After the Sugarland split, Jennifer Nettles hits a wrong chord in her debut solo album
Looking for weekend plans? One UT group is ‘making a difference’ through Saturday service
Courtside Preview: For the first time since 1952-53, UT and Kentucky only face off once on the hardwood
NEWS >>pg. 2
SPORTS >>pg. 5
Lady Vols push all-time record against Mississippi State to 35-0 with win
ARTS & CULTURE >>pg. 3
SPORTS >>pg. 6
Friday, January 17, 2014
Issue 08, Volume 125 Janie Prathammavong • The Daily Beacon
tnAchieves provides more than scholarships to students Hayley Brundige Staff Writer
See SCHOLARSHIP on Page 2
Two construction workers set up fence outside of Gibbs on Jan. 9 in preparation for the demolition of Gibbs Hall and Stokely Athletic Center. The demolition is the next step in the university’s plan to redesign residential halls.
Residence hall facelifts kick off UT’s campus master plan Bradi Musil Staff Writer UT dorms are getting a facelift. The new Fred D. Brown, Jr. Residence Hall, currently under construction on Andy Holt Avenue, is the first step in the university’s ultimate plan to redefine residential halls on campus. The current demolition of Gibbs Hall and the Stokely Athletic Center will mark the second reconstruction on campus. “It will be completely different from
what we see now,” said Frank Cuevas, executive director of Student Housing. “After Gibbs is finished, if approved by our trustees and the State Building Commission, we will proceed with the redevelopment of what is west end of campus – essentially the presidential courtyard, Morrill and the Apartment Residence Hall.” This new, coed residence hall will sit “right on the footprints” of Gibbs Hall, next to a new, 1,000-space parking garage and the expanded Haslam Fields. A portion of Johnny Majors Drive will be closed
permanently to allow for the expanded fields, as well as to create a more pedestrian friendly walkway for students. “In the design of this facility we are trying to create broader sidewalks and a safer environment for pedestrians – give it a more campus feel,” Cuevas said. Cuevas also confirmed the new residence halls would include more green space, landscape designs and pedestrian avenues compared to what is currently present. The new residence hall on Volunteer and Lake Loudon Boulevard
will include a tiered green-space and covered walkways to the parking garage. Tucker Towe, a second-year architecture student, lived in North Carrick during his first year on campus. Towe asserted that, for freshmen choosing universities, first impressions are an important factor. “The current halls, students aren’t getting the sense of community and public green spaces that other campuses have to offer,” Towe said. See DEMOLITION on Page 2
Burke inducted into UT baseball HOF Dargan Southard Assistant Sports Editor Chris Burke couldn’t help but chuckle. The former Tennessee infielder and MLB vet owns several impressive titles, including consensus AllAmerican, first-round draft pick and postseason hero. But Hall of Famer? The 33-year-old’s still finding his footing with that one. “I’m kind of trying to wrap my brain around that because I don’t feel old enough to be called that,” Burke said with a laugh, “but it’s an honor.” Burke, who manned the Vols’ middle infield positions from 1999-2001, was recognized Thursday night at the inaugural Tennessee Baseball Leadoff BBQ, becoming the 19th member inducted into the Tennessee Baseball Hall of Fame. “The exciting part,” Burke said, “is to get to thank so many people publicly that were instrumental in my career that have helped me along the way. “To have an opportunity to come back and celebrate an unbelievable part of my life — which was my three years spent here — that’s a huge part of what tonight means for me.” A three-year starter for the Vols, Burke’s most memo-
rable campaign came in 2001 as he garnered SEC Player of the Year honors, posting a .435 average with 20 home runs and 60 RBI. His efforts helped lead UT to 48-20 record and a College World Series appearance, an experience the Louisville, Ky., native vividly remembers as both exhilarating and overwhelming. “When you take the field in Omaha for the first time as a ball player — and as one who always dreamed big — the moment hits you a little bit,” Burke said. “Hey, I’m playing in the College World Series.” The big stage opportunities would only continue as Burke’s career transitioned into the major leagues. The Houston Astros selected him 10th overall in the 2001 MLB draft, and just four years later, Burke found himself in the midst of a dramatic playoff run that would produce the defining moment of his 6-year professional career. In Game 4 of the 2005 National League Division Series, Burke delivered a game-winning, series-clinching home run in the 18th inning as Houston upended the Atlanta Braves 7-6 in what Former Tennessee baseball All-American Chris Burke is currently the longest game addresses the crowd at the Tennessee Baseball Leadoff BBQ Thursday night at Thompson-Boling Arena. Burke in postseason history. was inducted as the 19th member of UT’s Baseball Hall See BASEBALL on Page 6 of Fame at the ceremony.
Wade Rackley • Tennessee Athletics
From a Knoxville initiative came a statewide movement. tnAchieves, a program that provides scholarship assistance and mentoring to students pursuing a college education, expanded out of a local program called knoxAchieves in 2011. Created in 2008 by Mike Ragsdale, former Knox County mayor, knoxAchieves aimed to adequately prepare students for college, provide access to higher education and close the achievement gap. The goal of tnAchieves is to provide for high school students who would be otherwise unable to afford college. More than 66 percent of tnAchieves students are the first in their families to attend college. “While all public high school students in the 27 eligible counties can participate with tnAchieves, the program works closely with school counselors to send the student to college who would otherwise not attend,” said Krissy DeAlejandro, executive director of tnAchieves. tnAchieves equips students with scholarship money to fill the difference in education cost after all other financial aid and scholarships have been awarded. Funding for tnAchieves scholarships relies largely on private donors. Once students are accepted into the tnAchieves program, they must fulfill certain requirements to retain the scholarship. All tnAchieves participants are required to attend mandatory meetings, spend at least eight hours per semester volunteering in the community and retain a minimum 2.0 GPA. Virginia Hughes, a junior studying anthropology, got involved with tnAchieves when she attended William Blount High School. Hughes was assigned a mentor, Laura Harrill, a retired hospital administrator to help her with paperwork, financial issues and general concerns with college. Hughes attended Pellissippi State Community College before transferring to UT to pursue a bachelor’s degree. Chosen to represent the program in a Time Magazine article, Hughes said she has been significantly impacted by tnAchieves. “The program helped me through college by giving me a mentor who is constantly checking in and celebrating my milestones with me,” Hughes said. “They support you, and you can truly see that they want to help you succeed in life and help make Tennessee a better place. “If I had never received the scholarship from the program I would never be here, in college, and looking at actually graduating.”
Artist academy adds new culture to Knoxville Kendall Thompson Contributor Jack London once said, “You can’t wait for inspiration, you have to go after it with a club.” What if you could lay down the weapon in favor of car keys and drive a mere 20 minutes to find it buried in the hills? That’s what the Sundress Academy for the Arts, or SAFTA for short, aims to help artists do. The artist colony is located on the 29-acre Firefly Farms in Karns, Tenn., owned by founder and UT English lecturer Erin Smith. The idea for Sundress came two years ago, when Smith was looking for a job that would allow her to stay in Knoxville. “My significant other and I both really wanted to do something with the artistic community, so we ended up buying our farm,” Smith said. “We really wanted to have a space where all the arts could come together.” See SAFTA on Page 3
INSIDE THE DAILY BEACON
“At UT, if someone who is 18 wants alcohol, they’re going to get it.” @UTDailyBeacon www.utdailybeacon.com
OPINIONS >>pg. 4
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