Kentucky Kernel: January 25, 2021

kentuckykernel

Monday, January 25, 2021 est. 1892 | Independent since 1971 www.kykernel.com

BACK FOR MORE

Students return with high hopes for semester|14

TESTING LOCATIONS PG. 2, VACCINE FEATURE PG. 12, NCAA TOURNEY PG.11

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DEAR MR. PRESIDENT

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CORNERSTONE, BUILDING BLOCK

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S(NO)W DAYS OFF?

Monday, January 25, 2021

news

COVID-19 testing on campus

Graphic by Piper Shaw

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Great campus area properties for rent for August 2021.

(859) 619-3232. kmartin.lex@gmail.com www.myuk4rent.com

Monday, January 25, 2021

LOOKING BACK, MOVING FORWARD

kentuckykernel

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

UK VACCINE CLINIC OPEN Kroger Field has found a new purpose this off-seaon: the central location for vaccine distrubition from UK, who is providing COVID-19 vaccines to K - 12 educatiors in Fayette County.

The clinic will operate six days a week and has the capacity for 2,000 shots a day, according to UK police chief Joe Monroe.

Monroe said they are vaccinating about 250 people an hour. Vacciations are offered by appointment only; those wishing to get a vaccine must request one through UK. Those requests will be filtered and people in top priority groups - those over 75, frontline workers and those with underlying conditions - will be invited to sign up for a time.

UK’s head pharmacist Philip Almeter said the number of invitations sent is based on how much vaccine UK is allocated by the state; for the next two weeks, they anticipate at least 8,000 doses. In the second week of February they expect around

20,000 to cover booster shots for those who have received their first shot.

According to UK’s vaccine webpage, students and employees will be sent an email with an invitation when vaccines are available and do not have to fill out the request form. Some staff and students have gotten vaccines from UK already, although the majority of shots on the first day went to K -12 employees and first responders.

UK does not have plans to open a drivethrough clinic because Almeter said it is not an efficient way to administer vaccines. Instead, Monroe said having the appointment is critical for avoiding long lines. One of the first stations at the clinic is an identity and appointment verification.

UK officials said 50,000 people requested vaccines when the form went live online, but that they don’t expect to have to cancel appointments because of system overlord since the sign-ups are filtered through UK’s IT service and require invites.

Recipients do not get to choose between the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.

MICHAEL CLUBB I STAFF A patient receives the vaccine during the opening of the COVID-19 vaccine clinic in the Central Bank Club on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky.

SENIOR CHARGED IN CAPITOL RIOT RELEASED ON BAIL Following federal charges filed on Jan. 16, UK student Gracyn Courtright appeared in United States District Court in West Virginia Jan. 19, 2021 in a first hearing.

A senior mathematical economics major, Courtright was charged with four violations of the law for her participation in the Capitol riot on Jan. 6. Surveillance footage cited by the FBI shows her carrying a “Members only” sign that led to a charge for theft of government property.

An arrest warrant for Courtright was filed by federal magistrate Zia Faruqui on Jan. 16 following the FBI criminal complaint.

Documents obtained by the Kernel through West Virginia court files describe the 20-minute hearing, which resulted in bail and release.

Courtright, who is from W. Va, waived her right to an identity and preliminary hearing, meaning that she acknowledged that she is the person named in the warrant and charging document.

Court minutes show that Courtright was appointed a public defender, Rhett Johnson. The prosecuting attorney, representing the United States, did not request detention for Courtright. According to court records, her current status is released.

Judge Dwane Tinsley ordered Courtright to be released on a $10,000 unsecured bond with conditions.

According to a conditional release order filed on Jan. 19, Courtright is restricted to the Southern District of West Virginia and the District of Columbia for court appearances.

Courtright must also surrender her passport to a probation officer and seek employment. She is prohibited from using alcohol and possessing a firearm.

At the direction of her probation officer, Courtright may be required to attend a counseling program. The probation officer can approve Courtright to travel outside of her restrictions in order to attend the University of Kentucky.

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

On the cover: MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF A sitting area near A Cup of Commonwealth coffee shop in the new Cornerstone building on the corner of S Limestone and Winslow St on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021, at The Cornerstone in Lexington, Kentucky.

JACK WEAVER | STAFF Madison Webster, a junior biology and neuroscience double major, loads a cart while moving in on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021, at University Flats in Lexington, Kentucky.

spring 2021 | 3

Monday, January 25, 2021

features

Letters to a new president from Lexington school children

By Sarah Michels features@kykernel.com

As a new administration officially begins its tenure, the nation shifts its eyes to the next four years. What will President Joe Biden do, and how well will he do it? Will he leave the U.S. better or worse than he found it?

Millions of American adults are not the only ones concerned and curious about the future under President Biden. Children also see, hear and worry about their country. As other outlets have, the Kernel decided to reach out to Fayette County elementary and middle schools to ask Lexington students some of the same questions.

These 32 letters from third to eighth grade students at Maxwell Spanish Immersion Elementary School and Edythe J. Hayes Middle School, written before Biden’s inauguration, offer insight into the younger generation’s hopes, fears and questions for the new president.

Many are concerned about their families - their siblings with special needs, their grandparents’ small business. The students are a microcosm of challenges our society faces, like the fourth grader who writes with a personal take on insulin availability, the sister whose brother has special needs. Some urge others to take masks and vacci-

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nations seriouly. Many of the letters showcase a necessary and timely point of view - an undaunted belief that things can get better, if we all do our part to make it so.

At some point, every generation’s adults forget what it was like to be a kid. They forget that they already understood much about the world and its problems, even at a young age. In a democracy like the United States, even young voices should be part of the conversation.

Young students care about the environment, especially the welfare of animals. They understand where climate change is leading us and the causes and effects of large-scale damage. They want to find solutions for the pandemic so they can go back to

school to learn and be with their friends. They worry; they have family who have gotten sick COVID-19.

They care about fixing racial and gender inequalities, homelessness and food insecurity issues.

They may not understand the economy quite yet, but they do notice the anger, disagreement and violence all around them in today’s polarized society.

Ruthie, a fifth grader from Maxwell, shows the importance of young voices in her letter.

“I know this is a letter written by a fifth grader to a president, and you may think of this as just another letter written to you, but really, this is a meaningful, handwritten letter, that I put all my work into for the past three weeks.”

President Biden, will

you bring the same effort and heart to your work

during the next four years to make the nation a better

place? The younger generation is counting on you.

MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF Young participants hold up signs during the annual Holiday Freedom March on Monday, Jan. 18, 2021, in Lexington, Kentucky.

My name is Josephine, but I go by Jojo. I live in Lexington, Kentucky and go to school at Maxwell. I have two sisters, a dog, and my mom and dad. I am half Filipino and half African American. My mom is a teacher and my dad is a manager for a healthcare group. I love horseback riding. I find it ironic that I live in Kentucky but not very close to horses. I love all animals. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic. I couldn’t go to 4-H camp with my classmates, or to the family and friends 4-H in the summer. I love to cook and bake with my family or even by myself.

The most important thing to me is that our country has good leaders.

My first concern is that we should provide homes for everyone. People that are homeless and on the streets can get COVID-19 as easily as people that do. They can spread it as easily as well. Some of them don’t have masks, either. That brings me to my next ocncern, mask distribution. So far it’s been great with cloth masks, but better with disposable ones. The disposable ones should be for healthcare workers. They need disposable masks when seeing multiple patients so they don’t spread it to other patients.

My last concern is space in hospitals. We should have enough room for every patient. If it’s COVID, a broken leg or a car accident, we should have the space. I was so happy when you chose Vice President Kamala Harris. A memory I will always have is when my mom was so happy she cried when you are officially going to be our next president and Kamala Harris our next vice president. I hope you are a good leader for our country.

Monday, January 25, 2021

features

Letters cont.

My name is Natalie. I am an eighth grader at Edith J. Hayes Middle School in Lexington, Kentucky. I am 13 years old and although I am unable to vote until 2025, I have several concerns about our country including unity, the economy, the COVID-19 global pandemic, and the survival of small and local businesses.

Of all these concerns, my greatest concern is the survival of local and independent businesses. My grandfather has owned a local pizzeria for the last 47 years, and due to the COVID-19 global pandemic he is struggling to keep his business open due to government mandated restrictions.

My question for you, Mr. President: what is your plan or vision to help small businesses survive during these challenging times.

Do you plan to lift government restrictions on seating capacity or provide small business owners with additional government stimulus money or forgivable loans?

The survival of small businesses is crucial to bring the economy back, and I would like to see you focus more on small businesses when you take office.

My grandfather has worked very hard 47 years building his restaurant business. And if you make this a priority in your presidency, small business owners across the country will not only be able to survive but will thrive under your administration.

My name is Chloe. I’m an eighth-grade student in Lexington, Kentucky. I love to play softball and swim and hope to go to an Ivy League college. Outside of sports I participate in orchestra, am a WEB leader, and I’m a member of the National Beta Club.

During your time as President I think it is important to eliminate sexism. As a female there are many things that are unequal based on gender. Some examples of this are sports facilities. In Lexington the boys have speakers, a surplus of batting cages, a playground and twice the amount of fields.

Another important issue is racism. Many ethnic groups have been a target for discrimination. For instance, Donald Trump repeatedly referred to COVID-19 as a “China virus.” According to the Pew Research Center, Black and Asian Americans are also more likely than their white and Hispanic counterparts to say they have been subject to slurs or jokes because of their race or ethnicity.

Education is an important way to eliminate sexism and racism. Education raises awareness. Involving social issues in the classroom can help expand people’s understanding of these subjects.

I am writing to you from Lexington, Kentucky to inform you about some problems that I’m really wanting to see solved. I am Alex, a fifth-grade student at Maxwell Elementary. I want to end 2020 on a high note so I would like to tell you about the problems animals are facing. Yes, I am an animal lover so I really need for you to pay attention. If you don’t mind let’s jump right into it.

My first and probably most important focus is the deforestation problem going on in the world right now. I am very passionate about this because the more we encroach on the animal’s habitat the further we push it to extinction. However, animals aren’t the only ones being harmed by this, They are losing their homes so they end up coming to ours, with some being potentially dangerous. This results in more and more human casualties each year.

Secondly, I am really concerned with the illegal pet trade. The animals forced into this trade are locked up in inhumane conditions and put through a grueling process of declawing and de-toothing so they will appeal more to customers. I think you should really persuade law enforcement to look into this. It is gruesome, and although illegal, not paid all that much attention to.

And lastly, poaching. I think there should be more restrictions on this because this may be the most widespread of these problems. I really don’t like it. And the black market? I want it shut down. It will be too big of a problem to be contained if we do not act soon. I am ready, but are you?

Finally, I think you should spread these concerns across the globe. These things are not only happening in the U.S. but all over the world too. I persuade you to put an end to it by passing this persuasion to other world leaders. And that’s my time.

I am Ruthie, a fifth grader at Maxwell Elementary in Lexington, Kentucky, I am here to tell you what I care about that our country needs.

I believe that citizens in our country need to understand one word - equity. I think that we have had barely any of equality and now we need lots of equity. For starters, in your first four years or more, you should pay more attention to those who need help. People of all different colors of skin, where they come from, need to be paid attention to. They get treated badly every day from people in our country, mostly white rich and wealthy men and women, and we need to put a stop to this.

Some more issues I would like you to focus on are the people who do not have any place to live.

During these hard times, you need to help them. They don’t have that much money food, water, houses, and they are struggling harshly. It would make our country better to be kinder and respectful.

These next four years I am worried that you will either be kind to our country or make things worse.

I am excited that if you make things better, it would be a brand new start. I know this is a letter written by a fifth grader to a president, and you may think of this as just another letter written to you, but really this is a meaningful handwritten letter that I put all my work into for the past three weeks. spring 2021 | 5

Monday, January 25, 2021

features

Letters cont.

My name is Caroline. My family is not like most; I have a brother with severe autism. This has affected my life in many ways, but I always want the best for him. I’m here to ask some questions as to what you will do to help kids like him get service and treated fairly.

I understand that our country is facing a pandemic. But I need for you to understand that people with special needs are getting left behind. I used to be worried for my brother’s future but now I am terrified. His therapy hours are drastically reduced and it shows.

Zoom doesn’t work well for my brother. He doesn’t understand that we have to do school over the computer, and it gets so hard for him to focus over Zoom. I see his communication skills and attention span go down more every day. All the skills he has worked so hard for are fading away since we don’t have the resources to help him. My brother has spent the last five years in school working hard to grow and without it we can’t imagine what life would be like. He is in third grade and repeated kindergarten just so he could be the best he can be.

Since learning online is so hard for him he’s having trouble learning subtraction and adding. We are working on him explaining to us what he wants and staying with us in public places instead of running away. My brother and everyone with a disability mean a lot to me and I want to do anything possible for them. Thank you so much for your time Mr. President. Please keep people with disabilities in your mind, not just through this pandemic but through your whole presidency.

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My name is Elana and I am a student at Maxwell Elementary in Lexington, Kentucky, I am in the fifth grade and will be beginning middle school next year. What I care about most is my family, friends and animals. I want only the best for everyone, and always try my hardest to look on the bright side. I go to a public school in Fayette County. I would be delighted as well as would be many others in my area, if you could help and support Fayette County to find a plan to reopen schools. Fayette County has been working very hard to have a plan, but I fear as well as many others, that they are struggling to find a plan that can work for such a big district. Please support Fayette County to reopen schools with a great plan, as well as all other counties that need your help.

Throughout this pandemic many lives have been lost. I know that I got very nervous when my father got COVID-19, but luckily now he is healthy again. I would like it if you could continue to support health care workers because they are heroes to everyone. Some citizens don’t have enough money to pay for health care, but I think they still deserve to have health care workers to help them. No matter what the United States should set a good example for everyone else in the world, which in that case we should help everybody in need. It would be the right thing to do.

Going back to the people who do not have as much others, we should consider helping them with donations and more. I have a very fortunate life, and I’m very thankful. We should help the less fortunate.

My last concern is that for animals. I fear that animals will go extinct and the wildlife will slowly fade away and eventually vanish. Why do I say wildlife will vanish? I say the wildlife will vanish because animals help keep the wildlife running and alive. And what would happen if one animal species went extinct? Their prey would start to increase in number. That species might start to overrun the earth. That is why we have the circle of life. Also, I believe that we are killing animals for unnecessary reasons. We need to be more careful about how much we use animals for our needs. We must remember that animals also need to have their needs met. So please help all of the animals.

I would appreciate it dearly if you could both look into all of my concerns and work toward developing programs initiatives funding and plans to tackle each of these areas of great need both for me personally and for the world around me. Thank you! “United we stand as the U.S.” My name is Evie. I am an eighth grader in Kentucky and I am and have been for a while worried about people’s rights being stripped away for them. For the past four years that Trump has been president, a lot of people were fearful and rightfully so. Ever since he was in office he has done more harm than good. That is why when I heard you were announced president my family, and what seemed like the rest of the world, were ecstatic. I have never seen so much joy and happiness that was expressed and all of it feels like good will happen again. For a long time I was losing hope in our country. It used to be a symbol of freedom and justice, but all I ever see are the many lies and hatred it has underneath. But hope came into my life again after seeing how you handled things when those people rioted at the Capitol. I knew you were a president. You did and said things in that one speech that sounded more presidential than what Trump has been doing for the past four years. I am not afraid of LGBT+ or women’s and other rights being taken away anymore because of you, after seeing how much you cared about our rights. I shouldn’t have to worry about my rights being taken away at 13, or any age.

So thank you, you have restored my hope. I want to celebrate my country, not hate it. You have made me love it again. Maybe I can stand up at the anthem and put my hand over my heart once again. But even though you have restored my hope, I will still kneel because there is still much that I will not stand for - a lot that maybe you could try to fix, or at least make better. Until then, thank you.

Monday, January 25, 2021

features

Letters cont.

My name is Mwamini and I’m in eighth grade. I care the most about how I spend my time here on Earth because there are so many distractions here on earth that make you waste your time.

Life is too short. During your four years I want you to live selflessly. What I mean by that is you taking your time to help people out, not just by donating but by stretching out your hand to help the homeless person you pass by every day. Issues you should focus on is what we put inside our minds in school. Teachers should be respectful and helpful towards students. The things we learn should be something that would be applied in our lives.

That should be able to help the people of world who don’t have their basic needs, and then also knowing things more important than finding the area of a circle.

If you don’t mind, why did you become president? Is there anything you have to hide being a president? What are you most concerned about during the next four years? Have you noticed how quickly time has gotten? A minute now feels like 45 seconds. I would just like to tell you to never stop loving. Love is the foundation of all things. For example if our ancestors never loved they would all be dead and nothing would prosper. Continue to help this country.

How are you, are you doing fine? I guess not because of all the stress from your job, but for now let’s focus on me, yes? So first you should know my name and that would be Matthew. Yes I know it’s not a special one or anything but it’s okay. I am also in grade eight at the time. As cheesy as it sounds, I love doing computer stuff! Anything really. Alright, enough about me let’s focus on you and what we would want for you.

So one thing I would want you to do is make it easier to have access to the internet. I’m not sure how but if you could, I would be so happy. I feel like you should also focus on getting that out there. Let’s think about this, there are so many people in need of help and where do we get most of our help? Off the internet! And then think about the homeless or poor people. We need to get them internet. Maybe it will help them go farther and have more of a chance to even survive.

I am very nervous that the world will go into a blackout, at least the USA. If you think about it, the USA is in shambles right now.

And we need to help it to fix it so just maybe, just maybe you’d be able to help me, us, everyone. And I’m very excited about getting HBO Max! Sorry, I just wanted to say that!

MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF Young participants hold up signs during the annual Holiday Freedom March on Monday, Jan. 18, 2021, in Lexington, Kentucky.

My name is Marlena and I am in fifth grade. I’m very excited for the next four years for personal reasons, and that I believe you that you will be a very good president. A concern I have is the importance of masks. Recently in our class we created an opinion piece about masks. I chose to write about the benefits of masks and why they’re useful. During your four years as president I hope that you will lead by example. I find that seeing my parents and other people around me wearing masks has changed my opinion about them. My mother and step-father follow politics very closely, so I have learned quite a bit about different kinds of leaders.

In my opinion I think that you’ll be very good leader and I’m very excited about these next four years.

My name is Sam. I am in third grade. I Live in Lexington, Kentucky. Congratulations on winning the election. I am writing to you about three things I would like to see change.

First, I would like to go back to school in a safe way. Zoom doesn’t work very well at sometimes. It is hard to concentrate. I miss my friends.

Next, I would like to see less litter and less pollution in the oceans. I like going to the beach, but it is not fun with trash everywhere. I like fishing and if there is trash in the sea animals will die and there will be no fish to catch.

Finally, I would like to see fewer families that don’t have enough food. I wish that you would give money to organizations that feed people that don’t have enough. I would like you to continue having schools give food for people under 18. I hope soon there will be less people without enough food. I hope you use the ideas. I hope you represent our country well. spring 2021 | 7

Monday, January 25, 2021

news

New facility opens doors at corner of tech and creativity

By Haley Blackburn news@kykernel.com

As students return to campus for the spring semester, they return to find UK’s newest facility up and running.

“Soft opened” just before the end of the fall semester, the Cornerstone building on S. Limestone adds 900 parking spaces to an existing parking garage.

But that’s not all the new space has to offer.

One of the most anticipated aspects of the building is a new student food hall, the Cornerstone Exchange. Currently, five vendors are lined up to operate in the space: A Cup of Common Wealth cafe, Rolling Oven mobile pizzeria, Miyako Sushi and Steakhouse, Selma’s and Ethereal Brewing. Ethereal Brewing will become the first alcohol vendor on UK’s campus.

“As a place meant to embrace community connections and layer a variety of programming spanning campus and community, we saw an opportunity to bring a new kind of experience to campus,” UK executive director for strategic analysis and policy Melody Flowers said in regards to UK’s first alcohol vendor.

Notably, all five of the vendors are local businesses.

“Cornerstone Exchange, operated by our private partner Signet,

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will focus exclusively on local and regional retailers,” Flowers said. “Not only does this support our community, but also offers a unique experience for our customers.”

A Cup of Common Wealth opened last November, while other vendors are expected to open throughout the rest of January and into February.

According to the Cornerstone Exchange website, Signet is still looking to add to their list of vendors.

Students will not be able to use their meal plan at The Cornerstone food hall, but vendors will be accepting UK Plus.

Much of the rest of the 23,000 foot building is the “Innovation Space”, the space between the food hall and esports area of the building, available for students and the community to use.

It features lounge areas, collaborative workspaces, conference rooms and an outdoor patio wrapping around the building.

The area is full of moveable, lego-like furniture that can be shaped to serve multiple purposes.

The Cornerstone will also be available as an event venue for those outside of the UK community, with events like live music expected to become a regular use of the space in the future. While there are no events currently scheduled at The Cornerstone,

MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF The Cornerstone Exchange sign is on display outside the new Cornerstone building on the corner of S Limestone and Winslow St on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021, at The Cornerstone in Lexington, Kentucky.

students can check back at https://www.exchangeatuk. com/events throughout the semester to see what kind of events may come up.

Perhaps the most promoted part of Cornerstone is the new esports facilities.

The UK Federal Credit Union esports lounge houses 50 PC gaming stations equipped with high-end names in the gaming industry such as Alienware gaming technology and Secret Lab gaming chairs. Anyone, not just students, can walk in and use them. The

facilities also have three communal console gaming areas, one each for XBOX, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch.

An esports theater, also sponsored by UK Federal Credit Union, can seat 100 - enough to host a six vs. six esports tournament, as well as speakers and presenters.

In recent years UK has expanded its involvement in esports, promoting clubs and adding classes focused on the industry. At over $34 million, Cornerstone is the

realization of a corporate partnership with Gen. G, an esports organization worth billions.

Esports club president Thomas Bailey said that while this space is worth a lot in monetary value, it means more than anything to him and the members of his club.

“The university’s support has been incredible, and the club couldn’t be more thankful for it,” Bailey said. “Not only have they provided us with opportunities to

grow as gamers, but they have given us the chance to develop in esports professionally and academically.”

Bailey said he also looks forward to the opportunities that the space holds for people who may not already be involved with esports.

“While the new gaming space offers much in terms of competition facilitation, what I’m most looking forward to is its ability to bring together See CORNER on page 9

Monday, January 25, 2021

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gamers from all corners of UK. Many gaming students on campus lack a space to be able to meet others with this same interest, and I’m really excited to see how this space alleviates that,” Bailey said.

Aside from esports, the theater will also be used for classes of different size and subject.

“There will be a variety of courses that cover a range of topics and are offered by multiple colleges that meet in the innovation and esports spaces,” Flowers said. “The size of the course will vary, but we can host everything from small studio courses to larger formats.”

UK’s investment into Cornerstone and esports is a key part of UK’s Smart Campus Initiative, which aims to incorporate innovative technology into all aspects of a university, such as giving iPads to all incoming freshmen.

Part of the Smart Campus application to Cornerstone is the digital media wall, a 55 feet tall sign that UK says will showcase topical art from the community.

UK is currently accepting art submissions based on these two themes: “Black Lives in the Bluegrass” and “Kentucky Confronting Covid-19.”

For the Black lives category, UK suggesst “photographs of protests, scans of posters, images of murals, portraits of black leaders, and works that point to a more just future.”

And for the COVID-19 tribute UK suggests work

that might include “portraits of essential workers, scenes of daily life under quarantine, and illustrations that capture moments of togetherness despite the necessity of social distance, among other possibilities.”

Ten $1,000 awards, 5 per category, will be awarded to those artists who are chosen for one of the following awards: UK Student Award, UK Faculty & Staff Award, Kentucky Community Award for people who are not a part of the UK community or staff, Equity & Inclusion Award limited to artists of color who entered and a People’s Choice Award chosen by an online vote.

Artists who are interested in having their art appear on the 55’ by 28’ wall can find details on the competition online. The submission deadline is Feb.28.

The university is also using Cornerstone as a meeting place for those who wish to make changes in the community through the Campus Community Connection. This program will allow local non-profits to use the Cornerstone to facilitate innovative programming for their causes as well as interact with students and others on campus to create engagement with their work.

UK has selected Believing In Forever, Inc., a local non-profit that focuses on encouraging young people to explore leadership positions through their talents, as the first Community Innovation Partner to take part in the program.

Believing In Forever will work in conjunction with two other local non-profits, Black Soil and Operation Making a

MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF The “innovation space” is now open in the new Cornerstone building on the corner of S Limestone and Winslow St on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021, at The Cornerstone in Lexington, Kentucky.

Change, to form the first ever Campus Community Connection group. Black Soil is an organization focused on reconnecting Black Kentuckians to their agricultural roots, and Operation Making a Change focuses on helping at-risk youth in the court system.

The Campus Community Connection “will focus on inequality, injustices and communities of color in Lexington,” Amanda Royer with UK Service-Learning and Civic Engagement said in a UKNow press release.

Royer said the group of organizations plans to combat these issues by focusing on three key areas: creating

spaces for youth to express themselves, food insecurity, and youth mentorship.

“Believing in Forever plans to continue their work of allowing youth to express themselves using art as a platform to enhance leadership and raise awareness of social and racial injustices in Kentucky. Soil will address food insecurities for community members, particularly those in the East and West ends of Lexington. Operation Making a Change plans to continue mentoring and providing trauma-informed care for youth grades six12,” Royer said.

MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF A car passes by the new Cornerstone building on S Limestone on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021, in Lexington, Kentucky.

spring 2021 | 9

Monday, January 25, 2021

sports

Can the Cats make the NCAA Tournament as an at-large?

By Braden Ramsey sports@kykernel.com

After starting the season at 1-6, the Kentucky Wildcats are fighting for a berth in the NCAA tournament – a rarity for the storied program.

Now at 4-9 following a last-second loss to Georgia, the men’s team is on the brink of needing an SEC Tournament title to make the big dance, if it’s not already necessary.

Where Kentucky currently stands At the moment, the Wildcats are not on the NCAA Tournament radar. Neither Joe Lunardi of ESPN nor Jerry Palm of CBS have them in their “Next Four Out” category, which represents the projected No. 2 seeds in the NIT. But with Kentucky at five games below .500 – Cal’s first dip to that level since 1988 – the low projections for the Cats aren’t surprising.

Only one of 35 projections surveyed by the Bracket Matrix shows Kentucky making the tourney, listed behind more than 20 teams in the overall “bubble” on the compilation site. If the season ended today, Kentucky would not be chosen; the lone selection is contingent on fully turning the season around.

But righting the ship might not be enough to hit the heights needed to qualify.

10 | kentucky kernel

Baselines for NCAA Tournament inclusion College teams are only allowed a maximum 27 regular season games this year, instead of the normal 31. Instead of wins and losses, winning percentages are more helpful to look at for this unusual season.

Previously, the lowest winning percent of a power conference team to make the tournament as an atlarge was .563, for Arizona in 2008 and Michigan State in 2011.

The lowest RPR, a metric used before the creation of the NET, for an at-large team was 67 for USC in 2011, per CBS. What does Kentucky have to do to get into consideration?

The answer is simple, but the execution has been anything but so far this year: win. Kentucky is slated to play 25 game; cancellations with Detroit and South Carolina have yet to be rescheduled.

For the Cats to achieve a winning percentage of .560, they’d need to finish the regular season 1411 overall. They would need to win 10 of their final 12 games. If the two postponed match-ups are rescheduled, Kentucky would have to win 12 of 14 to hit over the .560 mark with a 16-11 record.

Kentucky currently ranks 93rd in the NET, one spot higher than they were

MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF Kentucky Wildcats players walk over to head coach John Calipari during the University of Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt men’s basketball game on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. Kentucky won 77-74.

before losing to Georgia, but still not nearly high enough at-large consideration. Richmond – who owns a head-to-head victory over Big Blue – is 50th in the NET, but in both Lunardi’s and Palm’s “First Four Out” in their latest bracket projections.

The Wildcats usually make the tournament with plenty of room to spare, but they’ve hindered the margin they have down the stretch. Depending on the opponent, a loss in their first conference tournament game could prove disastrous depending on the opponent. They will likely have to make the semifinals in Nashville – in addition to

winning more than twice as many games as they have so far – to feel somewhat comfortable.

How is 10-2 (or 12-2) record and a semifinal appearance in the SEC Tournament a comfort?

I’m not saying it’s likely or even plausible that Kentucky can pull off something of that magnitude.

The last three games are as a big an indication as any.

But if the Cats were able to, they’d have picked up some absolutely massive wins along the way.

Each of Kentucky’s next six opponents are in the top-45 of the KenPom rankings, another highly

valued metric for tournament. Three of them (Texas, Alabama, Tennessee) are in the top 12 of both KenPom and NET. LSU and Missouri, both within the next six games, are 23rd and 25th in the NET. If the Cats only lose twice in those six games, they will have picked up three Quadrant 1 victories, the victories that count the most in the NET. They’re currently a combined 2-8 against Quad 1 and Quad 2 foes, so more than doubling that amount in five games would be massive boost.

But more than strong wins, the Cats have to avoid weak losses (Quads 3 and 4). They’ve suffered

only one as of now from Notre Dame, but losing to Georgia (100th in the NET) didn’t help.

There are only two opponents Kentucky’s schedule who fall into those Quads, Vanderbilt and Texas A&M. If the Cats fall to the Aggies or Commodores, wins in their biggest opportunities would be all for naught, so those two games are must wins.

The Cats face a steep climb for a chance at their elusive ninth banner, even if they can make it into the tournament. But the good news for fans is that the road ahead is filled with opportunity – the Cats just have to take advantage.

Monday, January 25, 2021

opinions

By Natalie Parks editor@kykernel.com

Forget toothbrushes in the fridge, ice down the toilet or spoons under pillows: even if these rituals worked to make it snow, the University of Kentucky has decided we won’t be having snow days.

“Students enrolled in online classes (or hybrid classes whose schedule for the day of closure or delay was to be virtual or online) would continue course work and meetings virtually, regardless of an emergency closure,” says the university’s inclement

Give us full snow days

weather plan. Please, no.

We need snow days this semester; the potential of having a day off is a balm for the burnout of students and faculty alike.

We are not recovered from a trying fall semester. We got little rest over winter break as COVID-19 worsened across the country - not to mention a riot on our nation’s Capitol that we saw unfold in real time, and invoked stress, fear and panic. We need meaningful rest more than ever.

Unfortunately, the spring semester offers few days off for a mental health break. Because the semes-

ter was pushed back (an absolutely correct decision), we do not have a Monday off in January like normal.

Because spring break was cancelled (an absolutely correct and necessary decision), we will not have a week off mid-semester.

Without snow days, there is no chance for a respite, even though our stresses will only be compounded by class.

Attending college during a pandemic is incredibly hard. We are juggling a pandemic, political turmoil, dubious employment situations, racial injustice, uncertain futures

and all the anxieties of our “normal” lives.

Mentally, we’re exhausted.

Emotionally, we’re strung out. Allowing snow days for everyone would give us a chance at a break, however brief, and still take less time than normal breaks.

The University of Kentucky only needs snow days once or twice a year; less than what we would get off for spring break, and they may not even be used.

There is a large chance the UK would not even need to invoke snow day policy - so there is little reason to take them away.

Furthermore, the current plan for snow days is unfair. In-person classes would be cancelled, while online classes are expected to continue. This creates a hierarchy among students.

Imagine being stuck on Zoom listening to a lecture while one’s roommates plan a movie marathon in the living room, and extend some empathy to the lone student left out in the cold.

And, requiring online classes to continue while in-person are cancelled punishes students for choosing online courses. Many did so because of the very real danger of

COVID-19, and forcing them to go to class while in-person students are free to relax could easily be seen as punishing students who don’t want to be in-person and rewarding those who do, a dangerous dichotomy.

Additionally, the current inclement weather plan makes little allowance for the technical difficulties posed by said inclement weather.

“Utility outages local to the employee who is working remotely are not a reason to use emergency closing leave.

See SNOW on page 16

Save a life. Get a shirt, $5 Starbucks gift card, and McDonald’s coupon. Beat Florida. Donate blood!

STAFF FILE PHOTO Students and members of the campus community take part in the tradition of sledding in front of William T. Young Library into a sledding slope on January 16, 2018.

Lewis Honors College January 25–29 10am–5pm

Buell Armory January 25 6am–3pm

Patterson Hall January 26–28 10am–5pm

January 29 10am–5pm

spring 2021 | 11

Monday, January 25, 2021

news

By Natalie Parks

Surprise.

Confusion.

Relief, then elation.

These are the emotions that those chosen by UK to receive the COVID-19 vaccine cycled through upon learning they would get the shot.

“I was so excited that I couldn’t understand so I just stopped. I had to drink some water, breathe and read it again so that I could actually comprehend what I was reading. And I remember just immediately wanting to text my husband in tears,” said Dr. Isabel Escobar, a professor in the chemical engineering department at UK. On Jan. 13, UK sent emails to a select number of faculty, staff and students inviting them to make an appointment to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

Many got it that same day at one of several temporary locations (within a week UK would open its centralized vaccine clinic at Kroger Field).

Escobar was one of the first faculty to receive her vaccine on Jan. 13 and said she spent much of the morning before her shot crying from relief and excitement.

Tears are not an uncommon reaction to what many call “a shot of hope”; Dr. Sylvie Garneau-Tsodikova, a professor of pharmaceutical sciences, said she cried tears of joy getting her vaccine.

“It’s so many people, scientists, have worked to develop this vaccine in a man in a timely fashion and that is incredible. And just

12 | kentucky kernel

Behind every shot, a story this pandemic, to be able to try to combat it and do our little part right as individual by taking the vaccine that has been developed. It was an overwhelming moment,” Garneau-Tsodikova said.

After a year of the COVID-19, getting vaccinated against the disease that has upended our lives is not only a matter of public health, but an act that highlights each person’s personal pandemic story.

For Escobar, the ease with which she was vaccinated brought up the struggle of getting her parents, 88 and 73, vaccinated.

They live in Florida, where a chaotic vaccine rollout has officials scrambling. Escobar spent an hour on the phone with them in December to get their information and answer a complex questionnaire. Fortunately, she was able to sign them both up and they got their first doses on Jan. 12, 2021.

“There is still the whole logistic of how I was going to be able to see them because I have asthma and fairly severe asthma. So how are we going to make that happen?” Escobar said. Little did she know, the next day she would receive her own vaccine and her family could start a countdown to seeing each other again.

Garneau-Tsodikova said that as a member of the College of Pharmacy she feels it is important to lead by example.

“It’s not time to just go back and pretending that nothing is happening. I ha-

Dr. Isabel Escobar, a professor in UK’s College of Engineering, receives her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine through the faculty outreach in mid-January. “Side effects: slightly sore arm and A LOT OF HOPE!!!” wrote Dr. Escobar on Twitter after receiving her first dose on Jan. 13, 2021. Photo provided by Escobar.

ven’t seen my family since Christmas 2019,” Garneau-Tsodikova said. “At some point I would love to go, but I will wait until the pandemic is done. I think to me what’s more important what I hope more with the vaccine is that healthcare providers and healthcare professionals will be able to get to the real break sooner rather than later.”

Her college and students have been a core part of UK’s vaccine efforts and COVID response.

“I’ve seen my colleagues work tremendously during this whole pandemic, and they’ve been terrif-

ic in helping like with the hand sanitizer and helping with the vaccine,” Garneau-Tsodikova said.

Those in healthcare colleges are not the only ones paying their vaccine good forward. Jannell McConnell Parsons, a graduate student and instructor in the English department at UK, has signed up to participate in a study on how vaccines impact nursing mothers.

“My daughter was born during the pandemic, and I am still nursing. So I’m really excited to get the vaccine for that reason, too, I’m hoping to be able to

pass on some passive antibodies to her, because she’s not able to get them yet,” McConnell Parsons said.

She received the vaccine on Jan. 13, which she called “surreal.”

“It’s been forever that we’ve been in this mess.

The vaccine at this point is the only way out,” McConnell Parsons said.

History proves that vaccines can bring a disease to heel, a lesson that journalism professor Scoobie Ryan has witnessed firsthand.

Ryan was five when the polio vaccine came out; until then, her family

did everything possible to avoid the disease that gave her uncle, Jack, a life-long limp. Neither Ryan nor her siblings were allowed to play outside, and she still remembers how quickly her family took advantage of the new vaccine.

“When they announced it was available, we walked up to the high school. And they had these tables, filled with little plastic lines […] and they had sugar cubes in them. Vaccine was squirted on them and they didn’t keep records, they didn’t do anything. It was, ‘get in line.

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Monday, January 25, 2021

news STORY CONTINUED FROM PAGE

Get a sugar cube,’” Ryan described. “My uncle Jack was one of the volunteers passing them out. And I remember my daddy just cried, he was so relieved.

They looked at it like, I’m not going to lose my kids because people at that time were still dying.”

That experience made Ryan a life-long believer in vaccines. Now, she urges everyone who is eligible to sign up for a vaccine.

“If anyone gets an email that says ‘do you want it?’, jump on it. Make your appointment and go, because it’s not like there’s lots of it lying around out there,” Ryan said. She has left her house less than 10 times since March. Though the isolation has been difficult, she plans to stay inside still.

“I’m going to be super cautious. Super cautious because I just know how easy it is to contract this.

I know a couple of former students have gotten it,” Ryan, who also serves as the director of the School of Journalism and Media, said.

Garneau-Tsodikova affirmed that people should not let their guard down just because vaccines are available.

“It’s not because we’re getting the vaccine that we should stop masking up, it’s not because we’re getting the vaccine that we should stop social distancing. It’s important to keep all the precaution until we’ve combated this pandemic.”

Still, the vaccine offers hope to UK employees that they can move forward and one day, back to normal.

Escobar, who is conducting research on COVID-19 and masks, said she has three students whose faces she has never seen.

“The other day I saw one of them a Zoom without a mask. And I looked at

him and I said ‘oh my gosh you have a beard, and I had no idea you had a beard,” Escobar said. She hopes that vaccines will get us to a point where “you’re not scared of being around people and people are not scared of being around you.”

UK’s vaccine process was commended by many; Ryan called it “amazingly simple” and “absolutely impressive.”

The initial rollout confused some. The email iwas tagged UK Healthcare, so recipients were initially confused on if the invite was meant for them.

“I thought ‘this is a mistake, but I’m going to sign up, and if they tell me no well, that’s fine but I signed up,’” Ryan said.

UK soon clarified that yes, the invite was real and yes, non-healthcare employees can get the vaccine.

I didn’t expect to be invited to get it so quickly,” said Ren Young, a sopho-

MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF Pharmacists prepare doses of the COVID-19 vaccine during the opening of UK’s clinic in the Central Bank Club at Kroger Field on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, in Lexington, KY.

more computer science major. “I figured it would be a few months before I could get it as a young person with no health issues. But I was also excited. It’s a big step forward and it makes me feel like I can be a little safer.”

Escobar, who gets notifications for each update from UK, said she knew the vaccines were coming to staff but didn’t expect it to happen quite so fast, just two days after Capilouto’s announcement that plans were in the works.

“It said that the email might go to the junk folder, so to always pay attention and look into the junk folder. Literally after reading that I went through my junk folder and I looked at every single email for the of the past couple of weeks to make sure that it wasn’t there,” Escobar said.

Others, like McConnell Parsons, heard about the vaccines for UK employees on social media first and then found their invite in their inbox.

When the confusion over the invite faded, some recipients found it replaced with guilt.

“I hate that it got offered to me and not to some of my colleagues. The tricky part is that it’s been unclear, there hasn’t been a lot of transparency on why the invites went out to who they went to today. I understand it’s a huge complex process. At this point, maybe the most important thing is to just get the vaccines in many arms as possible we don’t want the vaccines to go to waste,” McConnell Parsons said.

Young said they felt like they were cutting in line, especially with friends whose parents are edu-

Dr. Sylvie Garneau-Tsodikova, a professor of pharmaceuatical science at UK, took a picture after getting her first dose of the vaccine on Jan. 13, 2021. “I might only be 1 person, but I’ll do all I can to protect others!” she wrote on Twitter. Photo provided by Garneau-Tsodikova.

cators and had not gotten their vaccine yet.

“I think that’s part of why I was so confused as to why I got it I got the email about it. I figured there was a lot more people ahead of me, that should be getting in first,” Young said.

Young works in horticulture research at UK, which may be why they qualified.

UK had said they would prioritize employees in healthcare colleges, research settings, frontline positions and those over 65. However, not everyone who received the vaccine fell under those categories and some were unsure why they were selected.

“I am old,” Ryan said.

“But I have no idea what the criteria was, and I don’t think I was the oldest person in line. There were other people who may have been around my age, but there were a lot of younger people.”

G a r n e a u - Ts o d i k o v a

does research but does not teach in-person. Escobar thinks her in-person classes and health condition might be why she was chosen for the vaccine.

“Asthma is not one of the top underlying conditions. It’s kind of one of the secondaries, but I fall into the severe asthma category. So I don’t know if that’s played a role, but the teaching, definitely,” Escobar said.

McConnell Parsons said she doesn’t know why she was selected because she is teaching online only.

“I know at least one other person who got the email at the same time as me is also signed up to teach online,” she said. “So that doesn’t seem to be the reason.”

McConnell Parsons added that she hopes UK is more transparent about who is getting vaccines moving forward.

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spring 2021 | 13

Monday, January 25, 2021

news

Back for more with high hopes, say students returning to campus Natalie Parks & Jack Weaver

It was a long six weeks.

When students left campus at the end of last semester - most just before Thanksgiving - they still had to contend with finals week. Then, they faced down an unusually long winter break, lengthened to accomodate an expected (and born out) surge of COVID-19 cases following the holidays.

“I’m really excited about being back,” said Shelby Brown. “It’s a nice relaxing place for me to be to do my schoolwork. And I just do better here than I would at home.”

Students began moving back into dorms on Jan. 22, with several thousand pouring back into a campus chillier than when they left it. Move-in was once again by appointment to encourage social distancing, and many students came without parental help.

Brown, a freshman finance major, said she did not expect UK to make major changes for the spring since COVID-19 cases have been so high.

But some students say they are hoping that campus will open up more by the end of the semester.

“I was hoping that we’d be have a little bit more freedom, like the Johnson Center. I hope I could go there and play basketball again,” said Matthew

14 | kentucky kernel

Graviss, a finance major.

He spent his break traveling to Florida.

Graviss already had COVID-19 so he is less worried for his personal health this semester.

“Plus my girlfriend got vaccinated, so I feel good about it, but I am a little nervous about COVID-19 in general,” Graviss said.

UK is vaccinating some students along with faculty and staff. Though they have not released data on how many students have been vaccinated, the university expects to offer vaccinations to students through its COVID-19 vaccine clinic at Kroger Field.

Administrators have said they do not plan to require the COVID-19 vaccine for students.

According to the vaccine webpage, students and employees do not have to take additional steps to sign up for a vaccine and will receive an invitation when they come up in the queue.

Some faculty have expressed hopes that this could lead to a return to in-person instruction sooner rather than later.

UK student Bryan Vance had hopes that by summer, the mask mandate would no longer be necessary, which he realizes won’t happen. He said he is not going to change his habits much from fall.

“The first semester I was pretty isolated. The

JACK WEAVER | STAFF Bryan Vance, a materials engineering major, loads a cart to move in on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021, at Woodland Glen III in Lexington, Kentucky.

only worries I had were at work, and I feel like their guidelines are pretty comfortable. I’m not too worried,” Vance said.

Like other students, he wants more in-person classes.

“I had two classes last semester that were in-person and I felt like I did a lot better and was able to connect with my professor and get more out of the material,” Vance said.

Unlike in the fall, students had the opportunity

to choose their course modality for spring clas-ses.

Modality for the fall was assigned over the summer as UK prepared for its first full semes-ter during the pandemic, but students pick classes in mid-spring before anyone knew university operations would change do drastically. This time around, students had the chance to know modality before signing up – but some students found they still couldn’t get the in-person clas-ses they wanted.

“I picked as many in-person as I possibly could. But I only managed to get one class that was in-person,” said Luke Gilland, a first year engineering student. The same happened to Brown.

“The classes I took, all of the sections that were in person were full, so I was kind of stuck with the online model,” Brown said.

Students like neuroscience and biology major Madison Webster are fighting to get in-person credit

for practical courses like labs and experiential learning.

“It’s really hard to do labs online but the rest of them I just been sticking online as to limit my exposure other people,” Webster said.

Brown and others said they feel like they learn better in-person and know many of their peers struggle to stay focused during online classes.

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Monday, January 25, 2021

news SCHOOL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

This spring semester differs from most with the signifanct absence of spring break. UK administrators made the choice to pull the week-long break from the calendar because any travel would spread COVID-19 on and off campus.

“I’m okay with it because I don’t think people should really be traveling right now anyways. And also, that means we got to come back later than a lot of others,” Webster said.”And also, that means we get to come back a lot later than a lot of others,” WebSter said.

Many students agree but fear the mental health effects of a long semester with little time off.

“I really think this can

be hard for a lot of college students,” Brown said. “I know personally I need a mental break every now and then. And I think without the spring break, it’ll be kind of hard to make it through.”

The fall took a lot out of students, but with one pandemic semester they hope they can adjust better for the spring.

“I felt comfortable and then when we got to around fall break, what would have been right after midterms, I started getting a little antsy, feeling kind of drained.

It was hard to go straight through the semester like that. So this semester I’m expecting it, so hopefully I’ll be able to cope with that better,” Vance said.

Students hope that COVID-19 cases among students decrease this semester.

“I think Capilouto is doing a really good job about it and I think honestly think cases will go down,” Graviss said.

In the fall, UK reported just under 3,000 cases among students from the first to last day of class.

As of Jan. 21, UK reported 117 active cases among UK students through its reentry testing program.

UK students were required to be tested when they returned to campus or between Jan. 14 and Jan. 31. Like the fall semester, testing may be required of any student at any point during the semester and testing sites will remain open and free for students.

“I think they’re doing a pretty good job because they have a lot of testing centers and it’s really easy to sign up for a test,” Web-

ster said of UK. “I think they’re doing a good job of like not having visitors and residence halls.”

COVID tests for students are availble in three on campus locations: inside the Blue Box Theatre in the student center, inside K-Lair of Haggin Hall and drive-through in the Blue Lot at Kroger Field. Sympomatic students should be tested at University Health Services.

Webster said she expects cases to go up at first, but hopefully everyone will be smart and avoid parties so cases go down.

“I’ve visited other universities and I’d say UK is the best I’ve seen at following the mask mandate,” Gilland said.

Overall, students expressed relief at returning to campus.

“I’m really excited, es-

pecially to see my friends because I haven’t seen them in like two months, and I’m excited because I’m supposed to have at least one in-person class so I’ll get to get out of my apartment,” Webster said.

Out-of-staters like Vance are readjusting to guidelines in Kentucky.

“I come from West Virginia so the guidelines here are a little bit more progressive, but they’ve kind of met,” Vance said. “There was a larger gap earlier on, and how strict it was in Kentucky vs. West Virginia, but I feel like now it’s pretty similar it’s about. “ Kentucky’s positivity rate is hovering just above 10 percent, with most counties in the red zone.

Lexington’s seven-day average for new cases is around 200, according to the health department.

Still, case numbers are showing a tentative downward trend across the state.

This is good news for students hoping to remain on campus; UK maintained an in-person presence through the whole fall semester despite contributing up to 20 percent of Lexington’s cases. Student case numbers jumped following holidays, like Labor Day and Halloween. The spring semester offers fewer seasonal traditions like that but does include an academic holiday on March 26.

Students will once again have a 16-week semester, with classes beginning on Monday, Jan. 25 and finals week concluding on May 14. But the end of the school year is far from students minds during movein as they prep for one thing: class to be back in session.

JACK WEAVER | STAFF A UK student pushes a cart into Woodland Glen III during move in on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021, in Lexington, Kentucky.nerstone in Lexington, Kentucky.

spring 2021 | 15

Monday, January 25, 2021

opinions SNOW CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

Instead, supervisors should discuss with employees what work they can do during the (hopefully short) period of utility outage, how to flex the schedule later in the work week, and availability of applicable leave,” reads an email sent to university employees in December. Given the thousand and one things that go wrong with Zoom, Wi-Fi and remote work on a normal day, more leniency for utility outages on snow days is necessary. It wouldn’t be a problem if everyone had the day off anyway.

What would you prefer: the small possibility of missing at most a few days instruction, days that would give students and staff a much-needed break, show equitable treatment of course modality, save everyone from dealing with near-certain faulty connec-

STORY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

“I hope that it’s getting offered, not just to faculty and staff and instructors, but that it’s getting offered to employees as well, because they’ve been the ones who have been in person this whole time,” she said.

Not all students who were vaccinated meet the criteria, but vaccinating students can help with overall case load.

“When students return to campus, there are a large number of them, they tend to live in close proximity to each other and tend to be very mobile and active in our communities and

16 | kentucky kernel

tions and demonstrate understanding and empathy from the university - or, remove all chance of snow days by holding onto a policy that would discriminate between course modalities and run students and faculty into the ground for no reason, since we’re not likely to get much work done during inclement weather anyway?

Most significantly, installing a policy of full snow days - no class at all, and lenient policies for employees working from home - would alleviate one of the pandemic’s greatest weights by giving us something to look forward to again.

After nearly a year inside our homes, denying ourselves many of the things we enjoy, it is hard to look into the future and be excited about something. It’s hard to imagine a time when we might feel ok again. We have so little going for us, so give us something to look forward

to. Give us something to hope for.

The mental health benefit of having something to look forward to - even something that is not guaranteed - is almost equal to the benefit of a day off.

Even if we did not end up using the snow days, it would be better to hope for them than to face the drudgery of this relentlessly oncoming semester knowing there is no chance for relief.

But the chance for a snow day - that would be something to anticipate.

We could have something to wish for, something to hope for: a bright new day with spotless snow, a future as clean as an untouched landscape.

(And professors, if the university continues with this inclement weather plan, there is a clause stating that courses can be cancelled at the discretion of the instructor. Use your discretion wisely).

so from that standpoint, having them vaccinated is beneficial,” said Dr. Ashley Montgomery-Yates, assistant chief medical officer for UKHC during a media briefing on Jan. 19.

Those who have gotten their vaccine are rare enough to be considered lucky, a fact of which they’re fully aware. But many vaccine recipients also wish their good luck could be given to their loved ones instead.

“My mom is actually going through chemotherapy for breast cancer right now. And in a heartbeat, I would give her my vaccine because she is way more at risk than me. She needs it

more than me, but it doesn’t work that way. Like that’s in theory. I wish, but she’s in another state and it’s not rolling out there yet,” McConnell Parsons said, adding that she hopes her own vaccination is a layer of protection for her mother.

Despite the initial snag, vaccine recipients said both the sign-up process and actual vaccination were quick, easy and well-organized.

“If I could have dreamt of a process that was the best, it would not have been as good as what I experienced,” Garneau-Tsodikova said. The staff was really friendly.”

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