Coal Lodge protest banners hung briefly at UK

By Andy Mead - amead@herald-leader.com

Someone unhappy with the newly approved Wildcat Coal Lodge hung banners on the University of Kentucky campus early Wednesday, but few saw them because they were quickly taken down.

The theme: UK is for sale.

A banner across the pillars of Memorial Hall said, "YOUR AD HERE! Call: 257-1701."

One protest banner hung at UK early Wednesday referred to Ball Homes Inc., whose CFO is Mira Ball, UK board chairwoman.

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That's UK President Lee T. Todd Jr.'s office number.

Another sign, over the Main Building, proclaimed it to be the "Ball Homes Building."

Mira Ball, the chairwoman of UK's board of trustees, also is the chief financial officer of Ball Homes Inc.

The board voted last week to accept $7 million in private donations to build the Wildcat Coal Lodge, a new residence for the UK men's basketball team and a few other students.

UK spokeswoman Kathy Johnson said campus police noticed the banners about 5 a.m. They were taken down, she said, because they violated administrative rules. According to the rules, the director of the student center has to approve signs on buildings, and the signs must be sponsored by a student organization that is marked on the sign.

Images of the banners were sent anonymously to the Herald-Leader and other media.