Wednesday, May 8, 2024

ONE WEEK, NINE ARRESTS

PAGE 5: WHY PRO-PALESTINE DEMONSTRATORS WERE ARRESTED ON CAMPUS AND WHAT COMES NEXT

DAILY

INFORMATION

EDITORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Abby Ann Ramsey

MANAGING EDITOR: Bella Hughes

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Letter from the Editor: Forever indebted to the Beacon

ABBY ANN RAMSEY Editor-in-Chief

Last Thursday, four other editors and I spent our evening sprinting through campus and Fort Sanders, sending voice memos and information back and forth to one another in order to thoroughly report on recent campus demonstrations supporting Palestine. Once the demonstrators dispersed, the five of us squeezed into my tiny apartment living room with my dog and my roommate’s cat to help each other sew together the details of the night.

It was a moment in my time at the Beacon that I will never forget, not only because I was exhausted and not only because I was learning how to cover impactful news as fast as possible but also because it reminded me of how my time as Editor-in-Chief would not have been what it was without the people by my side who have worked to make this job feel anything but isolating.

A year ago, I was nervous and hesitant about taking on a role where I would be at the helm of the newspaper that has come to mean so much to me. What I guess was not yet evident to me was that my team would be just as passionate about this work as I am, guiding and teaching me how to be in charge along the way.

I could go on and on about this past week or about trying to get a job in the journalism field in a time of turmoil, but what is really important to me right now is the people who have made my time at the Beacon and at UT so fruitful and unforgettable.

First, I’d like to thank the incredible advisors I’ve gotten to learn from in these past several years, including Jerry Bush, our former advisor, and Austin Orr, our technology coordinator. It’s also been incredible to get to work with Mike Martinez, who has been a part-time faculty advisor for us and also an influential professor for me throughout college. He has advocated for us consistently and is always willing to wrestle with the hard questions with us. I wouldn’t be where I am today without Kylie Hubbard Irvine, who has advised the Beacon in some form or another the entire time I’ve been involved. Thank you, Kylie, for showing me what passionate leadership looks like.

I also am indebted to the Department of Religious Studies, a community of faculty and students that has taught me how to be a curious, critical thinker who considers the needs of others.

I am so excited to soon be part of the UT alumni family, but I’m even more excited to be part of the Beacon alumni family — a community of people who understands the importance of student journalism and works diligently to advocate for the success of a paper with a rich history of holding the university accountable and telling the stories of students. I’d like to give a special shout out to Jeff Copesky (‘86) who has established the Jeff Copeskey Editor-in-Chief Endowment.

I had not been at the Beacon for very long before I decided to apply for managing editor, which propelled my passion not just for news but specifically for the Beacon — a name I will forever feel

2023-24 Beacon Editor-in-Chief Abby Ann Ramsey (left) chats with 2024-25 Beacon Editor-in-Chief Bella Hughes (right) as they take photos. Courtesy of The Media Center

inexplicably tied to. My journey here has a lot to do with the leadership I saw from former Editor-inChief Sarah Rainey who showed me how to eagerly and confidently take on this position.

In my time as Managing Editor, I had the privilege of working with Editor-in-Chief Daniel Dassow, without whose leadership I would have had no idea how to do this job. Daniel taught me how to edit with attention to detail, how to find stories that matter, how to draw connections and find trends, and how to lead with kindness and intentionality above all else. I also am incredibly thankful for last year’s editorial team who worked day in and day out to produce impactful stories.

Fostering relationships and encouraging collaboration in the newsroom has been a long-term goal for me as an editor, and I could not be more indebted to this year’s editorial team for making that happen — not just on nights when demonstrations have us working past midnight but also in the day-to-day when we simply hang out in the office with one another.

Thank you to Eli Boldt, Macy Roberts, Calie Wrona, Caleb Jarreau, Jack Church, Eric Woods, Cole Moore, Edward Cruz, Sarah Portanka, Makenzie Clark, Lauren Ward, Karsten Hoglund and Emma Fingeret. Each one of these editors has brought a distinct energy to the office that has helped cultivate a collaborative, supportive newsroom, and each one of them gives me hope for the future of journalism or whatever field they decide to take by storm.

I’ve also had the immense pleasure of working with Emma Johnston, who has been our Copy Chief this year and will be Managing Editor starting today. I’ve never met someone with an eye for detail and with a calming, kind spirit like Emma. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for the Beacon. I also am extremely excited to see Shelby Wright, a talented, intentional writer with a keen sense for news, take over as Managing Editor when Emma graduates.

I mean it when I say I would not have lasted long in this role if it weren’t for my good friend

Bella Hughes, who has been Managing Editor this year and who takes over as Editor-in-Chief today. On the hardest of days and on the best of days, Bella has been by my side. Bella cares deeply about the integrity of the Beacon, and I cannot wait to see what this outlet looks like under her visionary leadership.

Thank you to my loyal friends who have supported me in my time at the Beacon and to everyone on Involuntary Sports Party, my improv team, who has reminded me that life exists outside of The Daily Beacon.

Thank you to Andrew Peters, former Beacon Sports Editor and former Bearden Bark sports editor, who has been by my side through all of this, supporting me in every decision I make, encouraging me each and every day, and understanding when I decide to pour extra hours into the paper. My family has been through this journey with me every step of the way, and my mom has been my biggest supporter since day one, and though she loves the Beacon, she would be immensely proud of me whether or not I had chosen to do this. Thank you.

If you’re reading this, that means you’re a supporter, and for that, I am so grateful. This work would not have been possible without a campus full of people that provide stories to tell. Please continue to read The Daily Beacon and to support editorially independent student journalists. Please keep up with this paper, protect its legacy and push for the transparency of not just news organizations but also institutions that are difficult to report on.

Thank you to The Daily Beacon, a paper I’ve been aware of since I was a kid, that my parents read every day in their time at UT and that has hosted countless journalists I admire — including my high school newspaper advisor who is part of the reason I’ve decided to pursue this career. I’ve never felt so passionate and connected to a name as I do to the Beacon, and I will never forget the way it has molded me as a journalist and as a human being.

Letter from the Upcoming Editor: Anticipating anticipation

BELLA HUGHES Managing Editor

My dad often uses a phrase that his father shared with him: “I can’t anticipate anticipation.” Read that phrase again because I didn’t fully comprehend it my first time around. The more I pondered, the more I understood the meaning of anticipating anticipation.

I try to be prepared for everything. My planner is my lifeline and booking things two weeks in advance is my game plan, but after working at the Beacon for years and unwillingly becoming an adult along the way, I’ve realized that there is truly no beaten path no matter how many to-do lists I have.

Every day is different when you work in a newsroom. There were many days this year when I expected to leave the office at noon, but somehow I got pulled into a side quest and ended up leaving at 4 p.m. These are the days that I cherish so much because some of my fondest memories of the editorial team stem from those moments.

I’ve had the honor of working under three editors-in-chief and have kept pieces of their leadership with me. Sarah Rainey, thank you for taking a chance and hiring the naive freshman I once was as Design Editor. I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for your leap of faith.

To Daniel Dassow, thank you for teaching me that if you don’t take big swings, nothing will change. Your ability to lead with compassion and see potential in those around you is something I hope to employ.

To the Editor-in-Chief to my Managing Editor, Abby Ann Ramsey, it has been such a joy to work with you this year. Your inability to take “no” for an answer, quick thinking and humility make you a powerhouse. Everyone at the Beacon is lucky to have you in our corner, as

I’m sure you’ll continue to support the Beacon in years to come. Your friendship and perseverance helped fuel me this semester; I am eternally grateful.

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with several advisors. Thank you to professor Michael Martinez, Austin Orr and Jerry Bush for your guidance and support. Your roles mean more than you know.

Finally, I’d like to thank Kylie Irvine. For a writer, there are truly no words to describe how

pivotal her mentorship has been. Her ability to greet everyone with a smile, lead with grace, advocate for student media and always ask critical questions are traits that I’ve admired and wish to uphold next year.

The Beacon is about community and these people have built a solid foundation, and I am so honored to take reign. The stories that we write aren’t for us — they are for the community that we serve.

Our campus has a population of nearly 30,000 people, and each individual has their own unique story. The hidden perspectives, triumphs, failures and relationships are what make storytelling so special. As journalists, it is our goal to shine a light on those experiences.

The Beacon has grown tremendously internally, creating a rich culture for those involved, but as we approach next year, I want the Beacon to become more than a newspaper. Our work is for you: the reader, the watcher, the commentator.

I want you to see yourself in our content. We are nothing without those who make campus bloom. You’ll see the Beacon on campus whether it’s editors passing out donuts on Ped Walkway or weekly papers on a regular news rack — we are nearby.

Our community is bountiful, and the best thing about shining a light on your stories is that every article is different. After all, you can’t anticipate anticipation.

Letter from the Upcoming Managing Editor: A new name of the game

Copy Chief

Hi everyone! My name is Emma Johnston, and I served as Copy Chief at The Daily Beacon this year. But soon my name will be Emma Love, and even sooner I will begin serving as the Beacon’s Managing Editor. It seems my personal and professional lives are growing and changing at the same time, and I couldn’t be more thrilled.

I’m a rising senior majoring in journalism and electronic media, minoring in advertising and public relations, graduating in December 2024, and advocating for the Oxford comma. Outside of the Beacon, a part-time job and ministry involvement, I spend a bulk of my free time talking to myself and shopping for secondhand Free People clothes.

I got involved with the Beacon as a copy editor my freshman year, continued as a copy editor and staff writer the next, and worked this year as Copy Chief.

My time spent in the depths of the AP Stylebook and the back end of the Beacon’s website molded my passion for editing, and I’m so excited to combine editing with my desire to lead and my love for community as Managing Editor

next year.

Shortly after my title changes, my name will change when I get married in June, and I’m eager to see how these roles change me.

When I think about the word “change,” I’m reminded that the journalism field is deemed as “constantly changing.”

Since the digital age began, journalists have continuously been adapting to new ways of reporting news. Consolidation of newspapers has demanded that journalists become multiskilled, as they must be able to write, edit, photograph, shoot and publish their own content.

There used to be a copy desk, a team of people that fact-check and edit articles, at every news publication. But those jobs — my desired profession — now also include managing a publication’s website, social media, content plan and much more. They know the ins and outs of all things (insert publication’s name here).

In many ways, that’s what Managing Editor is responsible for, too: knowing the ins and outs of all things Beacon. They’re the Beacon expert, if you will.

But what good is a Beacon expert, who works at the campus newspaper, if they aren’t in touch with the campus at large? That’s where you come in.

We want to find and tell the human-interest

stories happening underground on UT’s campus — metaphorically underground, of course. What students or professors are doing unique things we have yet to hear about? What unofficial organizations are out there that we have yet to cover?

I’ve had the opportunity to tell stories like that of “Survivor UTK,” a YouTube series in which students play Survivor on campus, and of roommates who exchanged their plasma for money to buy lederhosen for an Oktoberfest party.

It’s stories like these, the ones that must be stumbled upon or intentionally sought out, that we want to tell more of at the Beacon. If you know someone who is what I like to call “a person who does cool stuff,” we want to know! They’re called human-interest stories for a reason: because humans find them interesting.

I am so grateful for the incredibly wise Abby Ann Ramsey and Bella Hughes. They have exuded confidence and humility in creating a relationship-rich newsroom while pursuing transparency and championing the Beacon’s editorial independence. Thank you Abby Ann and Bella for your wisdom and for encouraging me to pursue further leadership.

Thank you also to my diligent copy editors and every member of this year’s editorial team, with whom I’ve created friendships that go

far beyond LinkedIn connections. It’s been an honor to serve with you all. And a special shout out to our interim advisor, professor Michael Martinez, whose advocacy, support and advice we are ever grateful for.

To my friends, family and to-be husband, Macrea Love, thank you for your constant encouragement and for sharing in my excitement.

I cannot wait to work alongside Bella, who will be Editor-in-Chief and is so deserving, in leading our newsroom and expanding our coverage. Here we go again!

EMMA JOHNSTON

Bella Hughes thanks the leaders before her as she embarks on her editorial reign for the 2024-25 academic year. Courtesy of The Media Center

Fall 2024 Managing Editor Emma Johnston explains the Beacon’s copy section to staff members at an open house. Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023. File / The Daily Beacon

Pro-Palestine demonstrators march through campus, Fort Sanders after 7 students arrested

By Abby Ann Ramsey, Editor-in-Chief; Bella Hughes, Managing Editor; Emma Johnston, Copy Chief; Eli Boldt, News Editor; and Caleb Jarreau, Sports Editor

On Thursday night, seven students and two community members demonstrating on the Tennessee College of Law lawn in support of Palestine were apprehended by police for violating the university’s Outdoor Facility Usage for Authorized Events policy. After the apprehensions, demonstrators marched to the University of Tennessee Police Department and then continued throughout campus and the Fort Sanders neighborhood.

The students and community members apprehended were taken to UTPD to be processed. A spokesperson for the university said that after being processed, the students were all given a citation. The students who were arrested were released that night.

The group — which is not associated with Students for Justice in Palestine — has been demonstrating in support of Palestine since last Wednesday afternoon.

UT said it communicated with organizers throughout the day, saying the demonstration violated the university’s events policy. Students involved in the gathering joined SJP representatives for a meeting with administrators Thursday at 2:30 p.m.

The demonstrators, unaffiliated with SJP, later sent their own representatives to a second meeting with UT administration at approximately 7:30 p.m., to which The Daily Beacon was denied access.

The university said the policy it cited is system-wide, but the website only references the Knoxville campus. It lays out how the university regulates its property and states that non-university-initiated events must identify a sponsor to be considered an authorized event.

The group of demonstrators did not have a designated sponsor, nor did it meet the central criteria for an on-campus event. The criteria include being a registered student organization, a university unit, or a department or persons invited by the university. Outdoor spaces on campus must be reserved through the Office of Campus Event Services at least seven business days in advance, but under the UT System code classification FI00022-K, this requirement is not meant to interfere with spontaneous events.

“This requirement will not be applied in a way that prohibits spontaneous outdoor assemblies or outdoor distribution of literature in permitted locations except to the extent such an outdoor location has been reserved by an authorized user in advance,”

the policy states.

The university said it met with representatives of the group and informed them that anyone remaining at the College of Law lawn area after 9 p.m. would be subject to arrest or suspension.

“We do not take this situation lightly and worked throughout the day to give people information with which to make informed decisions,” the statement said.

At approximately 9:20 p.m., police officers arrived on the scene. The majority of the demonstrators left the lawn and walked across the street to stand outside the Student Union. Students and community members who remained on the lawn were apprehended before police erected barricades around the College of Law lawn. By approximately 9:57 p.m., police had finished setting up barricades and dispersed from the area.

Shortly after, the remaining demonstrators marched to UTPD and met some of the apprehended protesters who had been released. The group gathered outside the building to wait for others. As they waited, they cheered for the people who had been released and celebrated. The gathered group formed a circle to dance, chant and clap with those released.

The group of protesters left UTPD and continued to march down Cumberland Avenue and eventually into the Fort Sanders neighborhood. By the time they arrived at a location near the Muslim Community of Knoxville building, they were met with a group of hecklers waving an American flag and playing patriotic music.

By approximately 11:15 p.m., demonstrators had departed from Fort Sanders. Hasan Atatrah, a junior double-majoring in psychology and political science and an orga-

nizer of the demonstration, said he saw that night’s apprehensions as an issue of free speech.

“We as students, we as people of conscience, believe that we have the right to assemble, believe that we have the right to free speech, believe that we have the right to call on our government to stop funding and being complicit about what is happening back home,” Atatrah said.

Atatrah said that the administration’s discussions with them about following the events policy felt like a scare tactic to get them to stop protesting. The group has since continued to demonstrate during the day, mostly outside of the Student Union since then.

“The university just had a bunch of students arrested for sitting on a lawn,” Atatrah said after the arrests. “I don’t see that as a reason to stop taking action.”

DAILY BEACON STAFF

Police set up barricades to prevent demonstrators in support of Palestine from congregating of the UT College of Law lawn. Thursday, May 2, 2024. Caleb Jarreau / The Daily Beacon

Why demonstrators in support of Palestine were arrested and what comes next

Demonstrators in support of Palestine are approaching Day 6 of gathering on the University of Tennessee campus.

The first day of protests saw threats of arrests and police wearing protective gear arriving. The second day saw nine demonstrators arrested, including seven students. Since those days, no one else has been arrested, but demonstrations have continued with students and community members meeting up on the lawn outside of the Student Union.

The demonstrations on Tennessee’s campus have raised questions about Tennessee state code, what is lawful and unlawful, and what happened to those students arrested. Here is a breakdown of the answers to some of those questions.

What happened to the students who were arrested?

Students who were arrested Thursday night were released soon after. Defense attorney Mike Whalen, a Tennessee alumnus, told The Daily Beacon that the students were released shortly after and would be given notice of disciplinary action from the university. Several students have confirmed to the Beacon that disciplinary meetings started the week of May 6.

UT Chancellor Donde Plowman said in an email to the UT community that the arrested students will face sanctions under the Student Code of Conduct. She reiterated this point when speaking to the media May 3, saying the students would be “going through the process for violations of the Student Code of Conduct.”

The two non-students arrested, Wesley McCool and Jessica McGill, were cited for criminal trespassing and were released the same night.

What does the Outdoor Facility Usage for Authorized Events policy say?

According to the university, students were arrested Thursday night for violating the Outdoor Facility Usage for Authorized Events policy, which lays out how the university regulates its property and states that nonuniversity-initiated events must identify a sponsor to be considered an authorized event.

The demonstrations on Friday did not meet the central criteria for an on-campus event. The criteria include being a registered student organization, a university unit, or a department or persons invited by the university.

Outdoor spaces on campus must be reserved through the Office of Campus Event Services at least seven business days in advance, but under the UT System code classification FI00022-K, this requirement is not

meant to interfere with spontaneous events.

Why does it matter if the gathering is spontaneous?

The demonstrators, who have tokened the name the People’s School of Gaza, have used their Instagram page to get the word out about “spontaneous study sessions.” The language, presumably, allows the demonstrators to maintain a presence on campus.

The language choices are intentional because of the event policy’s clause about spontaneous events.

UT associate professor of law Dwight Aarons, who teaches a course on legislation at the UT College of Law, applauds the writers of the policy for adding the spontaneous clause into it because it prevents unnecessary police presence. If the demonstrators were blocking traffic, pedestrians or vehicles, it would have prompted a police response. The “spontaneous” gathering did not.

After a while, the spontaneity clause likely wears off, according to Aarons.

“So it’s truly, quote, unquote, ‘spontaneous,’” Aarons said. “Let’s say they said, ‘We’re going to be on Cumberland Avenue, waving things, etc. Hey, let’s go in front of the law school, 12:15.’ Yeah, OK, great, fine. So then the spontaneity caveat applies until — until they’ve been there a little while. And

ideally, somebody from the school, from the university or police, UT police will come and say, ‘Oh, I see what you’re doing. It’s nice and fine.’

“ … So it’s one thing to do it spontaneously at 12:15, but then if you’ve been there at 2:15, 2:30, 5:30. Again if I’m running the police department or the school, I’m saying, ‘Give them notice. Talk to them — see what they’re out there doing. Talk to them — give them notice, etc.’ So, there would be a warning.”

What does the Tennessee code about camping have to do with this?

The first time law enforcement was on the scene throughout this past week’s demonstrations was early Thursday morning at the College of Law lawn when police donning riot gear showed up at approximately 12:52 a.m. They arrived after administration informed demonstrators that they were in violation of Tennessee code TCA 39-14-414 and could face felony charges if they did not disperse.

The code states that people cannot “camp” on property owned by the state between the hours of 10 p.m.-7 a.m. The code’s definition of camping includes setting up a tent or shelter, storing belongings for later use, cooking, preparing a fire, digging into the ground, and “sleeping or making preparations to sleep,

including laying down a sleeping bag, blanket, or other material used for bedding.”

The university cited this code again Friday night when Vice Chancellor for Student Life Frank Cuevas met students on the lawn outside of the Student Union to remind them of the events policy and of the consequences for camping, which is a is a Class E felony and carries a possible sentence of one to six years in prison and fines up to $3,000. No students were arrested that night.

The students arrested Thursday night were not arrested in relation to this code, as the arrests happened around 9:30 p.m. and the code only applies to the hours 10 p.m.-7 a.m.

How does the university decide if something should be handled internally?

It is up to the University of Tennessee Police Department’s discretion as to whether a case gets forwarded to the Knoxville Police Department. Oftentimes, a student may violate state law but also violate university policy. These decisions fall on the university, which decided to handle the student demonstrators internally.

The process is one called prosecutorial discretion. It is a process in which prosecu-

CALEB JARREAU

Sports Editor

Demonstrators in support of Palestine gather for the third consecutive day. Friday, May 3, 2024. Caleb Jarreau / The Daily Beacon

tors have a wide latitude in whether or not to charge someone and to the extent at which to do so. For the university, the discretion lies in whether to handle issues internally or not, and then it handles what punishment it deems appropriate.

Sometimes the decision seems obvious, like for felonies or in cases of violent crimes or sexual assault. Those cases would likely be sent to the state level. For other more common violations, like minors possessing alcohol, they are more likely to be handled internally.

From Aarons’ perspective, the decision to handle the students’ arrests internally is logical.

“It seems to me, at least a signal that I’m reading from what the university is saying is, like, ‘OK, you guys protested. You didn’t leave, but you know what? It wasn’t violent — it wasn’t destruction of property. We’ll put this in your student record, your student file, and maybe that’s it — maybe that’s it. You made your point,’” Aarons said. “Now, of course, you do it the second or fifth time perhaps with different consequences.”

Prosecutorial discretion is different depending on the person. Oftentimes the decision includes the background of the student and the context of the situation. Sometimes the same decisions are made but different vocabulary is used. It may vary from university to university or department to department. Usually, discretion is wanted in cases to prevent over-punishing for what may be unlawful. Some of those cases may pop up during large events on Tennessee’s campus. Discrimination based on any topic, when using discretion, is unlawful.

“We hope that discretion is used in a reasonable, appropriate manner, not in a discriminatory, racist, sexist, or ethnicity-based or issue-based,” Aarons said. “Oh, no. The minute they do that on issue base, they violate both state and federal law. And so this is where the lawyers come in again and make sure no one says anything about ‘X’ or ‘Y’ when they’re doing whatever they’re doing because then that sounds like an animus towards this, that or the other.”

What if you are unfamiliar with the law?

After the nine demonstrators were arrested Thursday night, there was confusion among the group about the codes and laws.

UT administration handed out documents to demonstrators and set out signs during the first two days detailing the aforementioned state law that prohibits camping from 10 p.m.-7 a.m. The papers also included rules about staying out of mulch and flower beds and about the ways in which people unaffiliated with the university have a right to freedom of expression — which is more limited on campus than those affiliated with the university.

UT said in a statement that it communicated the Outdoor Facility Usage for Authorized Events policy to the group in meetings ahead of the arrest. Not everyone who was arrested was in that meeting.

Aarons said that ignorance of the law is not an excuse. It is a topic he covers in his firstsemester criminal law courses.

“Otherwise, you could be the proverbial ostrich and stick your head in the sand,” Aarons said. “This seems like it was done with the influence of the general counsel’s office and probably the UT as well as KD — Knoxville police departments. Before you just do this, give it to at least one or two of them with the understanding that they’ll go back and tell their group that there are certain things we can or cannot do.

“Then at least they have, definitely beyond constructive, they have actual notice of the law. And then it says, when you don’t obey a command, we don’t have to say we’re law enforcement, etc. When you know who we are wearing the suits, etc. And when we tell you to do or not do, and you do the opposite — well, there you go. So ignorance of the law generally is no excuse.”

UT administration has spoken with organizers of the demonstrations ahead of the two instances of police action. They also spoke with the group Friday night, warning again of consequences such as felonies, fines and prison time. No police showed up to the site following Friday’s warnings.

The concept of civil disobedience

The Legal Information Institute at Cornell Law School includes in its definition of a protest “an instance of civil resistance, or nonviolent resistance, when it is part of a larger systematic and peaceful nonviolent campaign aimed at achieving a specific objective by use of pressure and persuasion.” Protests — like those of Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr. — have been centered around civil disobedience and nonviolent resistance.

The point of civil disobedience is to interrupt people’s days to attract attention to a certain topic. The purpose, as Aarons said, is to attempt to raise someone’s consciousness of the issues at hand.

Protestors take in the inherent risk that they might be arrested for their actions. One of the topics Aarons covers in his courses is whether or not those participating in civil disobedience should be arrested. Most students concur that you can still be punished for civil disobedience.

“That shows the morality and the purpose behind your thing,” Aarons said. “You can’t have it both ways. I want to do all this stuff and then don’t punish me because I’m trying to raise your consciousness. Well, no, raising people’s consciousness sometimes hurts.”

When Plowman met with the media May 3, she mentioned that her team did not want arrests to happen. They had met with students several times. She described the arrests as a choice the students made and knew would happen.

“We didn’t want to have to end up where we were, but I feel like we talked with the students — our team was with them in two or three different meetings,” Plowman said. “They knew what was going to happen. The people who were arrested chose that. And I think 141 other people left and went home.”

When threats of arrest came, some students chose to get up and leave. Other demonstrators chose to make a statement by getting arrested, and celebrations followed when they were later released back to the group. A few students at the scene told the Beacon that getting arrested and creating a disruption is something they see as pushing the movement forward.

Even the leaders of the most famous movements, like Martin Luther King Jr., were held accountable for their civil disobedience, Aarons pointed out.

“So long as people have counted the cost, so to speak, that they’ve understood what the consequences could be — more power to them,” Aarons said. “But sometimes you don’t fully understand, particularly in this day and age, with all of these collateral consequences, that maybe get kicked out of UT. Then you try to transfer or apply to another school and they’re like, ‘Wait a minute.’ And that stuff doesn’t go away — they may block it out of your packet, but that stuff is on the internet.”

Editor-in-Chief Abby Ann Ramsey and Managing Editor Bella Hughes contributed to this reporting.

Demonstrators in support of Palestine gather for the third consecutive day. Friday, May 3, 2024. Caleb Jarreau / The Daily Beacon

In Frame

SPRING 2024

Cole Moore / The Daily Beacon

Cole Moore / The Daily Beacon

Elliot Walker / Contributor

Parker Phegley / The Daily Beacon

Cole Moore / The Daily Beacon

David Smith / Contributor

Rondre’a Peebles / Contributor

Cole Moore / The Daily Beacon

Cambree Gliessner / Contributor

Elliot Walker / Contributor

Cole Moore / The Daily Beacon

Parker Phegley / The Daily Beacon

ABOUT THE PHOTOS

Cover: Students stare up at a solar eclipse near Ayres Hall. Monday, April 8, 2024.

Cambree Gliessner / Contributor

1. A rider during a Professional Bull Riding event at Food City Center. Saturday, March 2, 2024.

2. Esther Adeshina celebrates during a match against Mississippi State at Barksdale Stadium. Sunday, April 7, 2024.

3. Dalton Knecht (3) celebrates a fast break score during a game against the University of Alabama at Food City Center. Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024.

4. Jewel Spear (0) celebrates during a game against Kentucky at Food City Center. Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024.

5. A fan records Riley Green perform as part of his “Ain’t My Last Rodeo” tour at Food City Center. Friday, Feb. 23, 2024.

6. Rickea Jackson (2), Jasmine Powell (15) and Jillian Hollingshead (53) celebrate a soon-to-be victory over the University of Arkansas at Food City Center. Monday, Feb. 12, 2024.

7. Snow falls on campus near Ayres Hall. Monday, Jan. 15, 2024.

8. Karlyn Pickens (23) pitches during a game against Stetson University at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. Sunday, Mar. 3, 2024.

9. Nolyn Bartholomew (27) celebrates a goal during an exhibition match against Clemson at Regal Soccer Stadium. Sunday, April 7, 2024.

10. Students receive T-shirts during the Earth Day celebration hosted by the Center for Student Engagement at the Student Union Plaza. Monday, April 22, 2024.

11. Santiago Vescovi (25) and Josiah-Jordan James (30) celebrate a victory over the University of Alabama at Food City Center. Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024.

12. A student walks to class near Ped Walkway. Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.

13. Students engage in a snowball fight on campus. Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024.

14. Josh Heupel and Nico Iamaleava are interviewed after a Citrus Bowl victory in Camping World Stadium. Monday, Jan. 1, 2024.

15. Zakai Zeigler (5) flexes after Jonas Aidoo (0) dunks against Texas A&M at Food City Center. Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.

16. Elza Tomase and Sofia Cabezas hug after winning against Ole Miss at Barksdale Stadium. Friday, April 5, 2024.

17. Tess Darby (21) celebrates a big three in the third quarter against Kentucky at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Thursday, March 7, 2024.

18. The Vols dugout erupts in celebration after Billy Amick (11) hits a grand slam during a game against Ole Miss at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Sunday, March 24, 2024.

19. People pose for a photograph during Sexual Assault Awareness Month at the Rock. Monday, April 1, 2024.

Parker Phegley / The Daily Beacon

Cambree Gliessner / Contributor File / The Daily Beacon

Hayden Formica / Contributor

David Smith / Contributor

Parker Phegley / The Daily Beacon

What to know about student loans and how to pay them off

The median student debt in Knoxville is $22,702, according to a 2023 study by WalletHub. Many students take out student loans to pay for their continued education, but proactively figuring out financial logistics beforehand is crucial to ensure that students are aware of how to handle student loans responsibly.

What is a student loan?

A student loan is money borrowed from the federal government, a private source, such as a bank, or an outside organization that helps pay for a person’s education. Just like any other loan, student loans must be repaid to the loaning party with interest.

To take out a student loan from the federal government — the type most commonly taken out — students must file a FAFSA application. After filing with FAFSA, the university will reach out with a financial aid offer, including any federal student loan offerings, based on the information on the applicant’s form.

What should you know when taking out a student loan?

The most important thing to be cognizant of when taking out a student loan is that any

money you borrow will be your responsibility to repay in full — plus interest, so be sure to calculate how much interest you’ll have to pay. For most federal student loans, you are required to begin making payments toward your loan within six months of graduation.

Be aware that the amount of money you receive is determined only by your educationrelated expenses, including tuition, books and housing. If you use money from your loan to pay for non-education-related expenditures, like clothing or vacations, you’ll end up paying more in the long run.

Another thing to note is that when you sign a student loan promissory note, you are making a commitment to repay the full loaned amount plus interest regardless of whether or not you graduate nor your financial situation post-graduation. So, be cautious when deciding how much money to accept, and don’t take out more than you expect to be able to afford.

The Federal Student Aid website recommends researching the entry-level salaries in your prospective industry when setting your expectations. Once you know how much you expect to make post-graduation, you can develop your payment plan accordingly, as your monthly payment may be based on a percentage of your monthly income.

How do you maintain a repayment plan?

When you graduate, you will automati-

cally be registered for a fixed repayment plan called the Standard Repayment Plan unless you contact your loan servicer to enroll in a plan of your choosing. If the standard plan, described below, does not fit your needs, reach out to your loan servicer before or soon after graduation to discuss other options.

There are two main types of repayment plans for federal student loans: one with a fixed monthly payment and one based on your monthly income. The latter is typically a cheaper monthly payment, while the former guarantees that your loans are paid off within a set number of years.

Fixed repayment plans come in three forms: standard, graduated and extended. The standard plan establishes your monthly payment at the amount needed to pay your loan off in full within 10 years. The graduated version fixes you at a lower monthly payment that then increases every two years until the loan is paid off within 10 years. Finally, the extended repayment plan, which can only be used for student loans of more than $30,000, can be either fixed or graduated, but they ensure that loans are paid off within 25 years instead of 10.

As for income-based plans, there are four options to pay off federal student loans. These include the Saving on a Valuable Education Plan, the Pay As You Earn Plan, the IncomeBased Repayment Plan and the Income-Contingent Plan. These vary in the percentage of

your income you pay and whether or not your monthly payment is allowed to exceed what your payment would be under the fixed standard plan.

To be enrolled in one of these plans, contact your loan servicer, and they will discuss your options and help you sign up.

How do student loans impact your credit score?

Student loans can impact your credit score in a positive or negative way, depending on how responsibly you handle them. As long as you make payments on time, your credit score will benefit, and paying off student loans builds credit by adding a source to your credit mix.

Your credit score will suffer, however, if you are late making your payments. For federal student loans, service providers typically give you 90 days before reporting your late payment to credit bureaus. The later your payment is, the more it hurts your credit score, and a report of a late payment, or delinquency, will remain on your credit report for seven years.

If your financial situation changes, be proactive and communicate your needs to your loan servicer. You may end up paying more in interest if you alter your original plan to fit your new needs, but your credit score won’t be hurt if your payments are handled as you agreed on with your loan servicer.

EMMA JOHNSTON Copy Chief

As many students graduate from UT with student loans, it’s important to understand how they work. Calie Wrona / The Daily Beacon

Behind the camera: A look at graduation photo pricing from a photographer’s lens

SARAH PORTANKA Engagement Editor

As graduation season is upon us, you’ve probably seen seniors out taking photos while you’re walking on campus in the evening or noticed remnants of celebratory confetti on Ped Walkway. Even if the photo process has gone unwitnessed, you likely have seen post after post of your friends’ professional graduation photos on your Instagram feed.

Graduation photos can look different for everyone, from a simple pose in front of your academic college to pops of champagne and confetti. These photos have become such a norm at this time of the year that we hardly think about it, yet there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes from a photographer’s perspective.

While local photographers typically make most of their money during graduation season, seniors are looking for a way to get fun pictures without breaking the bank. Each photographer’s rates can look different this time of year.

Avery Arwood is a student photographer mainly specializing in studio and branding work, but she adds graduation clients in the spring to make some extra cash. Arwood had a total of 25 graduation clients in April and has organized about two shoots a day. She charges a flat fee of $200 for a one hour shoot. Within this session, Arwood and her client will visit multiple campus locations with a potential outfit change, allowing for a variety of photos.

“Typically the people that I’ve worked with always want the same three locations,” Arwood said. “So, we’ll start off at Ayres Hall, and then they’ll want pictures at the seal or under the bridge. So, normally I just do one-hour sessions because that’s the perfect amount of time to make sure we have enough time to get from place to place and make sure everyone’s outfit and all the stuff is together.”

While Arwood is generally flexible within the $200 session, she will upcharge if the client wants to add more locations or outfit changes that go outside of the one-hour time block. She also adds on $50 to her rate as locations begin to get more crowded.

“I only charged more just because it takes more time,” said Arwood. “But what’s really interesting is once it’s late April, early May, since everyone wants similar senior photos you have to wait at each spot for everyone to go through since there’s other photographers there, and there’s other people getting their pictures taken. So, that kind of alters it too.”

Austin Angel is a local photographer mainly specializing in wedding photography but also shoots graduation photos. Angel has had 83 photoshoots in April with an average of 13

to 15 shoots a week. Angel is also not restricted to Knoxville, often traveling for clients. In addition to UT, Angel has traveled to universities like Clemson, ETSU, Virginia Tech and more for graduation clients.

Unlike Arwood who offers a general flat rate for an hour session, Angel offers three different photo packages with different rates and session lengths.

The first is a 15-minute mini session at $250 that includes 30 plus edited images uploaded to an online gallery. The second is a 30-minute regular session for $300 that includes 50 plus edited images uploaded to an online gallery, plus an outfit change. The third is Angel’s most common package, a 45to-60 minute session for $350 that includes two outfit changes — three outfits total — and all images uploaded to an online gallery. Many clients also choose to split the hourlong sessions among multiple locations.

“Of course, each package can go up because some seniors will choose to add outfits or add another location, or also travel fees might be included with that depending on which university,” Angel said. “It just starts at those prices, and it can go up or down from there.”

Angel also noted that many clients choose to split the third hour-long session package among a small group. Angel is flexible and works within the group’s budget to ensure the best for everyone financially.

“If it’s a group more than two or three, then it does start to add up. However, I work within everybody’s budget usually,” Angel said. “So, if it’s a group of 15 girls, of course that’s going to go way up, but if it’s just a small group, I’m more than willing to work within their budget because I want to help everybody out and have fun.”

Arwood also does not charge extra for small groups and simply divides her $200 by the number of members in the party. This allows her to keep things simple and have fun.

“I feel like that’s the most fun, too, just because the energy is really good,” Arwood said.

For photographers like Arwood and Angel, graduation season is a time to pick up lots of extra cash, but it comes with jam-packed schedules. For most local photographers, photography isn’t their only job, with graduation season taking a large toll on their time.

In addition to being a photographer, Arwood is a full-time student as a sophomore at Pellissippi State. With a busy graduation season, Arwood has had to learn how to balance her own business and academics.

“The grads definitely get the priority in April and early May — 4:40 to 7:30 I definitely dedicate to seniors just so we get the golden lighting and we get them enough time,” Arwood said. “But then for my other jobs and work, if I work with small businesses or entrepreneur people, normally early mornings. I fit school into that somehow, too.”

Graduation is a busy time of year for photographers. Often charging different rates depending on client needs, some photographers charge up to $350. Courtesy of Austin Angel

Outside of photography, Angel is a communications and social media director at Fairview Knox Church where he will work 30 to 40 hours three days a week. Angel has worked to balance clients by reserving half of March, all of April and half of May for graduation sessions — minus pre-booked weddings.

“I mainly try to reserve most weekdays and weeknights and some Sundays here and there and some Saturdays, if possible, for grads just because I want to be able to fit as many as I can,” Angel said.

Angel has worked to create a balanced schedule to stay on top of both his job and photography clients without overbooking himself.

“We wake up, we edit in the mornings a little bit, we go to work at my normal job, and then after that, I will leave, pick up my team if I have an assistant working that night to film some content behind the scenes for my social media, and then we will shoot that night. And then I’ll usually grab dinner on the way home. And then go home, edit until about midnight, upload galleries the next morning and just keep that pattern going,” Angel said.

Amid a chaotic typical day, Angel works to

prioritize the client by staying on top of the editing process in order to have a quick two to three-day turnaround after a shoot.

“I love to get their galleries out super quick,” Angel said. “That way they’re not having to wait. They can send out grad cards — all that kind of stuff. So, my goal is to not let all the sessions get in line and bogged down by the editing process because on top of that I still have my weddings and stuff to edit as well.”

While being a photographer amid graduation season can be taxing, it can also come with its rewards. For Arwood, the most rewarding part of the process is the ability to expand her clientele.

“It’s super great how I’ll shoot one grad, and then they refer you and you kind of get their whole friend group,” Arwood said. “So, grad season is definitely when I make my most money for sure because, on top of all the work I do right now, I also get — it’s just a whole other audience you get to reach, so it’s really interesting.”

To connect with these photographers for any future photo needs, visit Arwood and Angel’s Instagram pages to connect and schedule a session.

Order of the Engineer commencement ceremony to link engineering students for life

JACK DEES Staff Writer

On Monday, May 20, the Tickle College of Engineering will host the Order of the Engineer commencement ceremony in the Engineering Courtyard, following the college’s official commencement Friday, May 17.

Started in 1970, Order of the Engineer is a tradition where engineering students pledge a responsibility to the practice, receiving a stainless steel ring and lifetime inclusion in the order.

“It’s like joining a club where you don’t have to pay any dues, you have a lifetime membership, and essentially is very much like swearing the hippocratic oath,” said Keith Stanfill, an assistant dean for the Tickle College of Engineering who is set to speak at the event. “They swear a solemn oath to put the earth, its precious resources and human health ahead of their own wants and desires.”

Stanfill also noted nearly 300 of the approximate 600 graduating students across the Tickle College will participate in the event.

Conducting over 200 campus ceremonies nationwide, Order of the Engineer events are connected through a series of “links,” with each location assigned its own number. UT’s link is No. 83 and was established in 1984.

“The Obligation of the Engineer reflects a commitment to ethical conduct, professional development and the promotion of engineering excellence,” UT student Caitlyn McCall said. “It is a rite of passage for engineers within the profession, as it signifies the commitment to ethical practice and gives a sense of community to people starting out in their profession.”

McCall is a graduating senior majoring in chemical and biomolecular engineering and will take part in this year’s ceremony.

“I am participating in this ceremony because

I will be the first engineer in my family, and I feel that understanding the obligations I will have is very important to me. I want to remember every time that I put my hand on a paper the amount of responsibility I have to accuracy and to trying to guarantee nothing bad will come from my work,” McCall said.

Upon joining the order, inductees recite the pledge, “I am an engineer. In my profession I take deep pride. To it I owe solemn obligations.”

Dubbed “The Obligation of the Engineer,” the oath was originally written by Jungle Book author Rudyard Kipling.

The ceremony started as an offshoot of Canada’s Ritual of the Calling of the Engineer, which was founded in 1926 in response to two collapses of the Quebec Bridge, which resulted in over 80 deaths. According to their website, “legend” says the original rings were forged from iron recovered in the wreckage.

“They would get these rough iron rings, and over the course of their career, as they wear it on their writing hand, that ring would be rubbed smooth,” Stanfill said. “And so thinking about that oath that they swore, it’s coming in contact with their work on a daily basis.”

While the stainless steel rings are not as long a tradition as their iron-made Canadian counterparts, the tradition to strive for excellence within engineering is maintained in students today.

“Being a biomedical engineer, one of the positions I’m looking at relates to making pacemakers. In a job like that, I want to make sure that I’m doing the job right and that I’m doing the right thing,” said Nylan Alexander, a graduating senior studying biomedical engineering.

If you are an engineering student of any discipline and would like to join the ceremony, you can still register through the Tickle College’s web page for commencement. It is optional, free and does not require any action following the ceremony.

Weekly Crossword by Margie E. Burke

Order of the Engineer is a tradition where engineering students pledge a responsibility to the practice, receiving a stainless steel ring and lifetime inclusion in the order. Courtesy of Kathy Williams

High school COVID-19 class embraces a second chance graduation

ABBY ANN RAMSEY Editor-in-Chief

In mid-March of 2020, high school seniors across the nation went through the motions of their day, unaware that they would not attend class in their high school ever again. It’s a story we all know a little too well by now, and while it can be exhausting to continually bring up the pandemic, the high school class of 2020 has spent the past few months thinking about that time at least a little bit as they now look to college graduation.

After missing out on many graduation festivities and the last part of their senior year, students in UT’s class of 2024 have made the most of their time in college and have been soaking up each and every final moment.

When Gavin Buehring, a senior majoring in political science, finished high school in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, he still got to have a graduation ceremony. But instead of the way graduations traditionally work, Buehring said students were put in a room separate from their families, and groups of 15-20 students at a time would be taken to walk across the stage to accept their diplomas. He watched most of his peers graduate through a livestream.

Sandra Mansour, a senior studying psychology, and Amara Pappas, a senior studying arts entrepreneurship through the College Scholars program, both also had a high school graduation ceremony in 2020, but they were held on football fields.

Pappas said this was a better option than she expected since many people did not have a graduation at all, and hers was not originally scheduled to take place at her Knoxville high school — the switch meant she actually got to graduate at her high school, rather than at Thompson-Boling Arena, where Knox County Schools previously had graduations. For Mansour, though, who is from Murfreesboro, it didn’t have that same sentimental tie, as her high school didn’t have a football team, so they had to use someone else’s field.

“It was pretty anticlimactic because we couldn’t really celebrate with each other,” Mansour said. “It happened, and then it was over. No real celebrations occurred.”

While all three of these students did get to physically graduate from high school, not having March-May of their high school senior year had an impact that they still feel now. After a freshman year defined by Zoom classes and self-isolation, they all have become involved on campus throughout the past four years, partially in response to losing part of their senior year.

Buehring said this participation might

be due to feeling a need to get as involved as possible in order to make friends after a short senior year and a quiet freshman year.

Buehring — who is starting his Ph.D. in political science at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, this fall — has been president of Kappa Alpha Pi, a coed pre-law and government fraternity, this past year and is also involved with the Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs. He joined several other organizations his freshman year but said that dwindling down his involvement as he reached the later years of college helped him to focus on what he is really passionate about.

“I think I overcompensated with clubs to try and meet people,” Buehring said. “So I think starting with COVID and starting in that time frame definitely kind of altered how I viewed college a little bit.”

Pappas, while reflecting on the impacts of the end of her senior year of high school, said she may have used her time in leadership positions in response to feeling out of control during the pandemic. Pappas has been involved in the Honors Leadership program, Chamber Singers, UT Singers and served as the president of Alpha Omicron Pi in 2023.

“I think coming into college and being isolated, we were all craving that sense of community and that sense of connection with people, and so I think we just took every opportunity we could to get involved,” Pappas said. “I think, I mean, in a sense going off leadership, too, I think we lost a lot of control in the latter part of our high school year.

“And so maybe it’s a sense of, ‘I’m in control, like, I have a leadership position, and I have control over what I’m involved in and what’s happening.’”

Mansour, who was highly involved in high school, carried her same passion for getting involved in high school through to her college career, as she has been involved in Kappa Kappa Gamma, VolTeam and The Cross Greek Ministry.

She’s seen her later years of college, specifically senior year, look vastly different from her freshman year.

“Coming in as a freshman, I already didn’t want to be at UT, and all of my classes were online, so I was really struggling to make community. But as a senior I feel like I have made connections as a student with friends and faculty that mean the world, and I wouldn’t have picked anywhere else to call my home over the past four years,” Mansour said. “It’s a big campus but feels so small now, and I have enjoyed every nook and cranny.”

After using their time to get involved over the past four years, the three seniors spent the year looking forward to a graduation filled with more excitement and celebrations than their high school one in 2020.

When March of this year rolled around, however, each one of them had a fear: that something might happen to end this senior year, too. 2020 left them with a sense of anxiety that has been hard to shake.

“I definitely, thinking about it now, went into that month with a lot of fear and apprehension of, like, I can’t let myself get too excited about anything,” Pappas said. “And

even though this is such an exciting time, and there are so many great plans ahead, I’m like, ‘I can’t get my hopes up for any of them because they might not happen.’”

This is a fear that has been widespread throughout the nation for the college class of 2024. For seniors at universities like Columbia, that fear has come true, as their commencement ceremony was canceled due to student demonstrations in support of Palestine. While students at UT have followed this movement in demonstrating, UT’s commencement ceremonies are still scheduled.

Now, as these seniors approach graduation day, they’re using their time to soak in all their last moments on campus. Pappas, who plans to work for Knoxville Opera over the summer, said she’s attending as many university-sponsored graduation events as possible, and she and her roommates are chipping away at a UT bucket list. Mansour is also doing as much as possible before starting her master’s in elementary education, saying hear fear of things ending too soon has propelled her to do so.

“I have tried to soak it in and say ‘yes’ to as many things as I can to make sure I get the full experience,” Mansour said.

As part of getting that full experience, each one of these graduates is looking forward to celebrating their graduations with no limit on the number of family and friends who can attend to celebrate them. With grad parties and celebrations and friends, they plan for this graduation to be a second chance at the one they imagined four years ago.

Gavin Buehring, Sandra Mansour and Amara Pappas graduated high school during the pandemic and are set to celebrate their graduation from UT. Courtesy of Gavin Buehring, Sandra Mansour and Amara Pappas

Opinion: The illusion and hidden possibility of a 5-year plan

CALIE WRONA Opinions Editor

In all my planning, I never imagined turning a tassel from the right to the left would be accompanied by copious amounts of pressure and doubt. In one simple movement, I was supposed to go from a student just trying to finish assignments and ace exams to a businesswoman with a liveable salary.

Thanks to my five-year plan, the transition from college to the real world seemed well-mapped. But what happens when that plan starts to fall behind schedule and taunts you with uncertainty?

As students, we are conditioned to believe that success follows a linear path — graduate, land your dream job, climb the career ladder and achieve your dreams. As a naive student with a touch of narcissism, I crafted my five-year plan using that same outline. As it turns out, I am already behind schedule.

In the age of social media, it’s all too easy to get caught up in comparing ourselves with others. Whenever I scroll through LinkedIn, I see tons of posts about classmates landing awesome internships or starting their dream job. Even though I know their success doesn’t necessarily mean my failure, it still makes me wonder if I’ll ever find a job that pays enough to make ends meet.

As graduation looms with no job secured, I figured it was time to give up the ghost and create a new, hopefully attainable, plan. But for people like me, the hyperfixators of the world, it’s hard to accept a version of your life that you didn’t romanticize at 2 a.m. So I started making a new plan with some elements of the last but soon realized just how flammable a constructed five-year plan is. One second, I accepted the realization that I would graduate with no job lined up, and the next, I threw my plan away because of nine magical words: We would love to schedule an interview with you. All the planning and self-realization I did went straight out the window.

But before I get ahead of myself and truly live in la la land, I made a new five-year plan if that job decides to follow my planning and self-realization out the window.

Your first year post-grad should not be characterized by pressure but by exploration. I think many of us are realizing that we will not land our dream job out of college, or any job for that matter, and that’s ok. Take this first year to explore your interests, dabble in different industries and figure out what truly excites you.

Year two is all about hustling and grinding to make ends meet. Take any job that comes your way — yes, even the odd ones — whether it’s freelance writing, dog walking or working in the nightmare that is retail. This is a year for you to work hard so your bank account doesn’t have to.

After two years of trial and error, you will most likely have gained some life experience and amusing stories. Now is the time to reflect, recharge and maybe even pursue further education if that’s in your wheelhouse. Whether you’re backpacking through Europe in search of spiritual enlightenment or mastering the art of making the perfect grilled cheese sandwich, use year three to invest in yourself.

When you think you have everything figured out, year four may throw a curveball. Embrace the unexpected and roll with whatever comes your way. Who knows? You might stumble upon your dream job while waiting for an overpriced latte.

With five years under your belt, you have gained a wealth of experience and maybe even a few gray hairs as proof of your hard work. Now is the time to seize the moment and take the world by storm. Whether you are launching your own startup, climbing the corporate ladder or embarking on a new adventure in a different country, let the excitement of year five fill you with confidence, determination and a healthy dose of narcissism.

So there it is — the ultimate five-year plan for post-grad success. Is it unconventional? Absolutely. Is it foolproof? Probably not. But, at least it’s a plan that could make for a good story one day.

Use this five-year plan, but don’t cling to it. Embrace the unknown and let go of control. After all, some of the greatest adventures begin with a single step into the unknown.

So, as I prepare to embark on this postgrad chapter of my life, I choose to release the pressure to have it all figured out. I may not have a job secured yet, and the future may seem uncertain, but that only adds to the excitement of what is to come.

Who knows what opportunities await me just beyond the horizon of my graduation cap?

Columns and letters of The Daily Beacon are the views of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Beacon or the Beacon’s editorial staff.

Calie Wrona is a senior at UT this year studying journalism and media. She can be reached at cwrona@vols. utk.edu.

Graduating senior and Beacon Opinions Editor Calie Wrona writes about the importance of releasing the pressure to have life figured out right after college. Calie Wrona / The Daily Beacon

Where to volunteer and give back in Knoxville this summer

ADAM DELAHOUSSAYE Staff Writer

While there are many ways to spend a summer in Knoxville, the most fruitful of these is undoubtedly community service. The city is always ripe with ways to give back and pour into the community that are accessible to any college student on their days off. After all, the Volunteer spirit shouldn’t abide by an academic calendar.

Below are volunteer options throughout Knoxville this summer.

Ronald McDonald House

Since 1985, Knoxville’s Ronald McDonald House has been serving families in need and a comforting sense of home to families with an ill or injured child. Once families sign up, they are free to use the 24/7 resources provided by the group which include private bedrooms, laundry and a fully functioning kitchen.

The group utilizes volunteers almost entirely, with three hour shifts from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. Volunteer tasks and duties come in a wide variety. Restocking and cleaning bedrooms, preparing meals for families and even yard work are just a few of the ways people can help these families feel more at home in a time of need. Once you’ve filled out their form and background check, you’ll be good to start.

Visit

Knoxville

Open

(May 20-26)

Held annually for the past 24 years at Holston Hills Country Club, the Visit Knoxville Open boasts an impressive golf tournament that’s sponsored by dozens of local businesses and community organizations, including the Boys & Girls Club of Knoxville.

Registration for volunteers can be found on the Visit Knoxville website, including a number of accommodations and amenities for those who choose to participate. Volunteers will receive free hats and shirts, as well as meals and snacks provided and a free round of golf at the club. The vast number of volunteer opportunities and positions listed can also be found on their website.

Young-Williams Animal Shelter

One of the city’s largest animal shelters, Young-Williams prides itself on being run and operated by a large number of individuals strictly there on a voluntary basis. Requirements for volunteers being over the age of 16, filling out an application and attending training services as well as a fee of $35 to cover uniform and other expenses. Volunteers are expected to work at least six hours a month for their first three months.

The shelter offers a variety of programs for volunteers, including anything from daily feeding and cleaning routines to helping dogs

socialize. Administrative and veterinary opportunities are available as well. Some of the most popular opportunities include doggie day trips and paws for reading, where people can read to dogs in an effort to get them more socialized.

Nourish Knoxville

Nourish Knoxville has been dedicated to expanding the local food market through vending in the Market Square Farmers Market. As a nonprofit, they’ve been able to expand their customer base, allowing EBT and SNAP services to be used for purchase of goods in 2009. The organization has a number of programs that incentivize a healthy lifestyle both in nutrition and exercise.

To volunteer with Nourish, registration can be found on the website with opportunities almost every day of the week. The most

popular are in the Market Square and New Harvest farmers markets, as well as in the nutrition incentive office opportunities arriving later in the year. Full hours and availability will be available upon registration.

FISH Pantry

FISH has been providing homes with a lack of stable income food and supplies in Knoxville for over 35 years. The almost entirely volunteer, interfaith organization prides itself on a diverse body of volunteers that bring a wide perspective of food security to the table. FISH accepts a myriad of ways to give yearround, including volunteering time and efforts at one of their many pantries across the city. Duties for this normally include greeting guests, helping them with food selection, as well as packing and picking up food donations. To get more information on when and

where services are needed, there’s a contact sheet on their website to fill out.

Students attending the CEB Hat Crafting Bash in the Student Union Plaza handle pets up for adoption courtesy of the Young-Williams Animal Center on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023. Rondre’a Peebles / Contributor