The Daily Beacon

Issue 8, Volume 121

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Local students give opportunity for homeless RJ Vogt News Editor Mike Schwind is in a win-win situation.

“We get rid of our cans with almost no effort and they aren’t taking up room in the trash can, as well as knowing that we are helping these guys without having to deal with the awkwardness of dishing out pocket change or food,” Schwind, junior in political science, said.

The relationship between Schwind, his four housemates, and two homeless gentlemen who identify themselves as Rodney and Earl, is symbiotic.

It revolves around the recycling of aluminum cans. t’s difficult “When I lived in an for these guys to apartment, we would always see/hear the get normal jobs. guys going through They can use the garbage to look for cans,” Schwind whatever they said. “When we can get ” moved into the house, rather than throw -Eddie Young, pastor at (the cans) away with Redeemer Church the trash, we started throwing them in the yard so they don’t have to sift through trash to get the cans.”

PSC Metals, a scrap metal and recycling company with three locations in and around Knoxville, pays fifty cents per pound for aluminum cans.

Eddie Young is a pastor at Redeemer Church and the executive director of Redeeming Hope Ministries, an organization trying to create a holistic transformation for the underprivileged and homeless of urban Knoxville. He encourages the practice of leaving cans out.

“I’m all for it, absolutely. It’s one way they can make a few dollars,” Young said. “It’s difficult for these guys to get normal jobs. They can use whatever they can get.”

Cody Larriviere, junior in marketing and one of Schwind’s housemates, does not mind the practice at all.

“Leaving cans out in the front yard is beneficial to both us and them. We put all of our cans either in the front yard or in buckets and we wake up every morning to a clean yard,” Larriviere said. “They are very respectful when it comes to our property. They stop by almost every morning, weather permitting.”

“I

Sarah O’Leary • The Daily Beacon

Students prepare to perform at the Mahogany Soul Cafe on Aug. 28.

Student mic night draws crowds Claire Dodson Contributor “Respect the mic.”

This is the most vital and enforced rule at the Mahogany Soul Café, an artistic event held at the Tom Black Cultural Center. Every fourth Tuesday of the month, UT students get together to showcase and appreciate various forms of creative expression through an open mic-style forum.

The event is sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Student Life and is planned by a student committee. The theme for this past Tuesday was “The Bad, The Good and The Misunderstood,” with each performer’s art related in some way to this theme.

The program was passed down to spoken word artist Taria Person, the coordinator and emcee of the event.

“I really just want to encourage people to express themselves and share their outlook on life,” Person, senior in English, said.

The café featured a variety of talented students, from cellists to poets to singers. All forms of art are encouraged, and the atmosphere is set up to be as welcoming as possible.

Nevertheless, some of the artists still experienced the typical nerve-racking emotions that accompany baring your soul to a crowd of over a hundred people.

“I actually performed tonight because I lost a bet,” Khadejah Fleming, spoken word performer and freshman in communications, said. “It was so scary, but the support of my friends really got me through it.”

After her performance, she came off the stage to thunderous cheers and applause.

The overall mood of the crowd appeared to ease the anxiety of the performers as well. It was casual and supportive — overall, it felt more like a party than a speech in front of a class.

The crowd laughed, yelled and felt what each person was trying to communicate through their art.

The low pressure atmosphere was

comforting, especially to the new performers — deemed “mic virgins.”

The performers weren’t perfect.

They forgot lines, missed notes, and got nervous, but they still expressed their hearts and their talents, along with their worldviews.

In fact, sharing her world with the audience is one of the main reasons Person started performing spoken word poems.

“I travel a lot and that influences everything I see,” she said. “I want to say what most people won’t and let people see what they usually don’t. I want to effect change.”

Person also wants the Mahogany Soul Café to be an outlet for all UT students to express their creativity and not be for just a specific group to enjoy.

“Everybody is welcome either to participate or experience,” she said.

“Everybody has a story to tell.”

The next Mahogany Soul Café event will be held on Sept. 25 at 6:30 p.m. in the Black Cultural Center. Those wanting to perform can email Taria Person at tperson1@utk.edu to sign up.

See LOCAL STUDENTS on Page3

Open house, cookout held today Staff Reports The Student Success Center and the Educational Advancement Program (EAP) will hold a joint open house from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Thursday at their new location on the third floor of Greve Hall.

At the same time, Career Services — located in nearby Dunford Hall — will hold its sixth annual cookout, offering hotdogs, hamburgers, and veggie burgers.

“We encourage the campus community to come out, learn about these offices, get to know the staff and see what services they provide,” said Anton Reece, director of the Student Success Center.

Those attending the open house also can pick up free giveaways, register for door prizes, and take a tour of the new Greve Hall facilities.

The Student Success Center provides tutoring and academic coaching that can help students improve their studying, test-tak-

ing, and time management skills.

The center also oversees the UT LEAD program.

EAP is a federally funded TRIO program designed for students with demonstrated academic need who are also firstgeneration college students, from low-income families, or who have physical or learning disabilities.

The program offers tutoring, academic coaching, and counseling and offers special sections of math, biology, and chemistry.

Career Services offers career counseling, career exploration classes, interest and personality assessments and resources that can help students choose a major and career. The office also has the HIRE-A-VOL system that can help students identify part-time jobs, internships, and full-time positions.

Greve Hall was remodeled this summer to accommodate a variety of offices, most of which had to move out of facilities that are File Photo • The Daily Beacon due to be demolished in order to accommodate the new Student Students wait in line during the Career Services Cookout on Sept. 1, 2011. Their next cookout is Union project. today from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

INSIDE THE DAILY BEACON Page Page Page Page Page Page Page

2 . . . . . . . . In Short 3 . . . . . . . . . . . News 4 . . . . . . . . . Opinion 5 . . . . Arts & Culture 6 . . . . The Weekender 7 . . . . . . . . . . . Sports 8 . . . . . . . . . . . Sports

Hurricane Isaac bears down on Gulf Coast The Associated Press NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana officials said Wednesday they may have to intentionally breach a levee in a flooded area as Isaac made a slow, drenching slog inland before weakening to a tropical storm and a dusk-to-dawn curfew was declared in New Orleans.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said officials may cut a hole in a levee on the east bank of Plaquemines Parish to relieve pressure on the structure. At a news conference in Baton Rouge, Jindal said there was no estimate on when that might occur.

He said as many as 40 people are reportedly in need of rescue in the area.

Plaquemines Parish has

Boomsday seeks to impress on Sunday See the Weekender on Page 6

also ordered a mandatory evacuation for the west bank of the Mississippi River below Belle Chasse, worried about a storm surge. The order affects about 3,000 people in the area, including a nursing home with 112 residents.

Officials said the evacuation was ordered out of concern that more storm surge from Isaac would be pushed into the area and levees might be overtopped.

Joshua Brockhaus, an electrician who lives in the flooded area, helped rescue neighbors in his boat.

“I’m getting text messages from all over asking for help,” he said. “I’m dropping my dogs off, and I’m going back out there.”

The hurricane’s impact was a surprise for him.

See HURRICANE on Page 3

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utdailybeacon.com

Thursday, August 30, 2012

2 • THE DAILY BEACON

Associate Editor Preston Peeden

IN SHORT

ppeeden@utk.edu

Managing Editor Emily DeLanzo

edelanzo@utk.edu

Around Rocky Top

Sarah O’Leary • The Daily Beacon

Sculptures from Mike Wsol’s series “Limited Vision” on display Aug. 27 in the Ewing Gallery of the Art and Architecture building. The current gallery will be open until Sep. 9.

1918 — Vladimir Lenin shot After speaking at a factory in Moscow, Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin is shot twice by Fanya Kaplan, a member of the Social Revolutionary party. Lenin was seriously wounded but survived the attack. The assassination attempt set off a wave of reprisals by the Bolsheviks against the Social Revolutionaries and other political opponents. Thousands were executed as Russia fell deeper into civil war.

Born Vladimir Ilich Ulyanov in 1870, Lenin was drawn to the revolutionary cause after his brother was executed in 1887 for plotting to assassinate Czar Alexander III. He studied law and took up practice in Petrograd (now St. Petersburg), where he associated with revolutionary Marxist circles. In 1895, he helped organize Marxist groups in the capital into the “Union for the Struggle for the Liberation of the Working Class,” which attempted to enlist workers to the Marxist cause. In December 1895, Lenin and the other leaders of the Union were arrested. Lenin was jailed for a year and then exiled to Siberia for a term of three years.

After the end of his exile, in 1900, Lenin went to Western Europe, where he continued his revolutionary activity. It was during this time that he adopted the pseudonym Lenin. In 1902, he published a pamphlet titled What Is to Be Done? which argued that only a disciplined party of professional revolutionaries could bring socialism to Russia.

After the outbreak of the Russian Revolution of 1905, Lenin returned to Russia. The revolution, which consisted mainly of strikes throughout the Russian empire, came to an end when Nicholas II promised reforms, including the adoption of a Russian constitution and the establishment of an elect-

ed legislature. However, once order was restored, the czar nullified most of these reforms, and in 1907 Lenin was again forced into exile.

Lenin opposed World War I, which began in 1914, as an imperialistic conflict and called on proletariat soldiers to turn their guns on the capitalist leaders who sent them down into the murderous trenches. For Russia, World War I was an unprecedented disaster: Russian casualties were greater than those sustained by any nation in any previous war. Meanwhile, the economy was hopelessly disrupted by the costly war effort, and in March 1917 riots and strikes broke out in Petrograd over the scarcity of food. Demoralized army troops joined the strikers, and on March 15 Nicholas II was forced to abdicate, ending centuries of czarist rule. In the aftermath of the February Revolution (known as such because of Russia’s use of the Julian calendar), power was shared between the ineffectual Provincial Government and the soviets, or “councils,” of soldiers’ and workers’ committees.

After the outbreak of the February Revolution, German authorities allowed Lenin and his lieutenants to cross Germany en route from Switzerland to Sweden in a sealed railway car. Berlin hoped (correctly) that the return of the anti-war Socialists to Russia would undermine the Russian war effort, which was continuing under the Provincial Government. Lenin called for the overthrow of the Provincial Government by the soviets, and he was condemned as a “German agent” by the government’s leaders.

In July, he was forced to flee to Finland, but his call for “peace, land, and bread” met with increasing popular support, and the Bolsheviks won a majority in the Petrograd soviet. In October, Lenin secretly returned to Petrograd, and on November 7 the Bolshevik-led Red Guards deposed the Provisional Government and proclaimed soviet rule.

— This Day in History is courtesy of History.com.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

3 • THE DAILY BEACON

News Editor RJ Vogt

CAMPUS NEWS LOCAL STUDENTS continued from Page1 Their first contact with the beneficiaries occurred late one night.

“We noticed two homeless guys in our lawn cleaning up, so we went outside and introduced ourselves,” Schwind explained. “They asked permission to take the cans each night and also let us know they won’t ever come on our porch because they don’t want to trespass.”

Schwind, Larriviere and their housemates, Taylor Dixon, Tyler Castro, and Tyler Bridges, are not the only UT students living in Fort Sanders trying to help out the homeless community. Olivia Bagatelas, junior in nursing, and her housemates have been leaving their cans out too.

“We started leaving them out when we moved in,” Bagatelas said.

rvogt@utk.edu

Assistant News Editor David Cobb

dcobb3@utk.edu

The house is all girls and they are a little nervous about leaving their bin of cans on the porch.

“We have been placing it away from the house,” she said. “We would rather lay out the cans for them than them going through our trash.”

Young realizes that mainstream society often sees the homeless in a negative light, a perspective he strives to change.

“I think there is an unfortunate suspicion that if you’re homeless, you’re dangerous,” he said.

Larriviere, however, has no concerns about the dangers often associated with the homeless.

“We feel very safe because they only go through our yard. Earl even told us that ‘we ain’t gonna go up on your porch or stairs. We just want your cans, not your valuables,’” Larriviere said.

• Photo courtesy of the National Weather Service

Reports of West Nile virus close to record levels The Associated Press West Nile virus cases are up 40 percent since last week and may rival the record years of 2002 and 2003, federal health officials said Wednesday.

So far this year, 1,590 cases of the mosquito-borne disease have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with 66 deaths.

About half of the cases are serious illnesses, and the CDC considers those the best

indicator of West Nile activity because many mild cases do not get reported and their symptoms may not even be recognized.

Typical symptoms are fever, headache and body aches, and most people get better on their own in a few days. Less than 1 percent develops neurological symptoms such as stiff necks, coma and even paralysis.

Based on reports of West Nile so far this year, “we think the numbers may come close” to those of 2002 and 2003, when nearly 3,000

severe illnesses and more than 260 deaths occurred each year, said the CDC’s top expert on the disease, Dr. Lyle Petersen.

Health officials think that West Nile activity will peak in mid-to-late August, but likely will continue through October. Because symptoms can take two weeks to appear, reporting cases lags behind when people became infected.

All states except Alaska and Hawaii have found West Nile virus in people, birds or mosquitoes this year.

HURRICANE continued from Page 1 “We didn’t think it was going to be like that,” he said. “The storm stayed over the top of us. For Katrina, we got 8 inches of water. Now we have 13 feet.” Meanwhile in New Orleans, Mayor Mitch Landrieu issued a curfew for the city as Hurricane Isaac lashed the city on the seven-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina’s destructive arrival. The curfew was issued to prevent looting. So far, there had been only sporadic arrests for looting.

Police cars had been patrolling the nearly empty streets since Isaac began bringing fierce winds and heavy rains to

the city Tuesday night.

The curfew was set to start Wednesday night and would last until further notice.

In Vermilion Parish, Sheriff Mike Couvillon said a 36-year-old man had gone to help two friends move a vehicle from under a tree to prepare for Isaac on Tuesday evening, and fell to his death after climbing 18 feet up a tree.

Deputies don’t know why the man climbed the tree.

Rescuers in boats and trucks plucked a handful of people who became stranded by floodwaters in thinly populated areas of southeast Louisiana.

Authorities feared many more could need help after a night of slashing rain and fierce winds that knocked

out power to more than 600,000 households and businesses.

Although Isaac was much weaker than Katrina, which crippled the city in 2005, the threat of dangerous storm surges and flooding from heavy rain was expected to last all day and into the night as the immense commashaped storm crawled across Louisiana.

Army Corps spokeswoman Rachel Rodi said the city’s bigger, stronger levees were withstanding the assault.

“The system is performing as intended, as we expected,” she said. “We don’t see any issues with the hurricane system at this point.”

Thursday, August 30, 2012

4 • THE DAILY BEACON

Editor-in-Chief Blair Kuykendall

OPINIONS

bkuykend@utk.edu

Contact us letters@utdailybeacon..com

College-Educated &

Domesticated

Porn, comic books ruin relationships Emily DeLanzo Managing Editor During summer break, I probably should have been reflecting over my religion or enjoying spending time with my family. Instead, I pondered the appeal of porn.

Maybe I’m insecure. Maybe I’m old-fashioned.

Regardless, I just don’t see the allure of meaningless sex, captured on camera nonetheless.

Men’s view of women has been forever skewed, thanks to the availability of porn and comic books.

Porn gives men an unrealistic view of what women are a) willing to do, and b) capable of doing. In my opinion, I am a prude by no means. In the same breath, even I have my morals and standards.

In the past month, I have successfully wandered into one of the XXX Adult Superstores that grace I40 every few miles and a comic book shop decorated with the busts of rather shapely women. In both of these stores, real, live women were definitely the vast minority and the age difference spoke for itself.

No worries though. The busty comic book statues kept me company.

My parents really sheltered me growing up. And for that, I thank them. I walked down the aisles at the XXX Adult Superstore: pregnancy porn, obesity porn, almost every possible genre was there. How in the world is there an actual market for this? All this time, I thought sex was just something to be done behind a locked door with a person that shares feelings of love and respect.

At the very minimum, sex is not something to be captured on film for the viewing enjoyment of thousands — at least to me.

Men who are exposed to porn early enough, at least before their own personal experiences, generally develop unrealistic expectations. The Internet and young boys’ curiosity generally end in awe. Women can’t do headstands and twirls. Yes, that poor girl took

gymnastics lessons long before deciding to become a porn star. Porn isn’t the only outside influence to change a man’s perception of women, though.

Comic book characters such as Vampirella create standards that the average woman just cannot reach.

Even the “tamest” female comic book hero, Wonder Woman, has some questionable intentions. Her character was invented by the gentleman who created the polygraph machine, and some people view her as a symbol of patriotism and physical strength.

People that group her with patriotism all because of her star-studded and striped leotard obviously underestimate the power of her whip. Wonder Woman literally dominates men, further continuing the idea that all men think about is sex. I guarantee you that the thousands of young girls that dress up annually like Wonder Woman during Halloween do not realize she’s into S&M. Porn and comic books have done to men what romantic comedies like “The Notebook” have done to women. Women have many equally unrealistic views. The only difference is that women focus on outrageous, emotional connections that men just aren’t capable of, where men focus on the physical aspects of sex.

To men, just keep this in mind — not all women are built like Jenna Mourey or are as talented as a porn star.

Frozen Banana Pops 8 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped 6 popsicle sticks or wooden skewers 2 bananas, peeled and cut crosswise into thirds Melt chocolate by microwaving in fifteen second intervals and microwaving. Line a baking pan with wax paper. Place a popsicle stick in the base of your bananas. Dip your banana in the chocolate one piece at a time. Top with peanuts, sprinkles or whatever else you want. Refrigerate until firm and then enjoy — because no one likes a weak banana.

— Emily DeLanzo is a senior in environmental studies. She can be reached at edelanzo@utk.edu.

SCRAMBLED EGGS • Alex Cline

WE’RE ALL MAD HERE • Josh Schendel

Columns of The Daily Beacon are reflections of the individual columnist, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Beacon or its editorial staff.

UT makes wise investments for future Urb an La n d sca p e by

Lindsay Lee

There are florescent orange warning signs and overturned dirt everywhere, but I see a beautiful campus emerging from the ground.

I have only been here for two years, but this fall it seems that UT has put more effort into making our campus better than they have for as long as I can tell. The “Cone Zone” is basically the entire campus. The Commons in the library is being stripped down and rebuilt, an exciting new dorm has broken ground on Melrose and Andy Holt, the Humanities building continues to be renovated, and of course the UC is experiencing a complete makeover.

Sure, all the detours due to construction can be annoying and all the dirt isn’t exactly alluring, but it all makes me really excited. With all this, I see UT investing wholeheartedly in its future, and that makes me proud beyond measure.

Recently, UT has been making all sorts of efforts to improve itself and push us closer and closer to becoming a Top 25 institution. A lot of it has been superficial: the brand book, landscaping, etc. But this type of stuff makes us look more professional and more like the Top 25 schools we are aspiring to emulate. When people look at the improved website designs that have come as a part of the brand book, they are going to think UT really has its stuff together. Fake it until you make it, right?

But beyond these superficial things, UT is investing in better facilities, new classes, modern classroom equipment, more faculty positions, and more scholarships. All of this was paid for in part by this year’s tuition

increase of 8 percent. No one likes tuition increases, but this is the smallest one we have had in a while so we can’t complain too much, especially when we see all the improvements happening around us.

Of course, UT is trying out some new things that are not necessarily favorable. This new “pay for 15 hours even if you are taking 12” thing, going into effect for the incoming class of Fall 2013, is not great. The goal is to encourage students to take at least 15 hours every semester in order to graduate in 4 years.

But it will end up taking away flexibility for students and unfairly putting added pressure on those who do not need any more motivation to graduate on time. But that’s a whole separate column.

UT has also been trying out the new slogan, “Big Orange, Big Ideas.” I still think it’s silly.

But the point is, UT is trying something. This “Race to Top 25” is not just some sound bite the Chancellor keeps feeding us; it is something the university is actually making positive strides toward, trying whatever it can to get us there.

Next time before you complain about all the construction, think about what it would be like if there wasn’t any at all. What if campus was just like it is now, forever? It would mean that we, the students and faculty — the real meat of the university — would be completely stagnant, our degrees and positions depreciating in value as institutions around us improve their prospects and leave UT in the dust. But as it stands right now, I see my degree becoming more and more valuable by the day, thanks to the work of the administration. They are really thinking about the future of UT in the long-term. Some like myself don’t think they always make the best decisions, but they are conscious of what students want and need. And that’s a beautiful thing.

— Lindsay Lee is a junior in mathematics.

She can be reached at llee26@utk.edu.

Politicians never ideal, should be real C ommit tee o f I n f ra ct i o n s by

Greg Bearringer

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The Daily Beacon is published by students at The University of Tennessee Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and Tuesday and Friday during the summer semester.The offices are located at 1340 Circle Park Drive,11 Communications Building, Knoxville, TN 37996-0314. The newspaper is free on campus and is available via mail subscription for $200/year, $100/semester or $70/summer only. It is also available online at: www.utdailybeacon.com.

LETTERS POLICY: The Daily Beacon welcomes all letters to the editor and guest columns from students, faculty and staff. Each submission is considered for publication by the editor on the basis of space, timeliness and clarity. Contributions must include the author’s name and phone number for verification. Students must include their year in school and major. Letters to the editor and guest columns may be e-mailed to letters@utdailybeacon.com or sent to Blair Kuykendall, 1340 Circle Park Dr., 11 Communications Building, Knoxville, TN 37996-0314. The Beacon reserves the right to reject any submissions or edit all copy in compliance with available space, editorial policy and style. Any and all submissions to the above recipients are subject to publication.

There are few things in life as true as this: the least interesting people in the world are those who think their opinions are shocking.

You need no further proof than “Totally Biased,” a TV show “starring” W. Kamau Bell, who is roughly as charismatic as an unplugged washing machine. It might not be so bad if the show was meant to be an interactive talk show — I feel like he would do a really good interview — but wow, this show isn’t funny.

Of course, people watch “Tosh.0” and apparently laugh.

Of course, people are biased. Chances are, you hate Obama, love Obama, or just don’t care. You either like Twix or hate Twix. You either prefer Coke to Pepsi or enjoy sucking down musty sugar water.

The problem comes when people begin to think of their views as something more than the sad attempt of the human mind to navigate a world much larger than they could actually experience. There are certain people, and indeed everyone at certain times, who believe they have the right, perhaps more sophisticated, view on politics or child rearing or gun control or what have you. Ironically, the real implication of someone thinking their views are shocking is that it simply means they are shocked by the opposing views.

How anyone is shocked by opinions boggles my mind. Opinions are predictable reactions to what can best be described as the social expectation to understand the greater world without studying the many multitudes of systems and motivations for people operating within those systems — or even with extensive study; despite what we think, intelligent people have disagreements too.

Don’t get me wrong — people occasionally

have thoughtful opinions. The problem is that, essentially, opinions are formed for reasons that are almost totally non-logical. In fact, “logical” isn’t always a compliment, or at least isn’t precise language. For example, there are a plethora of opinions on either side of the gun control issue, depending upon what you are aiming for and even how you define those aims.

These aims aren’t dependent upon some grand logical scale of “positive” and “negative” consequences for society; what is negative and positive without opinion?

Unfortunately, we elect people who, despite their initial views or opinions, are prone to changing their opinions in order to get elected.

I don’t mean that we elect a certain type of people who have terrible reasons for changing their opinions; I mean that we elect people who tend to want to keep doing things to get elected.

I have been playing with the idea of what the “perfect” politician would look like. Ask almost anyone this question, and they will come up with a whole lot of qualities like “calm,” “resolute,” “unwavering”… and then a whole lot of what boils down to opinions.

Essentially, we want a president who is like us, only better. Unfortunately, most of them have turned out like us, only different.

The perfect politician, as I see it, would admit there was a difference in their political views and their priorities; he or she would admit that there were certain things that they were willing to ignore in order to solve more central problems like budget allocation, protecting civil liberties, and other basic issues.

I am not saying that those issues aren’t important. It’s that we’ve all become accustomed to follow a government of people crawling with their opinions, biases, and some power to turn those into policy. Shouldn’t we be concerned with issues that have been ostensibly linked to the health of the body politic?

— Greg Bearringer is a graduate student in Medieval Studies. He can be reached at gbearrin@utk.edu.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

5 • THE DAILY BEACON

Arts & Culture Editor Victoria Wright

ARTS & CULTURE Clarence Brown Theatre to present Sweeney Todd

vwright6@utk.edu

Assistant Arts & Culture Editor Rob Davis

rdavis60@utk.edu

Preston Peeden Associate Editor The French novelist Joseph Marie Eugène Sue is often credited with the first written appearance of the phrase “revenge is a dish best served cold.” But Sue never met Sweeney Todd, a man who would have preferred his revenge served in a steaming hot meat pie.

Todd, the murderous protagonist of the Stephen Sondheim classic and Tony Award winning musical “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” will return to life once more on stage at the Clarence Brown Theatre from August 30 to September 16.

The musical follows the young Benjamin Barker, a London barber, whose seemingly ideal existence is stripped from him by the machinations of a corrupt judge. The judge, who lusted over Barker’s young wife, wrongfully sends him to an overseas penal colony. After 15 years away, Barker returns under the assumed identity of Sweeney Todd with the expressed purpose of seeking revenge. Todd forms an unlikely partnership with his downstairs neighbor Mrs. Lovett, who is the owner of a meat pie shop, and together the two move closer to his goal through a combination of murder, baked goods and cannibalism.

The two main characters of the show, Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett, are brought to life by veteran actors Jeff Austin and Dale Dickey respectively, and for both performers, their roles provide exciting challenges.

For Dickey, a UT graduate known for her roles in “My Name is Earl” and “Winter’s Bone,” her challenges come from the dichotomy of Mrs. Lovett, as she is tasked with trying to make the wrathful and murderous Lovett

both funny and menacing.

“Mrs. Lovett is a tremendously challenging role,” Dickey said. “… There is such a dark viciousness to her to go along with this dotty comedy as well... It’s just a terrific, meaty role to play all of this humor and the darkness with the challenge of singing to this beautiful music.”

As for Austin, a longtime actor with credits in “Carnivale,” “Bones” and “How I Met Your Mother,” his main goal is to try to create sympathy within the audience for Todd, who is both a villain and a victim in his own right.

“Bottom line, it is the passion of love that drives Todd,” Austin said. “He was absolutely in love with his wife and she was ripped away from him… And it is that loss that starts the process of him going insane, something that he not only takes out on the judge but also all of mankind.”

Ultimately, the show revolves around the partnership of Todd and Lovett, a bond that forms as they move one razor-thin slice after another closer toward the judge.

“They’re both helping each other out,” Austin said. “But at the same time, Lovett becomes in love with Sweeney, something he is oblivious to… This whole story, she is getting closer and closer to Sweeney, and I don’t want to ruin the ending, but it is quite intense.”

The show is directed by Calvin MacLean with Musical Direction under Lucas Richman, who will be leading thirty eight musicians from the Knoxville Symphony of Orchestra.

Show dates and times are August 30-31, September 1, 4-7, 11-14 at 7:30 p.m. and September 2, 9 and 16 at 2 p.m.

• Photo courtesy of Clarence Brown Theatre To purchase tickets call 865-291-3310 or 865-974-5161, or log on to knoxvillesympho- Dale Dickey (Mrs. Lovett) and Jeff Austin (Sweeney Todd) ny.com or clarencebrowntheatre.com.

SERVICES

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

FOR RENT

HOUSE FOR RENT

HOUSE FOR RENT

Looking for students who want to get involved with campus and community service. Specifically Public Relations and Education majors. Call (865)966-CARE (2273).

Established West Knox law firm seeking assistant for two lawyers. Word, Excel, and Quickbooks experience preferred. Fast-paced commercial practice. Legal experience considered but not required. Candidate should have good writing skills and initiative and be well-organized. Competetive compensation and benefits. Send cover letter and resume to gswartwood@lrwlaw.com.

Now hiring PT shifts for a local sorority house located in the new Sorority Village.

Need to hire a cook and dishwasher. Please reply to kirkemery@yahoo.com.

1 BR CONDOS Security/Elevator/ Pkg/Pool 3 min. walk to Law School. $520R, $300SD, No app. fee.

865 (2210-9045 , 250-8136).

Available Now!! Close to UT. 1) 4BR, 2 BA, L/R Kitchen has stove, refrig. and D/W. Downstairs has 2nd kitchen, den, and laundry room, 2,000 square feet! Four-car garage! $1,195. 865-207-2452 O/A

Walk to class. 3, 4 and 7BR, 2BA homes. Central H/A, all appliances furnished, including Washer Dryer, off street parking. $300/ BR Call (865)388-6144.

COMING SOON IN THE FORT 2BR house final stages of renovation. 1BA, Central H/A, hardwood floors, no pets. 1805 Forest Ave. Price negotiable. 389-6732

2BR, 2BA, West Cliff Condo.

View the Tennessee River, Cumberland and Smoky Mountains all from LR and wrap around balcony. Security bldg. No pets, no smoking. $850/mo. (813)854-4446 twsherry@yahoo.com.

Queen pillow top mattress set $150. New in plastic. Can deliver. Must Sell. Call Steve 865-805-3058.

On campus condo. 3BR, 2BR, 1BR. $420-$560/ Tenant.

Walking-distance to the library. Excellent location.

865-387-3064

100+ vehicles $5,995 or less. Specializing in imports. www.DOUGJUSTUS.com

TUTORING TESTPREP EXPERTS GRE/ GMAT/ LSAT For over 30 years, Michael K. Smith, Ph.D., and his teachers have helped UT students prepare for the GRE/ GMAT/ LSAT. Our programs offer individual tutoring, practice tests, and computer- adaptive strategies at a reasonable price. Programs can be designed around your schedule, weekdays, weeknights, or weekends.

Conveniently located at 308 South Peters Rd. Call (865)694-4108 for more information.

EMPLOYMENT

100+ Tax Preparers needed. Enroll in our tax school if you are not experienced. You could earn extra money at tax time! Visit www.taxschoolnow.com or call 865-938-1040 Catering company looking for PT on-call servers to work events. Mid-week and weekend shifts available.

Pay $8.00/hr. 522-5552.

CHILD CARE. Northshore-Pellissippi area. 3 kids: 4, 10 and 13. Mons & Tues 2:30p- 6:30p. 12/hr.

Some Sun hours. School pickups, then playtime.

Non-smoker, good driver.

Must have a car. Resume and refs reqd. Respond quickly! Lv msg at 406-2690.

Handy person to do light construction and yard work.

10 to 16 hrs/wk. Flexible schedule. 5 miles from UT. 573-1507 or 389-4717.

Help at home. House cleaning and other tasks, baby-sitting.

Computer savvy a plus. Call 637-3600

HIRING SERVERS Full and Part-time positions available. No tip sharing. Good starting opportunity in family owned and operated business.

Apply in person at 4661 Old Broadway.

Holiday Inn Cedar Bluff is now hiring Guest Service Representatives and Night Audit. This is a great opportunity for hospitality or business students. Must be customer service driven and able to multi-task. If interested, please email abridges@holidayinnknoxville.com or stop by the hotel and fill out an application. 304 N Cedar Bluff Road, 865-693-1011 Kidtime After School Program seeking caring counselor $7.75/hr. AL Lotts Elementary School, Farragut Primary and Dogwood Elementary. M-F 12:00-6:00 PM. FT and PT available. Please call Olivia at (865)640-3108.

Office Admin/ Customer Service new campus. Flexible hours. Will train. Call Doug 755-7663.

Part-time light auto mechanic needed. Car dealership near campus. Flexible hours. Call Doug 755-7663.

PERSONAL CHEF. Prepare healthy vegan meals, shop for groceries, deliver, serve.

Flexible hours. Pay negotiable. 588-1010.

Veterinary Assistant- Animal Caretaker. PT and weekends.

Experience helpful but not necessary. $9.00/hr. Apply at Norwood Veterinary Hospital, 2828 Merchants Rd. between 3-5:30PM only.

Want to get paid to play?

Looking for PT job with a flexible schedule? Try Sitters on Demand. Start immediately. Experience with children required. Contact Kendyll at (423)650-9056 or sittersondemand@gmail.com.

Young Folks, Sacred Heart’s afterschool program is looking for caring inidividuals to work M-F, 2:00 or 2:45pm til 6pm. If you are responsible, energetic, creative, and interested in working with young students, please contact Chris Gilliland at 584-8882 or cgilliland@shcknox.org

UNFURN APTS 1 and 2BR Apts. UT area and West Knox area. Call for appointment (865)522-5815.

South Knoxville/ UT downtown area 2BR apts. $475.

(865)573-1000.

Read the Beacon Classifieds!

REDUCED PRICE! 3BR, 1BA apt. in older house in the Fort. Central H/A, off street parking.

No pets. $295/per person Move-in ready. 389-6732.

4BR, 2BA W/D, Central Heating and Air. Off street Parking. 1 mile to UT. $205/mo/BR. Also, 3BR, 2BA Walk to class. Off street parking. WD, Central Heat $265/mo/BR 404-861-2162. meyerxie@gmail.com

This could be YOUR ad.

974-4931

APT. FOR RENT Close to UT Furnished Studio- $445 to $470 One Bedroom- Unfurnished $545 Water and Sewer Included GREAT MOVE-IN SPECIAL 523-0441

FURNITURE

CONDOS FOR RENT

ANNOUNCEMENTS

BEDS FOR LESS Student discounts, lay-away avail. Twin size starting at $99.99, Full $129.99, Queen $159.99. www.bedsforlesstn.com Call (865)560-0242.

MERCH. FOR SALE

Want a “real” workout? Join us at The Greater Knoxville Chess Club www.knoxvillechess.org/ Thursdays 5-9PM Rm C, Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. Questions: Kipp Bynum 865-525-9409, cbynum@comcast.net

Classified ads can work for YOU! Give us a call at 974-4931

AUTOS FOR SALE

Clinch at 14th St. Evian Tower. 1BR 1BA with parking $495/mo. No pets. Howard Grower Realty Executives Associates. (865)588-3232 or (865)705-0969 Monday Plaza 1BR and studios available on The Strip.

Starting at $395/mo. Call (865)219-9000 for information.

NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD • Will Shortz

HOUSE FOR RENT 2BR, 1BA with large fenced in back yard. In quiet neighborhood. 10 mins. to UT. Central H/A, dishwasher, refrigerator,. W/D hookup. Parking for 2 cars. $625/mo.

865-688-1523 2BR, 1BA, 10 mins. to campus.

Island Home Park. 2206 Maplewood Drive.

37920, $675/mo. Deposit $450.

865-680-7421.

3BR house, 2.5BA. Walking distance to campus. 1927 Highland Ave. Central H/A, W/D connection, private parking, dishwasher, living/ dining room. Avail. now. $900/mo. (865)522-3325.

ACROSS 1 White-robed figure of Greek mythology 5 Many an ad buy 11 Hindu scripture 15 1975 Tony winner for Best Play 16 Bring back on 17 Target of some sprays 18 Ones coming from the Arc de Triomphe?

19 Situated somewhere between two extremes 21 It orbited Earth 86,331 times 22 Brief promises?

23 Urge to attack 24 Forever 28 European blackbirds 30 Home of Literature Nobelist Sigrid Undset 31 Give approval 33 Station 34 73-Across units: Abbr.

36 “Family Guy” wife

38 39 44 45 46 47 49 52 55 57 60 62 63 64 67 68 69 70 71 72 73

Goofus “Capeesh?”

Torque symbol Echelon Plastic surgeon’s concern Lead-in to boy 1894 opera set in Alexandria Jackson 5 features, slangily Gymnasium floor choice Will-o’-the-wisp Lottery picks They may be drawn from a 63-Across See 62-Across Like some bags of food Tea party attendee in “Alice in Wonderland” “Ah, yes” Ceremony for a newborn Colorful dress Hideout Rays’ home, informally Figure in Newton’s second law

M I S O

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T H R E B E E R S S E A A L T E S O R T S E E L A L L O T E S T Z I T C E O B U E R R E N S O U T T E R

E S S A Y S Y S T S D T S

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2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 Gulf of Finland visà-vis the Baltic Sea 20 QB Tebow 22 Pioneering 1950 Isaac Asimov book 25 ___ May Clampett of 1960s TV 26 Noah of “ER” 27 Heath 29 Lotion letters 32 Meet face-to-face?

35 “M*A*S*H” Emmy winner 37 Mans 39 Researcher’s electronic tool 40 Surpasses 41 “M*A*S*H” drink 42 Bummer 43 Locale in “Slumdog Millionaire”

54 59

62 65

DOWN Unit of length that’s roughly the diameter of a proton Time’s 1986 Woman of the Year Jerks Poet’s ending?

Go together as a group Music halls, e.g.

California county Shot “El tiempo es ___” (Spanish proverb) Beauty marks?

Bass and soprano Best pal in a 1950s sitcom Many a modern purchase

14

29

37

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47

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28 32

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ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE A B D O S U R V A S S E R J I L T U R I L E S S E N T E S E S T H S A N T H A I R E D D A R I E W O R D

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44 Top for one who says “Top o’ the mornin’”?

48 Totally wrong 50 How Perry Mason often caught the guilty 51 Not providing any hints, say 53 River to the St. Lawrence 54 Has a hive mentality?

56 American ___ 58 Water chestnut, e.g.

59 Expels forcibly 61 Identity theft targets: Abbr.

64 Sportscaster Scully 65 Parent’s order 66 Stage item 67 “I wonder …”

Thursday, August 30, 2012

THE DAILY BEACON • 6

ARTS & CULTURE

Thursday, August 30 What: Mickey Hart Band Where: The Valarium When: 8 p.m.

Price: $27 in advanced / $30 at door / $3 surcharge for patrons under 21 Victoria’s View: The Mickey Hard Band has this indescribable musical feel that inspires you to dance.

Arts & Culture Editor Victoria Wright vwright6@utk.edu

Assistant Arts & Culture Editor Rob Davis

rdavis60@utk.edu

What: UT Film Committee presents “Hugo” Where: University Center Auditorium When: 7:30 p.m.

Price: Free Rob’s Take: The UT Film Committee is hosting a showing of this Oscar-winning film. Escape the theater lines and overpriced popcorn and bring some friends for the event.

Saturday, September 1 • Photo courtesy of mikeyhart.net

What: Tim Lee Duo with Beaver Nelson / Day Joy with Shy Boy and Arrete Where: Pilot Light When: 7 p.m.

Price: $5 Rob’s Take: Beaver Nelson will join the Tim Lee Duo to kick-off the night at 7 p.m. Beaver Nelson will display his raw, roots rock sound while his album-length film plays in the background. Shy Boy’s sick 80s synth pop sound sets the tone for the late session. Arrete’s sound brings to mind “Miami Vice” reruns and the theme to “Beverly Hills Cop.” Break out your acid-washed jeans, pastel button ups and taupe blazers for a rad night.

Friday, August 31 What: Swingbooty Where: Relix Variety Theater When: 9 p.m.

Price: $4 Victoria’s View: Swing music mixed with jazz influences and soulful vocals, Swingbooty will give you a quick break from current music on the airwaves.

What: Ian Thomas Where: Barley’s Taproom and Pizzeria When: 8 p.m.

Price: $5 Victoria’s View: Folk artist Ian Thomas hones his harmonica skills to create a soulful sound reminiscent of Louisiana zydeco music.

What: Lil Iffy with Heatstroke and Tom Ato Where: The Well When: 10 p.m.

Price: Free Rob’s Take: Specializing in “wandcore,” a hip-hop genre influenced by “Harry Potter,” Lil Iffy uses strong vocals and magical references over heavy hip-hop and dubstep influenced beats. To be honest, the genre sounds awesome, so it’s definitely worth going to.

Sunday, September 2

File Photo • The Daily Beacon

What: Boomsday Where: Volunteer Landing When: 9:30 p.m.

Price: Free Victoria’s View: One of the largest fireworks shows in the South takes place in UT’s backyard. Annually, more than 300,000 fans crowd the banks of the Tennessee River to view the extravaganza. If you have never been, it is an incredible sight. Take a folding chair to the top of the G10 parking garage to take everything in.

What: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Where: Clarence Brown Theater When: 7:30 p.m.

Price: $10 - $60 Rob’s Take: After 15 years of being wrongly imprisoned at Botany Bay, Sweeney Todd returns to London to exact his revenge on the man who sent him away. The Clarence Brown Theatre always does a great job with productions, and they are sure to put in the extra effort for the first show of the year.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

THE DAILY BEACON • 7 Sports Editor Lauren Kittrell

SPORTS

lkittre1@utk.edu

Assistant Sports Editor Austin Bornheim abornhei@utk.edu

Patterson ready for Friday Staff Reports Cordarrelle Patterson knows he has some big shoes to fill heading into Tennessee’s first game of the season.

The junior college transfer, who came to the university in hopes of playing alongside Justin Hunter and Da’Rick Rogers in 2012, has been thrust into a starting position following the dismissal of Rogers. As disappointed as he is, he sees the starting role as an opportunity.

“It is very serious, you can’t let opportunities like that go to waste,” said Patterson. “You have to go in, do what you have to do and stay focused. There isn’t any pressure, but I think it is a good opportunity for me, even though he is gone. We miss him out here, but we have to move on.”

Patterson will fill multiple roles on Friday, like Hunter, at wide receiver and on the return team. Special team’s coach Charlie Coiner thinks the extra touches throughout the game will be beneficial to the team.

“You just asked about two explosive guys (in Hunter and Patterson),” said Coiner. “I’ll put it like this, how many times does a receiver touch the ball on average during a game? If you told me they got 7 or 8 catches, we would say that was a pretty good game for them. Well I can guarantee you that they will touch the ball returning punts so you can see why we want them back there. We want those guys with the football.”

Like Coiner, Patterson's position coach Darin Hinshaw is eager to see what he can do in the Georgia Dome on Friday night.

“I’m very excited about seeing him play,” said wide receivers coach Darin Hinshaw. “He’s worked hard up to this point and it’s a deal where again we’re going in front of

75,000 people, so it’s going to be exciting to go watch him play.”

With the first night excitement, also comes first night jitters. Patterson has already claimed that he is anxious about his first Division I game, and his coaches know to allow for some nervousness. They also know he will be able to pull it all together.

“He’s figuring it out,” said offensive coordinator Jim Chaney. “It’s all new for Cordarrelle. It’s a different environment, trying to learn to practice the way we want, it’s a complete learning curve. He’s going to make some big plays; he’s going to make some blunders. We fully expect that. We have a super talented man that has never been on the field for Tennessee. That’s exactly what all first-game starters do; they all make a few mistakes. We are trying to minimize that to the best we can and let that boy be a football player.

Because, he has demonstrated on video, too many times, that he’s a talented player."

Hinshaw has helped calm some of the nerves that Patterson has been feeling this week, by telling him to take it one snap at a time.

“The main thing with CP is I tell him to go play one snap at a time,” said Hinshaw. “Go play the best you can one snap at a time. Don’t be thinking about anything else or results.

Focus on process. Focus on doing the best you can every snap. The rest will take care of itself. All of the little things equal big things. You don’t think about the big things. You worry about the little things — the details in routes and how we do things and what we do every snap and what we talk about. Don't worry about big results and that stuff. Just focus on process. That's why I always say in practice, ‘Imagine you’re playing in the game. Focus like you’re playing in the game.”

Matthew DeMaria • The Daily Beacont)

Leslie Cikra runs through a tunnel of fans before the game against Iowa State on Aug. 25.

UT excited for Friday kickoff Staff Report KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — When Tennessee takes to the field in the Georgia Dome against NC State, it will be doing so for the first time on a Friday during the regular season in 73 years.

Its opponent will look the same as it did back then, as that contest was also against the Wolfpack, albeit in Raleigh, N.C., rather than Atlanta. The Vols won that game, 13-0.

Despite the change from the traditional Saturday game day, the Vols haven’t seen any significant changes in the way they have prepared.

“From a preparation standpoint it really isn’t different because we just count the clock backwards,” UT head coach Derek Dooley said. “When it is Monday, it is Sunday.

We treat it as if it was a Saturday game as it relates

to our game week preparation. That doesn’t change.”

Just because the team hasn’t been affected by the change doesn’t mean there aren’t other factors to consider, something definitely not lost on Dooley.

“What does change is how it affects all of the fans and the high schools,” Dooley said. “It is certainly not something you want to do every year. Our leadership (knows) it is not something we want to do because we support the high schools so much, and we don’t ever want to take away from their support. I think it is a one-time deal.

The circumstances with the holiday weekend contributed to it and hopefully once this passes we won’t have this scenario again.”

In addition to dealing with the change in game day, the Vols have also practiced indoors all week to get ready to play on the turf in the Georgia Dome, something the Vols haven’t done since 2009.

A.J. Hall • The Daily Beacon

The Vols practice indoors on Aug. 27 to simulate playing inside the Georgia Dome for Friday’s game.

8 • THE DAILY BEAC O N

Thursday, August 30, 2012 Sports Editor Lauren Kittrell

SPORTS

lkittre1@utk.edu

Assistant Sports Editor Austin Bornheim abornhei@utk.edu

Ashlyn Sunseri continues easy transition into volleyball Patrick MacCoon Staff Writer For many athletes the transition from high school sports to the collegiate level of play is a difficult one, especially at a level as such as the SEC. However, Lady Vol freshman outside hitter Ashlyn Sunseri seems to have adjusted well to the change.

After playing high school volleyball for four years in Alabama at Northside H.S., where she was a team captain for two years and made the 6A All-State second team her senior year, Sunseri has enjoyed the transition of becoming a Lady Vol. “The transition has been really good it’s a lot faster pace so just getting the hang of it is all I’m focusing on right now,” Sunseri said. “We are going through every workout like it’s our hardest and every practice were giving our all. It is very important for me to be a Lady Vol because there is so much tradition here and I just love how everyone is together.”

While she didn’t play any minutes over the past weekend in the 2012 Comcast Lady Vol Classic, which Tennessee (2-1) finished second

overall in a pool of four teams, she will get her opportunities on the court at points in the season and is an asset for the team.

“She brings that go hard attitude to the court and gets after every ball no matter what,” Megan Hatcher, freshman teammate and friend, said. “She is a great pin hitter and will get her kills but she is a great leader and will bring us together out there.”

Since Sunseri arrived on campus other teammates have helped her in honing in her game on the court and taken her under their wing as well.

“My big sister has been Ellen Mullins but all the girls have helped me so much,” she said. “Leslie (Cikra) has also taken me under and just showed me all the ropes.”

Through the stretch of the season this Pittsburgh, Pa. native will look to improve her hitting and passing and has a big personal goal set for herself.

“My personal goal is to master the Tennessee

way of volleyball,” Sunseri said. “Basically high tempo, passing of the hips, talking loud, and just knowing where everything is on the court.”

Off the court and outside of practice there is another side to her though as well, as she is described as having a great spirit and enjoys watching sports with her brothers and being with friends and family in her spare time. Not to mention, she is the daughter of Sal Sunseri who is in his first year of tenure as the Tennessee Vols defensive coordinator after coaching linebackers at Alabama the previous three years.

“It’s definitely a dream come true I’ve always wanted to go to college close to my family,” Sunseri said. “So having him so close and being in the same program as myself is a real honor.”

She isn’t the only collegiate student-athlete in her family either, as her two older brothers Vinnie and Tino play college football for Alabama and Pittsburgh respectively. It just so happens that her brother will be playing for the Crimson Tide

when they travel to Knoxville this year on the third Saturday in October. She also is a fan of many former players that played at Alabama.

“I am a big Mark Ingram, Julio Jones, and Greg McElroy fan,” she said. “Right now I support Pittsburgh, Alabama, and Tennessee. I’m going to be cheering for my brother when they play here, but whoever wins it’s going to be a great game,” Coming from an Italian family heritage it is just a coincidence that her favorite type of food is Italian.

“My favorite food is Italian and I could eat pasta every single night,” she said.

While her father is in final preparations for the Vols football team season opener on Friday night his daughter is focused intently on the Lady Vols weekend tournament in Wichita, Kan. in which they will play three games in the Shocker Volleyball Classic hosted at Wichita State College.

“Right now we put every game first,” she said.

“We focus on volleyball and then after the game if we have time to watch we’ll watch.”

The Lady Vols will take on 24th ranked Colorado State, BYU, and Wichita State this weekend, as they look to build on their winning record.

Excitement grows for season Austin Bornheim Assistant Sports Editor College football is here. After 232 days, 14 hours and some change it is finally here, and I couldn’t be more excited.

Not just because my hometown Vanderbilt Commodores get to launch the start of the 2012-13 college football season at home for the first time in school history, and the Tennessee Volunteers have the honor of playing in the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff game Friday night — more importantly, it marks the point where after all these long months of practice talk, recruiting, preparation and off-season, story lines come to a head.

The stories range from a micro- to a macro-level and offer hours of discussion as the coming months play out.

Will the SEC finally be dethroned as the college football overlords? Will Matt Barkley capture the Heisman Trophy? How will Tennessee perform this season under extreme pressure to succeed? I could go on, but you get the picture.

It’s having football on from the second I wake up Saturday afternoon until I get home late in the night.

It’s the excitement felt on game day when sports fanatics and sorority girls who don’t have a clue can feel the same amount of thrill when they see the Volunteers storm out of the ‘T’ on Saturday afternoons.

The heartache when my team comes a play, a yard, a missed kick from the win. The adulation when they pull off an upset and the

revelry that follows.

That is what college football is about. The diehard fandom that rarely comes with any other sport in the United States, the deep seeded hatred schools have for one another and the bragging rights that come with giving your rival a beat down.

And though this feeling is felt across the country, it is especially evident here in the South. SEC country.

I’m ready for the pageantry and size of SEC football. The Circle Drill, The Grove, The Chapel Bell, Toomer’s Corner, the Star Walk, the March Down the Hill.

Even though I’m not a fan of most of these schools, these are the things that make college football, and the SEC specifically, so great to be a part of. It’s something more than just a game to so many. If you don’t believe me, just look on your Facebook page and see all the posts about Tennessee’s season opener. Some people waited six hours in line at the University Center just to get a ticket for the Georgia Dome. That’s how much it matters.

After this off-season, with so much controversy, college football fans want to return to some sense of normalcy. Fans won’t forget what happened at Penn State, but fans want something positive to dwell on, something to lift their spirits and put the game back into a good frame of mind. And with day one of the football season hours away, fans can start to look forward.

So, enjoy the year. Enjoy the tailgates, the fraternity houses, and the bars. But most importantly, enjoy the game and all that it gives us over the next five months.

— Austin Bornheim is a senior in journalism and electronic media. He can be reached at abornhei@utk.edu.

File Photo • The Daily Beacon