09 03 14

Despite win, Jones seeks “major improvements”

@UTKDailyBeacon

utdailybeacon.com Issue 10, Volume 127

SPORTS >> pg. 6

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

UTPD addresses recent sexual assaults on campus, new alert policy Hayley Brundige News Editor (@hayleybrundige)

Sunday evening, the University of Tennessee Police Department received a report detailing a sexual assault that occurred in the Alumni Memorial Building.

A female reported that an unknown male entered the building, then “sexually assaulted her by digital

penetration,” according to an email alert released by UTPD on Sept. 2.

The victim chose not to pursue legal action against the suspect, but did provide a description of the attacker to UTPD. The suspect, who remains at large, was a white male with shoulder-length, curly brown hair, who stood about 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighed approximately 150 pounds.

The assault occurred on a football game day, but UTPD Chief of Police Troy Lane emphasized that despite heavy crowds, police presence did not waver.

“If (UTPD officers are) not assigned to patrol that day, they’re at the stadium,” Lane said. “This is the type of crime that can happen any day of the week.”

Lane encouraged victims of sexual assault to report

the incident, regardless of their desire to press charges. Simply by speaking up, further assaults can be prevented.

“Sexual assault is a very underreported crime,” Lane said. “The more that we get the word out about this and the more that people feel more comfortable coming forward, I think that helps us paint a clear picture of what goes on on any campus,

not just ours.”

Sunday’s incident comes in light of another recent sexual assault which took place in a residence hall on Aug. 24. That assault, however, was reported to a campus security authority.

Because the assault was not reported to UTPD, all details will remain confidential.

However, authorities were still permitted to release an email alert regarding the

UT students take on TN abortion law

Comedy, unscripted

Victoria Brown Staff Writer

Hannah Cather • The Daily Beacon Donna Kapa, left, Carole Ann Borges, middle, and Alexis Tudor, right, perform an “alien invasion/pizza delivery” improv piece on Aug. 30.

Kapa said. “So we started with her about two and a half years ago. Then she moved, left town, and I took over the leadership of the group.”

Since then, the size of the class has varied from eight core players to as many as 20 members. Despite these fluctuations, the troupe views every performance as a chance to hone and perfect their skills.

“We’re trying to do a monthly performance. So, we’ll review what we liked, what we can change and we can kind of work on that for the next performance, so it’s an ongoing process,” Kapa

Knoxville improv class brings citizens to the stage Heidi Hill

edy troupe.

From 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday mornings, Kapa leads a free two-hour Improvisational Comedy Rodeo clowns, gossiping Class at the Birdhouse in the nuns and an elderly couple hope of promoting sketch arguing at Dollywood – at comedy throughout the city. first glance, these persons “(The class) was originally seem to have nothing in com- started by a woman named mon.

Kayla who came from Los But, ironically, they are all Angeles and saw there wasn’t characters brought to life by a lot of improv in Knoxville,” Donna Kapa’s improv comContributor

said.

After a series of “warmup” exercises, the troupe catches their breath and discusses previous sketches, throwing out suggestions for increasing audience participation during shows.

Because improv relies heavily on the crowd, the group is constantly searching for ways to enhance humor and energy.

Some members recommended using stage space more effectively while others critiqued the performers’ motions. For troupe member Alexis Tudor, the element of surprise fuels great comedic

performing.

“The idea is bringing an unexpected element to engage the audience,” Tudor said. “The audience can still give you dud suggestions for a scene, but you still have to work with it.”

As Tudor implied, the show must go on despite any comedic challenge, a reality troupe member Carole Ann Borges refuses to sugarcoat.

As a child, Borges’ mother introduced her to improv, a hobby she would later abandon per the wishes of her ex-husband.

See IMPROV on Page 5

Blindsided After earning a scholarship and starting spot, Jacob Gilliam out for season Troy Provost-Heron Sports Editor (@TPro_UTDB)

Hannah Cather • The Daily Beacon Jacob Gilliam, senior offensive lineman, blocks a Utah State player during the Vols’ win over the Aggies on Aug. 31.

Editorially independent student newspaper of the Unversity of Tennessee established in 1906

After an offseason of intense dedication to earn the starting left tackle spot for the Tennessee Volunteers, Jacob Gilliam will once again watch from the sidelines.

Second-year head coach Butch Jones announced during his weekly press conference on Tuesday that the redshirt senior will miss the rest of the season after tearing the ACL in his left knee during the Vols’ 38-7 victory

over the Utah State Aggies.

“He is disappointed,” Jones said. “He has put in a lot of hard work, effort and commitment into (getting that spot). This will serve him years down the road with handling adversity. He will be better from it.”

The injury occurred late in the third quarter when Utah State’s nose tackle Travis Seefeldt was blocked into the back of Gilliam, who was engaged with B.J. Larsen.

Gilliam joined the Vols in 2010 as a walk-on, playing in three games prior to Sunday’s contest

before earning his scholarship on May 21.

“I feel for him and his family,” Jones said. “Here is a young man who walked on and earned a scholarship ... Jacob earned the respect of his peers, and he worked so hard to become our starting left tackle.”

With Gilliam’s departure from the starting rotation up front, the Vols will have a three-way competition between Brett Kendrick, Coleman Thomas and Dontavius Blair for the final spot on the offensive line.

See GILLIAM on Page 6

Look for the story, not the sterotype in Knoxville homelessness VIEWPOINTS >>pg. 4

incident. Although UTPD has sent alerts for sexual assaults in the past, pressure from the federal government prompted a slight change in protocol for the upcoming year.

As a result, students will now receive alerts for every incident reported.

“It’s easier to deal with the criticism for doing it too often than not doing it when it’s needed,” Lane said.

Now is the time to join the reproductive justice movement – this afternoon to be exact.

The Sexual Health Advisory Group is a student organization aiming to educate UT students about sexual and reproductive health and advocate for reproductive rights. Formerly known on campus as the Voices of Planned Parenthood, the group recently elected to undergo systemic rebranding, allowing them to access more versatile resources and act more politically as a unit.

And today, the newly unveiled group will hold an informational meeting at 4 p.m. in Hodges Library.

The group’s first meeting will focus on Amendment 1. On the ballot in late November, Amendment 1 states that the Tennessee Constitution does not protect a woman’s right to abortion, even in “circumstances of pregnancy resulting from rape or incest or when necessary to save the life of the mother.” The bill also states that Tennessee residents retain the right to “enact, amend or repeal state statutes regarding abortion” through state representatives and senators.

The meeting will explore the dangers of Amendment 1 and inform students how they can fight its passage.

In partnership with the Knoxville chapter of Planned Parenthood, SHAG’s meeting is part of the “Vote No on 1” campaign taking place across Tennessee.

If the amendment passes, women seeking clinical abortions will need to obtain permission from the state legislature.

“We believe a woman’s private medical decision [such as abortion] should be between her faith, her family, her doctor and most importantly herself,” said Amanda Alarcon, junior in history and SHAG cochair. “Politicians have no place in private medical decisions.”

See SHAG on Page 2

INSIDE THE DAILY BEACON Page Page Page Page

2 4 3,5 6

News Viewpoints Arts & Culture Sports

2 • THE DAILY BEACON

Wednesday, September 3, 2014 News Editor

CAMPUS NEWS

Asst. News Editor

The wild, wild east

Hayley Brundige @hayleybrundige hbrundig@vols.utk.edu

Bradi Musil bmusil@vols.utk.edu

Around Rocky Top

Regional environmental organizations host celebration of Tennessee’s wilderness Claire Dodson Editor-in-Chief

Fifty years ago today, the U.S. government passed the Wilderness Act of 1964, an act that set aside areas “where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.”

Besides creating a definition of wilderness, the bill also protected 9.1 million acres of federal land, including areas in East Tennessee.

Wild South, a regional conservation organization, will honor the bill’s definition of wilderness by hosting “Tennessee Wilderness: Celebrating 50 years of People, Place, and Promise” tonight from 6-9 p.m. at the East Tennessee History Center.

The event will include speakers Bill Meadows, former president of the Wilderness Society; Charles Maynard, United Methodist Church minister and storyteller; and a keynote address delivered by Mary Wagner, associate chief of the U.S. Forest Service.

On a practical level, a wilderness designation means there is no logging, no roadbuilding and no housing

development. Recreational activities like hunting, fishing and hiking, however, are encouraged.

For the organizations sponsoring the event, the long-term effects of the bill are personal.

Sandra Goss, executive director at Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning, grew up in Tennessee and has spent a lot of time in its wilderness areas, including her favorite, Bald River Falls in Monroe County.

“To go to a place that is undisturbed by man, it’s awe-inspiring,” Goss said.

“These places in many areas are just like they were a hundred years ago.

“That gives me shivers down my spine.”

East Tennessee has personal ties to the federal act through Knoxville native and UT alumnus Harvey Broome, who co-founded The Wilderness Society and helped persuade Congress to create the National Wilderness Preservation System as a part of the 1964 bill. He was also present when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the bill into law.

When the Wilderness Act of 1964 was passed, Will Skelton was a law student at UT. Now a member of

the Sierra Club, a broadlyfocused, local environmental organization that is cosponsoring tonight’s event, Skelton has used the framework of the 1964 bill as a foundation for future land protection.

He serves as the Sierra Club representative in the Tennessee Wild coalition, a group currently pushing Congress to pass a bill setting aside an additional 20,000 acres of wilderness in Cherokee National Park.

“If it wasn’t for the setting aside of these lands, sooner or later everything would look like west Knoxville,” Skelton said. “By having these areas we are protecting a little of our national heritage.

“Our descendants will have the same thing we had -- a really wild area, a natural area to go to.”

Bill Hodge, director of the Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards, a program of The Wilderness Society, said Tennessee’s mountains “hold a special kind of magic” that needs to be protected.

“Wilderness designation is America’s way of leaving some places where nature is still in charge,” Hodge said, “where we can disconnect from an ever busier life and reconnect with nature.”

Hannah Cather • The Daily Beacon

This anonymous man found roaming campus Sept. 2, did not introduce or explain himself. He simply pointed to his cape which read “Orange Avenger #orangeavenger.”

SHAG continued from Page 1

Kayla Frye, co-chair of SHAG, encouraged students to attend the kickoff meeting today and take action.

“I’d encourage everyone to In Tuesday’s edition of The Daily Beacon, a quote in the story headlined “Neyland inform themselves on what is Stadium sells out” was wrongly attributed to Butch Jones. The statement, which began happening in our legislature “I believe that the level of enthusiasm in the audience made a visible impact on the score right now,” Frye said. “It’s last,” was given by Cody Thornburgh, a senior in food science and technology.

Correction

important to understand the gravity of this issue and get out to vote on Nov. 4.”

Members of SHAG will be tabling at next week’s “Red Zone Campaign” in conjunction with Sex Week, where they will hand out flyers, condoms and dental dams.

Once the “Vote No on 1” campaign ends, SHAG will begin preparing for “Get Tested” month in April,

which promotes testing awareness. They will also be hosting basic educational seminars throughout the year meant to encourage students to practice safe habits.

To learn more about Amendment 1, students can go to voteno1tn.org.

For more information on the Sexual Health Advisory Group, email the organization at utkshag@gmail.com.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

THE DAILY BEACON • 3 Arts & Culture Editor Jenna Butz @butzjenna

ARTS & CULTURE Maroon 5 album falls flat Hannah Zechman Contributor

EYES ON KNOXVILLE

Her house is your house Knoxville watering hole is welcoming spot for ‘scruffy’ Savannah Lucas Contributor

catchiest “songs that you think you don’t know but you actually know every word to” and turned it into a sad, almost bluesy ballad. The cover was only a dried up, forgotten shadow of the band’s former sound. To save other great songs from future Maroon 5 covers, the track should probably be shoved into the back of a desk drawer.

To be fair, Maroon 5 had a good run. Their debut album, “Songs About Jane,” set hearts on fire with sultry pop/rock tunes. Even in subsequent albums, this unique sound drove fans crazy. It’s sad to admit that, today, they are just another band doomed to churn out overplayed American Top 40 hits.

Obviously, the men of Maroon 5 forgot their identity as a band. Hopefully, in

V

Maroon 5

the future, they will remember it again. Or maybe they’ll just retire and let Adam Levine keep pretending to be a good mentor on “The Voice” although his own band missed its chance for a comeback.

Save some money and treat “V” like one of those albums on iTunes where you can buy only a couple of songs for $4 rather than the whole record.

The rest of the album will sound exactly like those two songs you liked anyway.

History professor’s exploration of Civil War earns national acclaim Savannah Gilman Staff Writer Even today, college campuses across the country still feel the lingering effects of the Civil War. It’s an interesting notion -- interesting enough for Michael David Cohen, research assistant professor of history, to write a book on the subject titled “Reconstructing the Campus: Higher Education and the American Civil War.” First published in 2012, Cohen’s book was recently awarded the 2014 Critics’ Choice Book Award in August.

Tom Chaffin, research professor of history, called Cohen’s area of study “unusual” for investigating the intersection of the war and higher education.

“A lot of scholarship is devoted to military history and race relations,” Chaffin said. “Few if any scholars have looked at higher education, and it serves as a reminder that the civil war was not just battlefields, but affected and transformed aspects of life on both sides of the Mason-Dixon Line, north and south, east and west.”

During his research, Cohen traveled across the county to visit schools with detailed records, including South Carolina College and the University of California, Berkeley. The names of many of the establishments Cohen visited have been changed because of expansion experienced since the 19th century.

“I traveled to archives and was able to perform original research and ultimately tell the story of America’s higher education in my

own words,” Cohen said.

Prior to the war, Southern colleges were small, traditional and largely limited to students from elite families. After the war, damage to infrastructure was so severe that colleges convinced Michael Cohen private donors to support expansions.

Having secured these donors, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, along with other colleges, became true universities. More students began to enroll, and many institutions planned to add graduate and professional schools. While the term “university” was used before the Civil War, it simply indicated prestige as opposed to a difference in curriculum.

In his book, Cohen also argued that the Civil War led to greater federal government involvement in education, which directly impacted funding. Military officers were also distributed to schools, giving way to early ROTC programs.

Cohen notes the importance of reflecting on this era of our nation’s history and has enjoyed the commemoration of the Civil War Sesquicentennial.

“Right now it’s the 150th year since the Civil War, and it’s nice to see people interested in the events that have happened,” Cohen said. “It’s important to see just how much the Civil War impacted everyone’s lives.

“I like seeing that the work I’ve done is part of a larger picture beyond battlefields, beyond emancipation of slaves: it changed everything.”

Is it possible for a bar to feel like home?

Marie’s Olde Towne Tavern proves just that. Just a few blocks from the Old City, this honky-tonk dive features weekend karaoke, a Rock-Ola jukebox and the promise of an enjoyable evening. Upon entering the bar, you are likely to be swept into a hug from Marie Owens herself as she welcomes you.

To your right, you cannot miss the framed collection of Elvis photos on the wall. On the left is a miscellany of signed photos from former Vols and coaches. String lights border the interior, adding an uncommon intimacy to the bar. For a breath of fresh air, there are two decks outside that feel like grandma’s back porch.

Owens opened the bar on June 12, 1992, with a singular vision: to transform a bare building into a cozy, homey hangout for locals.

“I want people to feel at home, and they do,” Owens said.

Pressed beneath the bar’s glass top are hundreds of customers’ names twisted in copper wire. This act of recognition is a testament to Owens’ ultimate goal—to make customers a top priority. Gloria Pressley, Owens’ daughter, said customers are truly treated like family. “[Marie] says she’s got five kids, but really, everyone here is,” Pressley said.

Reno Jones, a longtime patron of the bar, agreed with Pressley.

“Before you leave, even strangers will say ‘Bye, Mama Marie,’” Jones said. “It really is a family.”

Perhaps the bar’s greatest appeal is weekend karaoke, held on Fridays and Saturdays from 8 p.m. until the crowd dies down. The equipment and music selection is provided

by Johnny Mills, who is known for hosting many karaoke nights around Knoxville.

The tavern’s clientele comprises Knoxville natives from surrounding neighborhoods. Frequently, people who work downtown flock to the bar to unwind after

“

B efore you leave,

even strangers will say ‘Bye, Mama Marie’

“

It had already begun.

Maroon 5’s first radio hit “Maps” was blaring from every teenage girl’s Volkswagen Beetle and every mom’s minivan. Anticipation for “V,” the band’s upcoming album, was on the rise – and so were fervent prayers for a shirtless Adam Levine album cover.

Just days before the album release, “Maps” reached the top six on American Top 40 with Ryan Seacrest, stirring high hopes for a fading band.

But the album proved only a disappointment. The “old” Maroon 5, loved by many for so long, is dead and gone.

In “V,” high-pitched, electronic sounds replace the instruments. It is as though Adam Levine’s new “iconic pop image” overtook the band completely, demanding music that better conforms to what pop music “should” sound like.

“V” also includes a special guest appearance from Gwen Stefani, a trait that should redeem any album. Despite the influence of this pop/rock goddess, the songs still run together. Don’t even bother with reaching for the skip button – chances are you will still think you’re listening to “Maps” 15 minutes into the album.

Perhaps the most disappointing part of the new release is the botched cover of “Sex and Candy,” made famous by Marcy Playground.

Maroon 5 took one of the

jkw546@vols.utk.edu

-Reno Jones

hours. While her customer base is generally older, Owens said the crowd is still diverse, with a few college kids interspersed.

Every holiday, the bar hosts a neighborhood cookout for beloved customers and strangers alike. Owens is known for her big heart, and her cookouts are no exception.

Providing Christmas and Thanksgiving meals for the homeless, her customers always donate food to the cause.

“There’s not a person out there without a white to-go box by the end of the night,” Owens said.

Jones said Owens has never charged for a cookout, ensuring that no one goes hungry that night.

“Marie will get out there and trek through the alleys looking for people to come to the cookout,” Jones said.

Marie’s is not the kind of place you can find just anywhere. It has heart, soul and an intimate vibe that is often difficult to find in the average pub or sports bar.

“If you want a good place to have a beer, relax and enjoy yourself, this is it,” Jones said. “You don’t have to worry about bar fights or any of that. We’ve got a great jukebox, great karaoke and it just feels like home.”

After 22 years of loving and serving Knoxville, Marie’s Olde Towne Tavern has earned its place as an anchor of the community.

“It’s just really a good neighborhood bar,” Owens said.

4 • THE DAILY BEACON

Wednesday, September 3, 2014 Editor-in-Chief

VIEWPOINTS

Contact us

Claire Dodson @claire_ifying pdodson@vols.utk.edu letters@vols.utk.edu

Poverty shouldn’t make a pariah City Cents by

Johnathan Martin I was in the Detroit Metro Airport recently on a 30 minute layover. My direct flight to New York had been canceled, and my friend and I were re-booked onto a new itinerary that put us three hours behind schedule. I remember the descent into the once-bustling city.

It was after sunrise when I looked out my window and saw the light beginning to glare off Lake Erie. It was not what I was originally expecting to see while approaching a city so renowned for its current state of poverty, crime and downtrodden economy.

I pulled out my phone and snapped a picture of a view that I already knew would be too cliché for Instagram. All the while, there was a feeling of disappointment that I was heading into a city whose people had seen such a serious and recent decline. In fact, as of last year, the Homeless Action Network of Detroit estimated that there were 19,714 homeless people in their city.

Unfortunately, this is the case for a lot of people in our area as well. It’s almost impossible to walk down the strip or around downtown and not see somebody who’s been affected by hard economic times or life experiences.

However, the way we react to these people is representative of how we view our city. You see, Knoxville is more than a collection of buildings, businesses and events. The city is represented by its people. We may not all live here the rest of our lives, and many of us will not even be here within a year after graduation. But for now, Knoxville is a place that allows us to have a community and receive a great education.

Knoxville is made up of many different types of people, and the Knoxville Homeless Management Information System estimates that 9,806 of those people were using homeless shelter services in 2013. That number doesn’t include those that don’t seek any help at all.

“That person is definitely just asking for money to buy drugs.”

That’s almost exactly like something that I have probably said more than once since moving to the downtown area of Knoxville. I might have been right when I said it. A lot of us may have been right. Twenty-two percent of homeless persons reported chronic substance abuse in the past year, with one study saying that 17 percent of all homeless deaths in Knoxville were from drug overdose.

However, despite the statistics on drug abuse, let’s not let that control our view about those we encounter on the sidewalk. Quite frankly, it’s a poor excuse to stereotype almost 10,000 people in downtown and surrounding areas.

For instance, KnoxHMIS also reports that another struggle for many is mental illness -- something that makes living day to day exponentially more difficult. A reported 20 percent of those who are homeless have mental illnesses, about the same number as those with reported chronic substance abuse. Furthermore, 40 percent are reported as having been treated for emotional problems. Understanding that everyone we encounter is a complex combination of characteristics is an essential way to counteract any tendency to stereotype.

“Why don’t they just go get a job?”

This is another observation that might apply to several people in our area, but it is nevertheless a poor excuse to overlook someone in need. Many of the homeless in Knoxville have reported getting jobs. The problem is that a lot of these occupations only pay minimum wage, which is currently a measly $7.25. If minimum wage had risen alongside inflation, it would currently be over $10.75. Even more powerful is a recent report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics which shows that Tennessee has one of the highest proportions of minimum wage workers in the entire country.

I’m not recommending that we all go throw our money into the streets. I am also not recommending that we completely forgo our safety and engage with every stranger that we encounter.

However, buying lunch for someone who is hungry takes a matter of minutes. Or perhaps a safer option, consider spending time during the week to volunteer for organizations around Knoxville that are meant to provide support for those who need it most.

But most of all, let’s change our mentality about those who have no place to sleep. When we stereotype, it is much easier to fall into the trap of brushing aside any compassion for others. We may not be Detroit, but we certainly have those that are less fortunate, and they are just as much a part of Knoxville as you and me.

Jonathan Martin is a junior in finance. He can be reached at j29mart@gmail.com.

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.

#BLESSED Scarlett’s Web by

Scarlett Miles “One should sympathize with the colour, the beauty, the joy of life,” writes Oscar Wilde in “The Picture of Dorian Gray.” “The less said about life’s sores, the better.”

I participated in a group activity administered to my communication studies class Thursday. The activity asked us to brainstorm with a group of classmates what different ways we thought UT’s campus could be improved.

Basically, just write down the things we complain about every day, right? The cost of textbooks, the lack of parking, the inefficiency of the T: Link -- as students, we complain about such things on a daily basis.

We become irritated at the small things: the weather, classes, technology not working, assignments.

The problem with complaining is that it is such an easy thing to do; there are so many things that we can express negatively without a second thought. But

Editor-in-Chief: Claire Dodson Managing Editor: Hanna Lustig Chief Copy Editors: Emilee Lamb, Cortney Roark News Editor: Hayley Brundige Asst. News Editor: Bradi Musil Special Projects Editor: Liv McConnell Sports Editor: Troy Provost-Heron Asst. Sports Editor: Dargan Southard Arts & Culture Editor: Jenna Butz Viewpoints Editor: Kevin Ridder Online Editor: Samantha Smoak

From the heat to losing my phone -- nothing was off limits.

It’s amazing that I didn’t realize everything I tend to complain about throughout the day. However, keeping track of the times I complained in just one day made me more aware of how many things I have to be grateful for, which I tend to overlook when I’m rushing from class to class.

It’s so easy to grumble about having to wake up to go to a lecture or walking to class in the blistering heat. But, how lucky are you to attend such an amazing school with such incredible teachers? It really is great to be a Tennessee Vol! We will always be able to find something to complain about, but we will also always be able to find something to be grateful for.

So whether or not you decide to take part in the ‘No Complaining’ challenge, try to look for the positive in everything this week. Try to seek and express gratitude, rather than focus on the negative aspects of everyday tasks.

Appreciate the little things in life.

Scarlett Miles is a freshman in communication studies. She can be reached at qrc969@vols.utk.edu.

What are we hiding away, and why?

Sacred and the City by

Merry-Reid Sheffer Well, readership, here we are in week two of my column.

I know you were all saying to yourselves, “Hey, it’s Wednesday! Where’s my new favorite column? Is our beloved and renowned author alive and well? Oh wait, they must have run this letter to the editor instead because her work is too expensive to publish every week.”

But in case you weren’t, that’s what happened. Exactly in that way.

I get to call this piece “Sacred and the City,” even though that’s the name of the column, because “Sex and the City” is the name of the show’s first episode. I’m allowed. Perhaps I should have made this work my first, but I wanted to give you a sweet, sweet taste of what “Sacred and the City” promises to be every week, and then rip it all away from you. This way you have to be tuned in to my purpose for this specific theme. So let’s discover why we’re all really here…

Mr. Big: So, what have you been doing lately?

Carrie: You mean besides going out every night?

Mr. Big: Yeah. I mean, what do you do for work?

Carrie: Well, this is my work. I’m sort of a sexual anthropologist.

Mr. Big: You mean like a hooker?

Carrie: I write a column called “Sex and the City.” Right now I’m researching an article about women who have sex like men. You know, they have sex and then afterwards they feel nothing. [Season 1, Episode 1, “Sex and the City”] So maybe this episode has way too many sides of Carrie talking directly to her audience and maybe she never says “I couldn’t help but wonder,” like the universe intended, but how can we not love the first glimpse of what one of my friends (of obvious superior taste) has dubbed “The Gospel?” Blasphemous?

Maybe. Valid? Spot on.

As a child, my greatest wish was to watch what the adults were watching.

Scheduling play dates and sectioning off specific times of the night to finish my homework, my mother in particular attempted to carve out times in which I would be unavailable to pursue this wish.

I remember sitting outside her door, trying to unravel the mystery of what was so forbidden about “Sex and the City” that I had to be exiled. I fancied myself an expert on sex -- I had seen “Friends,” after all -- and wondered what else this show had that was either too wonderful or too horrible for my entertainment purposes.

Watching Carrie Bradshaw’s risqué ‘90s adventures, I often chuckle (that’s right, chuckle) at the “G-ratedness” of the once forbidden show in comparison to today’s TV market.

When I think of my mother, locked away alone in her HBO fortress to watch 30 minutes of splendid cartoon-free entertainment, I think about my religion.

About how it’s become something you enjoy to yourself behind closed doors, simply because explaining its meaning to an observer would just be too uncomfortable.

So many things we do each day have the potential to be sacred. Our hands have the power to create and destroy, to hold close and to push away. Carrie wasn’t afraid to see the “taboo” in everyday situations, nor to make light of what she found; so I will use her as a building block.

I couldn’t help but wonder -- is finding the sacred in everyday life taboo now? If we can grow to be comfortable with sexuality with Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte, surely we can grow comfortable with our spirituality, wherever or in whatever you may find it, in broad daylight too.

Merry-Reid Sheffer is a senior in English. She can be reached at msheffer@vols.utk.edu.

Get Fuzzy • Darby Conley

Timtation Creations • Timothy Brunson

EDITORIAL

what does that do to your mood? Does it make you a happier person to complain about how much you hate your psychology or chemistry lecture? Does it make it any easier to do the homework assignments if you’re talking about how much you don’t want to do them?

My guess is your answer is no.

In no way am I saying that I never complain, or that complaining is an easy thing to avoid. What I am saying is if we made an effort not to complain as much, we would be more positive people, and we would realize how truly lucky we are to have the very things that we complain about.

I read about a ‘No Complaining’ challenge where you try to go 21 days without complaining. To keep track of your moaning and groaning, you wear a rubber band on your wrist, and for every complaint you have to switch the rubber band to the opposite wrist. So, on Friday I tried it out.

Let’s just say Friday was not the best day to start this challenge, and it’s going to take me a few tries to make it through a single day.

I was surprised at the number of times I found myself moving the rubber band from one wrist to the other. But what surprised me even more were the things that I found myself complaining about.

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Wednesday, September 3, 2014

THE DAILY BEACON • 5 Arts & Culture Editor Jenna Butz @butzjenna

ARTS & CULTURE IMPROV

can,� Borges said. “You bring relatives down, and you do whatever you can. I especially continued from Page 1 like this group because most are Yet, upon finding Kapa’s just beginning and are always class, Borges decided to join very accepting.�

Kapa said the group’s diverse despite feeling too old for such background helps to “bring joy a lively activity. “In the beginning, you do to each class.� “A couple of us are writers, a what you can for whoever you

jkw546@vols.utk.edu

couple of us from acting backgrounds, some of us were teachers,� she said. “We have people who like to get closer to that creativeness, that creative spontaneity. And I think the idea that we come here and we laugh for two hours every Saturday is sometimes just good therapy.�

Hannah Cather • The Daily Beacon Donna Kapa, right, shows the group an element of improv on Aug. 30.

Hannah Cather • The Daily Beacon Karl Hess, left, and Alexis Tudor, right, laugh during an improv sketch.

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6 • THE DAILY BEACON

Wednesday, September 3, 2014 Sports Editor Troy Provost-Heron @TPro_UTDB

SPORTS

tprovost@vols.utk.edu

Asst. Sports Editor Dargan Southard @dsouth16 msoutha1@vols.utk.edu

FOOTBALL

Around Rocky Top

Ineffective ground game may put bowl berth on hold

Hannah Cather • The Daily Beacon Two referees share a joke before the second half of Sunday’s contest between the Vols and the Aggies.

David Cobb

GILLIAM continued from Page 1 “We have repped a number of individuals all training camp,” Jones said. “We have had a plan in place. You always have contingency plans as coaches. The great thing is Brett Kendrick, Coleman Thomas and Dontavius Blair have all garnered first team repetitions. In terms of teaching and learning it they have had as many reps as Jacob Gilliam’s has had. Now, it is about the individuals working together.

“The great thing is that they will be next to Marcus Jackson, who I thought played a very good football game Sunday night. He is experienced.”

Kendrick, however, will prob-

ably have a leg up in the competition, as he was the one who came in to replace Gilliam following his injury.

The Knoxville native hit his stride in the offseason after redshirting last year and looked comfortable in the offense during his time blocking the blindside of Justin Worley and Nathan Peterman.

“He has continued to develop and he has done a very good job of it,” Jones said. “Now it’s for real. He is really taking coaching, he listens to every word Coach Mahoney says. I’ve started to see him play with a little more of that mentality we expect. “(He’s) not there yet, not anywhere near what we expect, but I have seen marked improvement in his development. He is

very intelligent and he is very athletic.”

No matter who the fifth member of the offensive line is, whether it be Kendrick, Coleman or Blair, their counterparts in the trenches believe in their ability to step in and play.

“I’m very confident in them because the coaches recruited them for a reason and they are obviously talented enough to play that position,” redshirt junior center Mack Crowder said. “At this point, it’s just a confidence thing that we have to continue to work on and let them know ‘Hey, you’re here for a reason and you can play that position, that’s what you got recruited for.’”

While Gilliam is a redshirt senior, this injury may not mark the end of his career in the

orange and white, as the Vols’ coaching staff is currently looking into a possible medical redshirt for the 6-foot-4, 297-pound Farragut High School graduate.

“We are looking into anything and everything to exhaust all measures,” Jones said. “Right now, we are still in the investigating stages.”

And even if Gilliam’s days of suiting up for the Vols are numbered, he won’t be forgotten on this 2014 squad.

“Our players want him around,” Jones said. “They wanted to move his locker to be next to the other tackles. That is the mindset of investing in this football team right now. They are thinking about the game and about each other. That was great to see.”

Vols look to improve special teams after ‘disappointing’ performance Dargan Southard

Assistant Sports Editor (@ dsouth16)

Tennessee head coach Butch Jones wanted to make it crystal clear.

So he repeated himself not just once, but twice.

“Major, major, major improvements must occur with this football team, and that starts with special teams,” Jones said at Tuesday’s press luncheon. “We did not play winning football in the special teams game. We invest too much time in our special teams game and everyone taking ownership of their role, executing their assignment and doing their job.”

While A.J. Johnson’s forced fumble on kickoff coverage helped propel the Vols to an early two-touchdown advantage and ultimately a 38-7 win over Utah State, Jones’ overall special teams breakdown quickly morphed into a laundry list of miscues.

Most notably, freshman placekicker Aaron Medley significantly botched a 41-yard field goal attempt, while UT’s coverage unit surrendered a 36-yard kickoff return to Utah State sophomore Kennedy Williams.

“All (special teams areas) were exceptionally disappointing,” Jones said. “Everything starts with operation time. Our punt was too long. Our field goal execution was too long. Didn’t like our coverage on the punt team. Kickoff team, the kickers didn’t do a good job of placing the ball in the box. They sprayed the football, which really puts your coverage team in some challenging situations.”

Even in the return game, Knoxville native Devrin Young, who averaged nearly 26 yards per kickoff return last season, couldn’t muster any significant gains.

With the Utah State offense held in check for the better part of four quarters, the senior speedster had just two run-back opportunities, but failed to reach the Vols’ 20-yard line in each instance.

“Our kickoff return team, we didn’t maintain our blocks,” Jones said. “We didn’t play in space very well. A couple times we had some field returns. We’ve changed our scheme a little bit this year with some little nuances, and we weren’t able to get the ball back to the field.

“So there’s a lot of things, and

again, in special teams it’s one out of 11. Everyone has a job assignment to do, and again, it’s impacting the game.”

Tuesday’s special teams dissection did, however, produce a lone bright spot as Jones pegged newly crowned punt returner Cameron Sutton “a big hand” in UT’s blowout victory.

But even with the lofty praise, the second-year head coach demanded more of a supporting cast for his starting “cornerbackturned-specialist,” who corralled five fair catches but couldn’t ever find space to unleash a return.

“I thought his concentration was outstanding, but he was never given an opportunity because we didn’t win at the line of scrimmage,” Jones said. “We didn’t stay in return phase, and so just the small details of what it takes to play winning football on special teams, we didn’t do a good job.”

Weatherd working way up: Although his enrollment status remained in limbo until late July and his Knoxville arrival didn’t occur until early August, junior college transfer Chris Weatherd still managed to impact Sunday’s season-opening victory.

With only an abbreviated understanding of UT’s defensive game plan, the 6-foot-4, 225-pounder racked up a half tackle for loss early in the first quarter, teaming up with fellow linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin on the hit.

“As he continues to grasp the knowledge of the defensive scheme and also on special teams, you’ll see (Weatherd’s) role continue to be elevated within our schemes,” Jones said.

“He’s very explosive. He’s a bigbodied individual who can run, and that’s the type of individuals we need to recruit here to improve our roster. Football is very, very important to him, and he’s done a great job of picking things up.”

Safety shuffling: Despite starting 19 of 24 games in his first two collegiate seasons, junior LaDarrell McNeil’s name wasn’t penciled in as a week one first-teamer, according to the Vols’ released depth chart.

That is, until the hard-hitting Dallas native trotted out to his strong safety position on UT’s first defensive series, leapfrogging presumed starter Devaun Swafford and potential backup Todd Kelly Jr. “Just consistency and some experience,” Jones offered up as

Matthew Osborne • Tennessee Athletics Running back Devrin Young fields and returns a kickoff in the Vols’ 38-7 victory over Utah State on Aug. 31.

justification for McNeil’s start.

“But we’ll continue to evaluate our secondary. The individuals you just spoke about will continue to compete week in and week out. It will be evolving as the football team continues to evolve.

But LaDarrell McNeil had a very, very good training camp.”

In Sunday’s win, McNeil finished with two tackles and a pass breakup, while Kelly Jr.

and Swafford combined for three total takedowns.

Notes: Freshman cornerback Rashaan Gaulden was held out of practice on Tuesday as he sported a cast on his right arm.

Freshman running back Derrell Scott was also a non-participant on Haslam Field and redshirt sophomore wide receiver Jason Croom donned a green non-contact jersey.

Senior Columnist (@DavidWCobb) Tennessee football rose from a likely upset victim to a possible dark horse SEC East title contender in the eyes of some media-types Sunday night.

Who could blame a pundit for exalting the Vols after a dominating win over Utah State?

UT looked terrible on its first possession but soon corrected to a level of offensive sufficiency that it sustained throughout a 38-7 win over a respectable -- albeit midmajor – opponent.

The defense swarmed to the football and made life difficult on Utah State’s Chuckie Keeton, a quarterback that many, myself included, expected to wreak havoc on the Vols.

Instead, Keeton looked uncomfortable throughout the game.

That is an encouraging sign for seniors in the newly named “Rocky Top Rowdies” student section who would like to attend a bowl game before they leave this university without pursuing a degree from the law school while they wait.

But the Vols must still find answers to numerous questions before those who predicted them to finish at 5-7 (looking at myself) should repent for their pessimism.

Foremost on the list of concerns is UT’s running game.

Overlooked in the revelry of a dominant season-opening victory is that zero of the Vols’ 39 rushing attempts netted a gain of 10 yards or more.

That harkens flashbacks to the 2012 season when a pass-happy offense led by Tyler Bray slung the football around the field to such weapons as Justin Hunter, Cordarrelle Patterson and Mychal Rivera.

Similar talent has returned to UT’s perimeter, and on paper the backfield is better this year than in 2012 when the Vols failed to generate 100 yards on the ground against three SEC opponents.

Marlin Lane and highlytouted freshman Jalen Hurd have the talent to be dangerous but sputtered to a combined 75 yards on 22 carries behind UT’s unproven offensive line on Sunday.

Performances like that will not cut it against the elite defenses looming on Tennessee’s schedule, all of whom feature a secondary more capable of containing UT’s passing game than Utah State’s defensive backfield proved to be.

The impetus lies on the shoulders of an all-new group of linemen to generate holes for Lane and Hurd.

Lane is a capable back but he’s no magician, and Hurd cannot be expected to simply run over and around defenders at this level like he did at Beech High School in Hendersonville.

However, if running lanes do start regularly appearing, the performance of UT’s defense and passing game against Utah State indicate that the Vols are a team hungry enough to sprint all the way to a bowl game.

Extra point: A sold-out student section embraced the “Third Down for What” rallying cry on Sunday and appeared to stay engaged through much of the night.

UT coach Butch Jones praised the effort of the “Rocky Top Rowdies” after the game.

“Now here’s my challenge,” he said. “We need you at noon Saturday.”

This week’s Arkansas State game is at noon, a time that is traditionally less appealing to student ticket buyers.

I propose that if students once again purchase their entire allotment, Jones allow them to vote on which game UT will wear its gray uniforms this year.

David Cobb is a senior in journalism and electronic media and former Daily Beacon sports editor. He can be reached at dcobb3@vols. utk.edu and can be followed on Twitter at @DavidWCobb.