xt7ht727dd69 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7ht727dd69/data/mets.xml The Kentucky Kernel Kentucky -- Lexington The Kentucky Kernel 1978-03-08 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, March 08, 1978 text The Kentucky Kernel, March 08, 1978 1978 1978-03-08 2020 true xt7ht727dd69 section xt7ht727dd69 Students aren't alone

Substandard housing plag

By GREGG FIELDS
Copy Editor

(Note: This is the first of a three-
part series about urban housing in
Lexington and other cities)

Students are usually the first to
complain about poor housing.
However, they are not the only ones
with that problem. .

An estimated 2025 percent of
Fayette County’s non-student
residents — concentrated primarily
in the South Hill, lrishtown,
GeOrgetown and Kenwick neigh-
borhoods -— live in substandard
housing, according to spokesmen for
Lexington’s HOusing Services
Division (HSD).

Financing is the biggest problem
delaying improvements for local
substandard housing. “There’s a lot
of redlining in these areas,” said
Anna Johnson, HSD administrator.

Redlining is a banking practice of
refusing to make improvement
loans in low-income neighborhoods.
Often, insurance companies will not
sell policies in a redlined area.

As a result of redlining, most

Volume LXIX, Number 114
Wednesday, March 8, 1978

residents must depard on govern-
ment funding to upgrade their
property. However, funding is
limited.

One program designed to renovate
substandard housing is known as the
“312 Program." This program,
funded by the Department of
Ilousing and Urban DevelOpment
(HUD), allows improvement loans
Of up to $27,500 per single unit
dwelling at three percent interest.

Barbara Tutt, a rehabilitation
loan program officer with HSD, said
that a major 'problem with the
program is finding contractors to do
the work.

“MOSt contractors do it from a
public service standpoint,” she said.
“I’m sure most of them make less
money doing work for us than they
could on a similar job for sameone
else.”

The program, so far, has aided in
the restoration approximately 70
dwellings, acccording to Tutt.
“We’re getting the worst cases
first," she said. .

Lexington has also received $1
million for rehabilitation through a
community deve10pment block

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grant from HUI). Tutt said $750,000
of the grant has already been
designated for individual projects.

The lack of money is not the only
reason for Lexington’s large
quantity of substandard hmsing,
according to BSD officials.

“Until the city gives us some
power to hit the landlords where it
hurts in the pOcketbook —— this is
the way it’s going to be," said Doug
BishOp, a housing inspector.“ln
other cities, inspectors can give
citations on the spot, just like a
policeman," he added.

Inspectors in Lexington must mail
notices to landlords when they find
housing violations and state a
timetable f0r improvements. If the
landlord fails to make the necessary
impr0vements he must appear
before the Minumum Housing
Standards Board where the matter
is usually resolved.

“We need a housing court,”
Johnson said. “It’s hard to prosecute
a housing case under Kentucky’s
court system."

Refusing to elaborate, Johnson
also claimed that HSD court cases
are usually unsuccessful because Of

"politics.“

’l‘he most frustrating housing
situation is lrishtown, according to
Bishop. “They‘re r0ugh people down
there," he said. “They'll live in
some Of the worst housing in
Lexington and refuse to move out."

The majority of dwellings in
lrishtown are oneroomvwide frame
houses known as “shotgun shacks."
BishOp estimated the average rent
at $175 a month.

Bishop said that a particular
lrishtown landlord, McKinley Elam,
is the source of most tenant com-
plaints. But, he said, “People back
down when you confront them in
front 01' the landlord: I think they‘re
afraid of him."

When contacted, Elam said about
the complaining tenants: “Some
want free rent; they tear the houses
up. They run the utilities up and we
have to pay for it."

Elam also said his houses are in
better condition than most
surrounding hOuses. “We try to keep
them this way to get the better class
of tenants,“ he explained. “They
(the buildings) pass the in-
spections."-

an independent student n

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k . ,h 1’ >_'
RU"! Momnyy

'My Old Kentucky Home’

It's doubtful Stephen Foster had these Irishtown houses in mind when
Ire wrote “My Old Kentucky llome." Similar housing exists in
Lexington‘s Georgetown, South Ilill and I’ralltown neighborhoods.

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University of Kentucky
Lexington. Kentucky

Athletic merger could create problems

BY JEANNE WEHNES
Copy Editor

In 1972, a law was passed that
became the ERA of education. It is
he Education Amendments of 1972.

There is a lot of misunderstanding
about the law, especially Title IX,
which deals with equal Opportunity
for women in federally-funded
schools.

Title IX affects scholarships.
Donations made to universities
specifically for a certain sex cannot
be accepted unless a matching fund
for the other sex is provided. If a
college or university cannot match
the donation, it must refuse the
scholarship money. The ultimate
loser is the student.

Athletics is possibly the most
volatile area effected by Title IX. No
longer may physical education
classes segregated in non-contact
sports. Interscholastic teams must

be provided for both sexes if demand
is great enough. A recent decision in
Ohio said high schools must allow
girls in contact sparts, such as
wrestling and football, if they meet
requirements for the team and no
team is provided for women.

The Department of Health,
Education and Welfare's Office for
Civil Rights is responsible for en-
forcement of the law. It said
women’s athletics must have
“comparable eqmlity” with men’s
programs. It does not decree a
dollar-for-dollar budget for sports
programs but calls for a
“reasonably equal“ program for
women.

There seems to be a lot Of con-
fusion in reaching Title IX goals.
Different branches of HEW have
offered a plethora Of contradictory
Opinions which have been in-
terpreted innumerable ways by
schools trying to define “com-
pliance.”

Top treatment

Engineering students

By NANCY GWINN
Kernel Reporter

Qualified chemical engineering
seniors are reaping the benefits that
accompany a high demand for their
skills in the current job market.

UK senior Mark Tipton recently
flew to New Orleans and enjoyed a
stay in a French Quarter hotel. He
spent most Of his time interviewing
with Exxon Oil Company and dining
at loeal restaurants.

When he returned home, he
itemized his expenses not covered
by the cash advancement he
received, mailed it to Exxon and
was soon reimbursed for his all his
expenses.

“It's nice to be treated nice," said
Tipton about his job interview. “But
that‘s not really something to base
your decision on."

According to Ray Tickner,
coordinator of professional em-
ployment for Exxon, the procedure
is standard fare among industrial
firms considering young graduates
for employment.

Tipton, like many other students
going through the job-hunting
proeess, got his initial contacts with
Exxon through UK‘s Placement
Service.

Col. James Alcom, Placement
Service director, said the companies
contact his office to schedule the
interviews. Generaliy, a bulletin
about the interviews is circulated to
studarts and appointments are set
up.

“When I promote a student here at
the University," said Alcom, “I am
trying to sell the student as our
product to the company." And,
according to Alcom, if the right

impressions are made, the pr0cess
becomes reversed.

James Elder, who receives his
BS. in chemical engineering in
May, has been flown to San Fran-
cisco, Baton Rouge, Cincinnati and
Fort Arthur, Texas.

While in San Francisco, he
received a rental car, hotel room,
and spent time sightseeing, in ad—
dition to interviewing with Exxon.
On all of his trips, eva‘y expense
was paid for by his prospective
employer.

Tickner said that financing the
expenses incurred by prospective
employees is the only “fair and
logical” way there is of letting
graduates visit the site of their
possible emplOyment. The cost of
such a visit is usually nOt affordable
on a studerrt‘s budget, he said.

Tickner said the practice also
demonstrates the company’s in-
terest in prospective emplOyees and
is an effective policy in a com-
petitive job market.

Exxon does not arrange for any
special wining or dining, Tickner
said. He said the company provides
every visiting interviewee with a
host and it is the discretion of the
host where the prOspective em-
ployees tour or dine.

Melissa May. another graduating
chemical engineer, has gone to
Houston, Baton Rouge, and Venitia.
('alifomia. Hotel rooms and meals
were provided on all of her trips. at
the expense of the companies. May
said that despite these extras. job
interviewing remains tiring and
unnerving.

“If you are a woman, it‘s
definitely a plus," she said. “Of
course, any qualified engineer is

It is almost universally accepted
that funding is the sole problem in
complying. Many universities are
having trouble funding their
growing women’s programs.

The choices are few. Universities
can either dip into the men‘s budget
or they can merge the men's and
women’s departments.

In taking from the rich to give to
the poor, some serious problems
Occur. Many men‘s programs in this
country are funded mainly by gate
receipts from the “big time” sports.
If money is siphoned from men’s
programs, the money losers, tennis,
golf and the like, may have to be cut.

However, the revenue potential of
women‘s programs may never be
realized if an initial step is not taken.

Merging departments seems to
cause more problems than it solves.
Women athletes often feel they will
lose their autonomy in a male-
dominated department. They

question whether funding will be any
different or facilities any more
accessible after a merger. Men fear
women will make demands that hurt
revenue—prOducing sports.

UK seems to be moving in the
right directiOn for the July 21
deadline of Title IX compliance.
lloweva‘, there are still problems in
the system.

Budgeting for women‘s athletics
was not approved by this year‘s
legislative session. Funding must
continue to come from the
University‘s general fund. But with
limited money and increasing
requests from other campus
organizations, it is doubtful the
general fund is the total answer.

An auxilary problem is facilities.
UK‘s only fully-competitive gym
must be shared by many men’s and
wornen‘s teams. An added degree of
cOOperation by the coaches and staff
of both programs would ease current
tensiOns and, to some extent, rectify

enjoy job intervieWs

sought after in this way."

According to Tickner. pressures
applied by the federal government
through the Equal Employment
Opportunities Bureau have resulted
in a very competitive job market for
professional women.

He said that his company has little
trouble finding qualified women to
emplOy, but that smaller companies

bring it to the floor for a vote.

the Rules Committee.

 

“m today

state

AFTER MORE THAN TWO WEEKS Of trying, anti-ERA forces yesterday
were able to extract a resolution rescinding Kentucky’s ratification of the
Equal Rights Amendment from a Senate committee where it was stalled.

The Senate voted 20-18 to take the resolution from the Elections and
Constitutional Amendments Committee, which had held it since Jan. 23, and

experience more difficulties.

Alcorn said companies are in-
creasingly competitive in the job
market, but not to the extent of a
decade ago. He added that sell
tactics used by numerous companies
to hire engineers and other
graduating professionals tend to
reflect the Overall national economic
situation.

problems claimed by directors of
both programs.

UK President Otis Singletary
established an ad h0c committee to
advise him on merging the two
athletic programs. Although the
committee‘s meetings are closed to
the press, it is the Kcrnel's un-
dcrstanding that they have produced

no definitve plan.

For instance. grantsirraid must
be signed by female recruits in two
weeks but the women‘s athletic
department still doesn‘t know its
budget for the coming year. If UK is
to maintain its women‘s program. it
must know what kind of scholarships
can be offered.

Coal supplies low,
but not 'critical'

By JACK WAINWRIGIIT
Kernel Staff Writer

Although Kentucky Utility‘s (KU)
coal supply is lean, it is not critical.

“()ur situation is not serious
enough to warrant the closing Of
institutions," said Lynwood
Schrader. vice president of Ken-
tucky Utilities.

According to Schrader, KU has
been able to increase its coal supply
to 12 days, from 37 days a week ago.
“Our supply has increased because
of nonunion coal. our lead is down
and we‘re burning higher sulfur
coal," he said.

Jack Blanton, UK vice president
of business affairs, said the
l‘niversity's situation is not at a
critical stage. “If the coal supply
holds out until spring break, I don‘t
think we‘ll have to close.“ Blanton
said.

He added. however. that the
situation could change unex~
pectedly. “For instance. the Public

Service (‘ommission il’St‘i could
ask Kl' to redistribute their power to
utilities who have reached the
critical stage," Blanton said.

A decision by the miners to go
back to work under 'l‘aft-llartlcy Act
could also affect the coal supply. “If
they do go back to work, the flow of
union toal could resume and the
cutbacks could be lifted." he said.

"WK: has reached 23 percent
curtailment and could reach :30
percent and still rcmain open.”
Blantorr said. However. in order to
reach 3t) pcrccnt curtailment.
dormitOrics and hospitals would
have to be cxcrnpt, he said,

According to Blanton, many
sacriliccs huvc been made to reach
the 23 ptrccnt cutback. “We still
don't know how we did it." he said.

In order to close thc l'nivcrsity.
both the Board of 'l rustccs and the
l nivcrsity Scnatc would have to be
consulted “The final (It‘t'lSlOlI rcsts
with the president. but on an issuc of
this magnitude he would consult
with the board." Blanton added.

 

The discharge effort had twice fallen one vote short of the 20 votes
required to take a bill or resolution from a committee, both times when two
senators were absent. All 38 senators were present yesterday.

After a confusing attempt to bring the issue to a vote yesterday, the
resolution was placed on the regular calendar of the Senate. A second
showdown is expected tomorrow when the resolution would normally go to

THE KENTUCKY IlOlTSE OI" REPRESENTATIVES voted the governor
a pay raise yesterday, but narrowly defeated an amendment that would
have increasd legislators' salaries.

The House approved House Bill 622, which would raise the governor‘s
salary to $50,000 on Dec. 11. 1981. The governor would receive an interim
salary increase from $39,500 to $45,000 on Dec. II, 1979.

Lawmakers defeated an amendment that would have increased their daily
compensation during the 60day session from $50 to $75, retroactive Jan. 1.

nation

TIIE CARTER ADMINISTRATION IS M‘TIVEIN considering seizure of
coal mines if striking miners defy a back-tO-work order issued under the
Ta ft-Ilartley Act, a key White House official said yesterday.

Special trade negotiator Robert Strauss said requesting seizure authority
from Congress remains an Option in the 92