Intramural Sports

Intramural's at UK

The picture above is of a Flag Football Intramural Team at UK. The picture was taken from http://www.uky.edu/base/webuk/archives/spot-184.html 

For the majority of college campuses, intramural sports are a very large part of the campus (as far as student/staff involvement), and the University of Kentucky is no different in that aspect! Intramural sports are a great option for someone to take up in their time here at the University of Kentucky. According to http://www.uky.edu/studentaffairs/CampusRec/intramurals intramural sports here at UK are open to all currently enrolled students, all regularly employed and part time employed staff, and of course also BCTC students.

If you are someone who enjoys sports, interaction with other friends, and a great atmosphere then intramural sports are the answer for you! So how exactly would you go by getting evolved into an intramural sport? Well the process is actually very simple. First, on the UK intramural website, you must make yourself an account. Then you simply choose the sport that you want to play, and then select which team you would like to be a part of. If you wish to participate in intramural sports but don’t want to be on any of the teams that you see available, then you can create your own intramural sports team!

For over around 80 years now, Intramural sports have been a vital part of involvement here at UK. Intramural sports continue to grow in popularity around the United States all under the simple philosophy of picking the sport that you like to play, and playing the sport with your friends! Once you graduate from High School, if you are not playing a sport collegiately then it is hard to get the same vibe, feeling, and emotional effect that you get form playing sports in High School. Intramural sports are without a doubt the next best option. Joining an intramural sports team at UK could change your life!

Dance Blue at UK

Dance Blue at UK

This image is a picture of the amount of money raised from the 2014 Dance Blue Marathon, it was taken from http://www.survivingcollege.com/ 

One of the largest and most successful fundraisers at the University of Kentucky year end and year out is Dance Blue! Dance Blue is a 24 hour no sitting or sleeping dance marathon! As said on http://danceblue.org/fast-facts/ all of the money that is raised each year by dance blue is directly transported to the funds of Kentucky Children’s Hospital Oncology Clinic though the Golden Matrix fund.

So what exactly is the point/mission of the dance blue organization? Well it is to enhance the lives of children that need it, to create a great atmosphere for dance blue once a year led by University of Kentucky students, and to strive for improvement every single year! As stated in the opening paragraph the funds made at dance blue are directly distributed to the Kentucky Children’s Hospital Oncology Clinic through the Golden Matrix fund.

The golden matrix fund was made to improve the lives of Dance Blue KCH patients and their families. They are trying to make everyone realize the childhood cancer is not only excruciatingly difficult on the child, but takes a very large toll on the family as well. The Golden Matrix fund splits up its money distribution. Forty percent of their funds go to further research, thirty percent goes to patient experience, and thirty percent go to the access of care.

The Dance Blue organization along in partnership with the Golden Matrix fund have made an astonishing impact on children in the state of Kentucky. Changing so many lives for the better, and allowing patients and families overcome those terrible diseases with care, encouragement, and perseverance. Dance Blue 2015 will be held on February 14 at 2 p.m. and will last until 2 p.m. on February 15^th! What a great opportunity we all have to support a wonderful cause and a great organization. 

Interview for Project

Interview for Project

This photo is an example of an interview being conducted and it is from http://uncw.edu/career/interviews.html 

My research project that we are currently working on is covering all aspects of the student center at the University of Kentucky. So I conducted my interview with someone that has had more affiliation with the student center than anyone I have ever seen! My interview was with a senior peer mentor at UK, Whitney Scott.

My Interview

Question 1. What things have you participated in that involves the student center?

Response: Various, K week activities, Homecoming, SAB, Fusion, ELI, and a few other student organizations including my peer instructing at the Student Center now.

Question 2. What motivated you to do all of these things?

Response: A lot of it was just really being involved. In high school I was involved in around 20 organizations, so I just really wanted to keep that going through college.

Question 3. What would you say is the most useful thing about the student center?

Response: Providing spaces for classrooms and events. There is literally always something going on here, and that’s really my favorite thing about the student center.

Question 4. If someone were to ask you why use the student center what would you say?

Response: It is just a great place to make connections and explore. There is also a lot of great food that is to your convenience.

Question 5. What do you think the purpose of student unions are? (In general not just UK)

Response: To form a small family within a huge organization and campus.

Question 6: If someone where interested in doing a job like yours (any of them) what advice would you tell them as far as going about doing that?

Response: Reach out to that job or organization, initiate the first point of contact, and check your availability.

Question 7. How do you feel about the new student center?

Response: It will be simply awesome. Extremely more convenient to the majority of students on campus.

Question 8. What has lead you to a lot of your opportunities in the student center? The CSI(Center for Student Involvement is great, it has shown me so many different opportunities.

Question 9. How do you feel as a whole about UK’s Student Center? It completely satisfys my perception of a student union, what they should stand for, their mission statement, etc.

Question 10. Who would you most attribute your success to at the University of Kentucky?

Response: Well so many people, but more so than anyone my parents, friends, and academic advisers.

  

The Lancaster Aquatic Center

The Lancaster Aquatic Center

The picture above is a shot of inside the Lancaster Aquatic center, this photograph is fromhttp://kentuckydivingclub.webs.com/lancasteraquaticcenter.htm 

The Lancaster Aquatic Center is one of the finest swimming institutions for any university in the United States! This rather large swimming facility, is located directly beside the Johnson Center on the South part of the University of Kentucky’s campus. The center was actually opened in 1989, and it was named after Harry H. Lancaster. Lancaster was a University of Kentucky assistant baseball coach (1946-1970), as well as an Athletic Director for the University of Kentucky.

According to a statement on http://www.ukathletics.com/athletic-dept/aquatic-center.html the facility is 25 yards by 176 feet. The Lancaster center is truly open to so many different swimming opportunities, for so many different people! The center doesn’t just limit its users to people that are on the University of Kentucky swim team! It offers aquatic classes, recreational swimming, and even handicapped swimming lessons (that are instructed by professionals. On a side note, your family members can come and purchase a weekly pass for the center, if they choose to do so!

The diving facility consist of two one meter boards that are above concrete platforms. In the year 1990, the diving facility won an award (The Association of General Contractors Award) for having the most impressive structure for that current year. Along with this, the center also has a training room. The training area is even equipped with an ultrasound machine. A trainer is all times monitoring the training area.

The University of Kentucky..Lancaster aquatic center has so many different things to offer you! What a great place for family and friends to spend time together. Not to mention in the process, getting some great exercise! The hours for the Lancaster Aquatic Center actually differ every week, but if you are considering going you can always check out the hours on their website below… http://www.uky.edu/studentaffairs/CampusRec/aquatics/pool-hours .

Transportation at UK!!

Transportation at UK

The above photo is a picture of the Lextran bus service. This photo is from http://www.lexingtonky.gov/index.aspx

All universities have their positives and negatives. One of UK’s definite positives is the transportation that it offers to students! The university offers so many productive, rather quick, and safe ways of transportation. The main way of transportation on this campus that is provided (not including biking or walking) are Buses and/or Shuttles.

There is much needed information that you need to know if you are planning on using the bus system at UK. This is mainly directed at those who have a short time period and a long distance to cover.

.You must look for route name on the front of the bus

.Buses are only permitted to stop at designated bus stops.

               . When you are needing to exit the bus, pull the cord above your window that says next stop!

The campus transportation system CATS is a bus system that provides four routes that are on a tight schedule. According to http://www.uky.edu/pts/buses-and-shuttles_campus-shuttles CATS operates during both the fall and spring semesters. The Cats buses are small in stature and very reliable. Also for those who choose to take summer courses CATS has an alternative route for the summer months! The general hours for CATS are from 7am to 6pm and can accessed from almost any bus stop on the campus of UK!

Another classification of buses/shuttles on the campus of UK is called Lextran! These buses are also city buses. So they are obviously much larger than the CATS buses. This also means that they are able to transport more people and make stops at more bus stops on campus than the CATS bus system. During the fall and spring semesters these routes operate between 7am and 6:15 P.M during the fall and spring semesters. Lextran’s main stopping points are Washington Avenue, Commonwealth Stadium, UK MED center, Administration Drive, and the Taylor/Dickey buildings.

UK’S two main bus systems are different but they are both effective ways of transportation! Most every student in their time at UK at one point or another will need to use the bus system. This will be information that will be put to use. Not to mention, making everyone’s life a little bit easier!

SAFE CATS AT UK!

Safe Cats

The photo above is a UK Safe Cat employee, this photo is from www.uky.edu/Police/escort.

What exactly is Safe Cats? Well, they are a safety escorting service that is available to the University of Kentucky. To be exact SAFECATS actually stands for (Safe and Free Escort for Campus Area Traveling Students). A mouthful right? Yes, but they have been such an improvement to the overall safety of students at the University of Kentucky. 

One of the greatest luxuries of Safe Cats is just simply how convenient of a service that it is. According to  http://www.uky.edu/Police/escort.html SAFECATS operates from Thursday- Sunday from 8:30 P.M. to 1:30 A.M! So whenever you have a long night at the library studying you will always have a ride back to your dorm! The only times of the year in which this service will not be available to students are during breaks, or official University of Kentucky holidays.

Safe cats is a very busy service on campus. One of the most popular are far are non-stop use to be honest. So when you are needing a ride we are encouraged to call at least ten to fifteen minutes prior to when we would like to be picked up and transported. If you would prefer to email instead of call you can email uksafecats@uky.edu. Most of the time responses are fairly quick but if you don’t get a prompt response within a decent amount of time prior to sending the email, then you should probably resend the email.

The main location for SAFECATS as far as you just being able to walk up and ask for a ride is in William T. Library. You will occasionally see a SAFECAT riding on a Golf Cart and be able to jump on, but the majority of the time they will already have somebody that they are transporting. So go call 859-257-SAFE if you ever are in need of a ride from SAFECATS!

Kirwan Blanding Complex

Kirwan / Blanding Complex

The Kirwan Blanding Complex has been on the University of Kentucky campus since the mid 1960’s, and is still housing students today! Kirwan and Blanding Towers both have 23 floors! Twenty Two of them are used for housing purposes, and the top floor is used for a study/ hangout area. The towers also stand 264 feet tall!

The Kirwan/Blanding complex in located on the South end of the University of Kentucky. It is a Co-ed dorm that has wash baskins on the bottom floor that you must pay 1.50 per load for. The room style is traditional and they don’t have a large quantity of space inside the rooms. They are considered basically the bottom of the barrel when it comes to housing on campus at the University of Kentucky.

The towers are very well known for elevator issues. When students have 22 different floors to get to having only one out of three elevators working becomes a large issue. If you don’t live on a low floor then you are forced to take 15 flights of stairs! The rest of the complex only has 3 levels on them. This includes Blanding 1-3 and Kirwan 1-3.

The towers are actually scheduled to come down within the next 1 to three years. There was a few renovation proposals for the towers, but the cost would be so extreme that the University in unsure about the proposal. Personally living in the towers I think that the renovation is very much needed. With that said, I’m not saying that there are completely durable to live in because they are. What I’m saying is that compared to the other places to live on campus at UK, they don’t really stand much of a chance. But never the less the Kirwan/ Blanding Complex will be forever remembered on campus at the University of Kentucky.

The Role of Student Unions

The Role of Student Unions

What exactly is the main role of a student union? If you asked 10 people you would most likely get 10 different answers. The student union at a university is a place on campus that is the center of the university. A college union is a large based organization or space on that particular campus that has the goal to enrich student life. This including academics, intramural sports, clubs, recreational programs, and so much more!

According to eds.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.uky.edu/ghost/detail Student Unions are one of the top five most important locations on college campuses as far as academic standards and an enriched college experience. Which means being able to be involved with the club or organization of your choice while still being able to succeed in the classroom!

Student Unions are a student-centered organization that values success in all areas of the college student. Unions are consisted of boards, volunteers, committees, and employed college students at that particular university. They truly give you so many opportunities. You can grow in so many ways including public speaking skills, hands on work, group effectiveness, and just really improve you overall as a person.

They are traditionally looked at/perceived as the heart or the center of the campus. Not only taking about location, but talking about student involvement, a great place to grab a bite to eat, and associate with friends. The student union is the gathering place/ meeting place for a university. Providing conveniences and services that students and faculty members need in their lives. They create a place that is not only built for learning, communicating, and growing, but for understanding. When I state that I mean understanding the different ways that different people enjoy and succeed in their lives. Student Unions give an overall since of community that is impossible for anyone in the college community to overlook.

Student Centers around the State

Student Center’s around the State of Kentucky

At the University of Kentucky we have a very well running, versatile, elaborate, and useful student center. I have always wondered how they compared to other universities’ student centers. Come to find out a lot of other colleges don’t call it the “student center” and some don’t even have anything that is similar to the University of Kentucky’s Student Center.

To be exact a lot of colleges call this their College Union. According to http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.uky.edu over 15 other universities around the country are paying over 1 million dollars for a renovation of their current student unions. It truly makes such an effect on a campus if they have a good student union, and lots of universities have realized that.

So let’s talk about the overall structure of student unions are how they compare to the composition of other universities around the state of Kentucky. University of Kentucky has so many components to their student center. It contains a food court, bookstore, classrooms, an area to play pool and ping pong, theatres, and so much more. The other two most populous universities in the state besides UK are the University of Louisville and Western Kentucky University.  

The University of Louisville named their student union the student activities center.  This building on there campus is extremely similar to what we have here at UK. Louisville’s student activities center contains their campus bookstore, a game room, 15 vending machines, and a theatre! Extremely similar to the UK Student Center.

Western Kentucky University named their student union the Downing Student Union. Located in the center of WKU’S campus, this building is without a doubt the heart of the campus. You can buy books here, enjoy a meal, acquire tutoring assistance, and lots of other things.  You can see simply how important student unions are to college campuses. They are not only important for current students, but are extremely needed to attract high school students into coming to that particular university.