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E D I T O R I A L L Y

Wednesday, September 7, 2011 Issue 15

S T U D E N T

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Vol. 118

I N D E P E N D E N T

PUBLISHED SINCE 1906

N E W S P A P E R

O F

T H E

U N I V E R S I T Y

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T E N N E S S E E

Site promotes ‘reverse social networking’ Date My School emphasizes meeting new friends online first, rather than connecting with old ones Lauren Kittrell Staff Writer On Aug. 17, a social networking site launched at 350 schools nationwide. Date My School, an online platform designed specifically for students and alumni, was begun for schools across the country, including the University of Tennessee. Due to extensive press coverage from major media organizations like CNN, The New York Times and The Huffington Post, the site has reached over 31,000 members and the numbers continue to grow. Created by Columbia University classmates Balazs Alexa and Jean Meyer, Date My School was founded to connect academically driven and time-constrained students who attend school in the same geographic location. It’s purpose is to provide a unique way for students to meet students from other departments or nearby schools. The idea started with Alexa and Meyer in November of 2010. After a young woman in nursing school complained about the lack of men in his departement, the two students realized the market at stake. After opening for one week, the site had 1,300 Columbia students. Date My School is a new idea that was created by college students, for college students. It is the only reversed social networking site. The overarching idea of the site is to meet people online and then meet them off-line. The site’s plan is vital to students who really wish to get to know people and not just their profiles. Marissa Landis, a junior in art history, said an important aspect in social networking sites is to actually meet the people you are interacting with on the web.

“Despite being a forum for displaying likes and dislikes, interests and beliefs, I find that social sites don’t really do much in the way of connecting me with who a person really is,” Landis said. “I usually generalize and stereotype based on these sites only to find that the actual person is far different.” Whether people portray themselves accurately on social media sites is a frequently discussed issue, but the goal of DMS is to create an environment for students and alumni to be themselves and meet people like them from other departments in their school or – Marissa Landis in schools Junior in art history around them. This leads to the age-old question of whether social networking sites such as DMS are safe. Though some sites may prohibit complete strangers from viewing private material, DMS takes protection one step further and provides complete anonymity to users, access only to students and alumni with active university e-mail accounts, and exclusivity. Members are in full control of who can view their information, and the site is only available to select schools. The goal of Date My school is to become a platform to discover new people online. Whether for dating, rela-

tional or study purposes, DMS is the go-to place to discover new friends, not necessarily to connect with old ones. Lindsey NeSmith, a junior in journalism and electronic media, said social media has been a means of helping her stay connected with many different groups of friends. The difference between this idea and Date My School is that the site is not meant for keeping in touch with people, but actually meeting them. DMS offers students like NeSmith something more. As social media networks expand, grow and develop, they serve as a tool that users can take advantage of. “Social media has transformed our generation,” NeSmith said. “I can now talk to my friends from other countries or my family in Atlanta. Social media has created a faster and more efficient way of communicating.” Specifically for UT-Knoxville, DMS serves as an excellent resource for incoming freshmen, transfer students and upperclassmen who want to meet people outside of their department or school. Through Date My School, students and alumni can network with people from the University of TennesseeChattanooga, Middle Tennessee State University, the University of Memphis and more.

Despite being a forum for displying

likes and dislikes, interests and beliefs,

I find that social sites don’t really do much in the way of connecting me with who a person really is.”

Gay marriage ban meets next bump sued to have Proposition 8 thrown out are arguing that ballot initiative proponents cannot demonstrate that would be The Associated Press uniquely harmed if the same-sex marriage ban is declared SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California’s same-sex mar- unconstitutional. Demonstrating a concrete and particularriage ban faces its next legal test Tuesday when the state’s ized harm is the standard parties ordinarily have to meet to highest court attempts to shed light on whether the voter- be eligible to wage an appeal in federal court. California Attorney General Kamala Harris has submitted approved measure’s backers have legal authority to appeal a brief saying that in her interpretation, proponents of sucthe federal ruling that overturned Proposition 8. The California Supreme Court is scheduled to hear an cessful ballot initiatives do not have the right to defend their measures in hour of argucourt. Harris is a ments on that Democrat who question, which succeeded Gov. could prove cruJerry Brown in cial to the future January as attorof the voterney general. approved ban. If the Supreme The federal Court says the appeals court ban’s proponents that is considerdid not have ing the initiastanding to tive’s constituappeal, and if the tionality wants 9th Circuit and the state court to ultimately the weigh in on the U.S. Supreme matter before it Court ultimately issues its deciagree, it would sion. clear the way for The 9th U.S. same-sex marCircuit Court of riages to resume Appeals has in California expressed doubts because former about the ability Chief U.S. Vaughn of Proposition 8’s Walker’s verdict sponsors to chalwould stand. But lenge the lower such an outcome court ruling would also limit absent the the potential involvement of impact of the California’s govTara Sripunvoraskul • The Daily Beacon closely watched ernor or attorney general, both of Students celebrate during a flash mob on Coming Out Day on Oct. 11 to catch because it whom refused to raise awareness of LGBT issues. In San Francisco, the same-sex marriage would prevent courts appeal a federal ban faces another battle on Tuesday when the idea of appealing the fed- higher from reaching its judge’s August eral ruling that overturned Proposition 8 is questioned. constitutional 2010 decision merits. striking down the “What the court has before it are questions about how the ban as a violation of gay Californians’ civil rights. The court punted the question to the California Supreme state’s direct democracy rules should be understood to sync with its constitutionally-based ideas of representative govCourt earlier this year, saying it was a matter of state law. Lawyers for the coalition of religious and conservative ernment,” Ohio State University Moritz College of Law groups that qualified Proposition 8 for the November 2008 Marc Spindelman. “Who speaks for the people and the state ballot maintain they are legally eligible to represent the — and when? Can unelected officials determine how state majority of California voters who approved the same-sex law will be defended? Should they be allowed to defend the marriage ban. They argue that because California has such a law when state officials elected by the people to represent vigorous citizen’s initiative process, it would not make sense them will not? Are state officials who refuse to defend a legal for elected officials to effectively veto measures by not measure on appeal practically exercising a veto right that the rules of direct democracy in California do not allow? defending them in court. Proposition 8 reinstated a ban on same-sex marriages in “This is a pivotal hearing for us as we continue to fight to uphold the People’s vote to restore traditional marriage in California by amending the state Constitution to supersede California against these ferocious attacks,” Andy Pugno, a California Supreme Court ruling that had legalized gay legal counsel for the Proposition 8 coalition said in a letter unions five months earlier. The Williams Institute, a think to supporters last week. “We simply cannot allow our oppo- tank on sexual orientation and the law at the University of nents to manipulate the legal system to the point where California, Los Angeles, has estimated that 18,000 couples tied the knot during the brief window. there is nobody left to defend the People!” Lawyers for the two same-sex couples who successfully

National Greek publication comes to Knoxville campus Victoria Wright Staff Writer Campus Greeks can discover a sense of community in the form of black and white, 12-point font. First established at Indiana State University in 2009, The Odyssey newspaper is now published at more than 40 universities in the U.S., such as Penn State University and the University of California, Los Angeles. All staff is either part of a fraternity or a sorority, and the paper caters to both Panhellenic, Interfraternity Councils (IFC) fraternities and National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) sororities and fraternities. The newspaper migrated to UT recently this summer. The newspaper contacted publisher Mason McLeod with an offer to start a publication at the Knoxville campus. The first issue was published Thursday, Aug. 18. The Odyssey will be distributed every Thursday to the Greek houses, the Panhellenic Center and Laurel Hall. “It’s kind of a niche paper,” said McLeod, junior in logistics. “The whole purpose of the paper is to unite the Greek community.” The Odyssey covers a variety of articles outside of Greek events, such as writers’ columns on dating and politics. One article covered the highs and lows of dating in a recession. Currently, the newspaper has a staff of 19. Contributing editor Rob Davis hopes to see the staff grow to about 25. Most articles focus on UT Greek Life, but some articles cover Greek events held at other universities. More than 40 Panhellenic sororities, IFC fraternities and NPHC sororities and fraternities are recognized on campus, with about 2,100 Panhellenic members, 1,900 IFC members and about 150 members according to the Greek affairs offices. “A lot of people think they know (about Greek life), but they really don’t. (The Odyssey) is a good way for non-Greek people to learn about Greek students,” said Bethany Mcintosh, freshman in nursing and member of the Phi Mu sorority. In addition to gaining writing samples, The Odyssey writers also have an opportunity to add USA Today to their resume. The newspaper holds a partnership with the news source and each week, USA Today chooses one article from one of the newspaper’s campuses to publish. Brooke Miller, a freshman in speech pathology and member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority, hopes the newspaper will focus on philanthropic efforts of Greek life. “You don’t hear about that enough,” Miller said. “I think a lot of people don’t know about how we’re helping other people.” Alpha Chi Omega is involved in charity work by counseling women affected by domestic violence. Mcintosh agrees with Miller, and also hopes a sense of community between the Greek fraternities and sororities will be highlighted in future articles in The Odyssey. “I’d like to see it as a landmark on campus,” McLeod said.


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