A professional photographer and a pigeon breeder walk into a bar…surprise! They’re the same person.
Meet Lexington-native David Stephenson: professional photojournalist and pigeon enthusiast. He graduated from Western Kentucky University and began working as a photographer for the Lexington Herald-Leader in 1997. Since leaving the Herald-Leader, Stephenson has become a lecturer at the University of Kentucky’s (UK) School of Journalism and Media and the Department of Integrated Strategic Communications, as well as advisor for multimedia and photojournalism to UK’s student newspaper, the Kentucky Kernel.
Stephenson has won national awards for his photography, including Best Multimedia Project in the 65th POYi (Pictures of the Year International) competition, and National Press Photographers Association Region 4 Photographer of the Year twice. He is also working towards his Master’s degree in Digital Storytelling at Asbury University.
Photo courtesy of David Stephenson
Besides his passion for photography, Stephenson raises racing pigeons and sells supplements for them through his small business, Kastle Pigeon, which was launched in August 2016. It attracted national attention when he submitted a work selfie to MSNBC, which aired on live television, showing him with the pigeons resting casually on his head and shoulder.
“I was sitting there, poking at my phone, and I submitted the photo and forgot I sent it. My email buzzed five minutes later and they (MSNBC respondents) were like ‘What? What is this pigeon thing?’ My wife was completely embarrassed,” Stephenson said.
Stephenson’s selfie that he submitted to MSNBC. Photo courtesy of David Stephenson.
Stephenson can be known as The Pigeon Photographer since he takes photos of his birds and posts them on social media. He also offers yearly calendars containing his pigeon photography, among other various pigeon products.
Recently, Stephenson visited an Intro to Journalism class at Transylvania University and gave a brief presentation to the journalism students on how to make their photos “more gooder” while only using a smartphone camera. Stephenson emphasized three basic adjustments to enhance smartphone photography: composition, light, and perspective. He also emphasized how to use the grid feature on the iPhone, and the correct way to hold the phone when snapping a photo (which is horizontal, not vertical). If nothing else, the Transy students learned how to take a better selfie.
“If you think you’re close enough, take a few steps closer,” and don’t be afraid to “bend and climb,” were just a few of the helpful tips Stephenson gave the students.
PumpkinMania took place last Tuesday. Several food trucks showed up to cater for the event and many organizations around campus set up their own table to give candy to trick-or-treat-ers. For those interested who missed the original event the Pumpkins will still be lit every night until Halloween.
A blood drive will be taking place on Oct. 31st from 10: am to 4:30 pm in the Campus Center. For those interested there is a signup sheet but walk-ins are also welcome.
All are welcome to join Phi Mu Sorority for Cupcake Wars from 1-3 p.m. in the Campus Center Gym. You’ll get to eat all the cupcakes you want—and cupcake a Phi Mu in the face! The entry fee for the event, which benefits CMNH, is $5 at the door, $4 before the event and $3 for team members.
Rabbi Rachel Sabath will present the 2017 Moosnick Lecture in Judaic Studies on Wednesday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m. in Carrick Theater. Her topic is “Jewish, Christian, Muslim Hope: Why We Need Each Other Now.” The lecture is free and open to the public.
The annual First-Year Research Topic Fair will be Tuesday, Oct. 31, from 12:30-1:15 p.m. in the Campus Center Gym. First-year students will have an opportunity to talk with FYRS instructors about their sections prior to registration. First-year advisors will provide more information, but all FYS student should plan to attend.
Family weekend also occurred last weekend. Students and their families could attend a variety of events including a performance by the Mark O’Connor Band on Saturday.
It was October 27th, 1961 when police found the body of Betty Gail Brown. Her car was parked in front of Old Morrison. Betty Gail Brown was a sophomore at Transylvania. She was known as bubbly and bright to her classmates and was last seen as she was leaving a biology study session at Forrer Hall. That night, her body was found on the driver’s side of her car with her own bra wrapped around her neck, which was ruled as the cause of her death.
The press ate it up, and the murder of Betty Gail Brown was the headline of every paper in Kentucky. So why don’t we know who killed Betty Gail Brown?
This case was an absolute devastation for the Transy community. The 19-year old Betty Gail was beloved by her classmates and faculty.
Betty Gail Brown
Investigators interviewed every male student and faculty member in hopes of finding a connection to that night, but they came up without a lead.
They followed up on the smallest connections and possible leads all over the nation, including one in New York City—a Transy alum who was arrested for dressing like a woman – it was the 60s and that form of self-expression wasn’t accepted. When the alumni’s home was searched by the police, they found newspaper clippings from the case. After further investigation, police discovered that the clippings were sent to the alum by another Transy alumnus who lived in Lexington.
Minor connections like this all over the country were looked into extensively by the authorities in hopes of finding out what happened to Betty Gail Brown.
Five years later, a local drunk named Alex Arnold Jr. confessed to the murder of Betty Gail Brown. His story has never been confirmed or definitively refuted.
Arnold claimed to have been searching for a place to sleep after hanging out at his favorite bar. He went to Gratz park and left right after, claiming there were too many people there. He wandered onto Transylvania’s campus only to find Betty Gail Brown messing around with an unidentified woman in her car in front of Old Morrison. Arnold says he tried asking them for a match to light his cigarette, but once they saw him the two women began cursing and yelling at him, so he walked away.
Afterwards, in a drunken spurt of rage, he claimed that he turned back around, yanked the door of Betty’s car open and started attacking the two women. The unidentified woman ran out almost instantly while Betty was thrown around in her car by Arnold. Betty fought for her life against Arnold, resulting in bruises and scrapes all over her body along with blood on the dashboard of her car. She died from the strangulation of her own bra which Arnold claims he threw on the ground once he realized she was dead, then tucked her shirt back into her pants and wandered off campus. He made a point in telling authorities that he did this so that if he was caught and charged with murder, he wouldn’t be charged with rape as well, even though Betty Gail did not suffer from any sexual assault according to the autopsy.
Due to the notoriety of this case, when Alex Arnold confessed, all of Kentucky was hooked once again, and it made the front page of every paper. The case was set for trial, and lawyers Amos Eblen and Robert Lawson would defend Alex Arnold Jr. in court.
Robert Lawson was starting off as a young attorney, working for 60-year-old Amos Eblen, a well respected criminal attorney and former Justice of the Kentucky Court of Appeals. Lawson was 27, while Arnold was 33, and Lawson believed that would help with the case; Arnold felt more comfortable talking to Lawson than Eblen, being closer in age. Arnold revealed more information to Lawson than he would have with Eblen throughout the trial.
Although Arnold confessed to killing Betty Gail Brown, he simultaneously claimed to be innocent at trial. His court testimony was confusing; at one point he insisted, “I didn’t kill her, but I’m not sure of that.” Arnold was a habitual drunk for 10 years, and so he wasn’t totally in his right mind at the time of the murder.
What made this case so interesting is that the reports in the papers served as some of the only evidence in this trial aside from Arnold’s initial confession.
This was an issue for the prosecution because most of Arnold’s claims could also be found in the papers years before he confessed. Arnold had been drunk for 10 years, and it was thought that he read the papers and connected to it somehow, making himself believe that he committed the murder. Arnold claimed at trial to have been with his aunt at the time of the murder, even though in his confession he had claimed to have been wandering around Transylvania after a night of drinking. To put it mildly, the credibility of Alex Arnold was questionable. “It all boiled down to, do you believe him?” as Lawson put it.
Whether Arnold’s claims were true or simply taken from what he read in the papers five years prior to his arrest was a big part of the trial.
Something that particularly attracted public attention to the case was that Arnold claimed that Betty Gail Brown was with another woman, hugging and kissing. Back in the 1960s, being gay was not as accepted as it is today, and many people believed that Arnold claimed Betty Gail was with another woman in order to damage her name. Her parents denied Arnold’s claims about Betty being interested in women since she had many boyfriends throughout high school and college; they even testified in court in favor of Arnold.
Investigators didn’t even try to follow up on these claims, due to how unrealistic it seemed, and due to the controversy it created.
The closest lead investigators had to these claims was around the time Betty Gail was murdered and before Arnold confessed. There was a woman who worked at a diner who claimed to have seen Betty Gail with a woman the night Betty died. Investigators took the waitress to the Transy campus, to Betty’s funeral, and even to her burial in hopes of her identifying the woman. But the waitress was unable to put a name to a face. A few Transy students said they were at the same diner around the same time Betty was said to be there. They told officials that Betty wasn’t there that night. As soon as the students gave their statement, that small investigation was put to an end.
Lawson says that he doubted these claims from day one, saying that “it didn’t make any sense for two women to be making love in front of Old Morrison, a place that was out in the open when homosexuality was so looked down upon.”
However, these claims were the only aspect of Arnold’s confession that wasn’t in the papers. Even though the waitress claimed to have seen Betty with another woman the night she died, there was no homosexuality insinuated in her report.
If there was more corroborating evidence to support Arnold’s confession, this claim likely would have helped Arnold to be convicted. However, due to Arnold’s drunken state and the fact that it didn’t make much sense for Betty to be with another woman, these claims were dismissed almost immediately.
The trial ended in a hung jury and was never retried. Arnold died at the age of 49 in 1980. To this day, no one knows if he murdered Betty Gail Brown, or not.
Another suspect in the case was a man by the name of Nolan Ray George, a serial killer who murdered women around Ohio, Kentucky, and Michigan around the 1980s.
Nolan Ray George | Photo: The Sentinel Echo
George was never questioned about the case of Betty Gail Brown. However, his signature way of killing women aligned with the way Betty was murdered. George was known to be extremely dangerous and highly disturbed, with a Ted Bundy-like charm. His signature was strangulation with no interest in money, but a few of his victims showed signs of sexual assault.The women that he murdered were all young, beautiful girls who were strangled to death by an article of clothing like pantyhose and underwear, so a bra wouldn’t be such a stretch.
George was sentenced in 1968 for first-degree murder; then, he was put on parole in the 1990s and sentenced to life in prison in 2011.
It’s unlikely that George was responsible for the death of Betty Gail Brown, but with such little evidence police had for this case, it was important that they kept all their options open. Police even contacted Lawson in 2011, asking if he thought it was a possibility that George murdered Betty Gail. Lawson didn’t believe it was possible.
Since his work on the case, Lawson has been a professor at University of Kentucky’s School of Law for 50 years. He says that throughout the years, the case of Betty Gail Brown has always stuck with him, and he often used this trial in some of his teachings at the law school.
After all these years, Lawson has decided to write a book all about the case of Betty Gail Brown coming out this November called “Who Killed Betty Gail Brown?” Lawson has collected police reports, court records, newspaper clippings, and his own personal notes to contribute to this genuine Kentucky cold case. In this book there are two parts, one providing all the information about the murder and the second focused on the trial and all that followed.
In a presentation sponsored by the Lexington History Museum, Lawson will discuss his book on Sunday, November 12 at 3:00 PM at the Lexington Public Library Eastside Branch, 3000 Blake James Drive, Lexington. >
Recently a study was published in The New York Times that was performed by a neurologist named Dr. Ann McKee. Her study focused on the brains of 202 former football players. These players were all deceased, but either they or their families had allowed for their brains to be studied post-mortem. Of those 202 brains that were studied, 111 of them were former NFL players. The other 91 were those of former college, semi-pro, or high school football players. For this article, we will focus on those who played in the NFL, but to get a fuller picture, check out the Times article.
The purpose of this study was to uncover the prevalence of the brain disease known as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (C.T.E.) that is caused by repeated head trauma and that can only be discovered post-mortem. This disease has only recently come to light due to Dr. Bennet Omalu’s discovery of an Alzheimer’s-like disease in the brain of Mike Webster, a former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman, as depicted in the 2015 movie Concussion starring Will Smith. C.T.E. has a multitude of symptoms, such as decreased cognitive function, depression, and memory loss, and it can have physical symptoms such as tremors. Due to the incredibly physical nature of the sport of football, one may draw a logical connection to brain trauma and the sport. While this discovery was only observed on one brain, it led to a much larger question: exactly how big is this problem in the game of football?
Here is where we return to the study recently done by Dr. Ann McKee to answer this question. Of the 111 brains of former NFL players she studied, 110 had C.T.E. Nearly every position on the field was tested and the results showed that, when compared to the general population, former football players have disproportionately higher rates of C.T.E. Not only that, but 87% of the total 202 former athletes were found to have C.T.E. as well.
Although this is just one study, it raises questions around one of America’s most beloved sports. After all, NFL Sunday is essentially a holiday in the United States. Jim Harbaugh, the current coach of the University of Michigan football team, has called football “the last bastion of toughness for American men.” With this sport so ingrained in the culture of our country, is it reasonable to believe that we will see drastic changes anytime soon?
Thus far, the biggest changes to the game have been new targeting penalties against players who hit defenseless opponents in the head or neck region using the crowns of their helmets, their shoulders, or their forearms. In NCAA football, if a player gets a targeting penalty, they are automatically ejected from the game. The NFL has recently passed a rule also prohibiting unnecessary roughness against defenseless players, and it imposes fines on players for egregious hits. If a referee determines a hit to be “flagrant,” the player may be disqualified from playing for the remainder of the game. Of course, the problem with this is a flagrant hit to one referee may not appear flagrant to another, leaving room for subjectivity, and the NFL has been criticized for not imposing stricter rules. For more on that I’d recommend the Washington Post article about the NFL’s targeting rule by Adam Kilgore. Another recent rule change has been moving the kickoff from the 30-yard line to the 35-yard line to prevent high-speed collisions.
While these new rule changes have proven to make the game safer, the inherent nature of the sport has remained untouched, which some would argue is the problem. Some NFL players have been retiring earlier in their careers to prevent excessive injuries, such as former Detroit Lions marquee wide-receiver Calvin Johnson who retired at the age of 30 after 9 seasons of pro ball. Johnson did a great interview with Michael Smith of ESPN in which he opened up about his choice to retire from football at a relatively early age that is worth a watch if you have any interest in the topic.
Due to the sport relying so heavily on physicality, hitting, and tackling, it is an unforgiving tightrope that NCAA and NFL officials are tasked with walking. On the one hand, football has been linked to brain trauma in players, leading to a moral outcry from the public to protect the athletes on the field. On the other hand, the sport itself is specifically designed to be played in a highly physical, hard-hitting manner. So the question remains: where do we go from here?
Although Transylvania does not have a football program, there are still many football fans here on campus who have opinions on what the future of football holds.
Senior Ty Alderman stated, “The next step will be an increase in the amount of money spent on the equipment for the players in order to better protect them.” He went on to say, “I don’t think they can change football any more than they already have.”
Junior Bailee Stevens expressed a similar sentiment. She stated, “I do believe that there will be a much stronger focus to improve the technology that goes into helmet safety and gear, as well as routine checkups on the players to make sure that there aren’t internal injuries that are going unnoticed.”
While these were more mild opinions, some were much more drastic, such as that of junior Jose Espinoza who stated, “I think in thirty years we are going to look back and think, ‘Why did we do that?’”
Although opinions abound, the future of football remains uncertain. Obviously this issue can be discussed through many different lenses from civil rights to public health, but for now it could be viewed simply as a discussion that the public needs to have. As more and more studies come out, and more players continue to retire early, nobody can say with certainty what is in store for one of America’s most popular sports.
For profit which will then be donated to children for Crimson Christmas
University funds cannot be used for charity, therefore funding request is unconstitutional
Senator Miller
Requesting $101.03 for upkeep of library Keurig Machine
Order will include 100 count black coffee cups
50 ct. Hot chocolate & tea cups
To be sold for 25 cents per cup
Passed
Senator Tucker
Purchasing of Coffee & donuts for DPS due to their service in light of the recent traffic incidents
Requesting $110.00
2 containers of bagels
Bag of scones
Large amount of coffee, approximately 2 cups/officer
Passed
Student Affairs—Mark Sirianno
Senator Mudrak will be designing SGA Banner
Finding out who does marketing for various Transy Instagram accounts
Working on getting heat turned on in new dorms
Establishing cell signal extender in Pioneer hall
Addressing issue of crosswalks on broadway
Academic Affairs—Lauren Gilbert
Phi Beta Kappa – Senator Cahill to meet with Dr. Slepyan for more information on the application process
Foreign language assessment through CPC
Finding out more information on Career and Development’s role in obtaining academic internships – should it be their decision?
“Adjectives and Phrases” for honor code – what SGA believes needs to be in the document
Proposal to change the name of “Winter Term” to “Spring Term”
Approaching College Democrats/Republicans for walking people to polls on election day
Senior Seminar proposal to be brought up in CPC
Maintenance request has been initiated to fix crimson card scanner in between Jazzman’s and Library
President’s Report—Joseph Gearon
What can we do as far as brainstorming solutions for the incidents on N Broadway crosswalk?
“Skywalk”
City does not wish to build a skywalk
Unreasonable for DPS to stand outside during peak hours to direct traffic
Rumble strips on Broadway
Pedway between new campus center
Pressure plate “stoplight” device
Reach out to police department to set speed trap; officer sits in back circle
Digital stop sign that changes when student is present
Looking over Constitution, there are certain gaps
Should SGA take political stances on topics
Political: Issues that can be interpreted as political, i.e. taking a stance on a particular side
President Carey has set the precedent of making political, yet bipartisan statements in the past
“The purpose of the this organization is to represent the the body”
Other organizations are giving their clubs a voice
Some people might understand SGA’s refusal to take a side as actually taking a side
Is not giving a moral voice in the subject
Political organizations exist on campus to provide an outlet for student representation
How do we respond to the open petition drafted by SAB in response to standing with immigrants?
Response from senators: our aim is to be neutral.
Have there been other examples in the past where SGA has acted in a political role?
President: not really. This semester, however, we have been asked by the university to make a statement regarding the social media harassment situation. Second instance; asked to sign said petition from SAB on immigrants.
As individuals, we are allowed to voice our opinions, but outside of the bounds of SGA
Some voice concerns with making a political statement since no single person will have the same opinion. Therefore, as a representative body, we cannot fully field a political opinion
Final Determination- SGA will not take political stances because SGA represents the student body of the university. Students here are so diverse and there is not a single issue that everyone agrees on.
Let’s be real here for a minute – being a broke college student and having to deal with your period sucks. Not only is Aunt Flo an unwelcome guest, she’s an expensive one too. Most women prefer to use tampons or pads to manage their menstrual cycle, but having to purchase these products can add up to a lot over time, especially for college students who are on a tight budget.
Menstrual products are a necessity for those who have periods (unfortunately, menstruation doesn’t come with an off switch). Given the fact that these products are necessary to maintain good hygiene but are not easily accessible to everyone who needs them, should the university bridge the gap by providing tampons and pads for free?
This idea isn’t too far-fetched. Just last week, the state of California passed a bill requiring middle and high schools to provide free menstrual products. There’s no reason why a private university can’t do the same. It’s not like it’s impossible to do either; the school already provides free condoms to students. Unlike tampons, however, condoms aren’t needed to take care of yourself for 5 days out of every month. That’s not to say condoms aren’t important – safe sex should be practised at all times (unless you are trying to conceive, of course) to stop the spread of STD’s. It may come as a shock to hear some interesting data recently indicated that the overall rate of STIs in Travis County has increased by 34% from 2014 to 2018, for example. However, the point is that tampons are equally as important and should be treated the same as condoms.
Further, the cost of providing sanitary products is relatively low per user. According to Nancy Kramer, founder of the Free the Tampons campaign, the cost to provide these products for a year is about $4.67 for each person. This is a far easier price to pay than to buy multiple boxes of these products throughout the year.
Having tampons available on campus makes life easier for those of us who have to deal with menstruation. For those who don’t have a car on campus, going to the store to buy tampons can be difficult to arrange, not to mention that the need for a tampon is usually immediate. What if Aunt Flo pops in for a surprise visit during a class or work, and you don’t have anything on you? You’re presented with two options: keep your mouth shut and hope you don’t bleed through your clothing, or quit whatever you’re doing to go find a tampon quickly. Additionally, having a hygiene bin in the toilets is another necessity. No girl wants to change, only to find there is isn’t one of those Phs bins around.
These concerns can be easily addressed by providing free tampons and pads in bathrooms around campus. As the organization Aunt Flow argues, why not provide free tampons in the same manner that toilet paper is provided in public restrooms? That way, students alone won’t be the only ones to benefit from free menstrual products – literally anyone on campus who needs menstrual products should be able to get them. For even greater access, these products should be as easy to find as condoms are on campus. There is nothing shameful about menstruation or menstrual products. I also think that, over time, ovulation test strips should be more widely available to help women manage their cycle more effectively. For half the people on campus, it’s just a reality of life.
The ability to access menstrual products shouldn’t have to be a luxury. The university already provides wellness services to students, faculty, and staff alike, so why not take it a step further by providing free tampons? People cannot accomplish the work they set out to do every day if they cannot take care of their bodies. For such a small cost, the university would benefit from taking these steps to take care of over half of the campus population. If Transy is truly committed to ensuring the well-being of its students, faculty, and staff, it should consider providing free menstrual products for those in need.
Melissa Jackson is a Lexington native, a country Americana musician, and a proud mom. But what most Lexington community members probably know her as is the owner of Doodles—a local Lexington restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch everyday except Mondays.
I had the rare privilege of experiencing Doodles on a Monday. As Jackson started brewing some coffee for the two of us, I looked around the empty restaurant and realized that it was something I had never seen before—Doodles empty. The restaurant on all its days of operation is usually bustling with customers and sometimes even has a line outside the door.
Not being the original owner but coming to work for Doodles two years after its opening, Jackson felt the same pull and interest that many do when first experiencing Doodles.
Doodles’s first owners were Sue Harkins and Lynda Mellin. The original concept of the restaurant came from Lillie Ruschell, a Louisiana native. Since Harkins and Mellin both also had strong ties to the state, they brought a strong presence of New Orleans cuisine to Lexington with the opening of Doodles in July 2008. This is still apparent in the menu with shrimp and grits, beignets, and various other choices.
However, another part of the menu is what gained Jackson’s interest to work for the restaurant. She was drawn to Doodles because of the locally-sourced food aspect. As she said, it’s “comfort food with a conscious.” After purchasing the restaurant two years ago, Jackson has tried to really maintain that basic ideal and to even take it a step further by building a strong relationship with Lexington.
“We try to be as engaged with the community as we can. Our staff volunteers at different events throughout the year together,” said Jackson.
Not only is the Lexington community important to her, but so is Doodles’s relationship with Transy. As Jackson explained, not a lot of collaboration was done with the school until she took over as owner. Transy’s Pi Kappa Alpha chapter had a dinner event at the restaurant a few years ago, and ever since then, Jackson has tried to build a stronger relationship between the two institutions. Jackson recently implemented a discount for any Transy student for every day of the week.
Another focus of Jackson’s since taking over the restaurant is the bond between the staff members. She described herself as a “hands-on owner” and emphasized wanting her staff to be happy. Along with their community service work, the staff bonds over kickball games every spring and fall.
“I think helping to cultivate a good environment for the staff and making sure the staff is happy, that’s really important to me,” said Jackson. “I do think that if you make your staff happy, then the product that comes out and the atmosphere and environment that the customers come into is going to be less abrasive, and they’re going to be happy.”
More changes to the restaurant might still be seen under Jackson’s reign. She explained her hopes of opening up more Doodles locations beyond the corner of North Limestone and Third Street.
As for that current location, Jackson is brainstorming ways to increase the space. Because of the restaurant’s popularity, during winter months when the outdoor patio closes, the room becomes packed and in need of extra tables.
However, do not expect any drastic changes to the structure of the restaurant. For Jackson, one of Doodles’s top qualities is that it’s a “quirky space.” The building was once a gas station which makes the arrangement interesting enough. However, Jackson also noted the multiple large windows, saying that the constant sunlight really adds to the happy and upbeat Doodles atmosphere.
“Because it’s a breakfast and lunch place, it’s not dark,” explained Jackson. “It’s energizing, which is important I think for breakfast. People are coming in and starting their days out.”
Perhaps the restaurant could even be described how Jackson takes her coffee: “Light and sweet, just like me.”
Kayla Rae Whitaker, Kentucky native and author of The Animators, visited Transylvania recently to read her debut novel to students, faculty, and staff.
After completing her undergrad at University of Kentucky in 2007, Whitaker moved to New York and received her MFA from New York University. She and her husband eventually moved back to Kentucky, where she now resides. Whitaker explained that the move back was always part of their long term plan and that the state was like a magnet pulling them back.
Pictured from left to right: Associate Professor of Spanish Jeremy Paden, Kayla Rae Whitaker, senior Laura Daley, and Associate Professor of Writing, Rhetoric, and Communication Scott Whiddon. Photo taken by Emily Dent.
“We loved New York, and we loved living there, but Kentucky is home,” said Whitaker. “There were some pragmatic reasons as well. It is easier to write and to create art down here because of the financial constraints of living in New York.”
Because of the “hustle” and busy lifestyle of New York, Whitaker often found herself writing on subway rides to and from work because that is where she actually found the time.
This New York lifestyle and the pull to go back home is reflected heavily in Whitaker’s book The Animators. The book follows the story of partners in animation, Mel Vaught and Sharon Kisses, who both reside in New York. However, Sharon starts doubting her importance and makes a trip back to her home state—Kentucky.
Whitaker references and includes Kentucky in a lot of her work, namely her collection of short stories that can be found on her website. As she discussed to the audience, Whitaker likes to include characters from Kentucky partially as a way to break stereotypes and to show the variety and diversity of the South. Whitaker has actually been invited to speak on several panels on the subject.
“I feel more of a responsibility than I ever thought I would,” she stated.
Interestingly, there is another common theme in her works that Whitaker never actually recognized—the importance of smell. A focus and description of smell can be found specifically in her short stories: “We Do Chicken Right,” “Specifics of Hell,” and “Locker Room.” When brought to her attention, Whitaker laughed and explained she had never noticed the pattern and did not create it consciously. However, upon reflection she saw a possible reason in her interest with sensory memory.
“It makes sense in a way because I think sensory memory really fascinates me,” said Whitaker. From her own personal experience, Whitaker strongly remembers the chime of her grandparent’s grandfather clock.
“Just little triggers like that and how they can elicit a story. Smell is a really powerful one, more than sight even,” explained Whitaker.
Many of Whitaker’s stories also share the focus on the college experience or life in one’s twenties. Whitaker attributes this to how much of an impact college had on her personally.
After the reading, Whitaker signed books and talked with members of the Transy community. Photo taken by Emily Dent.
“College changed everything for me. I feel lucky to have been able to go to college,” described Whitaker. “It opened me up as a person. I sort of woke up to myself as a thinker and as a worker and as a writer. I don’t know where I would be had I not been able to have that experience and to have those years to sort of learn who I was and learn about the world and learn more about what I wanted to do and what I could do.”
On the subject of college, Whitaker offered some advice for any college students questioning an artistic career that may not seem practical or financially stable. She emphasized the importance of accepting “that the first draft is going to be terrible” and reminding yourself why you love that craft to begin with.
“I would say you have to go with your gut. You only go around once in this life,” said Whitaker. “Try to do it everyday and keep trying and try through failure.”
Parents, students, and athletic staff gathered on October 14 for the dedication of the John and Donna Hall Softball Field. The field was dedicated to John and Donna Hall, the lead donors who contributed to the new facility. John Hall was a Transylvania trustee and is dedicated to supporting scholar athletes, while Donna Hall is praised for her commitment to education. Together the two personify this year’s academic theme, Live Generously, according to Holly Sheilley, Director of Athletics and Vice President of Enrollment and Student Life.
“The Hall’s embody these words, not just with their finances, but in who they are. Having our facility named in honor of these two individuals, who have lived their lives giving their time, talent and treasure speaks volumes into what we hope each Transylvania student is and becomes. I feel humbled and honored to have Transylvania University and Athletics associated with your names,” said Sheilley.
The revamped facility includes new dugouts, home and visiting bullpens, batting cages, a drainage system, an expanded seating area and a new scoreboard and sound system. The renovated field offers new advantages to the softball team, according to team captain Renae Morton.
Renae Morton presenting John and Donna Hall with a softball signed by members of the softball team (Photo by Hayle Hall).
“This field means many different things to those of up gathered here today. For some, perhaps it is just another softball field. To others, it is a monument. But to the girls who play on it, it is really the only diamond that matters,” said Morton. “The Hall’s have blessed this university with something that cannot be bought: the opportunity for a group of women, otherwise unrelated, to become a family through playing a sport they love.”
The impact of the renovated field will not only affect softball players, but also Transy’s athletic standing as a Division III school. “As the lead donors for this soft ball field, their impact will be felt for generations of softball players to come. Now, because of this field, softball is perceived as an important aspect in the Transylvania experience. Not only is this the best softball field in our conference and in our region, we Transy players are certain that the John and Donna Hall Field is the best ballpark in the Division III softball world,” said Morton.
A traditional ribbon cutting ceremony followed after the various remarks from the student representative and staff. To conclude the dedication, the ceremonial first pitch was thrown by John Hall and caught by sophomore Janelle Hynes. John Hall finished with a rush of appreciation, saying thank you to those who spoke so highly of him, and a simple concluding statement: “As Transy goes, so does Lexington. A stronger Transy makes for a stronger Lexington.”
Transy Bikes! And Student Wellbeing are partnering to host a bike ride to raise support for suicide prevention. The ride is being held in conjunction with light the trail, coming through Kentucky this month. If you are interested in participating, stop by the Transy Bikes! table in Front Lobby on Wednesday.
The Multicultural Opportunities, Strategies and Institutional Inclusiveness Conference will be at the University of Kentucky on Nov. 9 and 10. The conference will be free to Transy students, staff and faculty.
Join your fellow students, colleagues and friends in the annual Costume Contest sponsored by the Transylvania Recognition Team! The contest will start at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31, in the Cafeteria. Judges will be announced soon. Categories for costumes will include: Best Group Costume, Best Faculty/Staff Individual Costume and Best Student Individual Costume.
Join the fun of Pumpkinmania by performing “Thriller” with the Transy Dance Team. The dance will be taught on Thursday and Tuesday, Oct. 24, in the Beck Center gym from 12:30-1:15 p.m.
TEAL (Transylvania Environmental Action League) is organizing a trip to Keeneland on Saturday, Oct. 28. All are welcome.
