BACK PAGE

THE

Kentuc

Ull hockey goalie did what his mother told him to
do - and the Cool Cats love it PAGE 10

l W OUR OPlNlON

Student Government's slowly but surely (and
finally) leading itself in right direction PAGE I

ky Ke rnel

 

Thursday, November 17, 2005

Celebrating 34 years of independence

www.kykernel.com

Black students, officials talk diversity

By Dariush Shafa
m: unrucn krnuri

Administrators. faculty and stu-
dents probed diversity issues at UK
during a Black Student Union meet-
ing last night.

Topics in the discussion ranged
from admissions to discrimination
as faculty and university officials
answered students questions dur-
ing the two-hour session. with
about 10 faculty or administrators
present and about 70 members of
the Black Student Union.

“I think we haven’t, at least for-
mally, listened to what students
have to say about our diversity is-
sues,” said Phil Kraemer, associate
provost for undergraduate educa-
tion, before the discussion. “We
want to hear very open, honest ex-
pressions and work whatever way
we can."

University Registrar Don Witt
said he was glad administrators
were invited to come to the meet-
mg.

“I think it’s really time for us to
find ideas from students and fi-

nally do something about diversity
on campus." he said.

While discussing admissions,
Black Student Union President Ros-
alind Welch said UK needs to take

, action regarding the admissions
' policy and diversity. This year‘s
freshman class marks a 40 percent
drop in black freshman enrollment
from last year. In each of the past
two years, UK had seen doubledigit
percent gains in that area.

“If we want the cream-of-the-
crop black students, we need to re-
cruit like we recruit cream-of-the-

crop black athletes," she said.

Witt agreed.

“Instead of being too cautious,
we need to be aggressive and push
this." Witt said. “This is something
we can solve.”

The definition of diversity be-
came a central aspect of the discus-
sxon.

“Diversity is an issue of appre-
ciating people’s differences," said
agricultural economics and public
service and leadership senior La-
Farin Meriwether. “I think the uni-
versity makes it an issue of color."

All parties agreed discussion on
the issue needs to continue.

“If it’s uncomfortable for people
to read these things. I think we’re
pushing in the direction of aware-
ness," Witt said. “This dialogue
should never be over. It must never
go away"

Welch said black students must
be involved as UK modifies its ap-
proach to diversity.

“If you’re (the university) mak-
ing changes that affect black stu-

See Diversity on page 5

 

Safety warnings plague vans

 

 

”SMITH"

Several of UK's lS-passenger vans sit in a storage parking lot behind Nutter Field House on South Campus. UK owns 17 such
vans, and uses them as its primary source of transportation. But nine UK benchmarks have stopped using the vans.

BY THE NUMBERS:

 

3 NHTSA safety warnings in
the last four years about
the increased rollover risk
with iS-passenger vans

17

L,

9 number of UK's 19 bench-
marks that have discontin-
ued use of iS-passenger
vans in their motor pools

L,

22
L,

number of 15-passenger
vans UK owns

250.000

total average miles those
vans travel per year

University 7
I The Ohio State
University

I University of '
kfinnesota
I University of
Wisconsin

percent of 15-passenger
vans that roll over when
involved in single-vehicle

crashes

I Texas ASH University
I Penn State University
I University of Florida
I University of iiiinois
I Universz of iowa

UK's azucunahks aria
IS'PASSEUGER VANS
Currently use . V
iS-passen’ f gel-vans: .
' "Mi-ii” UNI”!
‘ a North Carolina State

I Michigan State -
7 "WWW '".".'"f""7"""
'I‘ Purdue University“ '
I UCLA » ' “ ,
I University of
I, University of North
' Carolina
I University of Virginia
IUniversity of ' ‘
“35m : f :
."m'vM' “g;
. Georgia" ,
I University of
Michigan

* hires professional drivers

More benchmarks shy-
ing away from l5-pas-
senger vans; UK isn't

By Katheran Wasson
m: kzmucxv ream

Nine of UK’s 19 benchmark
universities have discontinued
use of IS-seat passenger vans in
their rental motor pools because
of repeatedly issued safety warn-
ings and other safety concerns. Of
the 10 benchmarks that do use the
vans, eight of them require train-
ing for rental.

UK, on the other hand. uses
15-passenger vans as a primary
form of transportation and does-
n’t require training for its general
motor pool.

Results from studies conduct-
ed by the National Highway
Transportation Safety Adminis-
tration have prompted some
schools to shift to alternative ve-
hicles like shuttle buses and vans
with dual rear wheels.

“We’ve issued more advisories
on lS-passenger vans than any
other issue I’ve ever seen,” said
Rae Tyson, chief spokesman for
the NHTSA.

While UK does not plan to
switch out its fleet of 15-passen-
ger vans anytime soon, mandato-
ry training for all drivers — not
just those from UK’s College of
Agriculture — could be imple-
mented in the near future, said
Bill Peterson, director of manage-
ment operations for UK’s College
of Agriculture.

“The main thing we’re trying
to do is raise the awareness that
extra caution is necessary when
driging these vehicles,” Peterson
sai .

“It's important people under-
stand the risks associated with
using these vans,” Tyson said. “If
you’re going to drive them like a
passenger car, you’re going to get
into trouble."

In May, the NHTSA released
its third warning in four years ad~
vising consumers of an increased
rollover risk associated with 15-
passenger vans. The NH'I‘SA
found the vans are comparable in
safety to other vehicles, but fac-
tors such as seat belt use, improp
er tire inflation and the number
of passengers can change that.

Last year, the NHTSA found
that 22 percent of 15-passenger
vans roll over in single-vehicle
crashes H accidents that involve
the van and no other automobiles.

See Vans on page 5

 

 

 

PROTESTING

LACK OF DIVERSITY

“'7

auuaanlsrm

Sophomore Altanaeya Powell protests outside Patterson Office Tower yes-
terday. "If we can recruit talented basketball players, why can't we aggres-
sively recruit academic talent?" asked event organizer Letetia Richardson.

By Sean Rose
me rmum mutt

SG’s Constitutional Revision
Committee voted to increase
spending limits for election candi-
dates at a meeting yesterday after-
noon.

The second Constitutional Re
vision Committee meeting took its
first steps to restructuring Stu-
dent Government‘s elections. The
proposal will go before the full
Senate at next week’s meeting.

Committee Chair and political
science senior Will Nash, who lost
the election to Becky Ellingsworth
on a court ruling, said the elec-

 

 

www.mmzsm

SG committee proposes
raising election spending

I 56 committee enters meal plan debate
PAGE 2

tions were the first area of focus
for the committee because they
were in the greatest need of revi-
sion.

“We feel that that is the most
urgent section that needs reform.“
Nash said.

He added that candidates for
spring elections start campaign-
ing early and will need to be aware
of any major changes in the elec-

See Spending on page Z

 

UK murder
case could
get retrial

ByMeganBoehnke
Mkcunmm

Attorneys for Shane Ragland will go be
fore the Kentucky Supreme Court today ask-
ing for a new trial for the second time since
Ragland was convicted in 2002 of killing UK
football player Trent DiGiuro.

The Kentucky Supreme Court ruled a year
ago tomorrow. in a 4-3 decision, to overturn
the 2002 conviction. Attorney General Greg
Stumbo filed a petition last December, and the
court elected to reconsider its decision to
grant Ragland a new trial.

DiGiuro died from a gunshot to the head
July 17, 1994, while sitting on the front porch
of his Woodland Avenue home during his
birthday party. The case went unsolved for
five years after DiGiuro’s death until
Ragland’s former girlfriend came forward,
telling polioe Ragland confessed to her in 1995
that he had shot DiGiuro.

Ragland, who has been serving a 30-year
sentence at the Kentucky State Reformatory
in LaGrange, Ky, originally had his convic-
tion overturned on grounds that one of the at-
torneys for the DiGiuro family intentionally
commented on Ragland’s choice not to testify
against himself.

As part of his closing arguments, First As-

See Trlai on page 2

 

 

 

luv sci-en l mu
Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Halberstam reviews
his speech notes before addressing a crowd at Memori-
al Hall last night about “America and the World."

Noted author
fires away
at president

By Chris Detoteil
tut xrvrucxv rmn

The current conflict in Iraq has distinct
similarities with the failed military action
in Vietnam in the 1960s. Pulitzer Prizewin-
ning author David Halberstam said during
a speech last night in Memorial Hall.

Halberstam. who covered the Vietnam
War as a reporter with the New York Times.
said he feels the current administration has
ignored Vietnam‘s historical implications
and is repeating the same mistakes that
were made more than three decades ago.

“I‘d be very surprised if the president

Seellaherstamonpages