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utdailybeacon.com Issue 03, Volume 127
ARTS & CULTURE >> pg. 6
Friday, August 22, 2014
UT introduces interim sexual assault policy ‘Fair Bradi Musil Assistant News Editor (@bradi4)
UT’s sexual assault policies, like much of UT’s campus, are slated for renovation. Chancellor Jimmy Cheek announced Aug. 20 his consolidation of existing policies, as well as his intent to generate a new policy “ideally” to be finished by the end of the year. “We want to start the year out with a really clear message to our students, faculty and staff about the university’s expectations, what practices we are
going to do and where our next steps rest,” said Ashley Blamey, director of the Center for Health Education & Wellness. The nation has been updating federal standards and recommendations since 1994, when the Department of Education Office of Civil Rights issued guidelines for dealing with sexual assault, misconduct, violence and stalking on college campuses. Recent efforts by the White House, including the investigation of 55 universities for Title IX violations as well as the 2014 “Not Alone” report, have also pushed colleges to update sexual assault protocol. “We are taking this opportunity to pull
all of this direction and guidance together to create the best possible process for our students and employees,” said Jennifer Richter, UT’s Title IX coordinator. Until the new policy emerges, the university will operate with an interim policy. Now available on UT’s sexual assault website, the interim policy streamlines all information a student or faculty member may need in the event of sexual assault. In addition, the interim policy clarifies which departments and resource centers are responsible for addressing student reports. Ultimately, campus administrators hope to create one comprehensive policy. ‘A ‘Sexual Misconduct Policy,’ in gen-
eral, is just really the best practice on university campuses now,” Blamey said. “It’s about getting a really clear overview and coordinating the total picture. It’s making sure that we have one consistent message.” While the interim policy is in effect, a Sexual Misconduct Task Force comprised of faculty, staff and students will collaborate to craft the new policy. Richter, who will chair the task force, said members will review information, collect and hear input from students and staff and create a final policy to propose to Cheek before the end of the academic year. See POLICY on Page 3
Day’ Friday Year’s first ‘Vol Night Long’ to bring carnival vibe to campus Hannah Moulton
On the road again
Dargan Southard Assistant Sports Editor (@dsouth16)
Tennessee head coach Butch Jones’ emphatic microphone dialogue was one giveaway. The debut of the blue scout-team jerseys, used to emulate an opponent, was another. Either way, both signs conveyed the same message at Thursday’s practice. With the conclusion of fall training camp, attention has now firmly turned to the Volunteers’ Aug. 31 season opener with Utah State. “It’s ten days away, and you’ve got the countdown clock in the meeting rooms everyday to get a reminder,” said defensive line coach Steve Stripling after UT’s first practice since Monday afternoon. “But I feel good that today we took a step forward. “I think they’re all ready to play a game but as a coaching staff, we have ten days. And we’re going to utilize those ten days. And I think as players too, they know that now we’re starting to put the game plan in, focusing more on Utah State rather than just daily improvement.” This time last season, a sense of uncertainty clouded the air as Jones and company prepared to embark on a treacherous inaugural season in Knoxville.
Tonight, “Vol Night Long” will return to campus with a twist. The theme for this year’s Vol Night Long is “CarniVOL.” Vol Night Long Director Parker Jenkins, said the theme is meant to evoke childhood’s carnival experiences. But now, students can share the experience with their fellow Vols. “We wanted to create a Vol Night Long that brings in the new school year with a bang,” Jenkins said. “It’s a carnival for all of our Vols. It represents a coming together of a community to partake in a night of carefree fun.” Tonight’s event will feature a variety of carnival entertainment including bumper cars, inflatable sumo wrestling, bungee trampolines and other inflatable attractions. Ten stations will be set up for various games in addition to a booth for building take-home wax hands and a photo booth. The food will also be carnival style with cotton candy, snow cones, popcorn and hot dogs grilled on site. Festivities are free for students who chose to “opt-in” and for all others admission is $3. T-shirts will be given away, and music and dancing can also be expected at Vol Night Long. “We’ve got DJ Logan turning tables for the entire Vol Night Long while everyone is out on the inflatables or chowing down on some hotdogs and cotton candy,” Jenkins said.
Samantha Smoak • The Daily Beacon
Vols begin to turn focus to Utah St.
Copy Editor (@Hannah_Moulton)
Senior forward Hannah Wilkinson (orange) corrals the ball during the Lady Vols’ tied match against the Louisville Cardinals Aug. 14.
Lady Vols face tough weekend away to open 2014 campaign Jonathan Toye Contributor(@JonathanToye1) As Volunteer fans eagerly count the days until they get to hear the iconic words, “It’s football time in Tennessee,” another UT team is preparing to make some noise this fall. This same team will have an opportunity to make a statement as they travel to Wisconsin this weekend to begin the season. The Lady Volunteer soccer squad
starts the season on the road at the 2014 Wisconsin Invitational Tournament in Madison, where they square off against Milwaukee this evening and then play Wisconsin Sunday. While the Lady Vols hope to start the season successfully, going undefeated through the weekend will be no easy task – both their opponents present formidable challenges. As the reigning Horizon League champions, the Milwaukee Panthers are the preseason favorites to win
their 15th consecutive conference crown this season. They also return nine of 11 starters from the team that made an appearance at the NCAA tournament. Their Sunday opponent, Wisconsin, is no cupcake either. The Badgers return 10 starters from a team which posted a winning record in 2013 (10-7-2) and just barely missed the NCAA tournament. See SOCCER on Page 8
See FOOTBALL on Page 7
See VOL NIGHT LONG on Page 5
LLCs offer new, unique opportunity for specific students News Editor (@hayleybrundige)
This fall, freshmen had the opportunity to join one of five new Living and Learning Communities on campus. These communities include the Engineering Career and Academic Preparation community; the Greenhouse community for freshmen interested in sustainability and the environment; Pulse, for incoming nursing students; ConnectED, a community for first-year students pursuing their teacher licensure and MMP Connect, a community for students in the Multicultural Mentoring Program. Geared toward specific majors and
interests, LLCs offer supplemental programming and faculty support within the conventional residential experience. Each LLC occupies its own hallway or wing in a residence hall such as Massey, Morrill or Fred Brown Jr. Hall. The communities vary in size, ranging from 10 students in the Greenhouse program to approximately 300 in the Honors community. Pulse, for example, comprises 23 students living on the eighth floor of Morrill Hall. Courtney Shaffer, the undergraduate academic advisor for the College of Nursing, said she believes creating a community of freshmen can help academic departments target and assist students ear-
Editorially independent student newspaper of the Unversity of Tennessee since 1906
“
O ur vision is that the Pulse would be one component “
Hayley Brundige
of a leadership development pipeline for students within the College of Nursing. -Courtney Shaffer
lier in their academic careers. “Pulse gives us the opportunity to connect a core group of freshman nursing students to faculty and staff in the College of Nursing, provid-
ing them with unique experiences component of a leadership developdesigned to develop their identity as ment pipeline for students within the nursing students earlier than might College of Nursing.” otherwise occur,” Shaffer said. “Our vision is that the Pulse would be one See LLC on Page 3
“Shirtless bathroom selfie? Swipe right. Holding a deadly weapon and not in a uniform? Swipe right.” VIEWPOINTS >>pg. 4
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