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Ed: Willpower, optimism best line of defense
UT’s Lathers continues to overcome adversity
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Mostly sunny 10% chance of rain HIGH LOW 90 70
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 Issue 1 I N D E P E N D E N T
Vol. 118 S T U D E N T
PUBLISHED SINCE 1906 http://utdailybeacon.com N E W S P A P E R
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Welcome Week sparks excitement speech pathology, said that the bustle reminded her of the many UT football games she attended as a child with much Student Life Editor to see and enjoy. “Coming to UT as a freshman last year was an advenThe University of Tennessee is finally waking up as its students return to daily classes, participate in campus- ture,” Hodgson said. “There was much anticipation about affiliated activities and get a feel for the upcoming semes- the years ahead.” The anticipation is something that is felt by all students ter. While freshmen face the difficult task of learning a new as they begin a new season of life or simply continue one they’ve already startway of life, ed. For some, Welcome upperclassmen Week is the start of an look back to amazing adventure, when they while for others, like experienced the Hodgson, it means same anticipamerely enjoying the tion and fear. yearly tradition of Brett Lewis, book buying and junior in engischedule building. neering, said As freshmen flock Welcome Week to first year studies, is bittersweet the suspense builds as one faces the and the awe of moving challenges and on to a new aspect of joys of a new life is multiplied. year. Though this can be “Coming to viewed as just the next UT seams step in life, Jalynn daunting,” Baker, freshman in stuLewis said. “It’s dio art, said this is the huge and classbeginning of somees are hard to thing much greater. find. It has “Being a freshman stretched me at UT feels like joining and challenged a team,” Baker said. me.” “I’m excited to become The buzz on a part of the UT legacampus is hard cy. I feel like I’m conto ignore as tributing to something friends and greater than my own roommates personal future.” rush from their Baker joins the dorms to George Richardson • The Daily Beacon thousands of other stuHodges Library Freshmen walk by the Torchbearer in Circle Park on the way to Neyland dents who see the Stadium for the Night in Neyland event on Monday, Aug. 15. This event to the TRECS beauty in a tradition was just one of many of Welcome Week, which serves to introduce and back in a that has lasted for over d e s p e r a t e incoming students to the many opportunities UT offers. 200 years. She said the attempt to prepare for the season ahead. Freshmen are finding their way students who begin and end their journeys this year are all around and looking forward to the years ahead, while part of something much greater than their own dreams. As classes begin and the lazy days of summer end, the returning students are taking a trip down memory lane feel of campus is that of excitement and apprehension. and preparing for another year of studies and fun. Rocky Top Bookstore is packed with incoming freshmen Whether students are preparing for their first year or their as they buy books and notebooks and search for Volunteer last, each year is the end of one great experience, and the paraphernalia. Ashley Hodgson, a sophomore studying beginning of another.
Lauren Kittrell
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Author shares passion for storytelling, writing experiences with freshman class in Life of Mind program Jessica Vinge Staff Writer Every year the incoming freshman class takes part in the Life of the Mind program, which was designed to get students involved and have a common experience with one another upon entering college. During Welcome Week, students meet with assigned groups to discuss the chosen book. The 2011 book selection was the New York Times bestseller, “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot. On Aug. 15, Skloot visited the UT campus to talk about her book with the Class of 2015. During the lecture, she explored the different themes within the book, her experiences involving the research and the events in her life that brought her to where she is today. One of the main themes Skloot focused on during her presentation was passion. Skloot expressed how passion and interest for Henrietta Lacks’ story captivated her and sent her on a path she never thought she would be on. Skloot briefly spoke about how she first learned of Henrietta Lacks. All it took was a short couple of minutes in a freshman-level college class to spark her interest. “You never know what moment and what teacher will change your life forever,” Skloot said.
According to Skloot, that moment in her biology class changed her goals from becoming a veterinarian to a nonfiction science journalist. The book focuses on an African-American woman, Henrietta Lacks, who was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Dr. George Gey took a sample of Lacks’ tumor, which became the first human cells ever to be grown and multiplied outside the body, even decades after her death. Since the 1950s, her cells have been growing and have gone from institution to institution and used for many things in medicine, such as the polio vaccine and tuberculosis. Skloot researched Lacks and her cells, which are called HeLa cells (taking the first two letters of her first and last name to create the scientific name for the cells). Skloot talked with reporters, doctors and even Lacks’ family members to uncover Henrietta’s story and the struggles of the Lacks family since Dr. Gey decided to take a sample of Lacks’ tumor without consent. Following the presentation, the students split up into their assigned groups to discuss the book and lecture further. In the groups, the students were asked several questions involving ethics, morality and science. See LIFE OF THE MIND on Page 5
Torch Night inspires students an internship and study abroad. Cheek focused, however, on always getting help when needed. “I hope if you run into problems here at the When University of Tennessee Student University, you will seek advice,” Cheek said. Body President Ross Rowland asked, “Do you The Chancellor also gave those in attenpledge to serve the university and society?” dance his e-mail address so anyone who felt approximately 4,200 responses of “I do” lost and out of options could seek his help. echoed through Thompson-Boling Arena Cheek then stated that last year’s class was Monday night. The Class of 2015 has the highthe first to experience a new tradition. Each est average ACT score in the history of UT for chair had a sealed envelope and candle on it incoming freshmen. awaiting each student at the beginning of the The Torch of Preparation was passed to the evening. He directed the Class of 2015 to open Class of 2015 at the envelopes, the event’s proinside of which ceedings. Torch were tassels. Night has been “I’m going to a standing tralook forward to dition at UT seeing you all since Vic Davis cross that stage founded the cerwearing those tasemony in 1925. sels,” Cheek said, It marks the referring to graduofficial entrance ation. “Let’s make of the freshman the Class of 2015 class to UT. the best the Melissa of George Richardson • The Daily Beacon University S h i v e r s , Tennessee has A s s i s t a n t Jimmy Cheek passes the light of the torch to a ever seen. These Chancellor of student during Torch Night on Monday, Aug. 15. four years will be The event, which has been in practice since 1925, Student Life, ones you will was the first to signifies the freshman class being passed the cherish. Be sure speak. She “Torch of Preparation” from upperclassmen at the to enjoy these asked the beginning of their tenure at UT. years. Be sure to incoming class take advantage of of more than 4,000 students to stand so that the opportunities. And when you cross that she, her fellow scholars and faculty members stage, remember that night that you got your —17 in all — could applaud the newest additassel.” tions to the Tennessee family. The freshman class then experienced its “Every year it seems we announce that each first Vol Walk from Thompson-Boling Arena, class is the best and brightest, and you should down Volunteer and into Neyland Stadium be proud that your class is no exception,” where they had the honor of running onto the Shivers said. field, surrounded by a gathering of the UT’s Chancellor Jimmy Cheek was present to Pride of the Southland Marching Band in the address this year’s incoming freshman class. same style as the Volunteer Football Team. He gave advice and encouraged the students to The students then formed a Power T for their George Richardson • The Daily Beacon focus on their academics, but also to enjoy the Derek Dooley cheers with students of the freshman class during the Night at experiences that college has to offer. He told class picture, centered directly over the 50Neyland event on Monday, Aug. 15. As part of the first Night at Neyland event ever, students to get involved in the thousands of yard line. Smokey was among those in attenstudents got the chance to run through the “T,” take part in a class photo and hear clubs and organizations at UT, play a sport, get dance, greeting every student with hugs and high fives. from a number of UT coaches.
Grace Van Dyke Staff Writer