Jones in ‘no rush’ to name a starting quarterback SPORTS >>pg. 5
@UTKDailyBeacon
Editorially independent student newspaper of the University of Tennessee since 1906
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Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Three-day festival highlights horror flicks ARTS & CULTURE >> pg. 3
Issue 47, Volume 127
Mayor Rogero discusses women in politics, journey to office “I said, well, I election. She noticed that the woman saved your life,” in front of her was driving recklessly. Rogero told a group Without a cell phone, Rogero had to of more than twenwait for the right moment to box the ty students in the woman in with her car, preventing her Mayor Madeline Rogero was once Women’s Studies from driving any further. The story heralded as a ‘road warrior.’ 340 class she viswas picked up by the local news outIt was 1994, and she was driving home to change clothes for the follow- lets and gave Rogero a ready answer • Mayor Madeline Rogero ited last Thursday. Students in the ing hours of door-to-door campaign- to her opponent’s question, “What has “Women, Politics ing for Knox County commission re- Commissioner Rogero done for you and the Law” class, taught by Rebecca recently?”
Hayley Brundige
News Editor (@hayleybrundige)
Klenk, were given the opportunity to hear about Rogero’s personal experiences and challenges as a prominent woman in Tennessee politics. “Mayor Rogero’s journey to political office is truly inspirational,” Klenk said. “She has consistently greeted the twists and turns of politics and life with energetic perseverance, creativity and verve. And, as a leader, she is committed to finding common ground.”
Born in Jacksonville, Fla., Rogero took a circuitous path to her current position as mayor. After graduating from Furman University with a degree in political science in 1979, Rogero worked with César Chávez’s United Farm Workers, a labor union advocating for better wages and conditions for migrant farm workers. See ROGERO on Page 2
Downtown hotel embodies Knoxville’s history Melodi Erdogan Copy Editor (@melodierdogan)
From left to right: Rosco, Ty, Roo, Patton and Poochie stand at attention for Cihak. “Mama’s home.” Hannah Cather • The Daily Beacon
The dog rescuer UT professor dedicates life to saving dogs, finding owners R.J. Vogt Training Editor Ty is an intimidating dog. A pit bull, his body is lean and muscular, with an oversized head and powerful jaws. He’s got a clipped canine tooth and a poorly stitched scar on his leg, signs betraying life in a dog-fighting ring. By the looks of him, he was a winner. As he wriggles to the ground and flops his prodigious hind legs into the air, he betrays the sign of his new life – under the care of UT professor and dog rescuer Stacy Cihak. “He’s the best dog ever,” she says, rubbing his belly as his tongue flops shamelessly out of his mouth. “Aren’t you, Ty?” Cihak teaches in UT’s College of Education, instructing future special
education teachers. In her free time – if you can call it that – she rescues dogs. Since she moved to Knoxville in 2005, she estimates she’s found a home for more than 200. If that sounds like a lot, imagine the five dogs roaming around her living room. She calls them her “pack” – there’s Roo, a former bait dog and the youngest in the pack; Patton, a rescue from Union County; Poochie, a funnylooking bulldog from Cocke County that Cihak suspects was inbred; Rosco, the blind alpha male and her oldest dog; and of course, Ty, who she calls “Mr. Wonderful.” (There’s another dog in the garage, but she’s dog aggressive and Cihak doesn’t bring her out.) See CIHAK on Page 2
Cihak says Roo was likely used as a bait dog in dogfighting rings. He’s the youngest and smallest of the pack. Hannah Cather • The Daily Beacon
Historic Blount mansion set to haunt, educate However, the mansion has housed more than just historical figures since its construction — and those creepy tales, myths On the outskirts of down- and mysterious happenings are town Knoxville, a historic man- what mansion officials plan to sion rests near the banks of the entertain guests with during the Tennessee River. For centuries, mansion’s “The Mysterious Past the old homestead housed of Blount Mansion Legends, Tennessee’s first governor, Customs and Myths” HalloweenWilliam Blount, along with many inspired tour this week. notable guests, such as Andrew According to Megan Stromer, Jackson and Louis Phillipe, the a fifth-year in history and psyKing of France.
Marina Waters Staff Writer
USC speaker to discuss religious similarities NEWS >>pg. 2
chology and current lead docent at the mansion, the tour will include history on William Blount, his family and the many deaths that took place in the mansion. But the tour will also reveal lesser-known stories about the house’s mysterious past as well. “We’re exploring more of the history of the mansion that we don’t tell all the time,” Stromer said. “Some of the stuff that actu-
ally went on while the Blount’s were living here and how some of that stuff can have a lingering effect today.” Those still lingering at the historic site will be featured along with a bit of colonial Halloween history and a few Native American myths to set the scene for the haunted evenings. David Hernes, assistant to the director at Blount Mansion, shared with The Daily Beacon
“Looking at the doleful eyes of a big hound in the window, I wondered how much time he had left.” VIEWPOINTS >>pg. 4
the tour’s storylines and focuses throughout the event. “We’re also going to be telling some of the Cherokee ghost stories like the Raven Mocker, which was an evil spirit who would steal your spirit while you’re dying, or Spearfinger, who takes the form of an old lady and will cut out children’s livers,” Hernes said. See BLOUNT MANSION on Page 3
AJ Dave, a born and raised Knoxvillian, has spent years around the downtown and greater Knoxville area. But like many Scruffy City natives, Dave never knew there was a hotel on Market Square. At least, not until six years ago. “A lot of people, even Knoxville residents, walk downtown and see the building and say, ‘Oh, it’s a hotel. I’ve never noticed a hotel here,’” Dave said. “Even though this has been a hotel since the early ‘80s.” Dave, who discovered the Oliver Hotel when he was invited to a party in one of the rooms, now works as guest services manager. Located at 1 Market Square, the square’s oldest building and street address, the Oliver Hotel is Knoxville’s only boutique hotel. The staff of this unique establishment focus on customer comfort and ease through southern hospitality, Dave said. “The majority of the reviews (on TripAdvisor) talk about how good the service was as far as just the fact that we’re courteous,” Dave said. “We make it a point to try and not say no to anything.” The hotel also capitalizes on Knoxville’s history and culture by injecting historical quirks and idiosyncrasies throughout its interior and exterior. Whether it’s the original, locally made furniture or the artwork, the Oliver Hotel reeks of history and character. Built in 1876 as the Peter Kern Bakery, a confectionary opened by Confederate soldier Peter Kern after the Civil War, the Market Square landmark has withstood decades of historical events in Knoxville. Not only was it the personal bakery of Kern, who served a brief term as Knoxville’s mayor in the 1890s, it also later became The Blakely House, a hotel that housed VIP guests for the 1982 World’s Fair, and finally the St. Oliver Hotel, which established the hotel’s current style. Current owners, Ethan Orley and Philip Welker – who are planning similar boutique hotels in Atlanta and Nashville - bought the property in 2010 for $1.53 million. See OLIVER on Page 2
Rocky Horror Picture Show a letdown at Tennessee Theatre ARTS & CULTURE >>pg. 3