Sunny with a 0% chance of rain HIGH LOW 94 67
Lady Vol tennis duo honored in New York City
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Emmy Recap
Wednesday, September 1, 2010 Issue 11
E D I T O R I A L L Y
I N D E P E N D E N T
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PUBLISHED SINCE 1906 http://dailybeacon.utk.edu
Vol. 115
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U N I V E R S I T Y
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Students, Habitat build house for fellow Vol Lindsey Patton Staff Writer While most students were getting back to the books this weekend, students in the College of Business Administration put aside their studies to help a fellow Vol. What began as the eighth annual Habitat for Humanity build by the Tennessee Organization of MBAs unfolded into a story of students working together for one another. The construction of the Habitat for Humanity house began Saturday at 3409 Evans Ave. in the Lonsdale neighborhood. The recipient of this year’s building blitz was UT student Emily Avery and her family. This is the first time in eight years TOMBA has built a house for a fellow student, setting it apart from any other Habitat build. Avery is a junior at UT and her husband works full time. The UT housing where the couple lived with their 17month-old son is being torn down, and they have worked enough hours with Habitat for Humanity to earn their
own home. “Having fellow students work on our house, side-byside with me, really brings home what it means to be a Tennessee Volunteer,” Avery said. “There was such team work going on that you would have thought everyone knew each other from something else.” Earning a home through Habitat for Humanity is no small feat, and the Averys stand as no exception. They have balanced full-time work, the stress of college classes, raising their child, injury and sickness, all while putting in 500 equity hours with Habitat for Humanity. They have spent countless weekends helping with home-builds and attending classes in order to qualify for their own home. “We have been involved in the building of other Habitat homes, and now we fully realize the gratitude they felt for the work we and other volunteers did,” Avery said. “Believe it or not, it gets addicting to go out every weekend, pick up a hammer and see the smiles on everyone’s face as we all work toward a common goal — getting a house built.”
The gratitude expressed by the Averys was a driving factor for the TOMBA students and others who helped. They have devoted part of their fall semester to help see the construction of the Averys’ home come to completion. The entire project will take seven to nine weeks. “The gratitude of the families and the sheer joy on their faces as they see their homes being constructed really drives home the significance of the time and energy we give,” Brad White, TOMBA officer, said in a UT press release. Though the goal of the project was to build a house for someone in need, Avery said something far greater began to build amidst the clanging of hammers and hissing of saws: a true portrait of the giving spirit of a Vol. “From what we understood, there were so many people who signed up to come help out that TOMBA had to actually turn away volunteers prior to the day of the blitz because there were so many,” she said. “That says a lot to me about the quality of students, staff and faculty we have at UT.”
Pluskota, Whoriskey honored as top college tennis players Staff Reports
Tara Sripunvoraskul • The Daily Beacon
One way to enjoy the sunshine is to set up a hammock around campus. Often seen at the trees in the amphitheater, students will tie the hammock between two trees and lounge.
Junior Lady Vol tennis player Natalie Pluskota and recent graduate Caitlin Whoriskey were honored by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association and the United States Tennis Association over the weekend during a special awards luncheon recognizing the top college tennis players in the country. Whoriskey and Pluskota finished the 2009-10 season as the No. 1-ranked doubles team in the nation, according to the Campbell’s/ITA rankings. This earned the talented tandem a spot on the 27th annual ITA AllStar team, which features the nation’s top-ranked players and national champions from the 2009-10 season. As part of being named to the all-star team, Whoriskey and Pluskota were treated by the ITA and USTA to a weekend in New York, highlighted by activities during Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Saturday, Aug. 28th. Included in this were live performances from chart-topping pop superstars, the Jonas Brothers, and TV and recording
sensation Demi Lovato. “The Arthur Ashe Kid’s Day was awesome,” Pluskota said. “It was so entertaining. It was hands-down one of the most fun things I’ve ever done. I had a blast all weekend long.” The pair of Lady Volunteers were honored at the ITA awards luncheon, hosted by the USTA in the President’s Dining Room Suite. Lucy Garvin, Chairman of the Board and President of the USTA, David A. Benjamin, ITA Executive Director, David Dinkins, former Mayor of New York City and a member of the USTA Board of Directors, were among those on hand to present the awards. Pluskota, who hails from Newnan, Ga., said that the experience was one she won’t soon forget. “Being able to go to the luncheon and be with the best of the best in the country was truly an honor,” Pluskota said. “We got to meet a lot of different people. I got to talk to (former professional and current ESPN tennis analyst) Patrick McEnroe a little bit. That was pretty cool.” The Lady Vol tennis team kicks off its fall tournament season on Sept. 10, as it competes in the SEC Coaches’ Tournament in Auburn, Ala.
Bredeson opposes guns-in-bars law Associated Press Gov. Phil Bredesen on Tuesday voiced support for a Nashville waiter's claim that a new law allowing guns in bars creates an unsafe workplace. The Democratic governor told The Associated Press that while he's not familiar with the details of the complaint, he supports the effort to challenge the law allowing handgun carry permit holders to be armed in bars and restaurants that serve alcohol. "It was a stupid idea when they passed it. It's still a stupid idea," Bredesen said. "I hope somebody will figure out a way to turn it around." The Tennessean reports the complaint by an anonymous server at Jackson's Bar and Bistro alleges that the law violates Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations. The server has seen handguns carried into the restaurant and patrons forcefully ejected from the property, according to the complaint.
The state Legislature passed the law this year after an earlier version was struck down as unconstitutionally vague. Lawmakers overrode two Bredesen vetoes. "I think always it's been understood that alcohol and guns don't mix very well," Bredesen said. "I was disappointed with what the Legislature did." Lawmakers defending the gun law have said it doesn't threaten the workplace, but rather gives "citizens of this state a right to protect themselves," said Republican House sponsor Curry Todd of Collierville in June when his chamber joined the Senate in overriding the governor's veto. Following the Senate veto a month earlier, Democratic Senate sponsor Doug Jackson of Dickson said he tried to reach out to the governor about his concerns but got "no communication from the administration." "If the governor believes the legislation poses a threat to public safety, then I think communication should have taken place between the executive branch and the legislative branch,"
Jackson said. Nashville attorney David Randolph Smith represents the server. He was also behind the successful lawsuit that struck down the earlier law. Smith said his client would consider a federal lawsuit if the complaint is unsuccessful. "The general duty clause of TOSHA says that an employer has a duty to protect and safeguard employees against recognized hazards to human health, safety and life," said Smith. "The only question is, 'Are armed gunmen a hazard in a bar?' " A spokesman for the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development confirmed the complaint had been received and said an inspection would take place in the coming weeks. Bredesen said he agrees that the guns in bars law endangers workers. "I think it's a workplace safety issue, and if that's the approach they take they're welcome to do it," he said. "I hope in Tara Sripunvoraskul • The Daily Beacon the end the Legislature will come to their senses and place the line Students study together in the library after classes. Hodges installed new furniture in more reasonable places." over the summer for these students to enjoy.