University of Kentucky concerns about coal industry

Wednesday, 04 Nov 2009

The Board of Trustees of the University of Kentucky vote to name and construct 'Wildcat Coal Lodge' will further condemn the university and the state to the backward image our state has suffered for years.

This decision does not serve to advance the mission or the stature of the University; it does quite to the contrary and will cause UK to suffer in competition to other universities who are responding in spirit and substance to the threat of climate change.

While other universities are scrambling to develop new technologies that will mitigate climate change, UK chose to rubber stamp an industry and an image that will serve as another stumbling block for Kentucky in the future.

Ms Amy Shelton of University of Kentucky said that this decision sends a clear message that UK supports the coal industry without qualms and does not value the academic research, perspectives and innovation that offer a different perspective or alternative.

She added that "Given the short sighted agenda of the UK Board of Trustees, I am left with little hope that UK will be responsible for generating new ideas and policies that take the Commonwealth or our nation into a new economic and environmental era. We’ll leave that to other states and universities while we continue to lag behind in Kentucky, wondering why we can’t shake those stereotypes of backwardness. As an alumnus of the university, I will choose not to support my alma mater until the Board of Trustees can make decisions that project the values of academic discourse and independence. The coal industry clearly has more money to give than I do, but I hope that my fellow graduates will stand with me."