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I Tried Every Pastry At Jazzman’s So You Don’t Have To

Judy Brumley
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I Tried Every Pastry At Jazzman’s So You Don’t Have To

Now that Jazzman’s is open more often, it’s important to know the dos and don’ts when it comes to snacking there. Here’s a review of all the pastries Jazzman’s has to offer and what students have to say about them.

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Chocolate Chip Cookie – You can never go wrong with the chocolate chip cookie at Jazzman’s. My favorite part about it is that the chocolate chips are tiny as opposed to having chocolate chunks like these cookies typically do. I also recommend splitting it with a friend. It’s a good go-to snack at Jazzman’s and is literally always available.

blueberry-muffin

Blueberry Muffin – This sugary treat is another top choice at Jazzman’s. I personally love this option but think it has too many blueberries. According to Junior Julie Ward, “It’s not the best muffin I’ve ever had, but I really like it.” This muffin is a good choice if you want to play it safe and not try anything new.

Aztec Brownie – This treat is definitely not a favorite at Jazzman’s. Nearly every person I asked said it was the worst thing they had ever tried at Jazzman’s. According to senior Alli Duncan, “the spices weren’t meant to be in a brownie.”

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Plain Bagel – This is a go-to snack for students on the run, but Junior Jordan Long suggests jazzing it up with a strawberry cream cheese; “If you get a plain bagel you have to get flavored cream cheese and if you get a flavored bagel you have to get plain cream cheese.” Another person suggested matching the flavor of your bagel to the flavor of your cream cheese. For example, if you get a blueberry bagel you should also get blueberry cream cheese. Regardless, there are many ways to enhance this typical food.

Lemon Poppy Seed Muffin – Although this one isn’t currently being sold at Jazzman’s, Junior Laura Daley said it was her favorite treat last year. She explained, “The lemon poppy seed muffins are what get me on the days that I’m trying to be healthy.”

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Blueberry Scone – I really recommend trying this pastry. It’s less chewy then its muffin counterpart and it also has less blueberries. You might even feel healthier with this option since it doesn’t have the same sugar topping as the muffin.

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Chocolate Chip Muffin – This is definitely the best Jazzman’s has to offer. It was full of chocolate chips and had chocolate drizzled on the top. Although it probably isn’t the healthiest it is absolutely delicious. Senior Alli Duncan said, “Literally, it is the best muffin I’ve ever had. Half of it fell on the concrete in front of DV and I screamed because I was so sad.”

Low Fat Raspberry Muffin – This option also seems to be a favorite for Jazzman’s regulars. Junior Kenzie Hall said, “I love raspberries and there’s a lot of raspberries in it. It’s also low fat so it makes me feel good about myself.” Several others agreed with her. It doesn’t have the sugary top that the blueberry muffin has so you can feel less guilty about it.

cherry-turnover

Cherry Turnover – “After acquiring the turnover, I took it to the microwave – an essential tool for any Jazzmaniac. After waiting 20 seconds for my treat to heat up, I sat down, ready to enjoy the turnover,” said senior Daniel Martin. He explained that the treat is enjoyable if you’re able to eat it without making a mess. He also reports that the cherry filling is delicious.

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Low Fat Banana Muffin – According to junior Ryann Little, this muffin is a good alternative when they’re out of the raspberry version. She likes it because it doesn’t have nuts and she said that the best part is the powdered sugar sprinkled on top.

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Cranberry Scone – Although it seems like it might not be great, Senior Cody Koch says, “But when you first bite into it you get a slight, delightful taste of white chocolate, which is quiet the game-changer.” He says these unexpected white chocolate chips are what make this pastry so delicious. After trying this pastry for myself I had to agree that it is one of the best they have.

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Caramel Apple Fritter Cookie – This treat at Jazzman’s seemed to get mixed reviews. Junior Nina Shuffett said she liked it because, “it’s like a caramel sugar cookie and the apple isn’t overpowering”. However, junior Kenzie Hall explained, “It was almost too sweet. It could use a sour component. I think they should’ve used a Granny Smith apple”.

Hollywood actress Gwendoline Yeo visits Appalachia, Lexington

Aaron Martin
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Hollywood actress Gwendoline Yeo visits Appalachia, Lexington

This past week, actress Gwendoline Yeo visited Lexington and other regions of Kentucky. Yeo is known for voice acting several video game characters and for her roles in the television series General Hospital and Desperate Housewives.

There were multiple reasons for Yeo’s visit, one being simply a desire to travel and have a break from life in Hollywood.

“I’ve always had a bit of a restless spirit,” said Yeo. “Whenever I’m feeling a little bit depleted, travel has always been the answer.”

She explained that she has a goal of visiting each state and after her visit to Kentucky, the number visited will be 48. This journey to travel in all the states is also the subject of her book she is working on.

Yeo described the book as being about “basically how traveling through the states has saved my life in a way.”

In regards to coming to Kentucky, and specifically the Appalachian region, Yeo explained feeling a need to come and visit the region as well as the Christian Appalachian Project (CAP). After Yeo first heard of CAP, it has remained on her mind. She was drawn to find out how she could help the project.

“It all comes from the same place of telling my story and expressing pain and joy and all other feelings through art,” said Yeo.

“I’ve always wanted to be attached to an organization at some point in my career,” said Yeo. “I wanted to check it out. For whatever reason, I was just called here. It just felt like I needed to come.”

Another visit on her trip really stood out to her as well: Johnson Central High School.

Yeo moved to the United States from Singapore when she was 11 years old. She described that from then until she was in college was a time of her life where she dealt with a lot.

“I think I felt most pain and insecurity from the age of 11, when I got here, to 19, when I was in college, because I was still finding my way,” said Yeo.

When she visited Johnson Central, she felt a connection to the students because they have gone through struggles that she has and can connect to.

“I always felt like a bit of a freak, which was also my biggest asset,” said Yeo. “So what I saw [at JCHS] were just mirrors of myself, which were people filled with warmth and love and complete strength and unabashedly straight up, and that’s who I am. That was beautiful for me.”

Yeo also had something to say in regards to college students striving for a career in the arts.

“I would say the biggest chip on my shoulder when I first got into acting was that I didn’t go to school for it, that I didn’t have a degree for it,” said Yeo.

She continued to explain that she went to the University of California, Los Angeles and actually studied communications, stating that at the time, “I thought I was going to be a journalist.”

Yeo’s message to aspiring artists is that it’s okay to have not professional schooling or a lot of training. That it can lead to being “over-techniqued” and having too much focus on “putting theory in practice instead of learning on their feet.”

Although Yeo originally planned on a career in journalism, she eventually felt a pull to acting instead. She was drawn to the profession because “it was a place to turn pain into something beautiful, as an art.”

Photo Courtesy of Gwendoline Yeo
Photo Courtesy of Gwendoline Yeo

Yeo still has a passion for writing though, as is apparent in her current work to publish a book. Considering most book sales happen on Amazon these days, I imagine she will be exploring Amazon publishing, although this will all be very new to her. She explained that the continuous desire to learn and try new things is something she thinks all artists feel.

She referenced the American dancer and choreographer, Martha Graham, who said “No artist is pleased. [There is] no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.”

She continued to explain that for her, it’s all about “leaping into the dark over and over again” and being brave in life choices. Regardless of what art she explores, Yeo always strives to tell her story.

“It all comes from the same place of telling my story and expressing pain and joy and all other feelings through art,” said Yeo.

Interview Podcast: sophomore Isaac Batts on gender

Tristan Reynolds
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Interview Podcast: sophomore Isaac Batts on gender

This week, Rambler Opinion Editor Tristan Reynolds interviews Isaac Batts, Copy Editor for The Rambler and Fine Arts Editor for the Transylvanian. They discuss personal preferred pronouns, growing up trans* in rural Kentucky, and coming out.

Transy used to let students smoke on campus. Here’s why they should again.

Tristan Reynolds
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Transy used to let students smoke on campus. Here’s why they should again.

Until last year, Transy provided a space on campus for student to smoke. The smoking circle (or smircle-seriously) was located at the back of Forrer; it was a small space, probably no more than 100 square feet. By the start of this academic year, however, Transy had eliminated the space and declared the entirety of campus smoking-free. This is a poor decision on Transy’s part.

To explain why, it may be helpful to establish a few facts on the ground. The first thing we need to establish is how many people at Transy actually smoke; unfortunately, there is no readily available Transy-specific data to answer that question (at least at this time). However, according to the most recent available Gallup data, Kentucky is the national leader in the number of people who smoke. Nearly a third of Kentuckians smoke. Considering that the population of Transy is predominantly drawn from Kentucky itself, it seems reasonable to say that, in the absence of hard data available to students, there are probably more than a few smokers in the student population. It is almost certainly true that among faculty, administration, and staff, who are by definition part of Kentucky’s population, there are more than a few smokers.

The second thing we need to establish is what exactly Transy wants to accomplish by making the entire campus smoke-free. Absent a definitive statement from the administration (that I’m aware of at this time), it seems fair to say that Transy is seeking to improve the public health of the Transy community. It’s reasonable to assume that this measure is more-or-less targeted most heavily at the student population that lives here. In other words, we can assume with a high degree of confidence that Transy wants to discourage Transy students from smoking, and wants to do so by making it inconvenient to do so while at Transy.

Accomplishing this goal could, I think, take two forms. The first is that, by making the campus smoke-free, Transy wants to discourage prospective students who smoke from coming to campus in the first place, and by discouraging current students who smoke from continuing to do so. And here is where we see how Transy has made a poor decision.

First, the prospective students. As many of you know, the current first-year class numbers under the enrollment targets Transy sought to hit last enrollment season. That is to say, Transy is not in a position to discourage many students from applying. Beggars (or heavily-leveraged universities) cannot be choosers. Transy has, for little gain, handicapped itself in the search for students.

We can say this because we know that it’s very hard to quit smoking. Most smokers want to quit; all smokers, by definition, have not quit. So we know a large percentage wants to quit but doesn’t. There is a massive difference from wanting to quit and actually trying out methods that can make this possible. If you feel that a certain approach will work best for you, why not give it a go. For example, some people who are on this journey have looked into using vaping devices. As there are many to choose from like the Flowermate or the PAX, for a beginner it may be difficult to decide on which one to go for, which is why doing your research is beneficial. It is not impossible to quit. You just need to be motivated enough to do it and once you are, just go for it. It shouldn’t just be cigarette smokers looking to cut down on their tobacco intake. Weed users may want to consider using a vaporizer instead of the traditional methods of inhalation. A popular vape battery is the 510 batteries. This is definitely worth considering for any smokers out there.

From this we can conclude that there is a significant addictive drive for smokers to continue smoking. And on this basis we can further conclude that, given that the Transy campus is fairly small, most current students who smoke will not be too likely to quit smoking over the issue of walking a half-block or so. So simply on the basis that Transy is unlikely to get current students to quit, we can say that Transy is not making a particularly good decision by removing a space on campus for students to smoke. But is it a bad one?

In a word, yes. Because while students are unlikely to be deterred from smoking by walking that half-block, that doesn’t mean that forcing students off-campus to smoke doesn’t have significant effects. By doing so, Transy removes some of the protections it offers to students when they are on-campus. Campus is well-lit, it is patrolled by its own policing force-any point of trouble can be quickly met and resolved. Further, though there are no physical boundaries around campus, it is not for nothing that we call it the “bubble”; the general public does not make a habit of traipsing about the plaza or green space. Consider that many smokers will take their last cigarette shortly before turning in for the night; for many college students that’s quite a late hour. And, of course, the night is generally when most muggings and so forth take place. It’s not ridiculous to say that there exists a lower risk of physical violence occurring on-campus as opposed to off-campus.

Further, by removing any space for students to smoke, Transy is quite literally telling those students that they are not welcome to both smoke and be at Transy. It seems to me that this is very likely to create a stigmatizing effect. And since we’ve established that most smokers are unlikely to quit, this stigmatizing serves no practical purpose. A considerable portion of a liberal arts education is encouraging students to explore and make decisions for themselves; stigmatizing some of those decisions seems, to me at least, to be unfairly nudging the scales, even if the decision you’re nudging against is bad for someone’s health. It’s a needless negative effect of Transy’s decision.

Now, it’s possible to consider another rationale for making the campus smoke-free: Transy may consider the secondhand smoke effect on nonsmoking students a sufficient threat to Transy students that it wants to remove it. However, if that is the case I would remind you that nearly a third of Kentuckians smoke, and they breathe the same air that circulates on Transy’s campus. Further, since Transy’s previous policy placed all smokers outside, it seems a little silly to maintain that the open air would become uniquely deadened and immobile just where the smokers gathered. In short, any secondhand smoke effect is likely to be so negligible as to be nonexistent.

In a bid to make the air clearer, at least on campus (despite the counteractive impact of the hundreds of thousands of people smoking in the Kentucky area), Transy could’ve taken the option of promoting e-cigarettes to their students; a much cleaner and safer option than tobacco. This would have a positive impact on the environment on campus and would also promote a healthier lifestyle for students. Showing them pages from CigBuyer would’ve been a much better approach in their campaign, instead of banning smoking altogether.

So, let’s recap. Transy’ new policy of a smoke-free campus is not likely to cut the number of smoking students down significantly, is more likely to expose students to off-campus dangers, is likely to stigmatize smoking students, and is not likely to affect non-smoking students’ health in a serious way. The new policy, in other words, doesn’t accomplish what it seems designed to, and comes with serious downsides. It is a poor decision, and Transy should thus return to the previous policy allowing a space on campus for students to smoke.

Author’s Note: I do not myself smoke. I understand it’s quite bad for you.

‘Fighting the good fight:’ a profile of Pi Kappa Alpha

Kiara Walker
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‘Fighting the good fight:’ a profile of Pi Kappa Alpha

As Pike members Dustin Kiser, William Easley and Ethan Franklin relaxed in their “sanctuary,” Michael Maggard played an acoustic rendition of “Get Low,” which was reminiscent of the group’s humor at dinner as they discussed the potential titles of “Started from the Bottom…We’re Still There” and “I Only Spent 47 Seconds with Pike and It Was Hell” for their Rambler profile. The humor towards their chapter and their representation of the chapter through their kempt appearance and courteous behavior might come across as a contradiction, yet these aspects all come from an awareness of the envisioned future for the chapter.

“One of our big phrases is perception over time equals reality and the way we’ve went about that is, everybody’s gonna view us the same way that they have if we allow that to be the general perception that we give off,” said Kiser. “So we’ve ensured to go above and beyond with the way we dress because our four main principles are scholars, leaders, athletes, and gentlemen.”

“If you feel like you’re putting extra effort into yourself, you’re gonna be more likely to feel that you can put extra effort into everything else and at this point we have ten guys, we have to be putting all of the effort into this that we can,” said Easley.

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As Kiser and Maggard were recruiting potential new members on a previous night, the conversation was “serious,” with Kiser emphasizing what Pike is looking for: tenacity, determination, and willingness to face adversity. The conversation went on until around 1 a.m., when Kiser and Maggard decided to head back to Kiser’s room. Maggard rushed in to wake Tyler Stumbo, with shouts of “Stumbo dude, wake up,” only to tell him that nothing was actually going on. Kiser describes this ability to flip from “100% serious business to 100% causal” as necessary.

“You have to be serious at times and you have to be completely comedic and just unwind and relax because it’s really stressful, what we’re doing,” said Kiser. “Other people on campus have four times, five times our guys, so the tasks that they have ahead of them are significantly smaller, whereas us 10, we’re busting our butts, day-in, day-out, 24/7.”

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To the members, Pike is at times viewed as the “little brother” on campus, but a positive relationship between this label and the campus community wanting Pike to succeed exists.

“Everybody loves a Cinderella story, so every time we come out, every time we get better, it’s like the whole campus can get behind us and rally around us because they know what we’re doing. We’re fighting the good fight and it’s hard not to support that,” said Kiser.

Transy welcomes new professor of mathematics Michael Kelly

Aaron Martin
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Transy welcomes new professor of mathematics Michael Kelly

Transylvania is welcoming a multitude of new faculty and staff this year. There are a total of five new professors this semester and over the next month The Rambler will be introducing each of them to the campus. This is a way for the members of Transylvania to become familiar with the new professors as well as to truly welcome them to the Transy community.

With the retirement of Dave Shannon, the math department welcomed Assistant Professor of Mathematics Michael Kelly this year.

Kelly grew up in Philadelphia and attended the liberal arts college Franklin & Marshall College for his undergrad. He studied mathematics during his undergrad and continued to the University of Tennessee to get his Ph.D. in mathematics with a concentration in mathematical ecology.

His liberal arts education was a big part of Kelly wanting to work at Transy.

“When I was thinking about jobs and what I wanted to do, I knew I wanted to be a professor. I knew I wanted a similar experience to my undergrad. I just feel like that was the college experience to me,” said Kelly. “I wanted a school where faculty know students, you can be engaged in student’s academic careers, you can build relationships with them, and it’s much more hands-on teaching.”

Kelly explained that Transy’s reputation of being student-centered was another quality that really appealed to him. He is excited to work and do research with students and teach them about the possibilities of his field.

“I have a big interest and motivation to inform students about my area of interest. I want them to know about mathematical biology and the research potential there and some of the really awesome stuff that students can do in the area, especially in the undergrad level too,” said Kelly.

Kelly is extremely passionate about mathematical biology, which he defines as “using mathematics to model and describe biological systems and phenomena.”

His main interests in the field are infectious disease modeling, natural resource management and invasive species modeling. In terms of infectious disease modeling, Kelly’s interest stems from a desire to want to help.

“Infectious diseases, they’re a scary thing,” said Kelly. “My interest in how I model them is always about the optimal way of controlling disease outbreaks or eradicating diseases. I want to help; I want to do something to inform and provide information and guidance on how to best control outbreaks and get rid of them.”

He further explained that his interest in the work relates to why he loves math in general.

“The reason I like math and why I’ve always liked math has been problem-solving. I like finding an answer,” said Kelly.

In regards to his love for math, the origin of his passion is an interesting one. Kelly describes his relationship with math as always being a “love-hate relationship,” but he remembers the exact instant he decided to major in the field.

“I remember I was struggling in a Calculus course and I remember doing a homework set and I was just mad because I couldn’t get them,” he said. “I eventually got a few answers and eventually figured out what I was doing wrong and was able to finish it. I remember finishing it and thinking I want to be a math major.”

Kelly described the feeling of finally figuring out the answer and knowing there’s a solution to the problem as what really developed his passion for mathematics.

“I haven’t always been a math nerd, but I think I’ve definitely grown into that,” said Kelly. “I really do love it now, I’m kind of obsessed.”

‘A sense of camaraderie:’ a look at Phi Kappa Tau

Aaron Martin
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‘A sense of camaraderie:’ a look at Phi Kappa Tau

Almost every day in the Raf, a group of Phi Kappa Tau members will gather at multiple tables beside each other to eat, hang out and watch television.

“We almost always watch The Price is Right,” said senior Hussain Siddiqi. “We get really into it, too.”

The seating is interchangeable as many members will get up and move from table to table. This process of constantly moving groups and making sure to talk to every member reflects the camaraderie of the chapter.

“We really do have a sense of camaraderie that extends outside the classroom and outside of our personal Transy lives,” said Siddiqi. “I really do think that across every single brother that’s in our fraternity, we really do have each other’s backs in every single way.”

For senior Blake Chidester, one trait that unifies the members is character.

Photo Courtesy of Hussain Siddiqi.
Photo Courtesy of Hussain Siddiqi.

“One of the leading things we say we are is men of character. What that really means is how we embody ourselves in every aspect of our lives,” said Chidester. “No matter if people can see what we’re doing or if they can’t see what we’re doing, in the classroom or in the community or on the field, you do something that you would be proud of. You would never be ashamed of the decision you made.”

This sense of character is something that stood out to members when they were initially rushing. When Siddiqi was rushing, his dad was having surgery causing Siddiqi to have to miss a recruitment event.

“In the next two weeks during rush every single upperclassmen in Phi Tau reached out to me whether it was via text, call or coming up to me,” said Siddiqi. “It just blew my mind that people that I might not have even known at the time were so willing to go out of their way to help someone out.”

Chidester had a similar experience to Siddiqi’s during his recruitment process. He explained that he was unsure of even joining a fraternity when he first came to campus. He also had a conflicting engagement at the same time of a Phi Tau event which caused more uncertainty.

After the Phi Tau members told him they understood, Chidester said it “showed me the kind of people that they were and the kind of relationship that I could build with them.”

“Every single member has a very interesting story. We might come off as having a stereotype of an impression of being the athletic guys on campus, but there’s a lot of stories behind each and every one of us,” Siddiqi said. “We have guys from the highest of backgrounds to the lowest of backgrounds.”

Editor’s note: The Rambler was only able to schedule one lunch with members of Phi Kappa Tau, and received input from only two members of the chapter. As such, the piece presented here should be considered a surface description of the group culture and character of the fraternity, rather than an in-depth profile.

5 Shows To Watch This Fall

Judy Brumley
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5 Shows To Watch This Fall

The beginning of fall also marks the series and season premieres of several television shows. Check out this list to figure out which shows you should be looking out for in the coming weeks.

Designated Survivor – Wednesday’s on ABC at 10:00 p.m

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After a catastrophic attack leaves the country without any leadership, Tom Kirkman, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, is immediately sworn into the presidency. The show follows Kirkman as he fulfills the unexpected duty of leading our nation.

Rob and Chyna – Sunday’s on E! at 9:00 p.m.

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If you haven’t heard about this new Kardashian romance, get ready for one crazy love triangle. This reality series follows the recently engaged Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna. Between their dramatic fights and her interesting style choices, there is never a dull moment.

Grey’s Anatomy – Thursday’s on ABC at 8:00 p.m.

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I shouldn’t need to explain the plot of this one, but in case you’ve been living under a rock for the last eleven years I’ll give you a quick synopsis. The show follows doctors, nurses, interns, and residents as they work their way up in the hospital hierarchy. If you haven’t watched the first twelve seasons yet, don’t worry, they’re all on Netflix.

Timeless – Monday’s on NBC at 10:00 p.m.

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This new sci-fi show doesn’t premiere until October 3rd so you haven’t missed out yet. The series follows a time traveling criminal who is trying to change American history. It’s like watching a mini version of Back to the Future every single Monday night. Who doesn’t want that?

This Is Us – Tuesday’s on NBC at 10:00 p.m.

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This show follows several characters that are all turning thirty-six years old; similar to the movies Valentine’s Day and New Years Eve. The show depicts normal people dealing with the same problems that the rest of us are currently facing. According to critics, this is one of the most anticipated television shows of the year.

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DPS increases diversity with hiring of new officer

Raaziq El-Amin
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DPS increases diversity with hiring of new officer

Transylvania’s student body is becoming increasingly racially diverse. This raises questions about what changes must be made in order to create a faculty and staff that is reflective of such growth. One department on campus, the Department of Public Safety, is not wasting any time.

As of July, Officer John McNeal became Transy’s first person of color to work in the Department of Public Safety since 2001, according to one officer. McNeal, who is from Hawaii, was brought to Kentucky through his four year contribution as a percussionist in the United States Marine Corps.

“The military training gave me a start into my law enforcement career,” said McNeal.

McNeal also worked as a security guard at the University of Kentucky, where he currently studies. He attributes his commendable communication skills to his time in the Marine Corps.

“We travelled all over,” said McNeal. “You’re basically the face of the Marine Corps. Everybody goes to see the Marine band. And you have to know how to talk to people. That is definitely one of the biggest qualities as a police officer. You have to know how to deal with people on their worst days. You may be having just as bad a day, but you have to be the better person and help them.”

McNeal says he is happy to be able to contribute to diversity and inclusion efforts at Transy.

“Students can look at me and will know it’s not just all one,” stated McNeal, referring to how students of color will have the ability to comfortably approach him about issues that he may better understand due to shared characteristics of identity.

“Students can look at me and will know it’s not just all one.”

Transy’s small size is McNeal’s favorite aspect of the university.

“I get to know the students very well, especially being located right in one of the dorms,” said McNeal.

Playing rugby in his youth, McNeal continues to show his love for athletics, proven in his work as a referee for high school and college basketball. Keeping himself busy, McNeal also coordinates events for University of Kentucky’s intramural sports program and does part-time work at the Lexington Sport and Social Club.

“If anybody ever wants to challenge me to pool, they’re more than welcome to stop by when I’m working,” said McNeal. It is his goal to make connections with students through these types of activities. “I want to be able to engage with the students. I want to get to know everybody so that they don’t feel like they can’t come up to us,” he said.

 “I want to be able to engage with the students. I want to get to know everybody so that they don’t feel like they can’t come up to us.”

Qualities such as a sincere interest for others’ well being made McNeal an attractive applicant to add to the Department of Public Safety’s team.

“The most important thing to me is the ability to effectively communicate with people,” said Chief Gregg Muravchick. “John, with his education – and he’s got a military background. He’s excellent with people. One of the things I want is for our people, DPS, to be looked at as servants, professional servants.”

Muravchick continued, “I want us to be able to speak to students and have that personal relationship, and he’s just excellent. He’s got a big smile. He’s talkative. That’s what we want. If someone has issues, they’ll be able to come to officers and talk to them more about it because of that personal relationship.”

Creating a trusting and safe environment for the Transy community has been Muravchick’s main goal since beginning work at Transy six years ago.

“There were no personal relationships that were really pushed to develop the relationship between students, DPS, and faculty and staff. Now, there is,” he said.

Muravchick takes pride in his team of “public servants.” He plans to continue to increase diversity in the department and is so adamant about such efforts that he has plans to hire a female in October.

“No matter who you have as faculty, staff, or students, one of the most important keys to success is building a trusting, personal relationship, utilizing service as the main factor for success,” he said.

Kaepernick shouldn’t have to stand

Logan Fogle
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Kaepernick shouldn’t have to stand

There is the argument your grandpa likes to use at family dinners that professional athletes nowadays are only chasing the money and that there is no true loyalty in pro sports anymore. We’ll call this the “back in my day” argument, and okay, it does carry some weight, no matter how annoying it may be. Nowadays it is rare to see a Derek Jeter, a Kobe Bryant, or any other big name athlete stay with one team for their entire career like they used to. One will often hear the argument that sports are just too political in the modern era. Recently, if you have been following the National Football League, this argument has proven to be increasingly correct, but in a different sense of the word ‘political’ than the “back in my day” argument makes.

Throughout the entire NFL preseason and into week two of the regular season, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has refused to stand for the playing of the national anthem during the pre-game ceremonies, and instead kneels silently. He does this in protest of recent cases of police brutality against African-Americans, and from the start has declared he means no disrespect to our military in his protest, but rather that he is using his platform as a professional athlete to shed light on important issues. “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way,” he stated in a post-game interview earlier this year.

If (he were) forced to stand I believe it would be a suppression of his right to freedom of protest. I do however disagree with the reason he is kneeling.

-Brock Slater, junior

While initially he was alone in his protest, there has been a wave of what is being dubbed the ‘Kaepernick Effect’ sweeping high school, college and pro football. Many athletes have joined him in taking a knee during the anthem, and others such as Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters are showing solidarity by raising their right fist as the anthem plays.

This has sparked much controversy as many Americans feel this protest is disrespectful to members of the military, past, present and future. Even at Kaepernick’s old high school in California, there is a lack of support for the pro QB. The current football team members have been standing tall during the playing of the anthem in stark contrast with Kaepernick. Other NFL teams, such as the Seattle Seahawks, have begun locking arms during the anthem before every game as a symbol of unity. There have been calls from fans to impose fines on Kaepernick and others who refuse to stand for the anthem, along with other forms of punishment such as suspensions.

I caught up with TU junior Brock Slater, who is actively involved in ROTC training and is planning a military career, who stated, “I 100% support his decision to sit during the national anthem since it is his first amendment right to do so. If (he were) forced to stand I believe it would be a suppression of his right to freedom of protest. I do however disagree with the reason he is kneeling.” He went on to state, “I think the issues that need to be addressed are the income inequality and cultures in these black communities and low income communities.” TU track standout Jordin Fender stated about Kaepernick, “I agree with him. I’m not going to stand and support a country that doesn’t stand and support me.”

I’m not going to stand and support a country that doesn’t stand and support me.

-Jordin Fender, senior

While this issue continues to be controversial, perhaps it is important to remember that up until the year 2009, NFL players were not even on the field during the playing of the national anthem. They would remain in the locker room preparing for game time while the song played to the fans. However, a congressional report from 2015 revealed that the Department of Defense had paid NFL teams over $5 million dollars and the National Guard had paid the NFL upwards of $6 million dollars in the years 2011-2015 to stage on field patriotic demonstrations, such as service members being on the field during the national anthem, or symbolic flyovers of military jets over the stadium. This phenomenon has been called “paying for patriotism” and is important to keep in mind when discussing the Kaepernick controversy as this points to the argument that the NFL isn’t completely without fault.

Another thing to keep in mind are the memories of iconic athletes such as Kentucky native Muhammad Ali using his celebrity status to inspire social change. Is that not what made Ali so great? His philosophy on life and his unapologetic stance on racial issues that in part are what made him such a global icon. These political stances are woven into the fabric of sport, from Ali, to Tommie Smith and John Carlos raising their fists at the 1968 Olympics. Regardless of what you think of Kaepernick taking a knee, at least we are having these important conversations. If we begin to censor which freedoms we support and protect and don’t allow those points of view we disagree with to be vocalized, then would that not dishonor the military and American ideals even more? Kaepernick has also announced that he plans to donate the first $1 million dollars he earns this season to charities that aid communities in need.

In a Twitter poll I put out in which I received 86 votes I asked whether or nor Kaepernick should stand for the national anthem, and 64% of people said he should. However, maybe this is not the question we need to be asking. Maybe the question we should ask is, should he have to? In my opinion, the answer is perfectly clear: absolutely not.

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