Issue 29, Volume 121
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
‘Today’ show perseveres despite weather Justin Joo Staff Writer Despite the ominous gray clouds hovering overhead, hundreds of UT students, faculty, alumni and fans trekked to the Hill to see Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb of the “Today” show. “It is Oct. 1 and it is ‘Moonshine Monday,’” Gifford said as the “fourth hour” segment began. “We heard a rumor that this was a dry campus,” Kotb joked. “But we came anyway.” The “Today” show visited UT’s campus after winning “Today’s College Challenge.” To win, UT had to demonstrate they had the most school spirit, and did so. The Volunteers beat out many colleges, including the Ohio State University, University of South Florida and Syracuse University. The two hosts were decked out in just as much UT orange and white as the ecstatic audience. Both wore white pants and UT football jerseys. Gifford sported #16 as a reference to former Vols quarterback Peyton Manning, while Kotb was wearing Justin Hunter’s #11. The show featured an array of activities, including makeovers to some of UT’s staff, an interview with country singer Kip Moore, a trivia competition between Gifford and Kotb against college students, a sign contest, a pretaped segment touring the campus and sampling tailgating cuisine. The show ended with a musical performance by Moore. Haley Hagood, senior in logistics, and Kaitlin Houser, junior in marketing, came out to the Hill because she is a huge fan of Gifford and Kotb’s show. Houser arrived at 7:30 a.m. and Hagood arrived at 9:15. “I watch it every day,” Hagood said. “It was awesome. I still can’t believe that they were that close.” Houser was impressed that people still came out to the show despite the poor weather conditions. But considering the contest that brought Gifford and Kotb to UT, she’s really not surprised. “It was a contest about who had the most school spirit,” Houser said, “and it definitely showed in the rain.”
Houser was also glad that UT was getting some positive publicity. “It cancels some of the negative attention we’ve gotten lately,” Houser said, referring to the recent Pi Kappa Alpha (PIKE) incident and football losses against Florida and Georgia. Some audience members weren’t necessarily fans of Gifford and Kotb’s show, but were just interested in being part of the hubbub. Students such as Josh Wolfe, senior in English, enjoyed the spectacle regardless of not regularly watching the “Today” show. “It is pretty good,” Wolfe said. “I think it’s good for the campus. It’ll get us some positive feedback.” Wolfe’s friend Caitlin Taylor, junior in English, shared the sentiment. “I think it’s good to get some good publicity for a change, especially after the whole PIKE thing,” Taylor said. “And it’s exciting because it gives us a chance to show school spirit.” Both Wolfe and Taylor arrived at 8 a.m. Even at that early hour, Taylor said it was already crowded. For some in the crowd, seeing the “Today” show air wasn’t just entertainment but the conclusion of several weeks of hard work. UT’s Office of Communications & Marketing had been instrumental in working with the “Today” show and helping organizing the event. Rebekah Winkler, communications coordinator, was one of the staff from Communications & Marketing that helped with the show. She said that a lot of hard work was involved in working with the producers of the show. “We tried to let them know what to expect when they came here,” Winkler said. “We tried to help with anything they would need when they arrived in Knoxville.” That help included getting in contact with the many student groups that appeared on the show, including the Spirit Squad, UT’s cheerleaders, Smokey and many others. Communications & Marketing also helped gather props and organized the pre-taped segments of the show. See TODAY SHOW on Page 3
Melodi Erdogan Staff Writer
Emily DeLanzo Managing Editor Fall asleep or fall into addiction? Members in the UT community face internal challenges daily in the Starbucks line, struggling to decide on the most caffeinated beverage to accomplish the day’s tasks. One of the largest problems on college campuses lies in a small coffee cup. Caffeine can appear in the shape of energy drinks, gum and coffee, all of which enable students to neglect sleep. Caffeine is a stimulant derived from plants, seeds, nuts or beans which energizes the user’s nervous system and is often used as a study aid. Emily Williams, freshman in French and linguistics, regularly drinks up to
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Annie Freeland • The Daily Beacon
Kathie Lee and Hoda came to the Hill on Monday morning to film the fourth hour of the “Today” show after UT won their college contest.
seven cups of coffee a day and often frequents the library. “I guess I could go without coffee but I don’t know what I’d do without it,” Williams said. “Especially if I’m pulling an all-nighter that night, I need coffee and espresso to stay awake.” Williams views herself as a coffee addict, and she is not alone. According to a study conducted by the University of Dayton, caffeine is America’s most used drug. It alters the mental states of users and has influenced millions of Americans. Caffeine addictions thrive on college campuses with deadlines, exams and the constant struggle for time. Caffeine addictions aren’t only limited to students. This need for caffeine extends to faculty members and includes other drinks as well. See CAFFEINE on Page 3
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