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Thursday, April 10, 2014

Issue 60, Volume 125

UT PA announcer Bobby Denton, 73, dies Sports Editor Bobby Denton, the voice of Neyland Stadium since 1967, passed away Wednesday morning from his battle with cancer at 73. During his 47 years on the job, the longest tenure for a public address announcer in college football, Denton became known for many catch-

SEE

with Neyland phrases, but his iconic Stadium as the “It’s football time in checkerboard Tennessee” was easily end zones, and the most recognizable. everyone in “Bobby Denton the Tennessee is a true treasure of family will Tennessee football,” miss him UT head coach Butch greatly.” Jones said in a univerBorn and sity release. “Hearing Bobby Denton raised in him say, `It’s football time in Tennessee,’ is one of Knoxville, Denton started the greatest traditions in the out as a radio disc jockey for WIVK, where he would work history of college football. “His voice is as synonymous for 36 years and reach the

position of vice president and general manager, building the station into one of the most successful country music stations in the nation and helping to win four Country Music Association Awards for Radio Station of the Year. In 1967, Denton was hired by Gus Manning to replace then-PA announcer and longtime friend John Ward, who had left to become the “Voice of the Vols” on the Vol Network. “Bobby Denton was a true

radio professional in every way,” Ward said in the release. “He had a great hobby like I had, and his was the PA at Neyland Stadium. But he was first and foremost a true professional radio man. He was an on-the-air radio personality before getting into management and sales, and he understood what you had to do to answer to the audience.”

Chancellor answers questions

INSIDE

Getting Cheeky: The push to divest from fossil fuels heats up

Kendall Thompson Contributor The glitz and glamour of the Roaring ‘20s has faded, appearing only as a ghost in our Gatsby-themed parties and period films. However, the past can be relived with the same emotion, excitement and energy through jazz music. This genre, which has spanned generations, lived on through the UT Jazz Big Band Tuesday night. The concert was the 184th program of the 2013-2014 concert season, according to the program, and attracted an audience that included students and adults alike at the Natalie L. Haslam Music Center. The jazz band is comprised of five saxophones, four trombones, five trumpets and five “rhythm” players, whose roles varied from guitar to drum set to piano. Six of the nine pieces performed were new compositions collected from a contest with the College Music Society, band director and senior percussion lecturer Keith Brown said.

See DENTON on Page 8

Melodi Erdogan • The Daily Beacon

Troy Provost-Heron

Jazz band bids its lone senior musician goodbye

NEWS >>pg. 3

See BIG BAND on Page 5

Chinese bubble tea? Russian dance groups? UT goes global ARTS & CULTURE >>pg. 5

Eyes on LaFollette: Photojournalism class captures small town living

Annual Relay for Life campaign returns to Knoxville

Chancellor Jimmy Cheek speaks to students in the James A. Haslam II Business Building Wednesday evening to present the latest statistics on student graduation and retention and open the floor to students’ questions.

Hanna Lustig News Editor To Chancellor Jimmy Cheek, students are not the university’s customers– they are its “products.” And he is committed to making sure UT produces an “extremely high quality” product. Before every student senate meeting, the Student Government Association allows for a “town hall,” permitting any student to present an idea or concern. But, on Wednesday night, Chancellor Cheek appeared for SGA’s town hall in the Haslam Business Building, a gesture he typi-

cally extends once a semester. Kicking off SGA’s annual “Orange ad White Week,” an event series leading up to the Orange and White game, Cheek discussed UT’s growth over the last year and answered questions from students present. As the 2013/2014 academic year draws to a close, Cheek cited significant progress among the Volvision’s criteria for lifting UT into the ranks of America’s “Top 25” public research universities. Of the twelve metrics identified, UT has demonstrated progress toward ten of those goals, with only one area showing no improvement. The freshman to sophomore retention rate, Cheek said, is “stuck”

at 86 percent, just beneath the Volvision’s 90 percent goal. However, one criterion has been met– UT already attracts students with standardized scores equivalent to those of Top 25 students. “You are in the Top 25 as far as your academic profile is concerned,” Cheek said to the small audience. Despite the eleven residual goals, Cheek remained optimistic about UT’s continued efforts, reminding students that “the journey is more important than the destination.” Following his opening address, Cheek took questions from the student audience.

Victoria Brown Staff Writer

See TOWN HALL on Page 2

ARTS & CULTURE >>pg. 6

Renfroe, Shipman: Will a UT softball star claim Player of the Year? SPORTS >>pg. 8

@UTKDailyBeacon www.utdailybeacon.com

Samantha Smoak Online Editor Blake Roller, a junior in political science, was sitting in a pizza shop on New Year’s Eve when he decided to run for Sullivan County Commissioner. “And I thought, you know, I should do it,” he said. “So I walked across the parking lot and went in and said, ‘I am looking into running for office.’” At a Christmas party earlier that month, Roller’s former fifth grade teacher had mentioned the lack of young state and local representatives, encouraging Roller to launch his own campaign. After years of involvement with Key Club and Tennessee 4-H during high school, Roller already held his county officials in great esteem. “I got to go and meet all the

politicians and sit in the Senate and really learn how our state government works,” he said. “And I got to meet the mayor and meet the commissioners and go to the jail and learn the public services of our county. “... I really grew to respect our county government because everyone is really concerned with national government and less concerned with state government.” By the end of the month, Roller was standing in the election office. In response to the commission’s surprise at meeting such a young candidate, Roller recalls having to verify his eligibility, being only 20. While many criticize local officials, Roller believes these positions offer an enormous opportunity to better the lives of constituents.

photo courtesy of Blake Roller

20-year-old UT student running for Sullivan County Commissioner

Blake Roller, junior in political science, is running for Sullivan County Commissioner at the age of 20.

Relay for Life, an annual fundraising walk held by the American Cancer Society, will arrive in Knoxville on Friday, April 11, at World’s Fair Park. The walk, which first began in 1985, has grown to involve thousands of people who walk as individuals and teams to raise money and donations for the fight against cancer. Grant Smith, junior in communication studies with a minor in psychology, is this year’s director of communications for Knoxville’s Relay for Life event. “The money that is raised by the relay goes to the American Cancer Society, in which they use the money to fund groundbreaking research for all types of cancer,” Smith said. “They also use this money to provide free services and information to cancer patients and their caregivers.” Smith said participants can expect a night of games, live trivia, a live band and karaoke. “This year’s relay theme is ‘When You Wish Upon a Cure,’” Smith said, “in which teams that have signed up will be able to decorate their booths and dress up like characters from their chosen Disney movie.” See RELAY on Page 3

See ROLLER on Page 2

“Their education is teaching them to change the world. Ours is teaching us to keep our heads down and not cause problems.” OPINIONS >>pg. 4

INSIDE THE DAILY BEACON News Opinions Arts & Culture Eyes on LaFollette Sports

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