Sunny with a 0% chance of rain HIGH LOW 82 54
Tennis squad continues undefeated SEC run
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Tuesday, April 13, 2010 Issue 59
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$500 million grant goes to Tenn. schools Donesha Aldridge Staff Writer
New pre-abortion requirements passed in Neb. LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska lawmakers on Monday gave final approval to a first-of-its-kind measure requiring women to be screened for possible mental and physical problems before having abortions. Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman said Thursday he supports the measure, meaning it is all but guaranteed to receive his signature and become law this summer. It’s also likely to be challenged in court. National abortion-rights supporters have called it a drastic shift in abortion policy that would block abortions by scaring doctors who might perform them.
The state of Tennessee is one of two states to receive $500 million to fund education, thanks to the “Race to the Top” grant. “This is a landmark opportunity for Tennessee,” Gov. Phil Bredesen said in a Department of Education press release. “Our success in Race to the Top speaks to the commitment we’ve made to meaningful and significant improvement in public education, and the funds provided by the grant will carry us forward in a dramatic and positive direction.” Amanda Anderson, deputy director of communications for the Tennessee Department of Education, said the money will be used to aid several areas. “There are three areas of reform efforts that we are focusing on,” Anderson said. “The first is to address low-performing schools. These are high schools with lower than a 60-percent graduation rate. The second reform is to make changes in STEM programs.” STEM stands for areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Anderson said some grant money will aid in making changes in increasing the curriculum in these subjects. There is also a possibility to open more magnet and regional schools with a better curriculum for students. “The third effort will be to increase and make changes to the data system that we have in place already,” Anderson said. Anderson said the changes that will be made will improve the usage of teacher access and how they utilize student data in the system. Bob Rider, dean of the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences, said these funds will aid in assistance for increasing professional development for teachers and administration. “This funding will also aid in supporting pilot programs at Tennessee institutions of higher education for reforming the way we prepare teachers and principals,” he said. “In this way, it will provide benefit to the University of Tennessee and the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences.” Anderson said the money will be split evenly for all the programs. “The money will be split in half,” she said. “One
half will fund the three reform efforts, and the other half will be divided up between each school district. Each school district has to present its plans on how they will use the funding being provided to them.” Anderson said these changes will most likely come into effect around July. Most of the funding will aid K-12 education. Rider said he is hopeful that these funds will make the necessary changes to education. “If we don’t invest appropriately in the education and health of our children, we will cease to exist as one of the world’s leading nations,” he said. “To this end, the entire world will suffer.” He believes education is critical to the health of the U.S. “It is critical that our young men and women be provided with every opportunity to advance their knowledge and experience in preparation for their chosen career,” he said. “Our ability as a nation to compete with the likes of China, Russia, Asia and other technologically advanced countries will determine the future economic health of the U.S. In my opinion, education, from pre-kindergarten through college, is the key.”
Calif. gay marriage ban repeal falls short SAN FRANCISCO — Gay rights activists say they have failed to qualify a measure that would repeal California’s same-sex marriage ban for the November ballot. Restore Equality 2010 chairman Sean Bohac says the volunteer-run group fell short of gathering the nearly 695,000 signatures needed to put the initiative before voters. Monday was the deadline for submitting the signatures to the Secretary of State’s Office. Bohac says Restore Equality’s failed effort was undermined by the decision of more established gay rights groups not to participate in the campaign. He says same-sex marriage supporters now are turning their attention to trying to repeal Proposition 8 in 2012. A lawsuit to overturn Prop. 8 also is pending before a federal trial judge. Russia points to human error in fatal Polish crash WARSAW, Poland — Russian investigators suggested human error may have been to blame in the plane crash that killed the Polish president and 95 others, saying Monday were no technical problems with the Soviet-made plane. The Tu-154 went down Saturday while trying to land in dense fog near Smolensk airport in western Russia. All aboard were killed, including President Lech Kaczynski and dozens of Polish political, military and religious leaders. They had been traveling in the Polish governmentowned plane to attend a memorial at nearby Katyn forest for thousands of Polish military officers executed 70 years ago by Josef Stalin’s secret police. The pilot had been warned of bad weather in Smolensk and was advised by traffic controllers to land elsewhere. — The Associated Press
Hayley DeBusk • The Daily Beacon
Freshman Leoule Degfae races past other runners in the 4x1500m relay race in this past weekend’s Sea Ray Relays held at Tom Black Track. The 24th-ranked Vols were able to win three events from the weekend’s games.
‘Golden Grads’ to return for 50-year reunion Kristian Smith Student Life Editor UT students might see some new faces on campus this weekend. “Golden Grads,” from the classes of 1960 and earlier, will visit UT this weekend for their 50th class reunion. This annual reunion allows UT graduates celebrating their 50th reunion and earlier to reconnect and visit campus again. Many of these graduates are very excited about returning to UT. “(Being at UT) was a wonderful experience, and I am looking forward to being there,” Brenda SmithMacchiaroli, a graduate of the class of 1960, said. “I’m looking forward to seeing Ayres Hall.” Phyllis Moore, the alumni program director for UT’s alumni affairs, said the reunion will be a great way for the golden grads to reconnect with each other and learn about new things at UT. “Reunions provide engagement,” she said. “There’s something for everyone who comes back.” The reunion will kick off on Thursday night with a dinner at the Baker Center, followed by a performance of “Man of La Mancha” at the Clarence
Brown Theatre. On Friday, the grads will hear a presentation from Chris Cimino, assistant vice president for budget and finance, about the new developments on campus. The golden grads will also have the opportunity to return to class. Moore said each alum will be paired with a member of the Student Alumni Associates and will go to class with them. The alumni will be there to observe, but Moore said some alumni want to do more. “One alum wanted to take a test, and he did well on it,” Moore said. Should a student see an alum in his or her class, Moore said to introduce yourself and make the alumni feel welcome. The alumni will also be recognized at a luncheon on Friday, where they will be presented with medallions. Going along with the reunion’s motto, “Once a golden grad, always a golden grad,” there will be an award for the most senior golden grad presented at the luncheon. The golden grads will also participate in a campus tour and a riverboat cruise. The weekend will end with the golden grads attending the Orange and White Game
• Photo courtesy of Alumni Affairs
The Golden Grad Reunion celebrates the 50th anniversary of graduates from the class of 1960. The gathering, going on this Thursday through Saturday, will have alumni participating in a number of events, culminating with the Orange and White game on Saturday. on Saturday. Some of the golden grads think this will be the most exciting part. Macchiaroli, a former majorette, is looking forward to this the most. “I am interested in the Orange and White Game, because we used to march down that field every Saturday, and it was really exciting,” she said. Moore said there will be a diverse group of alum attending the reunion this year. “We have doctors, engineers, people who worked on the Mars mission, as well as
people from Phoenix, San Antonio, and other places all over the country,” she said. “We also have torchbearers, Miss Volunteer and hopefully the class president coming back.” Moore said the reunions have taken place annually since 1938, when the class of 1888 was invited back. She said attendance has decreased over the years, but 75 golden grads will attend this weekend’s reunion. She said past reunions have been very successful, with both alum and current
students enjoying the activities. “The students enjoy talking to the golden grads and listening to their stories about their time at UT and how the education at UT benefitted their careers,” she said. “The golden grads make great mentors.” Many of the golden grads said there have been many changes to UT over the past 50 years. “The culture has changed,” Linda Hawkins, class of 1960, said. “There are more international students.”
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