xt734t6f4n7m https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt734t6f4n7m/data/mets.xml The Kentucky Kernel Kentucky -- Lexington The Kentucky Kernel 1992-01-17 Earlier Titles: Idea of University of Kentucky, The State College Cadet newspapers  English   Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. The Kentucky Kernel  The Kentucky Kernel, January 17, 1992 text The Kentucky Kernel, January 17, 1992 1992 1992-01-17 2020 true xt734t6f4n7m section xt734t6f4n7m  

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Wilkinson uses speech

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to silence controversy

By GREGORY A. HALL
Associate Editor

UK Trustee Wallace Wilkinson
used an address yesterday to tlte
Lexington Rotary Club to try and
put aside the uproar that has sur-
rounded his self-appointment.

“And I’m happy to say that I
went to my first ballgame Saturday
as a UK trustee,” Wilkinson said.
“And we still won, and the sky
didn't fall. So, maybe we'll survive
it."

Jokes aside, the former governor
began presenting what he believes
is wrong with higher education, and
some of the reforms that must be
accomplished.

Wilkinson said he was not out to
hurt the University. but instead to
put it at the forefront of higher edu-
cation.

“ I love our University. and I
am loyal to it," he said. “And I
would like it to be the lead universi-
ty in this nation in reforming higher
education."

His four major concerns sur-
rounded an alarmingly low reten-
tion rate for even the brightest stu-
dents. a lack of emphasis on
teaching. a lack of accountability on
the part of universities and the esca-
lating cost of higher education.

Wilkinson cited statistics, from
an Educational Testing Service
study. which show that fewer than
half of college students who began
studying immediately after high
school graduation were able to earn
a four-year degree in seven years.

Far too many (students) are
not getting their academic creden-
tials within a reasonable time," he
said. “The ‘dropout' rate in college
is much greater than in our secon-
dary schools. We must re-examine
the teaching and learning activities
of our faculty and students to see
why this is happening, In no part of
our society, certainly not in busi-
ness, do we tolerate such a high
failure rate.”

WILKINSON

Wilkinson said that teaching is
not emphasized enough in the edu-
cation process.

“There is growing evidence that a
major part of our problem is inat-
tention to the importance of teach-
ing and to the use of inappropriate
teaching and learning strategies."
he said.

He said research must be directly
related to what should be occurring
in the classroom.

“Research and public service are
imponant functions of any major
university." he said. “I have never
expressed or suggested opposition
to either. However, research should
augment rather than detract from
the educational mission of our uni-
versities."

He also said that full-time faculty
aren‘t available enough to under-
graduates in and out of the class-
room.

“The primary mission of a uni-
versity or college should be to fur-
ther the knowledge and well-being
of its students — instead, in my
view, they‘ve become little more
than intellectual cloisters for many
faculty members to advance their
personal careers unmolested by stu-

dents."

That claim. however. was refuted
by UK President Charles Wething-
ton and a faculty member.

Wethington, who was there but
was given a copy of the Wilkin-
son’s handout. said the “vast major-
ity" of faculty teach undergradu-
ates.

“He has raised a legitimate con-
cern," Wethington said. “I simply
believe the faculty of this Universi-
ty are interested in and, in large
measure, are" teaching undergradu-
ates.

Wimberly Royster, former UK
vice president for research and
graduate studies, said Wilkinson
made some valid points but in many
cases exaggerated the truth.

“But it seems to me it‘d be wise
to learn what goes on in the class-
room before he starts attacking the
prol‘essors," said Royster, a mathe-
matics professor. “And I don’t be-
lieve he knows."

“I‘m teaching undergraduates.
I’m a full professor. My whole
class is undergraduates. I taught un-
dergraduates last semester. I taught
undergraduates the semester before.
All my colleagues are teaching un-
dergraduates. So to say that faculty
members are not teaching under-
graduates is full of crap.

“In fact, there are relatively few
professors who do only research,
and those, I would think, are those
who are hired to do that."

Wilkinson also attacked the ten-
ure system's emphasis on publish-
ing.
“Publish or perish is not a
cliche." Wilkinson said. “We re-
ward those who publish ahead of
those who teach. Story after sto-
ry relates how young professors
who receive outstanding teaching
awards are denied tenure because
they haven't published or because
they haven‘t published enough.“

Wethington said UK is already

See WILKINSON, Page 8

' independent since 1971

Friday. January 17. 1992

 

 

 

 

Despite single-digit temperatures and a wind-chill factor below zero. students managed to make
their way to 8 am. classes yesterday. Temperatures are expected to rise slightly.

 

GREG EANS/Kernet Sta."

 

 

 

Activities
highlighted
by message
ofunny

By KYLE FOSTER
News Editor

“United We Stand A Call to
Action," the theme for holiday
events honoring Martin Luther
King Jr., represents the message of
King to UK and Kentucky, said
Jerry Stevens, director of UK’s
Office of Minority Affairs Opera-
tion.

The theme is a combination of
the Kentucky motto, “United We
Stand. Divided We Fall." and
King's “I Had a Dream” speech.

“We wanted to relate something
that is familiar to the average per-
son with the holiday, which is fair-
ly new." Stevens said. “This really
isn't a holiday about a person. but
about a message that a person tried
to give us."

King was assassinated April 4,
1968. in Memphis. Tenn., during a
rally.

Stevens said King‘s message en-
courages people to come together
for a good cause.

“We hope to encourage organi-
zations and groups to find ways to
work together throughout the year.
In fact we‘re challenging them.
That‘s what this holiday is all

 

Cost — Free

Monday, January 20

Freedom March

Holiday Program
Time — 11am.
Place — Heritage Hall

Featurmg - Mama Yaa

Mir/96'
Trma - 13075.00 pm.
Place - Shiloh Baptist Church

Cost - Free

Time — 3003 30 o m

Featuring - Mama Vaa

 

Sponsors — East Second Street Christian Church
Central Christian Church

Time — to a m (assembles at 9:15)
Place - Degtns at Heritage Hall

Sponsors — Universrty of Kentucky
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government
Cost — Free (also free parking In the Patterson Street lot)
Child (over age 5)-Adult Walls/top: 'Riding the Bus wtlh Rosa'
Time —1 00-230 p m.; 423076-00 p m.
Place — Lexington Children‘s Museum

Cost — $1.50 children; 5250 adults
For Advance Registration — 258-3256

Workshop. 'Braakmg the Cycle: Creating Posmve Allernalrves for YOung Black

Sponsor — Lexrnglon Commision on Race Relations

Story- Theater 'LIang Lagacrm: Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr '
Place — Lexrngton Children‘s Museum

Cost — $1 50 children. 52 50 adults

 

"NONE 400N570“! Kernel Stall

 

about. I know everybody doesn't
think that way. but hopefully we
can encourage them to think that
way," he said.

The events began Wednesday
with a celebration at the Albert B.
Chandler Medical Center honor-
ing King.

There will be a freedom march.
sponsored by UK and Lexington
Fayette Urban County Gov-

ernment Monday at l0 am. The
march will be followed by an
hourlong commemorative program
at Heritage Hall. including speech-
es by Lexington Mayor Scotty
Baesler and UK President Charles
T. Wethington Jr. and William
Parker. former UK vice chancellor
for minority affairs. There also

See KING. Page 8

Groups plan events to remember King

Sunday, January 19
Ecumenical Worship Serwco to Celebrate the Lila 0/ Dr, Martin Luther King Jr.
Time — 5 30 pm.
Place - Central Christian Churche
Featuring — Dr. Richard Donelan. UK College of Education

Conspiracy
idea focus
of lecture

By KYLE FOSTER
News Editor

James Earl Ray was convicted
of the assassination of Martin Lu~
ther King Jr. in 1968, but some
people believe he did not act
alone.

Jeff Cohen, attorney and inves-
tigative writer. will present a slide
sh0w and lecture Monday looking
at evidence that he says strongly
suggests that Ray was part of a
conspiracy involving the FBI and
J. Edgar Hoover.

Cohen was a consultant to the
I978 House Select Committee on
Assassinations. The I978 commit-
tee concluded that Ray killed
King with one fatal shot but
“there was a likelihood“ of con-
spiracy. The panel‘s findings
were turned over to the Justice
Department and the FBI. Ray is
serving a 99-year sentence in the
Tennessee State Penitentiary.

A former director of the Assas-
sination Information Bureau. CO-
hen believes the FBI knew what
was going on bill looked the other
way.

“The lecture itself is very time

See LECTURE, Page 8

 

 

Jones suggests pay cuts
to help budget crunch

Stall, wire reports

FRANKFURT. Ky. -— A pay cut
for all state workers, including
teachers and university employees.
is one of several alternatives Gov.
Brcrcton Joncs’ administration is
considering to dodge a budget bul-
iCi.

A hiring freeze. was installed sev-
eral weeks ago and layoffs frotn the
public payroll have also been men-
tioncd.

Cabinet Secretary Kevin Hable
acknowledged Wednesday that pay
cuts were on the table. but he said
no decisions have been made. He
said he couldn’t say whether pay
cuts wcre preferable to layoffs.

“I‘m not in a position to make a
judgment on that yet," said liable.
who would not provtdc specifics
about the othcr options.

Apparcntly, one of those options
would hit UK and other state uni-
versities in their pocketbooks.

The Courierdoumal reported yes-
terday that Joncs‘ budget office
asked most state agencies to prepare
contingency budgets with If) per-
cent and IS percent cuts.

University presidents have not
been asked to submits such contin-
gency budgets for their schools. The
Courier—Joumal reported. But
Hablc told the paper that “there is a
a significant possibility that the bud-
get for the higher-education system
will be redtrccd for the next fiscal
year."

The state expects to take in about
$300 tnillion less than expected in
the next two years, though most of
the crunch is is expected in the fis.
cal year that begins July I.

 

Our No. 2 concern is of
course to keep any pay
cuts from happening
our No. 3 concern is to
keep from losing the 5
percent annual salary
increase. We would
only consider (pay
cuts) as an alternative
option to layoffs and
at this time we are not
looking at it as a
realistic option.
Charles B. Wells,
assistant director of the

Kentucky Association of
State Employees

“Because of the situation we are
in, we have to consider every op-
tion and every combination of op-
tions," Hablc said.

Administration officials also are
considering:

~Four