University of Kentucky student life

The University of Kentucky offers a variety of choices to students. The choices range from a number of dining options, residence halls, and athletic facilities to student organizations, religious groups, Greek-letter organizations and intramural competitions/campus recreation.

Greek-letter organizations

Social organizations

There are 14 sororities and 25 fraternities that serve the University of Kentucky in Lexington.

Sororities

Fraternities

Honor societies

• Omicron Delta Kappa
• Alpha Psi Omega

Campus dining

There are also two convenience stores, located at Blazer Hall and at The 90.

The meal plans for on-campus students no longer utilize a declining-balance system, similar to a debit card. In 2005, a new "all care to eat" plan was initiated to the disfavor of 84.9% of the student body.^[1] The cheapest meal plan for on-campus students is $949 per semester, extending upward to $2,013 per semester. These plans also include $300 in "flex dollars" which can be used at all on campus dining locations, convenience stores, and also starbucks.

Students can also use their Plus Account to eat at a few select off-campus restaurants, such as McDonald's or Fazoli's.

Religion and life-philosophy

Religious organizations

Listed below are some of the most popular, active, and/or relevant groups on the University of Kentucky's campus. For a more complete list of registered religious student groups refer to the University of Kentucky's Official Organization Database.

Jewish faith

• Jewish Student Organization/Hillel Foundation

Christian Student Fellowship Building

Christian faith

• Baptist Campus Ministries
• Christian Student Fellowship
• Catholic Newman Center
• Fellowship of Catholic University Students
• Wesley Foundation

Islamic faith

• Muslim Student Association

Bahá'í faith

• Baha'i Association

Buddhism

• Buddhist Studies Group
• SGI Buddhist Student Association

Non-religious philosophy groups

• Secular Student Alliance

Campus recreation

The university provides several facilities for unwinding from the daily campus grind. The Johnson Center, a 12,000-square-foot (1,100 m²) two-story structure located at South Campus, features basketball, volleyball, badminton, racketball, and wallyball courts, along with weight-lifting facilities, and rock climbing walls. It is also the home for some group fitness classes utilizing a large aerobics studio.

The Lancaster Aquatic Center, located next to the Johnson Center, opened in 1989 and features 10 lanes for lap swimming and has shallow space for other water activities.

The Seaton Center features facilities for basketball, volleyball, badminton, jogging, squash, table tennis, and racquetball.

Residence halls

The North Campus residence halls, with downtown Lexington in the background.

The Kirwan-Blanding residence halls complex.

Campus safety

The university has suffered from a perception that the campus is unsafe. In a survey of 1000 female university students, conducted in spring 2004, 36.5% reported having been victims of rape, stalking, or physical assault while at the campus.^[2][3] Campus law enforcement statistics do not bear out these numbers, however,^[4] and it can be assumed either that many serious crimes go unreported or that the survey conclusions were erroneous.

In response to the survey, University President Lee T. Todd, Jr. launched an initiative in September 2005 titled the Campus Safety Imperative, which included a quadrupling of annual expenditures on safety.^[5] Todd specifically linked campus safety to the goal of becoming a top 20 public research institution, stating that "We will never make gains toward becoming a top-20 public research institution if our students are unsafe or if they lack a sense of physical security. It is part of our fundamental mission, then, to create a campus that provides a safe place to live, to work, and to learn."^[3]

References