‘Slap in the face.’ UK football season opener brings out droves of students for parties
As the University of Kentucky football team kicked off its season opener Saturday in Auburn, Ala., some neighborhoods around campus were filled with large groups of young people, most of whom were not wearing masks.
Scores of students attended parties in yards in the area around Elizabeth Street early Saturday afternoon.
Just after 2 p.m., Lexington police were called to respond to large, loud parties on Hummingbird Lane and Westwood Drive.
Police had received four complaints about loud parties as of mid-afternoon Saturday, a police spokeswoman said.
There had been concern ahead of Saturday’s game that students might not follow guidelines for preventing the spread of coronavirus as they celebrate the return of collegiate athletics.
“As we’re getting reports, we’re checking on it, and we’ll follow up on it accordingly,” University of Kentucky spokesman Jay Blanton said Saturday.
He said UK and Lexington police have been sharing information about reports of large gatherings, and university officials are “following up with property managers” when they get reports about specific addresses where parties are being held.
Blanton said a socially-distant watch party at UK baseball’s outdoor stadium was attended by about 500 students Saturday.
There have been complaints of parties in the area around campus since UK students returned in August.
Students who violate UK’s social distancing policy, even if the violation is off campus, can face consequences ranging from a warning to suspension or expulsion. So far this year, UK has found about 100 students guilty of violating the rules.
Lexington police have said that they respond to complaints about noise and disorderly conduct, just as they would if there were no pandemic.
On Saturday, Lexington reported 110 new COVID-19 infections — 55 of which were college students, according to Lexington-Fayette County Health Department statistics.
Nikki Fast Pollock, who lives in a neighborhood near Kroger Field, said the parties are disheartening, especially since there is concern that UK student cases are driving up COVID-19 numbers in Fayette County that contribute to keeping kids learning at home rather than in the classroom.
She said her son started Kindergarten this year, and she’s had to explain to him that maybe he’ll get to go to school later, but he has to learn on the computer first. Watching the students in her neighborhood hold parties without masks or social distancing is “just kind of like a slap in the face,” she said.
“It’s just upsetting,” Pollock said.
This story was originally published September 26, 2020 at 3:38 PM.
