Students Protest Outsource Of UK Dining Services

As students walked by the Main Building around noon on Monday, they could hear a woman in dark sunglasses and a scarf around her head sobbing while a man comforted her.

They were both paying their respects to Kentucky Pride, as a bystander described. But a funeral on campus? Kentucky Pride?

The UK United Students Against Sweatshops protested Monday against the outsource of UK Dining Services with a procession around campus followed by a funeral.

The event titled “Funeral For Kentucky Pride and Kentucky Promise” was a remembrance of a time before outsourcing UK Dining Services was an option, according to the group’s website.

Members of the organization passed out flyers and explained to students who walked by that they are concerned with the number of jobs that would be lost and how the outsourcing would affect local farmers.

UK United Students Against Workshops has also started an online petition against the outsourcing of UK Dining Services.

Students prepare for Greek Sing: proceeds from Saturday’s event go to Make-A-Wish Foundation

By Jennifer Abreu

jabreu@kykernel.com

Chi Omega sorority and Phi Delta Theta fraternity will host the largest Greek Sing production yet, to benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation this Saturday at 9 p.m. at Memorial Coliseum.

Already the largest greek event on campus, a record number of 25 sororities and fraternities will be participating this year. Each group will perform a musical/theatrical piece based on a unique theme they have chosen.

The themes branch off the main theme, which is Greek-bred. The sorority or fraternity that accumulates the most Greek Sing points up until the day of the performance will win a grand prize of $1,000 for a charity of their choice.

Greek Sing points are obtained by donating items to the silent auction, to be held Friday, by buying event T-shirts and by attendaning the fundraising dinners organized by Chi Omega and Phi Delta Theta. The most members of a greek chapter that attend the dinner, the more spirit points that chapter receives.

In addition, there will be a first, second and third place for sororities and fraternities; and an overall winner. The groups will have five minutes to perform and they will be judged on effectiveness of the theme, how well they incorporate their chosen theme into the performance, and by using props, songs and costumes.

They will also be judged on originality, enthusiasm onstage and overall musical presentation. The members of Chi Omega and Phi Delta Theta will also be performing, but not competing. They will deliver dance performances during intermission.

Chi Omega member and Greek Sing interior chair, Jenna Musgrave, said the hard work of organizing the event pays off.

“Of course there are challenges and very high expectations, we’ve grown a lot, but it has been really enjoyable and our Make-a-Wish children are our main priority,” she said.

As interior chair, Musgrave’s job is to work with the families and the sponsors, as well as coordinate the silent auction prior to Greek Sing and the donation of items.

Musgrave said all the sororities on campus are participating in Greek Sing this year, as well as about half the fraternities. A 5-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl will be attending the event on Saturday, Musgrave said. Lisa Settle, also a Chi Omega member, is overall chair for Greek Sing this year, and she said being in a leadership role offers experiences beyond greek life.

“It has allowed me to connect with so many different people and organizations at UK,” she said. “I had the chance to learn how everything works and how much is available here.”

Musgrave said not only the chair members, but also the performers work hard in advance to meet expectations.

“It’s my favorite night of the year,” she said. “I think the whole chapter will agree that it is very gratifying in the end.”

Tickets are available for purchase at the Sudent Center ticket office, and will also be sold at the door.

Miss UK, Miss Lexington chosen at fraternity’s event

The Miss UK Pageant, put on by Delta Tau Delta fraternity, presented the new Miss UK and Miss Lexington on Friday at the Singletary Center.

Candice Cruz was named Miss UK 2013, and Stephanie Ramos was named Miss Lexington 2013.

The two winners received $500 scholarships at Images Model and Talent Agency. Each of the women who competed also won a scholarship worth $250.

First runner-up was Lyndsey Cook, followed by Hillary Lewis.

The charities benefiting from this year’s event were the Makenna Foundation and the Children’s Miracle Network.

Miss UK 2012 Ramsey Carpenter hosted the competition and was joined by the surprise emcee, Miss Kentucky Jessica Casebolt.

Among the judges were Lisa Fath, a certified judge for the Miss America Pageant and director of Royal Runway Pageants, and celebrity judge Aaron Boyd, a former UK wide receiver.

Miss UK 2013, Cruz, is a broadcast journalism senior.

Cruz sang “There You’ll Be” by Faith Hill for her talent performance.

Ramos is a broadcast journalism and early childhood development double major at Western Kentucky University.

Tri Delta member Hilary Price, who came to support her sorority sisters Caroline Hall and Madison Oxley said there is a lot of work to be done before the competition.

“The girls put a lot of work and time into preparing for their talent performance,” Price said.

Rachel Freeman, an elementary education sophomore and Tri Delta member, pointed out the pressure the contestants face onstage.

“They are put on the spot with talent performances and questions,” she said. “I don’t think they know what exactly the question will be about, so they have to be prepared for anything.”

Jenna Ferrante, a nursing freshman, said the platforms each contestant represented were inspirational to her.

“Everyone sees pageants as only a beauty contest, but it is also for their platforms,” Ferrante said. “They don’t compete just for themselves, but for a cause they support.”

Miss UK 2012 Ramsey Carpenter also highlighted the importance of the platform each contestant represents.

Carpenter’s platform is multiple sclerosis, and she shared the story of how she was diagnosed with the disease two years ago.

Nutrition and pre-pharmacy freshman Kayla Hilson said there is more work ahead for the winner and for the women involved in pageants.

“It was very interesting that Miss Kentucky talked about all the responsibilities and work she has to do,” Hilson said.

While the judges finalized their votes, Miss Kentucky Jessica Casebolt spoke about how she had to stay out of school for a year to dedicate her time to the title.

The Miss Kentucky Pageant will be June 27-29 at the Singletary Center.

UK offers first minor completely online

The School of Library and Information Science is offering the undergraduate minor in information studies completely online starting this semester.

The program is the first and only all-online undergraduate major or minor at UK.

The courses required to complete the program are IS 200 Information Literacy and Critical Thinking, IS 201 General Information Resources, IS 202 Technologies for Information Services and three electives.

Students can choose from a list of eight other courses that are all 300-plus level. Courses are taught through BlackBoard and IS 200 requires no prerequisites.

The School of Library and Information Science already offers a master’s program in library science online and had long considered offering an undergraduate program using the same structure, said Will Buntin, the school’s assistant director.

“We felt that because we have expertise in online courses and there is a growing interest in them, that we could offer an undergraduate program that would give students the same independence,” Buntin said. “It’s something that makes us unique.”

Buntin said there are many benefits for students in the program.

“It allows the students to schedule courses when they can take them,” he said. “And students are a little bit different today, they can be full- or part-time, be involved in other extracurricular activities or be working, so they can work on the course at their most convenient times.”

Although online courses may be more convenient, Buntin says they are not much different from in-class courses.

“It is a regular course where they get things done weekly, they just can adjust it around their schedules,” he said.

Professor Cheyenne Hohman agrees that “versatility and variability of online courses are their strength,” but she also wants to make sure students are pushing their boundaries and learning, she told the Kernel via email.

“I try to keep the assignments interesting, so students learn new skills and get to do assignments that require them to use the Web as a resource — and to be critical of its contents,” she said. “Sort it out, and be able to determine what information is legitimate and what is not.”

Hohman teaches IS 200 Information Literacy, which about 60 students are enrolled in across two sections. Buntin added that students can always get help on campus.

“They can have access to the faculty at any time, by phone, email, or in person,” he said.

More than 70 students are enrolled in the courses now. Classes also will be offered during the summer.

“Students who are not from around the area, when they go home in the summer they can work on their classes,” Buntin said.

Students interested in declaring a minor in information studies can do so in their respective schools and majors. There is no distinction between online and in-class courses on a transcript.

The program “is a novel experience for UK,” Buntin said.

“I don’t think (UK) will ever go completely online, but you see bits and pieces, students will be able to complement their in-class course and be able to explore academically more than they are able to now by having access to online resources,” Buntin said.

Young Latinos in Lexington voice out their opinions at the polls

More than 23.7 million Latinos were eligible to vote in this year’s Presidential election.  Some of them, from right here in Lexington.

“I voted because I could make a little difference that would help us all,” said first-time voter Jose Labarrere.

Labarrere came to the U.S. at the age of ten from La Havana, Cuba, and now has a bachelor’s degree in business. He says it’s important that Latinos participate in the elections.

“We live here as well, and the decisions made are going to affect us in our daily lives and in our future,” he said. “So it’s important we have a say, and that our lives are not in someone else’s hands.”

21-year-old Martha Orozco, also voted for the first-time this Presidential election.

“Some people say one vote doesn’t count, but I disagree. (Voting) made me feel important,” Orozco said.

Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, Orozco came to the U.S. when she was 6 years old. Voting for her is representative of many other voices in addition to her own.

“Many people who don’t have the privilege to vote want their voices to be heard, so everyone who can, should vote,” Orozco said. “There’s a lot of us, but not a lot of us who can vote.”

Gaby Baca, 23, the Hispanic Outreach Coordinator at Bluegrass Community and Technical College, said her main concern this election was economy, “jobs and what the future will look like for the middle class,” as well as immigration.

Latinos have done their part in showing Obama their support at the polls this year, and Baca said that puts more pressure on the President to deliver action in return.

“Latinos helped President Obama stay in office, even though he has deported so many people,” she said, “So I definitely expect some change in immigration — the Dream Act or some version of it, or even immigration reform.”

To keep the pressure on and see results, Latinos will have to get involved, Baca said.

She said, “This is our country and if we don’t get involved, how can we expect change?”