xt7bg7373s29 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7bg7373s29/data/mets.xml The Kentucky Kernel Kentucky -- Lexington The Kentucky Kernel 2003-01-17 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, 2003 text The Kentucky Kernel, January 17, 2003 2003 2003-01-17 2020 true xt7bg7373s29 section xt7bg7373s29 PRIDAYKENTUCKY

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Affirmative action case renews debate at UK

Effects: Proponents say affirmative actions helps
minorities. women; opponents say it lowers standards

ByEmeitagedorn

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

President George W.
Bush's disdain for the use of
the University of Michigan‘s
affirmative action program
has caused dispute at UK.

“Disbanding affirmative
action would set the country
back years," said Jessica Pers-
ley, the president of the UK

blacks and Latinos with affir-
mative action, but white
women have gained more
than anybody."

In response to a sched-
uled US. Supreme Court case
in which white students are
suing the Michigan law
school for discrimination in
admissions. Bush called the
system “divisive, unfair and

Michigan’s point system
awards 20 points. one-fifth of
the total needed for admis»
sion. to African Americans.
Hispanics and Native Ameri-
cans because of their race.

Bradley Canon, professor
of political science. said dis-
banding affirmative action
would translate into UK and
the University of Louisville
losing minority students,
while schools like Murray
State University and LCC
would gain them.

chapter of the NAACP “Peo-
ple are so quick to mention

Constitution."

impossible to square with the

Canon said Bush‘s stance
could have an effect. “When a

government takes a side. that
side usually prevails two-
thirds of the time." he said.

Advocates of Bush‘s
stance say affirmative action
can have negative effects.

“A lot of minorities are
accepted at lower standards,"
said Kellen Baker, president
of UK College Republicans.
“It sets them up for failure."

Baker agreed that some
program should be in place to
help minorities. but said a
strict system of allotments for
minority students does more
harm than good.

 

"1t hinders minorities be-
cause it sets up an atmos-
phere where they're looked at
as a number,“ he said.

UK Admissions staff
could not comment on if UK
uses race as a factor in admis-
sions decisions.

Allan Vestal. dean of the
college of law. said the stu-
dent and faculty members of
the college's admissions com-
mittee place as much weight
as they see fit on race and all
other factors. but no formal
system is used.

Emery Wilson. dean of

the college of medicine, said
race. as well as many other
factors. is looked at for admis-
sion. He said the college tries
to get a representative demo
graphic of Kentucky

"A lot of times. women
like to go to women doctors.
and minorities like to go to
doctors of their own race," he
said.

The Supreme Court will
hear the case in March.

“(The court) could say
universities can never again
take race into account."
Canon said.

 

FINDING A CENTER

Journalism and political science sophomore Jessica Parker talks with theater senior Jason 'l'hompson and English sophomore Ash-
ley E. Hayden In the Martin Luther King Jr. Cultural Center, room 124 of the Student Center. "it's a good place to meet and greet

for IIIhorIty students." Hayden sid.

King Cultural Center is ‘a second home’ for some

In memoriam: Opened on the first national Martin Luther King Jr. day,
center brings together artists, writers, musicians, actors and students

By Ben Etonzinl
STAFF WRITER

For La Toya Smith. the Martin Luther
King Jr. Center is not just a place to work,
but a place to find a strong, supportive
community with other African-American
students.

“On a primarily white campus. it's
great to have a support group to come to,"
said Smith, a junior psychology major who
also works as an office assistant at the
King Cultural Center. “There's always
something going on here, you don't really
have a slow moment.”

In January 1987, coinciding with the
first national observance of Martin Luther
King’s birthday, the Martin Luther King Jr.
Cultural Center was opened on UK’s cam-
pus.

For 15 years, the center's program-
ming has served as a vital resource of
cultural, educational and social activi-
ties. Lectures, concerts, Workshops semi
nars, exhibits and theatrical perfor-
mances have broadened and enriched the
educational experience of many students.
The center also offers cultural programs
and serves as a meeting place for organi-
zations.

Those who work at the center plan
events and bring speakers, intellectuals

Since I came to UK, I’ve made a really close-knit group of

and performers to UK’s campus.

“The purpose of the center is as viable
today as when we first began,” said
Chester Grundy, director of African-Amer-
ican Student Affairs and director of the
center.

“For students to realize their maxi-
mum potentials, they must have a very
strong sense of who they are," said
Grundy. “You come to know that by learn-
ing about your ancestral history and cul~
ture.”

On any given day. the King Cultural
Center is a buzz of excitement. Students
meet to do homework, eat lunch or just
talk. Films of black performers are shown.
Future events are planned.

“Students take part in putting together
programs and activities, making them feel
like the cultural center is theirs," said Ri-
cardo Nazario-Colon. assistant director of
the center.

The center has offered cultural pro-
grams. including speakers ranging from
Alex Haley, who wrote “Roots." to Spike
Lee, a famed director. and concerts from
the Boys Choir of Harlem and the John
Coltrane Memorial Band. It has also
sponsored dance performances by the
Alvin Ailey Dance Theater and the Na-
tional Dance Company of Trinidad and
Tobago.

See CENTER on 2

friends here at the center.”

- Chante Corey, marketing and management freshman

 

 

 

mam l KEINELSTAFF

Honoring MLK

Lexington's annual
Martin Luther King Jr.
Celebration will be held
downtown on Monday.
Jan. 20. The Freedom
March will begin at 10
am, with lineup begin-
ning at 9:30 am. at
Heritage ilall. '

Following the march.
a program honoring
King's work in civil
rights will be held in
Heritage Hall.

Susan L. Taylor, se-
nior vice president of
Essence Communica-
tions and editorial direc-
tor of Essence magr
zine, will be the keynote
speaker at that event.

 

 

Snow cancellations
rare for UK students

. ”T I
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Jottil IAIPLER l ksnmsmr

Brewing the weather

Undeclared freshman Elné Steyn talks with her cell phone under-

neath her hood Thursday.

NO DAY FOR A SNOW DAY

By Emily Burton
STAFF WRITER

While icy winds slice
through the Bluegrass and
traffic slows to a crawl.
many students in Lexington
are celebrating a day of free-
dom — a snow day.

However. UK students
are not usually so lucky.

Jack Blanton. the man
with the power to declare a
snow day. has yet to call
school off since his appoint-
ment as vice president for
administration.

“It takes a lot to close
down an entire university".
Blanton said. “We have a
hospital. police station.
physical plant division. not
just classes."

If there is a question
about road conditions on a
school day. Blanton gets
travel conditions from sever-
al sources.

“The UK police drive the
roads. we find out if the Lex—
ington bosses are running.
get reports from the state
police and the grounds de»
partment. All of this hap-
pens before 6 am." Blanton
said. "They see what the
sidewalks are like. what the
parking lots are like."

The grounds depart
ment plays a huge part in
campus cleanup during the
early morning hours before
students flock to campus.

“Last year we used

 

about 200 tons of salt on
campus." said George Rid-
dle. superintendent of
grounds. “That's about aver-
age for us. [The weatherper—
son] said we were going to
get three to six inches, and
now it‘s one to three. so we
never know what we‘re go-
ing to get."

Blanton said there was a
question of cancellation
once last November. but the
last major snow break was
in the ‘70s.

“I used to have an office
in the old administration
building. and my window
was about eight feet from
the ground. My rule was
that I would cancel school
when the snow reached my
window." Blanton said with
a laugh.

One the major draw-
backs of calling off classes
is the cost to the university.
Blanton said.

“The professors get paid
come hell or high water.“ he
said. "And there is not tu-
ition remission either."

Finally. if a university
cancels too many days, they
can get in trouble with cred-
itors. people who monitor
and mandate how many
hours a course is in session

”It's not like a public
school systef‘n." Blanton
said "We can't extend the
school year. Commencement
comes when commencement
comes "

 

 2I FRIDAY. JANUARY 172003 I KENTUCKY KENNEL

ALL THE NEWS THAT F ITS

The Low-down

It was a
discovery.
They
were not
declared.”

Hiro Iloki,
spokesman
for the UN.

weapons

inspectors in
Iraq. on
finding 11
empty
chemical
warheads
that Iraqi
officials had
not
mentioned in
their
declaration.

U.N. inspectors make ‘discovery'

BAGHDAD. Iraq An inspection team
st‘.ll‘(‘lllllg bunkers in southern Iraq on
Thursday found 11 empty chemical war—
heads that Iraqi officials had not declared to
the United Nations. 21 UN. spokesman said.
li'aq insisted that it had reported the rock»
ets. which it said were old and never used
tor chemical weapons. Also Thursday. in-
spectors searched the homes of two lraqi
scientists 111 Baghdad for the first time. One
of the them. a physicist, left with inspectors.
but it was unclear if there was any connec-
tion between the home search and the dis-
covery of the munitions. Debate immediate-
ly began about whether the warheads con—
stituted a material breach under UN. Reso-
lution 1141. The Bush administration said
the inspections should not go on indefinitely
chi'uging Iraq has refused to provide full
weapons distl losuie. ""Thetes no point in
continuing forever. going on. if Iraq is not
ioopei ating. said State Department
spokesman Riihatd Bouchet US. officials.
speaking on the condition of anonymity.
said the discovery may not amount to a
“smoking gun” unless some sort of chemi-
cal agent is also detected. Key questions
about the find are whether any chemical
weapons were ever loaded into the 0rd-
nance. and. if so. when. officials said. The
122 111111 warheads were found in bunkers
built in the late 1990s at the Ukhaider Am-
munition Storage Area. 70 miles south of

Baghdad Him I eki. the inspectors'
spokesman in Baghdad said in a statement
The team examined one of the warheads
with X- -ray equipment and took away sam-
ples tot chemical testing, the statement
added Ueki told The Associated Press the
shells were not accounted for in Iraq 3 decla-
ration. "It was a discovery. They were not
declared."

Mudslides kill dozens in Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO. Brazil Mudslides
triggered by torrential rain slashed through
shzintytowns and buried houses in south-
eastern Biazil Tl hutsday. killing at least 27
pt ople in two states authorities said. At
le. 151 24 people were killed in Minas Gerais
state and three mote people died in neigh-
boring Espirito Santo state. according to civ-
il defense officials. According to Minas
Gerais state civil defense officials. 70 people
were injured. They said hundreds of homes
were destroyed and more than 6,000 people
tied. Worst hit was Belo Horizonte. a city of
2 million about 210 miles northwest of Rio
de Janeiro. where at least 17 people died.
said fire department spokesman Lt. Gertel

NOT GAY:

Tom Cruise won
a $10 million
defamation judg-
ment against

a porn actor
who allegedly
told the French
magazine Actus-
tar that he had
a gay affair with
the actor,
Cruise's attor-
ney said. Chad
Slater, whose
stage name was
11er Bradford,
had said previ-
ously he never
met Cruise and
defaulted on the
$100 million
lawsuit in Au-
gust 2001. "I
hope by default-
ing, Mr. Cruise
will finally get
what he is after
and I can finally
start to put my
life back in or-
der," Slater said
in a statement
at the time.

The default mo-
tion did not indi-
cate Slater
admitted wrong-
doing, but was
an acknowledg-
ment he did not
have the money
to fight the law-
suit and would
not contest It.
Slater, who has
made a series of
porn films and
gay-themed
wrestling videos,
could not be lo-
cated for com-
ment Wednes-
day.

Vaz de Souza. In Morro das Pedras. a hill-
side slum near Belo Horizonte. a wall of
mud buried a house and trapped six broth»
ers and three cousins aged 6 to 19. Souza
said. Rescue workers made contact with a
boy under the rubble. but a second mudslide
buried the child and forced Workers to move
back. “It was horrible.“ Souza said by tele-
phone. “One minute they were talking to
him. and the next he was gone." Digging
with hoes shovels and their bare hands
workers pulled out two bodies before sus-
pending work because of the risk of furthet
mudslides Souza said. In the nearby Vila
Cafezal district firefighters pulled the bod-
ies of four people from the rubble of a house
buried by the mud. Souza said.

Special Forces arrive in Colombia

BOGOTA. Colombia # Dozens of US.
Green Berets flew in to a Colombian war
zone this week to train Colombian army
troops to protect a key oil pipeline from
rebel attacks a US. official said Thursday
The arrival of the members of the 7th Spe-
cial Forces Group marks a turning point in
US. involvement in Colombia's civil war.
Previously. US. military aid and training
was restricted largely to battling cocaine
production which rebels and rival paramili
tary gunmen profit from fueling the war.
But the Bush administration with approval
from the US Congress has decided the US
military assistance should expand into help-
ing Colombia combat the rebels. About 60
US. trainers began arriving earlier this
week, joining about 10 others already sta‘
tioned in Arauca state on Colombia‘s east-
ern border with Venezuela. said the US. offi-
cial. speaking on customary condition of
anonymity. On Thursday, about 20 US.
troops drove up to Arauca airport in jeeps.
then unloaded equipment. including mili-
tary vehicles, from an arriving plane, ac-
cording to a reliable witness who insisted on
anonymity. Numerous shipments of equip-
ment and supplies are expected over the
next few weeks, the US. official said.

Man kills himself with guillotine

LONDON — A 36-year-old man killed
himself with a homemade guillotine set up
in his bedroom police said Thursday. Boyd
Taylor 8 body was found Monday by his fa-
ther, also named Boyd. Northumbria police
said. Taylor rigged a timer to the device and
apparently set it to kill him early Monday
police said. But police would not comment
Thursday on widespread news reports that
Taylor put a bed under the guillotine. “This
is a very unusual case, said Andrew Ward
a spokesman for Northumbria police.
“There is no indication yet of what made
him do this." Northumbria police said the
death was not considered criminally suspi-
cious, and they were not seeking anyone else
in connection with the incident.

compiled from wire reports

 

CENTER

Continued from paqel

“The cultural center
has become like a second
home to me." said (‘hante
Corey. a marketing and
management freshman.
“Since I came to UK I‘ve
made a really close-knit
group of friends at the cen-
ter. We're all in here every
single day."

The King Cultural
Center. in room 124 of the
Student Center. contributes
to the recruitment and re-
tention of African-Ameri-
can students by aiding in
the development of a more
hospitable and supportive
campus environment.
Smith said.

She said students try-
ing to decide where to go to
college look for a place
they can see becoming
their home. and the cultur~
al center is an element of
what makes UK like a
home.

“When possible stu-
dents see the cultural cen
ter. they instantly see what
it has to offer," Smith said.
“It is a very inviting place."

Although the center is

Journalism fresh-
man Tracy Bonilia,
ore-physical thera-
py freshman Aaron
Stevenson and Eng-
lish freshman Leti-
cia Johnson share a
laugh at the Martin
Luther King Cultur-
al Center.

SCOTT LASHINSKY

primarily geared towards
African American stu‘
dents. it is a place where all
are welcome anti can bene
tit from what it has to offer.
said Nazario-(‘oloir

“This is an inclusive
place, A place where any-
one can make their home."
he said.

That inclusion offers an
educational experience.
Grundy said. As more peo-
ple are exposed to what the
King (‘ultural (‘enter has to
offer. those attending events
become more culturally and
ethnically diverse. he said.

“Martin Liither King
Jr. had a great vision for
the United States 111 terms
of all people being treated
equally and respected."
said Nazario-Colon.

“Through the cultural
center. we are able to pro-
mote these ideas." he said.

From its inception. the
King Cultural Center has
served as an “oasis" of rich
culture. said Grundy.

"For African-American
students. the King Cultural
Center serves as a mirror
to give them an accurate re-
flection of themselves and
their ancestry.“ he said.
“For others it can serve as
a window to view another
culture and gain a greater
understanding of our
world,“

 

Corrections

A story in Thursday's Kernel listed an incorrect date
for the GymKats‘ meet against LSU and Centenary. That
meet will be tonight at 7:30 at Memorial Coliseum.

To report an error call The Kentucky Kernel at 257~

1915.

 

 

 

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 Scene

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Scene Editor

Phone 2574915 | Email: pettyqtrllae‘notmailtom

 

 

THETOPIOZOOZ

A LIST OF THE TOP 10 BEST SELLING
ALBUMS OF 2002.

\liUR( l‘ .\1\.Nlt(

Eminent
' The Eminem Show
7.4 million copies

3 Avril Lavigne- Let Go-

Pinli
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I A LIST OF THE TOP IO CROSSING MOVIES
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9. Ice Age - $176 million

. 10. on Another Day- $153 million

 

 

. I t ’ s
that time
of year ‘
a g a i n 2
when‘ the
trees are
bare. cam-
pus is dead
and _ the
Kernel
Scene sec—
tion needs ‘
new. innovative ideas
I, along with my assis-
, Atant editor, Robbie Clark.
- want to make the Scene sec-
tion of the Kernel'a part of
the paper to which people
can really relate. You know.
one of those sections readers
can count on day to day to
give them the latest greatest
coverage on their topic of
choice
After some brainstorm-
' ing over coffee. Robbie and I
have a list of [expectations
for the Scene I'd like to pre-
sent as a guide for us and a
. tool for our readers to bring
us new ideas they might
wish to contribute.
. The Scene section will:

' Cover campus events
of human interests: we try to
cover as many campus
events as possible. but there
are so many. it’s easy to miss
a few. Feel free to stop inand
give us a heads-up.

' Brief our readers. on
more cultural. .entertain—
ment and arts events: we get
many ideas from press re-
leases and what seems to be
popular at the moment. but
word of mouth is often a
good way of circulating dif-
ferent ideas. and we welcome
them from students and fac-
ulty. .
’ Cover more interesting
students: we have a feeling
there are really interesting

lifestyles out there and while-

we ve touched upon a few ec-
centric students. we want
more.

’ Provide stories con-
taining helpful insights and
strategies for dealing with
difficult situations and/or
experiences in college such
as weight control. depres-
sion. drinking. academic

achievement and adjusting
to changes. We have covered
many of these issues in the
past but this year we want
to cover them looking at the

stories from a fresh perspec .

tive.

“ We‘ve tossed around
the possibility of starting a
weekly advice column or
comical break. We’d like the
input of students to see if
they would look forward to
reading something like this.

.. More than anything, .

we want to make our section
more interactive with the
student population. We are
well aware that the Kernel
crossword puzzles provide
hours of fun,.but this is your
paper! The Kernel can pro-
vide students with the oppor-
tunity to express their opin-
ions

If you have any ideas to
contribute please call me at
257-1915 or just drop by the
office in the basement of the
Grehan Building. room 035.

Take advantage of your .

freedom to express and visit

. the Kernel.

 

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KENTUCKY KERNEL l FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2003 |

 

 

 

swanwvalNI Ca"

 

2003 Men's and Women ‘s
Intramural Basketbal/ Leagues
«Rosters and fees are due Tuesday. the 215i
by me Close of the Johnson Center In the
new Intramural offices r0 Om 772A.

-Entry fee: $25 per team,
-UK intramura/s are open to all current UK

and LCC students and a// regular UK and
100 faculty and staff.

For-more information cal/
25 7 6584

 

 

UK Summer Study Abroad Fair

January 23 2003

9:30 - 2:00

First floor. South hall. Whitehall Classroom Bide.

Don't delay: summer study abroad deadlines are fast approaching!
opportunities exist for study in nearly two dozen countries abroad.

Faculty representatives and returned student participants
from‘UK summer programs abroad will be present to answer questions.

Sponsored by the UK Office of International Affairs.
l 12 - 113 Bradley Hall. 257.4067. ext. 229 or 236. .

 

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for a way to break America‘s cultural strangle-
hold on the world. you're in luck.

Tawfik Mathlouthi has created Mecca Cola
as a way of protesting American policies.
Mathlouthi says he came up with the idea
when he noticed his lU~year~old enjoyed eating
at McDonald‘s and drinking Coke. Angered
that his 10-yearold wasn't participating in his
protest. Mathlouthi created Mecca Cola so the
kid Wouldn‘t support America by drinking a
product of one of its corporations.

That'll teach us.

Bearing a label that looks suspiciously fa—
miliar. Mecca (‘ola's cans and bottles tell con»
sumers "No more drinking stupid. Drink with
commitment." That's the first time I‘ve ever
had a pop can try to insult me.

Mathlouthi‘s approach is pretty hypocriti-
cal. First of all. he wants to be a competitor
with Coca-Cola. but he stole Coke's label. The
Mecca Cola labels are red and even feature a
white ribbon design. The whole idea seems
pretty opportunistic. which is something else
he‘s stealing from American companies. To
me. it seems like he's just merchandising anti-
Americanism.

He even says. “If there’s a war. you'd have
an extraordinary flare-up of Mecca Cola." I‘m
sure he'd hate that. Ten percent of the profits
will benefit a Palestinian children‘s fund.
though never in cash in order to ensure
against aiding terrorism.

Mathlouthi. though. says he‘s not against
America. “We love America opened to the
world. We don't like this America. very danger
ous and very strong against others." Yeah. and
once in seventh grade I snapped a kid with a
rubber band. and then said I was sorry. I wasn’t.

But he doesn't seem to care if his slogan
sparks more anti-American feelings.

“It is not my problem. It is the problem of
the US. administration. If they want to change
anti-US. sentiment. they must change their
policies and their double standards on human
rights and politics.“

If you want to make a statement against
this present administration. Mathlouthi, why
don‘t you try inventing an electric car? It's ob»
vious to me that Mathlouthi is pandering. but
he is doing it well.

He is selling a fake moral high ground to
people and making a decent profit in the
process. It reminds me of bands making fun of
rock stars while trying hard to become rock
stars. I‘m not saying Mathlouthi does not be-
lieve everything he is saying. but using it to
make money calls some of it into question. I
found myself wondering if Coke could sue
based on the similarity of their cans.

Then there‘s the fact that Mathlouthi hired
chemists in France to get as close to Coke's for-
mula as possible. Coke could probably make a
case. but doing so would not help its percep-
tion in the Arab world where its sales are slip-
ping thanks to Mecca Cola. I don't understand
how you demonstrate your anger toward
America by stealing one of its most popular
products. wrapping it in a shroud of a particu-
lar ideology. and selling it to a disenfranchised
population. It sounds like something an Amer-
ican company would do.

There are people who agree with me. and
they are appalled that the holiest city in Islam
is being used to hock a soda.

I don't want to give the impression that I‘m
against free enterprise or anything like that.
Tawfik Mathlouthi can sell all the pop he
wants.

I disagree with his assertion that his son is
a bad Muslim because he enjoys eating at Mc-
Donald‘s. McDonald‘s has good food. Using
American tactics to protest American policies
gives tacit approval to America.

Mathlouthi's idea seems to be confused.

Chris Richetts writes for The Oracle (Univ. oi South
Florida). His views do not necessarily represent
those of the Kernel.

DIA OED

KENTCKYKRNEL

Editorial Board
Will Messer. Dialogue editor

Josh Sullivan, asst. Dialogue editor

iracy Kershavv, editor in chief

   

Travis Hubbard, SportsDaily editor

 
    

Amanda Hardaway. cartoonist
Therese Bratten, cartoonist
John Wampler, photographer
Wes Blevins, columnist

 

 

 

 

 

 

JlLQllRJlElNlflii

ban County Council.

city with UK.

to UK.

Isaac should consider:

 

Earlier this month, Lexington welcomed its
new mayor, Teresa Isaac. She’s already started set-
tling in, hiring staff and mediating the infighting
that’s already begun on the Lexington-Fayette Ur-

Lee Todd made the improvement of the UK-
Lexington marriage one of his top priorities dur-
ing his initial time as president, and, by most ac-
counts, he has been extremely successful. Now it
is time for Isaac to follow Todd’s lead. The coun-
cil no longer has the convenient scapegoat of a
stand-offish Charles Wethington to explain its lack
of initiative in enacting policy relating

- Continue working on the Town & Gown ini-
tiative. The Urban County Council has come up
with some creative ideas at reviving downtown
and connecting it with UK. For instance, the city
is currently investigating a plan that would help

Ideas for Mayor Isaac
to improve UK, city

UK faculty and staff finance houses within walk-
ing distance from UK. This would alleviate traffic
in Lexington — a problem discussed extensively
during the mayoral campaign — while helping the

UK community at the same time.

So now that Isaac has been sworn in and begun
to build her administration, she should start to
think of ways to advance the relationship of her

- Look into extending bar hours. McCarthy’s,
Cheapside and Redmon’s are examples of down-

town bars that do booming business, helping stim-

ulate the Lexington economy and encouraging
people to come downtown. Extending closing time
one hour until 2 am. would undoubtedly funnel
more money from the masses of UK students who
barhop every weekend into the city. Of course, the
city should also look at how this would affect the
safety of Lexingtonians. But college cities of com-
parable size — such as Knoxville and Athens —

have 2 am. closing times.

But to avoid sounding whiny without offering
anything constructive, here are some ideas that

' Speaking of safety, something needs to be

done for pedestrians on Limestone. Every day, UK
students take their lives into their hands by dodg-

ing speeding vehicles. Granted, a lot of these stu-
dents are jaywalking. But with more crosswalks
or even skywalks — like the one connecting Cen-
tral Campus to the South Limestone parking
garage —— this danger could be greatly reduced.

 

 

Foreign policy will make or break Bush's future

Uh oh ., the presi-
dent who once possessed
job approval ratings in
the high 805 and low 90s
is slipping. taking a pre-
cipitous drop in the last
week. Granted. this is not
1991. but President
George W. Bush has seen
his precious shield begin
to shred away This is in
part because of his fail-
ure to generate mass apr
peal for his new tax cut package. But Bush is
suffering more from his recently uncovered
ineptness in what was thought to be the
biggest arrow in his quiver: foreign policy.

it is a well known fact that the vast mar
iority of Amerit :ins would losc no sleep with
an abdication of Saddam Hussein. but people
are concerned with the idea of a war itself
(as I'N thief weapons inspector Hans Blix's
report looms tili‘t raft ('Eii‘l‘lt‘i‘\ ready them
selves for combat) Politirzil commentators
have noticed Ill. overall appetite for war but
not iii :ippctitc tor sacrifice Americans be
lieve the piignacious president of lraq pus
svssvs chemical and biological weapons and
{lip keenly rumor of his past transgressions.

u.
Guest

mm

but then they take a gander at a remote out—
post in the Far East and they wonder.

North Korea captured President Clin-
ton‘s full attention in 1994, but he knew then
what Bush knows today: the US. has few op-
tions in this nation. Liberals are trying to
persuade the American public that Bush has
bungled the situation in Pyongyang. leading
to assertions that double standards are com-
monplace in the White House. Perhaps. Bush
achieved his greatest heights by adopting a
line of rhetoric that “evil-doers“ in the world
needed to be dealt with in a swift and deci-
sive manner. After several moments of