The Daily Beacon

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Issue 53, Volume 121

Thursday, November 8, 2012

SGA considers gender neutral housing David Cobb Assistant News Editor On Tuesday afternoon as election coverage began permeating the airwaves, Jacob Clark, an elected official in his own right, presented a bill to SGA’s Student Senate that could lead to a change within the UT housing culture. Bill 0113, named “Bill to Promote Gender Neutral Housing at the University of Tennessee,” went through the first of two presentations at the Senate’s biweekly meeting. Clark represents the College of Arts and Sciences. He also sits on SGA’s Diversity Affairs Committee. “What I mean when I say gender neutral housing is an option available where males and females can live in the same apartment or suite just like they can in real life,” Clark, a junior in College Scholars, said. “Some schools define it as a male and female living in the same room, but we know that’s probably not going to happen here.” The bill asks that UT Housing and the Division of Student Life develop a plan to implement gender neutral housing by the fall of 2014 with the help of SGA, URHC and “other interested individuals.” Under Clark’s proposal, the option would benefit families with siblings who were interested in sharing a university space, as well as those in relationships, others simply desiring to room with a co-ed group and those within the transgender File Photo • The Daily Beacon community. “A large part of the push for it at other schools has been the Dorms on campus may see gender neutral options following passage of a bill that is being presented to SGA’s fact that you have a significant, maybe not particularly large, Student Senate. but a significant transgender population that wants that option,” Clark said. “Because right now, they might not feel staff to see it’ll be implemented and how it can be implement- rum when students began trickling out of the meeting between ed.” the presentation of legislation and president Adam Roddy’s that they necessarily fit in a strictly female or male setting.” The bill will be up for vote Nov. 20. It will need a 51 percent presentation of the organization’s altered constitution. SGA Vice President Terry Nowell is also in favor of the bill, “That’s something that we’re definitely hoping to address in saying that he foresees its implementation as coming two or majority from the senators to pass. Clark and Nowell both anticipate that it will do so successfully. this next couple weeks by allowing senators to realize the three years down the road. “The people who will make these decisions have been very expectations one more time, and if they’re not willing to com“Yeah I think it is one of the bigger ones,” Nowell said. “To change the actual way that students live and the way they asso- warm to it,” Clark said. “So I don’t think it’s going to be that mit to those, then we’ll be looking for people to fill those roles ciate with people in the residence halls, I don’t think it’s impos- difficult. But having it passed through the senate and the because we should take this seriously,” Nowell said. “We’re repsible by any means. I definitely think it’s something that stu- URHC protects them when someone doesn’t like what they’re resenting the students, and if people aren’t taking it seriously dent government can tackle. I’ll be working with (Clark), doing. They can say ‘we’re just doing what the students want.’” then it is going to be a very ineffective council and that’s not Tuesday’s Student Senate meeting nearly lost voting quo- what anybody in student government wants.” URHC and also with a lot of the residents associates and their

Baker Center holds election watch party Samantha Smoak Staff Writer Students donned their Obama and Romney gear in support of their chosen candidate at the Baker Center as the election results rolled in on Tuesday night. More than 60 students attended the election watch party. The event was co-sponsored by the Baker Ambassadors and the Honors Council to foster a safe environment for learning and discussion. “We (the Baker Ambassadors and Honors Council) wanted a place for students to go that was bipartisan … (and where) discussion could occur,” said Lisa Dicker, a junior in political science and Asian studies. “In this room we have Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians and people who don’t really know either way and people who don’t care, and it just makes for a great discussion.” In addition to watching the election results come in, the Baker Ambassadors facilitated political charades. Students would act out famous political figures such as Bill O’Reilly, Ann Romney, Joe Biden, Hilary Clinton and other current political figures. Historical political figures such as William H. Taft and Franklin D. Roosevelt were also included in the game. There was also a running poll about election issues that

students could text their answers in for. “(They are) general questions about who you voted for … and more specific questions like ‘who do you think is going to run in 2016?’ or ‘do you think it’s unpatriotic to not vote?,’” said Dicker, who also serves as a Baker Ambassador. “None of them are just ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ You can fully explain.” The poll also included questions that ranged from fun questions like who had better arms, Michelle Obama’s pilates arms or Paul Ryan’s p90x arms, to more serious questions like if students thought the current system of the Electoral College works. Students were also asked in the poll what issue was the deciding factor on who they cast their vote for and which issues they wished received more coverage. Kevin Brown, sophomore in public relations, hopes that students will learn that the voice of young adults is important in this election and others like it. “I really hope that students will learn throughout the night that we do really have a voice, and (the importance of) getting out there and making sure your voice is heard. Whether or not you think it matters, it really does … you need to get yourself out there (and vote),” said Brown, who also serves as the Public Relations Committee Co-Chair for the Honors Council. See BAKER CENTER on Page 2

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Around Rocky Top

Green party fights for votes in red state Sam Scott Contributor

Tara Sripunvoraskul • The Daily Beacon

Olympic gold medal hurdler Aries Merritt, a Volunteer alumnus, waves to the crowd during the Troy game on Saturday. He was honored during a media timeout for winning the gold in the 110m hurdles in the London 2012 Olympics.

Check out the Weekender page 3

Barley’s Taproom and Pizzeria in the Old City is a popular restaurant and bar that offers a vibrant social scene on most nights. But on Election Day, it became a gathering place for those wanting to watch the election results come in, including the local chapter of the Green Party of Tennessee. Among those in attendance were Martin Pleasant, who was running to represent Tennessee in the US Senate, and Calvin Cassady, hoping to represent District 15 in the Tennessee House of Representatives. “It’s been pretty exciting. I met a lot of UT Students and a lot of them are going to vote for me. It was really a positive sign, particularly the ones who researched the race,” said Pleasant, dressed in a full suit for the special evening. Pleasant was running against incumbent Republican Bob Corker, who ultimately won the election, and Democratic nominee Mark Clayton; Clayton, however, was disavowed by the state party shortly after winning the primary. “Mark Clayton is associated with a known hate group in Washington, D.C.,

• Photo courtesy of Calvin Cassidy

and the Tennessee Democratic Party disavows his candidacy, will not do anything to promote or support him in any way, and urges Democrats to write in a candidate of their choice in November,” read a statement by the Tennessee Democrats. “There was a progressive choice on the ballot: me. It’s been a very positive response,” said Pleasant. For Pleasant, one of the most important aspects of the campaign and for the future of the party is to reach out to a younger demographic. “Young people need to be engaged at a younger age. We need to bring young people into the process so they can start participating, teaching and educating about our system, and understanding ... how the vote affects them,” he said. See VOTES on Page 3

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