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Thursday, March 10, 2022
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Womens basketball wins SEC Tournament after 40 years | 2A
Thursday, March 10, 2022
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SEC CHAMPIONS:
Kentucky stuns No. 1 South Carolina 64-62 in Nashville By Cole Parke sports@kykernel.com
For the first time since 1982, No. 7 seeded Kentucky won the SEC Championship, defeating No. 1 South Carolina 64-62 in Nashville on March 6. The win marked the first time in 40 years under then head coach Terry Hall that the Wildcats had claimed victory in the conference tournament, with current head coach Kyra Elzy leading UK to the title in her second season at the helm. With the victory, Kentucky continued its now 10-game winning streak, a stark contrast to the 1-8 start to 2022 that the team suffered. Though the Cats came out victorious, they trailed the Gamecocks for 36 minutes, taking the lead with the game winning 3-pointer by junior forward Dre’una Edwards. “I told Dre, ‘If they go with [Rhyne Howard] and you are open, take the shot,’” Elzy said. “Rhythm Shots – I’m confident in that shot, she works on it, and when the shot went up, I knew it was good. I started running down the sidelines, I knew it was good.” Edwards finished the game with 27 points, leading all scorers, and nine rebounds, one away from her 12th double-double of the season. “I’m so proud of Dre,” Elzy said. “We did hit heads early on, but she came back a better person and a better player and more
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MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF Kentucky Wildcats guard Jazmine Massengill (3) and guard Rhyne Howard (5) celebrate with their team during the UK vs. Auburn womens basketball game on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022, in Lexington, Kentucky.
committed to what we needed to get done. She has helped this program move forward.” Kentucky struggled for much of the game to contain National Player of the Year frontrunner Aliyah Boston, who recorded her 24th consecutive double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Despite Boston’s dominance for much of the game, Kentucky caught fire in the fourth quarter, finishing the game on an 11-0 scoring run and keeping the Gamecocks without a point for the final five minutes of the game. Kentucky scored just three
points in the second quarter of play, a dagger to most teams hoping to win a title in any league, but it ultimately outscored USC 21-7 in the fourth quarter to claim the victory. Senior guard Rhyne Howard also finished the game with 18 points, the only other Wildcat to notch double-digit points in the win. Howard, despite not leading the team in the box score, was arguably the most vital piece of Kentucky’s victory, playing all 40 minutes of the game, only resting during timeouts and halftime.
Kentucky struggled from beyond the arch in the victory, breaking away from what helped it beat No. 3 seeded LSU and No. 2 Tennessee in the days prior. UK went 6-14 from beyond the arch, entering halftime with just one made 3-pointer, making Edwards’ game-sealing make all the more impactful. The win marks the first time Kentucky has defeated the Gamecocks since February 2019, having been swept by USC in three straight regular seasons after, including this season. The Wildcats and Gamecocks
first met on Jan. 9 this season, where UK fell short 74-54, in what would be the start of the Wildcats’ infamous 1-8 stretch. Round two took place on Feb. 10, with Kentucky having a strong fourth quarter comeback before ultimately losing by nine. Since that loss, Kentucky has not lost another game, going 100. It was a storybook ending heading into the NCAA Tournament, as the Cats finally overcame the Gamecocks in the championship game. “We started having fun,” Howard said. “When things were tough we weren’t having fun. We basically acted like we didn’t want to be there and that’s how it looked. We had a team meeting and we were like, ‘All right, we cannot end like this.’ We knew we had to get it together.” With the win, Kentucky awaits Selection Sunday where it will certainly hear its name called as part of the field of 68. “We are not on the bubble, we have our ticket punched,” Elzy said. “We do have to have some recovery, but we always do that after the SEC Tournament, then we’re back to work. We’re going to celebrate this SEC Championship, but our job is not done yet, we still have work to do and we look forward to playing in the NCAA Tournament and making a run.” The selection show is currently scheduled to air at 8 p.m. EST on Sunday, March 13, airing live on ESPN.
Thursday, March 10, 2022
sports
Kentucky's road map to 2022 SEC Tournament title By Hunter Shelton sports@kykernel.com
The road map for Kentucky to claim an SEC Tournament championship has been revealed. The No. 3 seeded Wildcats earned a double-bye into the quarterfinals of the tournament alongside Auburn, Tennessee and Arkansas. Kentucky was awarded the No. 3 seed after its 71-63 win over Florida in Gainesville on Saturday, March 5. A loss would have dropped the Cats one spot lower, placing Arkansas in the three spot. UK will play the fourth and final quarterfinal on Friday, March 11, at approximately 8:30 p.m. EST inside Amalie Arena in Tampa Bay, Florida. While the opponent won't be determined until the day before, there's a high chance that the Cats’ first foe will be a familiar one. The No. 6 seed Alabama will take on the winner of the first round matchup between No. 11 Vanderbilt and No. 14 Georgia, with the winner of that matchup moving on to play Kentucky. While the Crimson Tide appear to be the likely opponent for UK, they will enter the tournament on a two-game losing streak, dropping matchups against Texas A&M at home and on the road against LSU. Head coach Nate Oats' squad turned in a disappointing 9-9 record in SEC play, failing to find
consistency after a fantastic start to the year. Kentucky has defeated Alabama twice this season, once in Lexington and once in Tuscaloosa. The teams first met at Alabama on Feb. 5, where UK was victorious 66-55. The Tide shot themselves out of the matchup, making just 3 of 30 3-point attempts. In the rematch exactly two weeks later, Kentucky outshot Bama en route to a 90-81 win. Kellan Grady connected on 7 treys, scoring 25 points inside Rupp Arena. Assuming Vanderbilt is able to get past the woeful Georgia, the Commodores would have a real shot at defeating the skidding Tide. In the lone game between the two, Alabama squeaked by in Nashville, winning 74-72. Like Alabama, Vanderbilt was swept in both its meetings against UK. The Cats defeated the Dores first in Nashville, winning 7866 without point guard Sahvir Wheeler. In round two in Lexington, Vandy kept it close in a 77-70 loss. Scotty Pippen Jr. carried the Commodores, dropping 33 points, six rebounds and five assists on Feb. 2. If Kentucky can find victory in its quarterfinal matchup, the expected outcome will be round three against Tennessee in the semifinals. The No. 2 seeded Volunteers
JACK WEAVER | STAFF Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari talks to forward Keion Brooks Jr. (12) during the UK vs. Vanderbilt basketball game on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.
will face the winner of No. 10 Mississippi State and No. 7 South Carolina in the quarters. Assuming things go in favor of UT, the rivals will have one more opportunity to square off, this time on a neutral court. The two teams split their meetings in the regular season. Kentucky blitzed UT inside Rupp Arena, shooting 68% from the floor as they smushed the Vols 107-79. Tennessee returned the favor in Knoxville, holding the Cats to 34% shooting in the rematch,
winning 76-63 on Feb. 15. Should the Wildcats manage to win the rubber match against UT, the championship game will almost certainly be a revenge match for UK. If Auburn and Arkansas hold their ground and square off in the other semifinal, the winner of said game will enter the title bout up 1-0 on Kentucky. The Tigers won 80-71 over the Cats on Jan. 22 inside Auburn Arena in what was a close battle all the way through. UK lost TyTy Washington Jr. for a majority of
the game due to injury. Arkansas' victory is much more recent, as the Razorbacks fought past the Cats for a 75-73 win inside Bud Walton Arena on Feb. 26. JD Notae led the Hogs with 30 points. Kentucky has the horsepower required to claim the SEC Tournament title, but it will likely take some wins over some top-notch opponents to get there. The SEC is at its peak in 2022, something that bodes well for both the teams and the fans as March Madness rolls around.
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Thursday, March 10, 2022
sports
Kentucky mens basketball's history in the SEC Tournament By Cole Parke sports@kykernel.com
It’s officially March, and in the world of college basketball that means madness. Before getting to the big dance to end the month, we first have to thin the field in conference tournaments. Kentucky is no stranger to the SEC Tournament, having been a founding member of the conference since its inception. The Wildcats famously took home the trophy in the first ever SEC Tournament held in 1933, a time in which the likes of Tulane and now Division-3 Sewanee were part of the conference. Under head coach Adolph Rupp, the Cats defeated Mississippi State 46-27. That first SEC Championship team was boosted by Forest Sale, whose jersey now hangs in the rafters of Rupp Arena, and who was one of coach Rupp’s first NCAA All-Americans and named the 1932-1933 National Player of the Year. From that first tournament until it was dropped from 19531978, Kentucky won the title 12 more times under Rupp, including a stretch of seven straight, while losing in the championship on three separate occasions. Rupp continued to dominate the college basketball world with the Wildcats, though he would never make another SEC Tournament Championship part of his résumé as the spectacle didn’t return until his tenure had come to an end.
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STAFF FILE PHOTO The Kentucky Wildcats mens basketball team hold up their trophy after the SEC Championship game against the Arkansas Razorbacks on Sunday, March 12, 2017, in Nashville, Tennessee.
In the first tournament after the hiatus, in 1979, the Wildcats finished as the runner-up, losing to Tennessee 75-69 in overtime under head coach Joe B. Hall. Though Kentucky lost the game, it did provide the first ever SEC Tournament MVP in the form of eventual NBA talent and current Transylvania assistant coach Kyle Macy. The Wildcats would once again fall short in the title game one year later, this time losing by just two points, 80-78, to LSU. Not making the title game in 1981, Kentucky once again became the runner-up to the title in
1982, with the game being held in UK’s own Rupp Arena. The Wildcats came up short to Alabama 48-46, though they once again produced the MVP, this time in Dirk Minniefield. Kentucky won its first and only SEC Championship under coach Hall in 1984, out-lasting Auburn 51-49, though the Tigers produced the MVP in the form of NBA legend Charles Barkley. Two years later, in the first season under new head coach Eddie Sutton, Kentucky won the title, once again beating Alabama 83-72. Sutton would lead the Cats
to victory one more time during his short tenure, winning in 1988 over Georgia. After the era of Sutton came to an end in the Bluegrass, a new era came to be: the era of Rick Pitino. In Pitino’s eight seasons at Kentucky, the Wildcats hoisted the SEC Trophy five times, most notably winning the conference four years in a row from 19921995. Kentucky also had four SEC MVPs during Pitino’s tenure with Jamal Mashburn in 1992, Travis Ford winning back-to-back awards in ‘93 and ‘94, Antoine Walker in ‘95 and finally Ron
Mercer in ‘97. After Pitino departed the program, in stepped Tubby Smith, who was able to turn Pitino’s conference championship in his final season into three consecutive SEC titles, winning the trophy in both of his first two seasons. Smith also coached two SEC MVPs for those titles, with Wayne Turner claiming the award in 1998 and Scott Padgett winning in 1999. Smith would win three more SEC titles before his tenure came to an end, winning in 2001 behind SEC MVP Tayshaun Prince and winning back-to-back titles in 2003 and 2004, once again producing two more MVPs in the forms of Keith Bogans and Gerald Fitch. Kentucky came up short in the title game the following year in 2005, getting blown out 70-53 in what was then called the Georgia Dome. Florida would win the title three years in a row, including the 2005 win with the final of the three coming alongside Smith’s departure from Lexington. Smith was followed by the only Kentucky coach in the conference tournament era to never claim victory: Billy Gillispie. Gillispie’s two-season tenure did not see Kentucky even make the title game before a new coach was chosen: little known local hero John Calipari. Calipari returned Kentucky to the promised land in his first season, with the Wildcats winSee HISTORY on page 11A
Thursday, March 10, 2022
sports
Washington and Wheeler: A look at basketball and Batman By Hunter Shelton sports@kykernel.com
Second Team All-SEC members, backcourt mates, friends, movie-goers, TyTy Washington and Sahvir Wheeler have developed a bond that comes with them on and off the basketball court. “On the court, we feel like we’re both guards on our team; we’re the leaders on the court so we always stay connected,” Washington said. “Me and him, we’ve both got really great personalities. Every time we’re in the game, no matter what’s the score or time or situation, we’re always laughing, sticking our tongues out. It just really shows that we care about each other.” The duo will take those great personalities, along with their great basketball skills, down south to Tampa Bay, Florida, for the SEC Tournament. When it gets down to brass tax, Washington has a much clearer mindset on what’s at stake inside Amalie Arena. “It’s life or death, really. We’re taking every game one at a time,” he said. “We know if we lose, we’re going back home, and we want to stay out in Tampa as long as we can. The goal
is just to stay together, stay connected, buy-in to what coaches are saying, and ultimately just get wins.” Life or death. Washington rated the new Batman movie an 8.5/10, by the way. Wheeler, on the other hand, sees Tampa as an opportunity to bolster the Cats’ résumé one final time before Selection Sunday. “We’re trying to win it, obviously, but we’re also trying to make sure we do what we’re doing to get ready for the NCAA Tournament, playing for seeding, making sure that we can be the highest seed that we can, making sure we’re continuing to get better as a team,” he said. As if the pair needed any extra motivation for the March festivities, not being named to the AllSEC First Team gives them both another reason to prove themselves on a big stage. “Both seeing our names on the Second Team list, we had a little bit of something to say about that,” Washington said. “But other than that, we’re just going to go out and finish the rest of this season out strong and show everybody why we feel like we’re the best backcourt in the nation.”
JACK WEAVER | STAFF Kentucky Wildcats guard Sahvir Wheeler (2) celebrates with guard TyTy Washington Jr. (3) after drawing a foul during the UK vs. Miles College exhibition basketball game on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.
For Wheeler, the Second Team nod is his second in as many years. Averaging 10.1 points and a league-best 6.9 assists per game, the Georgia transfer once again established himself as a dynamic threat to any defense. Washington checks in at 12.2 points, four assists and 3.4 rebounds a game, all of which rank top-three amongst the Wildcats.
Further cementing their cases for First Team selections, both players missed a combined seven games due to injury this season, yet were still able to maintain their gaudy numbers. “I’m pleased where I’m at, and also considering TyTy and I missed some time, we missed some games. Maybe, who knows, if we go out there and we win some of those
games and we perform well, maybe that would have put us over the edge for the First Team,” Wheeler said. With games coming in hot and heavy this month, both Washington and Wheeler made sure to state that they were both back to being healthy, although we know they’d be out there playing anyways, even if they weren’t 100 percent.
March means madness, and the Cats are ready to leave it all out on the court. “We’re going to battle until the clock says triple zero at the end,” Washington said. “We’re never going to give up, no matter who we play against. We’re going to just go out and play hard and fight.” Call the Cat signal, Batman. It’s tournament time in Tampa.
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Thursday, March 10, 2022
DRE’UNA EDWARDS: More than just a game-winner Story by Cole Parke Kentucky forward Dre’una Edwards made the 3-point basket to win the Wildcats their first SEC Championship since 1982, but that is far from all to her story. Edwards returned to Kentucky as a junior, looking to improve upon a sophomore season that saw her average under 10 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. She looked to be a different player from the beginning of the season, having gotten in prime shape to compete during the offseason. Playing Kentucky’s season-opening schedule against the likes of Presbyterian, North Alabama and Winthrop, Edwards averaged 22 points per game, barring the Indiana loss. The first crack in the façade came before Kentucky’s first game inside Rupp Arena against DePaul on Dec. 9, when Edwards was suspended for “failing to uphold the academic standards of the team,” according to UK Athletics. Kentucky would eventually lose 94-85 to the Blue Demons shorthanded, with a fair amount of blame from onlookers going on Edwards’ shoulders. Though she came back after the single game suspension, the train fell off the rails early in 2022, as it was announced prior to tip-off for Kentucky’s home stand against Florida that Edwards would again face suspension, this time for disciplinary measures. Kentucky would get blown out by 25 points. Unlike the first suspension, Ed-
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wards would be absent for four games, not traveling with the team to Auburn or Nashville for Kentucky’s duels with Auburn and Vanderbilt. The Wildcats would go 1-3 in the stretch without Edwards, with the lone win coming against Auburn by 12 points. Though some speculated that Edwards would not appear for the rest of the season, news broke that the forward was with the team in Baton Rouge in preparation for Kentucky’s matchup against LSU on Jan. 30, in what was the start of one of the greatest turnarounds in college athletics. Kentucky would eventually lose that game 78-69, but it looked vastly better than it had in games prior, losing by single digits to an LSU team that would eventually claim the No. 3 seed in the conference going into the SEC Tournament. Though she put up just 10 points and eight rebounds in the loss, Edwards’ presence on the court made an immediate impact for the Wildcats. “It was great having Dre back,” Kentucky head coach Kyra Elzy said after the loss. “Obviously she makes us different on both ends of the floor with her ability to stretch the defense with the pick and pop. It’s good to have Dre back.” Though Edwards’ scoring ability continued to be mostly absent, she picked up where she left off in Kentucky’s next loss against Texas A&M, recording a 10-point double-double with 10 rebounds. Edwards was shut down in
Kentucky’s nine-point loss to No. 1 South Carolina on Feb. 10, but since then, she has averaged 20 points per game, including 30 points against Missouri on Feb. 24. Edwards has also recorded five double-doubles during Kentucky’s win streak, bringing her total up to 11 on the season. “I definitely feel like I owe [my teammates],” Edwards said after the Missouri game. “They held me down, so now it’s time for me to hold them down. I think I’ve been doing that and we’ve just been there for each other all the way so it’s been amazing.” Honing in on the SEC Tournament, Edwards recorded two double-doubles in the wins over Mississippi State and No. 3 seeded LSU, totaling 24 rebounds for Kentucky. In the championship game against No. 1 South Carolina, Edwards achieved her storybook ending, recording 27 points with three made 3-pointers including the game winning shot for the Cats. With seven seconds left to play, Edwards let the ball go from the top of the key, with the made basket giving the Wildcats their 64-62 lead that ultimately won them the game. “I was very confident,” Edwards said regarding the shot. “It was just that whoever was open was going to shoot it. They got me the ball, I was open, I let it fly.” While the shot will go down as the defining moment of the game, Edwards contributed far more than just one basket, with her coach emphasizing throughout the winning
stretch how important her energy was for the team, with the same appearing to be the case against the Gamecocks. “I just kept telling the team that it ain’t over,” Edwards said. “We just kept trying to hype each other up and they kept hyping me up and telling me, ‘Can’t nobody guard you, you go out there and score.’ I had to do it for my team.” After the game, Elzy recalled the suspension and struggles Edwards had overcome, praising the forward for her contributions towards the historic win. “I am so proud of Dre,” Elzy said. “We did hit heads early on, but she came back a better person and a better player and committed to what we needed to get done. She has helped this program move forward.” Regardless of what happens in the big dance for Kentucky, Edwards has cemented herself in the history books of the womens basketball program. Her story and struggles may not always be remembered for years to come, but her success and game-winning shot will, with her interview in the immediate aftermath sending chills down the spines of viewers across the country. “They told me to shoot it, they was going to give me the ball,” Edwards said with tears streaming down her face. “We just battled, we’ve been battling all year, we faced adversity and we turned it up. Can’t wait for the NCAA Tournament, we’re not done. We’re not done!”
Thursday, March 10, 2022
MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF Kentucky Wildcats forward Dre'una Edwards, left, takes a selfie with a fan during the team’s return from the SEC Tournament Championship game on Sunday, March 6, 2022, at Joe Craft Center in Lexington, Kentucky. UK defeated No. 1 South Carolina 64-62 with a 3-pointer by Dre’Una Edwards in the last seconds of the game in Nashville, Tennessee.
MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF Kentucky Wildcats forward Dre'una Edwards, left, signs autographs during the team’s return from the SEC Tournament Championship game.
JACK WEAVER | STAFF Kentucky forward Dre'una Edwards (44) chases after a loose ball during the UK vs. Vanderbilt womens basketball game.
PHOTO BY ISABEL MCSWAIN | STAFF
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sports
Oscar Tshiebwe named SEC Player of the Year By Hunter Shelton sports@kykernel.com
The postseason awards are rolling in, with three Wildcats being recognized by the Southeastern Conference's league honors, headlined by Oscar Tshiebwe. Tshiebwe was named the SEC Player of the Year, the 10th player in Kentucky history to earn the award. He was also named to the All-SEC First Team and the All-Defensive Team. Backcourt duo TyTy Washington Jr. and Sahvir Wheeler were each named to the All-SEC Second Team, with Washington also being tabbed with an All-Freshman selection. Head coach John Calipari has now coached 32 players who have earned an All-SEC First or Second Team distinction. In each of his 13 seasons at the helm of UK, Calipari has had at least one of his players named to the All-Freshman team. The Second Team selection for Wheeler is his second in a row, as he earned the same nod last season while at Georgia. A full list of the awards is below: FIRST TEAM
• JD Notae, Arkansas • Jaylin Williams, Arkansas • Walker Kessler, Auburn • Jabari Smith, Auburn • Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky • Tari Eason, LSU • Iverson Molinar, Mississippi State • Santiago Vescovi, Tennessee • Scotty Pippen Jr., Vanderbilt SECOND TEAM
• Jaden Shackelford, Alabama • Colin Castleton, Florida • TyTy Washington Jr., Kentucky
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• Sahvir Wheeler, Kentucky • Darius Days, LSU • Kobe Brown, Missouri • Kennedy Chandler, Tennessee • Quenton Jackson, Texas A&M ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
• Charles Bediako, Alabama • JD Davison, Alabama • Jabari Smith, Auburn • TyTy Washington Jr., Kentucky • Brandon Murray, LSU • Devin Carter, South Carolina • Kennedy Chandler, Tennessee • Zakai Zeigler, Tennessee ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
• Keon Ellis, Alabama • Jaylin Williams, Arkansas • Walker Kessler, Auburn • Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky • Zakai Zeigler, Tennessee Coach of the Year: Bruce Pearl, Auburn Player of the Year: Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Jordan Wright, Vanderbilt Freshman of the Year: Jabari Smith, Auburn Sixth-Man of the Year: Tari Eason, LSU Defensive Player of the Year: Walker Kessler, Auburn
JACK WEAVER | STAFF Kentucky Wildcats forward Oscar Tshiebwe (34) dunks the ball during the UK vs. Mississippi State basketball game on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.
Thursday, March 10, 2022
sports
Kyra Elzy's patience and perseverance pays off in Nashville By Hunter Shelton sports@kykernel.com
“Where do we go from here? We go back to work. There’s nothing else you can do.” These were the words from Kentucky head coach Kyra Elzy after her Wildcats lost 74-63 to Texas A&M on Feb. 6, the seventh loss of what was UK’s plunge down the SEC ranks, losing eight of nine games. Even then, Elzy never wavered. Neither did her players. The Cats would take one more loss to No. 1 South Carolina before a season turnaround ensued. Ten games and 10 wins later, Elzy and her crew were hoisting the SEC Tournament championship trophy. To understand the magnitude of UK’s improbable inversion, you must take it back to the beginning. Kentucky was faced with a multitude of problems throughout the 2021-22 campaign, in and out of the program. Before game one of the season began, guard Blair Green was ruled out for the entire year due to an achilles tear. Green, a senior, was expected to play a vital role for the Wildcats. As it turns out, losing Green would be just the beginning of a long line of injury issues that Elzy and her staff would face over the following five months. Superstar Rhyne Howard and guard Jada Walker would be the sole Wildcats to play in all 30 games for Kentucky. The slender 10-woman roster was anything but full-strength, as they often struggled to field a so-called “bench rotation.” This was personified on Jan. 27, when only six Cats were able to suit up against Vanderbilt. Senior guard Robyn Benton, UK’s fourth leading scorer who missed six
games this season, was out with an ankle injury. She joined Green and freshman walk-on Kristen Crenshaw-Gill on the injured list. Just before tip-off against the Commodores, another guard, Treasure Hunt, was ruled out due to an injury she sustained in the game prior. The four guards, along with forward Dre’una Edwards, who did not travel with the team due to a disciplinary suspension, left Kentucky with just one substitute in Nashville. All six players played 26 minutes or more, just two days after they took on Auburn in Alabama, and just three days before they traveled to Baton Rouge to take on LSU. Kentucky would fall 65-57 in a valiant effort, despite setting a new program record with 25 turnovers. With every excuse in the book at her disposal, Elzy took the high road and kept her chin up and her coaching hat on. “We have to be able to handle adversity. At the end of the day, we still had chances. It wasn’t a lack of heart or effort or want to win, we just didn’t execute down the stretch and the turnovers cost us,” she said. As UK hobbled through SEC play, talks about Elzy’s job security began to surface. Elzy took over as the interim head coach in November 2020, as former coach Matthew Mitchell, the winningest coach in program history, resigned before the beginning of the season due to a brain injury he suffered that forced him to step away. With big shoes to fill, Elzy entered her first full year as head coach this season with confidence and high expectations. She made her grand entrance to the Kentucky faithful at Big Blue Madness, rappelling down from the rafters of Rupp Arena. Just a few months later, some were calling for her to rappel out of Lexington and for UK Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart to
MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF
Kentucky Wildcats head coach Kyra Elzy acknowledges fans during the team’s return from the SEC Tournament Championship game on Sunday, March 6, 2022, at the Joe Craft Center in Lexington, Kentucky.
find a new head coach. But Elzy never paid attention to the background noise. She, just like her coaching staff and players, kept her nose to the grindstone. Slowly, the fruits of their labor began to pay off. Edwards returned from suspension following the Vanderbilt loss, and Benton eventually returned from injury. As pieces made their way back into the team, the wins began to pile on. Game four of the 10-game win streak signaled a change in the direction of the season, as the Cats traveled down to Fayetteville to take on a well-respected Arkansas team, who they would blast for a 23-point road win. Elzy knew then, what she knew at the beginning of the season, that staying the course was the only option.
“I do have a lot of confidence in this team and I believe in them,” she said. “I’ve seen what they can do in practice, and they showed it in spurts in different games, but it didn’t always show up in the win/loss column. That’s part of figuring out where to go next.” Kentucky would finish the regular season winning its final two games, trouncing both Missouri and Auburn. The six-game stretch brought the Cats back to a seven seed in the SEC Tournament, with hopes for a berth into the NCAA Tournament hanging in the balance, as bracketologists had the Cats as one of the final teams making the Big Dance. Unsurprisingly, Elzy wasn’t worried about her team’s forecast in a bracket. “I try not to pay too much attention to See ELZY on page 11A
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Thursday, March 10, 2022
sports
Across the (By)Line: SEC Tournament Kernel, Kentucky
By Hunter Shelton
Any of the top four seeds have a legitimate shot at winning this year’s tournament. All four teams have shown that they can get it done at home, but we’ll now see what happens on a neutral court. I think Kentucky got the worst draw of the four by having to play Tennessee in the semi-finals, as the Vols are one of the hottest teams in the country. It hasn’t played its best down the stretch of the season, but Auburn holds the regular season crown for good reason. I think Jabari Smith propels the Tigers past the Volunteers in the championship, cementing Auburn as a No. 1 seed.
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The “Across the (By)Line” series will give Kentucky basketball fans an in-depth look at the other 13 teams competing at the SEC Tournament—from the mind of the opposing schools' sports editors. Beginning on Wednesday, March 9, the 14 members of the Southeastern Conference will pile into Amalie Arena in Tampa Bay, Florida, with one one goal on their minds — winning a championship. The Kernel spoke with sports editors and basketball beat writers from each student publication in the SEC, asking one question: Who’s going to win the SEC Tournament Championship, and why? Austin Hannon, The Crimson White, Alabama
Peter Rauterkus, The Reveille, LSU MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF Kentucky Wildcats guard Kellan Grady (31) high fives forward Keion Brooks Jr. (12) after a Grady 3-pointer during the UK vs. Florida mens basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, in Lexington, Kentucky.
Kentucky is the popular pick, and I have to say I agree. Auburn is a great team, but I think BBN will show out in full force in Tampa, and the Wildcats will use it to their advantage. Look out for LSU, I like them getting to Saturday but losing in a close one to Auburn.
of the top four seeds taking home the title, but Kentucky strikes me as the favorite. Of all the teams I have watched play this year, Kentucky is the most talented. If it is able to play to its full potential, I do not think any team will take Kentucky down. As long as the Wildcats remain healthy, they will likely earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Mason Choate, The Arkansas Traveler, Arkansas
Henry Zimmer, The Auburn Plainsman, Auburn
This year's SEC Tournament should be as competitive as any in the past few years. I could see any
I think Tennessee pulls out the upset in the tournament and wins it all. The Vols are on a solid
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streak right now and have shown that they can beat Auburn and Kentucky. Tennessee is hitting on all cylinders lately and I think it's highly possible they keep up the solid play and take it all the way. Jackson Castellano, The Alligator, Florida
I think Kentucky mens basketball will join women’s hoops as SEC Tournament champions. Oscar Tshiebwe is in the midst of a season deserving of the NPOY award and shows no sign of slowing down. Despite Auburn topping the SEC rankings, Kentucky
outranks the Tigers in NET and KenPom. UK will claim the title somewhat handily. Cole Aycock, The Red and Black, Georgia
I have a feeling that the winner of the SEC Tourney won’t be an obvious choice like Auburn or Kentucky. I think Arkansas makes a run and wins the SEC tourney. March is always madness so I got a sleeper pick of Arkansas winning it. Hunter Shelton, The Kentucky
For me, I have to lean Kentucky. When healthy, I think the Wildcats have the best and deepest roster and are solid on both ends. Add … National Player of the Year Oscar Tshiebwe, who gets 15 points and rebounds on an off night, and you have a team that's hard to bet against. Tanner Marlar, The Reflector, Mississippi State
My pick for the SEC Tournament is the Auburn Tigers. I think Bruce Pearl has done a great job recruiting, so much so that he's got the best player in the country suiting up for him, in my opinion. It's either them or Kentucky's league to lose this year, even as See (BYLINE) on page 11A
Thursday, March 10, 2022
sports (BY)LINE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10A
the SEC continues to gain strength on the national level. Ethan Burke, The Maneater, Missouri
I think Kentucky is going to win the SEC Tournament as long as they are at full strength. When the Cats are at their best, they are hard to stop as they are a complete team with talented guards in Savhir Wheeler and TyTy Washington, and dangerous in the paint with Oscar Tshiebwe, of course. When Kentucky is at its best, I believe it could be the best team in the nation, and I think it'll be winning the SEC Tournament this year.
Catherine Jeffers, The Daily Mississippian, Ole Miss
I'm going to have to take the favorites, the Auburn Tigers, to win this year’s SEC Tournament. Bruce Pearl has kept his team atop the conference standings and taken down huge basketball powerhouses. I think their recent losses to Arkansas and Tennessee have lit a fire beneath them, and they’ll make a lot of noise in the tournament. If they match up with Florida in the Semifinals, it could lead to another defeat by the Gators, but I think Auburn has the talent to take the SEC and make a big run in the NCAA Tournament. Lawson Murrell, The Daily Gamecock, South Carolina
ELZY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9A
the projections. My focus was, along with this staff, one game at a time. Get the job done. Play for this program and stay focused on the task at hand,” she said. One game at a time. Get the job done. Stay focused. As it turns out, it really was that simple. The Cats thrashed Mississippi State 83-67 in the second round of the tourney behind 21 points from Walker, essentially locking up a spot for UK in the NCAA. Next up, a date in the quarterfinals with LSU. Howard poured in 32 points on 11-18 shooting as UK made it eight wins on the trot, surging into the semifinals. Awaiting them was the No. 2 seed, Tennessee. The Lady Vols thwacked the Cats by 26 points in January, the worst loss during UK’s abysmal 1-8 stretch. The grizzled duo of Howard and Walker combined for 40 in an 83-74 win, propelling the once forgotten Wildcats to the SEC Championship, where they would then take on the role of David against the Goliath No. 1 South Carolina. USC, who entered the game with just one loss, defeated Kentucky twice in the regular season, leaving little reason to believe that anything would change in round three. The Wildcats’ Cinderella story would come to fruition, as Edwards would nail a 3-pointer with seven seconds left to play, giving UK
Following
Auburn's
dominance
throughout the regular season, it would be hard to bet against them in the tournament. However, it is March. I predict that the mens tournament will mirror the womens tournament, in that the winner of the Kentucky-Tennessee semifinal matchup will go on to cut down the nets in Tampa. Josh Lane, The Daily Beacon, Tennessee
I think Kentucky will win the tournament. I don't love Auburn right now, and I'm not willing to take Tennessee on a neutral site. Oscar Tshiebwe was the best player in the conference, and I think he'll lead the Wildcats to a title. Kay Naegeli, The Battalion, Texas A&M
a two-point lead. The Gamecocks’ halfcourt heave was no good, cementing an all-time run by Elzy’s Cats. Four games in four days against some of the stiffest competition in the country, and Kentucky stepped up to the plate and knocked out home run after home run. As improbable of a run as it may have been, it wasn’t a surprise to Elzy. “We’re competitors, and basketball is pressure filled. We’ve done it our whole life. We had been put in situations where our back was against the wall, and we had enough to step up,” she said. “We’re a talented team, I was confident in them.” Just one month ago, the program was in shambles, at least from the perspective of an outsider. Loss after loss, injury after injury, problem after problem, Elzy could’ve given up. Instead, she etched her name into Kentucky coaching history, leading one of the greatest ever charges into March Madness, with a lot left to play for. While celebrations were in order for the mission they accomplished, Elzy was quick to note that something bigger was on the horizon. “We do have to have some recovery and rest, but we always do that coming off the SEC Tournament trying to get people healthy,” she said. “Then we get back to work. We’re going to celebrate this SEC Championship, but our job is not yet done, we still have work to do. We look forward to playing in the NCAA Tournament and making a run.”
I think Auburn will win the tournament! Undefeated at home, SEC Champs ... Jabari Smith and Walker Kessler have been balling all year and will dominate the tournament. Justin Hershey, The Vanderbilt Hustler, Vanderbilt
I have a pick that Kernel readers might enjoy: Kentucky takes the championship in Tampa. When SEC play began, I may not have made this pick. But now the Wildcats truly look like the most well-rounded team in the conference. Top to bottom, this Kentucky roster has the experience, length and guards to get the job done this weekend. With Tennessee’s scoring droughts and Auburn’s inconsistent guard play, I like the Wildcats to prevail en route to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
HISTORY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4A
ning the 2010 SEC Championship over Mississippi State by one point in overtime with John Wall leading the charge. Calipari would go back-to-back the following season, blowing out Florida by one point less than the latter had years prior, with Kentucky boasting the MVP once again, this time in Darius Miller. Kentucky fell short in the championship game to Vanderbilt in 2012, ending its winning streak, though it would go on to claim the National Championship just weeks later. UK did not make a deep conference run in its infamous NIT losing season in 2013 but returned to the title game the following year, though it would lose to Florida by one point. After the loss to Florida in 2014, Kentucky won four straight SEC Championships from 2015-2018 with all four wins producing SEC MVPs.
Kentucky has not made the title game since winning four straight, missing out in 2019 and 2021, and never having gotten to play a game in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic shut the tournament down after the first round. Looking overall, Kentucky has won 31 SEC Championships, by far the most of any team, with the closest competition being Alabama with seven. Even without the 13 pre-1979 wins, Kentucky maintains a double-digit lead on all conference opponents. Factoring in all conference championship wins, Kentucky can factually say that it holds more conference titles than all other SEC teams combined, with the entire field adding up to 29 championships. Entering the 2022 SEC Tournament, Kentucky checks in as the No. 3 seed in the conference with a 14-4 conference record and a 25-6 overall record as Calipari seeks his seventh SEC Championship, second to only coach Rupp and most of any Kentucky coach in the post1979 era.
fall 2021 | 11A
Thursday, March 10, 2022
UK loosens mask policy as spring break approaches By Kendall Staton news@kykernel.com
The University of Kentucky transitioned to a mask optional policy in certain spaces and at certain events beginning on March 9. UK president Eli Capilouto sent a campus-wide email on March 8 detailing an updated campus mask policy. The new policy allows for individuals to choose whether they wear a mask in common areas across campus. The Gatton Student Center, common areas or hallways of classroom buildings, dining halls, libraries, workout facilities and residence halls are all listed in the new policy as mask optional spaces. Masks will also be optional during voluntary events. Capilouto listed examples such as Campus Ruckus, concerts, theatrical performances and athletic events as events where masks are not required. The new policy also states that performing arts classes can operate under a mask-optional policy during performance settings. While the new policy allows for leniency in common spaces, not all areas on campus are becoming mask optional. Classrooms, laboratories and private offices where more than one person are gathered will retain a mask mandate. UK HealthCare facilities are exempt from any of the above mask policy changes. Capilouto stated the university is looking to continue expanding the scope of the mask optional
policy, excluding in healthcare facilities, following commencements in May. “As always, we will continue to follow emerging science and data, and if conditions warrant, we won’t hesitate to change policies and processes as part of our commitment to keeping our community healthy and safe,” he said. UK spokesperson Jay Blanton cited new CDC guidelines as influencing the change in the campus mask policy. With new CDC guidelines expanding the number of places in which masks are recommended to be optional, he said the university made an informed decision. “Over the last couple of years, CDC guidance has informed a lot of what we’ve done,” Blanton said. “It hasn’t always been the specific thing of what we’ve done, but it has certainly informed much of what we have.” Blanton said Capilouto used information from the CDC and UK’s START team, as well as input from UK students, faculty and staff to make the decision of updating the mask policy. UK’s START team is a group of UK HealthCare physicians, clinical experts and research leaders who provide advice to the administration on health and safety issues directly related to the COVID pandemic. “If you look at the accumulation of all of that data, of that feedback cycle, once we had all the information and had time to consider, the president thought that he had the information that he needed to go ahead and move forward with some modifications
in the policies,” Blanton said. Meg Pangborn, a sophomore psychology major, believes the updated policy is a good move. She said the high vaccination rate on UK’s campus makes the policy update acceptable. Pangborn believes the policy is a good compromise because if students don't want to wear a mask, they don't have to, and if they are uncomfortable with that, they have the option to keep wearing one. “I think it’s a happy medium,” she said. “It’s not like people have to not wear them.” Senior UK Faculty Lecturer Allyson DeVito was not surprised by UK’s announcement. She said based on the science and the fact that masks are now optional in Lexington City government offices, it makes sense that UK has re-evaluated its policy. DeVito noticed a lot of students not complying with the previous mask mandate in the past few weeks. “Walking around campus in some of those areas where it’s now becoming optional, it seems that in some cases people were already treating it as optional,” she said. “I didn’t see a lot of people wearing a mask if they were in the dining hall or Starbucks in the library.” DeVito said the downward trend of COVID cases warranted a change in policy. She also pointed out that there is no set date of when masks will be optional in classrooms, wondering when that change will occur. Blanton said the choice to keep masks in the classroom was
news
JACK WEAVER | STAFF A student walks across campus on the first day of the spring semester on Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky.
based on the requirement of individuals to be present. In areas that individuals are choosing to go, such as arts performances or common areas on campus, the mask optional policy made the most sense. “If you look at spaces where people are required to be, those are pretty confined spaces. In spaces where you’re opting to go, generally speaking, it’s a larger space,” he said. “So if it's a voluntary kind of event, I think we decided that a mask optional policy made sense at this point.” Accounting and finance double major Max Hazel thinks the updated mask policy is ill-timed. With spring break around the corner, the optional mask policy is disappointing to him. “I think the mask policy is actually really stupid,” he said. “Especially right before spring break when everybody’s leaving,
I think it’s really poor timing.” Hazel, however, does not plan to continue wearing his mask in common areas but believes everyone else should. Blanton iterated that the policy is elastic, and changes can be made if COVID numbers increase after spring break. He cited current COVID numbers as a good first step in the downward trend of COVID cases. Blanton hopes that if these trends continue, UK will be in a position to remove masks altogether in the near future. Hazel’s roommate, marketing major Manuel Hernandes, has no issue with the updated policy. While everyone will now have the choice to not wear a mask, he personally will continue to wear his on campus. “I think it’s the right and safe thing to do, but if other people don’t, it's fine,” Hernandes said.
spring 2022 | 1B
Thursday, March 10, 2022
news
SGA Supreme Court holds hearing on presidential election allegations By Kendall Staton news@kykernel.com
UK’s student government association (SGA) held a Supreme Court hearing on March 7 to hear claims from presidential candidate administrations over election misconduct allegations. During the violation and claims period, all candidates submitted possible violations of SGA governing codes that opposing tickets committed. These included, but were not limited to, improper event filling, failure to comply with university sanctioned student rules and improper poster placement. First year Supreme Court justice and second year law student Dustyn Saws compared the claims to lawsuits. “Basically, each side has sued each other on multiple accounts,” he said. “Now we are having to hear all the suits, and if they are viable, the remedy for that is a vote deduction.” Three campaigns were on the SGA presidential election ticket: Andrew Laws/Amelia Pace, Isaac Sutherland/Mallory Hudson and Lydia Deaton/Landry Woodrum. Unofficial election results were announced on March 1, stating Laws and Pace as the unofficial winners of the election. The court convened in a conference room at the Gatton Student Center and allowed student viewers to watch the session in a separate room down the hall via Zoom. Chief Justice Sterling Crayton began the session at 7:10 p.m. The claims hearing began
2B | kentucky kernel
with a submission from the Deaton-Woodrum campaign, stating the Sutherland-Hudson campaign was in violation of a university sanctioned rule, stating that no food nor candy may be handed out at The 90. Sutherland argued that while the event in question was held and the campaign did distribute candy, they should not suffer the required 25% vote deduction. Sutherland stated that his campaign had not been given sufficient information, and thus the reduction would be “hyperbolic.” Sutherland’s council also said the rule violated was a “soft rule” and thus should be met with some leniency. Associate Justice Faith Turner asked Deaton if she had any evidence to substantiate one of her claims regarding the alleged placement of handbills on tables in the Gatton economics building by the Pace campaign. Deaton responded that the campaign reached out to the UKPD to obtain security camera footage of the alleged incident. Debate then sparked over what constitutes a violation of the university mask policy, which stated everyone must wear a mask while inside of all campus buildings at the time. Sutherland-Hudson submitted a video of Deaton failing to wear a mask inside of a university building and stated she was in violation of the university-wide mask mandate. At the time of the hearing, UK was operating under a required mask policy. The Sutherland-Hudson campaign brought this same com-
plaint against Law-Pace. Campaign pictures showed Law and Pace, as well as their supporting staff, inside of university buildings with no masks on. Turner asked whose job is it really to decide if students were in violation of the university mask policy. The Sutherland-Hudson campaign believed this does fall within the SGA Supreme Court scope of responsibility, while the LawPace campaign disagreed. “I think that it’s appropriate for us to bring it to this court in terms of anything aiding a campaign,” Sutherland said. “The reality is these pictures were published with the intent to solicit votes.” Ben Childers, council for the Law-Pace campaign, disagreed. “It is more proper for the masks to be challenged at the university level, not the SGA level,” he said. “This court does not have jurisdiction to make this decision.” The Sutherland-Hudson campaign then brought about the next claim questioning the integrity of the election. They claimed that SGA Attorney General Kamryn Stewart neglected the duty of her position by openly endorsing the LawsPace campaign. To support these claims, they provided screenshots of group text messages between Stewart and the election board members in which she voiced support for the Laws-Pace campaign. Sutherland-Hudson moved for the nullification of all votes cast in this election if this claim is
substantiated. “There’s a lot of issues in SGA, and we are incredibly hopeful that the Supreme Court will take measures to ensure the equity of SGA as well as just the fairness of the overall election,” Sutherland said. Sutherland-Hudson tried to bring in a witness, Rachel Whitehouse, to help clarify a claim of misconduct within SGA associates. Whitehouse, a close personal friend of Laws, said that she and Laws had a conversation in which Laws stated that without Stewart’s support, he would have never run for SGA president. “I’m here today to talk about how personal their relationship truly was,” Whitehouse said. “I do know, for a fact, that without her support he would not have considered running in the first place.” Turner stated that she found the proceedings regarding this claim to be unethical. She then referred to Whitehouse’s willingness to testify against Laws as “disgusting.” Associate Justice Iman Ali discussed the role of the attorney general as a member of the SGA. She believes that as attorney general, Stewart had the ability to encourage participation in the election. “As a member of SGA, isn’t it fair to encourage folks to stay involved with SGA?” Ali asked. “We need people to speak up about it. I firmly believe this falls within [Stewart’s] scope.” By 11:30 p.m., the once-overflowing viewing room had dimin-
ished to four people, and discussion of time constraints began. In the interest of time, LawsPace moved to drop one of their claims that they felt did not warrant an appeal. Upon the Deaton team’s completion of their last claim hearing at 11:50 p.m., Deaton felt as though the team was successful in proving it had tried to run a clean campaign and represent itself well. The Laws-Pace council asked the Sutherland-Hudson campaign if there were any claims they were willing to throw out in the effort to conserve time. Sutherland declined on the campaign's behalf. The Gatton Student Center closed at midnight, which caused a relocation to the grand courtroom in the J. David Rosenberg law building. After a brief intermission to allow for traveling, court resumed at 12:30 a.m. Laws opened with a statement that the Sutherland-Hudson campaign received support from Ellie Browning, a candidate for the College of Agriculture senator. He said this was an instance of ticketing. Ticketing, or two parties running for different offices who endorse each other, is prohibited by the SGA governing codes. Sutherland rebutted that as soon as Browning made her run for senate official, the campaign removed all associated materials from their social media accounts. “We can’t verify that she was soliciting votes in any way, See SGA on page 12B
Humans of UK: Tai Brown runs to win By Justin Conti features@kykernel.com
This is Humans of UK, inspired by the Humans of New York Instagram series by photographer and author Brandon Stanton. This series dives into the individuals of UK as well as their stories, strifes and passions. Every young athlete dreams of making it to the biggest stage to perform at the highest level. For Kentucky track star Tai Brown, his eyes were set on the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Since Brown was five years old growing up in New York, he was involved in the running world. He and his mom Debbie Gittens would go watch his older sister Amina Smith run in high school, who later ran collegiately at SEC rival South Carolina. “As she’s at practice, I would get out of my stroller and pretty much run with her,” Brown said of his “pee-wee” days. From then on, his stride never stopped. In high school, Brown was the 2016 and 2017 New York City Mayor’s Cup Champion. In 2018, he was the New York state, New York City and borough 110-meter hurdles champion. Once he arrived at
CHET WHITE | UK ATHLETICS Tai Brown poses for a portrait. Photo provided by Track and Field Head shots.
UK, Brown broke the UK freshman record in the indoor 60-meter hurdles, crossing the finish line in 7.85 seconds. After continuing to dominate on the blue and white track, Brown got to experience something only a select group of athletes can say they have done — the U.S. Olympic Trials. As a junior, he gathered with the greatest athletes in the United States to compete at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, sharing in one
common goal: qualifying for the Olympics. “Seeing everyone I’ve seen on TV when I was younger, people that are still in the game … I’m actually here now and I have the opportunity to run with them,” Brown said. To the left of Brown on the starting line were seven of the greatest hurdlers in the country. The three fastest runners got to represent the United States. Brown looked down the straightaway, at the tops of the 10 hurdles
that stood between him and Tokyo. Brown placed fifth. Running a personal best of 13.32, he got to watch his fellow Wildcat, professional hurdler and UK alum Daniel Roberts, place third with a time of 13.11 only two lanes over. Brown was 21 milliseconds behind. After falling short at the Olympic Trials, Brown returned to UK for another college season. This past indoor season, he won the 60-meter hurdle at the Cardinal Classic, and although he placed second at the Red Raider Open, he ran a new personal best and now holds the fourth fastest time in UK history. None of these post-Olympic Trials accomplishments came without downfalls, however. “The past few meets haven’t gone as well as I wanted it to, but I PR’d, and right now, it’s just outdoor season,” Brown said. “There’s also World Trials in Oregon again, and so I’ll be trying out for that as well.” Brown is not done chasing the Olympic dream yet. He is determined to make his return to the Olympic Trials in 2024 to book his ticket to Paris and finish what he started.
Thursday, March 10, 2022
kentuckykernel
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KENTUCKY KERNEL OFFICES 340 McVey Hall University of Kentucky Lexington, KY 40506
On the front cover:
MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF Kentucky Wildcats head coach Kyra Elzy celebrates with fans during the team’s return from the SEC Tournament Championship game on Sunday, March 6, 2022, at the Joe Craft Center in Lexington, Kentucky.
On the back cover:
MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF Kentucky Wildcats head coach Kyra Elzy holds the trophy during the team’s return from the SEC Tournament Championship game on Sunday, March 6, 2022, at the Joe Craft Center in Lexington, Kentucky.
spring 2022 | 3B
Thursday, March 10, 2022
news
COVID-19 cases show a steady decrease for students and faculty at UK By Amy Oakley news@kykernel.com
Nearly two years after the pandemic started, many students and faculty at UK are feeling hopeful now that the university has gone mask-optional. Many neighboring universities across the state have either ended their mask mandates or gone mask optional, with masks only being required in classrooms. The university and state have both seen decreases in the amount of COVID cases since January. Testing for COVID-19 during the spring semester started on Jan. 3, 2022. The COVID-19 Data Dashboard, created by UK, has tested approximately 21,216 students and 4,699 employees. Of the students tested, there have been 2,079 positive results and 19,136 negative results. Only 393 of employees' tests reported positive, with 4,306 negative results. According to the dashboard, total cases of COVID-19 have decreased steadily for students and employees over the last two months. As of March 2, there are currently no students in campus isolation facilities. Additionally, there are only seven active cases that have been reported to UK Health Corps. As for employees, there are currently seven active cases and only one new reported case as of March 2. On Monday, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that the positivity rate in Kentucky had declined this week to 6.04% from last week’s 8.56%. “We’re seeing a steady decline in numbers,” he said. On Tuesday, Capiluto announced in a campus-wide email that UK is adopting an optional mask-wearing policy with masks only being mandatory in classrooms, private offices and laboratories as of March 9. The updated policy will be used in common areas such as the Gatton Student Center, common areas or hallways of classroom buildings, dining halls, libraries, workout facilities and residence halls. Masks will also be optional during voluntary events, such as Campus Ruckus, concerts, theatrical performances and at athletic venues. Vaccination status has also increased on campus since January. As of March 2, 92.1% of campus has been vaccinated. Of this statistic, 89.9% of students and 91.4% of staff have been fully vaccinated. Campus faculty have the highest rate of vaccinations, coming in at 97.7%. “We are pleased to make this move at this time. It points to the hope that we are beginning a new phase in the long battle against this virus,” Capiluto said of the new policy.
4B | kentucky kernel
JACK WEAVER | STAFF A dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is injected into a patient’s arm on Saturday, April 10, 2021, at UK’s COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky.
6.04%
Current COVID-19 positivity rate in Kentucky, which shows a decline from last week's 8.56%. Gov. Andy Beshear acknowledged the consistent decline in numbers.
92.1% Current UK campus vaccination rate. Broken down, 89.9% of students and 91.4% of staff are fully vaccinated, with campus faculty at 97.7%.
Thursday, March 10, 2022
features
UK students spring into break By Laurie Jonhatan features@kykernel.com
Spring break is the perfect time for UK students to rest, relax and recharge during the spring semester. And with this spring break being the first that UK has had in two years, many students are looking forward to planning trips where they’ll catch a lot more sun. “We all wanted to go to a place with warm weather,” Sydney King, a senior accounting, finance and marketing major, said. King made plans with her roommates and friends to go to the Bahamas this year on a five-day cruise, a destination where they had never been before. On Dec. 30, 2021, the CDC added cruise ships to the “Level 4” category, deeming them as a COVID “hotspot” that people should avoid during the pandemic. With widespread disease on cruise ships, cruise lines have implemented several new regulations in an attempt to combat the spread of COVID. Her freshman year, King visited her sister abroad in Amsterdam, but she has not been able to travel since because of the pandemic. With this break being her last one, the search for trying something new played a crucial part in the planning. “A lot of us had never been on a cruise before, so we saw it as something fun and different to do,” King said. Shannon Nguyen, a sophomore biology and neuroscience major, also took the opportunity to plan a cruise vacation for spring break; she is traveling from Miami, Florida, through Mexico, Jamaica and finally to the Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands. Nguyen’s parents planned the vacation as a 20th birthday gift. With concerns about the pandemic, Nguyen’s parents wanted to ensure that the cruise would be the best and safest option. “We take the pandemic very seriously and want to be as safe as possible,” Nguyen said. “We were thankful for the many precautions our cruise line, Carnival, implemented.”
MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF UK freshman interior design major Caroline Slicer packs bags into the back of a car for spring break on Thursday, March 12, 2020, at the the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky.
Carnival requested that attendees be vaccinated and provide a negative PCR COVID test before onboarding, which helped with Nguyen’s decision. “We are comfortable with that regulation, and it ensures everyone can enjoy and relax without having to worry,” she said. While Nguyen and King enjoy their cruise line breaks, other students are opting for a different new adventure this break. Marvellous Igwe, a senior finance and music performance major, is looking forward to going camping at the Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina on a UK Campus Recreation and Wellness trip. Campus Recreation and Wellness often schedules “Adventure Trips” throughout each semes-
ter, exploring different parts of Kentucky as well as outside of the state. “I love nature and the outdoors. I’ve also never been backpacking [or] hiking before, but when I heard about the opportunity, it seemed like a good way to get refreshed,” Igwe said. In the past, Igwe spent his spring break traveling and spending time with family and friends, but he hasn’t been able to in recent years because of the pandemic. When he saw a sign at UK advertising the trip, he said he wanted to try something new. “I thought about COVID,” Igwe said when asked about possible pandemic concerns. “But it didn’t really affect my decision.”
With this being the first spring break in two years, some students seemed eager to get the chance to get back to traveling to spend more time with family and friends and even just to relax from the pressures of classes. And with many sophomores experiencing their first spring break during college, the excitement for the time off school is evident. “It was very mentally taxing to go through that long period of school without any breaks,” Nguyen said. “As someone that has two majors and is heavily involved in extracurriculars, I am very grateful that we have a spring break so everyone can have a mental break and come back stronger.”
spring 2022 | 5B
Thursday, March 10, 2022
‘Fight for something worth fighting for.’
Scan to view the Kernel's full photo gallery for DanceBlue
DanceBlue marathon raises over $1 million for pediatric cancer Story by Kaitlyn Skaggs and Sophia Shoemaker
PHOTOS BY MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF Staff members reveal that a total of $1,430,497.39 was raised during the 24-hour DanceBlue marathon on Sunday, March 6, 2022, at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Kentucky.
6B | kentucky kernel
On Sunday, March 6, the 17th UK DanceBlue marathon came to an end. At the 24-hour, no-sitting, no-sleeping dance marathon, the organization raised $1,430,497.39 for the Golden Matrix Fund. “It’s not about [the money], but it’s always nice to see a big number,” Bryce Dexter said, a senior on the DanceBlue corporate committee, before the marathon began. “Every dollar counts, every dollar is important. We could raise $1, and I’d be happy because it’s going to a good cause.” This was the first in-person DanceBlue event since the pandemic began in 2020. This year, DanceBlue allowed limited spectators and 550 dancers. Each participant, including dancers, volunteers and committee members, was provided with a KN95 mask. Despite COVID-19, the organization has been working since last year’s virtual marathon to pull off an in-person event in 2022. This year was a time of rebuilding the DanceBlue community after the restraints of the pandemic, according to senior Cliff York, who oversees the morale committee that leads dancers through the marathon. Many high schools were interested in hosting mini marathon events but found it difficult. By offering interested schools ideas for virtual fundraisers and a chance to hold virtual events, the committee
Thursday, March 10, 2022
Students participate in the hourly line dance during the 24-hour DanceBlue marathon at 5:08 p.m.
helped to rebuild the structure of mini marathons that had dissipated in recent years. Another challenge was strengthening the bond between members of the morale committee after having gone without an in-person DanceBlue event since 2020. “We always view this committee as a family, and last year, due to the virtual nature of our event, we had to rebuild some of the bonding elements that we have had in years past,” York said. “I think all in all, myself and my five coordinators surpassed any sort of expectations I had for them … it really did confirm to me that this was an amazing team that took the challenges thrown at them in stride and handled them with grace, joy and passion.” The marathon began at 8 p.m. on Saturday with a call to the post and the morale committee rushing the front of the floor at Memorial Coliseum. The team then
demonstrated the line dance that would be completed by all participants at the beginning of each hour. The dance included popular line dances and routines popularized by viral TikTok sounds. There were games and activities every hour, including a “rave hour” at 5 a.m. complete with glow sticks and a D.J. In the final hours of the marathon, dancers were squatting down, stretching their feet and pushing through “for the kids.” “Being involved with DanceBlue was something that was really special to me,” sophomore Maddi Wilcox said. “I’m not going to say it was easy, but it was so worth it. Seeing the vibrant energy from the kids after everything they’ve gone through, or hearing stories from their families make you realize that standing and dancing for 24 hours is the least I can do.” The morale committee and the dancers turned to face the crowd and complete the line dance one
last time before the clock struck 8 p.m. As soon as the music ended, participants celebrated shortly before finally taking a seat. Spectators and families were able to attend in the stands from 5-8 p.m. on Sunday. Students held signs cheering on their groups down below, and the audience delivered uproarious applause for the kids who performed in the talent show. It was not just families and students among attendance in the stands. Some who had participated in DanceBlue before also decided to come back and cheer on the teams. “I was a graduate in 2020, and I got to participate, and it was amazing just to me how many people come together for this cause, how much money they raise,” UK and DanceBlue alum Savannah Jones said. “Getting to see the kids come out and seeing the talent show just feels really powerful.” The theme of the marathon
this year was “Not all Superheroes Wear Capes.” The venue was decorated accordingly, including a room for patients and families of the UK DanceBlue Pediatric Hematology & Oncology Clinic. All of the money raised by DanceBlue is donated to the clinic. The final amount is divided evenly between patient/ family care, clinic care and research. “[DanceBlue] has solidified the fact that I want to be a pediatric oncology nurse, because I’ve seen firsthand what good we can do in the clinic, especially since we are able to have our clinic families and staff in-person again. It makes me so happy,” senior Meghan West said. “They’re the product of what we are doing right now.” DanceBlue hasn’t just impacted the families of children for whom the money is raised. The students and volunteers who spend their time running DanceBlue have also felt the effects of their hard work and dedication. For York, the DanceBlue community has given him a campus that feels like “home” for the past three years he has spent involved. “DanceBlue is one of the larg-
est factors of me deciding to stay in Kentucky, and I truly can’t imagine my college experience without an organization like this that has shown me how to love others well and fight for something worth fighting for,” York said. Volunteers took four-and-ahalf hour long shifts working bag checks and making sure the dancers stayed energized, hydrated and able to perform for the full 24 hours. “The hardest part is standing for 15 hours. I took four shifts … and that’s the only hard part,” freshman volunteer Cassidy Selman said. “Everything else has been so rewarding. I’ve enjoyed myself so far. I was excited for the kids and to see them dancing. It definitely brings a smile to my face, I think it’s so awesome.” As soon as the marathon ended at 8 p.m. on Sunday, applications went out for committee and chair positions for DanceBlue 2023. “I don’t think that DanceBlue ever stops for us, because obviously cancer doesn’t stop for them,” Family Relations Chair Reagan Watkins said. “We keep going, we keep volunteering, we keep fundraising.”
A student holds their light stick up in the air during "rave hour" of the 24-hour DanceBlue marathon at 5:40 a.m.
spring 2022 | 7B
Thursday, March 10, 2022
features
By Lindsey Davis features@kykernel.com
William Bolden, more popularly known as Stone Cold Willow, is an icon in Lexington, specifically State Street. However, Willow is growing up and branching out. Willow was born in Cincinnati and lived in Lexington for a time when he was younger. He grew up watching WWE, which is how the “Stone Cold” part of his name came to be. As for the belt he is often seen brandishing, he bought it at a toy store one day because he thought he might look good with it. He calls himself the “SEC Heavyweight Champion.” Outside of UK sports, Willow is also a fan of the Cincinnati Bengals, Nashville Predators and FC Cincinnati, some games of which he has traveled to see play this year. In the future, he would like to pursue a career in sports, either by playing soccer or participating in professional bull riding. “I’m trying to do it now while I’m in the best possible health condition,” Willow said. Many people have been asking Willow if he is going to return to State Street during March Madness this year, but at the age of 31,
8B | kentucky kernel
Stone Cold State Street: Will Willow return?
Willow is questioning this. Willow is known for being on State Street during the NCAA mens basketball tournament, whether the Wildcats are leading the way in March Madness or leaving the fans feeling March Sadness. “There were some celebrations, and there were some heartbreaks. That's the beauty of March Madness. People pour out into the streets,” he said. Willow had his first real experience on State Street in 2012, after Kentucky captured its eighth NCAA National Championship against Kansas, beating them 67-59. “I was involved in the so-called ‘State Street Riot’ after the win,” he said. “It went on for hours before the streets were finally cleared.” Many fans rushed to State Street after the victory to celebrate by setting more than 40 fires that involved couches, mattresses and even a car, according to ABC News. It was estimated that over 15,000 people rioted in the streets that night. In 2014, Willow took to State Street again after Kentucky lost to Connecticut 54-60 in the NCAA Championship. Couches were set on fire, bottles were thrown and arrests were made.
DAVID STEPHENSON/ZUMA PRESS
William Bolden, more popularly known as Stone Cold Willow, celebrates on State Street in Lexington, Kentucky, after Kentucky mens basketball’s win over the University of Louisville to advance to the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament on March 28, 2014.
Lexington police even had to use tear gas to control the chaos. The same disappointment continued a few years later. Willow was devastated after Kentucky’s loss to North Carolina 73-75 in the 2017 NCAA Elite Eight. UNC player Luke Maye hit a jumper with 0.3 seconds left in the game. “I literally laid on the ground and cried, you know, because it was so
terrible. I was so hurt because I felt like Kentucky got robbed,” he said. Other fans were so upset that they were burning couches, shirts and TVs. Willow once again laid on the pavement on State Street in 2019 after another Elite Eight loss. Kentucky had been defeated by Auburn 71-77 in overtime. “After the loss to Auburn, that’s when I said, ‘It’s time for me to call it quits.’ I was done with
State Street,” he said. In 2020, the NCAA tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, Kentucky failed to even qualify for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Since there wasn’t the opportunity to go to State Street for the past two years, people are trying to convince Willow to return for one last run. “Kentucky’s playing and winning, you know,
with a legitimate opportunity to bring home another national championship, but I asked myself, ‘Should I be back on State Street?’” Ultimately, Willow has decided that he will return — along with his WWE belt. “If Kentucky reaches the Sweet 16 at the very least, then the legendary rattlesnake will return to State Street all the way through the national championship,” he said.
Thursday, March 10, 2022
opinions
The Republican illusion of family values continues to harm American youth By Ryder Noah From opinions@kykernel.com
Kentucky House Bill 51 recently passed in the House Education Committee, which would prohibit any mask mandate for public schools, colleges and child care centers in Kentucky. This bill is another example of Republicans in America exercising their extreme political control to cast a wide net of restrictions. Even though Gov. Andy Beshear might not sign the bill into law, the Republican supermajority could override it. State Rep. Lynn Bechler introduced the bill, stating that masks cause issues in children such as delays in speech, suicide and health problems. However, none of these examples are based in science. Pediatric pulmonologist Theresa Guilbert and Yale professor of child psychiatry Walter Gilliam summarized key studies in an article from National Geographic about how masks don’t significantly reduce children’s social development, mental health or ability to breathe. Instead, Gilliam suggests that the trauma of living through a pandemic is the cause of any decline in mental health. Since the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine has been shown to be less effective in maintaining immunity for children ages 5-11 as a result of the ever-evolving virus, even though it still protects against severe hospitalization, masks are the next best thing we have to prevent transmission among this population. If it’s the case that a possible increase in youth suicide is a result of online learning and sudden changes in academic settings, then masks are a key way of preventing this from happening, since they deter transmission of the virus – a fact proven over and over again. State Rep. Kilian Timoney, a Republican, voted against this bill, citing the same concern over keeping kids in schools and how
masks allow that to happen. This level of political extremism has run rampant across America since President Joe Biden won the most recent election. However, Republicans have been hiding behind a mask of child safety – something the party has done for decades as it portrays itself as the party of traditional family values, even though they are taking freedoms away. A very specific kind of Republican child protection has sprouted at the school level, and it doesn’t stop at mask mandates. Florida has come under fire from LGBTQ advocates for the Parental Rights in Education bill, now referred to as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which recently passed the Florida legislature and now moves to Gov. Ron Desantis. This bill would prohibit the discussion of LGBTQ topics deemed too inappropriate for elementary school students, which exacerbates the stereotype that being gay is inherently sexual or deviant. Furthermore, data from The Trevor Project shows that LGBTQ students who learn about LGBTQ topics have a 23% lower chance of reporting a suicide attempt in the past year. The “Don’t Say Gay” bill originally had a component that would require school principals to out children to their parents if they find out the child identifies as anything other than straight. For the party that paints itself as the purveyor of freedom and liberty, this aspect of the bill, now removed, highlights an intense level of hypocrisy, as it removes the freedom of the child to disclose their sexual identity when, where and to whom. Texas has also drawn fire for a recent order by Gov. Gregg Abott for licensed professionals and anyone in the public to report cases of transgender kids receiving gender-affirming medical intervention as child abuse. This came after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton released an opin-
ion stating that medical treatment such as puberty blockers and hormone treatment is child abuse. Both political figures were fighting for their election bids at the time, with Abott’s order coming seven days before the GOP primary election. Even though the legality of the order is questionable, the largest pediatric hospital in Texas recently announced it would no longer offer hormone therapy for transgender youth in order to prevent legal backlash for their staff and patient families. In addition, The Texas Tribune confirmed that Child Protective Services began investigations into at least five families relating to gender affirming medical care for youth, including one family who hosted Paxton for dinner at their home back in 2016 during the controversial era of transgender bathroom laws. This all constitutes a gross exaggeration of desperate political power, which is the actual abuse in this case, so much so that five district attorneys in Texas called the order un-American. All of this focus on transgender children comes shortly after a storm of Republican complaints about the alleged teaching of Critical Race Theory in schools, a topic that helped Glenn Youngkin win his place as governor of Virginia. Once again, Texas came under fire when an audio recording exposed Gina Peddy, an executive director of curriculum and instruction for a Texas school district. Peddy stated that the Holocaust is an example of a historical event that needs to be presented from both sides. This came after Texas law HB3979, which seeks to restrict conversations about race in schools so as to not further racial divides and orders diverse viewpoints to be presented about any controversial issue. What do all of these egregious laws and bills have in common? They exclude children even though they are illustrated as being inclusive and helpful for them. The
This all shows that Republicans are no longer the party of conservatives; they have become regressionists with the aim of pulling back the strides America has made in terms of racial and sexual equality. - Ryder Noah From laws about mask mandates, gender, sexuality and race all exclude students who are immunocompromised, queer and/or a racial minority. This all shows that Republicans are no longer the party of conservatives; they have become regressionists with the aim of pulling back the strides America has made in terms of racial and sexual equality. Even now, Kentucky cases and hospital rates are higher than other parts of the country. Having the option of a mask mandate is vital for keeping cases lower and hospital loads more manageable. The removal of any of these effective tools is nothing more than a baseless political power grab. While COVID cases have drastically fallen as Omicron seems to fade away, an important lesson we’ve learned from this pandemic is that another variant can be right around the corner. We need to maintain all the tools we have to fight any new variants that might arise in order to protect everyone.
spring 2022 |9B
Thursday, March 10, 2022
opinions
In memoriam: An ode to the people who move us
By Corrie McCroskey opinions@kykernel.com
At the end of January, I had the privilege of meeting and interviewing a man named Joe Graft. I needed a subject for our Humans of UK column, and a friend passed off his name and contact information to me. What I didn’t realize was how meeting Joe would have a lasting and profound effect on me. Around a week or two after I wrote the story and spent nearly an hour getting to know Joe, learning about his childhood, his passions and what he truly loved, Joe passed. It was sudden, in the early hours of the night. He was 76, but he was healthy and getting ready to enjoy retirement this coming spring. At first, I didn’t know what to do. I was sitting in a coffee shop when I got the text that he was gone. I sat in stillness; tears started to roll down my cheeks. I had my sketchpad with me, so I started to draw and express myself through the tip of my pen. By the end, I felt numb — in fact, I spent several days after trying to escape the numbness. Why, you may ask, was I suddenly emotional from the loss of a man who I hardly knew? A man who didn’t know I existed up until two weeks ago? And that’s the thing — though I had only just met Joe, I felt like I really knew him. Simply put, that is the power of journalism. Of storytelling. Of investing your time into other human beings so that you can create a shared and lasting bond even in the span of an hour. I truly believe that real, soulful, human connection is one of the single-most important parts of this life. Another part of losing Joe was realizing just how precious and short our time is. One moment I was interviewing Joe and smiling behind my mask at the fact
10B | kentucky kernel
CORRIE MCCROSKEY | STAFF Joe Graft poses for a portrait on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky.
that he had written notes before the interview so he could be prepared. Yet, in the next moment, the inspiring human being I had just gotten to know disappeared. Fast forward another week: I was sitting in the pews at Joe’s funeral. I listened to the stories his family told of him and his life. I watched the photos I’d taken play across the TV screens at the front of the room along with countless others that showed who Joe was. I hugged his daughter Chelsea and told her how amazing her father was. We
listened to a rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” and I cried the entire time. Then it was over. But the profoundness of my short time with Joe won’t ever be lost. Here he was, sitting in a building on the UK campus for almost 50 years, and no one ever told his story. It seemed surreal that finally his story was shared to the entire community and not a month later, he lets go. Joe’s passing was shocking, saddening and made me feel small, like I was
just one among many other infinite flecks of matter in the universe. But it also made me feel joy that I was able to give him one last gift before he left and touch the hearts of his loved ones. All of this to say: we need to love more, connect more and open our hearts to people we don’t know. Because who knows? Maybe, just maybe, we can learn something about someone, and they can teach us even more about ourselves. Godspeed Joe; you moved me, and I will never forget it.
Thursday, March 10, 2022
opinions
Beach, you kill my vibe:
Why the shell it’s overhyped By Morgan Luster opinions@kykernel.com
As spring break approaches, the beach dominates as the most popular hotspot for students to take time to unwind from their daily studies. While it’s an ideal place to de-stress, taking a trip to the beach is quite literally a salty experience. Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, taking family vacations to the beach out of state was one of the major highlights of my year. Spring break was a time to escape the treacherous weather to indulge in a change in scenery, and thus, climate. Nonetheless, as I grew older, my true love — the beach — eventually became my ex, as I avoided it any chance I got. Now, I see the beach for what it truly is: a salty, chaotic sandbox.
Whether it’s the sandy shores of Panama City Beach or the beautiful waters of Jamaica, the beach generates a mass of people each year around spring break. While these sound like lovely vacation spots, the reality is that almost everyone and their mom is there. When it comes to vacation, relaxing alone with family and friends is what comes to mind. Yet, the beach does not offer this type of luxury. Bottom line, it can turn from a place of relaxation to an overwhelming experience, as it gets way too congested for my liking. Generally, the only time the beach is not jam-packed is early in the morning or late at night. The last time I genuinely enjoyed the beach was a vacation I took with my family and friends to Punta Cana in 2014. Although it was overflowing with people
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from around the world, I still relished in the moment by making the most of it with the people I love. As a child, like many others, the beach was the ultimate scene where my vivid imagination ran wild. It was a place where you could transform into a mermaid as you hit the water or convert into a hermit crab by being buried in the sand. Even so, growing up has altered my imagination as my perspective on this once magical playground has shifted entirely. Besides the beach’s overcrowding, the sands are polluted with trash. As a kid, I loved going seashell hunting with my dad, as it was like searching for buried treasure. But we would often end up with fake booty, as we would mistake a bottle cap for a shell. Last but not least, the sand itself is the worst part of the whole experience. While
sand between the toes is an enjoyable sensation, it manages to sneak into other parts of the body that shall remain unnamed. After it is time to leave, one is left with the residue that is a pain in the butt to wash later, literally. Despite these downsides, the beach offers some positives, one being that it is either free or requires a small entry free. If individuals are looking for an inexpensive day out, the beach is a perfect fit. Additionally, I will admit that the beach is a great place to capture memories with loved ones to post on social media feeds. Although physically being at the beach is an undesirable experience, it does create a breathtaking layout for pictures. Regardless, the beach is simply overrated. With all things considered, at the end of the day, this Sally prefers to sell her seashells offshore.
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Thursday, March 10, 2022
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SGA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2B
shape or form for both tickets at the same time,” Sutherland said. Laws-Pace councilman Bill Devericks suggests that the Sutherland-Hudson campaign violated a Kentucky Revised Statute for hanging a poster on a permanent UK sign. Hudson stated that this claim only had merit if there was damage done to the sign, and since there was no change to the condition of the sign, the issue was irrelevant. Justice Chittenden warned the complainants to tread lightly with accusations of criminal mischief against the respondents. Childers' argument to substantiate the next claim hinged on another accusation of criminal mischief. He was met with blank stares from the justices. Childers and Devericks both said they felt they performed well at the hearing and were both just excited to gain some experience. It was Childers’ first time representing a client in a non-academic setting, and Devericks’ first time giving an oral argument. “I think the Supreme Court should be utilized more in terms of finding justice,” Devericks said. “I really trust our justices to do just that.” Laws said he felt the council did a great job presenting the facts and showing that Laws-Pace ran a fair campaign. Pace agreed, saying, “I’m
12B | kentucky kernel
proud that we were able to come out and support our beliefs and just follow the UK SGA guidelines and make sure that they were upheld throughout the election process.” Sutherland and Hudson, however, voiced their concern over the inner workings of the SGA. “I think a big thing is, the justices, they’re not necessarily biased in a public way, but I mean, one of the justices blatantly called Rachel Whitehouse a disgusting human being,” Sutherland said. Sutherland and Hudson requested for Turner to be expunged due to her “obvious distaste” for their witness. “We can’t state this in front of the court because it’s hearsay, but the judges are all law students. And a lot of these law students are great fans of Kamryn Stewart, the attorney general,” Sutherland said. “And a lot of them are friends with the Laws-Pace team.” Sutherland and Hudson said they hoped to win the presidential race to fix systemic issues within SGA. “We've been sitting here arguing because we want to honor the integrity of the election,” Hudson said. “This is us honoring SGA and how SGA is meant to represent every student on the University of Kentucky’s campus.” The claims and violations hearing was closed to the public at 1:24 a.m. on March 8. SGA shared a post via Instagram later that day declaring Laws and Pace as the official winners of the 2022 presidential election.
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