In ā€œProtecting the flock or policing the sheep?ā€ Ben Fisher, assistant professor of criminal justice, studied 73 school resource officers across two school districts; one made up of primarily white students and one made up primarily of students of color.

ā€œWhat we found is that the way SROs talked about the most salient threats to their schools are really different across the two districts,ā€ Fisher said.

ā€œAt the whiter and wealthier district, it was a lot more about preventing external threats from coming into the school,ā€ Fisher added. ā€œIn the more diverse, urban district, it was more about the students themselves as threats.ā€

Fisherā€™s findings elaborate on the ways SROs from each district perceive students. For example, in the primarily white districts, many issues are attributed to typical youth behavior such as drugs, alcohol and violence. However, those same issues in the more diverse district were attributed to the community environment bringing those issues into the classroom.

Fisher also refers to SROs as an extension of police within a community, which may often influence biases within a school or region.

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That has changed with COVID-19 requiring social distancing. However, the SRC is finding creative ways to keep students active. From online gaming to virtual workouts, the SRC wants to ensure that students stay connected.

ā€œThatā€™s a big part of what we do at the SRC,ā€ said David Rice, coordinator of Sports Clubs and Facilities. ā€œWe are there to engage students and to get them to engage with each other. Part of the university is not just in the classroom, so typically when you go over to the gym and play basketball with someone youā€™ve never met before, you might just come away with a new friend. This partnership is really just an extension of that, exercising proper social distancing.ā€

The SRC partnered with the Cardinal Gaming Club to provide online gaming options. Students will need to join in order to connect with the Cardinal Gaming Club channels. Games available include Fortnite, Call of Duty or social role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons. Through this partnership, more students can connect without stepping foot on campus.

For those looking to be more active, employees of the SRC have set up , where students can follow along with an instructor from their own homes. In addition, students are able to meet one-on-one with SRC Fitness Staff via . These sessions are available by reservation and will last roughly 15 minutes, giving students an opportunity to ask questions or get tips on how to train during isolation.

The SRC has also provided several social distancing , where students can run on or near campus, including HSC, with routes beginning at one mile up to four. There is also a link to create individual routes based on studentsā€™ location.

In this last semester of college, I chose to join the International Service Learning Program on a trip to Trinidad and Tobago led by the College of ³ÉČĖÖ±²„ā€™s Higher ³ÉČĖÖ±²„ Administration and College Student Personnel programs. It was an opportunity that I thought I had missed out on during my undergraduate studies. It seemed like the perfect way to spend my spring break: living and learning in a new country, surrounded by peers and the most beautiful scenery imaginable.

During the first couple of days, I was hit by an onslaught of “firsts:”

• My first international trip.
• My first time on three planes in one day.
• My first time eating lobster
• My first time snorkeling.
• My first time presenting in front of professionals.
• My first sunburn of the summer.

Looking back, I realize that all of these things were so trivial compared to what we went on to experience. We unwittingly were in a front row seat watching a pandemic spread across the world.

COVID-19 was in the United States when we set off on our spring break adventure, but it had not gained traction and travel was not yet restricted. So we trudged ahead.

Our goal was to explore the culture of Trinidad and Tobago and familiarize ourselves with the tertiary system in a new country. As young professionals in the U.S. higher education system, we were eager to exchange knowledge and experience with our Trinidadian peers.

During our first few days, we engaged in roundtable discussions with the Trinidad and Tobago Hospitality and Tourism Institute and the University of the West Indies. However, we were met with a level of caution due to the increasing fear of the virus. Instead of handshakes, we were greeted with polite waves and ā€œknocking elbows,ā€ as well as informational sessions on the importance of maintaining distance and rigorous hand washing. In some ways, the lively discussion we expected was hindered by a feeling of uncertainty.

This was in stark contrast to the reception we received at a primary school in the area. The school was affiliated with the orphanage next door in addition to the local community. We came bearing gifts of soccer balls, Cardinal bracelets, stickers, key chains and new books. In return, we were greeted with laughter and hugs. We felt it was much too soon when the kids began dismissing to their homes.

The ride back to the hotel was filled with laughter, exchanging stories of the vibrant children we encountered.

Then, the messages started rolling in. COVID-19 had reached Kentucky, then Louisville. It was unsettling, watching the chaos unfold from so far away. Our little piece of paradise had been tainted by the knowledge of what we would return home to.

Nevertheless, we persisted. We met with students and faculty and listened to their concerns. We focused on “doing more with less.” Their universities were also facing economic struggles and they wanted to provide the best education for their students. We shared with them our experiences in higher education, what events and services had worked, and which hadnā€™t. They shared with us new ideas to engage our own students. Many of us formed partnerships with our Trinidadian counterparts, making plans to continue assisting them even after returning home.

Meanwhile, the emails from school, work and home kept pouring into our inboxes and it was often overwhelming. What could we do? We were stuck between wanting to return home to our loved ones, and wondering if it was safer that we stay away.

Our fearless leaders simply reminded us that all we could do was wait and listen. And we did. We continued with the activities we had planned, all of which began with a debriefing on the situation as it spread. We were reminded once again, to maintain space, wash your hands, stay safe.

We always knew there was a possibility of being quarantined upon our return but getting the notification that we were prohibited from campus for 14 days still shook many of us. It was suddenly all too real. Glenn Gittings, one of the leaders for our trip, frequently reminded me that our rag-tag team of 11 (seven students and four professors and administrators) was going through this together.

The tension in the air as we landed in Miami, Florida, was high. We were travel weary, hungry, nervous. Where there had once been boisterous conversation, there was now silence and uncertainty. However, something changed as we landed at the Louisville airport. Something familiar and welcoming, despite all the chaos in the world, it still felt like home. I could feel the tension in my shoulders relax, knowing that whatever came next, we would be okay. Even though the trip was over, we were still in this together.

Later, we found out that not long after our return, Trinidad and Tobago began blocking flights in and out of the country. There was a flurry of activity as the nation struggled to gain a grasp on the virus. Only two days before, the universities we had worked with had shut down all activities, resulting in our final session being cut short.

I guess in the end, this trip still was all about my “firsts:”

• Including my first time navigating a pandemic of this scale.
• My first time experiencing real fear and uncertainty about what lies ahead.
• My first time seeing a group of relative strangers turn into family.

And that is what ISLP has done for me. I visited a new country, learning their history and culture. I grew as a professional, participating in some of the most intellectually stimulating conversation in my life. I learned how to have courage in the face of uncertainty. I gained a family of individuals brought together by a shared experience.

Fear did not win out in this experience. Instead, we used education, reasoning and compassion to build on something so profound that I shall never forget it.

And, given the choice, I would do it all over again.

The top three ambassadors, who will receive additional funding to their chosen area, were Leslie Friesen, Lora Haynes and Brian Buford, respectively.

The university received nearly 3,000 gifts and commitments from alumni and friends of the university. The Leadership Challenge brought in significant donations as well with the top three groups receiving additional funds from an anonymous donor. The raiseRED Dance Marathon topped the leader board in addition to winning the Early Bird Challenge. The James Graham Brown Cancer Center and the College of Arts and Sciences followed closely behind with significant contributions.

ā€œWe raised nearly three times as much as last year. In 1,798 minutes, we raised nearly one million dollars from over 2,000 donors. This shows a sense of pride about the university and that our support is increasing and that much is a good sign,ā€ said President Neeli Bendapudi. ā€œSo thank you. Letā€™s keep doing what we do best, which is making sure that our students, faculty, staff, alumni and everyone who is a part of Card Nation are proud to say ā€˜We are Cardinals.ā€™ā€

In addition to monetary donations UofL students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends pitched in to give back to the community through service projects and other community outreach.

Malone is a former Cardinal baseball player who graduated from UofL with a bachelorā€™s degree in justice administration. Following graduation, he was drafted by the Cleveland Indians and spent one season in the NY-Penn League before earning his masterā€™s in theology from Tennessee Temple Theological Seminary. He spent time working for the California Angels, Montreal Expos, Los Angeles Dodgers and Baltimore Orioles before retiring from Major League Baseball after 17 years in 2001.

Malone is a member of the UofL Hall of Fame and has spent his recent years defending the rights of human-trafficking victims.

“He has committed his life to eradicating the sex trafficking of children through a proven, evidence-based approach that utilizes collaboration among experienced leaders, survivors, professionals, and service providers in all sectors of human trafficking to battle America’s ‘slave problem,ā€™ā€ said the institute in a public statement.

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The celebration was in advance of National Farmers Market Week Aug. 4-10. Farmers markets act as vital resources for families to get locally sourced produce which increases healthy eating habits and boosts the local economy.

The Gray Street Farmers Market was co-founded in 2009 between UofLā€™s School of Public Health and Information Sciences (SPHIS) and the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health Wellness. Together, they work toward relieving the food desert that exists in downtown Louisville.

ā€œWeā€™re in the middle of an increased need to provide fresh produce within downtown Louisville, specifically to those on food assistance programs,ā€ said Sara Frazier, Gray Street Farmers Market manager.

Locally-grown produce can often be viewed as a commodity for only those who can afford it, according to Frazier. The Gray Street Farmers Market addresses the issue with its Dollar for Dollar program, which matches SNAP recipientsā€™ benefits up to $20. The service is provided through donations and numerous fundraising opportunities, including a available on the marketā€™s website during August.Ģż There is also an for those wishing to donate directly to the Dollar for Dollar program.Ģż

The market runs every Thursday from mid-May to Oct. 31, 2019 ā€“ rain or shine. It operates from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with lunch options available through vendors and weekly food truck rotations. The marketā€™s governance committee reviews all vendor applications to ensure the products are local and will be a good fit. They want there to be a variety of high quality options for our customers.Ģż

Visitors can expect homegrown or homemade products including fruits and vegetables, canned goods, hand-crafted products, artisan coffee and more. Most vendors accept cash, card or tokens. Tokens are available at the information booth in order to help those who need currency exchanged onsite.

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Such a schism became evident to Metro Councilman Brandon Coan, who said, ā€œIā€™m Louisville person, Iā€™m not a Kentucky person.ā€

However, following Coanā€™s experience with the Rural-Urban Exchange, also known as RUX, his eyes were opened to the symbiotic relationship between the two.

, which was co-founded by alumna Savannah Barrett ā€™08.

The program involves connecting businessmen, artists and other Kentuckians to how the “other half” operates. It includes three intensive meetings where community members come together to exchange ideas and cultures.

Barrett noted that during the first session, participants came face-to-face with the indigenous people who still reside in areas of Kentucky that are well off the beaten path. It was an important discussion on how harmful it was to refuse to acknowledge the differences between groups.

Barrett along with Josh May, the former communications director of Appalshop, conceived the idea for RUX in 2014. They were motivated by the common misconceptions about the state of Kentucky and the lack of knowledge about the cultural nuances of the state. Together, they combined the efforts of Appalshop and Art of the Rural to form RUX, which is funded primarily through donations and grants.

Barrett, who earned a degree in humanities, is in works to expand education on the program outside of the state.

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After a cross-continent move, struggling to adapt to a new language and culture, attending a school that cut its basketball program, and myriad injuries during her playing career at two universities, Diop is primed to start her final year of eligibility on the court as a UofL Cardinal. And she has one goal in mind ā€“ to make an NCAA final.

Reporter Danielle Lerner chronicled Diopā€™s long and winding path to the Yum! Center court in the .

Raised in the heart of the Sengalese capital of Dakar, Diop had big dreams of going out into the world and becoming more. After falling in love with the NBA at the age of 9, she began playing basketball against the other children in her community. She possessed a strong tenacity for the game which got her recruited for club ball, where she continued gaining skills and notoriety. Her talents were noticed and she was encouraged to make the move to the U.S. Ā 

Diopā€™s mother initially was not thrilled with the idea and insisted Diop would have to find a way to not only get to the U.S., but also to go to college. So Diop boarded a plane alone as a young teen and traveled to Pennsylvania to attend high school.

In a foreign country and unable to speak the language, Diop turned to basketball as her constant. Until her first high school cut their girlā€™s program. After transferring, she struggled academically and lost eligibility until her senior year. However, a successful on-court performance senior year secured her a scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh. More trials and tribulations followed her at college, where she struggled with injuries and the team struggled to win.

Diop remained optimistic that she would one day find her way to an NCAA tournament and later, the WNBA. It was with this optimism that she transferred to the University of Louisville for graduate studies. Alas, early in the 2018-19 season, Diop was sidelined with yet another injury ā€“ an ACL tear. The injury was disheartening, but following rehabilitation, she is ready to compete in her final year of college eligibility with the goal to reach the NCAA finals.

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During his time at Brandeis School of Law, Smith was a 2008 scholarship recipient of the Louisville Black Law Students Association and taught ā€œstreet lawā€ at Central High Schoolā€™s law magnet program, which earned him its 2009 Teacher Award.

Smith landed a Black Entertainment Television (BET) internship during school and volunteered with BET shortly after graduating. In August 2009, he was hired as a legal coordinator for BETā€™s ā€œThe Moā€™Nique Showā€ in Atlanta.

Smith met industry celebrities including Kobe Bryant, Gabrielle Union and BeyoncĆ©, and worked awards shows in Atlanta, Las Vegas and New York. After seven years at BET, Smith began working for MGM as a production attorney for ā€œPaternity Courtā€ and ā€œCouples Court with the Cutlers.ā€

In October 2018, Smithā€™s efforts earned him the Brandeis School of Law Recent Alumnus Award, an honor recognizing graduates using their education to make an impact in their communities and industries.

ā€œIt means the world to me to be recognized for working hard,ā€ Smith said. ā€œIā€™m able to blend my legal education with what I love to do. Itā€™s the best of both worlds.ā€

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Jasper Noble, a junior who is double majoring in political science and history, is the new SGA president. Kayla Payne has been elected executive vice president, Sabrina Collins is academic vice president and Lydia Burns is the new services vice president.

Noble spoke with UofLNews about his plans for the future of SGA, and the role SGA plays in advocating for students as the university develops a new strategic plan.

UofLNews: How long have you been involved in SGA and what has that role entailed?

Noble: I got involved in SGA as soon as I possibly could. I was involved with Task Force Freshman as a freshman. I was the mentee of the chief of staff at that point. My sophomore year I ran for senate and served on the Arts and Sciences Appropriations Committee. That was a really interesting process just to see how the legislative process works here. During my sophomore and into my junior year I ran for academic vice president and did not win. Then I was appointed the deputy chief of staff where I am currently working under President [Jonathan] Fuller.

UofLNews:Ā What made you pursue this leadership role in the organization?Ā 

Noble: Well, Iā€™ve been a part of it for so long ā€“ over three years ā€“ and I have come up with things that I want to do. I have a vision for what SGA could be, a vision that I think a lot of people share. I think that itā€™s something I have kind of always wanted to have in SGA as a leadership role but I wasnā€™t sure what that would be back then. This year, I felt I was ready for thisĀ ā€“ to do a good job and be a good leader for students on campus.

UofLNews: What are your biggest goals as SGA president?

Noble: I want to open up more channels of communication. I know that a lot of people feel like SGA isnā€™t listening to them and even more people donā€™t even know what SGA does. So why would you reach out to them if you donā€™t know what theyā€™re doing? So, awareness is important to what weā€™re doing. With that, comes transparency. I will sit on the Board of Trustees. I think that itā€™s important as students that we understand what this highest governing body is. I want to be that voice saying ā€œHereā€™s whatā€™s going on at the very highest level.ā€ I want to look at things like affordability, safety and mental health awareness. I want to do everything I can to make sure that we address student needs.

UofLNews: What do you think will be your biggest challenges serving in this role?

±·“Ē²ś±ō±š:ĢżI just know that itā€™s difficult. I worked with Jonathan and I was [former SGA President] Vishnuā€™s roommate before that, so Iā€™ve been close to this role for some time. I know that itā€™s tough to balance things that students want and what is beneficial for the university as a whole. Iā€™m absolutely committed to making sure that when students have needs, and when things arenā€™t being paid attention to, we start paying attention. On the other side of that coin, there is an entire university to maintain. Weā€™re coming out of this transitional period where things havenā€™t been so good on a national stage and now theyā€™re getting better. So I also want to make sure we are focusing on where our priorities are and continuing that until we reach a point where we can address all of these individual issues.

UofLNews: You will be serving during the universityā€™s strategic planning initiative, do you have any thoughts or goals for what you will seek to accomplish?

±·“Ē²ś±ō±š:ĢżIā€™ve been lucky enough to serve on the teaching and enrollment strategic planning committee. I think weā€™re coming up with some really good plans on how to bring more people to UofL to add to the size of this community. With more people comes more success. Thereā€™s more breadth of experience for students to draw from. Weā€™re looking at new markets to engage with and new ways to bring students in the local area who arenā€™t necessarily looking at UofL. We can show them all of the incredible opportunities that UofL has to offer.

UofLNews: How would you describe your leadership style?

±·“Ē²ś±ō±š:ĢżI like to describe it as an open-door style. Iā€™m confident in my ability to make decisions, but Iā€™m only confident in my ability to make decisions if the people around me are there to offer criticism. I donā€™t think thereā€™s any use in surrounding yourself with those who only agree with you. So I think the more people that critique the decision that I want to make and the more people that provide me with anecdotes and their experiences to contradict my understanding of something, thatā€™s what going to shape better policy and better decision making.

UofLNews: When your time as president comes to an end, what do you hope your legacy will be?

±·“Ē²ś±ō±š:ĢżI hope that there is a much larger increase of students who are aware of what SGA can do for them. I think that, at its core, student government is a tool and the fact that not enough students are utilizing that tool makes it that much more important that we make ourselves present and make ourselves known.

UofLNews: Why did you choose to attend the University of Louisville?

±·“Ē²ś±ō±š:ĢżIn high school I was always thinking, ā€œIā€™ll never go to a state school because I want to see places outside of Kentucky.ā€ But then I applied to UofL for the crazy good scholarship bonuses we have. I was lucky enough to become a McConnell Scholar, so the level of opportunity that I was able to get here was something that I didnā€™t see anywhere else in the country. I also would get to be close to home to see my family every single month. It just worked out that the opportunities aligned perfectly with what I wanted to do.

UofLNews: Whatā€™s your favorite thing about UofL?

±·“Ē²ś±ō±š:ĢżThe people that Iā€™ve met here. A lot of them have similar upbringings as me and then so many more of them are so different. I didnā€™t know there was this microcosm community at UofL. I grew up in Cincinnati, and itā€™s just totally a different urban and suburban culture. I just love the people Iā€™ve met here, not only on campus but in the city, too. I think itā€™s a fun, vibrant place to be and Iā€™ve really enjoyed it.

Joining Noble on the Executive Cabinet are:

Kayla Payne ā€“ executive vice president:Ā A sophomore political science major, Payne will focus on forming a student diversity coalition and continuing the effort to create an atmosphere of inclusivity for minority groups on campus.

Sabrina Collins ā€“ academic vice president:Ā Collins is a sophomore political science major with a double minor in mathematics and women and gender studies. Collinsā€™ period in office will include a focus on improving academic equity among all student groups and ensuring that every student will have the opportunity to succeed.

Lydia Burns ā€“ services vice president:Ā A junior political science and mathematics double major, Burns will work to create a greener campus that is affordable and accessible to all students.

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