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Friday, March 14, 2014

Issue 46, Volume 125

utdailybeacon.com

UT student activity fee resolution passes Senate Hayley Brundige Assistant Photo Editor A resolution was passed in the state Senate on Wednesday instructing University of Tennessee administrators to alter the student activity fee allocation system to permit students to opt out of providing funding for events they find to be “controversial or objectionable.” The student activities fee, as it currently stands, is obligatory. Fees collected are then combined

and distributed per the judgment of the University Programs and Services Fee Funding Board. Drafted by Senate Government Operations Chairman Mike Bell, the resolution specifically targets Sex Week, stating the the program’s subject matter is “offensive to many parents, students and citizens of the state of Tennessee.” The resolution states that while Sex Week has been promoted as a sexual health event, it actually serves to “thrust a radical agenda on the students of the

University of Tennessee.” If the resolution is enforced, the president of the University of Tennessee will have to report to both the Senate and House education committees by Jan. 1, 2015, to discuss the implementation of this optional student fee system. State Sen. Stacey Campfield, an active voice in the student fees debate, said further action is still necessary. “It’s a statement of opinion type thing,” Campfield said Thursday in a phone interview with The

Daily Beacon. “Resolutions don’t have any force behind them, so I think we need to do something that will have some force of law.” Campfield, R-Knoxville, represents the seventh district and sponsored two bills also concerning student fees – Senate Bill 1608/HB2378, which advocated for distribution proportionate to organizational size, and SB2493/ HB2450, which forbids the use of university fees to finance speakers on campus. Both bills are scheduled for committee vote early next week.

Jacob Clark, a senior in College Scholars and co-founder of Sex Week, expressed disapproval of the resolution. “Any action by government to restrict speech or advocacy is an example of poor policy,” Clark wrote in an email Thursday. “While this resolution is certainly not as damaging to student programming as some of the current proposed bills would be, I am disappointed that the state legislature has wasted time combatting a valuable and popular student program.”

Matthew DeMaria • The Daily Beacon

SEE INSIDE

UT President Joe DiPietro wrote a letter earlier this week to Rep. Matthew Hill, R-Jonesborough, and Senate Education Chairwoman Dolores Gresham warning against further condemnation of Sex Week. “The attention focused on this matter by the General Assembly,” DiPietro wrote, “is quickly reaching a point that will cause greater harm and damage to the longterm interests of the university than any programming that may occur as result of Sex Week.”

Bijou fundraiser welcomes Gran Torino for reunion Jessica Karsten Contributor

Eclectic eatery combines hearty BBQ, sweet tunes under one roof

another potential speed bump for the Vols is familiarity with the arena. In massive venues such as the Georgia Dome, shooters can often struggle to find their flow. Vols senior guard Jordan McRae, though, isn’t buying into that, as he sees the Tennessee’s shoot-around Friday morning in the venue as a perfect chance to get acclimated. “I think we’re going to get a chance to get up shots in there in the morning, and after that, we’re gonna be ready to go,” McRae said.

The historic Bijou Theatre has played a significant role in Knoxville’s arts and music culture for many years with performances by countless famous musicians. Each year, the theater hosts its annual Bijou Jubilee, a fundraising event celebrating the various aspects of the theater. Saturday night, the 2014 Bijou Jubilee is hosting Knoxville native band Gran Torino for a one-night-only reunion performance. Michele Purcell, chairperson of the Jubilee Committee, said the fundraiser is a chance for fans to celebrate the rich history of the theater. “It’s an important building to maintain,” Purcell said. “The diversity of the programming we provide to the community is important; we try to tie things in some way to the rich history of the theater.” This event is important to the non-profit Bijou, as it is the theater’s primary fundraiser for the year’s programs. The building hosts a variety of concert performances throughout the year, and local groups can rent the theater for various functions. The theater also provides various programs for Knoxville’s younger community. During the summer, the Bijou holds acting camps where children ages 9-12 learn basic stage skills and improve techniques. Every January, the theater hosts the Bijou Awards, a music and drama competition for local high school students. This year, the Bijou Jubilee will bring together all the original members of the funk-rock band Gran Torino, a phenomenon that has not occurred in more than a decade. “It is such an honor for Gran Torino to perform at this year’s event,” Purcell said. “When you go to one of their shows, you are guaranteed a good time.” “It’s obvious their fans agree; the event is completely sold out.”

See SEC TOURNAMENT on Page 6

See BIJOU JUBILEE on Page 2

ARTS & CULTURE>>pg. 2

One of these students will be UT’s next SGA president NEWS >>pg. 3 Senior forward Jarnell Stokes wins the tip over South Carolina’s Michael Carrera at Thompson-Boling Arena on Feb. 8. The Vols will face the Gamecocks on Friday in the quarterfinals of the SEC tournament at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

Secondary swaps helping UT put more speed on the defensive side

A tip in the right direction Vols catch fortunate bounce with South Carolina matchup after Gamecocks upset Arkansas in SEC tournament Steven Cook Copy Editor

SPORTS >>pg. 5

Heading into SEC play at Mizzou, Serrano says Vols need to just ‘trust what we’ve done’ SPORTS >>pg. 6

A curveball was thrown Tennessee’s way during action Thursday at the SEC men’s basketball tournament that the No. 4-seed Volunteers are hoping to knock out of the park. The Vols will face South Carolina on Friday in the quarterfinals of the SEC tournament at Atlanta’s Georgia Dome after the No. 13-seed Gamecocks upset fifth-seeded Arkansas, 71-69, in shocking fashion Thursday. When released, the SEC tournament bracket looked des-

tined for today’s game to be between the Razorbacks and the Vols — the conference’s top two NCAA tournament bubble teams. Instead, the Vols (20-11, 11-7 SEC) will face a Gamecock (14-19, 5-13) squad that finished second-to-last in the SEC before dismantling Auburn, 74-56, Wednesday and winning Thursday. The Frank Martin-led Gamecocks come into Friday having won three straight for the first time since Jan. 3, but the Vols have them one-upped by posting four consecutive victories — three of which were in

blowout fashion. Friday’s game will also be South Carolina’s third in three days, while the Vols will be ending a six-day break from the court. While that might be seen as a drawback, Tennessee head coach Cuonzo Martin lauded the importance of his team’s fresh legs. “Certain things you can’t control,” Martin said Wednesday before departing for Atlanta. “The key is to try to get by so you can have fresh legs to play for three days. “I’d rather play for three days than play for four, or five.” In preparation for Friday,

Proposed activity fee bills have UT system schools worried Samantha Smoak Online Editor Non-binding resolutions cannot progress into law, but Senate bills, if passed, can. Recent legislation proposed by state Sen. Stacey Campfield (R-Knoxville), however, could drastically change how UT allo-

cates funding for student organizations. Senate Bill 1608 would require funding for organizations inviting speakers to campus be allocated proportional to the organization’s size, while Senate Bill 2493 would not allow the use of any institutional revenue,

including student activity fees, to pay for a campus speaker. Thursday, these bills were both calendared for vote by the House education subcommittee on the March 18 and for vote by the Senate Education Committee on March 19. University of Tennessee

system schools in Martin and Chattanooga would also be impacted, in addition to schools associated with the Tennessee Board of Regents. Robert Fisher, Student Government Association president at UT-Chattanooga, said his largest concern about SB1608 is

the assumption that larger organizations on campus should hold more clout. “When you have proportional funding only the large organizations ... they have an advantage that a smaller group may not have,” Fisher said. See STUDENT FEES on Page 3

INSIDE THE DAILY BEACON

“Let’s vote him out of office.” @UTKDailyBeacon www.utdailybeacon.com

OPINIONS >>pg. 4

Arts & Culture News Opinions Sports

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