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Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Issue 48, Volume 125

Lady Vols storm into Sweet 16 Janie Prathammavong • The Daily Beacon

Burdick’s hot night helps UT dance on with 67-51 win over St. John’s Troy Provost-Heron Sports Editor

She has always been the Tennessee Lady Volunteers emotional catalyst, but on Monday, Cierra Burdick proved to be much more than that. With a Sweet 16 spot on the line, the junior forward scored 21 points and corralled 11 rebounds – her sixth doubledouble of the season – as her performance was instrumental in the Lady Vols’ 67-51 victory over St. John’s to advance to the third round of the NCAA tournament. “I think the biggest thing for me is going out there and playing loose and having fun,” Burdick said. “When I begin to think about things too much and I don’t trust myself and all the hours I’ve put in, that’s when I really struggle. When I’m hesitant, I’m not producing the way I know I’m capable of. My teammates continued to encourage me and believed in me to knock down shots and I was just able to come out here and have fun and enjoy the game. “I just wanted to enjoy it. Enjoy the ride, enjoy the journey and this is such an awesome opportunity and I’m just trying to capitalize on it.” See LADY VOLS on Page 6

SEE INSIDE

Obama’s nix of federal ties with TVA has some officials worried about the company’s future NEWS >>pg. 2

Switchfoot shoots for ‘Stars’ in memorable, passionate Bijou performance

ARTS & CULTURE >>pg. 5

Simmons rounds out 60-8 career record when playing on ‘The Summitt’ SPORTS >>pg. 6

Junior forward Cierra Burdick (far right) celebrates with junior center Isabelle Harrison (left) during the Lady Vols’ 67-51 victory over St. John’s. The Lady Vols will play in their 31st Sweet 16 game on March 30.

UT may see 3 percent tuition spike next fall Students McCord Pagan Copy Editor Next year, in-state students could see a tuition increase of at least $290. In its June meeting, the board of trustees will take a vote on the 3 percent spike – the minimum amount needed to cover standard increases in fixed costs, such as maintenance, faculty promotions and contract renewals. The amount of the tuition increase will be finalized prior to the meeting. A tough fiscal year for Tennessee, however, could push tuition even higher. By January 2014, the corporate franchise and excise tax alone had taken in $150 million less than expected. Gov. Bill Haslam’s proposed

state budget, unveiled Feb. 3 at his fourth annual State of the State address, provides $9.6 million to be shared by all public post-secondary schools through the Complete College Tennessee Act. The CCTA originally recommended $29.6 million, based on a formula considering an institution’s total graduates and the time those graduates took to gain a degree. In fall 2013, the Tennessee Higher Education Commission recommended a 2-4 percent tuition increase, assuming the state would provide the full $29.6 million suggested by the CCTA. “That didn’t happen. We’re now reassessing it,” Butch Peccolo, UT system chief financial officer said. After receiving $432 million from the state in 2013, the UT system will receive $470 million

in 2014 – including its share of the CCTA money in addition to general higher education funding. Funding remains below the prerecession level of $509 million in 2008. What are we spending it on? Chris Cimino, vice chancellor for finance and administration, explained that in 2013 the state of Tennessee mandated a 1 percent wage increase for all its employees after three years of tight budgets and prevented an inflationary cost of living adjustment. Fifty-five percent of the wage increase at UT was paid by the state government, but in February 2014, administrators lobbied the legislature to compensate UT for the other 45 percent of the mandated wage increase. In response, the state agreed to fund six additional percentage points of the cost.

That support, however, was drawn from UT-Knoxville’s portion of the CCTA allocated $9.6 million. Why pay more? Peccolo said UT’s top priority has become finding the resources to fund fair compensation following a 2011 study that illustrated UT employees are paid significantly less than similar positions elsewhere. In order to close this gap, $150 million is required, Peccolo said. Although UT consistently requests these funds from the state, Peccolo reminded students of the impact well-paid educators could have. “A lot of that plays through to achieving Top 25 status,” Peccolo said. See TUITION on Page 2

Office works to help students win big Hanna Lustig News Editor Barry Goldwater, Cecil Rhodes, Harry Truman – wavemakers and visionaries, these individuals need no introduction. Neither do their namesake scholarship programs, which represent some of the most competitive and coveted awards available to American college students. Now, the names of UT students are linked with theirs more than ever, with the help of the burgeoning Office of National Scholarships and Fellowships, a department of the Student Success Center solely devoted to aiding students as they pursue prestigious national scholarships. Approximately one year ago, junior in chemical engineering Emma Hollman had planned to apply for the prestigious math science and engineering scholarship, which provides up to $7,500

to sophomores and juniors who show promise as a future researcher. Throughout her junior year, Hollman met with Veigel to work on her application. Now a winner, Hollman plans to use the funding and the prestige of the scholarship as a “gateway” to further fellowships and graduate school opportunities. After hearing about the Goldwater scholarship her freshman year, Hollman sought out the ONSF of her own volition. But, because there is little precedent for UT students winning these scholarships, many other students do not realize the office exists. “Because UT doesn’t have this long tradition of doing this,” Michael Handelsman, faculty director of ONSF, said, “there isn’t necessarily a culture where you as a freshman walk onto campus and you know that here is one of the integral parts of your education.” As a result, the ONSF makes a

conscious effort to promote their services. Junior College Scholars major Fadi Saleh first encountered the ONSF after receiving an invitation from the office in December 2012. For a small and relatively new unit like the ONSF, outreach efforts to students and faculty are crucial– the earlier students express interest, the better. It wasn’t until a year ago that Saleh embarked on his Truman scholarship application process, though, with the help of ONSF Associate Director, Nichole FazioVeigel. After countless meetings and an estimated six revisions, Saleh recently emerged a finalist for the Truman scholarship, awarded to students dedicated to public service and graduate study. In working with Nichole, Saleh strengthened more than his application. He found even greater commitment to a future in public health administration and policy. “They give students with passion drive and focus,” Saleh said.

Frequently, students come to the office unsure how to channel their passions into a career, much less an application for a nationally competitive scholarship like the Rodes or the Truman. Through their interactions with the ONSF, many students incidentally discover their “path.” Notably, the office’s services are not solely reserved for students with high GPAs. Such standard measures of excellence, in fact, are a bit “boring” to Veigel. Passion, not academic classification, is key. But even when applications are denied, the process itself retains value. “Often times in that kind of assessment, because they went through that one process and it wasn’t successful,” Fazio-Veigel said, “it opened their eyes to opportunities, to directions, to entirely new ways of doing what they were actually committed to.” See ONSF on Page 2

“No beach; no road trip; no booze. And it was still one of the best Spring Breaks of my life.” @DailyBeacon www.utdailybeacon.com

OPINIONS >>pg. 4

invited to grab ‘Taste of Ghana’ Victoria Brown Staff Writer

“Taste of Ghana,” an event hosted by the Ghanaian Diaspora Students Association, will be held Thursday in the University Center’s Hermitage room to celebrate Ghana’s Independence Day. The event, which is hosted in collaboration with UT Student Activities, the Central Program Council and the Cultural Attractions Committee, will give students a chance to experience and learn something new about the Ghanaian culture to campus. Isaac Atuahene, a graduate student in industrial and systems engineering, is an organizing member for the “Taste of Ghana” event. He said the program will offer participants a chance to try some of Ghana’s favorite foods and delicacies and view some of the African nation’s cultural artifacts and paintings. “This program will bring students from all cultures together to learn about each other’s culture,” Atuahene said, “and specifically to learn about Ghana’s culture.” The “Taste of Ghana” event will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Those attending will see a live performance by the Khan Unity Drummers, a cultural drumming group. The group will also perform and dance to traditional sounds. See GHANA on Page 3

INSIDE THE DAILY BEACON News Arts & Culture Opinions Sports

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