{Lexington, Kentucky}...A group of University of Kentucky students, alumni and supporters held a rally Wednesday at the free speech area of the UK campus, calling on the UK Athletics program to cut financial ties to coal. UK student Sam Beavin says the administration has banned sponsorships from tobacco and alcohol companies and that coal should be blacklisted, too. After the rally, students marched to the Wildcat Coal Lodge to deliver hundreds of petitions and inhalers stuffed with personalized notes. The Lodge was paid for by $7 million in donations from coal operators. The protesters, part of the UK Beyond Coal Coalition, shouted "Ho, ho, hey, hey, Wildcat Coal Lodge needs a new name!" Last year, the Friends of Coal group paid $85,000 to sponsor several basketball and football games. The anti-coal rally ended with police asking a group of protesters to leave the Joe Craft Center. Lt. John Barefoot told them he would give them one warning to leave before arresting them for disorderly conduct. Joe Craft, the CEO of Alliance Resource Partners, donated $6 million for the basketball practice facility that bears his name. He also spearheaded the donation for the Wildcat Coal Lodge, stipulating the building hold a tribute to coal in the lobby.
