BUZZING FOR SUCCESS

 

WWW. KYKERNEL. COM

_|\’II)\\

to diversity at UK

Former football pioneer leads the way

SEE SCORE, PAGE 3

 

SEPTEMBER 21, 2007

KENTUCKY KERNEL

 

CELEBRATING 36 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

 

Students join in national protest for the Jena 6

Q1 Wealgy Robinson
news®kykernelcom

As a national day of action
in support of the Jena 6 took
place around the country, UK
students gathered outside the
Student Center to join in protest.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
Inc. planned the event to raise
awareness about the Jena 6. six
young black men arrested on
charges of beating a white stu-
dent in Jena. La. Many said their
charges. ranging from second-
degree assault to attempted mur-
der. were too severe and racially
motivated.

Last fall at Jena High
School, black students asked
to sit under a tree where
white students historically

sat. according to colo-
rofchangeorg.

The next day three nooses
were hung from the tree.

Tensions on campus rose af-
ter the incident. and racially mo-
tivated violence broke out
among black and white students.
After a white was student beaten
up. there was an uproar from the
community. and six black stu-
dents were arrested.

On Sept. 14. the Third Cir—
cuit Court of Appeals in
Louisiana overturned the con—
viction of Mychal Bell, who was
the first student tried and was
convicted of aggravated battery.
which could have given Bell a
sentence of 15 years in prison.
Bell. who was 15 at the time of
the beating. was tried as an

adult. District Attorney Reed
Walters said he plans to appeal
the decision, according to colo-
rofchangeorg.

For the UK protest. the
sorority showed a video. pro-
duced by democracynowcom.
about the Jena 6 on Wednesday
night to provide more informa-
tion about the incident.

The sorority hosted yester-
day‘s event to get others in-
volved and to raise awareness of
what many feel were racially
motivated charges. said Kimber
Hatton, secretary of the sorority
and nursing junior.

Hatton called the incident
“racial injustice (and) charged
from the get go."

In addition to the demonstra-
tion. students could sign a peti—

tion on provided laptops stating
that the black students were
charged too severely.

Cynthia Cain. a minister at
the Unitarian Universalist
Church in Lexington and local
activist. spoke at the vigil and
said racial injustice is not dead
and applauded “the tremendous
amount of support given and
gained through the Internet.“

Web sites such as
youtube.com and myspace.com
have been major venues in rais-
ing awareness for the Jena 6.
who have received little media
attention. said Keisha Hilson.
president of UK's Delta Sigma
Theta chapter. who found out
about the cause through face-

See Jane on page 8

ELLIOTT "£88 I STAFF

Demonstrators gathered yesterday at the free speech area at the Student
Center to show their support for the Jena 6.

 

 

BLIND FAITH

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EUJOTY HESS I STAFF

Air Force ROTC member Michael Schladt (in camouflage), an electrical and computer engineering junior, guides le'lIOf cadets from area high schools In a leadership exercise
Junior-ROTC members and seniors from area high schools were blindfolded and asked to find a rope in Stoll Field After finding the rope they had to construct a polygon with
their eyes still covered with out dropping it

Event
raises
fundsfor
smiles

By Erica Mitchell

emitchelmkykemelcom

UK dental students are looking
to bring smiles in the form of free
dental care to women and children
who have suffered domestic abuse.

Smiles for Life. sponsored by
the American Association of
Women Dentists at UK’s College
of Dentistry. will be held Saturday
from 11 am. to lz30 pm. at the
Worsham Theater in the Student
Center and will raise funds for the
dental care.

“As women in health care. we
feel it is important to raise aware-
ness on women and children’s is-
sues and hope it inspires other
health care professionals to do the
same." said Erin Caylor Langels. a
fourth year dental student and pres—
ident of the American Association
of Women Dentists at UK.

Smiles for Life will raise mon-
ey to pay for oral health care for
women and children who are resi-
dents or users of the Bluegrass Do-
mestic Violence Program in Lex-
ington.

Dental care is one of the most
neglected forms of personal care.
said Darlene Thomas. executive di-
rector of the domestic violence pro-

 

Night gathers students from over 100 countries

By Wesley Robinson

news@kykernal.com

Students interested in learning
about multicultural organizations on
campus can attend the 10th annual In—
ternational Night while celebrating dif-
ferent cultures at UK.

International Student Council Presi-
dent and event coordinator Ifedayo
Awe said the event will offer partici-
pants the chance to learn about differ-
ent student groups in a fun environ-
ment.

The event starts tomorrow at 5 in
the engineering courtyard and will fea-

ture dancing. food. fashion and perfor~
mances. making the night “less formal.
like a festival." said Karen Slaymaker.
international student coordinator and
adviser to the International Student
Council.

“International Night gives the stu-
dents a chance to promote different or-
ganizations and get more people in-
volved." Slaymaker said.

Ten student organizations will
also offer information and perfor-
mances that will explain the groups in
detail.

UK‘s International Student Council
is producing the event. which is also

sponsored by the Office of lntemation—
al Affairs. Student Government. Stu-
dent Activities Board and Student Af-
fairs.

More than 700 people attended last
year and Slaymaker said she hopes
more people come out for the event to-
day.

Shiva Parimi. a mechanical engi—
neering graduate student from India.
said lntemational Night is “a way to
show that UK is not just you and me. it
is we." and said the motto of the de—
partment. “diversity brings unity." ap—
plies to this event.

lntemational Night is also a way for

participants to find other students with
similar cultures and connect outside of
class. Slaymaker said.

With more than 1.500 intemational
students representing over 100 coun-
tries at UK. Slaymaker said “Interna«
tional Night is a great way for people to
find each other.“

Parimi. who is the vice president
of the lntemational Student Council.
agreed and said International Night is
a way to learn “how people from other
areas lead their lives and see if there
are any positives in those cultures so
that they can adopt them in their
lives.“

gram. Women often come into the
program with teeth knocked out
due to violence and with children
who have never had appropriate
dental care. she said.

The Bluegrass Domestic Vio-
lence Program will contact the col—
lege when a woman or child is in
need of dental care. Patients can
then schedule an appointment to re-
ceive oral health care from UK‘s
dental students at the college.

“This event is about bringing
back smiles to people who have not
had a lot to smile about." Thomas
said.

The funds raised during Smiles
for Life will stay with the Blue-
grass Domestic Violence Program
and will go directly to UK to pay

See Dental on page I

 

 

Annual festival celebrates city’s ‘diverse Latin cultures’

3 an lee
newsakykemolcom

Lexington residents and students
can experience everything from Latin
American food and music to cultural
presentations this weekend at the an-
nual Festival Latino de Lexington.

“It is the one time of the year to
bring the Lexington community togeth-
er to celebrate diverse Latin cultures."
said Irene Jarmon. a translator for the
festival.

The first festival in 2003 drew
thousands of people. and attendance
has been growing ever since. About
30.000 people attended last year. said
Amber Luallen. parks and recreation

A

flmhwmflu
a

cultural arts director. and she expects
more participants this year.

“We're anticipating (attendance)
could double again.“ Luallen said.

The three—day festival kicks off to—
day from 6 to ll pm. with dancing.
live music and authentic cuisine at the
Robert F. Stephens Courthouse Plaza
on North Limestone Street. Arthur
Murray Dance Studio will give a salsa
dance demonstration at 8:15 pm. and
New York-based bachata band Xtreme
will perform at IO pm.

On Saturday. participants can enjoy
live music. dancing. activities for chil-
dren. cultural presentations and exposi-
tions. and craft and food vendors from
2 to II pm. at the same location.

I

The festival continues on Sunday
from 12 to 5 pm. with sports at Mas—
terson Station Park and a regional Mex-
ican music concert at 5 pm. at Apple-
bee‘s Park. Tickets for the concert are
$15. and gates open at 4 pm.

Zulema Hernandez. president of
UK's Latin American Student Organi-
zation. said the group will volunteer
by cleaning and setting up displays for
the 20 countries involved in the festi~
val.

“It‘s a way for us to give back to the
community." Hernandez said.

Members of the Latino community
in Lexington are serving as representa-
tives for the festival's organizing oom-
rnittee. Luallen said.

“We‘ve tried to build our outreach
through the Latino community here."
Luallen said.

Other organizers are also participat-
ing in the festival as a way to express
their heritage. Luallen called it a “joint
independence day" and a “home away
from home" for certain members of the
Latino community.

Jannon. whose daughter will dress
in traditional Mexican clothing for the
opening parade. pitched in. helping
with the construction of a volcano
madefromwood.cardboardandafog
machine among other things.

People working with the festival are
proud of their heritage. Luallen said.
and that adds to the authenticity of the

event.

“(Latinos) love to share their tradi-
tions and network with people from
their country who live here." Luallen
said.

lane's: 257-1813 his“ mm
s