THURSDAY 9.4.14
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est. 1892 | independent since 1971 | www.kykernel.com
PHOTOS BY MICHAEL REAVES | STAFF
Alonzo Shirley protests the demolition of UK’s Hamilton House in Lexington, Ky., Wednesday. “They can’t just keep tearing down history,” Shirley said. His grandparents owned the land where Joe B. Hall Wildcat Lodge stood before its demolition.
PRESERVING HISTORY Protesters fight impending demolition of 134-year-old campus building By Cheyene Miller news@kykernel.com
With UK scheduled to demolish another historical building within the next week, over 40 protesters picked up their picket signs and headed downtown at 11 a.m. on Wednesday to express their opposition. “You're losing a 150-year-old house here,” said historic preservation specialist and protester Jason Sloan in regards to the scheduled demolition of Hamilton House, which is set to be replaced by new residence halls. The Hamilton House was built in 1880 and has recently been used by north campus students as a study center. But for the protesters, its deep history is simply worth too much to tear down. “Suppose Venice or Rome or Paris tore down all of their old stuff,” said Brenda Pettit, a Lexington resident who strongly opposes the pending demolition.
Fellow protestor Jerry Nichols had a similar sentiment. “What if Transylvania University tore down Morrison Hall because it's old and outdated?” said Nichols, who has lived in Lexington for 25 years and referred to the tearing down of local historic buildings as “criminal.” The idea to hold a formal protest was started by The Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation, represented by Sloan and executive director Sheila Ferrell, who said they had received a lot of support from Lexington residents, particularly former UK students. “It's a historic building that does not have to come down,” Ferrell said. “Progress is not about tearing down historic buildings, it's not necessary.” The organization annually releases their “Eleven in their eleventh hour” list, which highlights historic sites that are in danger of being demolished. The
Protesters holds a sign outside the Hamilton House. About 40 people gathered in hopes of stopping the scheduled demolition of the building, which was constructed in 1880.
Hamilton House was included in the 2014 edition of this list, as were sites like the Kirwan-Blanding complex, Patterson Hall, Holmes Hall, Jewell Hall and Donovan Hall. According to Ferrell, historic preservation is a form of green initiative, as demolishing buildings produces a lot of rubble that
FEMA grant helps UK direct storm water, add green space $12 million project to help control flooding on south campus By Anne Halliwell ahalliwell@kykernel.com
An underground storm water detention area completed on the corner of Alumni and University Drive is the first storage site constructed to reduce water collection on south campus. The almost $12 million project is scheduled to finish another detention area on Nicholasville Road in the next few weeks, said Keith Ingram, project manager for UK’s Capital Project Management Department. A grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency funded 75 percent of the project, Ingram said, and UK contributed the other 25 percent in the form of property across from the senior citizen center that
was dedicated to capturing storm water and will not be resold. The construction project is capturing storm water runoff from the Arboretum that runs along Nicholasville Road, Ingram said, and will hold it in the storage areas to be released gradually so Nicholasville Road is not flooded. Across from the senior citizen center, a stream in the fields will be redirected so that the space can become less of a “meandering wetlands,” Ingram said, and be used as a green space for campus organizations’ events. Construction on Alumni Drive began on April 16, Ingram said, and wrapped on Aug. 15 with some landscaping left unfinished, Ingram said. The Black Lot, which
takes up a lot of land. “All this is going into a landfill,” Ferrell said. “Can you imagine how much is going into that landfill?” Ferrell said that the organization has attempted to contact UK President Eli Capilouto but have been unsuccessful. See RALLY on page 2
UK awards $90,000 in iPads yearly By Cheyene Miller news@kykernel.com
PHOTO BY ADAM PENNAVARIA | STAFF
The UK/FEMA Flood Mitigation Project, formerly Goodbarn Field, stands near Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Ky.
will be closed after football season ends, will also hold a large underground storage area, Ingram said. The area above ground will become another green space, which Ingram posited could be used by tailgaters. Ingram said the only parking losses will happen when that lot is retired. The FEMA grant re-
quirements expire in Sept. 2015, but depending on weather, the construction should be finished in May, Ingram said. “I think it’ll become a nicer area for students to be in,” Ingram said. “We’re losing more and more of those (green spaces), little by little, and it’s nice to have those spaces to use.”
The 2014-15 academic year marks the third year in a row that UK has awarded iPads to recipients of two prestigious scholarships. Students who earn the Patterson or the Singletary scholarships receive a free iPad along with room and board, undergraduate tuition, stipend and a one-time $2,000 summer abroad stipend. “2012-2013 was the first academic year we did that,” said planning and financial operations director JoLynn Noe. “It's part of the scholarship package we give to our top scholarship recipients.” This year, 150 iPads were given to scholarship recipients, which is in line with what is usually dispersed. “It's pretty consistent,” said Noe, who said that the university spends about
$90,000 per year rewarding students with iPads, and that the money comes from institutional scholarship funds. The iPads are intended to aid the students in their quest for a higher education. “We expect them to use them on their course work,” said Noe, who also said that students are free to use the iPads for personal and social purposes as well. “They're not restricted to how they use it.” Noe said there is not really a circumstance in which the university would recall an iPad from a scholarship recipient. For example, if a recipient were to drop out of UK, the iPad would still be theirs to keep. “We wouldn't pull that back,” said Noe. Scholarships recipients are not the only students given iPads from UK. The advanced technology based program Wired, See IPADS on page 2
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NEWS
Education Abroad growing in popularity By Anne Halliwell ahalliwell@kykernel.com
The number of UK students travelling around the world as a part of their education in on the rise. UK’s class of 2014 saw a 24 percent increase in involvement in Education Abroad, said Anthony Ogden, executive director of Education Abroad and Exchanges. About 1,080 of the graduating students completed classes, research, internships, service learning or teaching experiences abroad, said data analyst and security manager for Education Abroad Jason Hope. About 900 of the 2013 graduates did so. The last year saw a huge increase in the amount of students in international internships, Ogden said, and service learning is also becoming more popular as students become aware of options other than study abroad.
Ogden credited part of the increase to information used in Major Advising Pages, guides that were developed by department faculty members to help students locate programs that could be beneficial to them. Over the last two years, Education Abroad and professors have been mapping out ways to integrate an abroad experience into undergraduate coursework, Ogden said, concentrating on the best times and ways to gain international experience. “We’ve already done the work for you,” said Ogden. The MAPs will be developed for about 95 percent of majors by December, Ogden said, aside from tracks like education, which has a tight curriculum and requires outside evaluation, and the other two-to-three departments that chose not to work on MAPs. As an adviser, even if students don’t gravitate toward a
certain program in the MAPs, the guides can be a starting point for looking into different opportunities, said Beth Barnes of the school of Journalism and Telecommunication. “It’s now part of UK 101 to talk about education abroad … they’re at least getting part of what these possibilities should be,” Barnes said. Traditionally, U.S. students choose to study in western Europe, Ogden said. With the increase in participation came diversification of the locations where students chose to study, from a move south to Latin America and more programs all over Africa and Asia. “If you want to go to Barcelona because it’s a sexy city, but they don’t offer anything for you, why would you want to spend money there?” said Ogden. The number of UK students in western Eu-
PHOTO PROVIDED BY EDUCATION ABROAD
Exucutive director of Education Abroad and Exchanges Anthony Ogden (far right) speaks to a student during Blue Abroad Bash, which promotes UK’s study abroad programs.
rope is declining, Ogden added. Students are also becoming more willing to study abroad as they find programs that are affordable and weigh the cost against a lack of international experience, Ogden said. “It’s not enough to study
history in Lexington, maybe you need to go touch, see where the history happened,” Ogden said. “We need to graduate students that understand international discipline.” Education Abroad is currently making sure freshmen are informed so they can plan
Moon Festival comes to Lexington Event to celebrate major Chinese holiday with music, food By Tabassum Ali news@kykernel.com
The stars are lining up for the Kentucky Chinese American Association as they prepare for their annual Moon Festival at the MoonDance at Midnight Pass Amphitheater of Beaumont Centre on Saturday. It is the sixth year the KYCAA has hosted the Moon Festival Celebration. Professor Changzheng Wang, who is chair of the Moon Festival committee said, “It will be a happy and enjoyable place, and we want people to mingle and interact.” Last year over 2,000 people attended the event,
which celebrates the second most important holiday in the Chinese calendar, according to Wang. KYCAA has over 400 members, and this year will feature more than 100 volunteers including UK students.
“There will be traditional Chinese music and dance, Chinese food, and this year we have a group of Erhu players from Cincinnati,” said Wang. Rosie’s Pony will also provide a petting zoo which includes calves, rabbits, goats and pony rides. There will also be mooncake tasting and a mooncake baking competition. The KYCAA is a non-
profit organization, and “budgeting was the most difficult part” for the Moon Festival, according to Wang. They were sponsored by the UK Confucius Institute, LexMart, Keeneland Racecourse and other businesses. The University of Kentucky Confucius Institute has played their part in the Moon Festival Celebration. They have been helping with the Moon Festival for four years. “This is one of the most important festivals that shows respect and family value,” said Chen Gu, who is the culture showcase coordinator for the UKCI. They also hold essay writing and artwork competitions for local elementary and high schools. “We have collected more than 100 pieces of artwork,” said Gu. The UKCI will be
presenting the awards on the day of the festival. They will also be holding mini-Chinese lessons for anyone who is willing to learn. “For those who are unable to be together at this festival, the moon brings them closer together,” said Gu. “Many of the Chinese students do not have the chance to celebrate with their family this year which makes this festival so much more important.”
IF YOU GO What: Moon Festival When: 4-8 p.m., Saturday Where: MoonDance at Midnight Pass Amphitheater Admission: Free
FROM THE FRONT PAGE
RALLY Continued from page 1 “We've communicated with UK on numerous occasions,” Ferrell said, while saying that she did not know why the president had yet to respond to the organization. “Dr. Capilouto has not made any comments about historic preservation.” UK spokesman Jay Blanton assured that the university is concerned
about historic preservation. “We always respect the rights of people — whether they agree with our position or not — to make their voices heard,” said Blanton, who said that UK is in agreement with the organization on the “concern about preserving the institution’s architectural heritage.” Blanton listed several historic sites at UK, such as the Student Center, Lafferty Hall and Funkhouser, that are at the focus of “campus revitilization efforts.”
IPADS Continued from page 1
which entered its fourth year on campus this semester, heavily employs iPads in their courses. “The way that we learn is fundamentally different from the way it was 10, 15 years ago,” said Wired co-director and psychology professor Nathan Dewall. “People have more access to information and knowledge than they ever have.”
Wired courses include a variety of topics, like relationships and food, and are taught by a variety of professors. Dewall says that the iPads are crucial to the students’ presentations, articles, essays and projects. “Everything we’ve done in class has taken place on the iPad,” said Dewall. iPads are provided to students taking the course. Upon completion of the course, students get to keep the iPads for educational and recreational purposes.
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for the next four years, but as education abroad tends to appeal to juniors and seniors, they should be able to find pertinent information as well, Ogden said. “There’s a whole grand world out there,” Ogden said. “We want our students to find the best program for them.”
SPORTS
Michael Sam signs with Cowboys By Clarence E. Hill Jr. Fort Worth Star-Telegram (MCT)
IRVING, Texas — Rookie defensive end Michael Sam passed his physical Wednesday morning and signed with the Dallas Cowboys. Sam is the first openly gay player to be drafted in the NFL. He was selected in the seventh round by the St. Louis Rams, but was cut last week. The Cowboys signed Sam to their practice squad. “We’ve gotten nothing but good reports about him from our folks in St. Louis. Obviously, he was a very good player in college. His track record speaks for itself,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said Wednesday morning. “Our report was that he played fairly well, but it was going to be hard for him to make that team. “It’s a good move for our football team. We’re trying to help our team get better.” Sam, the 2013 SEC Defensive Player of the Year at Missouri, had three sacks and 11 tackles in the preseason with the Rams. While Sam was not a fit for the Rams’ roster or their practice squad because of their deep talent pool, he is an intriguing addition to a Cowboys team that thought he was too slow to fit their
scheme in May. That was before the situation at defensive end turned from deficient to desperate. The Cowboys had 35 sacks last season but have been in desperate need of pass-rushers since losing defensive tackle Jason Hatcher and defensive end DeMarcus Ware in the offseason. Defensive end Anthony Spencer still is a “couple” of weeks away from a return from microfracture knee surgery. Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, a second-round draft pick, suffered a fractured foot two weeks into training camp. “This is about football. We evaluated him as a football player,” Garrett said. “That’s the culture we have around here and the culture we will continue to have.” The Cowboys open the season Sunday against San Francisco at AT&T Stadium, but Sam was the central focus of Wednesday morning’s news conference. “We have to be careful spending too much time on a practice squad player. We want to make sure we’re giving ourselves the best chance. We’ll do that a lot of different ways,” Garrett said. “We’re focused on football. The 49ers are going to be here. That’s where our attention is.”
9.4.14 | Independent since 1971 | 3
For Rent 1-9 Bedroom
3-5 BR houses for rent. $875-$1,600 per month. Call Tyrell at (859) 585-0047 or email tyrell@lexingtonrentalhomes.net.
1 Bedroom
1BR/1BA apartment in Lansdowne. W/D, hardwood floors, offstreet parking. No pets, no smoking. Close to campus, quiet neighborhood. $700/month. Fully furnished. Contact meldelc@mixmail.com or (859) 5337640. Large efficiency apartment, $475/month + utilities. Very close to UK. 1 block from Young Library. Grocery, laundry within walking distance. Unfurnished. (859) 2706860. Quiet 1-2 BR apartment. Private patio, new kitchen/bath. No pets. 521 E. Main. $625-$650, water included. (859) 309-9301 or (859) 221-0998.
2 Bedroom
2 BR/1 BA. $800/month, includes all utilities. 1 block from UK campus! Free off-street parking. Laundry room in building. Call Joe (859) 576-9653. 2 BR/1 BA. $825/month, utilities Included. Near UK Campus. Call Kelley at (859) 2253680.
4 Bedroom
Large 4BR/2.5BA duplex unit, close to campus. W/D, deck, garage, eat-in kitchen, quiet cul-de-sac. 630 Big Bear Lane. $1,000/month. Available now. (859) 278-0970.
5 Bedroom
5 Large BR/2 BA. Private parking, front yard, huge patio and porches. Central air, W/D. 5 minute walk to UK Campus. $425/person+utilities. Call (859) 266-9793.
Attention
Curious about Catholicism? Holy Spirit Parish/The Newman Center, 320 Rose Lane. 7 p.m. Tuesday evenings this Fall. Contact Deacon Dennis Dever at (859) 396-3210 or ddever@cdlex.org.
Help Wanted
A busy Physical Therapy Clinic is looking for multiple physical therapy techs. Experience preferred but not necessary. Contact Susan at Advantage Physical Therapy, (859) 2638080 or susan@advantageptlex.com. A Lex farm job. Cattle and farm equipment experience a must. Variable hours, work around class schedule. Start $9/hour. Call (859) 272-8300. Book written, need help with footnotes, indexing and bibliography. Excellent English and computer skills necessary. Call Robert at (859) 806-5199.
CLASSIFIEDS Business/advertising representative needed to complete the Kentucky Kernel staff. Must be a friendly, self-motivated, goal-oriented UK student. You will be responsible for selling and maintaining classified accounts, handling client requests, streamlining office calls, assisting with staff tasks, overall organization of office supplies and files, along with other duties as assigned. Must be able to work up to 20 hours a week, Monday-Friday, sometime between 9-4. Job will be posted until Sept. 8. Email resume to clpoor2@uky.edu. Challenge Yourself! MARKETING ASSISTANT NEEDED FOR ESTABLISHED FINANCIAL SERVICES ORGANIZATION. Flexible Hours (15-20/wk.) Base Pay + Bonus. Must be dependable, comfortable with Social Media, experienced in Microsoft Office. Being good on the phone is a plus. Interested? Call (859) 271-8694 or email moneylinefinancial@yahoo.com. Construction help needed. Must meet minimum requirements: Able to lift 75lbs., valid driver’s license, pay best for experience. Sales experience helpful. FT/PT available. Email gulleyremodeling@aol.com. Healthy Tobacco Smokers Needed for Research Study. Researchers with the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Department of Behavioral Science are recruiting healthy tobacco users between the ages of 18- 50 to participate in an ongoing behavioral study. Both daily and non-daily smokers are needed. Study involves completion of up to 11 testing sessions. Participants must be willing to abstain from tobacco for 8 hours before each testing session. Study is run in a pleasant setting during daytime hours. Qualified volunteers will be paid for their participation. To apply visit our website at: http://rrf.research.uky.edu. Idle Hour Country Club Now Hiring! Excellent opportuities for students! Flexible scheduling, excellent wages. Event servers, bussers, receptionist. Immediate interviews upon in-person application. 1815 Richmond Rd. (859) 266-1121. Lexington Clinic has a part-time Medical Record Specialist position open in our ASC. Hours are 1-6 p.m., M-F. Please visit our website at: www.lexingtonclinic.com to fill out an application for employment consideration. Lexington Clinic is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status. Now hiring servers, cooks and bartenders. Full time or part time. Apply in person Sutton’s Restaurant 859-268-2068. Now Hiring Teachers Full and Part time at all KinderCare locations. Wilhite Dr.-2762567. Wellington Way-223-5574. Custer Dr.-272-2673. Plasma center medical helper. No experience necessary. Flexible schedules. Must be available weekends, late weekdays, holidays and next semester. Apply for Reception Tech at www.cslplasma.com, email chris.otto@cslplasma.com. PT assistant needed for property management company. Must have excellent computer and communication skills. Apply at 860 South Broadway, Lexington, KY 40504. PT Kitchen Assistant. Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Child Development Center of The Bluegrass (Across from Commonwealth Stadium). Applications at 290 Alumni Dr. Send resumes to chall@cdcbg.org. (859)2182322. Researchers at the University of Kentucky are conducting studies concerning the effects of alcohol and are looking for male & female social drinkers 21-35 years of age. Volunteers paid to participate. Call (859) 257- 5794. Researchers at the University of Kentucky are looking for individuals 21–34 years of age who have received a DUI in the last 5 years to participate in a study looking at behavioral and mental performance. Participants are compensated for their time and participation is completely confidential. For more information, call (859) 257-5794.
Salvage Building Materials hiring FT/PT general warehouse help. Flexible hours, no experience needed. Apply: 573 Angliana Ave., Mon-Sat, 9-5, or cabinetkings.com/job_vacancy.html. (859)255-4700. Seeking energetic and diligent administrative assistant. Flexbile hours, students welcome to apply. Email chtman85@gmail.com.
Service Advisors
Thoroughbred sales company with offices downtown seeks intern for Fall semester. Please send resume to bowling15@yahoo.com. Tot’s Landing Learning Center is seeking FT and PT teachers for our infant, toddler and preschool programs. Openings at our Richmond Road location, (859) 263-7028 or Harroddsburg Road, (859) 224-1445. Nights and weekends off! Website looking for 1) office accounting, and 2) general shipping help. Warehouse near campus off Manchester Street. More details online at www.TeakCloseouts.com/jobs.
Real Estate For Sale
3175 Kirklevington Dr. #251. Too Busy for HomeWork? Spacious 2BR townhome w/minimal care. 2.5BA, new carpet and paint, fireplace, appliances updated, HVAC replaced (2 years). Convenient to UK. offstreet parking. $109,900. Brenda, 859312-5994, United Real Estate. Condo- Country club life with pool, workout room, deck overlooking park setting, near UK, 2BR, 2BA, bonus room, intercom security. $149,900. Brenda, 859-312-5994, United Real Estate.
Roommates Wanted
Female or male needed to rent room (share with 2 females) in 3 BR/2 BA at Campus Downs at Virginia Ave. $485 furnished, all utilities included, available immediately. Call Darrell (502) 593-4993.
Call 859.257.2871 to place an ad | Ads can be found at kykernel.com DEADLINE - 3 p.m. the day before publication 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.
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 an 8 — Talk is cheap. Take a long shot. Communications could get difficult. You've already made the plan. Achieve a lofty goal and advance to the next level by taking direct action. Look before you leap. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is an 8 — Completion fosters creativity. A new journey beckons. Choose the direction that looks the most fun. Don't get stuck trying to please everyone. Launch your adventure without fanfare. Just go for it. Get sucked into observation. Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is a 7 — Better leave some things unsaid. Have important conversations another day, and avoid gossip altogether. Veto power could get exercised. Do your home bookkeeping, and handle pesky details. Crank some good tunes and do numbers. Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is an 8 — Choose your battles carefully. Work out a longterm issue with a partner through action rather than words. Postpone travel and new projects. Incorporate music or a fountain's murmur into the background. Leo ( July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is a 9 — Find the sweet spot at work. Not everything you try works. Provide excellent service for good pay. It could get intense... keep on your game. Gossip causes ruffled feathers, so avoid it. Make a wonderful discovery. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is a 7 — Snooze a bit longer. Your credit is in good shape. Don't travel, or talk much about what's going on. You already have most of what you need. Clean house, relax and play like a child.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 7 — Listen, rather than talking. Handle household chores. Study leads to discovery. Wait to see what develops before signing on. Don't fall for a sob story. Achieve your goal with quiet action. Introspection leads to brilliant insight. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is a 7 — Postpone travel. Unexpected loss could change plans. Dip into savings as necessary. Do what you can to help. You can afford what's needed. Share peaceful time with friends. Enjoy the sunset and watch movies. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 9 — Don't waste energy. A moment of transformation could catch you by surprise. A career or status rise becomes suddenly available. Take action and avoid communication breakdown. Take notes for later conversation. Grab an opportunity. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 9 — Consider travel demands. Get rid of excess baggage. Can you do your research from home? Imagination takes over. Don't buy luxuries yet. Action persuades more than talk. Good news comes from far away.Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is a 7 — Postpone big meetings. Handle a job you've been putting off. Quiet productivity gets farther than expected. Go around roadblocks. Make a key discovery. Work interferes with travel. Work out options and schedule. Phone home. Pisces ( Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 7 — It's not a good time to travel. You never know what you may catch. Friends have tons of ideas. Don't do everything suggested, but take note. Bark if you must (or keep quiet). Love gives you strength.
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page 4 | 9.4.14
Kyle Arensdorf | Opinions Editor | karensdorf@kykernel.com
NFL player cut due to play, not sexual orientation NICK GRAY Kernel Columnist
Michael Sam's first four months as part of the National Football League can be summed up with many different words. Some say polarizing. Others will claim distraction. Others still will say undeserving. I wrote a column in the Kernel hours after Sam announced his sexuality. I plead for people to look at his play, and not his sexual orientation,
to make any decision on his football future. It's a two-way street, but others are forgetting that. Sam was released by the St. Louis Rams during the final round of cuts after being drafted in the 7th round, and, until early Wednesday afternoon, was jobless (Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones signed him to a practice squad deal). A lot of things have been written criticizing the NFL and its owners for their decision to pass on Sam in the NFL Draft and after he was released. But Sam just does not have the physical tools to produce in the sport’s top
league. First, understand that a practice squad in the National Football League is one of the most fluid jobs any one player can hold. Practice squad players have little value — they make less than half of the league's minimum salary — and they cannot be on a squad after they have been in the league for three years. Making the practice squad is one of the last lifelines a professional football player can have. There are 320 practice squad players in the NFL, or 10 per team. Players enter and leave the bottom thirds of rosters like a shopping mall. The turnover rate is astound-
ing — not one team has more than 25 players on their roster now than they did at the end of the 2011 season. The reality is that most athletes struggle to stay in major sports leagues, especially 6-foot-2-inch, 256-pound defensive ends who are destined for a solid career in the CFL. Sam's sexual orientation does not matter when it comes to football. It didn't in February; it didn't while he was playing in the preseason, struggling to defend the run and consistently rush the passer. Sam did have three sacks, but they came against offensive linemen that either struggled to make rosters or didn't make
Critic of women’s abuse in gaming threatened ANNE HALLIWELL Kernel Columnist
Video games are presumed to be a man’s world. VGChartz’s global numbers for 2013 show that only one of the main characters in 2013’s biggest games was female. Although women make up nearly half of the people who play video games, according to the Entertainment Software Association, women are continually underrepresented and undermarketed in this supposedly overwhelmingly maledominated industry. Calling attention to this, apparently, is not acceptable. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the case of Anita Sarkeesian, of Feminist Fre-
quency. Sarkeesian’s “Tropes vs. Women in Video Games” project looks at how women are portrayed in video games from a wide-angle lens. The project was funded in less than 24 hours on Kickstarter on June 16, 2012. Since then, the project has received $152,922 more than the initial $6,000 goal. Since the project was first posted on Kickstater, Sarkeesian has received major backlash from a host of internet followers, who have taken to social media to rail abuse at her critiques and supporters. On Aug. 28, Soraya Nadia McDonald of the Washington Post reported that Sarkeesian had been driven out of her home by an individual who made death threats against her and her family. “We are witnessing a
very slow and painful cultural shift,” Sarkeesian told Mother Jones.com. “Some male gamers with a deep sense of entitlement are terrified of change … So this group is violently resisting any movement in the direction of a more inclusive gaming space.” What’s terrifying about this particular case is that Sarkeesian has received threats over the past few years that might have shut down another person, and this is the first instance that this has been widely reported. Sarkeesian told Mother Jones that she has endured a “loosely organized campaign of death threats, rape threats, and attempts to collect and publicly distribute personal information such as my home address and phone number” over the past year and a half, and yet it is only now that
we are seeing national attention directed at the issue. The most recent video, “Women as Background Decoration” part two, posted on Aug. 25, examined nonplayable female characters who Sarkeesian described as adding “edgy, gritty or racy flavoring into game worlds.” Geek icon Joss Whedon supported Sarkeesian on Twitter after the newest video was posted, and this year’s Game Developer Choice Ambassador Award went to Sarkeesian. Despite this high-profile support, the backlash against Sarkeesian is confusing and disappointing. Our women in video games shouldn’t have to measure abuse in degrees of severity, or at all. Anne Halliwell is the news editor of the Kentucky Kernel. Email ahalliwell@kykernel.com.
them at all. Don't forget the very real point of adapting homosexuality into mainstream sports. It's no sign of disrespect that Sam hasn't made a roster and has struggled to make a practice squad. Every social movement would love to have a Jackie Robinson, an elite athlete that represents the surge and the broken barrier of a social movement. But reality beckons. A football player who cannot make it in the NFL cannot make it no matter what or whom he likes or dislikes. Fairy-tale breakthroughs are not reality. A story such as Michael Sam's that ends with
an undersized and underachieving player struggling to make a roster is just as real as an All-Star success story, and can help provide some realism for those who are fearful of coming out to the world as Sam did. I hope Michael Sam ends up on a roster because he is a hard worker. But he does not deserve to be on a roster or a practice squad if he is not one of the 53 best players. It's not a shame. It's not unjust. It's reality. Nick Gray is the managing editor of the Kentucky Kernel. Email ngray@kykernel.com.
krystalball CHEYENE MILLER asst. opinions editor Kentucky
MORGAN EADS editor-in-chief Ohio University
JOSH HUFF sports editor Kentucky
BOYD HAYES asst. sports editor Kentucky
ANNE HALLIWELL news editor Kentucky
Erik Krupp Journalism Freshman Kentucky
Jared Payne Computer Science Sophomore Kentucky
- Kernel staff and fan picks for this Saturday’s game