Running for their life: How students, residents helped raise awarness against sexual trafficking
Harrison’s technical causes Lady Vols to lose footing down stretch, fall to Vanderbilt
‘Her’ impresses by telling introspective, in-depth love story in today’s tech-age
NEWS >>pg. 3
ARTS & CULTURE >>pg. 5
Folk band Ten Bartram brings soulful backporch blues to Square Room
SPORTS >>pg. 6
ARTS & CULTURE >>pg. 5
Monday, January 13, 2014
Issue 04, Volume 125
Tennessee ‘Space’s out Copy Editor
Contrary to expectation, the 2014 Corporate Equality Index shows a general improvement for LGBT rights in Tennessee companies. However, these corporations remain far from egalitarian. A national benchmarking tool used to evaluate corporate policies and practices regarding lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual employees, the CEI has been released annually by the Human Rights Campaign since 2002. This year, Tennessee companies received scores ranging from 15 at Nashville-based Vanguard Health Systems to 35 at Regal Entertainment Group in Knoxville. Nissan, headquartered in Franklin, Tenn., represents the state’s only company that scored a perfect 100. Major companies are graded on a scale of zero to 100 based on the “10 principles” outlined by the HRC. Corporations receive high scores if they have a written policy of non-discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, include sexual orientation issues in diversity and sensitivity training and provide equal benefits to all employees. This year, 304 American companies received perfect scores, a number larger than any previous year. In the past two years, Nissan has increased its score by 70 points. “The two biggest factors that catapulted us to a perfect score were the implementation of a company-wide diversity training program and the launch of Nissan’s LGBT affinity group, the Gay-Straight Alliance at Nissan,” Robert Wilson, director of Diversity and Inclusion, said at Nissan in a Dec. 10 press release. Companies based in Southern states tend to score lower in comparison with other regions, with companies like Chick-fil-A making headlines for anti-gay policies. “I think Tennessee, like most other states in the Deep South, have historically been socially conservative and leery of change,” Donna Braquet, director of the OUTreach Center, said. “This was true for the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s and it is true today.” See LGBT on Page 3
Leadership Conference, Day of Service to help students embrace volunteerism Sage Speaks Contributor Every spring, the Vols earn their title. On Saturday, UT’s Center for Leadership & Service will host the annual Clifton M. Jones Student Leadership Conference and MLK Day of Service. Composed of three breakout sessions covering 35 different programs and speakers, the conference will cover topics including servant leadership
and social change, growing in leadership, leading in a diverse world, creating your leadership brand and impact careers and professional leadership. The information learned in the sessions is then applied in a “service” component following the conference in which students volunteer at local organizations. Storyteller Steve Whitby will serve as the scheduled keynote speaker and is best known for his lessons and stories about average citizens facing extraor-
dinary opportunities. Alicia Price, coordinator of CLS, explained that the event seeks to underscore the importance of leadership and human potential. “Leadership is demonstrated through every aspect of the day, from the breakout sessions to the keynote speaker,” Price said. “Our office believes that leadership and service are indispensable to one another.” See DAY OF SERVICE on Page 3 Janie Prathammavong • The Daily Beacon
Hayley Brundige Assistant Photo Editor
Playing in front of the most raucous crowd ThompsonBoling Arena has seen this season and sporting a 14-point halftime lead, Tennessee had all the makings of another inspiring sweep to continue the season’s longest winning streak. Good thing Vol fans are getting used to gut punches. Texas A&M’s Antwan Space hit a game-winning 3-pointer with 4.4 seconds left to lift the Aggies to a 57-56 comeback win over the Vols in Tennessee’s SEC home opener. For the third time in Cuonzo Martin’s basketball coaching career at UT, the Vols failed to start out the conference slate 2-0. “Tough loss,” Martin said after the game. “Give A&M credit. They made the big shot down the stretch to win the ball game. It was a tough shot. But a big shot.” Tennessee senior guard Jordan McRae had a chance to win the game on a buzzer-beating attempt from about 35 feet out. It came up short. Texas A&M’s bench jubilantly raced onto center court in celebration of the improbable win. The Vols, once again, were left heartbroken. “As a coach, it’s hard to say a lot of things in a situation like that,” Martin said, reminiscing on the locker room mood. “The pain will take care of that.” Two Antonio Barton free throws with 36.9 remaining put UT up 56-52 and sent a handful of fans heading toward the exits. Then, Aggies guard Alex Caruso
quickly scored to make it 56-54 in the blink of an eye. UT inbounded the ball to McRae, who was called for an offensive foul while trying to advance the ball past half-court. Caruso was fouled on the resulting possession and went to the line with a chance to pull the Aggies even with 17 seconds left, but he missed both free throws. Jeronne Maymon pulled down the board and was immediately fouled. Maymon failed to ice the game, missing both of his free throws. The Aggies pushed forward in the final seconds, and Space drilled the game-winner. “It’s very hard,” Maymon said about missing both free throws in the final seconds. “It’s very upsetting. But you have to get back in the gym and work on it.” In incredibly rare fashion, the Vols’ three leading scorers — McRae, Maymon and Jarnell Stokes — were all held in single digits. Stokes had just six points and five rebounds, while McRae had nine points as both stars struggled through foul trouble. Maymon admitted how tough it is for his team to win when the leaders aren’t putting the ball in the basket. “We look for Jordan to really lead the way with (scoring), and me and Stokes come up with the rear,” Maymon said. “It was just an off night.” Perhaps the most staggering aspect of Saturday’s Vol loss was the way the game flowed early on. UT was dominant in the first half, entering the locker room Senior guard Jordan McRae drives for a layup against Texas A&M on Saturday with a 32-18 halftime lead. at Thompson-Boling Arena. A last second 3-pointer pushed the Aggies past UT, giving the Vols a 57-56 loss in their SEC home opener. See RECAP on Page 6
Jeff Robinson, left, portrays Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Wesley Lawrence Taylor, right, plays Malcolm X, during “The Meeting” as part of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration at the UC Auditorium on Jan. 21, 2013.
Samantha Smoak • The Daily Beacon
Scores for LGBT benefits on rise for UT blows 14-point halftime lead, A&M stuns Vols with GW 3-pointer Steven Cook Tennessee companies
Music Center to welcome MTSU faculty quartet Jessica Karsten Contributor Since the opening of the Natalie L. Haslam Music Center, UT’s School of Music has worked to enhance its presence on campus. To start off the spring semester, the school is collaborating with a Middle Tennessee State University faculty quartet to offer a unique performance. The Stones River Winds faculty quartet will perform Monday at 6 p.m. in the Sandra G. Powell Recital Hall at the Natalie L. Haslam Music Center. The Stone River Winds, named after a civil war battlefield in Murfreesboro, is a woodwind quartet consisting of MTSU faculty members Deanna Little (flute), Laura Ann Ross (oboe), Todd Waldecker (clarinet) and Gil Perel (bassoon). The quartet
was formed this past fall after the members had been playing together for the last five years. Little, professor of flute at MTSU, said she has enjoyed her time in the group and appreciates their unique sound. “We enjoy rehearsing together and traveling together,” Little said. “This makes our ensemble experience something we all look forward to.” The quartet has performed for the MTSU and University of Memphis Schools of Music, traveled to high schools, given masters classes and spoken to students around Tennessee. “We have a fun and varied concert,” Little said. “We not only play quartets but also trios and duos to mix things up and give you a chance to really hear the different colors each wind instrument makes alone and blended together.” See QUARTET on Page 2
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