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Knoxville’s newest pie shop helps folks get their fill on tasty treats with a hint of Southern charm

See which albums, films the Beacon’s Arts and Culture staff chose as the best of 2013

Sigma Kappa helps students Hold ‘Em like they do in Texas for a charitable cause

ARTS & CULTURE >>pg. 6

NEWS >>pg. 2

The Beacon’s Pick ‘Ems competition is in its final week, see the staff’s exiting thoughts

ARTS & CULTURE >>pg. 5

SPORTS >>pg. 11

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Issue 69, Volume 124

Pi Kappa Phi’s revoked charter causes latest stir for UT Greek life Staff Writer

On Friday, the national office of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity announced the closure of its UT chapter, which will not be allowed to recolonize until August 2017. Investigations into hazing allegations at Pi Kappa Phi are continuing, and members could face criminal charges, according to a UT release. In a letter signed by Dudley F. Woody, national president of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, the UT chapter violated the risk management policies and standard of conduct laid out by the fraternity’s national headquarters. The national release noted violations by UT’s chapter included collective involvement in hazing and the use, sale and/or possession of alcohol and drugs. Allegations of hazing last spring propelled the fraternity toward disciplinary probation starting this fall. This placed the fraternity on notice but allowed it to function as normal. Incidents of hazing continued this semester and led to the closure of the chapter. The UT Police Department received a report on Nov. 22 from a parent claiming his son and other new members pledging for Pi Kappa Phi were being

physically and verbally attacked during fraternity activities. The parent provided evidence of this misconduct in the form of a photo showing a new member bleeding after a fraternity event. “In this situation, it seemed like the entire chapter was involved with hazing, and it was rampant throughout the entire pledging process,” said James Jackson, associate director of Student Judicial Affairs. “This wasn’t one isolated incident.” Several incidents involving drugs and alcohol at Pi Kappa Phi this semester also contributed to the closure of the chapter, including the Nov. 2 arrest of two fraternity members for underage drinking, indecent exposure and public intoxication. Now, members will not be allowed to live in the fraternity house and must find alternate housing for next semester, according to Lindi Smedberg, director of Sorority and Fraternity Life. “There are 21 men who are living in the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity house right now,” Smedberg said. “With it being so close to final exams, our office and Pi Kappa Phi Headquarters thought it would be best to allow them to remain in the house so they can focus on their studies.” See FRATERNITIES on Page 2

Who’s left on Fraternity Row? • Graphic courtesy of Dillon Canfield

Hayley Brundige

Fraternity Park Drive has 13 houses; in the past five semesters, five of those houses have been suspended or forced out (symbolized by the red lines). Phi Gamma Delta, Pi Kappa Alpha and Pi Kappa Phi were removed from their houses; Lambda Chi Alpha and Sigma Chi are on interim suspension.

Spanish department unveils second annual ‘Cultural Oscars’ Community Michael Tremoulis Contributor

With the Academy Awards approaching, UT’s Spanish department will put on an Oscars presentation of its own. This event, entitled “The Cultural Oscars,” will be held Wednesday, Dec. 4, at 2 p.m. in the Black Cultural Center.

For the second year in a row, students in intensive 150 and 112 Spanish classes created a semester-long video project that depicts aspects of Spanish culture, and the department will host an awards show where the students’ work is judged and graded. “There are several topics for them to choose from – for example, music, dance, art, food and sports,” said

Patricia Harriman, a Spanish professor who helps with the event. The videos are generally around five minutes long, put together by students in groups of three, and uploaded in advance to YouTube or Vimeo so they can be viewed at the event. The project is worth 10 percent of the students’ grade, and since it’s a semester long project, professors make

the students have certain deadlines throughout the semester so students don’t get behind. At the “Cultural Oscars,” students can win prizes if their video places in first, second or third. If a group places first, they win $150, and second and third get monetary awards as well.

Former Tennessee senior defensive lineman Maurice Couch admitted to accepting impermissible cash benefits during his playing career in an interview with Tennessee Sports Radio on Monday morning. Couch, who was speaking publicly for the first time since allegations surfaced about him accepting money from a man acting as a liaison for NFL agents in September, stated he accepted the money out of necessity to provide for his family. “I’m not a traditional student-athlete,” Couch said. “I’m married. I have a child. So the stuff they give us, if I was just a normal student-athlete, I believe it can help to a certain extent, but when you have

a young one and your wife, there’s more you have to bring to the table. “I was at a point where I was going to lose my family, and me, I know I wouldn’t be able to focus without knowing that my family would be taken care of. I used all my resources possible. I couldn’t get any help, so as a father, I did what I felt like I had to for my family.” Couch, who transferred to Tennessee from Garden City C.C. after the 2010 season, said he had no family support and because of his money situation, his own family was at risk of being broken up. “We don’t have any family support in Tennessee,” Couch said. “My family is in Florida, and her family is in Kansas, so she would have to go back to Kansas to have support and to have some stability.” See MO COUCH on Page 10

Donald Page • Tennessee Athletics

Former Tennessee defensive lineman Mo Couch talks to his teammates during the Vols’ 52-20 victory over the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Neyland Stadium on Sept. 7. Couch was ruled permanently ineligible by the NCAA after it was found he accepted impermissible benefits.

“I understood how important recording was to her, because I was now feeling that desperate urge to collect what was already slipping through my hands.” @UTDailyBeacon www.utdailybeacon.com

Megan Sadler

Contributor

See CULTURAL OSCARS on Page 6

Couch admits to accepting money during UT career Staff Report

college route offers low-cost bridge to UT

ARTS & CULTURE >>pg. 7

Due in part to rising college tuition, beginning post-secondary education at community colleges is emerging as a popular path for high school graduates. Tuition at Pellissippi State Community College is based on the number of classes students are enrolled in, unlike UT’s flat rate for full time or part time courses. Students who transfer to UT from Pellissippi with a minimum 3.0 GPA may apply for a $1,500 per year scholarship which could help save additional dollars. R a c h el C ra g l e , Pellissippi’s advising director, has worked at the community college for 17 years. “Of the students who transfer to UT, I would say that the majority of them end up staying to get their degree,” Cragle said. “Most of them plan on transferring out after a year, but most of the time, they just end up staying.” Cheyenne Lewis, a freshman at Pellissippi, plans on transferring to a four-year college like ETSU after completing two years of course work. See COMMUNITY COLLEGE on Page 2

INSIDE THE DAILY BEACON News Opinions Arts & Culture Sports

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