It seems funny that when I first started here in the fall of 1992 that I was so intimidated by this whole place. I started my college career at 23, enrolled for all of three credit hours. By that age, I'd been married for three years and divorced; had moved away to a big city and come back home; and lived in several apartments and worked various full-time jobs. I'd finished the process of coming out as a self-identified les-bi-gay person, come to terms with myself and gotten over most of my insecurities and fears, or so I'd thought.
When I became a student again, after having quit high school at 17 and spending six years at lesser pursuits, I found myself feeling isolated on campus. I was afraid of being surrounded by younger people, smarter people and so many straight people. What I didn't realize is so many other people have similar feelings, even if for different reasons.
I know a lot of African-Americans feel like a tiny blip on UK's student map. I know many international students don't fit into UK's "Rah-Rah" sub-culture. I know people with lower incomes are intimidated by the fancy cars and party lifestyles of the students who don't have to work or seek financial aid.
I know that quiet, shy people can't relate to the lives of UK's basketball players and Student Government leaders. A lot of us feel like we're surrounded by people we can't find a common ground with.
I discovered on a visit to Antioch University in Ohio that UK really is a great place. Antioch is known to be liberal and politically correct. I spent the night in a girl's dorm room (a definite no-no at UK) drinking beer (a capital offense at UK) with the door open to the hall where a security officer went by every so often. I was shocked that I wasn't thrown off campus and/or arrested.
All the guys I met had long hair, some girls had buzz cuts. Several had more than one artificial color in their hair and lots had tattoos and assorted piercing. There are no sports teams, and fraternities and sororities are banned from campus. I thought I'd entered the promised land. Now, I realize it was La-La Land.
UK has people that I don't agree with, or have very much in common with. The diversity of UK that I treasure doesn't just include the African-Americans, les-bi-gay, nonreligious, liberal friends of mine. I'm thrilled that we have more than 200 student groups on campus, numerous sports teams to follow, diverse political activities, etc. I love the broad spectrum of cultures and languages, skin colors and lifestyles. That's what makes this place so great. We all have a place at UK.
Last year the pages of the Kernel often reflected division among the student body. I don't believe the purpose of this paper is to promote any ideological cause, whether it be liberal or conservative. The only agenda I expect from this paper is the free exchange of ideas, opinions and of course, news.
The Kernel is for all students, not just Rush Limbaugh wannabes, or people like me who sing happy songs about inclusiveness.
Let's commit this paper to better serving our campus this year and not use its pages to hurl simple-minded attacks at entire groups of people in defense of our entrenched beliefs. As we continue on with our education process, we may find that we have something to learn from each other. As I begin my senior year I want to assure you that UK is not a place of insiders and outsiders; it is a community of individually important individuals.
As Christopher Reeve said at the Democratic National Convention Monday night, "We all have value."
In advance, let us thank the Kernel, its staff and all who will contribute to it this year for appreciating the value of all its readers.
Let's have a great semester.
Guest Columnist Julien Aleksandres is an interior design senior and president of Queer Info; his views do not necessarily represent that of the Kentucky Kernel.