A Blog on McConnell Center Life

By Anna Williams As a daughter of a Black police officer, my identity is always divided.  When I hear news of the Brett Hankinson trial, I find myself at a crossroads of identity. I am a young Black woman who supports the police because I am the daughter of a retired, Black, Kentucky State Police Major. I will always respect how my dad spent twenty-five years sacrificing his life for the betterment of our community, and yet I will never condone police brutality, most frequently and disproportionately against people of color. Rather than fully supporting the Black or Blue side–as society pressures me to do–my identity is caught in the middle of what I call the “navy area.” Being “navy” means that you support the police’s efforts to establish safer communities but also recognize the rise of police brutality against the Black community.  The night of March 13, 2020, in Louisville, Kentucky, was especially disturbing for me as a Black woman. The fact that Breonna Taylor, a woman w...

By Emily Bevins           I love Scooby-Doo. I have always loved Scooby-Doo. The original 1969 cartoon was my favorite show when I was little. I can quote “Scooby-Doo in the Cyber Chase” in its entirety to this day. Little Emily saw herself as a meddling kid, helping the Mystery Gang catch bad guys. As a senior in college prepping for the LSAT and grappling with the idea of adulthood outside undergrad, I have found myself nostalgic for a simpler time. I wanted to know if my favorite show still held up. Therefore, in order to cope with my impending future, I have spent the semester diving back into Scooby-Doo. I have now watched almost every Scooby-Doo property since the 60s—every TV show, special, and movie. With 60 years of crime-solving under my belt, I can safely say if a monster ever attacks the University of Louisville, you want me on the team to take it down. I can also safely say that Scooby-Doo has a lot more heart than people give it credit for....