031825_DB_FINALPAPER

Volume 148, Issue 07

Concerts of Knoxville, featuring Eric Church

Lady Vols named No. 10 seed

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Wednesday, March 18, 2026

@utkdailybeacon

‘Fundamental misunderstanding’

UT faculty senate speaks up as Tennessee House passes bill to streamline university termination policy OLIVIA LEE Staff Writer

An email from faculty senate leaders to UT faculty on March 12 targeted a new Tennessee bill, saying it’s based on “a fundamental misunderstanding.”

The Tennessee House of Representatives passed a bill streamlining university termination policy during its March 9 session.

HB 2194, proposed by Rep. Jason

Zachary (R-Knoxville), requires the termination of faculty to be “made by the institution’s chief executive officer or chief academic officer without any recommendation or vote by another faculty member at the institution.”

The bill passed on a 72-21 vote, with one abstention.

“We must state plainly that this bill is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of how research universities function and

why tenure exists,” the email from faculty senate leaders, including President Charles Noble, President Elect Jud Laughter, and former faculty senate president Derek Alderman, said.

The email called out the bill’s erasure of faculty senate inclusion in termination proceedings.

Current policy requires input from senate leadership and the Faculty Senate Appeals Committee and gives faculty members

the opportunity for a pre-termination hearing.

“These procedures are not bureaucratic obstacles; they are essential safeguards that protect both individual faculty members and the integrity of the university,” the email said. “All of these opportunities for important faculty input would be wiped away by this bill.”

UT administrators have spoken minimally about the bill. At

a March 2 faculty senate meeting, Provost John Zomchick said the administration is “aware of concerns that the faculty had about this bill and are doing their best to protect tenure in what is a very difficult environment.”

SEE ‘FACULTY SENATE’ PAGE 2

2026 F1 season full of ‘new’ GIA SCHEELS Contributor It’s lights out, and away we go with the 2026 F1 season. The first race weekend officially starts on March 5 in Melbourne with the Qatar Airways Australian Grand Prix. The start of the new season brings major changes, some so big that there hasn’t been anything like them since 2014.

Cadillac has been introduced as a brand-new American team and will debut with two former drivers, Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas. The team previously known as Kick Sauber has been rebranded as Audi Revolut, with the same drivers now racing under different colors.

The massive regulation changes have fundamentally reshaped the F1 power unit and its market, bringing in these new teams and manufacturers. More eco-friendly and sustainable, the engine changes have formed new partnerships, including Oracle Red Bull Racing and Ford, now working together to develop Red Bull’s very own engine.

Ford has not been part of F1 since 2004, and with the introduction of Audi and Cadillac, there is a lot of excitement and curiosity among F1 fans.

How will the new cars, engines and drivers fare at the start of the season? Will it be a train-wreck of teams struggling to adapt, similar to what the

2014 hybrid engine changes brought?

Since all teams have to start from scratch with their cars, the learning curve is the same for everyone this year. There are now five engine manufacturers in the mix, which means more competition and less dominance from bigger teams.

The engine, which was once approximately 80% combustion power and 20% electrical power, is now a 50-50 split between the two. Some drivers have complained about the engine changes after practicing with the cars for the first time, saying that it is “Formula E on steroids” and “not the purest form of racing.”

Although teams and drivers are struggling to get the hang of the new engine system, most praise the new car design, which introduced smaller frames, narrower tires and an “overtake mode” that replaced the Drag Reduction System.

For junior Antonio Roca, the new car designs remind him of older cars from previous generations.

“They look more like the Formula 1 cars I know,” Roca said. “The liveries I love. I love Ferrari with their 2004 throwback with the white.”

SEE ‘F1’ PAGE 3

Gus’s Good Time Deli celebrates 45 years in business. Friday, March 6, 2026.

Jayden Randolph / The Daily Beacon

Gus’s celebrates 45th anniversary TESSA NACKE Staff Writer On March 13, Gus’s Good Time Deli celebrated 45 years of serving food to the Knoxville community.

“A bunch of people were here …

We gave away a bunch of cake, a bike, some shirts and some hoodies. You know, just had a party,” store manager Aaron Hale said.

Located on Melrose Ave, Gus’s Good Time Deli has been open since 1981, serving up amazing sandwiches and late night eats to a large demographic of customers.

“We are one of the few places left that does steam deli sandwiches, and it’s a Knoxville exclusive thing. It’s the only place, as far as I know, in America that does steam sandwiches, and that’s kind of what we’re known for,” Hale said.

“But we’re also known for a lot of other things: burgers, Phillies, patty melts and our fries, of course.”

These mouth-watering food items draw in college students, local families and even Peyton Manning.

Forty-five years later, it is no small feat to be one of the last small businesses standing near The Strip, which has been populating various new chain restaurants and apartment buildings.

“You kind of worry, but you’re also

really proud that you’re still here. It’s kind of scary that the way things have shifted. I think you lose some of the flavor and the soul in the area, with all of (the chain restaurants) being the same as every other interstate exit in the world,” Hale said.

Hale has been working and managing the store since 2001, and has seen the different generations of UT students find one thing in common: their love for Gus’s Good Time Deli.

SEE ‘ANNIVERSARY’ PAGE 3

It’s kind of scary that the way things have shifted. I think you lose some of the flavor and the soul in the area, with all of (the chain restaurants) being the same as every other interstate exit in the world.”

AARON HALE Store Manager

Mike Pence is set to speak at the ICCA conference in Knoxville on March 21. Photo courtesy of Nathaniel Hendry

Mike Pence to visit Knoxville March 21 MARGARET WHITE Staff Writer Former Vice President Mike Pence will speak at the Institute of American Civics’ second annual Undergraduate Civics Symposium in Knoxville on Saturday.

The conference is invitation-only and will take place at the Marriott Hotel downtown.

Students and faculty from the institute and other invited universities will attend the symposium, which is meant to reflect on and discuss patriotism in American civic life.

“America’s 250th anniversary offers a significant opportunity to reflect on the nation’s founding principles. What were they?

Were they sound? Have we lived up to them?

Should they be reconsidered?” Josh Dunn, executive director of the institute, said.

The 48th vice president of the United States will be joined by Yale University political scientist Steven Smith, as well as members of the College Debates and Discourse Alliance, who plan on leading a debate for students.

Pence visited Knoxville in September 2018 as a part of U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn’s campaign. About 50 people peacefully protested his appearance, including representatives from UT student organizations like the Progressive Student Alliance, the College Democrats and the Young Democratic Socialists of America.

“Basically, we’re protesting ultra-conservative policies that Pence and Blackburn support,” Nate Stewart, a UT student in 2018 who attended the protest, said. “They’re very homophobic, very anti-immigrant and we disagree with their policies entirely, as well as their support for ICE. We don’t agree with anything they stand for.”

In September 2024, Pence spoke at Middle Tennessee State University as part of the university’s annual Constitution Day observance.

Similar to his appearance in Knoxville, this sparked controversy among MTSU students and led to several similar organizations condemning the political beliefs of Pence and his supporters.

The issues protested by students in 2018 remain relevant in today’s political atmosphere as President Trump’s second term continues.

President Trump and his former vice president have had a rift since the 2020 election when Trump asked Pence to overturn the election. Pence made several statements affirming that he lacked the authority to do so, creating conflict that has dominated Pence’s politics since.

“I had no right to overturn the election,” Pence told the conservative Federalist Society in 2021. “The presidency belongs to the American people and the American people alone. And frankly, there is no idea more un-American than the notion than any one person could choose the American president.”

The symposium will be an opportunity for attendees to discuss and learn more about civic engagement and political theory, as well as meet Pence.

“I am not personally a fan of his politics,” UT junior and Tocqueville scholar Taylor Barrett, who plans to attend this Saturday, said.

“I’m not personally a fan of him specifically, but just getting to see a former vice president is just a crazy, unbelievable opportunity. And no matter what he has to say, it’s definitely going to be very interesting just to hear his thoughts about patriotism in America today.”

The symposium’s theme of patriotism will allow attendees to reflect on thoughtful citizenship with input from major leaders in the field.

“We don’t love America merely because it is ours, but because its principles are worthy of devotion. I expect Professor Smith and Vice President Pence to give additional reasons for patriotism, but I am easily persuaded to the cause,” professor of American Civics Morgan Marietta said.

Follow The Daily Beacon for more coverage on this event.

Staff report: UT to launch AI Hub late March Newly announced AI Hub prioritizes innovation and student success TESSA NACKE Staff Writer The new UT AI Hub, launching in late March, will act as a virtual liaison for students to fully utilize the power of artificial intelligence.

In an email sent from the Office of the Provost on Feb. 27, this hub will serve as a platform for students to gain access to full premium versions of large language models.

AI models ChatGPT, Grok, Perplexity and Claude, will be added to the current AI ecosystem. This ecosystem consists of Microsoft

Copilot Chat and UT Verse AI Assistant.

“Our growing AI ecosystem is designed to support innovation, academic excellence and student success. We are excited about the new AI Hub and look forward to offering more AI tools and learning opportunities to support students, faculty and staff,” an email from the Office of the Provost said.

All tools will be available to students through their NetID at no cost.

Follow The Daily Beacon for more information as the situation develops.

News

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The Daily Beacon

@utkdailybeacon | Wednesday, March 18, 2026 | www.utdailybeacon.com

More than just a bat girl: Meet the Diamond Vols TESSA NACKE Staff Writer The Diamond Vols make Vol Baseball more than just baseball.

They help create a community built up by the players, fans and families. The Diamond Vols is a student-run organization that supports the baseball team on and off the field, representing Vol Baseball in all aspects of the game.

“There’s four girls working every game, and we just assist with any needs that the team, coaches or umpires need,” junior captain Leigha Pacha said. “We’ll give the umpires balls and water, and sit there in the dugout and get equipment or any random things anyone needs.”

Junior captains Pacha and

Mallory Janik have been a part of the program for two years. They carry the position of Diamond Vol with pride.

“I’m a sports management major, so I know that this is exactly what I want to do,” Janik said. “So it’s awesome getting experience.

And being able to be around such a winning program, and such a highly ranked program, is awesome knowing I want to work in sports. And … just getting the privilege to be around these coaches and these athletes every day that work so hard and have a championship mindset is really rewarding.”

Vol Baseball’s champion mindset also translates to the caliber of the Diamond Vols, as reputation and respect is of utmost importance to them.

“I know people don’t mean

A Diamond Vols member brings a bat back to the Tennessee dugout during a game against Wright State at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Sunday, March 8, 2026. David Smith / The Daily Beacon in a demeaning way when they say that we are ‘the bat girls,’” Janik said. “It’s so much more than that. Being able to sit next to the dugout and just experience everything that happens on and off the field is just a powerful feeling.”

As of March 10, Vol baseball currently stands at 13-4, with an exciting season ahead.

The Diamond Vols are proud to represent a program with such strong team culture.

“I love the work ethic and the culture that surrounds the team.

You can see every day, just by sitting there and listening to what they’re saying during games and how they lift each other up, how much they love

each other and how much they want to succeed,” Janik said.

... just getting the priv-

ilege to be around these coaches and these athletes every day that work so hard and have a championship mindset is really rewarding.”

MALLORY JANIK Diamond Vol Junior Captain The Diamond Vols work in both dugouts for all home games. Attention to detail and character is extremely important for this role, especially when

dealing with away teams or umpires.

The Diamond Vols assist them with any needs they have, such as water, equipment, extra baseballs and other direct communication.

Even as assistants to the team, the Diamond Vols say they aren’t made to feel less than or unequal in the male-dominated sport.

“Some people don’t respect women in sports, even though I have the same knowledge as some people that are working like a man. It’s hard to prove yourself,” Pacha said. “Baseball is a male sport. There’s literally nothing to do about it. But you can tell … this season and the coaching changes we’ve experienced. They are very accepting and they treat us as equals.”

Junior generates $459,625 in Fresh Prints sales

Campus manager Colby Duncan adds fresh perspective to custom apparel TESSA NACKE Staff Writer Colby Duncan only meant to generate some extra beer money with his side gig — he never expected to explode into a six-figure business.

As a campus manager for Fresh Prints, a leading collegiate custom apparel company, Duncan generated $459,625 in sales, selling 19,115 pieces of apparel across 113 orders. “(Fresh Prints) hire a lot of students on campus, so they’re able to pull the people that they think will be good candidates to be hired. I just got an email, but I wasn’t sure if this is something I wanted to do,” Duncan said. “But I still hopped on a call and then did a little interview and got hired the same day, and I was like, ‘Oh, I guess I’m doing this now.’ And it slowly just grew.”

As a campus manager, Duncan is the direct line of communication from the organization to Fresh Prints, making sure to find and meet the expectations of each client.

“That’s what apparel is. That’s you repping your brand. That’s what people see. That’s the visual from the outside of what’s going on. They’re all repping it.

They all love it. It looks great. It’s really fun to be able to give organizations the opportunity to create something from scratch and bring it to life,” Duncan said.

Duncan manages Greek organizations like Delta Gamma, Delta Zeta, Phi Mu, Chi Omega, Sigma Kappa and Phi Gamma Delta. Other clients include the Ambassadors, the UT Visitor Center and Interfraternity Council.

On top of managing over eight different organizations and their Fresh Prints merchandise, Duncan majors in supply chain management, with a collateral in sales and a minor in artificial intelligence.

“I’ve done this work for two and a half years, and now I’m in my major classes as a junior for supply chain, and half the stuff they’re talking about in classes, I’ve done this, I know this,” Duncan said. “It’s super cool to see the application. It really comes full circle. I’ve already had those experiences, and now I can fine tune it with the classes.”

Duncan has worked as a campus manager since freshman year, collaborating with logistics and art teams to make sure that customer needs and expectations are reached. Through his work as a campus manager, his promotion to key account manager meant more responsibility and

sales work.

“It’s been a cool transition of me going from putting fires out right when they come in my face … to preventing every fire that could happen. So my organizational skills and getting on top of work and being more proactive with my time and more efficient has been a huge shift for me,” Duncan said.

This job has not only inspired Duncan, but it’s also built a lot of respect for his hard work and the Fresh Prints brand itself.

“I understand we might not have the lowest price, but you will be the most satisfied working with us, having our customer service and having me on your side,” Duncan said. “I do my best to meet all my clients in person, take them to coffee (and) get to know them personally, because I want my clients to feel like this is a friendship, not a business deal. Because I personally know my friends have my back, so I want them to feel like I have their back.”

Collegiate merchandise is a dense and saturated industry, but Duncan’s drive and determination to succeed with Fresh Prints does not go unnoticed, as he’s generated almost half a million in sales.

“I will say that that is probably my biggest difficulty in the job, is dealing

with the competitors, because this is such a big market, it’s very oversaturated with companies. Fresh Prints is literally the number one in the country for a reason, because if you need something, you’re going to get it when (you) say you need it, when you say you want it, and if something goes wrong, we’re going to take care of you,” Duncan said.

Duncan’s reputation precedes him, and he works to continue to build his credibility through his network.

Scan here to finish reading the story

Faculty senate | cont. from page 1

Exterior of the Tennessee State Capitol. Friday, March 13, 2026. Grace White / The Daily Beacon “It seems the state legislature (with complicit support from our system and campus administrations) is willing to unwind years of impressive gains for the sake of suppressing faculty input in rare situations and to allow terminations of undesired, tenured faculty to occur as expeditiously as possible,” the email said.

The bill comes months after the termination of assistant professor Tamar Shirinian, who faces termination proceedings

after commenting online about Charlie Kirk’s assassination in September, saying “the world is better off without him in it.”

Shirinian has since filed a complaint against Chancellor Donde Plowman, President Randy Boyd and Noble in both their personal and official capacities.

Shirinian’s termination, which Chancellor Plowman carried out, raised questions in the UT community about the university’s commitment to shared governance, something senate

leaders think the bill threatens.

“While this change would not directly affect all faculty on campus, it represents a blow to the involvement of faculty in shared governance, which affects us all,” the email said. “Shared governance is not an internal preference of faculty — it is a foundational principle of successful universities across the United States and enshrined in our Board of Trustees policy.”

The bill also rids current policy of distinctions between termination policy for tenured and non-tenured faculty, holding all faculty members to the same process regardless of their tenure status.

“Tenure is a protection for educators,” Rep. Ronnie Glynn (D-Clarksville), who voted against the bill, said. “Because in their duty of educating our young folks, their job is to generate thoughtful debate.”

The bill comes at a time when UT’s reputation as an employer is crucial to the administration’s goal to recruit more top scholars, as Chancellor Donde Plowman looks to take on more research faculty.

“When you go back and you look at why tenure was actually instituted in

“Faculty are not interchangeable employees who simply carry out administrative directives. They are central partners in the academic enterprise and stewards of the intellectual mission of the university.”

Faculty senate email

universities and colleges, it’s because it was able to recruit the brightest minds across the country,” Glynn said.

“The brightest minds across the country want to go where they’re going to be protected, especially given their first amendment right.”

The senate leaders’ email describes the bill as a shift in the way the university views faculty members.

“Faculty are not interchangeable employees who simply carry out administrative directives,” the email said.

“They are central partners in the academic enterprise and stewards of the intellectual mission of the university.”

On March 11, the Tennessee Senate Education Committee recommended the bill’s senate counterpart, SB 2259, for passage.

The Senate Calendar Committee has yet to set a date for the bill’s review.

“We remain concerned that the absence of clear institutional opposition to this bill at the system or campus levels has led legislators to believe that these changes are broadly supported within higher education and our campus,” the email said. “From a faculty perspective, this is certainly not the case.”

The Daily Beacon

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Mobile access increases gameday gambling CASSIDY GASPARD Contributor

Whether it’s the Super Bowl or the Vols playing at Neyland Stadium, many college students have more than just hopes riding on the game results.

With sports wagering just a click away, students are now placing real money on the games they watch each weekend.

Since becoming the first state to launch online-only sports betting under the 2020 Tennessee Sports Gaming Act, mobile gambling has become increasingly accessible to college students. A variety of different apps blast out advertisements promising high rewards and excitement.

Sen. Jeff Yarbro and Rep. John Ray Clemmons of the Tennessee legislature introduced companion bills SB1821 and HB1768 in January. The bills would “requires certain public institutions of higher education to restrict internet access to interactive sports wagering on campus,” effectively blocking access to sports gambling from college campus wifi networks.

With many college students balancing tuition costs, paying rent and covering Greek life dues, the idea to solve financial instability through online gambling is

highly attractive.

“Every guy I know at this school sports bets,” Charlie Sarafian, a senior sports journalism major at UT, said. “A lot of my friends my age actually do this as a career, like full-time. Literally every day, they are betting.”

Sarafian explained that the excitement of placing a bet and the potential for making quick money are a big part of the appeal for students.

“It’s like quick dopamine, the adrenaline rush you get. And the idea of being able to turn $5 into $500 in a couple of minutes while not having to work a real job,” Sarafian said. “College students are so busy, and they see that as an easy way out.”

Online sports betting has eliminated the need to withdraw cash at a counter or visit a casino. This convenience has drawn in people who might never have considered gambling previously.

“Mobile access makes it incredibly easy. I probably would have never started sports betting if it weren’t available on my phone because I’m not somebody who likes to go to casinos,” said Sarafian.

Along with the ease of placing bets online, sportsbooks have dramatically increased advertis-

ing since legalization.

“The commercialization of streaming services allows so many sports betting commercials and advertisements on pretty much every break, every piece of downtime. They’re just forcing it down your throat,” Sarafian said.

cation through a virtual private network.

To distinguish verified websites, Stephanie Maxwell, deputy director of the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council, recommends visiting the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council website to find

There are a lot of online sports betting apps and sites that look totally legit, that look just like the ones that are licensed, but they are totally illegal.”

STEPHANIE MAXWELL Deputy Director, “And I mean, what is the college boy doing most of the time on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday?

Watching sports.”

Tennessee law requires bettors to be at least 21 years old and physically located within state lines to place an online wager, and sportsbooks enforce these regulations with geofencing and identity verification systems.

But students can find ways around these rules by using unverified websites, sharing accounts, using older friends’ information or masking their lo-

a list of Tennessee’s 10 licensed operators.

“There are a lot of online sports betting apps and sites that look totally legit, that look just like the ones that are licensed, but they are totally illegal,” Maxwell said.

When uploading private information to these unlicensed sites, underage gamblers may also find their identity and personal information at risk.

James P. Whelan, a psychology professor at the University of Memphis and the executive di-

rector of the Tennessee Institute for Gambling Education and Research, studies gambling behavior and prevention.

Whelan and his institute operate a series of clinics across the state to treat gambling harms, conduct research to prevent gambling problems and provide guidance on treatment. In his work, he has observed a growing social popularity of gambling among young people.

“Wherever it is legal, having the ability to bet on sports using your phone attracts a young audience, especially young men,” said Whelan. “Among young men, the data that I see from other places shows that it’s very much a social activity. You can’t watch sports without hearing about betting anymore.”

In partnership with the Tennessee Department of Mental Health, Whelan is currently developing a prevention program aimed at college students across Tennessee campuses. The program will focus on helping students make safer choices around gambling and other high-risk behaviors that can affect both their academic and financial futures.

To continue reading, visit utdailybeacon.com.

Gus’s Good Time Deli celebrates 45 years in business. Friday, March 6, 2026. Jayden Randolph / The Daily Beacon

Anniversary | cont. from page 1 “There’s a lot more kids from the north that are here now. A lot of kids from like Connecticut, New Jersey and Chicago. A lot of kids from Chicago, a lot of kids from the north now … a lot of the customers I’ve known my entire life, you know, since I was a kid. Like, some of them have kids here now.

So the generational aspect of it’s pretty cool too,” Hale said.

Inside of Gus’s Good Time Deli, the generational aspect is not lost on customers. The walls are riddled with various vintage Vols paraphernalia,

adding to the history and timelessness of this local sandwich shop.

“To me, personally, (Gus’s is) everything, it’s my whole life,” Hale said. “I’ve been here since I was 19, and I’ve spent countless 80-hour weeks here since I was 19. My whole family works here, and my wife does our social media, I got a nephew and two step kids working here.”

With a combination of delicious food and a family centered shop, Gus’s Good Time Deli remains integral to the culture and history of UT. “We just really appreciate everybody supporting us over the years, and shop local,” Hale said.

Ryan Osborn / Cartoonist

F1 season full of ‘new’| cont. from page 1 Roca is a big Ferrari fan, a claim that hasn’t always been a proud one during these last few seasons. Ferrari has been one of the top-performing teams in pre-season practice, but it will all come down to how they perform under actual race conditions.

Besides watching Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, Roca says he is excited to see how the new teams perform and to monitor their progress.

“I’m excited for Cadillac and Audi, you know, shaking up the grid a little bit,” Roca said. “I love (Pérez) — I think he was a fantastic driver at Red Bull and I think he’s going to do great things.”

There are high hopes on all sides for Cadillac, especially given that it is an American team, but being brand-new to the sport can be a challenge. Drivers with the most experience might have the upper hand with the new cars because of all the previous changes they’ve lived through.

“You have the experience of moving around, like, all these guys have been here for multiple seasons, through regulation changes and all that stuff. I think they can handle it themselves,” Roca said.

Senior Jack Miller says he is also excited to watch the new teams come in and shake things up, and that it could be anyone’s game this new season.

“I am interested in how Audi will do. I love Audi as a brand and will be rooting for them,” Miller said.

“Also, this being the first season with the new regulations just throws a wild card in the mix on who will come out on top.”

Roca is interested in seeing if the team rivalry between McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris persists.

Other than the usual conflicts surrounding four-time world cham-

pion Max Verstappen, Miller doesn’t think there will be any rivalries off the bat.

“I ejoy watching the usual (Verstappen) drama, but there isn’t anything I’m anticipating,” Miller said. “I like how dynamic F1 is and how these things unfold midseason. I think everyone on the grid is pretty cordial right now.”

Miller says it’s hard to tell who will come out on top, especially in the first few months of the season. Team crews and engineers will need to make minor adjustments as the season progresses, which is where finances come into play.

“Obviously, McLaren did the best job figuring out the regulations last year — they probably have a lot of financial backing coming off the Constructors’ and Drivers’ championships,” Miller said. “I think also Red Bull has a good chance. I don’t really see any of the new teams being dominant this sea-

son.”

With the grid shaken up by new teams, drivers navigating new cars and fans learning new regulations, the season is going to be wild and unpredictable. Formula 1 has attracted its largest global audience ever following its 75th anniversary in 2025, with the U.S. fan base alone growing by 11% compared to 2024.

Fans, both new and

old, are eager to watch the competition and drama unfold this season, and UT students are no exception.

I’m excited for Cadillac and Audi, you know, shaking up the grid a little bit,” ANTONIO ROCA Junior

Graphic by Gia Scheels

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Arts & Culture

The Daily Beacon

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Eric Church emphasizes nostalgia at Knoxville tour stop TESSA NACKE Staff Writer

ALLIE ROARKE Contributor

On March 5, over 15,000 people packed themselves into Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center to hear country artist Eric Church perform in the 15th stop along his 2026 Free the Machine tour.

Knoxville’s crowd held a mixed demographic of adults and college students gathering to feel the nostalgia embedded in Church’s music. 49 Winchester opened, setting the tone of the concert with a powerful voice.

We are gonna give you our heart, and we are gonna give you our soul. Real music written by real people. … The same way we recorded it in the studio is the way you’ll hear it tonight.”

ERIC CHURCH The Free the Machine tour follows the 2025 album release of “Evangeline vs.

The Machine,” which features themes of

Eric Church’s visit to Knoxville as part of his 2026 Free the Machine tour drew over 15,000 people. Photos courtesy of Anthony D’Angio. sentimentality and lost innocence.

The opening lights and background graphics on stage intensified the conflict between the metaphorical Evangeline (real-life, authenticity, nostalgia) and The Machine (tecnology, social media, dependency).

Church opened the evening with “Hands of Time” from his latest album, as background graphics featuring hand-drawn images of cars, clocks and other elements told the song’s story in coordination with the lyrics.

Sporting his signature Ray-Ban sunglasses and a bright red jean jacket, Church hit all the classics. A 16-person band and a seven-person choir supported Church, which added to his quintessential country twang.

“We are gonna give you our heart, and we are gonna give you our soul,” Church said.

“Real music written by real people. … The same way we recorded it in the studio is the way you’ll hear it tonight.”

Church’s vocals, supplemented by co-singer Joanna Cotten, took the audience down memory lane with “Springsteen,” “Record Year” and “Talladega.”

The set transitioned from a full band to the “original” group, and eventually to just Church and his guitar.

In classic Rocky Top style, Church ended his set with “Through my Ray-Bans” while wearing a Vols Baseball jersey.

Ukrainian band brings realities of war to Big Ears EMILY HURST Print Managing Editor The power is out in Zoriana Dybovska’s Ukrainian home. I can barely make out her face’s outline through the Zoom call.

What I can see, though, is the smile that splits her face when she talks about her music, her band, her home.

A figurative light in the darkness of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war that has been raging since 2014.

Founded in 2016 by Dybovska, Yagody is a Ukrainian “etho-drama” folk band. Relocated to Lviv because of Russia’s invasion of Dybovska’s home in Donbas, she formed a singing group with some fellow theater actresses.

In their first festival performance, Dybovska recounts how the announcer gave them a name when they did not have one.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the band … Yagody. It means berries.”

The band consists of seven members, only a few of which can

make the upcoming Big Ears festival at the end of March because of visa complications at the Ukrainian border. According to Teimuraz Gogitidze, drummer and manager of the band and translator for Dybovska, these travel complications

dze responded with a resounding “fun.”

“I want to make them dance, or open their hearts. … I want to help people have fun,” Gogitidze said.

Gogitidze described the physiology behind performance. He

When we are performing, we are showing a truth. We feel that everyday there is a war. We feel that.”

TEIMURAZ GOGITIDZE Drummer, band manager are just one small part of navigating a war-torn Ukraine.

But to him, it’s all worth it.

“Our art is made for people to make them happy. In all aspects, like mental, physical, heart, soul.

We’re sending a very important message,” Gogitidze said.

When asked what Yagody wanted festival attendees to take away from their performance, Gogiti-

wants concert-goers to dance and sweat before playing a deeper, more hard-hitting song. It’s all part of the experience, for both performer and audience.

But fun isn’t all that Yagody wants the audience to walk away from the performance with.

Each band member feels the realities of living in wartime deeply.

Gogitidze believes that for some

people, war in Ukraine exists in the background of their lives. But not for Yagody.

“When we are performing, we are showing a truth,” Gogitidze said. “We feel that everyday there is a war. We feel that.”

From their first small festival stage in Ukraine to becoming one of 2024’s Eurovision finalists, Yagody has stayed true to their roots in Ukrainian culture.

In fact, Dybovska said she needs to be in Ukraine in order to create music, describing herself as “rooted in Ukraine.” Ukrainian culture and identity is at the forefront of Yagody’s art, and Dybovska wishes to see their music bring young people together under folk songs that celebrate their unique traditions and stories in the face of Russian occupation.

Gogitidze described the importance of their art amid the violent political landscape with an analogy.

“Your motherland and everything that is happening there, like your music, this is very important. … You need to grow it, you know,

like a flower in a garden.”

He compared invasion to “stomping on (flowers) and putting some other flowers instead.”

Even amid the weeds, it seems that Yagody’s art has blossomed into a widely popular and wellloved form of expression beneath occupation. Above all else, Yagody considers itself a physical embodiment of truth.

“We are honest on the stage. We are who we are,” said Gogitidze.

Yagody is set to perform on Thursday, March 26 at 6 p.m. in Jackson Terminal.

The High Kings revive Irish music EMMA KATE MURPHY Contributor On the evening of March 4, the Bijou Theatre hosted Irish folk band The High Kings.

Beloved by traditional Irish folk music enthusiasts, the band has released eight albums since their inception in 2007, with the ninth set to be released this year. They’ve gone on multiple world tours and are currently on The Rocky Road Tour.

The High Kings is made up of four members: Darren Holden, Finbarr Clancy, Brian Dunphy and Paul O’Brien. They play 13 instruments between the four of them.

Those who don’t listen to Irish music may still be familiar with their work, even if you don’t realize it. Their song “The Rocky Road to Dublin” features prominently in the 2025 award-winning film “Sinners.”

That feature brought a wave of new listeners to The High Kings’ music. Though initially released by The High Kings in 2008, “The Rocky Road to Dublin” is the namesake of their current

tour and the band’s opening song.

“Sinners” won multiple awards, including Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media and Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media at the Grammys earlier this year. Included on that iconic soundtrack are two of The High Kings’ songs: “The Rocky Road to Dublin” and “Will Ye Go, Lassie Go?” Even if you haven’t seen the film, a portion of “The Rocky Road to Dublin” went viral on social media following the film’s release, further propelling The High Kings into popularity and reaching a wider audience than the band had ever experienced before.

The High Kings’ newfound fame following their features in the wildly successful “Sinners” film is a powerful example of the impact media can have. The revival of a 17-year-old song ushered in a new era for the band.

However, their steadfast fans are still primarily the ones selling out their tour and rattling the walls of smaller venues with stomps and claps.

The audience at the Bijou Theatre was mainly composed of older fans, who had likely followed

the band since they formed.

However, some younger faces peeked out through the crowd, singing along. UT senior Claire McSpedon is a long-time fan of The High Kings.

“It’s a good day to be Irish,” McSpedon said.

Some younger fans who didn’t grow up listening to the band’s music still came across The High Kings organically before their rise in popularity last summer, like senior Emma Lambert.

“I began listening to them before studying abroad in Ireland last spring. It was exciting to attend the concert and listen to songs that were very nostalgic to the time I spent abroad,” Lambert said.

The successful concert at the Bijou Theatre is only the start of The Rocky Road Tour. Who knows where else this recent revival of The High Kings’ music will take the band?

As we head toward St. Patrick’s Day, consider playing “The Rocky Road to Dublin” and other hit songs by the High Kings to get into the spirit of the holiday. You might just find yourself singing and dancing along.

The marquee at the Bijou Theatre on Gay Street. Sunday, March 8, 2026.

Ericksen Gomez-Villeda / The Daily Beacon

The Daily Beacon

DAILY BEACON STAFF AND POLICY INFORMATION

Opinion

@utkdailybeacon | Wednesday, March 18, 2026 | www.utdailybeacon.com

Letter from the Editor:

Welcome to broadsheet!

EDITORIAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Caden Dyer PRINT MANAGING EDITOR: Emily Hurst DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR:

Ansley Graves COPY CHIEF: Lauren Holladay NEWS EDITOR: Patrick Busch ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR: Harper Brabson SPORTS EDITOR: Trevor McGee ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR: Alex Sarkis OPINIONS EDITOR: Natalie Dripchak PHOTO EDITOR: Jackson Clavier DESIGN EDITOR: Lindsay Favre ENGAGEMENT EDITOR: Sarah Portanka AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT EDITOR:

Sophie Mehta

COVER DESIGN: Lindsay Favre PAGE DESIGNERS: Emma Fingeret, Ashley

Cammarota, Renee Allen, Maya Williams, SaraJane Weber, Ava Balducci, Ava Edwards, Soma Fulwiler, Kate Wims, Lili Ellis GRAPHICS BY: Lindsay Favre, Emma Fingeret, Ava Balducci, Ryan Osborn

ADVERTISING/PRODUCTION ADVERTISING MANAGER: Abigail Cheslock ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE: Joe Slott

CONTACTS TO REPORT A NEWS ITEM OR SUBMIT A PRESS RELEASE, please email editorinchief@utdailybeacon.com or call (865) 974-2348 TO PLACE AN AD, please email admanager@utk.edu.

LETTERS POLICY: Letters to the Editor must be exclusive to The Daily Beacon and cannot have been submitted to or published by other media. Letters should not exceed 400 words and can be edited or shortened for space. Letters can also be edited for grammar and typographical errors, and Letters that contain excessive grammatical errors can be rejected for this reason. Anonymous Letters will not be published. Authors should include their full name, mailing address, city of residence, phone number and e-mail address for verification purposes. Letters submitted without this information will not be published.

The preferred method to submit a Letter to the Editor is to email the Editor-in-Chief.

CORRECTIONS POLICY: It is the Daily Beacon’s policy to quickly correct any factual errors and clarify any potentially misleading information. Errors brought to our attention by readers or staff members will be corrected and printed on page two of our publication.

To report an error please send as much information as possible about where and when the error occurred to managingeditor@ utdailybeacon.com, or call our newsroom at (865) 974-5206.

The Daily Beacon is published by students at The University of Tennessee on Wednesday during the fall and spring semesters. The offices are located at 1345 Circle Park Drive, 11 Communications Building, Knoxville, TN 37996-0314. The newspaper is free on campus and is available via mail subscription for $200/year or $100/semester. It is also available online at: www.utdailybeacon.com

Page 5

CADEN DYER Editor-in-Chief Not sure what you’re holding?

It’s OK — I can’t believe it either!

It’s my extreme honor to present a new-look Daily Beacon to this campus. We’ve said goodbye to the old tabloid

style, and our new broadsheet paper is available around campus every Wednesday. After many long evenings in our beloved office, this team’s blood, sweat and tears (metaphorical blood, of course) have morphed into a tangible newspaper we are all proud of.

As Design Editor Lindsay Favre said so graciously in her letter two weeks ago, this remains a major work in progress … we ask that you give the design team some grace.

Over the rest of the semester, there will be hiccups, hurdles and Herculean efforts that seem to be in vain, but if I have learned anything over my three years

with this publication, it’s that the Beacon always bounces back.

Somehow, some way, it survives.

Perhaps that’s owing to the incredible tenacity of its team of student journalists, or maybe the credit goes to our community of dedicated readers.

Either way, I encourage you to hold this paper with pride.

Do the crossword and then take it home instead of throwing it away. Read about Mike Pence coming to Knoxville on Page 1. Look over the concert coverage on Page 4.

Soak up every word in a wave of nostalgia, reminiscent of the newspapers delivered to your grandparents every day.

Our look may have changed, but the Beacon’s commitment to the standards of journalism have not. As our generation turns increasingly to social media for its news, traditional media faces the daunting task of convincing

us to care about newspapers, radio and sometimes even television newscasts.

But the Beacon exists because you believe in it. We believe in it. UT believes in it. Join me in supporting local news that makes an impact on its community.

Personally, I’m planning to plaster this entire issue across the walls of my bedroom because damn it, I’ve spent too long working on this to not enjoy its success. That might be a bit dramatic for you — but a good start could be using it for the lining of your alcohol cabinet.

However you Beacon, Beacon with pride. Welcome to broadsheet!

I buy all my favorite things from TikTok Shop CLAIRE THATCHER Staff Writer I watched a YouTube video the other day.

In it, the creator showed off a set of four matte brown, heated food-serving trays she bought to host a party. She raved about how user-friendly they were — how convenient they made serving large groups of people.

Do I have any hosting plans in the near future?

No. But she sold me. I wondered where she got them from.

“I actually bought them from TikTok Shop.

They were pretty cheap, too.”

TikTok Shop? I thought you bought face masks and tube tops from TikTok Shop. I had no clue you could supply yourself with kitchen appliances.

Upon further research, you can also furnish your apartment, replace your electronics and pimp out your car.

TikTok Shop launched on Sept. 12, 2023. Capitalizing on the god-like powers of your favorite relatable influencer, the app’s new feature allows consumers to make in-app purchases. All you have to do is click the link in bio, and you’re transported to the Shop tab.

Popular brands opened their own virtual storefronts within TikTok Shop. Gap, Samsung, Victoria’s Secret, JBL and Pacsun are all capitalizing on TikTok’s reach and influence.

Consumers do their shopping while scrolling, creators earn commissions and TikTok traffic is up. Everyone wins.

Needless to say, it’s no longer just a social media platform. Already monopolizing our attention, TikTok now seeks to monopolize internet commerce. In 2024, TikTok Shops worldwidegenerated $33 billion in sales. Let that number sink in. $33 billion. I clicked the headline, verified the link and sat back in my chair, dumbfounded. $33 billion of slime, steering wheel covers, hot-pink digital cameras. Tortoiseshell glasses, heatless curlers, reusable yard waste bags, workout sets, skin serums, vitamin gummies, LED masks and heated food-serving trays.

With countless sub categories, TikTok Shop sells literally everything.

Amazon had over $600 billion in sales worldwide in 2024. While that number may seem worlds away from $33 billion, remember that TikTok Shop amassed that revenue in a year. It took Amazon five years to hit the billion-dollar

mark. Since 2024, TikTok Shop has grown its U.S. sales by 108%.

Social commerce refers to revenue generated by the purchase of products directly within social media platforms. Of all e-commerce sales in2025, social commerce made up almost 18%.

By putting product discovery, marketing and checkout all in the same place, TikTok is one of many social networking apps capitalizing on the impulsivity of the average American overconsumer.

In 2026, TikTok Shop is projected to generate$23.41 billion in sales in the U.S. alone.

When the morally sound creators of TikTok realized they could get 1.6 billion people to stay in one place for an hour every day, they realized they weren’t using their power to its full potential.

If you can capture the attention of the modern American consumer, use it. Hold it tight and don’t let go. Shove a targeted ad down their throat and convince them mouth tape will solve all of their problems.

And yes, the average user spends one hour on TikTok daily. But I know most of you are probably clocking in much higher than that.

TikTok cracked the code with short-form content. Other apps followed suit — Instagram reels, Facebook reels, YouTube shorts and, most recently, Spotify with “clips.” Users can now browse artists, songs and podcasts because discovering new music yourself takes too much work.

By combining two really, really addictive things, TikTok created an inescapable loop of influence. They hook you with scrolling and keep you with shopping. The 10-step skincare routine?

A trend started on TikTok, perpetuating overconsumption and convincing millions of women that they can go to sleep ugly and wake up beautiful.

All you need is a few select products, which just happen to be available in the TikTok Shop.

TikTok always has ulterior motives. It is never just entertainment. It is always bad for you. TikTok Shop is just the app’s newest ploy to control and monitor every aspect of your life.

The more you watch, the more you buy, the more they know. They predict what you need and push products they know you want. It’s not enough to know what jewelry you like. TikTok wants to sell you reusable yard waste bags. They want to be in every room of the house. They want to become a one-stop shop for everything you might ever need.

Power drill? Got it. Boxing gloves? Have it.

Twenty-inch synthetic clip-in hair extensions?

We have black, blonde, brown, pink, blue and red.

Because if TikTok Shop has everything you need, you’ll never have to leave.

As I scrolled through the 15 different subcategories within TikTok Shop, messages bombarded me with “Claim free gift!” and “Get 40% off!”

While I’m used to obnoxious pop-ups, the ads followed me even when I left the Shop tab and moved to the For You Page. I blinked and subscribed to promotional texts.

I mourn the days of Musical.ly. Video creation was just purely that — self-expression and connection. But damn. Capitalism really knows how to ruin a good thing. When I open TikTok now, I feel like every creator, company and brand is trying to buy up the ad space in my brain.

I’m tempted. Do I need a hot pink mini digital camera?

I closed the app. Twenty more seconds — it would’ve got me.

Claire Thatcher is a freshman at UT this year studying journalism and media. She can be reached at qtq974@vols.utk.edu.

Columns and letters of The Daily Beacon are the views of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Beacon or the Beacon’s editorial staff.

Rethinking the Kennedy Curse: The role of media bias, public perception ISABELL NORMAN Contributor

Gr ap

hi c

Four plane crashes, two assassinations, two overdoses, one skiing accident and one drowning incident. Whether these deaths occurred in a World War II detonation, on a presidential motorcade or on a private jet en route to Martha’s Vineyard, it is the last name they share that makes these tragedies worthy of re

by

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a so-called curse.

The strange, recurring plane crashes are only scratching the surface of this disappearing family tree. Former President John F. Kennedy had two siblings die before his assassination, Joseph and Kathleen Kennedy, and then another, Robert F. Kennedy Sr., who was similarly assassinated on a campaign trail just several years later.

Contributing to the misfortune, in 1969, the youngest of these unlucky

siblings, Edward “Ted” Kennedy, drove his car off a bridge, taking the life of his passenger. He failed to report her death until about 10 hours after the incident. To make matters worse, his passenger was not just anyone — Mary Jo Kopechne worked on Robert Kennedy’s campaign and had recently accepted a position as a political consultant. This went down in history as the Chappaquiddick incident, putting Ted Kennedy under intense scrutiny.

He later appeared on national television reflecting on Chappaquiddick, stating, “All kinds of scrambled thoughts … went through my mind … including such questions as … whether some awful curse did actually hang over all the Kennedys.” His words leave us to ponder if Ted Kennedy was among the rest of America, believing in and fearing a potential curse, or if he simply found it as a scapegoat to cover his own wrongdoings.

Alibi or not, it was the first time a member of the Kennedy family publicly referenced the curse.

Wealth and power encompass this family. They are Ivy League alumni, veterans, senators and, as we know, the 35th president of the United States. These accomplishments put them at the top of social pyramids and in the spotlight. So when they die in unimaginably rare accidents, the press quickly constructs a compelling narrative — a cursed dynasty that captures public fascination, inviting Americans to buy into the myth.

With a family as intriguing as this one, we should expect Ryan Murphy to make a series of it.

Murphy is known for creating boundary-pushing series that are grounded in real-life events and people but include fictionalized plot points. Controversial is the only appropriate word to describe his work, seeing as the surviving members of the Ken-

nedy family appear to have an issue with his latest release.

Murphy was the executive producer of “Love Story,” a new release that dramatizes John F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife Carolyn Bessette Kennedy’s iconic 90’s relationship. The series is certainly entertaining and, like clockwork, introduces a new audience — another generation drawn to these romantic tragedies and the enduring narrative of the Kennedy curse.

“Love Story“ paints John Jr. Kennedy and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy as very cool, highly fashionable New Yorkers who experience a whirlwind romance. Then we are quickly reminded why this young couple is famous, and the truth is quite sad.

The Kennedys have always been a media spectacle. Constantly in the public eye, John lived in the White House as a small child. He had to publicly mourn his father and later his mother, when Jackie Kennedy died of cancer. He received a great deal of backlash for failing the New York state bar exam twice, and then was met with skepticism when launching his political magazine, “George.”

Expectations for his career soared — the former president’s son was destined for greatness, and the media made it clear there was no room for failure.

Before Carolyn Bessette became Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, she was just as endearing. Known for her success within Calvin Klein, Carolyn quickly rose through the ranks, making a lasting impact. If you have been on TikTok the past couple of weeks, you know that CBK’s style is all the rage. Women who have tuned in to “Love Story” are now trying to recreate her effortless, classy Calvin Klein-coded wardrobe.

Even years later, people speculate her intentions with JFK Jr., but she was well off without him, leading me to believe their relationship was somewhat genuine.

Love brought them together and made Carolyn a Kennedy. Heartbreakingly, their relationship ended far too soon, only three years into marriage, when their plane crashed.

In “Love Story,” we see John and Carolyn Kennedy’s characters undergo scrutiny by America’s media, which has turned out to be quite accurate in reality.

Could this be the curse at work?

I argue that the media’s portrayal of the fall of the Kennedy dynasty reinforces the idea of the curse.

The trials and tribulations experienced by this family are genuine — there is no denying that. But the media is so saturated that a family of this status experiencing devastation is made to be supernatural.

In reality, these events are better explained by a combination of the family’s unique position, the risks they take and the immense pressure they face both from within their family and the public.

The first incident that framed the curse took place in 1944 when Joseph Kennedy’s plane exploded over Suffolk, England. Yet here in 2026, we remain on conspiracy theories, implying foul play and hidden motives. Does this family know something we don’t? Is there a reason they seem to be cut off so early in their careers?

Or are media outlets feeding us a story that they know will keep us distracted?

Let’s remember the Kennedys for what they are and not for the conspiracy that they’re anything more than a wealthy family in politics.

Isabell Norman is a freshman at UT this year studying journalism. She can be reached at kml965@vols.utk.edu.

Columns and letters of The Daily Beacon are the views of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Beacon or the Beacon’s editorial staff.

Page 6

Entertainment Week of 3/16/26 - 3/22/26

The Daily Beacon

@utkdailybeacon | Wednesday, March 18, 2026 | www.utdailybeacon.com

The Weekly Crossword

by Margie E. Burke

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 ACROSS 1 Melville captain 14 15 16 5 Crumbly cheese 18 19 17 9 West Indies native 22 20 21 14 Hit the bottle 23 24 25 15 Diva anagram 16 Dwelling place 26 27 28 29 30 31 17 Textile machine 18 Out of place 34 35 36 32 33 20 Fender bender, 37 38 39 40 e.g.

22 Whoops it up 42 43 44 41 23 Lewis with 47 48 45 46 Lamb Chop 24 Blind as a bat, 49 50 51 52 53 e.g.

57 58 54 55 56 26 For fear that 28 Worthy of 61 59 60 mention 63 64 62 32 Youngest March sister 66 67 65 34 Like babies' Copyright 2026 by The Puzzle Syndicate legs, often 36 Smooth and glossy 63 Composer who 11 It may be 38 Ladies' man 37 Filled to the gills had 20 children skipped 40 Hide-hair link 39 Put into 64 Active one 12 Matinee ___ 43 Not the mixing servitude 65 Use a dressing 13 Harry's First kind 41 Subatomic room Lady 46 Addition column particle 66 Bullfight cheers 19 ___ and proper 48 Cooling-off 42 Baseball great 67 Means justifiers 21 Exemption period?

Hank 25 Film mogul 50 "Eraserhead" 44 Free (of) DOWN Louis B. star Jack 45 Cowboy hats 1 Traveler's aid 27 Boy king of 52 Like most 47 "American Pie" 2 1989's "Turner Egypt movies actress Tara and ____" 29 Approach 53 Observers 49 "MMMBop" band 3 End of the world rapidly 54 Small winged 51 Get the point 4 Drag through 30 First name in insect 54 Whirl about mud jeans 55 Part of BYOB 57 Raised road 5 Notability 31 Barely managed, 56 Sean Astin 59 Like healthy 6 Cowgirl Dale with "out" football movie food 7 On a slant 32 Something to 58 Sounds of 61 Start the pot 8 Dentists' org. take up disgust 62 Part of a TV 9 Negligence 33 Face up to 60 "Industry" netfeed 10 Especially 35 College bigwigs work

Cartoon Solution to Crossword: R O V E P I T A S A R M S A N E N T B O I L O D I N M O D E S T A T E H O U S E P A U S E D P R E M I S E S O I L E R C O R N E R S M O T E L P H O N E D A M A S S R E M I S S I O N T E M P T R I O Y A P A N E C D O T A L W O R L D H E L E N E A B A S E T R I E D A E R A T E D D R A P E R D I E T R I C H L A L A M O D E R A T I O N N O O N E I T O N I D O L T E N S E N E T S T E N S

Cartoon by Ryan Osborn Ribbon graphic by Ava Balducci

Sports

The Daily Beacon

Page 7

@utkdailybeacon | Wednesday, March 18, 2026 | www.utdailybeacon.com

Softball claims SEC series over Mississippi State TYLER EDMANDS Staff Writer The Lady Vols are no longer perfect, but they still emerged as winners of the weekend.

Tennessee softball collected its second SEC series win of the season, needing all three games to top Mississippi State at Nusz Park in Starkville, Mississippi.

The top-ranked Lady Vols lost their first game of the year on a walk-off home run but responded in the rubber match to claim the series. The Bulldogs had a strong weekend but came up just short in their first SEC series of the year.

Game one: Tennessee 3, Mississippi State 1 Tennessee’s first SEC road game quickly turned into a pitcher’s duel.

Junior pitcher Sage Mardjetko tossed 8.1 innings, allowing just one hit with five strikeouts. Despite her strong performance, the Lady Vols’ bats provided little support early. The breakthrough came in extra innings. With two outs, Makenzie Butt hit a three-run home run over the right field wall to give her group a 3-0 lead.

Mississippi State fought back as Taylor Troutman hit a leadoff solo shot to center field, cutting the deficit to two runs. Erin Nuwer relieved Mardjetko after the blast and closed out the game with a fielder’s choice and a flyout.

Tennessee finished with seven hits but managed only three through the first seven innings. Butt and Emma Clarke each posted multi-hit outings.

“When you look at their numbers and our numbers, you had a feeling it was going to come down to this,” head coach Karen Weekly said. “It was going to come down to one big swing. Fortunately, we got that swing. Fortunately, there were two people on when we got it to give us a cushion.”

Game two: Mississippi State 1, Tennessee 0 The second game mirrored the first.

The first six innings went by scoreless, and it came down to one big hit. Troutman delivered again for the Bulldogs with a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Maddi Rutan worked through a solid

The Lady Vols gather before taking on LSU at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. Sunday, March 8, 2026. Ericksen Gomez-Villeda / The Daily Beacon outing for the Lady Vols, lasting 4.2 hitless innings with four strikeouts and a walk. Nuwer relieved her from the bullpen, allowing three hits, including the game-winner.

Tennessee struggled at the plate with just two hits. Sophia Knight and Ella Dodge proved to be the only contributors.

“We didn’t compete,” Weekly said.

“You knew we were going to lose a game eventually. I’ve said for a few weeks now, as long as we’re fighting and competing, I’m going to tip my hat to the other team and walk off the field.”

Game three: Tennessee 4, Mississippi State 1 Tennessee answered its biggest question of the weekend in the rubber match.

Karlyn Pickens returned to the circle for

the first time since suffering an arm strain on March 3 against Belmont. The star pitcher went the distance in her return, throwing 111 pitches over seven innings.

After being shut out in the middle game, the Lady Vols’ offense came alive. Tennessee took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when freshman Taelyn Holley doubled, advanced on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a wild pitch. Mississippi State tied it in the bottom half with a solo home run from Gabby Schaeffer.

The Lady Vols regained the lead in the fourth on Clarke’s solo home run to left field, her fifth of the season. Dodge added insurance in the top of the seventh with a bases-loaded single to make it 4-1.

Pickens forced two groundouts and struck out the final batter to secure the series win.

“I just loved our response,” Weekly said. “I loved our body language, our eye contact, we were resetting, and we were communicating with each other in the dugout. Those were the things that were missing yesterday. We needed that wakeup call.”

Up next With the series victory, Tennessee remains atop the rankings with a 5-1 SEC record and 27-1 overall mark. After facing adversity the past two weekends, the Lady Vols responded well.

They get some much-needed rest this week with no midweek game after playing six straight days. Tennessee returns to action next weekend in Gainesville against Florida, a series beginning March 20.

Baseball piecing puzzle together after Georgia loss CONNOR WHITNEY Contributor The first conference series with Josh Elander at the helm yielded mixed results.

Tennessee baseball dropped its first SEC series, losing the last two decisions at Foley Field against Georgia. It looked like the Vols would be heading home with a series win after taking an early 5-0 lead in the finale, but a seventh-inning collapse crushed their aspirations.

“I thought our guys competed really well,” Elander said. “Had a chance to put away the game in the fourth, and we didn’t do that.”

It became a weekend of ups and downs for Tennessee. Henry Ford’s go-ahead solo shot proved decisive in the opener, but things would trend downwards from there. The low would emerge in Stone Lawless’ heartbreak, the pinch hitter thinking he had stroked a go-ahead homer in the ninth inning in the rubber game, only to be robbed at the wall by outfielder Cole Johnson to kill his hopes.

The offense continued its momentum from its midweek explosion against Tennessee Tech, coming up with a total of 16 runs on 27 hits during the three-game set. Still, the bats left plenty of meat on the bone, stranding 17 runners across the last two games of the series.

Ford pulled his weight, though, coming through in some of these leverage spots with big swings. The Virginia native homered twice during the weekend and drove in five runs. His first longball made up the difference in his team’s only victory, “Got down 0-2 early, and at that point you’re just trying to scrap,” Ford said. “Just compete and come through for your guys on the bench, so fortunate enough to get a good pitch to hit and put a good swing on it.”

Manny Marin swung a hot stick and continued his streak of multi-hit efforts, stretching the mark to five consecutive games.

Against Georgia, the sophomore shortstop drove in five runs on six hits and raised his season batting average to .367, good enough for the top spot on the

Mark Hindy (7) gives the ball to Bo Rhudy (33) during a game against Wright State at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

Sunday, March 8, 2026. David Smith / The Daily Beacon squad.

“Manny’s playing to win,” Elander said. “That’s what we want, and that’s what the expectation is here. Him just going out and competing and doing things at a high level is a good sign, but we need some others to join him

le after sitting out the first two games. It’s been a season-long struggle for the sophomore, who entered the game hitting just .135 after being named to the Preseason All-SEC Second Team.

The Georgia native came up with two hits and two walks on the

People like to say it’s life and death, it’s very important, and I take it very serious, but also it’s not life and death. You just look around and enjoy it, and just compete.”

BRANDON ARVIDSON

right there with that.”

Among the players who had been struggling at the plate, Levi Clark found himself inserted into the lineup on the series fina-

afternoon across his five plate appearances.

“It’s just nice to see him just playing baseball,” Elander said.

“He’s a really good baseball play-

er, and he’s been tremendous behind the dish. It’s good to see him put a few swings together, and hopefully that’s a sign for

what’s to come here.”

Pitching-wise, Tennessee got good contributions from most of the guys it sent out. The rotation held its own against the top run-producing offense in the league, and the bullpen received stellar outings from a southpaw like Brandon Arvidson, who proved a vital factor in the Vols’ lone win.

“I just looked around and smiled,” Arvidson said. “It’s such a blessing to be here. This opportunity, it’s so amazing. People like to say it’s life and death, it’s very important, and I take it very serious, but also it’s not life and death. You just look around and enjoy it, and just compete.”

The sore spot of the weekend came in the series decider. The rookie skipper relied on Brayden Krenzel to work out of a self-inflicted mess, but the Bulldogs knocked him around for five runs in the seventh inning, turning a Tennessee three-run lead into a two-run deficit.

“Krenzel’s been our guy all year,” Elander said. “He’s pitched in the league. Have a ton of confidence with him, and regardless of the conditions, I know he was spraying it a little bit at times, I thought he was still really competing. We liked the match-up there and hats off to the righty.”

Page 8

The Daily Beacon

@utkdailybeacon | Wednesday, March 18, 2026 | www.utdailybeacon.com

Weekend Recap

Rick Barnes preps for ‘the big one’

March Madness is here!

Stay tuned this upcoming weekend for extensive onsite coverage of Tennessee basketball and Lady Vols basketball as both begin the quest for a national championship in the NCAA Tournament.

Tennessee basketball head coach Rick Barnes talks to Bishop Boswell (3) during an SEC Tournament game against Vanderbilt at Bridgestone Arena. Friday, March 13, 2026. David Smith / The Daily Beacon

ALEX SARKIS Asst. Sports Editor NASHVILLE, Tenn. — After Tennessee basketball fell in the quarterfinal round of the SEC Tournament to Vanderbilt, head

Tennessee basketball eliminated by Vanderbilt in SEC Tournament Check out staff photographer David Smith’s most recent photo gallery from the Vols’ loss to Vanderbilt in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament.

Roadtrip recap: Lady Vols tennis struggles, goes winless at Auburn and Florida Falling 4-1 to Auburn on Thursday and 4-2 to Florida on Saturday.

The No. 11 Lady Vols have now dropped three of their last four matches, each loss coming against top 25 opponents.

coach Rick Barnes posed a question to his group.

He asked how it would feel if this outing, a 75-68 loss to the Commodores, acted as the true end of the season. He wanted them to ponder how it would

feel if this fault closed the book, how it might sting if they didn’t have another chance in the NCAA Tournament in the coming week.

Ending the second weekend of March with a reality check is not how the 39-year headman envisioned things going, but he’s seen enough basketball to know that for a majority of teams in the nation, the road does run out before any dreams of a national title can be chased. At the end of the day, his Vols have another chance.

“It’s a real fine line,” Nate Ament said. “Especially with all the teams we’re playing now in March. We just got to learn how to be better as a team, especially down the stretch. We need to learn to work the game.”

The entirety of Tennessee’s campaign can be seen as one filled with reality checks. Protecting sizable leads, consistent struggles at the free-throw line, turning the ball over and stagnant scoring stretches are among some of the glaring flaws of a Vols team that struggled to reach its full potential.

A 62% mark at the charity stripe held Tennessee back in its second loss to Vanderbilt in as many weeks. Second-half turnovers plagued the Vols after one of their strongest showings of ball security in the opening 20 minutes. The need for a reality check still remained.

“Just remember this feeling, that it sucks,” Jaylen Carey said.

“Especially when it’s Vandy.

You really want to key this in.

We’ve got to get ready for this next week, get ready for the big one. That’s something we want to win. Our team is good enough to do it.”

Now, Tennessee’s impending trip to the dance is a chance to get things right once again. It will enter the NCAA Tournament on a lower note than it did a year ago, following a loss to eventual national champion Florida in the SEC title game.

It’s been difficult for the Vols to keep their demons away for long stretches this season, something they’ll need to ensure they can do if they want to make a run towards program history. Tennessee will need to reach its full potential. It knows it can’t afford another reality check.

“Certainly we want to win the SEC every chance we play, in the regular season, postseason,” Barnes said. “We all know that next week’s the big one. Hopefully, what we learned here the last two days, what we learned throughout the entire year, some of it’s the same thing. Free throws today. We had a chance to build a lead in the first half.

Missed free throws.

“The guys are playing hard.

We’ve got to be smarter in those areas.”

Basketball selected as No. 6 seed in NCAA Tournament ALEX SARKIS Asst. Sports Editor The Vols are going dancing for the eighth straight year.

Tennessee basketball earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament, garnering the No. 6 seed in the Midwest Region. The Vols will travel to Philadelphia to face the winner of a First Four matchup between No. 11-seeded Miami (Ohio) and No. 11-seeded SMU on March 20.

Should it advance past the first round, Tennessee would meet either third-seeded Virginia or No. 14-seeded Wright State at Xfinity Mobile Arena with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line.

“Everybody that’s in it should be congratulated,” head coach Rick Barnes said.

“Because they’ve set out against 350-some teams to try to be part of this tournament.

And so when you get there, it’s something you don’t ever, ever take for granted. Because it’s hard to get to the NCAA Tournament.”

The Vols saw themselves eliminated from the SEC Tournament by Vanderbilt in the quarterfinal round over the weekend, winning a single game against Auburn before falling to the eventual conference runner-up.

Barnes’ group is carrying a 2-4 record over its last six games heading into this year’s NCAA Tournament.

Miami (Ohio) emerged as one of the top stories of the regular season, posting a 31-0 record in the Mid-American Conference. The Redhawks dropped their first game of the season in their first matchup of the MAC tournament, falling 87-83 to eight-seeded Ohio. With their selection to the NCAA Tournament, they became the first-ever team to qualify without playing a Quadrant 1 game.

“I just think any time that you win 30 games it speaks volumes about you,” Barnes said. “Even when you get up around eight, nine, 10 games, the season gets cranking, and you get a big bullseye on your back. It

Tennessee basketball’s bench celebrates a made basket during an SEC Tournament game against Auburn at Bridgestone Arena.

Thursday, March 12, 2026.

David Smith / The Daily Beacon pretty much tells you they’ve been a mentally tough team.”

SMU amassed a 20-13 overall record in its campaign, but saw a losing 8-10 mark in ACC play. The Mustangs fell in the second round of their league tournament to No. 6-seeded Louisville after rolling Syracuse in the opening game. They closed their season on a four-game losing streak, dropping two of those contests by double-digits. SMU notched a 2-2 record against SEC teams this season, downing Mississippi State and Texas A&M in overtime while suffering loss-

es against Vanderbilt and LSU. The Redhawks and Mustangs will do battle for the right to face Tennessee in Dayton, Ohio, on March 18. The Vols will try to advance past the opening weekend of NCAA Tournament play for the third straight season.

“I’m excited for this group,” Barnes said.

“We set out, and our goal has always been to try to play for a national championship.

And we’re just one of the teams in this tournament that, with the rest of them, have a chance to do that.”

Lady Vols basketball earns No. 10 seed in NCAA Tournament TYLER EDMANDS Staff Writer The Lady Vols remain the only program to appear in every NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament.

Tennessee enters as the tenth-seeded team in the Fort Worth Regional 3 and will travel to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for a first-round matchup against No. 7 seed NC State on March 20 in a rematch of their season-opening thriller.

This marks the Lady Vols’ second NCAA Tournament appearance under second-year head coach Kim Caldwell. Despite a rough season that included a seven-game losing streak to close the campaign, Caldwell’s presence on her sport’s grandest stage lives on. She’s reached the dance in each season of her coaching career, leading Division II Glenville State to seven tournament berths, tallying one at Marshall and now two with the Lady Vols.

Tennessee (16-13, 8-8 SEC) squeaked into the field with the second-fewest wins by an atlarge team since Monmouth won 14 in 1983.

A familiar foe The first-round matchup will be the next chapter in a recent rivalry between the Wolfpack and Lady Vols, with NC State holding the momentum in the

last two games. The last meeting came in the season opener at the Greensboro Invitational, where the Wolfpack held off Tennessee 80-77.

NC State built an early lead, but the Lady Vols rallied from an eight-point deficit and grabbed a one-point advantage with 54 seconds left to play. The Wolfpack scored the next four points, and Tennessee fell after it couldn’t get the final shot off.

Talaysia Cooper led the Lady Vols with 23 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, while Khamil Pierre posted 21 points and 14 rebounds for NC State.

Pierre’s prior experience against Caldwell’s full-court press system from her Vanderbilt days helped her group neutralize it.

Before that, the teams met in the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The Wolfpack defeated Tennessee 79-72, building a 20-point first-half lead before holding off a late Lady Vols comeback to advance to the Sweet 16.

This will be the 18th game of the series between the two programs. Tennessee holds a 12-5 all-time advantage despite dropping the last two contests.

“I don’t love having to play a team that we’ve already played,” Caldwell said. “I think we’re both very different teams. We’ve both been through a lot since that game, so it’s going to be kind of not a rematch. We’re both different.”

Tennessee’s 44th March Madness The Lady Vols’ streak stands alone in women’s college basketball history.

Tennessee is seven appearances ahead of second-place UConn, which has 37 straight tournament berths. The Lady Vols possess a record of 133-35 in NCAA play, boasting the most games played and the second-most wins.

Despite a late-season skid, the selection committee rewarded Tennessee for playing a tough schedule. The Lady Vols played 14 other tournament-qualified teams, but posted just a 3-11 record against them. Tennessee’s No. 10 seed is the second-lowest in team history, only behind its No. 11 seed in 2019.

The Lady Vols are 35-2 in NCAA First Round games, with losses coming in 2009 to Ball State and 2019 to UCLA. NC State scouting report The Wolfpack finished fourth in the ACC this season with a 20-10 record. Head coach Wes Moore, a University of Tennessee alumnus, is in his 13th season at the helm. Moore can boast loads of postseason experience, leading NC State to four Sweet 16s, an Elite Eight and a Final Four. The Knoxville native holds a 321–105 record with the Wolfpack.

Pierre, a Vanderbilt transfer, anchors the team from her forward position. The junior is averaging 16.8 points and a dominant

12 rebounds per game. Though she isn’t a threat from 3-point land, her ability to finish at the rim makes up for it. Junior guard Zoe Brooks and sophomore guard Zamareya Jones pick up the rest of the scoring slack, complementing Pierre on the offensive end.

“I think that they guard better than they did in game one,”

this season. The Lady Vols and Michigan played three common opponents this season — UConn, Vanderbilt and UCLA. Neither team emerged victorious, but the Wolverines lost every game by one possession.

“We’re not chasing something we haven’t seen,” Caldwell said.

“We’re chasing something that we have done. It’s really easy to get lost in it and say, ‘Oh, no, that doesn’t work.’ We need to just get back to a version of where we were for a month.”

C a l d well said. “I think that they rebound better. I think that they have two dominant guards, and on the inside, we didn’t do a very good job rebounding with (Pierre), and we have to fix that.”

Looking ahead Should the Lady Vols beat NC State, their path to the second weekend doesn’t get any easier.

Tennessee eyes a potential date with two-seeded Michigan in the second round.

The Wolverines sit at 25-6 overall, excelling at a 15-3 rate during Big Ten play

Nya Robertson (1) celebrates scoring against Vanderbilt at Food City Center. Sunday, March 1, 2026. Cambree Gliessner / The Daily Beacon