See what’s on the menu at area Farmers Markets
@UTKDailyBeacon
utdailybeacon.com Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Issue 01, Volume 127
Tanner Hancock Staff Writer
The Big Orange Orchard project recently planted its first roots in Knoxville soil. Volunteers from Ignite Serves, a five day leadership program for incoming freshman, toiled in the early morning of Thursday, Aug. 14, to prepare a potential plotting site for the Big Orange Orchard at the Knoxville Botanical Gardens. Disposing of weeds and clearing topsoil, the freshmen volunteers completed the three-day groundbreaking event to transform the innovative Big Orange Orchard project into a reality. Although liability and financial issues have prevented any planting from beginning on campus, the project has made headway in the past year after the Big Orange Orchard resolution was passed by the Student Senate last spring. “It’s really just an initiative to continue with sustainable practices at UT,” said Julianna Burchett, senior in environment science who supported the project when she served last year as a senator for the College of Arts and Sciences. Stressing the importance of incorporating fruit bearing plants on campus, Burchett said she plans to oversee the garden’s growth as chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee. As the campus continues to develop, Burchett said she “would always rather see more trees, plants and greenspace than concrete.” Although the produce to be planted in the garden has not been decided, Chris Weller, a 2013 UT graduate and one of the original minds behind the Big Orange Orchard project, maintained that preference will be given to native species such as raspberries, blueberries and blackberries. A myriad of herbs that could act as natural pesticides will also be considered. While the fate of the produce itself will largely depend on its location, Weller said ideas for the harvest include giving the food to campus dining or allowing students the privilege of eating “right off the bush.”
Hannah Cather • The Daily Beacon
Residence hall honors UT alumnus Fred D. Brown, Jr. Hall welcomes inaugural resident class Savannah Gilman
ly transform campus housing ... As we look at the journey to being a Top 25 institution, we began really looking at our facilities that are outdated, and, while we’ve done a good job of maintaining our facilities, the student demands change over time.” Fred D. Brown Jr., the hall’s namesake, was the first black teacher at Oak Ridge High School shortly after its integration and served as a member on the Alcoa Board of Education. Brown was a longtime UT staff member fundamental in forming the Office of Diversity Programs and recruiting students from underrepresented groups to the College of Engineering.
Staff Writer There’s a new hall on the block. After two years of labor and $59 million contributed to construction, Fred D. Brown Jr. Residence Hall has opened its doors to 682 student residents this fall. Brown has been lauded as the fastest construction project completed to date, as well as one of the most technologically advanced buildings on campus. “We’ve had it on the books for quite some time, and we’re glad to be able to kick it off,” said Frank Cuevas, assistant vice chancellor for student life and executive director of housing. “It’s part of a long-term plan to real-
See FRED BROWN on Page 3
Frank Cuevas, executive director of housing, highlights the features in the four-person deluxe suite of Fred D. Brown Jr. Residence Hall. The amenities include a fullsize fridge, kitchen table and living room space.
A whole new ballgame
‘Physical’ Kelly Jr. vies for starting safety spot Samantha Smoak • The Daily Beacon
Big Orange Orchard breaks ground
ARTS & CULTURE >> pg. 5
Even with an extensive list of high school accolades and unrivaled local name recognition, Todd Kelly Jr. knew nothing was guaranteed. So when the former Webb School of Knoxville standout dug his cleats into the Haslam Field grass for football
practice number one as a Tennessee freshman, he didn’t wait around. “The first day,” Kelly Jr. said Monday, “I got a pass-breakup in the first (skeleton drill) of my practice, and that kind of got my confidence up. Just knowing that I’m able to make plays. A lot of freshmen are out here making plays, and that’s what you come out here to do. If you don’t make plays, you don’t get on
See SWINGBOOTY on Page 7
See POWER 5 on Page 3
the field.” So far this hasn’t been an issue. With training camp officially concluded and less than two weeks remaining until the Vols’ season-opener, the 6-foot, 203 pound defensive back is in contention for a starting safety spot opposite redshirt junior, Brian Randolph. See TKJ on Page 11
See BIG ORANGE ORCHARD on Page 3
Ragtag local band creates unique sound musicians, Swingbooty strives to deliver a diverse and shifting sound without losing their own brand of worldly jazz. The band is composed of six core What if Bonnaroo could be found members: Sam Harding, Yasameen year-round within Knoxville’s city lim- Hoffman-Shahin, Sara Daniels, its? Christian Lange, Grant Parker and Drawing from the local and interna- Jake Smith. These members channel tional communities, local “hot gypsy Knoxville’s music scene to add eclecjazz” band, Swingbooty, brings festival tic international flairs to their shows. vibes to town all year long. They also have a strong footing in the With an ever-changing lineup of
Jenna Butz
Arts and Culture Editor (@butzjenna)
UT jazz program with students willing to jump into the band’s festival-like shows. Influenced by the jazz legends of the 1930s and 1940s such as Louis Armstrong and Django Reinhardt, each member brings their own version of the sound to the stage. For example, violinist Lange, who grew up in both Santiago, Argentina, and Miami, is partial to Cuban afro-jazz and the music of
Staff Writer (@Wes_Tripp)
Latin America. Lange said he sees Swingbooty as a group of modern gypsy artists similar to Spanish flamenco musicians. They seek to combine both roots and environment into a relatable media. “They take the sound that is in your blood, and they blend it with whatever is going on, where they’re living at the time,” Lange said.
With strong support and a ‘sure tackler’ mentality, TKJ meshing nicely Assistant Sports Editor (@dsouth16)
Wes Tripp
The landscape of college athletics is rapidly evolving, and athletic programs like UT’s could stand to benefit. The NCAA Division I Board of Directors voted 16-2 August 8 to allow schools in the Power Five conferences — the Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, Southeastern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference — to enact many of their own rules. The autonomy given to the Power Five will allow each league to decide on guidelines such as cost-of-attendance stipends, insurance benefits for players, staff sizes, recruiting rules and mandatory hours spent on individual sports. Power Five conferences will also carry more voting power on NCAA matters in general. “(The) vote by the NCAA Division I Board of Directors to support the autonomy proposals of the five equity conferences represents a cornerstone in the evolution of NCAA governance,” said Dave Hart, vice chancellor and director of athletics. “We are an athletics program that is centered around our student-athletes,” Hart said. “In order to further prioritize the focus on authorized benefits for student athletes, such as the full cost of attendance, this step was essential.” Representatives from each of the five leagues will comprise a new 80 member voting panel to include 15 current players, three from each conference. This panel will determine autonomous policies for the five leagues. Athletics directors will enjoy greater representation than before, as university presidents previously controlled the system. The first change likely to be implemented among the Power Five conferences is a cost-ofattendance stipend. Students who receive athletic scholarships still pay an average of $2,000- $5,000 per year that accounts for various expenses. A cost-of-attendance stipend would cover those extra expenses for some or all student athletes.
Freshman linebacker Neiko Creamer prepares to catch a pass while evading freshman defensive back Todd Kelly, Jr. during open practice in Neyland Stadium on August 16, 2014.
Dargan Southard
NCAA votes to hand reins over to the nation’s largest athletic conferences
INSIDE THE DAILY BEACON: Editorially independent student newspaper of the Unversity of Tennessee
We are falling in love with all the wrong things. VIEWPOINTS >>pg. 4
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