits will begin this summer for UK students taking beginning and advanced classes in Chinese. I hope to bring along journalism students aspiring to be foreign correspondents as I teach reporting and editing classes to SHU sophomores and juniors. With a little luck of the Irish, my students will cover the World Expo in Shanghai and a big local story, UK’s history-making Confucius Institute. Buck Ryan is the director of the Citizen Kentucky Project of UK’s Scripps Howard First Amendment Center. E-mail buck.ryan@uky.edu.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010 | PAGE 5
The Kentucky Kernel
adline! e d d e d Exten 4 p.m. o t p u placed e b y a tion. a c i l b Ads m u p before the da y
Call 859.257.2871 to place an ad • Ads can be found at kykernel.com • DEADLINE - 4 p.m. the day before publication
For Sale Own a piece of UK history. 2010 Ford Mustang Signature Series. Coach Cal autograph on both doors and also the trunk. 5 year 60,000 mile extended warranty (purchased), 4 liter V6, 2 door, black cloth interior, CD, cruise BEST OFFER OVER $25,000 (RETAIL $27,000 on paperwork from Paul Miller) Contact: CoachCalMustang@yahoo.com 2007 Suzuki DRZ400S, Blue&White. Benefit from prime motorcycle parking on campus. 60mpg. Fully equipped for city commutes & weekend trails. $3600. Call/text 859-749-7296.
For Rent
graduate students. Available July, $990. (502) 7735070. 3 Bedrooms - 2 blocks to UK! Starting at $1,155.00. Pets, a/c, some w/d, 523-2363 or www.touchstonerentals.com
4BR 2.5BA Townhome in Historic South Hill. Short walk to UK campus. Off street parking. $1,400./month + Utilities.. Call 859-338-6778
3BR HOUSE, AUGUST 1, beautiful full interior renovation, homely exterior, new kitchen and bath, new insulation and new electrical wiring. 322 American Avenue. $945 plus utilities. Reserve Now! 859-3969022.
222 University A. 3BR, Porch, Hardwood floors, basement. $1050.00 +, Call 619-8988 or 619-9462.
1BR apartments available 5 minute walk from campus for lease beginning in March, April, May, June, July and August. Prices beginning at $350 per month, call 255-4188 www.wildcatproperties.com.
3 bed, 2.5 bath townhouse for rent off Red Mile, call 859-533-7575 for more information WALK TO CAMPUS. Campus Downs 3BR, 2BA. All appliances including w/d. 3rd floor cathedral ceilings. 859-433-5966
1BR close to Med school. On-site parking $485/month + electric. Avail. Aug 1. 859-351-8591
3BR homes. All appliances, off street parking. Close to campus. $960.00 - $1150.00/month. 859-351-9473. www.burtonproperties.net
Studio Apts. 422 Aylesford at Rose Lane. New Appliances, Clean! $470/MO water included. August. 509-2227.
3 Bed/2 Bath Condo. Walking distance to campus. Off street and visitor parking. $1250/month plus utilities. Available August 8. 419-344-1246
1BR Apt. in Historic House. 398 Linden Walk. $565/mo. Clean! Laundry. Utilities included. Available May. 509-2227
3BR apts. DW, W/D. Close to campus. E. High St and Richmond Ave. Dennis 859-983-0726, www.sillsbrothers.com.
Efficiency - 2 blocks to UK! Starting at $325.00. Pets, a/c, 523-2363 or www.touchstonerentals.com.
3BR, 2BA. Walk to campus. W/D, d/w, elec. Util. Energy efficient, private parking. Going fast! Call Adam 859-338-8243
Center Court – New, Best Location, Ccnter of UK Campus. Brand new construction. 2BR 2BA, hardwood flrs, marble counters, ceramic tiles. 2 Parking spaces, 3rd flr security. Cedar St. side, private courtyard, private shaded deck, best flr plan. W/D. $1,350/mo. Long term lease available. Call 859-2850770. centercourtcondo@insightbb.com 2 Bedrooms - 2 blocks to UK! Starting at $650.00. Pets, a/c, 523-2363 or www.touchstonerentals.com
3 BR, 2 BA. WALK TO campus. $850/mo. Large master w/ Bath & walk-in closet, a/c, All appliances incl washer/dryer. Low util. No smoking/pets. 510-6087676, Greg 859-225-3334 x. 101 3 BR (2 Keys apts.) Across from UK. Hardwood, laundry room, security, on-site mgmt. $1,200.00/month, includes all utilities. 859-230-3072 Luxury Heatherwood Town home, Chevy Chase(near UK) 3BR, 3.5 BA, 2054 sq. ft. living rm, deck, loft, washer/dryer, 1 car garage. 859-983-8377. $1350/mo. + Deposit.
2 Bedroom Center Court - 2 min walk to campus! Starting at $1,500.00 plus elec. Heat, parking, w/d. NO PETS, 523-2363 or www.touchstonerentals.com
4Bedroom
2 BR Duplex 10 min drive to campus. $600/mo.Call for detail 859-351-3000
4 Bedrooms - 2 blocks to UK! Starting at $1,580.00. Pets, a/c, some w/d, 523-2363 or www.touchstonerentals.com
2BR 1BA 305 E Maxwell. Central AC, hardwood, balcony 2nd flr, off street parking. $550/mo + utilities (approx $70/month). www.harryjonesjrproperties.com. 859-396-3822 2BR avail 5/16/10. Near UK all utilities pd, parking. $575/mo. 859-489-3371. 3 Bedroom 3BR, 2BA Condo. Walk to Campus. A/C. W/D. New Flooring. Avail Aug. $925/MO. Call 806-7292 3BR 2BA, 250 Lexington Ave. Short walk to campus. All electric. No Pets! $1,140/mo. + utilities. 277-4680. 3BR, 2BA condo. Walk to campus. A/C, W/D, hardwood, tile. Available Aug. $975/mo. Call 576-4729. 3BR house on Waller, 255-4188 or www.wildcatproperties.com Immaculate 3 BR, conveniently located 5 miles from UK. Lots of amenities, perfect for upperclassmen or
1,2,3,4,5,6 +7 BR Houses & 1BR Apts. Walking Distance to Uk. Visit our website for showing timer. www.wildcatproperties.com. Or call 859-255-4188.
HOUSE FOR RENT, 320 S.Broadway Park. Spacious 3 br. 1ba with w/d, Off street parking-close to UK 6 mo.lease available. $1,200/mo. Modern Property Management, Inc. 859-388-2000
Great Location, Great Security. 1BR $595, 2BR $695. All utilities included. Call Brad – 859-983-0434.
2 Bedroom
208 Conn Terr. 4BR 2 BA updated Kitchen. 859-3614811. 4BR, 339 Aylesford. Large, Beautiful. $1,480.00. 5231066, 494-9075.
1 Bedroom
1 Bedroom - 2 blocks to UK! Starting at $395.00. Pets, a/c, 523-2363 or www.touchstonerentals.com
HARDIN PROPERTIES.NET now leasing Studios, 1,2BR apts. Also, three 4/5-BR Houses remaining for August. 509-2227
3BR avail 8/01. Near UK, all utilities paid. $900/mo. 859-489-3371
Walk to campus. Newly renovated 3BR 2BA 1st Flr condo. New Paint, new carpet.,. Washer/Dryer included. $895.00/month. Short term available. 502593-7421.
Best Buy. Assigned, safe parking, one block UK. 368-9775,
4 BR/2 BA - 3/4 mi from campus; 2200 sq ft; W/D included; $1400/month + utilities; 468 Bob O Link Dr; large deck & basement. Call 502-649-0032.
4BR State St, Large front porch, parking, W/D, D/W. Avail 8/01. No Pets. $1950/mo. 859-333-8307.
4BR house with 46 inch tv, hot tub large enclosed patio, and covered porch, call 255-4188 www.wildcatproperties.com
4BR 2BA homes. All appliances, off street parking. Walking distance to campus. $1,280.00 – 1,400.00/month. 859-351-9473. www.burtonproperties.net. 4 BR, 3 BA, all electric. FP, 2 miles from campus. 2973 Candlelight, $900.00. 229-8515 4BR/2BA Cute House. 125 Westwood Dr. Electric Heat. 2 Kitchens, Large L,R, Clean, Nice! $360/ea. 509-2227. 4 BR 2 BA new homes by campus. Huge rooms, awesome yards/deck, ample parking, all appliances, all electric. Won’t Last. $325.00/person/month. 859-559-7594. BRAND NEW 4 BR: VERY ENERGY EFFICIENT. New & nearly new homes close to campus. 2 car garage, very, very nice. Showing daily. Call James McKee 859-221-7082. View at www.lexingtonhomeconsultants.com. 4BR, 2BA, WALLER AVE: All elec., off-st. parking, w/d, new carpet. $1000/mo. 859-288-5601. 5 Bedroom 5BR State St, Large front porch, parking, W/D, D/W. Avail 8/01. No Pets. $1950/mo. 859-333-8307. HOUSE FOR RENT, 360 Woodland Avenue. 2 story 5 br.2 ba.house, Stove/fridge/w/d hookup. $2,400 mo. Modern Property Management, Inc. 859-388-2000. 5BR house for August call 255-4188 www.wildcatproperties.com 5 Bedrooms - 2 blocks to UK! Starting at $2,025.00. Pets, a/c, w/d, 523-2363 or www.touchstonerentals.com 5 BR 3 BA new homes by campus. Huge rooms, awesome yards/deck, ample parking, all appliances, all electric. Won’t Last. $350.00/person/month. 859-559-7594. 6 Bedroom 6BR 3BA house available for August – walk to UK call 255-4188 or www.wildcatproperties.com Summer Special. 6 Bedroom Houses available May. Park Ave & Westwood. DW, W&D. Dennis 859-9830726
1 - 6 Bedroom Apartment/Houses available in May and August. Dennis (859) 983-0726 www.sillsbrothers.com. !!!Are you an upper classman or Grad Student? Are you looking for a house in a nice quiet neighborhood close to campus? Call 859-559-7594. NEWLY REMOLDED 2&3BR student condo’s along with 4 – 6BR houses. All appliances, W/D included. Please call 859-621-1339. 2-3-4 BR, 5-10 min to campus, Tates Creek area, garage/off street parking, avail. April-Aug., all electric, $699 – 875/mo. www.JMG123.com or call 859219-0184 3,2,1 BR 1 BA new homes by campus. Huge rooms, awesome yards/deck, ample parking, all appliances, all electric. Won’t Last. $300.00/person/month. 859-229-4991 3,4,5,6 BR Houses on campus. 859-433-2692. garymilcarek@aol.com All size houses. 3,4,5,6 BR. Walk to campus. State, Waller, University Ave. area. Lease begins 08/01/2010. Won’t last! SIGN EARLY FOR BEST HOUSES.. Bob 859-539-5502. 4/5BR 2BA House, 1430 Elizabeth St. New tile bathrooms, Big closets, sundeck, W/D, Nice! $350/ea. 509-2227. Summer Special. 6 Bedroom Houses available May. Park Ave & Westwood. DW, W&D. Dennis 859-9830726 Summer Lease Available. New home by campus. Huge rooms, awesome yard/deck, ample parking, all appliances, all electric. Won’t Last. $310.00/person/month. 859-559-7594.
Help Wanted Idle Hour Country Club, Staffing Full and Part Time Seasonal Positions, AM/PM, Weekends, Holidays Required. Part-Time Receptionist, Servers, Bussers, Snack Bar, Kitchen Staff, Lifeguards. Competitive Wages, Uniforms, and Meals. Apply in Person WedSun 10am-4pm. Immediate Interviews. No Phone Calls Please. 1815 Richmond Road, Lexington, KY 40502.
nities. Hours needed are Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, averaging 20 hours per week. Previous sales experience, reliability and an outgoing personality are most successful in this position. Please send resume to Sharon@AndersonCommunities.com, and visit our website www.MyHomeKy.com. Seeking Weekend and Summer Nanny for our daughters ages 7, 12, 14, and 16. Responsibilities include cooking for children, transporting them to activities, monitoring backyard pool safety, creating and implementing an engaging, educational, daily schedule for the girls. Applicant must have their own reliable transportation to work; they must know how to swim with lifeguard or CPR certification a plus, non-smoker. Starts immediately, $10 per hour, apply in person Saturday from 11:00AM to 4:00 PM at Jean Farris Winery & Bistro 6825 Old Richmond Rd Lexington, KY 40515.
KEENELAND is seeking applicants for part-time Seasonal Gift Shop Sales Associates to work during its Spring Meet April 2-23. Flexible hours. Please contact Kristi Barrett, Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., at 859-288.4190. PT teaching assistant needed. Mon-Fri, 2-5:30pm. $9/hr. call 255-4056 Landscaping help needed. $8.50 to start, raises after 3 months. 3/15 – 12/31employment. PT 8-12 or 12-4. Exp. Preferred but not necessary. Must be available to work during summer. Please email resume and work history to: lawnshark04@aol.com. NO PHONE CALLS ! SERVICE ADVISOR NEEDED: Looking for enthusiastic students that like working outside, enjoy talking with people presenting our services. Flexible hours. $12-15/hr. If interested, email k.littrell@insightbb.com University Club Golf Course hiring cooks, bevcart girls, cartboys. Apply in person 4850 Leestown Rd. JOIN LEX”S MOST EXCITING CHILDREN’S RECREATIONAL BUSINESS. Monkey Joe’s is looking for high energy, enthusiastic employees. Flexible hrs + good pay. Apply in person at 1850 Bryant Rd. Call 859-264-0405 Seeking individual to stay with sick woman overnight. $8.00/hr. 859-309-0081.
HARDIN PROPERTIES.NET now leasing Studios, 1,2BR apts. Also, three 4/5-BR Houses remaining for August. 509-2227
HOUSE FOR RENT, 258 Kentucky Avenue. Spacious 4 br. 2 ba. House, Stove, fridge, dw, mic, w/d hookup, $1,800 mo.
RAMSEY’S DINER now hiring servers and cooks. Apply in person M-F 2-4pm.
Modern Property Management, Inc. 859-388-2000
! BARTENDING! UP TO $250 a day. No exp. Necessary. Training provided. 800-965-6520 x-132
Rooms for rent in 4BR house near uk, available immediately up through mid July only. Call 255-4188 or www. Wildcatproperties.com.
1 - 6 Bedroom Apartment/Houses available in May and August. Dennis (859) 983-0726 www.sillsbrothers.com.
Self Defense. Good exercise. Life long friendships. The UK Karate club accepting beginners Monday’s 6:30 - 8:30pm. Buell Armory. Email: uk.shao.lym@gmail.com. Call 421-4335 Blind person seeking personal assistant/personal trainer. Call 269-8926
Wanted VOLUNTEERS PAID TO Participate in multiple studies. Researchers at the University of Kentucky are recruiting participants diagnosed with ADHD and for studies concerning the effects of alcohol. Looking for M & F social drinkers between 21-35 years of age. All participants are compensated for their time. Please call 257-5794 Are you suffering from Adult ADHD? Do you smoke tobacco cigarettes? Do you have difficulty paying attention, focusing or organizing? Are you easily distracted? Do you sometimes feel fidgety and restless or act on impulse without thinking? Do these symptoms interfere with completion of your daily activities? Are you NOT currently taking medications to treat these symptoms? If you answered yes to some of these questions, you may be eligible to participate in a research study. Researchers with the University of Kentucky departments of Behavioral Science and Psychiatry are conducting an outpatient study examining the behavioral effects of FDA-approved medications. If you are between the ages of 18 and 50, smoke and have some of these symptoms, call 859-257-5388 or toll free at 1-866-232-0038 for a confidential interview and for more information about this study. Qualified volunteers will be compensated for their time. You may be reimbursed for travel. ALCOHOL RESEARCH at the University of Kentucky. Health social drinkers between 21 to 35 years of age are needed for studies on the effects of alcohol on behavior. Participants will be financially compensated for their time. Movies, a hot meal, and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided after the study in a comfortable setting. Call 257-3137 for more information
Roommates Wanted
1-7 Bedroom Listings
Quiet 4 BR, 2.5 BA unit with washer/dryer, garage, deck. Available now or for fall. 4 units available. Big Bear Lane off Tates Creek. $1,000/mo. 278.0970
Personals
Blind person seeking personal assistant/personal trainer. Call 269-8926
7BR, 3BA $357.00 each, + utilities. www.patriotrentalsllc.com. 859-433-0996.
1,2,3,4,5,6 +7 BR Houses & 1BR Apts. Walking Distance to Uk. Visit our website for showing timer. www.wildcatproperties.com. Or call 859-255-4188.
Car Wash hiring responsible, dependable, enthusiastic team members. No experience needed, flexible scheduling, submit resume & contact info to Soapyjoescarwash@gmail.com
Landscape contractor needs summer help. Experience preferred, No Moving. Full or P/T, full days only. 859-264-8787.
7 Bedroom
Large 4 BR, 2.5 BA duplex w/garage, deck, W/D in unit, new carpet and paint. $1,000/mo + deposit. Move in after finals. 628 Big Bear Lane off Tates Creek Road. 278.0970.
be familiar with the Lexington area. Please Call 2761200.
Leasing Consultant – Part-time. Are you a star performer? Are you results oriented? Would you like to determine your own income potential? We are seeking a driven Leasing Consultant to join our team of professionals. We offer a respectful, friendly and team-oriented environment with a competitive base pay of $8/hour, plus excellent commission opportu-
Tony Roma’s Now Hiring hostesses and servers. Apply in person, Mon – Thur 2-4 pm. 859-272-7526. 161 Lexington Green Cir.
Roommate needed! Move in May, year lease. $325 includes utilities. 5 min walk to UK. 502-321-6233. Brand New – Roommates wanted. 859-455-8208. Share my House!! Near Thornton’s on S. Broadway. $275/month. Call or Text Chris 859-5598689 anytime.
Lifeguards and Pool Managers Needed. PPM is hiring for clubs and waterparks in Lex, Lou and Richmond. $8 – 15.00/hour. Email brad40965@aol.com for application. CONSTRUCTION CLEANUP HELP needed PT either MWF or T/TH. Must have valid drivers license and
The Kentucky Kernel is not responsible for information given to fraudulent parties. We encourage you not to participate in anything for which you have to pay an up-front fee or give out credit card or other personal information, and to report the company to us immediately.
CONFIDENTIAL PREGNANCY ASSISTANCE
Birthright 2134 Nicholasville Rd. 277-2635 suite 6 24-HOUR HOTLINE 1-800-550-4900
PAGE 6 | Tuesday, March 23, 2010
HOOPS Continued from page 1
PHOTO BY BRITNEY MCINTOSH | STAFF
The Cats advanced out of New Orleans thanks to two of their most complete performances of the year. UK averaged 95 points in their first two wins, and shot over 40 percent from beyond the arc.
Cats clicking at right time By Metz Camfield mcamfield@kykernel.com
The youthful Cats’ birth certificates may still say they are 19 and 20 years old, but the way they’re playing basketball says anything but that. After 29- and 30-point demolitions of East Tennessee State and Wake Forest in the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament, the Cats are flying high going into the Sweet 16 and are the favorites to win the 2010 national championship in many analysts’ eyes. “We feel like we’re a team that could make it there,” freshman guard John Wall said after the Cats’ 9060 win over Wake Forest on Saturday. “We have a chance to do something special.” That “something special” would be raising an eighth championship banner into the rafters of Rupp Arena, the same arena that saw more fans file through its turnstiles this season than any season in the history of the program. For the Cats to do that, a big key could be the continued support of so many different players, and season and career highs becoming almost the norm.
Against East Tennessee State, the Cats hit a seasonhigh 15 3-point baskets and got a career-high 29 points from freshman guard Eric Bledsoe. Perhaps overlooked in the game though, was the play of freshman forward Daniel Orton, who had possibly his best game of the season with eight points, seven rebounds and three blocks in only 14 minutes of game action. Against Wake Forest in the second round, the Cats hit 23 of their first 25 field goal attempts, and were shooting over 76 percent from the floor with 12:41 left in the game. Their field goal percentage of 60.3 was tied for the highest of the entire season. UK also received a career-high 20 points from sophomore guard Darius Miller. “I don’t know how far we can go with a team this inexperienced,” UK head coach John Calipari said. “But I’ll tell you, if they’re having fun, it will be as far as they can possibly go.” They say they’re having a blast. “I can’t stop smiling, I can’t stop joking around with my teammates,” junior forward Patrick Patterson said. “I’m loving this right now.”
They also know in their quest to “land the plane,” as Calipari has so frequently said, one bad outing can cause their entire season to come to an unexpected crash landing. Prior to their second round game, tournament favorite Kansas fell to Cinderella-to-be Northern Iowa. Though the Cats didn’t know the outcome until the final buzzer sounded in their own game, the message was sent: anything can happen in March. “Anybody can lose,” freshman guard Eric Bledsoe said. “It’s the tournament, we just have to focus on us right now.” In their first two games of the Big Dance, the Cats defeated their opponents with more conviction than any of the other 15 remaining teams, averaging 95 points and shooting over 40 percent from 3-point range. After the game, DeMarcus Cousins said he still wasn’t sure if the Cats had reached their peak yet, nor was Patterson. “We’re still better than what we played (against Wake Forest) I think,” Patterson said. “We can still rebound a little bit better, communicate a little bit better.”
Sophomore outfielder Cory Farris is the leader to earn the Cats’ right fielder position this season. Farris leads the team with five home runs, and has a .341 batting average. STAFF FILE PHOTO
Farris takes lead for right field spot By Aaron Smith asmith@kykernel.com
Early this season, sophomore outfielder Cory Farris had to look at the lineup card each and every game to see if he was getting the start or if he was getting a little more familiar with the bench. He was in the middle of a position battle in right field, and his fate hung each game on the dugout wall. “I never knew who would be starting until I looked at the lineup,” Farris said. “It was always up in the air.” Farris has since established himself as the frontrunner to be UK’s right fielder, if he hasn’t already earned the spot for good with a hot bat at the plate. He provides power, leading the team with five home runs despite ranking tenth on the team with 41 at-bats. He provides hits too, ranking third on the team with a .341 batting average. “He has taken the lead in right field,” UK head coach Gary Henderson said. “He’s becoming a presence at the plate. He’s been putting good swings on the ball, getting hits and providing some power.” Farris started the year in a platoon based on matchups, and saw most of his playing time come against right-handed pitchers. But the starts have been coming more consistently now. In Sunday’s game against Ole Miss, Farris started against a left-hander, which may signify his bat is too valuable to take out no matter who, and what type of arm, is on the mound facing him. Even if the arm is that of an AllAmerican. Facing San Diego State’s All-American pitcher, Farris earned his second start of the
year and responded with a two-hit, two-RBI game. Farris said it was a turning point for him, knowing the coaches had enough confidence to put him in the lineup against a topnotch pitcher. “That game, and that trip out west, was when you really saw Cory turn the corner,” Henderson said. “He’s been much better in his pitch selection.” Obviously, things can change. Nobody knows that better than Farris, who began his freshman year as the starter, went through a rough mid-season patch and lost the spot before gaining it back at the end of the year. Henderson said he can never guarantee one guy or the next will be penciled in to start on any given day. But this year, seeing Farris’ name in pencil is starting to become more and more common. Farris has earned 11 starts in 20 games so far in 2010. “It’s never really my spot,” Farris said. “I’m going to have to keep playing the way I am, keep hitting, keep producing. But I feel like if I do that I will keep seeing playing time. I expect to start now.” Coming out on the other side of a position battle can ease the mental stress of having to compete day in and day out for a job. “I was pressing a lot more than I needed to,” Farris said. “The thought that if I don’t do good I might be sitting for a while was there. But you have to get past that point.” And now that he is past that point, Farris can focus in on playing the game rather than wondering if he will be playing in the game. “One thing is I don’t have to worry about whether or not I’m playing,” Farris said. “I can go out there and relax and just focus on my at-bats and how I’m playing.”
The Southeastern Conference Player of the Year Victoria Dunlap was in for a challenge in the paint against Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Allyssa DeHaan, a 6-foot9 senior with more than 500 career blocks. “I think the big girl (DeHaan) was trying really hard just to try and keep me in front of her,” Dunlap said. In the postgame news conference, the Spartan players said it felt as if Dunlap stood 6-foot-8 the way she was attacking the boards. Dunlap wasn’t the only one attacking the basket, however. A collective effort in rebounding prevented the Spartans from advancing to the Sweet 16 for the second straight season. The Cats held a 39-35 rebounding edge to make sure this postseason would not end like their last NCAA Tournament appearance in 2006, when the Cats bowed out to MSU in the second round. Following an evenly matched first half between the teams, as anticipated in this No. 4 vs. No. 5-seed matchup, the second half was entirely different thanks to UK’s swarming defense. The Cats used a 17-8 run in the first 7:42 of the second half to keep the crowd’s interest in the game and built a margin the Spartans could never fully chip away at, scoring 21 second-half points. At the start of the game, the Cats jumped out to a 5-0 lead one minute into the game exciting the partisan UK crowd. Save for a small pocket of green, the rest of Freedom Hall was uncharacteristically dominated by a sea of blue. However, with the score 13-8 in favor of UK, the Spartans used a 10-0 run to take their first lead of the game. The Cats’ offense and the crowd were reignited by an 8-0 run when they were trailing 28-24. The run included two fast break
PHOTO BY SCOTT HANNIGAN | STAFF
Junior forward Victoria Dunlap goes up for two of her game-high 21 points against Michigan State. layups by senior forward Lydia Watkins, who along with senior Amani Franklin, are looking to extend their careers one game at a time. UK, one of the NCAA’s most unlikely success stories this season, will most likely face No. 1 seed and one-loss Nebraska in its next game. “I think the danger for us right now is to feel like the Sweet 16 is a place of arrival,” Mitchell said. “We need to resist that as much as we can. This team has a good chance to advance in the next round.”
Women’s golf coach Blackwelder steps down after 3 seasons By Ben Jones bjones@kykernel.com
UK women’s golf coach Myra Blackwelder will resign her position at the conclusion of the season in April, according to a news release. She coached the team for three seasons. “This was not an easy decision, and I was honored to be given a chance to serve my alma mater and play a role in the process of rebuilding the program,” Blackwelder said in the release. “I will miss working with my players on a day-to-day basis, and watching them mature and grow as people. We have a very talented, young team, and I am confident that they will continue to improve, gain valuable experience, and develop into something special over the coming years. “I am looking forward to returning to my teaching career which will allow me to have the flexibility to spend more time with my family.” Blackwelder was a member of the UK women’s golf team in the 1970s. She played 13 years on the LPGA Tour and was the
1980 LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year. In 2007, she was named the third coach in the program’s history. “I thank Myra for her efforts over the last three years,” UK Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart said in the release. “During that time, she returned Kentucky women’s golf to postseason play and built a foundation for the future. I respect her decision to return to her teaching of young golfers and her desire to spend more time with her family. We wish her well.” Her daughter, Mallory, was one of the stars of the team and advanced to the 2008 NCAA Championships West Regional under her mother’s tutelage. The Cats twice broke the school’s low-round record in 2009 and broke UK’s season scoring average by almost two strokes. UK will open its coaching search after the season ends. “We are committed to having all our programs compete on a conference and national level and that will be our focus moving forward,” Barnhart said.