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news ALCOHOL Continued from page 1 in fraternity houses if members were 21 or older. But the adopted policy was the first formal statement by the university banning alcohol in residence halls, even for those 21 and older. Fraternity house policies were then up to the individual organizations until an additional policy was passed in 1998 that banned alcohol use there. Diane Lawless, Lexington’s 3rd District councilwoman, said the decision to take alcohol off campus created a less than ideal situation for UK and the Lexington community. “I think having alcohol on campus is much safer than the way it is now,” she said. By not allowing alcohol on campus, the university has no oversight, Lawless said. When alcohol was on campus, students and UK had a “safety net,” she said, and the university could intervene if students were developing problems with alcohol. Once the university changed its policy to prohibit alcohol, some students moved off campus to create party houses, she said. The resulting situation is dangerous for students and the community, Lawless said, and a tension exists in the neighborhoods because a small number of students create a bad name for university students as a whole. In 1998, UK changed its alcohol policy to include fra-
ternity and sorority houses. At the time, community members expressed concerns over what the change in policy would mean for surrounding areas. “UK did not want to take the responsibility for the students,” said a 1998 resident in a letter published in the Lexington HeraldLeader. “Instead, the problem has been placed in the lap of Lexington homeowners.” Lawless said she is “absolutely” for a change in the policy that would allow alcohol back on campus. “Let’s face it, students are going to drink,” she said. UK is in the process of updating its master plan, and university officials have heard from community members who want the university to re-examine its existing alcohol policy, Blanton said in an email to the Kernel. Concerns have been expressed on all sides of the isSTAFF FILE PHOTOS sue, Blanton said. Some President Eli Capilouto is revisiting UK’s alcohol policy, which was approved in 1988. He could make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees. think a no-alcohol policy is the best approach, while oth- cent years have tried to find louto have an ongoing coners have suggested that the the right balance between versation about “town and university change the exist- student and community safe- gown” relationships. ing policy out of concerns ty and the way the university “And that policy is a part about the impact off-campus acts as a neighbor to sur- of that,” she said. drinking has on neighbor- rounding areas. Student Government hoods. Lexington Mayor Jim President Stephen Bilas said “President Capilouto be- Gray has been involved in he has gone back and forth lieves he has a responsibility the discussions with Capi- on his feelings about UK’s to examine the issue in all its louto about UK policies that alcohol policy during his complexity and, ultimately, affect the neighborhoods sur- time as a student at UK. make a recommendation to rounding campus, including He said he thought the our Board of Trustees this its alcohol policy, said Susan university should explore alfall about any changes, if Straub, the mayor’s spokes- ternatives, but he is not sayany, in the policy,” Blanton woman. ing the university should said. Straub said the mayor is commit to either being a wet, UK is not alone in re-ex- interested in the update of moist or dry campus. How UK’s policy affects nearby areas is a concern, and community amining its policy, he said. A the university’s master plan, “It’s a lot more compli- members have suggested re-examining the policy. “Let’s face it, number of institutions in re- and that the mayor and Capi- cated than that,” he said. students are going to drink,” Councilwoman Diane Lawless said. Group established by President to review alcohol policy, recommend changes. Impetus was a desire for residence halls for 21+ students where alcohol could be consumed. Group recommended no changes be made to the policy.
Alcohol policy adopted. All residence halls are alcohol-free with fraternity and sorority houses specifically excluded.
1998
2012
1988
2002
Alcohol policy changed to include fraternity/sorority houses as alcohol-free residences.
Alcohol policy changed to more specifically state the places on campus where alcohol could be served. Changes also outlined procedures under which departments could host functions with alcohol.
— Information according to UK public relations
PROTEST Continued from page 1 ble.” Elementary education freshman Sara Thompson was disturbed to learn UK may be selling products that came from sweatshops. “It’s emotional. It’s not something that you want to hear,” she said. “Obviously it’s good that they’re doing something about it. I’d like more information. I had never heard of that before.” The protestors shouting through the drizzle were adamant their efforts are worth it. “It’s really important that we support people everywhere, not just locally,” fourth year psychology graduate student Jessica Peters said. “We are connected by the things that they create and that we buy.” When asked why this issue was so important, Peters said it was more a matter of the impact those rallying could have. “It’s just one of the issues that I am concerned about,” she said. “But this is a huge issue that we can really do something about, if we can make a change that is doable, why not do it?” USAS member and anthropology senior Alli Sehon agreed that much could be gained from targeting the collegiate apparel industry. “The market for collegiate apparel is enormous, you can look around campus and see that everyone wears it,” Sehon said. “We want to impact the largest group possible.” USAS member and engineering graduate student Rohith Jayaram was optimistic before the meeting with Presi-
dent Capilouto. “I think we’ve got a diverse coalition of groups to come together to support this which will make us more effective,” Jayaram said. Members of other student organizations such as the Muslim Student Association and the Environmental Society were there to support USAS’s efforts. After the meeting with Capilouto, Sehon expressed gratitude for the opportunity to speak with him on the issue. “He was very sympathetic and appreciative that students were getting involved and speaking up,” she said. Public relations and marketing director Jay Blanton said Capilouto enjoyed speaking with the students. “The president was very appreciative of the time with students today,” Blanton said. “He was very impressed with their commitment to this issue and the thoughtful approach they are taking to it.” This is not the only group Capilouto has taken the time to meet with, Blanton said. “It’s one of the things he enjoys most about his job,” Blanton said. “He wants to hear the things they are pleased with about the university. He also wants to hear their concerns.” There was not a specific timeline of action Sehon said and Blanton confirmed. “Overall we are really pleased with the cooperation that we got, but we plan to keep pushing forward to see results,” Sehon said. USAS will stay in contact with Capilouto and the university about the issue. “It is not done,” Sehon said. “It is never done, but particularly with this campaign we are not done yet.”
The Staves cover of ‘Songbird’ is one of a kind Others, however, may be better It's been said that imitation is the highest form of flattery. But is that true in regards to all facets of life? And of music? In this week's column, Pardon the Interlude brings forth some of the ALEXANDRIA most SARDAM thoughtful, sweetly Kernel produced columnist pieces of musical homage to the classics-and some new tunes-covered by solo acts and full bands alike. After feverishly skipping consecutive covers on the Rumors Revisited album that came free with British rock magazine, Mojo, I finally found some solace in the song, "Songbird" as performed by The Staves. Yet that moment of relief was more than solace, it was more like a moment of, this is actually quite breathtaking. While Fleetwood Mac is no stranger to being covered by everyone from the Red Hot Chili Peppers to Sister
Hazel, The Staves took their feminine, gentle wrath and spun out one of the most glorious Fleetwood Mac covers to date (Sit down Dixie Chicks). While sticking to their original harmonies and acoustic warmth, The Staves captured the 1977 song from a rejuvenated perspective, fashioning the song into something that didn't quite sound like the original-in the most non-jarring way. The Staves version of "Songbird" gets the award for most creative cover. Well done ladies. Unfortunately, it's common for artists to reproduce exactly what they hear when performing covers, but for Thom Yorke’s cover of “After the Gold Rush” by Neil Young it's not exactly like that– even though it might sound that way. Whenever Radiohead or soloist Yorke covers Young, especially in songs like "After the Gold Rush" that display a higher falsetto, Yorke simply nails it with freaky precision. The timbre in Yorke's voice when it climbs with the piano mirrors Young's hopeful vibrato entirely. Yorke's musicianship in the way he covers artists is
more of an honorable emulation than a form of interpretive expression. Few artists can actually perform another musician's work, do it justice and still remain an original artist by performing it in the most pure, untouched sense. Hats off to that crazy, little English dude for getting it oh so right. In a response to what draws him to Young's voice, Yorke said, "It was just his attitude to the way that he laid the songs down. You know, not just ‘After the Gold Rush’ but everything was all about capturing a particular moment and saying what's on his mind but putting it in a way that is semi-abstract. At the time I was listening to lots of R.E.M. and that semi-abstract thing identified with Neil Young, but obviously it was a completely different technique. But it doesn't matter what era, it's always that thing when you're laying down in your head, wherever you're at at the time, staying completely true to that and no matter what it is, staying true to that. And the temptation-especially when people start listening to what you're writing-is to worry, agonize about how things sound or how it's coming across. And it strikes me that Neil Young
has never worried about that. He's always completely stayed true. ‘Needle and Damage Done’ the only way that you could possibly write a song like that is, it just comes out of you. It's like a force of nature and I guess all good songs are like that." Finally, we have Elton John’s "Rocket Man" as performed by My Morning Jacket. In this cover, Jim James lets the leisurely ease of his voice carry the song. James swaps out the piano for his guitar and while you'd imagine an Elton John song sans the piano would be like a PB&J sandwich without the peanut butter, it actually works beautifully. The only thing that remains hanging over the lyrics is the veil of echoing hypnosis in which the song is played. With the occasional hint of slide guitar, this classic cover is recreated, brilliantly showing how less can often be more. My Morning Jacket's rendition of "Rocket Man" performed at the Forecastle Festival this summer was one for the books. Not satisifed with these three? Check out the covers that made PTI's favorite list at kykernel.com.