The Daily Beacon

Page 1

Issue 33, Volume 122

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

New program creates student leaders benefits the students could gain from participating in this program. Students with an interest “The Leadership Knoxville in leadership are now being Scholars is a highly selective offered the opportunity to and competitive program,” enhance their leadership skills Parish said. “It targets the best within themselves and their and brightest student leaders community. at (UT) and connects them to The Center for Leadership impactful change agents and & Service, a department of leaders within the Knoxville the Division of Student Life, community.”’ is teaming up with Leadership The program features a Knoxville, a non-profit com- variety of different programmunity organization, to pro- ming and coursework rangvide rising juniors or seniors ing from alternative fall and the chance to take part in this spring break trip experiences, two-year or one-year program retreats, and two or threeon leadership education. hour credit leadership coursSally Parish, director of es. Everything in the program the Center for Leadership & focuses on the values of leaderService, explained some of the

Jessica Vinge

Staff Writer

File Photo • The Daily Beacon

Students display wristbands in honor of children facing cancer during Dance Marathon. Dance Marathon is an event put on by the Center for Leadership and Service.

ship, community building and social change. The program’s partnership with Leadership Knoxville will provide students with an opportunity to connect with community leaders and work alongside them to develop not only their own individual leadership, but also to strengthen the leadership of their community. “The men and women involved with Leadership Knoxville are some of our communities most impressive, selfless, servant leaders and the opportunity afforded to our Leadership Knoxville Scholars to be able to interact with them in such a significant

way is truly exciting,” Parish said. “We are grateful for their support and for the opportunity to share this vision and opportunity with our community.” The Knoxville Leadership Scholars program is designed to give students a life-changing experience and to show them that Knoxville is a potential post-collegiate location. Through the various community involvement activities the students will experience, the program organizers hope to show the students what the city has to offer and to help them develop their leadership skills. See LEADERSHIP on Page 2

Referendum pushes for greener energy Emily DeLanzo Managing Editor Across the United States, over 250 colleges are making a push toward energy independence from fossil fuels. Turning orange green, UT may soon be following suit through the Responsible Investment Referendum. The referendum calls for UT to reflect on its established commitments to sustainability and civility, as well as the values of its students, in its investment portfolio. The student body will potentially have the opportunity to vote on its implementation during this spring’s SGA elections. The Coalition for Responsible Investment also wants the UT Board of Trustees to establish a subcommittee on responsible investment and publicly declare that the UT system will not invest any future holdings in coal, oil or natural gas companies. David Hayes, a sophomore in logistics with a sustainability minor, helped organize the efforts because he sees longterm benefits in sustainable energy. “Our university will benefit greatly from this referendum because it will hold UT accountable for its established commitments,” Hayes said. “UT has publicly committed itself to sustainability and civility, yet

our university still invests into companies that are anything but civil and sustainable. “Students have the right to expect their university to act upon, not only its public values, but also the values of its students,” he added. “UT will never be the leader in sustainability that it strives to be if it continues to invest into businesses that are responsible for the degradation of human life and the environment.” The referendum also calls for UT to create a proactive committee on socially responsible investment that will screen the university’s investment portfolio on an environmental, social and ethical basis. Nick Alderson, a senior in environmental studies and sustainability, stresses that the Responsible Investment Referendum means more to the campus community than fossil fuel independence. “As long as the UT system has investments in fossil fuels they cannot truly live up to their commitments of sustainability and civility,” Alderson said. “You can’t have it both ways. You’re either working towards being sustainable or you aren’t. I want to see UT move toward being truly sustainable. It’s not just a phrase, it’s a way of life and UT must live up to its promises.” See FORUM on Page 2

Tia Patron • The Daily Beacon

The National Park Service will implement fees for backcountry campers at Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

NPS implements controversial fee Matt Reed Staff Writer

On Feb. 13, the National Park Service initiated a new fee system for backcountry camping in the Smoky Mountain National Park. Historically, park visitors were required to pay for camping in vehicle campground areas only. Backcountry camping simply involved filling out a permit to let park workers know where people were staying. With little surprise, the new Tara Sripunvoraskul • The Daily Beacon fee has been met with considJustin Leduc, junior in Sociology, along with sociology erable conflict. Although park officials professor Scott Frey, speak before the Responsive and maintain that the new fees are Investment Forum on Feb. 21.

INSIDE THE DAILY BEACON: Page Page Page Page Page

2 3 4 5 6

. . . . .

. . . . . . . . News . . . Arts & Culture . . . . . . Opinions . . . . . . . Sports . . . . . . . Sports

Jennifer Lawrence wins Oscar for best actress page 3

necessary to provide adequate backcountry upkeep and visitor service, many groups insist otherwise. “It’s a tax — plain and simple,” said local outdoor lover Eric Graves. “The proposal seeks to tax the smallest and least politically connected user group of the GSMNP … Why, if you ostensibly need revenue to make improvements to the park experience, focus on the user group that will generate the least amount of funding?” While some folks are fine with paying a fee to enjoy the Smokies, the conflict runs much deeper. Recent allegations against

the National Park Service claim that notable public input was ignored entirely regarding the new fees. There is also concern that fee income will be used solely for maintaining the new online reservation system. “The superintendent (Dale Ditmanson) has changed his justification for the fee so many times we had to make a list to keep up with it,” said John Quillen, an avid backpacker and member of the Southern Forest Watch. “He is perpetuating a misconception amongst the populace that this fee will be used to improve the backcountry. That is a lie, which specifically stipulates that it

will go to fund a reservation system and reservation system only.” The new reservation system will be available online for users to check occupancy at certain backcountry sites or shelters within the park. For many people, using the fees exclusively for maintaining an online reservation system is simply unreasonable. Great Smoky Mountains National Park spokesperson Dana Soehn issued a response last week, explaining that recent allegations are misleading and unfounded. See CAMPING FEE on Page 2

The Daily Beacon is printed using soy based ink on newsprint containing recycled content, utilizing renewable sources and produced in a sustainable, environmental responsble manner.

utdailybeacon.com


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
The Daily Beacon by UT Media Center - Issuu