Students ‘veg’ out
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Local band brings new sound
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Catch up on Saturday’s open practice
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The editorially independent student newspaper of the University of Tennessee Issue 01, Volume 123
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Author preaches environmental awareness to Class of 2017 Hanna Lustig News Editor Some say the world will end in fire; some say in ice. But, more likely, the end of the world will be caused by something far more insidious. A conspiracy, if you will, of people complacently expending what remains of our natural resources, all while continuing to release large quantities of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Bill McKibben, award-winning green journalist and noted environmentalist, does not wish to sugarcoat the reality of climate change in his book “Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet.” Serving as this year’s Life of the Mind guest author, McKibben suggested the class of 2017 reconsider the urgency of global warming, not as a mathematical abstraction, but as an issue of individual health and safety. Director of First Year Studies, Joe
Mastrogiovanni, elaborated on the strange title of McKibben’s latest book. “He’s basically saying we’re no longer a part of the same world, Earth, that we have in our mindset,” Mastrogiovanni said, “We’re part of Eaarth, with two As. We’re part of this new world. And we have to adapt.” As the founder of 350.org, McKibben is no stranger to the possibility of mobilizing individuals for the greater good. Dedicated to “solving the climate crisis,” the group gets its name from the calculated upper limit of carbon dioxide parts per million our atmosphere can support, a number McKibben calls “the most important in the world.” In 2009, through over 5,000 simultaneous displays of support in 181 countries, the organization achieved “the largest ever global coordinated rally of any kind,” according to Foreign Policy magazine. People in Addis
Ababa chanted, while students in the easilyflooded Maldives held class in the water, referencing the rising tides as a result of melting ice caps. American soldiers overseas built an oversized “350” figure out of sandbags which British citizens assembled on Brighton Beach. In 2011, McKibben led a protest of the Keystone XL pipeline, for which he was arrested and imprisoned for three days in Washington, D.C. McKibben added that climate change will have a great impact on students in their lifetime. Jonathan Hughes, freshman in food science and technology, is worried about the impending consequences of environmental abuse. “I just hope we can turn around soon before things get completely out of hand,” Hughes said. Please see LIFE OF THE MIND on Page 3
Organizations aim to ease college transition Cortney Roark Assistant Arts & Culture Editor In the midst of the flurry of new classes and opportunities this fall, two UT organizations are already extending opportunities to get students involved in the early stages of this academic year. The Center for Leadership and Service (CLS) and the Central Program Council (CPC) both provide essential resources to the university and give students the experience needed after graduation that can be hard to get in a classroom setting The CLS is home to many programs and classes that strive to “educate and engage all students to lead and serve the global community,” according to the center’s mission statement. “Without the Center for Leadership and Service, I think freshmen students, especially, would suffer,” Brooke Bowman, a senior in nursing, said. “They would not have a support system entering the university. They would not be
provided with easy ways to get involved.” Ignite, a three day retreat for upcoming freshmen, is one of these programs. Due to positive feedback from previous students, Ignite expanded to include six total programs, according to Bowman, who also serves as Ignite student co-director. Bowman also took part in the alternative fall break trip to Louisville, Ky. and said that the leadership developed and service provided through these CLS programs help uphold the Volunteer name. “CLS really creates these strong bonds and without that, I think there would be a lack of unity within people on campus,” Bowman said. CLS also teaches classes on leadership skills and selects student ambassadors, such as Kristin Kennedy, senior in history and political science, to take leadership positions within the CLS office. “It’s important for us as college students to look outside our time on campus,” Kennedy said. “The Center for Leadership and Service
David Cobb • The Daily Beacon
Butch Jones points out the intricacies on UT’s new “smokey” colored jersey. The Vols will wear the new uniform in one game during the 2013 season.
Jones installs ‘Smokey Gray’ into UT wardrobe David Cobb Sports Editor Hannah Cather • The Daily Beacon
Eric Hampton, a freshman in computer engineering, moves dirt for the construction of a path at Odd Fellow’s Cemetery on Aug. 15. has given me a way to connect with my fellow students in order to fulfill a bigger picture.” Being influential on campus is part of the CPC mission, which acts as the
umbrella organization for six committees on campus, such as Film Committee, Cultural Attractions Committee along with four others. Please see LEADERSHIP on Page 5
Torch Night illuminates first-year students on Volunteer traditions Emilee Lamb Assistant News Editor Thompson-Boling Arena rang with chants and cheers on Sunday night as members of the class of 2017 gathered for the annual Torch Night welcoming ceremony. Animated chatter rose from the audience while freshmen filed in to their seats for an hour of Tennessee tradition, during which the seniors symbolically pass on the Torch of Preparation to a new crop of students. As the program commenced, students were urged to “take a deep breath and relax,” as the night’s first speaker came to the podium. Student Government
Association President Jake Baker encouraged the incoming class of Volunteers to seize the years ahead of them. “These four years are something you’ll never forget,” Baker, a senior in political science said. “Take it for all it’s worth.” Baker also expressed his excitement to be a part of 80 years of tradition at UT. “It’s a great opportunity for me to literally pass the torch on to you,” he said. Baker was followed by Chancellor Jimmy Cheek, who began by welcoming his audience to their new home. “Isn’t it great to be a Tennessee Volunteer?” he asked. “You are now part of the Big Orange family.” The address that followed was a plea to his listeners to take advantage of the
opportunities that UT offers for the betterment of self and school, as well as praise for the incoming freshmen. With more honors students than ever before, Cheek said the class of 2017 shows great promise. “I encourage you to dream, and dream big,” Chancellor Cheek said. “You will have big ideas that will change the world.” Immediately following the Chancellor’s speech, Baker took his place at the podium once again to conduct the ceremonial passing of the torch. Due to the unexpectedly large turnout for the event, many students stood emptyhanded as their classmates held battery powered flames aloft, reciting a pledge of loyalty to the university. Please see TORCH NIGHT on Page 8
On Halloween night 2009, the UT football team needed a boost. Coach Lane Kiffin’s team was sitting at 3-4 (1-3 SEC) and pitted against No. 21 South Carolina in Neyland Stadium. So the Vols played a trick on the 96,263 attending when they busted onto the field, minutes before kickoff, wearing black jerseys after going through the warm-up period in regular orange. It was the first time since 1921 the Vols had worn black, and the result was a 31-13 drubbing of the Gamecocks. But since that game – and Kiffin’s abruptly distasteful departure – UT has worn only traditional orange and white. For one home game in 2013, that will change. Though a photo of UT’s new “Smokey Gray” uniform had already been obtained by Volquest.com and made its way around the Internet earlier in the day, it didn’t stop UT from putting on a show at last week’s football media day on Aug. 15 to officially unveil UT’s new alternate uniform. In a room, complete with orange-tinted lighting, artsy music and a podium turned into a runway, junior linebacker Curt Maggitt modeled the
jersey and pants set to the tune of rapidly clicking photo shutters and silence from seated media members. First-year coach Butch Jones said it has not been decided which game the Vols will wear the uniform, but he did offer plenty of reason why UT traditionalists should embrace the new addition to the Tennessee wardrobe. “One of the top three questions we’re asked in recruiting are about our uniforms, our jersey colors,” Jones said. “It attracts the best studentathletes. To me, it’s a pride of who we are. We have the best colors in the country and now, with the smokey gray jersey, that just adds to it.” The Vols also unveiled slightly tweaked versions of their typical orange and white uniforms, colors which Jones emphasized are not going anywhere. “Everything is about a tradition because that’s who we are,” he said, “but it’s also building on that tradition.” UT players reacted with jubilance when shown the uniform for the first time. Maggitt kept it a secret following a meeting with Jones where he was told about the gray uniform and his role as the model. Please see NEW UNIFORM on Page 12