Kentucky Kernel: March 22, 2021

kentuckykernel

Monday, March 22, 2021 est. 1892 | Independent since 1971 www.kykernel.com @kykernel @kentuckykernel

How one of UK’s biggest organizations adapted its flagship event to the COVID-19 pandemic | pg. 8

Tradition

TRANSFORMED ALPACA ANTIBODIES PG. 2, STIMULUS OPINION PG. 6, GYMNASTICS SEC PG. 14

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VIEWS FROM VACCINE VOLUNTEERS

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SMALL TOWN TO BIG STAGE FOR SCHULTZ

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TEARING DOWN, BUILDING UP ON CAMPUS

Monday, March 22, 2021

features

(Al)paca punch against COVID-19

By Hannah Stanley features@kykernel.com

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, people all across the world leapt into action, doing research and developing solutions for this novel disease. But people weren’t the only ones helping out - in Kentucky, a trio of alpacas also joined the fight.

Big Boy, Blue Eyes and Emperor are alpacas from River Hill Ranch in Richmond, Kentucky. The ranch raises different herds of animals, including alpacas, for fleece, but this trio has a side gig of helping Kentucky researchers study antibodies.

“It turns out they’re really useful for molecular biology purposes,” Sidney Whiteheart said. Whiteheart is a professor

of molecular and cellular biochemistry at the University of Kentucky. Whiteheart and his research team began a study with the alpacas evaluating the role nanobodies in fighting COVID-19.

“We made some spike protein in the laboratory and used that to immunize the alpacas to make special antibodies that we call nanobodies against the Covid protein,” Whiteheart said. The spike protein is the part of the coronavirus that enables it to latch onto and infect human cells, so studying how nanobodies interact with the spike protein could be key for treatments and vaccines. Nanobodies are very small types of antibodies found in camelids, the animal family alpacas fall into. Whiteheart and his team theorized that the small size of nanobodies would make it easier to slip

past a COVID molecule’s defenses and neutralize the virus. Once the alpacas were immunized, the team was able to collect blood samples for observation.

“The nanobodies are possible sources to prevent the Covid virus from interacting with the cells,” Whiteheart said. Now that the research reflects a positive result from the alpaca antibodies, clones can be made of the nanobodies. Whiteheart said six are in process in varying stages of testing, some blocking the spike protein from interacting with the cells.

This isn’t the first time Big Boy, Blue Eyes and Emperor have played a starring role in science. The partnership with River Hill has been in place and the alpacas have contributed to the development of 50 nanobodies for various diseases.

Twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring, the alpacas are evaluated and eventually in the end returned to their normal state at the farm. The alpacas are not harmed in any way when participating in the study. Whiteheart said they are socialized by the time they’re used and transported for the study.

“They love people, or at least get along with people,” Whiteheart said.

Nanobodies from the alpacas can provide some immunity to humans, similar to how antibodies from people who already had COVID-19 are used as a treatment for others.

With the success of immunizing the alpacas, the researchers’ results are encouraging for future treatments and possibly another COVID-19 vaccine.

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Monday, March 8, 2021

LOOKING BACK, MOVING FORWARD

kentuckykernel

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

VACCINATIONS AT KROGER FIELD OPEN TO ALL KENTUCKIANS, ALL STUDENTS

As Kentucky readies itself to open COVID-19 vaccinations for all adults by April 12, Lexington and the UK vaccine clinic are a step ahead.

Because of the high capacity at the Kroger Field site, Lexington has quickly moved through its first phases of vaccine distribution and UK will now open vaccine distribution to all Kentucky adults, including all UK college students.

Anyone in the state can register for a vaccine through UK by visiting ukvaccine. org and driving to Lexington for their appointment. UK students were sent an email encouraging them to sign up for their vaccine. “The vaccine is one more way you can ensure your health and safety, as well as the health and safety of friends, family, loved ones and the larger community,” a March 12 email read.

UK has given more than 140,000 doses to 100,000 individuals, per Capilouto.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ADVANCES TO SECOND ROUND OF NCAA TOURNAMENT

Fresh off a Sunday afternoon win against Idaho State, Kentucky’s womens basketball team will prep to face no. 5 Iowa on Tuesday, March 23 in the round fo 32.

The Wildcats beat Idaho by an eightpoint margin by thinking defensively. After leading by as much as 16 points in the third quarter, the Cats were able to cut off a 10 point run from the Bengals with a basket

by Dre’una Edwards. Scoring-wise, Kentucky improved from the regular season by rounding out contributions from the whole team and not relying solely on Rhyne Howard. Chastity Patterson had 14 points and Blair Green 10 by end of game.

Coach Kyra Elzy said defense would be the key against Iowa as well. “Stepping up our defense, definitely at the beginning of the game... we have to throw the punch first... I think we’re ready and ready to start preparing for them,” Elzy said in a postgame press conference.

MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF Kentucky Wildcats forward Daniel Evans (7) hurdles a defender during the University of Kentucky vs. Marshall University soccer game on Thursday, March 18, 2021, at the Bell Soccer Complex in Lexington, Kentucky. UK lost 1-0.

BOARD NAMES KERNEL EDITORS-IN-CHIEF FOR 2021 - 22

Following a March 18 meeting of Kernel Media’s Board of Directors, sophomores Rayleigh Deaton and Allie Diggs were selected as editors-in-chief of the Kentucky Kernel and KRNL magazine, respectively.

Deaton, from Charleston, South Carolina, is a current sophomore double majoring in communications and political science.

She served as KRNL’s lifestyle editor for the 2020 - 21 school year.

“I am over the moon excited,” Deaton said. “I am so honored to have this opportunity to help lead the Kernel and bring us out of COVID.” Deaton will transition into Kernel leadership in the remaining weeks of the semester, concluding her current role at KRNL with the publication of their upcoming spring magazine.

“I am excited to make a difference on the University of Kentucky’s campus,” Deaton said. As editor-in-chief of the Kentucky Kernel, Deaton hopes to increase recruitment and retention of staffers.

She most looks forward to building strong relationships with the Kernel staff and continuing the Kernel’s historic legacy of quality journalism.

Allie Diggs, a Lexington native, is a double major in print journalism and digital media/design. Diggs serves as KRNL’s photoshoot coordinator and creative director assistant.

“I’ve just never been so passionate and excited about something,” Diggs said.

“We have a lot of staff graduating and I’ve worked my way up the ladder, and I felt like this was a good move for me and the publication.”

Diggs began working for KRNL her first semester in college. She said she was “overwhelmed with good feelings” at being named editor-in-chief.

“It’s been great, but we’re still working on finishing our issue so that’s main focus right now,” Diggs said.

Diggs and Deaton will train under the current leadership of their respective outlets before ascending to their roles.

Managing editor: Michael Clubb editor@kykernel.com Asst. news editor: Haley Simpkins 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 manager: Sarah Simon-Patches KENTUCKY KERNEL OFFICES 340 McVey Hall University of Kentucky Lexington, KY 40506

ON THE COVER: MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF Dance Blue participants pose for a photo at the end of the 2020 Dance Blue Marathon on Sunday, March 1, 2020, at the Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Kentucky.

spring 2021 | X

Monday, March 22, 2021

news

Volunteers make the vaccine machine go round

By Sarah Michels news@kykernel.com

When the Lexington community returns to a semblance of pre-pandemic normalcy, it will be in large part due to widespread vaccinations against COVID-19. At UK, those vaccinations are possible because of hundreds of UK students who volunteer with the university’s vaccine clinic operations.

As of March 12, UK’s vaccine operations have passed the 125,000 vaccinations mark, due to their robust people power, said Lance Poston, UK assistant vice president for external relations. He said that the team exceeds 200 people per day, including faculty and staff from UK Healthcare and campus units, as well as many UK students from medical and non-medical backgrounds.

One student volunteer, UK junior Cliff York, said the experience was more fun than he expected. York, an integrated strategic communications major, volunteered for the first time on Feb. 24, after signing up through a link his nursing student friend sent him.

Since then, he’s volunteered a few more times.

Often, when he has a relatively free day, York tries to find a shift that works

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with his schedule. He said that the process is flexible; while there are specific time slots for the various three, four and six-hour shifts, student volunteers can work with the staff if they have to leave early or arrive late due to academic or other obligations.

Once they’ve completed the volunteer form, opportunities are released every one or two weeks, Poston said.

Freshman computer science major Matt Bartholomai also signed up at his friend’s suggestion. So far, he’s only volunteered for one five-hour registration shift, but plans to continue when he’s less busy.

His shift happened to be the day before UK hit the 100,000 vaccinations landmark, which he said was a cool and rewarding experience.

“I definitely encourage all students— if they’re capable and have time— to just go help out one or two days, because it’s not that hard,” Bartholomai said. “You’re helping your community and you get the vaccine afterwards if you want to.”

There are a variety of jobs for which student volunteers can sign up; the essential non-clinical roles, such as registration, way-finding and transport, require no prior knowledge

or medical background. On the other hand, more clinical roles like immunizers and dosers are filled by students and employees from UK’s health colleges, Poston said.

York doesn’t have any medical background, but he said he still felt equipped for the job after watching the provided online resources and shadowing someone from an earlier shift.

Registration volunteers check people in, “way-finders” direct people to the right area, and dose runners transport the vaccine from the syringe-loading station to the person administering the vaccine. In all roles, hand sanitizer and gloves are frequently used to maintain a clean, safe environment.

People’s reactions to receiving the vaccination are a mixed bag, York said.

“You’ll get some that like are almost on the verge of tears, they’re so excited, like we’re getting back to normal life, and then some they’re like, I hate needles, I don’t want to be here at all. This sucks, but I have to do it,” he said.

Bartholomai added that there was some conflict regarding the Pfizer vaccine that UK is currently distributing.

See VACCINE on page 5

JACK WEAVER | STAFF Catherine Crawford, a UK College of Medicine student, prepares a patient’s arm for the COVID-19 vaccine at UK’s COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky.

Monday, March 22, 2021

news VACCINE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

“Some lady was mad that we didn’t have Moderna, which was interesting,” he said. “There’s a lot of spirit around the brand of the vaccine for a lot of people.”

While there is still plenty of demand for volunteers, especially in the morning shift, York said he’s noticed the slots filling up a little more quickly recently.

“I think people are just wanting to start volunteering, kind of doing their part,” York said. “Obviously, the potential of getting a vaccine after your shift— I think that’s probably a pretty big incentive for people who want to start volunteering more too.”

Both York and Bartholomai received their first vaccine dose after their first shift—York on Feb. 24 and Bartholomai on March 3. Neither would have been otherwise eligible for the vaccine at the time.

“I think back and forth on it, I think if you’re gonna continually volunteer in that kind of space, it does make more sense for you to be able to get the vaccine,” York said. “You’re trying to create a safe and healthy environment for the people that are coming in that are outside the volunteer community or outside the Lexington community.”

Giving volunteers extra doses of the vaccine also prevents waste, Bartholomai said.

“In a lot of the vaccines there’s leftovers in the vial, that it’s not a full dose, and they don’t want to mix different vials for people that sign up to get the vaccine,” he said. “But for us, they just took the little bits that were left in every vial and gave it to us, so it was more of kind of making sure they weren’t throwing any away or like wasting any vaccines, rather than using some that should give

more qualified people.”

Once he gets his booster shot, not much will change for York.

“I know I’ll be a little bit more protected, but you have to do your part to protect other people and not go out of your way to put yourself in risk of being able to somehow get out or become a carrier for it,” he said.

Bartholomai plans to have the first maskless family gathering in a long time, since his grandparents are getting vaccinated around the same time.

While the long shifts can be exhausting, both York and Bartholomai said the experience was overwhelmingly rewarding. York said he’s enjoyed playing a part in people’s excitement to get back on track.

“It’s been one of the weirdest years I think of anyone’s lives,” York said. “The idea of seeing people have hope again and kind of like see that new normal, see the light at the end of the tunnel, is really, really cool.”

Those interested in volunteering at the Kroger Field vaccine clinic should fill out this form.

Top: JACK WEAVER | STAFF A vaccination is prepared at UK’s COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky. Bottom: MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF People receive vaccines on Saturday, March 13, 2021, at the mobile vaccine clinic at the Charles Young Center in Lexington, Kentucky.

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Monday, March 22, 2021

opinions

College student stimulus checks a Band-aid, not a cure

By Mihir Kale opinions@kykernel.com

While the incoming stimulus payments may be temporarily helping broke college students survive, a one-time check will never be enough to fix an unbalanced system.

The “broke college student,” is one of the most common tropes across the world.

A poll of college students on any campus would yield countless stories demonstrating the hardships of affording college life.

There are social media accounts with millions of followers dedicated to “cheap college hacks.” Generations of young adults have begun a new chapter in their lives by going to college, only to be faced with financial hardship on top of their schoolwork and personal lives.

While it’s certainly entertaining to see pictures of college students fix their showerheads with Mountain Dew bottles or warm up pizza on a clothing iron, financial problems are a serious challenge that far too many students face.

College students face among the highest rates of poverty out of any demographic in the United States, with 42% of all independent students being classified as “impoverished”, according to Inside Higher Ed. 36% of college students are food insecure, meaning they do not know when their next meal will be, nor where it will come from. Another 36% are housing insecure, and do not have the means to pay for their dorms, are living with friends, or in substandard conditions such as in a car. Even more devastating, 9% of college students are completely homeless according to the American Psychological Association.

With poverty affecting more than onethird of college students, it’s important that we understand what forces are behind this widespread systemic issue.

Federal funding for public universities,

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and education in general, has been dropping in the past decade. More than $9 billion in Education Department funding was cut between 2008 and 2017, which means schools were responsible for an increased portion of their operating costs. This translated to substantial increases in tuition and living costs that students are responsible for paying (the average college tuition increases by 6.8% every year).

On top of that, federal grants for students’ education have decreased, and now cover a smaller fraction of a college’s cost-of-attendance. Altogether, this means today’s college students are paying significantly more to attend college and getting less financial assistance than just a couple years ago. This especially poses a challenge for students coming into college from low-income backgrounds.

A college education is often branded as the best mode of socioeconomic mobility.

For decades, young adults have been told that going to college leads to a better job, a stable income, and a chance to escape poverty for good. But when students from low-income backgrounds finally get the opportunity to go to college, oftentimes without the resources and assistance that more well-off students get in their childhood education and college-admissions process, they pay a proportionally higher share of their income to attend.

This means they have less money to pay for basic necessities like housing and food and class materials like textbooks, both of which have a substantial negative impact on their ability to succeed in class, as well as their mental and physical well-being.

Further, minority communities—particularly Black, Indigenous, and Hispanic communities—have higher poverty rates than other demographics. As a result, minority college students are among the most susceptible to both the financial challenges of college, as well as its adverse side-ef-

College students in the United States face high poverty rates, including 36% of students being housing insecure and 36% of students being food insecure. Graphic made by Natalie Parks with Infogram.

fects.

This creates a cycle of poverty, where low-income students who are able to attend college are burdened financially and psychologically, which makes their college experience significantly more challenging and disproportionately decreases their chance of escaping impoverishment.

The COVID-19 pandemic has only compounded upon these issues. As millions of Americans lost their jobs, it has never been harder to afford college.

Thousands of college students have dropped out of college citing financial or health issues, and with increased financial pressure, students are struggling more than ever to afford the basic resources they need to survive, on top of the cost of their education.

There’s a little bit of hope: with the recent passage of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Package, many Americans are entitled to $1,400 stimulus checks.

See STIMULUS on page 14

Monday, March 22, 2021

sports

Small town, big dreams come together at Kentucky for Schultz

By Eric Decker sports@kykernel.com

Adams, Nebraska sits in the southeastern corner of the state, roughly three hours away from Kansas City. With a miniscule population of just about 500 people, an athlete that wants to get noticed has to do it all.

“When you come from the Midwest, you kinda have to do anything you can to get seen,” Austin Schultz said.

Schultz, a junior infielder for UK, had to battle for exposure in order to play college ball because attention from college teams can be hard to come by in some of the Midwest states.

Recruitment-wise, athletes can find getting their name in front of the right people as much as a challenge of actually performing well and proving to be worth the hype - especially in a community as small as Adams.

Schultz joined Legion, an amatuer youth baseball league, around the age of 14 to access a higher level of competition. Legion took him across the nation to play baseball, giving him the exposure he desperately needed. Schultz was eventually scouted by Kentucky staff at Legion tournaments and seasons out in Colorado and Georgia.

Even though baseball had consumed his life at that point, Schultz explored his other talents in other sports, as other small town athletes often do. Hewas a first-team All-Nebraska running back after his junior season at Norris High School, recording 1,641 yards and 23 touchdowns in 11 games.

“After my junior year I did think about wanting to play both baseball and football in college, but obviously that changed,” Schultz said. By his junior year, he was already committed to play Division I baseball in college - just not for Kentucky Schultz originally committed to play at Wichita State, but quickly realized he was selling himself short. Still, a deep sense of commitment to the coaching staff that recruited him left him questioning his choices. Schultz said he hopped on the opportunity to secure a Division I offer too fast without considering past that. He needed to play in a major conference if he wanted a better chance at reaching his dream of playing in the MLB. “I just feel like I trapped myself in a corner,” Schultz said of committing as a junior to a mid-major school.

“The coaching change [at Wichita St.] happened and I reopened my options that

MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF Kentucky Wildcat Austin Shultz (2) throws the ball to first base during the UK vs. Western Kentucky University baseball game on Tuesday, March 9, 2021, at Kentucky Proud Park in Lexington, Kentucky. UK won 6-5.

June.”

Schultz spent the summer before his senior year of high school travelling with his Legion team, looking to make final pitches for major programs. According to Schultz, a little bit of luck helped him grab the attention of the Wildcat staff.

“I think I hit like three home runs in three days, and they saw that,” Schultz recounted.

Luck aside, his performance both there and back in Nebraska gave Nick Mingione and the rest of the staff confidence in offering Schultz, who committed to UK on Aug. 9, 2017. At that time Schultz was ranked the number one overall player coming out of Nebraska, according to Perfect Game. Mingione still allowed him to play football that season, but Schultz said Mingione

would call him after almost every game asking if he got injured.

Once he graduated from Norris High School, Schultz moved to Lexington almost immediately, coming in for a six-week workout plan during the summer of 2018.

“Almost the whole freshman group got there early, and we just went through the summer working out, practicing at the

facilities,” Schultz said. “It was really good for us to start.”

The work paid off immediately for Schultz, who had a stellar year in his first campaign as a Wildcat. As a freshman, Schultz started 40 games - the bulk of them at the shortstop - and posted his best work during the SEC schedule.

See SCHUTLZ on page 16

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Monday, March 22, 2021

feature

Format changes but spirit remains for cancer center fundraiser

By Natalie Parks editor@kykernel.com

The scene is almost unimaginable now: hundreds of University of Kentucky students in close proximity in one room, sweating together, laughing together, crying together. Not only do they not shirk from each other’s touch, they actively embrace it, coming together for support, comfort and a helping hand. These are the hallmark scenes of a DanceBlue marathon, but scenes that this year at least will exist only in memory, not practice.

For 15 years, DanceBlue has hosted an annual 24-hour dance marathon to cap off a year of fundraising for pediatric cancer and its eponymous clinic at UK’s Markey Cancer Center. In those fifteen years, the organization grew, evolved and changed, but its sixteenth iteration will be unlike all the rest – held virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2021 marathon will be held on April 10. Shortened to eight hours, this year’s version will incorporate the most beloved and iconic traditions of years past, including the memorial hour, where the families of patients who died from pediatric cancer speak in honor of their loved ones.

Programming chair Morgan Thurza, who planned the marathon, emphasized that those traditions will

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STAFF FILE PHOTO Students participate in a line dance during the 24 hour DanceBlue marathon at 3:06 a.m. on Sunday, March 1, 2020, at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Kentucky.

still happen, albeit a bit differently.

“We’re still going to have the themed hours and activities that go along with them. We’re still going to have the line dance and it’ll be taught and done at the top of every hour,” Thurza said.

The truncated marathon will begin at 11 a.m. on April 10 and be livestreamed for spectators.

For the first two hours, participants will learn the line dance. From 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., dancers will split into Zoom and Google rooms for themed activities and games. After a dinner break, programming will resume at 6 p.m. and the final two hours will be dedicated to traditions like the patient talent show, family speakers and the fundraising total reveal.

The virtual format was not set in stone until January of 2021; up until then, DanceBlue leaders hoped to include some kind of in-person aspect to uphold tradition.

“I think like everyone else, I thought there was no way that we were still going to be living in a COVID world come spring, which obviously is not the case,” Thurza said.

By this school year, DanceBlue leaders knew that the marathon would not be normal, but tried to keep the in-person marathon while following COVID-19 protocols. The later date, April instead of March, arose in part because of hopes that vaccine rollout would enable normalcy to the point where an in-person marathon was possible.

“When it came down to it, we just thought about our one goal and to get back to our roots of what we stand for as an organization and made the decision to go with a virtual format, just because it was the best way to protect and keep all those within our community as safe as possible,” Thurza said. Ideas like splitting dancers into shifts were scrapped because of logistical challenges, despite the team at first being set on an in-person marathon.

“It just started to become super overwhelming and it just kind of felt like we were losing the spirit and meaning behind DanceBlue, just for the sole purpose of an in-person component to the marathon,” Thurza said. When December rolled around and COVID-19 was very much present, Thurza and co. realized the best option was still to go virtual.

For DanceBlue organizers, a virtual marathon means saying goodbye to a chapter of their college experience. Senior Allie Holt is DanceBlue’s 2021 overall chair and has been involved with the organization since high school. She said coming to terms with the virtual format was a ‘perspective shift.’

“I definitely had to process things, and realize like, ‘Oh, that really stinks.’ l’ve been looking forward to my senior See SPIRIT on page 9

Monday, March 22, 2021

features BUILD CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

marathon for four years now and that sort of thing, but at the end of the day, DanceBlue is not all about the marathon,” Holt said.

“DanceBlue is about the kids and the families and the money we raised for them.”

Other committee chairs echoed similar thoughts, saying one way the organization coped with the challenges of the pandemic was by grounding themselves in their core mission.

“The world was changing around us and there’s so much uncertainty and there’s so much unknown, but DanceBlue is very certain,” Thurza said. “We always have our one goal of working for the kids and knowing that we still had that piece in our life like it didn’t ever make it feel like it wasn’t normal.”

Finance out of focus

Since its founding, DanceBlue has raised more than $17 million for pediatric cancer care and research. Each year’s total has superseded the prior year, culminating in 2020 when organization broke $2 million in annual donations for the first time. But the overwhelming need and philanthropic efforts generated by the pandemic and natural disasters in the last 12 months has DanceBlue facing the very real prospect that their fundraising total will drop.

“So as of right now, it is looking a little bit less than we have in the past years, and most of that is due to COVID,” fundraising chair Lizze Rupp said of funds at this point in the semester. Rupp oversees internal,

external, alumni, corporate and team fundraising. She thinks personal fundraising has taken the biggest hit this year.

“Especially with a lot of our recurring dancers, they have people that do donate to their total every year and maybe those people are not able to donate this year or in this capacity as in years past,” Rupp said. But that has paved the way for more creative fundraising like bracelets and merchandise.

Holt noted that every overall chair feels pressure to continue the streak of raising the total annually, but that it’s not her main focus.

“We have to realize however much that is, it’s still going to help these families and these kids that are going through something so terrible. No matter what the amount is, or if it goes beyond the last years or not, it’s, it’s still an amount that is so amazing,” Holt said.

Rupp suggested people who cannot contribute financially can help support DanceBlue by resharing their posts about pediatric cancer.

“It’s about supporting the kids and a big portion of that is monetary support and economic support, but also just promoting awareness for pediatric cancer and for the work that the clinic is doing and the work that they’re doing in terms of pediatric research,” Rupp said. Donations are accepted through 3:30 p.m. on the day of the marathon, April 10.

Clinic leaders like John D’Orazio understand the financial strain of the last year will impact DanceBlue.

JACK WEAVER | STAFF Grace Bush, corporate relations coordinator, listens during a DanceBlue corporate meeting on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, at the Gatton Student Center in Lexington, Kentucky.

“With the economy and stuff, philanthropy in general has been taking a big hit. We’re gonna be grateful for whatever comes in and we’re going to use it to benefit the children,” D’Orazio said. “We are fortunate that we do have some money in the bank, so to speak.”

D’Orazio is chief of UK’s pediatric hematology/oncology clinic. He explained that traditionally, a third of the money has gone to pediatric cancer research, a third to holistic care like social workers and school specialists and a third directly to families for care-related costs like travel. With the money from

DanceBlue, the center will soon introduce a germline DNA testing program to evaluate genetic risks that would predispose patients to cancer. That kind of testing can help doctors tailor a patient’s care plan to their specific needs, but also screen their siblings.

“When the first child had his or her or their cancer, then you can test based on the family’s wishes of course, the other members of the family and if another child or a parent is identified, get them appropriately referred to a specialist,” D’Orazio said. He noted that part of the reason DanceBlue has gone on for so long is that the funds

haven’t been abused and everybody involved walks away with a win.

“It’s just such a great, great optimistic program and in today’s world, there’s not anything you can say that has all positives and very little or no negatives,” D’Orazio said.

In every cloud

The financial hit from COVID-19 extended to DanceBlue’s annual fundraisers. Two of the biggest events are the 5K and silent auction, both held in the fall. Both were virtual this fundraising cycle, which came with an unexpected benefit.

“We were able to reach people literally across the

country, so alumni or families or parents or committee members,” Holt said.

“We were able to reach all those people all over, versus in the past we’ve only been able to reach the people that buy the silent auction ticket and come to the silent auction.”

Holt mentioned one alum, who lives in California, that runs the 5k annually on his own and had never registered for the official event until this year because of the virtual format. Though the number of runners decreased, the range increased, with more and more participants joining from out of state.

See SPIRIT on page 10

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Monday, March 22, 2021

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And, DanceBlue saved money on both events by reducing overhead costs.

“It was honestly better financially to have an online platform versus getting a space in-person, getting food, all those little like extra in-person fees which are great for an in-person event,” Holt said.

Another significant source of fundraising are mini marathons hosted by different schools and organizations across the state.

Normally, 40 mini marathons are hosted annually, but with varying COVID-19 restrictions that number dropped.

“There have been some high schools and middle schools that have been absolute rock stars and found ways to fundraise,” Holt said, including a Lexington school that hosted a 5k and bake sale.

Extra accessibility because of a virtual format will extend to the number of dancers in the marathon. Last year, the marathon had 923 students, who earned their spots by being the top earners for their teams, on the floor.

“It usually is very competitive for that floor space,” Holt said.

“And so, we will have a little bit more wiggle room this year.

However, we are limited by some virtual restrictions still.”

She expects DanceBlue to have more than 1,000 dancers this year but does not have an exact upper limit yet. Though technology will still limit participants, Holt said the livestream for spectators will have unlimited capacity, whereas Memorial Coliseum usually maxed out in-person attendees at around 2,500.

Planning for the unknown Not only has the marathon changed, the planning process has as well.

“Nobody knew what we were getting ourselves into exactly and what the year would look like and 10 | kentucky kernel

so of course I have been stressed out about it and things because I want to serve these kids as best as I can,” Holt said. “However, everybody’s kind of in the same boat right now and has been for the past year.”

One change has been a move to online meetings and stopping office hours. Holt said they have a virtual option for every meeting and by spring were meeting online almost exclusively.

“I think that has made us better communicators in a lot of ways,” Rupp said. “We’ve learned to be definitely more specific and really utilize our time as well because we don’t see each other all the time like we would have in a normal year when we could all be in the office.”

Holt said she thinks some virtual aspects will continue to expand accessibility, like they saw this year with the 5K and silent auction.

“Giving the opportunity to those people that aren’t in central Kentucky is something that I find really special and something that would be really awesome to carry on,” Holt said. Being able to chart a new path is also exciting on for the committee chairs.

“We’ve never had a virtual fundraiser before, or virtual marathon so I’m excited to kind of try something completely new for my last go around and I’m really looking forward to it,” Rupp said.

“This organization will never stop fighting for these kids, even during a global pandemic. So, I’m excited for everyone to see how we have been able to rewrite DanceBlue despite the circumstances of the world this year,” Holt said. Chairs said they had a mindset shift of seeing every part of this year as special because of how hard they worked to adapt.

“I’m just, I’m thankful that we have modern day technology that we can have a marathon and so I’m excited for it,” family relations chair EmilyHuette said.

“I’ve been so blessed to have

STAFF FILE PHOTO Students compete in a challenge which involves blowing a cotton ball onto a bull’s-eye during the 24 hour DanceBlue marathon at 2:26 a.m. on Sunday, March 1, 2020, at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, KY.

three in-person marathons, and I think this one is going to be special in its own way.”

Hoping forward

As the marathon approaches, the clinic is prepared to fully participate in the festivities.

“We have some really special marathon boxes that we’ll be sending out that will include the marathon t-shirts, they’ll have crafts, they’ll have decorations so that they can celebrate at home and we will have two live Zoom events that patients and families can participate in,” said Kristina Richetts, child life specialist in the DanceBlue clinic. The clinic will host a virtual talent show and record the patients’ performances for the marathon.

“We waited a long time to hear what the plans were going to be for the marathon, and I think we were just over the moon that there was still going to be one,” Richetts said. “One of our biggest fears is that we wouldn’t be able to have one in any capacity.” She hopes the sense of togetherness and support still shines through

in the virtual format. Even though the marathon continues, D’Orazio noted he will miss the live event.

“That live event is the most inspirational thing I go to all year, okay,” D’Orazio said. “I go in that gym, it’s full up with students who are devoted to these kids, stands have gotten fuller and fuller,” with patients and their families reuniting with clinic staff.

Ritchetts said the last four hours of the marathon, when the memorial hour and reveal happen, are the most impactful for the clinic and families.

“It’s fine if we have to do these other things for a year, we’re going to make the best of it and Christina and her team needs to be really you know praised for all those efforts, but I’m going to miss the live event because I don’t come out of there without tears coming out of my eyes,” D’Orazio said.

Rupp said her favorite part of the marathon is the reveal, but she thinks there won’t be one big moment like that this year.

“It’s been a lot of little victories along the way that really made a difference,” Rupp said.

Thurza, Huette and Holt reminisced on their marathon memories, feeling lucky to have had those experiences already and most importantly be able to continue working for the kids.

“During this pandemic, a lot of things in the world stopped just because we were forced to,” Holt said. “However, that list of things does not include cancer, and if anything, patients with cancer are even in more need than ever before.”

Virtual or not, there will still be dancing, there will still be a marathon and there will still be students volunteering to make a difference. To those closest to DanceBlue, that spirit is more important than any dollar amount or in-person activity.

“This one’s going to be different, but who says it can’t be still something very meaningful?”

D’Orazio said. “So we’re making the best of it, and with an eye on the future.”

Monday, March 22, 2021

news

Under constr(UK)tion

By Brooklyn Kelley news@kykernel.com

When walking across UK’s campus, the effects of the pandemic are obvious: fewer students traverse the campus, leaving once bustling sidewalks almost empty on occasion. Signs encourage mask wearing and social distancing, while a football stadium ushers in patients, not fans. But one aspect of UK remains unchanged by the pandemic - the clatter and clanging that indicates the presence of campus construction.

Several of UK’s capital projects continued operations or began in the last year.

“Covid has not hurt us as bad as you were thinking. We haven’t had any outbreaks on the job because the contact has been very careful,” said Robert Williams, the Director of Capital Construction at the university. Williams said that there are at least 100 crews working on campus currently.

The total budget for construction projects around campus as of now is around $2.7 billion, according to Mary Vosevich, Vice President and Chief Facilities Officer of Facilities Management at UK. Vosevich said the campus’s mission is to bring a contemporary spin to the classic architecture and aesthetic that it already has.

Though the university has been impacted eco-

MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF A worker works on the construction site of the Healthy Kentucky research building on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky.

nomically by COVID-19, most of the funding for construction projects on campus comes from private grants, external funding and bonds. This means that portions of money are given to specific projects.

There are a few sources of these bonds and grants.

Agency bonds are those issued by the University of Kentucky, whereas state bonds come from the state of Kentucky. Similarly, agency funds are supplied

by UK. Not all projects are funded by one source alone; some projects require more funding than one source is able to give.

The most expensive project currently underway at UK is the first four phases of the construction of the Healthy Kentucky Research Building, currently estimated to cost $250 million. That total is expected to change because all phases are not yet complete. The facility is

intended to house researchers investigating the health challenges of most concern to Kentuckians, including substance abuse disorder, cancer, diabetes and obesity. The project started on March 12 of 2015 and is projected to be complete

by June 27 of next year.

Multiple sources of funding, including state bonds, agency funds and grants from the National Institute of Health, enabled its construction. Each floor is cur-

rently at a different phase of construction; the highest level is being used by researchers already while the lowest level is farthest from completion.

Following the Healthy Kentucky Research Building in terms of cost is the modernization of the Chemistry-Physics building. Chem-Phys’s renovation, which began in December of 2018, is estimated to cost nearly $61 million and funded entirely

by agency bonds. The renovation will not be completed until June of 2022; along with the renovation of the interior and exterior, including the addition of an atrium, the Einstein Bagels shop will return to its interior site.

Patterson Office Tower, which houses faculty and staff for the College of Arts & Sciences, is also undergoing renovations. The top floor is being renovated for use as an office space.

At $3 million, this project is being funded entirely by agency bonds. The project began on December 5 of 2019 and will be completed

by June 11.

A third existing building, the Gatton Student center, is also undergoing construction. The student center opened in 2018 and by 2019 the Board of Trustees voted to approve the expansion, which should add a nearly 10% increase in square footage, bringing the total space above 410,000 square feet. The expansion is estimated to cost $25 million, some of which is an additional gift from Bill Gatton, for whom the space is named. Other funds come from UK and third-party donor, Aramark, the company that operates many of UK’s dining services. Additional needs for space and seating in Champion’s Kitchen is part of what spurred the need for the addition, which will also house student success programs.

See BUILD on page 12

spring 2021 | 11

Monday, March 22, 2021

news

MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF The Chem-Phys building undergoes construction on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky.

BUILD CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF UK Director of Capital Construction Robert Williams talks about construction on the Healthy Kentucky building on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky.

12 | kentucky kernel

The project began on June 13, 2019, and is expected to be complete by September 15 of this coming fall. The project was undertaken by Turner Construction Company.

“I’ll be honest with you, this is one of the smoothest projects I’ve had,” said Ben Noble, a project manager for Turner. Gatton Student Center’s initial construction took four years to complete and cost $200 million.

Another construction project will tie in to the student center. Frazee Hall, the center’s neighbor, will be modified to include a bridge from Frazee to the

student center. A bridge will help campus meet ADA standards. A committee steered by Vosevitch is supposed to outline areas on campus that do not meet ADA or other accommodations. Construction has not yet begun on the bridge, whose budget sits at $1.5 million provided by agency bonds. If the expected start date in June is met, the project is slated to finish in June of 2022.

ADA standards are also the motivation for a project in White Hall Classroom Building, which is undergoing two phases of construction. The bathrooms in White Hall are the focus of the first phase of renovation in that building. The bathrooms, which have a narrow entry with a turn, will be updated for ADA compliance and a modern look. The first phase will focus on redoing the restrooms in the building, giving the building an updated look and making it ADA compliant. This $3 million project relies solely on agency bonds and is scheduled to conclude by Aug. 16, 2021, in time for the fall semester.

Besides construction efforts, the university is also coordinating deconstruction on parts of its campus. Removal of the Kirwan Blanding Complex began in September of 2019, though demolition of its iconic towers did not start until spring of 2020.

The 23-story towers must be removed one floor at a time, and average about a floor a week. Demolition of the towers had to wait for the removal of potentially hazardous materials inside. Now down to the

final few floors, all that remains of the towers and previous residence halls is a mountain of rubble. Once that is cleared, the complex is intended to become a campus green space. The 14 acre area is estimated to cost $11 million to restore as a place for students to enjoy nature. The trees surrounding the area will remain, though more than 200 trees in the site were cut down by UK in early 2020, which students said was at complete odds with the proposed green space.

Perhaps the most noticeable project for students is the work being done on Rose Street. Rose Street, which bisects North and Central campus, has been closed for most of the school year and was the source of campus detours when the project extended into its neighboring sidewalk. The work done here is for utilities updates. A final cost has not been determined, but the project was made possible by agency bonds. The completion date has not been set yet either; the official starting date was Dec. 5, 2020, so the project has been underway for more than a year. Rose Street will be permanently closed to vehicular traffic after this project. “A couple years ago we did a study and there were 19,000 pedestrian crossings a day on Rose Street,” Vosevich said. She expressed that the university feels that it will be safer to convert the space to a location for students to sit, enjoy and get to class safely.

See BUILD on page 13

Monday, March 22, 2021

news BUILD CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

Top left: MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF A worker peels tap off the ground during construction of the edition to the Gatton Student Center on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky.

Bottom left: MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF The new kitchen is constructed in the addition to the Gatton Student Center on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky.

Bottom right: PHOTO BY MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF Workers talk with each other during construction of the Healthy Kentucky research building on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky.

spring 2021 | 13

Monday, March 22, 2021

opinions STIMULUS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

While the previous two stimulus bills excluded many college students eligibility, there are a number of ways that students can now get some financial assistance.

If a student is listed as a dependent, the person who claims them as their dependent will receive $1,400 on the student’s behalf. If listed as an independent, students are directly eligible for the stimulus check.

The bill also provides $40 billion in financial support to universities, of which they are required to spend

half on emergency student grants (which UK has been openly offering).

While the recent round of stimulus is certainly a step forward in the current-day fight against college poverty, resource insecurity and financial challenges will continue to be a problem long after the pandemic is over.

For far too long, college students have struggled to make ends meet, taking a toll on their health, academic success, and livelihoods.

While initiatives on campus, including the Basic Needs Campaign and Big Blue Pantry, have worked tirelessly to advocate for and ameliorate students’

needs, the overarching financial policies continue to overburden students and their families I therefore urge policymakers, from our local Lexington city government to President Biden, to not only recognize the everyday struggles that college students face, but actively fix a status quo that makes attending and succeeding in college more and more difficult each year.

JACK WEAVER | STAFF UK students cross Avenue of Champions during a snowfall on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky.

Fourth place ties a program best for gymnastics’ at SEC championships

By Natalie Parks editor@kykernel.com

Kentucky gymnastics continued one of their best seasons over the weekend in Alabama, finishing fourth in SEC championships and landing two athletes in the top five.

Sophomore Raena Worley was the best all-around gymnasts of the Cats’ session against Auburn and Missouri. With a 39.50 across all events, Worley finished in fourth place in the conference. She also placed fifth in the uneven bars with a career-high tying 9.900.

Anna Haigis, junior, also tied a career high score with her performance in

14 | kentucky kernel

floor. Her 9.925 score was the best of the first session and netted her fifth place in the conference. Ariana Patterson also tied a career high on vault, first in Kentucky’s session and seventh overall.

The Cats finished fourth among SEC competitors, coming in behind Alabama, LSU and Florida. Of those three, Kentucky had beaten LSU in their regular season head-to-head meets. Fourth place ties Kentucky’s program best at SECs as they become only the second team to finish in the top four after competing in the afternoon session. On their way to fourth place, no. 14 Kentucky outscored two lower ranked opponents

and one higher ranked team - Arkansas at no. 9. Kentucky previously bested Arkansas in their regular season meet on Feb. 12.

Next for UK gymnastics is NCAA championship selection on Monday, March 22. 36 teams compete at NCAAs; Kentucky, ranked no. 14, should qualify based on seeding.

MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF Teammates watch Josie Angeny tumble through the air during the University of Kentucky vs. Arkansas gymnastics meet on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Kentucky. UK won 197.000-196.675

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Monday, March 22, 2021

sports SCHULTZ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

In conference play, Schultz recorded a .803 OPS and ended up garnering a 27 game on base streak, just the seventh Kentucky player in the last decade to do so.

Even with all his freshman success, Schultz’s true breakout season was his sophomore year in the shortened 2020 campaign. In 16 games, Schultz led the team in runs and RBI (20 each) and had a 1.233 OPS while recording 5 home runs. Then COVID-19 struck.

“We were just sitting in the facility watching the TV and saw that the SEC conference was cancelled in Nashville, so we were like ‘Well, we’re definitely not going there,’” Schultz said. “And then we heard

that Omaha was cancelled so it was like ‘What’s the point of this now?’”

Despite the ups and downs of his college career, the outcome has always remained the same in Schultz’s mind. He wants to play in the major leaves - and scouting systems took serious notice despite the limited 2020 sample size.

Schultz was named a Second Team Preseason All-American by Collegiate Baseball News coming into the 2021 campaign, and is starting to realize the potential and value he’ll possess.

“I asked some of the coaches before the season if they’ve ever coached three top-100 outfield prospects in the same outfield before,” Schultz said.

“They said no.” Himself, Oraj Anu and John Rhodes who received that accolade.

Roughly a consensus

top-100 prospect coming into the 2021 draft, Schultz is still laser focused on the potential that this team has.

Omaha is only 80 miles from his hometown, and he wants to get back there.

“The top four of our lineups is really dangerous,” Schultz said of him, Anu, Rhodes and TJ Collett. “We’re just really excited to go out this year and show what we can do.”

Currently in the midst of an 11-game hit streak and another superb season at the plate, Schultz seems to have no intentions of letting the opportunity to represent the state of Kentucky go to waste.

JACK WEAVER | STAFF Austin Shultz (2) rounds third base during the University of Kentucky vs. Miami Ohio game on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, at Kentucky Proud Park in Lexington, Kentucky.

Softball improves to 23 - 2 against Dayton

By Seth Martin sports@kykernel.com

No. 9 Kentucky handled business on Saturday, sweeping Dayton in a doubleheader to improve to 23-2 on the season.

Coming off a close win vs Eastern Kentucky, the Cats got back to work to outscore the Flyers 6-2 on March 20.

Game one was slow and sluggish; neither team scored more than one run in a single inning. Despite that, Kentucky jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after two innings. This was thanks to an RBI from both junior Tatum Spangler and standout freshman Erin Coffel.

After being held scoreless for three straight innings, the Wildcats put one final run on the board when senior Mallory Peyton homered into left field. Kentucky won game one 3-1.

As always in low scoring games, the

16 | kentucky kernel

pitchers shone. In her third start of the season, Tatum Spangler continued her winning ways, recording two strikeouts and only allowing three hits to move to 3-0 as a starter this season.

Game two of the doubleheader was yet another low scoring affair. Fifth year senior Autumn Humes showed out yet again, moving to 10-1 on the season as a starting pitcher. She notched nine strikeouts and allowed only six hits through seven innings in the circle.

Kentucky, unlike most games this season, started out slow as they trailed 1-0 after the top of the third, but that one run allowed in the third sparked the team to three runs and a shutout the rest of the way.

All three of Kentucky’s runs would come in the bottom of the third inning, thanks to RBIs from senior Mallory Peyton, junior Renee Abernathy, and freshman Erin Coffel. Kentucky finished with a fa-

miliar final score, winning 3-1 yet again for the sweep on the day.

Kentucky now turns their attention to a mid-week matchup in Bowling Green, where it faces off with Western Kentucky.

The game is a make up being played this week due to a weather delay this past Wednesday. After Western Kentucky, the Cats will have yet another huge SEC test when they host their first conference opponent of the season in No. 3 Alabama, who is 23-2 themselves.

Kentucky’s series vs Alabama will be available to watch on ESPN2 Saturday, Mar. 27, while the series finale on Sunday, Mar. 28, will be on SEC Network.

JACK WEAVER | STAFF Kentucky Wildcat Miranda Stoddard (1) pitches during the UK vs. Eastern Kentucky game on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, at Cropp Softball Stadium in Lexington, Ken-