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Yes Men to perform
Jackie Areson garners NCAA awards
at Cox Auditorium
Thursday, March 10, 2011
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Issue 41 I N D E P E N D E N T
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Vol. 116
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Nader highlights corporate greed in America Four-time presidential candidate lectures on big businesses’ hold on freedom, democracy Zac Ellis Editor-in-Chief Ralph Nader had one message on Wednesday night: Corporations are running America, and young generations are letting it happen. Nader, a four-time presidential candidate and noted consumer advocate, lectured to a semi-crowded Cox Auditorium on Wednesday night, focusing largely on the apparent dominant hold corporations have on American society. “The Constitution starts with the Preamble, ‘We the People,’” said Nader, who was brought to UT by the Central Program Council and the Issues Committee. “It does not start with the Preamble, ‘We the Corporation.’” Nader’s discussion, entitled, “Democracy and its Erosion: Big Business and the American Duopoly,” aimed to shed light on the damaging effects of corporate society, fueled by a college-aged generation of American youth, whom Nader claimed have “grown up corporate.” “What do I mean by growing up corporate?” Nader said. “We know that corporations run this country. It’s not secret. The secret is, how do they run it?” Known for a career in public service highlighted by bouts of consumer activism, Nader has impacted a variety of aspects of the American corporate sphere with his work. Since 1965, when Nader released a book entitled, “Unsafe at Any Speed,” in which the young Nader successfully exposed the auto industry’s ignorance of safety standards in its vehicles, the Harvard Law School graduate has fought for the rights of American citizens, rights that Nader claims are being stripped away by the power of corporations. As the figurehead for the nation’s Green Party, America’s premiere third party, Nader said the nation’s two-party system is stalling. “Eighty percent of people think America is going in the wrong direction,” Nader said. “Sixty-three percent in a major Gallup poll think the two major parties are failing.” Nader cited the strategic planning of
50,000 Americans die each year from workrelated injuries. The money, however, remains in the hands of the corporations on the home front, Nader said. He expressed displeasure in the constitutional rights given to corporations, saying that companies are given the same privileges as American citizens but aren’t always subject to the same rules. “Sixty percent of corporations in this country who are operating paid no income taxes last year,” Nader said. The key for change lies in the hands of the college-aged generations, Nader said, though he admitted he sees little initiative in that specific generation. “Expectation levels are the most powerful way of controlling people,” Nader said. “I dare to say you have among the lowest expectation levels of any generation of students I’ve ever exchanged ideas with, and I’ve been working with students for 50 years.” But Nader focused on the positive aspect of college for students, saying that higher education represents the best time to make a difference for young people. “This is where you come in,” Nader said. “You’ve got about 15,000 days until you reach 65, a little over 2,000 weeks. Arguably the most creative decade of your life, not necessarily the wisest … is your 20s. “This is where you’re going to break through, in terms of where you’re going to Wade Rackley • The Daily Beacon have an impact in this world and on this Ralph Nader speaks to students, faculty and staff in Cox Auditorium of Alumni country and on this community. This is Memorial Building on Wednesday, March 9. Nader, recently named by Time magazine where you’re going to decide how you’re going to pioneer new civic institutions.” as one of the most influential Americans of the 20th century, spoke of his work Kelsey Scott, freshman in marketing, defending the common man against the corruption of the U.S. government system. thought Nader’s lecture opened the minds of the audience. “It was definitely thought provoking about corporations, Nader said, directly contrasts damages, all that’s being squeezed by state law after state law after state law with some his thoughts towards how we’re ruled by large with the foundation of democracy. companies,” Scott said. “There’s not much free speech inside cor- help from Washington.” Others saw sides of Nader they otherwise Nader stressed that the financial means for porations,” Nader said. “How compatible is America to solve its own problems does exist, weren’t aware of. this for our alleged democracy?” “I knew that Ralph Nader was a consumer Claiming to have never visited a but necessary means are not being used. As McDonald’s or a Wal-Mart because of the an example, Nader said the U.S. spends more protectionist and that he’s worked out a lot of control such companies hold on society, money guarding the nation’s embassy in provisions with the EPA, and of course the Nader spent the majority of his one-and-a-half Baghdad, Iraq, than on specific domestic gov- seat-belt law that he produced,” Hunter hour lecture taking corporations to task, as ernment organizations, like those meant to Threet, freshman in political science, said. well as the American government for allow- prevent American workers from suffering “But I didn’t know his thoughts on corporate work-related injuries. He said more than crime. That was pretty enlightening.” ing power into the hands of industry giants. American corporations as the key point in the power held by such companies. “Corporations make no bones about strategic planning,” Nader said. “They like strategic planning. Here’s what they’re strategically planning: They’re planning our government, our education … they’re strategically planning our genetic inheritance.” The top-heavy structure of the country’s
Nader gauged the audience’s experience in filing lawsuits, claiming that laws are making it more difficult to gather claims from filing suits as individuals. “The main litigation in this country is corporation suing corporation,” Nader said. “The fact is it’s becoming more and more difficult to file suits. “To be able to go to court and get adequate
Vols in need of SEC statement win Hopson, Vols eyeing key victory against Arkansas in first round of SEC tournament
Gentry Smith Staff Writer The SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament kicks off Thursday at 1 p.m. in Atlanta. With the field of 12 squared away, the Volunteers travel to the Georgia Dome with high hopes of validating their case to be on the inside of the NCAA Tournament bubble. After a hard-fought loss to Kentucky this past Sunday, the Vols dropped from a possible two seed in the Eastern division to the five seed. The Vols will face an Arkansas squad that beat the Big Orange in Fayetteville, Ark., 68-65 in the Vols’ conference opener earlier in the season. A Tobias Harris 3-pointer as time expired would have forced overtime against the Razorbacks. The Vols will not be outmatched going into Thursday’s 7:30 p.m. opening round, but Bruce Pearl’s team must focus on its strengths and channel its inner vindication in order to overcome Arkansas. The Vols have outscored their opponents in the paint in 26 of their 31 games this season. Arkansas’ victory in early January stemmed from its ability to outscore the Vols in the paint. Delvon Johnson, a senior forward of Arkansas, led the Razorbacks with 17 points that game. Brian “Big Baby” Williams, recently named the SEC Sixth Man of the Year, will be hoping to return from back soreness to quell the Razorbacks’ efforts in the paint. “I’m sore right now, but I’m going to get in playing shape quick,” Williams said after George Richardson • The Daily Beacon practice Monday. “It’s a quick turnaround John Smolko, junior in industrial engineering, puts on his helmet before leaving cambefore the Arkansas game. I’m glad I’m pus for home on Monday, March 7. As winter comes to a close, motorcyclists will back, and I think my teammates are glad bring their bikes out of hibernation and enjoy rides to and from class.
I’m back.” A win over the Hogs will be a statement to the NCAA selection committee, as well as a final, tangible verification of the Vols’ resilience this season. Pearl mentioned the importance of coming out on top this Thursday. “The bottom line is, if we continue to win, we help ourselves,” Pearl said. “If we don’t, we put ourselves in position where we leave it to chance.” If the Vols do continue to win, on Friday they will face Florida, a team that edged Tennessee twice — once in overtime in Knoxville and once by a point in Gainesville. Although every team will emphasize that it is not looking past the game at hand, factually the Vols will face Vanderbilt, Mississippi State or LSU if they win their first two games. Despite having a 3-4 record against the teams on its side of the bracket, Tennessee outscored these opponents by a combined 471-448 in the regular season. The Vols might be the underdog by seeding, but this team has the ability to run the length of the court with each of these opponents. Validating their spot in the NCAA tournament will not be the only reinforcement the Vols will be doing in Atlanta. Scotty Hopson will look to play to his newest accolade, All-SEC First Team, by putting his slashing playmaking abilities on display. Tobias Harris, All-SEC Second Team and SEC All-Freshman Team, must continue his strong play from the field and on the glass. “I feel like it’s an honor and I’m thankful for it, but I feel like there’s a lot more to be done both for myself and for this team,” Hopson said. “Myself and everyone else, we’re looking at it as, this is tournament time, records don’t matter anymore.”
NOW LEASING FOR FALL 2011
FREE SHUTTLE TO CAMPUS LATE NIGHT SHUTTLE FREE PARKING INDIVIDUAL LEASES PRIVATE BEDROOMS & BATHS MONTHLY SOCIAL ACTIVITIES FULLY FURNISHED