Daily Beacon Welcome Back 2016

THE DAILY BEACON PRESENTS 2016

What the Daily Beacon staff wishes they knew...

“You’re going to feel like you’re failing half the time.. That’s why a grading curve exists.”

- Presley Smith, Opinions Editor

“Don’t worry about tomorrow, just focus on today. Because we never really have tomorrow. Just when tomorrow is almost here, it becomes today.”

-Tom Cruise, News Editor

“I wish I knew how terrible my general health would become after making pizza and wine my main food groups. But hey, no regrets. ” - Caroline Norris, Design Editor

“I wish I knew to go to class BEFORE buying books.Would have saved some money.”

- Shane Switzer, Asst. Sports Editor “I wish I knew that it is a great idea to get out and do as much as possible, even if it doesn’t sound like something that you would normally do.“ - Alex Philips, Photo Editor “Just say no to drugs.”

- Tyler Warner,Photo Editor

WELCOMEBACK

Friday, August 12, 2016 • The Daily Beacon

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Welcome back—or maybe I should say nice to meet you. Either way, you’re here now and that’s all that matters.

You’re here on a campus with with nearly 30,000 students and over 1,500 faculty. That’s a lot of people who for one reason or another chose to make UT their home. Universities are looking more and more like corporations these days, but when you look at UT, try to look past the branding, the marketing and the background noise, and try to see the people who make up your community.

This summer, we suffered a huge blow to our community when our state legislature decided that funding an office for diversity on campus was no longer necessary. During a frantic game of musical chairs between every program, office, position and person in the former Office of Diversity and Inclusion, each piece of the office was funneled under a different chain of command at UT or just dissolved completely. I fear we have yet to even experience the full weight of what this law will mean for our campus.

But, the truth is, you can’t shake diversity from this campus. Because this campus is built on roughly 30,000 people who bring different experiences, perspectives, opinions and goals.

And as much as the TN legislature or even our own administration tries to turn this commu-

nity into one that helps increase their “brand,” there wouldn’t be a brand without the students and faculty—without the more than 30,000 unique pieces that make up our community.

We’re all here with a similar goal: to improve ourselves so we can go on to improve something else, someone else or somewhere else. But we can’t forget our responsibility to improve the community we’re a part of now.

There are a lot of things to be proud of at UT, but there’s always room for growth. Whether you agree with the legislature’s decision or not, it’s every students responsibility to make their own diverse mark — one of almost 30,000 — on our university.

For better or for worse, and for whatever reason that you’re here, don’t forget to pay attention to what’s going on around you and to engage with your campus. Be part of this community. Look for the areas that need improvement and be the person to improve them. UT is our home, and we have a duty to take care of her. And in the meantime, we’ll tell your stories.

Welcome to UT. Welcome to our community.

There’s a lot of work to do here.

Your Editor-in-Chief, Bradi Musil

THE DAILY BEACON STAFF

EDITORIAL

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Editor-in-Chief: Bradi Musil Managing Editor: Megan Patterson Chief Copy Editor: Hannah Moulton News Editor: Tom Cruise Asst. News Editor: Chris Salvemini Sports Editor: Trenton Duffer Asst. Sports Editor: Shane Switzer Arts & Culture Editor: Bryanne Brewer Online & Social Media Editor: Millie Tunnel Digital Producer: Altaf Nanavati Opinons Editor: Presley Smith Special Projects Editor: Jenna Butz Photo Editors: Alex Phillips, Tyler Warner Design Editors: Lauren Ratliff, Caroline Norris

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The Daily Beacon • Friday, August 12, 2016

Rocky Top, you’ll always be Home sweet home to me.

Good ole Rocky Top, Rocky Top Tennessee, Rocky Top Tennessee.

WELCOMEBACK

Friday, August 12, 2016 • The Daily Beacon

• File Photo

Tuition increase lowest in 32 years Presley Smith

Opinions Editor For the upcoming fiscal year of 2016-2017, the UT Board of Trustees approved the lowest tuition increase since 1984 at 2.2 percent.

Previous increases in recent years have been as high as 8-12 percent.

This year’s price raise will include a three percent salary increase for most university employees.

In his annual address to the trustees, UT Knoxville President Joe DiPietro said, “we have a lot of challenges, but we also have a lot of opportunities, as I see it, as an institution.”

He explained that the main challenge is keeping the university affordable to students coming from both in and out of state. DiPietro said that this is why keeping the increase low was so important to the board this year.

With the increase, incoming freshman can expect to pay nearly $12,500 a year, at both UT Knoxville and UT Chattanooga.

State funding can change every year, which requires tuition alterations from the university, but for every percentage point increase in tuition fees, UT receives around $4.5 million from the state.

“We predicted two years ago that by the time we got to the year 2025 we’d have a $34 million deficit in a single year,” DiPietro explained in a press release. “It’s been really

challenging to deal with that type of a projection and say to our chancellors that we need to close that gap. That means we need to cut costs or increase revenue.”

However, Jimmy Cheek, soon to be previous chancellor of the university, explained in an email to students that “the out-of-state portion of undergraduate tuition will not increase, so out-of-state undergraduates will pay about 1 percent more for tuition over last year’s rate.”

He goes on to explain that students will see “small increases in the Facilities Fee and Student Program and Services Fee,” but there is an exception.

“The exception are students who first enrolled in fall 2013, spring 2014, or summer 2014, who will see a three percent increase over last year,” Cheek explained. “These students were the first to pay tuition based on the 15–4 model and have been held to three percent annual tuition increases each year, even when rate increases for other students were higher.”

The budget also creates a position for a special advisor for diversity and inclusion, which was filled by Noma Anderson on July 1, a position that DiPietro said is needed due to the concern about diversity and inclusion at UT. The budget was approved by the trustees and took effect on July 1.

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The Daily Beacon • Friday, August 12, 2016

WELCOMEBACK

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Friday, August 12, 2016 • The Daily Beacon

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Group promotes education, gun safety among women Anu Kumar

Staff Writer

Guns have been a hot-button topic recently as the possibility of gun law reforms loom over head. In East Tennessee and Knoxville especially, after the recent gun carry permit law implemented on our university’s campus, firearm safety seems to be the talk of the town.

Now, women in Knoxville have more opportunity to join in on the conversation surrounding gun safety and education with the formation of a Smokey Mountain Knoxville Chapter of The Well Armed Women organization, a national group that encourages firearm education among women and boasts 249 chapters nationwide and over 8,500 members.

“I was always interested in guns,” Mea Meyers, one of the leaders of the Smokey Mountain Knoxville Chapter, said. “Several years ago I was looking for women’s groups … there really wasn’t much going on in the form of women shooting. There are women’s classes, but it’s not the same thing like with shooting with women.”

The Knoxville chapter is hosted by Tactical Advantage Corp, which also hosts Aphrodite, another local women’s firing group that was

formed several years ago. Soon, Aphrodite will be merged with the Knoxville chapter of The Well Armed Women organization, providing them the opportunity to make a greater impact.

“Being in a women’s group, especially in our meetings, it’s a very safe, nonthreatening environment,” Trish Mancini, another co-leader of the chapter, said. “We’re always looking for more women to come out.”

Statistically, women in the U.S. are more likely to be victims of homicide, suicide or accidental firearm deaths where there is a higher availability of guns. Giving women guns won’t solve this problem; however, teaching women how to use them could aid in reducing the risk.

During the meetings, which are held monthly for two hours with the first hour being education and the second hour spent on the shooting range, women who are 21 and older are welcome to come to the ladies’ shoots and attend educational classes. Mancini and Meyers also expressed interest in catering to the 18 to 20 age group since a large flagship campus is in the same city at the chapter.

Ultimately, the goal of this group is to educate, empower and equip women while broadening the general understanding of firearms and taking away any fear that new shooters may have about handling the a gun.

“We love having people who haven’t even

touched a gun [before] and educating them,” Mancini said. “Sometimes it’s being afraid of the gun. Sometimes it brings up something that’s happened in the past that leads them to want to be able to protect themselves.”

Experiences can range from being verbally harassed in a public place or a situation of domestic violence. No matter the knowledge, or lack-thereof, of firearms, TWAW welcomes all backgrounds. The objective is to not only provide a safe space for women, but also to allow them to make friends in the process.

“There are lots of women around here who are very knowledgeable, very skilled and they want to teach,” Mancini said.

“There’s endless possibilities in what we could do.”

Protecting oneself is a natural instinct, and firearm safety and training is a way for women to just that. It is also a way for women to feel empowered about their safety and give them a little peace of mind.

You can find the Smokey Mountain Chapter’s booth at local gun shows in Knoxville area and can also find them on facebook.

• Photo courtesy of Trish Mancini

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The Daily Beacon • Friday, August 12, 2016

UT settles federal Title IX lawsuit Staff Report In July, UT settled the federal Title IX lawsuit filed against it for $2.48 million. This decision was made just two days before a response to the case was due in the U.S. District Court.

The settlement is awaiting approval by U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger of Nashville.

The Title IX lawsuit against UT was filed on Feb. 24, 2016 and accused the university of violating Title IX and for mishandling sexual assault cases, primarily cases against university student athletes. A trial had originally been set for May 2018.

“My clients and I are dismissing the lawsuit with prejudice and signed the settlement agreement,” David Randolph Smith, who rep-

resented the eight plaintiffs in the lawsuit, said. “We are satisfied that, while universities everywhere struggle with these issues, the University of Tennessee has made significant progress in the way they educate and respond to sexual assault cases.

“My clients and I are also convinced that the University’s leadership is truly committed to continue its exemplary efforts to create a model as it relates to sexual misconduct.”

UT announced in a statement that they are not admitting guilt or negligence with the decision to settle.

Joe DiPietro, UT System President, said that in the coming weeks after the settlement, he appointed an “independent commission” to review the withstanding around programs and efforts that cycle around sexual assault and made further recommendations to strengthen

those units.

“I continue to say that one incident of sexual misconduct is one too many,” DiPietro said. “But unfortunately, on a college campus, these incidents will happen. When they do, I want the confidence of knowing that we did everything within our power to appropriately deal with the situation, and we provided the necessary support for all involved.

“There are no excuses for anything less.”

The state has already paid nearly $221,000 in legal fees and other expenses. As for the $2.48 million settlement, half will be paid for by the athletic department while the other half will be paid by the UT Knoxville Central Administration. No student tuition and fees, taxpayer dollars nor donor fees will be used to fund the settlement.

TN fires into first place in accidental shootings Chris Salvemini

Asst. News Editor

YO U R S . M I N E .

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FO OD WORTH SHARING.

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The Tennessee state legislature’s campus carry law, which allows full-time faculty members to carry concealed firearms onto authorized areas of campus, went into effect on July 1, 2016—just two years after Tennessee was ranked the number one state in the U.S. with the most accidental shooting deaths.

And, the campus carry law was originally introduced on Jan. 21, one day before the Center for Disease Control released a report that documented 105 unintentional firearm deaths in Tennessee in 2014. In 2013, Tennessee recorded 19 accidental shooting deaths compared to 40 in North Carolina and Texas.

“I went back and forth with the department of health because I figured that had to be a typo, or maybe they changed some way that they’re coding these things no,” said Beth Roth, the executive director and policy director of the Safe Tennessee Project, which works to limit gun related injuries and gun violence in Tennessee.

“They provided me with confirmation that those were, in fact, the numbers.”

Accidental shootings fall in a legal gray area; most of the time, people are not charged with a crime when a gun accidentally fires. If the shooting involves a child that obtained a loaded firearm and shot themselves or someone else, there is rarely legal action.

“What happens in a lot of these cases is that there are no charges filed on the gun owner, on the person who made the decision to leave a loaded firearm not secured, knowing that they

had children in their house,” Roth said.

To address some of the concerns surrounding the campus-carry law, the University of Tennessee Police Department held a press conference on June 16, where Chief of Police Troy Lane spoke about the department’s plans regarding the law.

The UTPD will offer voluntary classes concentrating on gun safety; the first class took place on July 1. The classes will not include any hands-on instruction, such as how to load or fire a handgun, but instead it will address technical aspects of gun safety, such as selecting the right holster and where people can and cannot carry guns.

“It is really going to focus mostly on if, God forbid, we had an active shooter on campus, what would be your responsibility as a carrier? Because it’s not to act as a police officer; we want you to secure yourself, secure those around you and protect them, and let the police intervene and handle the situation,” Lane said during the press conference.

Responsible gun ownership is something One Shot, a gun training store in Knoxville, is committed to teaching. While it does not have a storefront, the owners Caleb Scheafnocker and his wife routinely schedule and teach classes on gun safety and shooting. Caleb has a career in security, and he and his wife are certified by the NRA to be pistol instructors and range safety officers and by the state of Tennessee to teach concealed carry classes.

“Once you do something for a long time, similar to getting in your car and driving to work, how many times do people actually get there and stop and think, ‘I don’t even remember the drive today,’” Scheafnocker said. “It’s the same thing, just maintaining a level of

awareness.”

What defines safety can vary from person to person. For people who oppose the campus carry law, safety involves tighter gun restrictions in order to avoid needless death. The UTK faculty senate ran a survey in April to determine if faculty would feel safer with guns on campus. Out of the more than 500 responses, 87 percent of the faculty said they would feel less safe with guns, and that they would not feel comfortable with guns in the classroom.

For proponents of the law, more guns can mean more security against people who would want to harm innocent people and can prevent needless death.

“Officers cannot be everywhere all the time, it’s impossible. I believe that it is every Americans responsibility to be able to protect themselves, just because it is not the government’s responsibility to protect us,” Scheafnocker said.

Full-time faculty, including maintenance staff, professors and researchers, will be able to carry concealed weapons into large and small lecture halls while class is being held, laboratories, residence halls and dorm rooms, public demonstrations and student organization meetings.

However, guns are prohibited from anywhere there are medical or mental health services being provided, disciplinary hearings or meetings about tenure, property not owned by the university and university-sponsored events. These include football games, presentations from guests or other events that may use university property but are considered out-ofSee SHOOTINGS on Page 12

WELCOMEBACK

Friday, August 12, 2016 • The Daily Beacon

Roadwork brings chaos to Strip Anu Kumar

Staff Writer

Construction is something that universally tests people’s patience. And with a college campus as large as UT’s, construction can make getting around even more complicated as well as frustrating.

The area of Cumberland Avenue that runs adjacent to the university, otherwise known as “The Strip,” has been under construction for quite some time. Even though the long term outcomes of the project are beneficial, the short term hassles are enough to irritate the short-sighted college student. However, students are not the only ones experiencing inconveniences.

Portions of Cumberland Avenue have been fenced off for safety precautions.

Unfortunately, this also blocks some foot traffic from going into local businesses that occupy the strip. Some establishments have taken a heavier toll than others, such as Dominos.

Matt Clark, the assistant manager at the Cumberland location mentioned that the construction, “has definitely put a dent in (the business).” Most people who would come into Dominos for a carry out order no longer do, which has heavily decreased in-store traffic. Their number of deliveries has increased, however, since navigating the street can be daunting for some.

The impact of the street’s construction is different for each business. Moe’s does not see much of a depreciable difference.

“Last year was more challenging than this year,” Scott Frisk, the general manager

• File Photos

at the Cumberland location, said. “I think this year people are realizing that it’s not so difficult. Last year they were more afraid of (the construction).”

Copper Cellar has had a similar experience. The business was hit hard last year, but the effects are easing up this year.

Insomnia Cookies, however, has had little to no negative impact from the construction at any point, because its business comes from late night deliveries when the prime time of construction, and traffic, has stopped.

The Cumberland Avenue Corridor project has and will continue to communicate to the businesses on the strip about any possible hindrances, such as entrances being blocked by fences or workers shutting off the water supplied to the building.

“We have worked diligently with the

Cumberland Avenue Merchants Association and individual business and property owners to communicate what to expect and when,” Anne Wallace, the project manager, said.

The goal of the project is to create a more economically efficient, as well as safe, Cumberland Avenue. The plan itself includes a rezoning plan to address new zoning requirements and the addition of more pedestrian space. This can benefit both the university and the businesses in the long run.

Currently, Phase Two of construction is in effect and is scheduled to be completed sometime in August 2017. If any circumstances require this completion date to move, businesses that would be directly impacted will be contacted immediately.

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The Daily Beacon • Friday, August 12, 2016

UT graduate sociology program earns top ten ranking in country Chris Salvemini

Asst. News Editor Getting among the Top 25 isn’t a concern for UT’s graduate sociology program which earned ninth in a new ranking released by the SR Education Group this past summer.

The ranking measures the quality of graduate degree programs by measuring student satisfaction, with the idea that only students can tell whether a program is worth it.

UT’s communications graduate program also earned 12th place among 300 schools across the country. In order to be considered for a spot in the top 15 schools for a program, at least five students must review the program. Those reviews are then paired with data from the National Center for Education Statistics to provide an overview of the university and the program.

As a university, UT earned top marks on its quality of instruction, career advising and student satisfaction with their degrees after

graduation. It suffered with student diversity. Specifics on how the sociology program was measured is unavailable.

Zack McKenney, a graduate sociology student, felt that it was the program’s unique approach from administrators that made it stand out.

“Everyone is really willing to help out whether it be on research, grant writing proposals or help in the classrooms. Everyone is sort of willing to lend a hand,” McKenney said. “And I think we have the best two administrative assistants in the college, Ms. Shirley Martin and Ms. Nancy Loftis.”

The sociology program offers three different areas of study: criminology, environmental sociology and political economy and globalization. It will begin offering critical race studies as a research topic this year.

Each area is approached with a theme of social justice to make the program cohesive.

“Social justice means a lot of different things to a lot different people,” Jon Shefner, head of the sociology department, said.

“When I think about social justice, it’s a pursuit of a society in which one’s individual talents and capabilities is neither overshadowed nor elevated by the fact that she or he belongs to a certain social group.”

Sociology majors are becoming more relevant as political and racial chaos spreads both through the US and across the globe.

Rather than centering concern on where identities come from, sociologists tend to study how group identities are valued in society through history and how differences in how certain identities are valued can affect society.

Despite its success, the sociology program suffers from its size. The program has around 40 graduate students and around 300 undergraduate students but is in the process of hiring two or three new faculty members.

“The Univeristy of Tennessee is a really good university, but like most programs, we need greater resources,” Shefner said.

UT’s rankings for graduate programs can be viewed at graduateprograms.com.

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Friday, August 12, 2016 • The Daily Beacon

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Haslam allows bill to cut diversity funding to become law Megan Patterson

Managing Editor On Friday, May 20 Gov. Bill Haslam allowed a bill cutting funding from UT’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion to become law without his signature.

Early proposals within the state legislature to cut diversity funding from the university began in Fall 2015, but the final version of the bill didn’t pass until April 21, 2016. After a full month passed without Haslam exercising a veto, the bill went into law without his signature.

The law “prohibits state funds from being expended in support of the office for diversity and inclusion at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.� In order to enact this policy, UT will divert the office’s $436,000 budget toward minority scholarships in engineering.

In addition, programs under the Office of Diversity and Inclusion will be redirected to the control of different offices on campus, including the Office of Multicultural Student Life, the Office of Equity and Diversity, the Educational Advancement Program, the Commission for Blacks, the Commission for LGBT People, the Commission for Women and the Council for

Diversity and Interculturalism.

However, the Pride Center administration will not be redirected; instead it will no longer be staffed by university employees. The building will remain as an open area for students.

Donna Braquet, associate professor and former director of the Pride Center, said the defunding presents a very unfortunate situation for the university. “I think that it is a bad precedent to set when lawmakers are able to micromanage a university at such a level,� Braquet said. “I think it will certainly help hurt our chances on our journey to the top 25 as we’re seeing more and more universities put additional funding into diversity and inclusion, we here at UT are cutting those funds.�

After the bill passed, Chancellor Jimmy Cheek sent an email detailing the changes taking place to the student body and reaffirming his dedication to diversity on campus.

Carson Hollingsworth, UT’s new SGA president, expressed his surprise and disappointment at receiving the email. “While we were anticipating some of these detrimental, hurtful effects of the legislation to happen, many of us in SGA were extremely saddened to see the email sent out by the Chancellor today,� Hollingsworth said.

In response to concerns about student back-

lash, Vice Chancellor for Student Life Vince Carilli said that outside of the information in the Chancellor’s email, administration is also left with a lot of “unanswered questions.�

However, he emphasized that they will be “continuing those conversations about what the ramifications are with the bill.�

The current restructuring of the offices within diversity and inclusion follows the line of management that existed before the position of Vice Chancellor of Diversity and Inclusion was created by Chancellor Cheek a few years prior.

Although only minor student discussion and unrest has taken place on social media to date, Braquet said that she has heard from students whose emotions run “the gamut of what you might expect from this type of news.�

Colleen Ryan, co-chair of Sex Week, voiced her thoughts as a student of the university on hearing the news. “I am incredibly disappointed by our state government, but not terribly surprised particularly regarding the language about Sex Week,�

Ryan said. “This is not the first time that the state legislature has gone out of its way to target our organization and to try to curb our freedom of speech rights.�

Ryan went on to express pride in her fellow students for the work they invested in fighting diversity defunding in the 2015-2016 school

Meet the Office of Off-Campus and Commuter Services If you live anywhere other than university housing, you’re a UT commuter!

Whether you walk, drive, or bike to campus, we want to make sure you know you’re part of the community.

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year. She said the university itself will experience detrimental effects from the bill, regarding recruits and competition with peer universities. “The effects of not having an office on campus advocating for us will be tangible ... “ Ryan said. “Whether the state legislature likes it or not, diversity initiatives and cultural competency are key to success in the world beyond university.�

Hollingsworth echoed this sentiment and said unifying the student body now will be more important than it ever has been in the past. “We must come together now more than ever as a supporting and welcoming community to ensure diversity remains a priority at our institution,� Hollingsworth said. “We must work together and channel this frustration into action to turn these effects around and ensure that we do everything we can as a student body to reinstitute funding to the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.�

Braquet said ultimately the passing of this law jeopardizes the integrity of the university and calls into question the mission of UT. “I think that it leaves our students vulnerable,� Braquet said, “and it also leaves them uncertain of the university’s commitment to being welcoming to all and hostile to none as Chancellor Cheek says.�

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The Daily Beacon • Friday, August 12, 2016

SHOOTINGS continued from Page 8 UTPD will offer safe storage for weapons in case a faculty member needs to go somewhere where weapons are prohibited. Faculty may also store firearms in their cars’ glove compartments, trunks or anywhere else that it will be sufficiently concealed.

UTPD does not expect the law to change daily operations.

“I’ve been doing this for 20 plus years, and from day one we’re taught to assume people may be armed or may want to cause harm,” Lane said.

Faculty that choose to carry weapons on campus must notify UTPD before they can do so. Violation of the policy can result in faculty having a disciplinary hearing.

Violating the policy can also be considered a criminal act, since the policy is built around state law. Carrying a gun into the Student Health Center, where guns are prohibited, can lead to a faculty member both being fired and facing criminal charges.

UTPD is mostly worried about people becoming more suspicious of one another and expects to receive more calls from campus asking for advice or voicing general concern.

“We may see more people calling with

concerns of, ‘Hey, I’ve got to talk to this employee and I’m worried that he or she may be armed,’” Lane said.

People who choose to carry weapons are not obligated to disclose that they are doing so to anyone except the UTPD. While students and fellow faculty members can ask if someone is carrying a weapon, the person is not obligated to answer honestly.

The UTPD will depend on the public to notify them about people in violation of the policy as it goes into effect. If a weapon is not concealed, not stored properly in a vehicle or carried in a prohibited location then the public is encouraged to notify the police department.

The law’s intent is to make campus safer by allowing the public to protect themselves from anyone who may intend to cause harm, but it also comes at a time of intense controversy over gun control and gun violence.

“The legislative intent behind this law was to provide full-time faculty and staff the opportunity to defend themselves, to protect themselves, and possibly to protect those around them,” Lane said. “So if I tell professor so-and-so that he can’t carry a gun in his classroom because I think it’s an auditorium, I just destroyed the legislative intent behind the bill, because that’s specifically why the legislature wanted that bill.”

WELCOMEBACK

Friday, August 12, 2016 • The Daily Beacon

UT Center works to combat campus violence against women Tom Cruise

News Editor

Motivated by disappointment and fueled by determination, Laura Bryant, Flether Haverkamp and many others endured an intense application process to provide something dire for UT. “We locked ourselves in my office for two weeks,” Bryant, the associate director of The Center for Health Education and Wellness, said.

And their work paid off. After being denied in 2013, the university was one of 27 schools of higher education in 2015 to be awarded a $300,000 grant from the Department of Justice Office of Violence Against Women.

Over a three-year period, this grant will be used to reduce and ultimately prevent sexual assault, violence, domestic violence and stalking across college campuses. These funds will also be used to support seminars and webinars hosted by top tier experts in the field who will train individuals on UT’s campus.

“This issue is a really hot topic of college campuses across the country,” Bryant said.

“What’s really unique to our campus, and what we are seeing, is to use the funds to really expand the prevention and education program.”

Through this expansion, the Center for Health Education & Wellness (CHEW) plans to reach out to men, students involved in Greek life, athletes, sports clubs and student organizations. This will allow the university to go further than just orientation and first year students to reach a much more broad student body.

Bryant said the future of not only women at UT, but also everyone on campus, has a much brighter outlook now that this grant has been generously provided.

“This is more than just for women,” Bryant said. “This is for everyone. We want all people to understand this is our policy for sexual misconduct at The University of Tennessee, these are our rights, this is how we stay safe.

“This is our home and we want people to be safe in their home.”

Prevention Program Coordinator Fletcher Haverkamp said there will also be an increased emphasis on reaching out to different cultural See GRANT on Page 18

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The Daily Beacon • Friday, August 12, 2016

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WELCOMEBACK

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Friday, August 12, 2016 • The Daily Beacon

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Student event organization undergoes makeover Eric Bailes

Staff Writer This Fall, students searching for the Central Programming Council will be out of luck, because the organization has gone through a full makeover, changing itself into the Campus Events Board.

Natalie Bennett, president of the Campus Events Board, and Jarrod Nelson, vice president of communications, are both excited for students to see what this makeover entails and what they can expect this fall.

As president, Bennett coordinates the work of the committees within the Campus Events Board as they organize events for students by having meetings with leadership and listening to their needs. She is in charge of representing the organization as they develop relationships with students, the university and the Knoxville community.

Nelson, on the other hand, is responsible for marketing, social media and all public relations for the former Central Programming Council’s events. He strives to make sure students are engaged before they attend an event or concert the organization is throwing.

Bennett said organizations like the Campus

Events Board routinely go through a performance review by professionals with programming experience. After one of these reviews a few years ago, the former Central Programming Council was told it was to split due to its many intersecting committees. All in all, they found it was not connecting to students the way it should be.

So, the organization did an extreme makeover. With the help of a core group of members, they spent the last year reorganizing the numerous committees into three main ones, which show a more focused mission.

“Now, instead of Campus Entertainment Board and Film Committee and Volapalooza, you have Entertainment,” Nelson said.

“Instead of Cultural Attractions Committee and Visual Arts Committee, you have Arts and Culture.”

They hope this change will make planning much easier and more fluid. It gives students a more intimate connection with the board and allows for their voices to be heard.

While it may seem like the Campus Events Board is going to throw away everything it used to do as the Central Programming Council, Bennett believes that is not true.

“Students will recognize a lot of the events they have come to know and love, and our

Students will recognize a lot of the events they have come to know and love, and our new structure will allow us to bring more events that students want to see .”

Natalie Bennett, President of the CEB

new structure will allow us to bring more events that students want to see,” she said.

Nelson also showed optimism, despite the restructuring the Campus Events Board has gone through.

“Change is hard and can be scary, but this transition is just going to allow us all to do our jobs better, find better people to help us do our jobs and provide the best events in the south to the best university in the south,” Nelson said.

And the Campus Events Board is already working to surpass the Central Programming Council’s efforts last year. For any students who want a break after the first day of classes, there will be a free screening of Interstellar on Wednesday, Aug. 17.

The Campus Events Board will also host a Student Engagement Fair on Friday, Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. for students who want to find out about all the upcoming events for the semester and how they can get involved. Shortly after this fair, the first Vol Night Long of the year will take place at 9 p.m. in Humanities Plaza.

The Campus Events Board would love to hear suggestions from students, and members want them to know it is easy to reach out to the executive board or the leaders of any of the subcommittees to present your idea.

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The Daily Beacon • Friday, August 12, 2016

WELCOMEBACK

Knoxville’s PrideFest mourns, celebrates Tyler Warner

Photo Editor

Nearly 20,000 people braved the summer temperatures Saturday, June 18 to attend Knoxville’s 2016 PrideFest.

Festivities began downtown with the Pride Parade before turning to World’s Fair Park for the main festival.

Since the recent tragedy in Orlando still weighed heavy on many, Knoxville law enforcement deployed hundreds of uniformed cops, S.W.A.T. teams, state troopers, K9 units and undercover officers. The large police presence comforted some, but others remained painfully aware of the dangers they face for their sexual orientation or gender preference.

“With everything that just happened in Orlando it’s hard to feel safe anywhere right now,” Robert Cremins, a recent social work and religious studies graduate of UT, said.

Cremins said he felt comforted being surrounded by the local LGBTQ+ community mourning loss and celebrating pride.

Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero spoke to the crowd about her commitment to human rights and support for the LGBTQ+ community. Rogero’s speech was followed by performances from an all-male chorus, an opera singer, various bands and a DJ while hundreds of vendors sold food, games, rainbow apparel and gift items.

Protesters also attended with megaphones, shouting comments about attendees’ sinful lifestyles.

However, Lily Laverdure, a member of a group representing local burlesque theater Salomé Cabaret, said she found it easy to look past the protesters.

“Love is love and love conquers all,” Laverdure said, standing beside her rescued goat Edgar who sported a rainbow bandana.

Reverends Pauline Farrington-Pezzino and Eric Murray of the Messiah Lutheran Church handed out water and candy as representatives of a religious community that supports the LGBTQ+ community.

“We want to let people know that the protesters out there represent another version of Christianity that is not Christ,” Farrington-Pezzino said.

Attendees cheered on the reverends who carried a large wooden cross draped with rainbow fabric through the parade.

After protesters were stopped outside the festival entry, Farrinton-Pezzino told PrideFest participants that hate may exist outside the gate but that love was inside.

Top: Person celebrates at PrideFest.

Middle: Police vehicles line street at PrideFest.

Bottom: People gather on festival grounds for PrideFest.

Tyler Warner • The Daily Beacon

WELCOMEBACK

Friday, August 12, 2016 • The Daily Beacon

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Annual list bring Knoxville’s heritage to light Hannah Moulton

This year’s Fragile Fifteen list features prominent properties in the Knoxville community such as Knoxville College, Estabrook Hall on UT campus and the Joseph Knaffl House.

Each year in May, Knox Heritage comRick Dover, the general manager of Dover piles a list of 15 properties. The Fragile Development Corporation, has worked with Fifteen, the name given to the list, features several properties that were listed on previproperties that are recognized as historious years’ Fragile Fifteen lists. cally significant and endangered. The goal “We are on our fourth or fifth preservaof the list is to raise awareness for presertion project that was brought to our attenvation. tion through Knox Heritage and the Fragile In the spring, Knox Heritage gives Fifteen list,” Dover said. “I think it’s a great the public a chance to nominate properway for the public to identify and support ties to be included in the Fragile Fifteen. preservation and critically important buildThe nominations are then reviewed by ings to our heritage.”

Knox Heritage’s Preservation Advocacy The main Committee. aim of Knox The final pitch H e r i t a ge ’s is to the Knox Fragile Fifteen Heritage Board list is to ultimateof Directors who ly save and premake the final serve the propercall. ties listed. Trent To be placed on stated that often the list a building when a propermust 50-yearsty is placed on old or older. In the list, it will terms of historiinspire others cal importance, to purchase the the property must property and either be one that save it.

Knox Heritage “In the case of believes is eligible properties in the to be listed in the city of Knoxville, National Registry often times that of Historic Places will help make or one that has them a priority significant imporof the city, and tance in the it’ll be a factor Knoxville comweighed when munity. they’re talking Kim Trent Kim Trent, Executive Director about assistance works as the from the city,” executive director Trent said. at Knox Heritage Once a Fragile and is part of the Fifteen property team that orgais no longer seen nizes the Fragile as endangered, it Fifteen list. is moved to the Fantastic Fifteen list which “We will come up with the list, and then is released in the fall and showcases the we’ll develop a strategy for each property historical properties which have been saved on the list,” Trent said. “It’s a customized and preserved. strategy for each property.”

With the Fragile Fifteen list, Knox Some of the strategies Knox Heritage Heritage hopes to inform the Knoxville uses to preserves the properties include community about the importance of preworking with the current owner of the serving the city’s historic properties. building, helping market the property to an “It’s about raising awareness, because we owner who is willing to preserve the propneed as much public support and assistance erty or providing thorough assistance to and other people helping as we can get,” the property owner on funding or resources Trent said. “We can’t save them all ourthat could assist them in preserving the selves, so we need the public’s assistance.” property.

Copy Chief

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It’s about raising awareness because we need as much public support and assistance and other people helping as we can get . We can’t save them all ourselves, so we need the public’s assistance.”

Knoxville College Historic District – 901 Knoxville College Drive Peyton Gupton • The Daily Beacon

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The Daily Beacon • Friday, August 12, 2016

GRANT continued from Page 13 groups to allow them to voice their opinions on the issue of sexual violence. Haverkamp said becoming familiar with varying cultural perspectives on assault “allows us (CHEW) to obtain information that speaks to other cultures to make it the most effective.”

“We will definitely be having unique programs for specific populations to reach various groups because they all are quite different,” Haverkamp said.

Groups like Vols 2 Vols Peer Health Educators, The Coordinated Community Response Team, The Sexual Assault Center of East Tennessee and The Knoxville Police Department are coming together as a community to work alongside CHEW in the prevention of sexual violence.

“We want this grant to become more than just three years of work,” Bryant said. “We want to sustain and community collaboration is how we will be successful.”

After campuses have had the opportunity to fund some prevention programs, all 28 universities awarded this grant, including UT, will meet to share their progress. Ultimately, the goal is to make the fight combating violence against women a large-scale effort that spans higher education.

At the end of the third year of the grant, UT will host a summit to educate people across the state on sexual assault prevention.

WELCOMEBACK

Cheek steps down as chancellor, joins faculty Chris Salvemini

Asst. News Editor Chancellor Jimmy Cheek announced on Tuesday, June 21, that he plans to leave the office of Chancellor, but stay in the university to teach as faculty. A search for his successor began after the Board of Trustees annual meeting in late June.

Cheek will remain in office until a successor is found, which UT President Joe DiPietro hopes will happen by the board’s Spring 2017 meeting. The search is not restricted to Tennessee, and the president will consider applicants from across the U.S. Cheek has served as Chancellor since February 2009. He claims that recent clashes with state lawmakers did not affect his decision to resign, but that he decided to leave his position to spend more time with his family.

“This is a personal decision. I turn 70 in September. I came to the University of Tennessee Knoxville to serve three to five years as Chancellor,” Cheek said during a press conference. “… I need to spend more time with myself, my family, my grandchildren.”

A poll run by the Daily Beacon on February 24, 2016 showed intense support for Cheek stepping down as Chancellor among the stu-

dent body. Out of the 314 responses in an online poll, 166 supported Cheek’s resignation.

The last years of Cheek’s leadership on campus have been mired in controversy. He faced pressure from students and faculty for rebranding the Lady Vols and for allowing the state legislature to influence the activity of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion after the office provided suggestions on gender-neutral pronouns and on holiday inclusiveness. Cheek plans to return to the department of leadership, policy and higher education. He does not know what he will teach yet.

“Every administrator faces tough decisions every day they sit in the chair, and I’ve been in administration now for 25 years, full-time,” Cheek said. “There’s issues that come up all the time that you don’t anticipate, you don’t think they take as much time as they do, you don’t think Chancellor Jimmy Cheek spoke with various they’ll be quite as hard to solve as they are, and that’s just the admin- students during Cheek Speaks on Nov. 10, 2015.

Esther Choo • The Daily Beacon istrative job.”

WELCOMEBACK

Friday, August 12, 2016 • The Daily Beacon

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Local gang violence, hate groups experiencing growth Presley Smith,

Opinions Editor Gang presence in Knoxville has grown steadily over the past twenty years, with the Aryan Nation currently having the most members. According to the Southern Poverty and Law Center, out of the 30 gangs and roughly 1,500 gang members in Knoxville, 230 of those individuals belong to the Aryan Nation. “(The Aryan Nation) is not in any way associated with the Aryan Nation neo-nazi group based in Hayden Lake, Idaho. They just borrowed the name,” Mark Pitcavage, a senior research fellow from the Anti-Defamation League, explained.

The gang is a white supremacist group that became prevalent in Tennessee prisons across the state in the mid 2000s. In 2009, the AntiDefamation League, a center known for tracking gang activity, knew of roughly 700 members across the state. Since then, Pitcavage explains that those numbers are estimated to have risen between 900 to 950 gang members.

The group has infiltrated the prison system, developed a large presence throughout Tennessee and is suspected to have spread to Georgia.

Pitcavage said members are identified by their tattoos, and orders made from inside the prison

system are then fulfilled on the streets.

“They’re growing and growing,” Carter Smith, chief of the Gang Suppression Team and MTSU Criminology professor, said. “They’re not a group to be messed with.”

Though they fly somewhat under the radar, according to the Southern Poverty and Law Center, members of Aryan Nation are responsible for numerous crimes throughout the Knoxville area including armed robberies, bank robberies, home invasions and meth distribution.

In December 2015, Fulton High School sophomore Zaevion Dobson was shot and killed while protecting three girls as a group of strangers walked up to where they were sitting on a porch.

In the emotional press conference following Dobson’s death, Knoxville Police Chief David Rausch said he believed that the shooting was gang related, and explained that “we really do plead with our community to step up and to stop these acts.”

And, in early April 2016, the Knoxville News Sentinel reported that after being charged and pleading guilty to “unlawful possession of a firearm, burglary and two counts of theft,” 24-year-old Aryan Nation member Tyler Michael Higginbotham was sentenced to 16 years in prison.

However, according to the Southern Poverty

and Law Center, Knoxville is not the only place with a rise in gang activity. They explain that the nation is seeing a jump from 784 hate groups operating last year to 892 active groups in 2016, and the Aryan Nation is continually gaining members as they are released from prison. Pitcavage stated that they are, at this point, one of the largest white supremacist gangs in the United States.

The amount of organized and major crimes committed by the Aryan Nation has steadily grown since it’s founding in the mid 2000s. The Anti-Defamation League explains that the current growth of white supremacist groups is a nationwide trend.

UT Chief of Police Troy Lane said that while the amount of gang activity has been on the rise in the city, campus is not an environment conducive to such.

“We don’t deal with any gangs on campus,” he said. “But as always, report any suspicious activity, and download the Guardian App for your safety.”

Pitcavage offered more insight into this distinction.

“The chances of a UT Knoxville student encountering a member on campus is extremely low, unless they habitually buy meth or other illegal drugs,” he said. “These types of groups don’t want to get near a college campus.”

Justin Keyes • The Daily Beacon

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The Daily Beacon • Friday, August 12, 2016

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WELCOMEBACK

Foundation continues late coach’s legacy with clinic Tom Cruise

News Editor In August 2011, University of Tennessee Women’s Basketball Coach Pat Summitt announced to the nation that she had been diagnosed with the Alzheimer’s disease. As friends, family and fans began to try and cope with the shocking news, Summitt continued to do what she had always done best: persevere.

With her reputation as one of the most successful basketball coaches of all time, many think that Summitt’s story may end there. Others say Summitt demanded more. She is known for her legacy not only on the court but off the court as well.

In December 2011, Summitt introduced The Pat Summitt Foundation to begin researching, treating and ultimately curing Alzheimer’s disease. Partnering with The East Tennessee Foundation, The Pat Summitt Foundation received $300,000 in its first three years of operation to disperse grants to various organizations of care.

Pat Summitt Foundation Executive Director Patrick Wade hopes to continue Summitt’s work and make her dream a reality.

“Pat always thought big,” Wade said. “She

wanted to make a difference right here at home.”

Partnering with The University of Tennessee Medical Center, The Pat Summitt Foundation will open the Pat Summitt Alzheimer’s Clinic this December.

“We are very excited for this Clinic,” Wade said. “We have had many calls asking if we treat patients and now we can provide those resources for them through this clinic.”

The clinic will contain multiple disciplines, including patient care, resources for caregivers and research for the disease. While this clinic will continue the legacy of Pat Summitt, a dream of this magnitude does not come easy.

Following the news of Summitt’s passing, The Pat Summitt Foundation received a large flux of support for her cause.

“We expected a big push following her passing,” Wade said, “but we were very surprised at the amount.”

The amount totaled at $460,000 within three weeks of Summitt’s passing. Included in that amount was a $50,000 donation from the NCAA. “People were so passionate about Pat and Alzheimers,” Wade said. “That passion has shown in full force.”

With the opening of the clinic drawing near, it has become the primary focus of the foundation.

While the foundation has provided many grants through the years to various organizations, the

Pat always thought big. She wanted to make a difference right here at home.”

Patrick Wade, Foundation Executive Director

shift to focusing on the clinic carries on Summitt’s dream of “making a difference right here at home.”

“So many people have been affected by this disease,” Wade said. “We are honored to carry on Pat’s dream and hopefully one day achieve her goals.”

The foundation has promised a one half million dollar commitment to the clinic per year and made its first payment this summer.

The clinic will be combined with The Cole

Neuroscience Center’s memory disorder clinic at the university hospital. Cole Neuroscience Director Nate Naugle will begin overseeing the final preparations for the clinic’s official opening.

“We all recognize Pat’s great contribution to the area,” Naugle said. “All of us involved feel privileged and humble.”

Patient care looks to be the main priority with the clinic. Upon the opening of the expanded clinic, patients and researchers alike will see a capacity increase of approximately two and a half times the current clinic.

“We have designed this clinic in great detail from the color, texture, sound, and lighting,” Naugle explained. “This has been designed for the patients.”

Naugle also stressed the “significant backlog” with patients that the current clinic has experienced and how this expansion will “have a tremendous positive impact.”

“If it wasn’t for Coach Summitt and her son, we wouldn’t be where we will be in the future,” Naugle said. “Her greatest accomplishments are still in the future.”

Although the clinic, as well as the foundation, is still young, Director Wade, Director Naugle and the entire staff of researchers, medical professionals, foundation members and contributors look to the future and keep the momentum going in Summitt’s honor.

WELCOMEBACK

Friday, August 12, 2016 • The Daily Beacon

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A LETTER FROM YOUR SGA LEADERS Hello, students of the University of Tennessee!

Whether you have spent the entire summer in our scruffy city of Knoxville or have spent the past couple months spreading the Big Orange love abroad, let us be the first to tell you that your Student Government Association is thrilled to have you back at UT for this year.

Even if you are new to good ole Rocky Top, you probably know that there is always plenty going on, which keeps us in business here at SGA. The Student Government Association exists to find out exactly what our student body is passionate about, to advocate for what you care about on campus and to seek out ways to make your experience at UT the best it can be. For that reason, this year you can expect the Student Government Association as an organization and our members as individuals to pursue you and to ensure that you feel valued as a • Photo courtesy of Hollingsworth, Patterson, and McCandless student in your campus environment.

We are 27,000 of the luckiest people in America because we are being educated at THE University of Tennessee, where we have the opportunity to encounter more different kinds of people and unique experiences than just Saturday game day (though that is a qualifying experience). As your SGA, we want to not only help facilitate these experiences and interactions, but we also want to participate with you and to connect with you and other Vols.

This year will not be without its challenges, but good things never are.

Whether it’s parking, dining, guns on campus, diversity and inclusion or all of the other topics that affect our lives as students on a daily basis, we have to dive into these conversations and play a role in advocating for the communities and the individuals this campus represents. One of the very best parts of our student journey here is the impact that students have on one another. This year we want you to partner with us, for your relation-

ship with your SGA to be engaging in our programs and initiatives, but also relating to us and fellow students by sharing with us what makes being a Volunteer important to you.

We are so excited for another incredible year here on Rocky Top, and we can’t wait to see you around campus. Never hesitate to reach out if you ever have any problems, ideas or concerns you want your Student Government to address.

Welcome back to our Home Sweet Home. Go Vols!

Carson Hollingsworth Student Body President sga1@utk.edu McKinsey Patterson Student Body Vice President sga2@utk.edu Caitlyn McCandless Student Services Director sga3@utk.edu

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The Daily Beacon • Friday, August 12, 2016

Peyton Gupton • The Daily Beacon

SNAPSHOTS OF THE SUMMER

This summer the Daily Beacon attended a cow wedding, climbed Clingman’s Dome, drank some brews and did some bowling, all in the name of journalism. This upcoming semester we hope to go on just as many adventures as a staff and take you, our reader, along with us. In case you missed out on anything this summer, we’ve recapped the highlights. This issue is filled with the top stories of the summer along with some looking forward to next year. And for everything we couldn’t fit, we’re letting the pictures do the talking.

Tyler Warner • The Daily Beacon

WELCOMEBACK

Hannah Overton • The Daily Beacon

Ben Proffitt • The Daily Beacon

Hannah Overton • The Daily Beacon

Megan Patterson • The Daily Beacon

Tyler Warner • The Daily Beacon

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The Daily Beacon • Friday, August 12, 2016

Community farm combats Knoxville’s food desert Anu Kumar

Staff Writer Since 1988, the Beardsley Community Farm has been combating the issue of a food desert––living in a part of the country where fresh fruits, vegetables and healthy foods can be difficult, and expensive, to come by.

Now growing over four-acres worth of fresh produce, the farm that started off as a few folks with trowels and tomato seeds has grown into one of the most generous produce donations in the Knoxville area.

The farm began as a small project between a few local gardeners with the goal of lessening the burden of a food desert area in Knoxville.

Located on Reynolds Street, the farm provided fresh food for those in need.

What started as a small side project turned into a local organization with a goal and a steadfast plan: to combat hunger in food deserts through sustainable agriculture and education. The now 4.5-acre farm has much more to offer to the Knoxville area but also requires more upkeep.

“There’s always something to do,” Rachel Newcomb, an AmeriCorps member, said. “We really depend on the students.”

Newcomb is one of five full time staff workers at Beardsley, which can be a daunting task when faced with multiple acres of work.

“We get most of our manpower from UT and Pellissippi students, especially those who need hours for classes or other organizations,” Newcomb said.

During the week, the typical work hours are 9:30 a.m.–3 p.m. Anyone can schedule volunteering time by calling or emailing the farm one day in advance, and groups of students are also welcome. Typically, a steady amount of volunteers are on the farm during the week, but their Saturday workdays are the most popular.

Saturday workdays are from 9 a.m.–12 p.m. and can be followed by a class specific to drip irrigation, weed management and other agricultural topics.

“On big weekends, we can have up to 100 people on the farm,” Newcomb said. “The open volunteer hours gives people a reason to come out and learn. The more people come to the farm, the more we’re able to give back to the community.”

Volunteers on the farm can assist by doing a variety of jobs. Tasks include anything from watering plants and pulling weeds to landscaping and putting down fences. There’s always work to be done, and it has a direct positive impact.

Even after a Food City was built nearby in 2007, the farm hasn’t slowed down in pursuing their mission. In the past year, the Beardsley Community Farm donated over 10,000 pounds of fresh produce to local food banks and individuals in need.

“The more people come to the farm,” Newcomb said, “the more we’re able to give back to the community.”

With a mission as big as Beardsley’s, the cost is even bigger.

“If you consider that in the state of Tennessee that one volunteer hour is worth $22, then you can only imagine how much it actually costs to keep the farm running,” Maya Carl, Volunteer Coordinator at Beardsley Farm and AmeriCorps member, said.

The education center, built slightly over a year ago, is valued at several hundred thousand dollars, and all the materials and manpower needed to construct it were donated and volunteered, particularly by UT Architecture students.

“A group from Pellissippi helped with our drip irrigation system, and that alone is worth $30,000,” Carl said. “And that’s just one small portion.”

Beardsley Farm is partnered with seven local organizations: Mobile Meals, KARM, Food in the Fort, FCC, YWCA, Global Seeds and Western Heights Baptist Center.

Individuals can exchange four volunteer hours a week on the farm for a bag of produce, which can help people who face financial issues to obtain fresh, healthy food. After harvesting, the farm can send the food to any of these organizations, and the food becomes packaged and distributed.

Beardsley Farm’s sister organization, the Green Thumb Program, has also created 20 to 30 community gardens in the Knoxville area by tilling up land at apartment complexes and senior housing.

“It’s a huge community builder, because everyone has to eat,” Carl said.

Beardsley has become more well-known thanks to their volunteers. More people are finding out about the community farm, and the farm’s mission spreads through news exposure and word of mouth.

Because of the recent growth in interest, the farm constructed a new education center to hold a variety of agricultural and food security classes. All new volunteers get a 30-minute tour of the farm from one of the staff members and are shown some of the projects that are currently being developed. All individual and group tours are free and can be scheduled by phone or email.

The farm’s events are listed on their website at beardsley-farm.squarespace.com/events/.

WELCOMEBACK

Friday, August 12, 2016 • The Daily Beacon

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Downtown welcomes new upscale bowling alley Hannah Overton Contributor

Over the past decade or so, Downtown Knoxville has transformed into an exciting neighborhood of new businesses, remodeled properties and engaging venues. Restaurant options are vast, local and unique, and boutique shops are around almost every corner.

While these additions are positive to the evergrowing Knoxville, there has been a noticeable lack of new activities to match the specialty dining and shopping options. However, that is due to change with the opening of Maple Hall, Knoxville’s first upscale bowling alley.

The manager of Maple Hall, Gina Truitt, said she sees the new bowling establishment as an answer to what inhabitants of Knoxville have wanted for a long time.

“Knoxville has been dying to have something else to do to while they’re out besides just eat and drink,” she said.

The owners of Maple Hall, Greg Cox and Kevin Rice, have a deep connection with Knoxville having both graduated from UT. Maple Hall is the finished concept of a process that first began in 2013.

The Bar Manager, Zach Cowen said the name is derived from the fact that the bowling lanes are

made of maple wood and from Cox and Rice’s desire for the space to be a social hall.

“They (Cox and Rice) really want everyone to just be able to come down here and be social, be happy and meet new people,” Cowen said.

The establishment inhabits the historical JC Penney building on Gay Street and features some original pieces of the building in its interior decoration. The chandelier hanging just inside the entrance is made from some of the hardware used in the old air conditioning system.

A staircase just past the entrance leads down to the lanes, which feature lounge areas where guests can enjoy food, drinks and bowling. There is also a private room to the side where two lanes can be reserved for personal parties.

Truitt said their food is “very simple, hand-held, delicious things that are seven to ten dollars. You can come and enjoy and eat. We treated our cocktail menu very much the same way.” “(We) draw a lot from classic cocktail inspiration, but also like to offer some new twists on it,” Cowen said. “We want them to be something that helps people branch out and try something a little outside of their norm, but still discover something they’ll really enjoy.”

For those who would prefer a familiar classic, Maple Hall has a fully stocked bar prepared to make whatever you might desire. Also, the tap at the bar will always feature a High Life and a

Maple Hall bowling lanes. Hannah Overton • The Daily Beacon YeeHaw brew, but then will have four taps that rotate in options.

Though the bowling lanes are open for business, the anticipation surrounding Maple Hall is far from over. Cowen said a second part to the establishment will be opening later this Fall. He said they’re still figuring out the details, but they do know there will be a back bar opening up, a patio on the Promenade, community tables and shuffleboard.

Many other cities feature upscale bowling facilities such as Maple Hall, but the fact that this is the first establishment of its kind in Knoxville creates an exciting role for those involved in presenting Maple Hall to the community.

“We still figure out things as we go and how we want to do things better, make it more fun, or be easier and more accessible for our guests,” Truitt said.

So far, Maple Hall has been well received.

Many are already taking advantage of its presence in Downtown Knoxville, even though it has only been open for little over a month. You can visit Maple Hall from 4 p.m.–1:30 a.m. Monday through Friday, and 11 a.m.–1:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. After 9 p.m. Maple Hall is 21–and–up only. For more information on Maple Hall’s history, lane reservation and shoe rental, you can visit maplehallknox.com.

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WELCOMEBACK

The Daily Beacon • Friday, August 12, 2016

Band brings together different backgrounds, sounds Anu Kumar

Staff Writer Pop stars often jump genres, like Taylor Swift, or flesh out a different type of sound, like One Direction. A five-piece rock band that’s local to Knoxville is currently changing its style as well but in a much more personal and exploratory fashion.

Blond Bones officially began last fall, about a year ago, when two friends decided to join together in a new collaboration.

Christian Barnett played drums for another local band, but decided to pursue music under a different name. He had already worked and played music with Joe Rebrovick, a mandolin player, for about five years. Their friendship began when Barnett moved to Knoxville and needed a place to stay, the two moved in together, and the rest is history.

“It’s a very plain story,” Barnett said.

The pair joke about how they should tell others that they met on “Farmers Only” to give the story some flavor.

Blond Bones’s latest EP “Few of Days” is a folk/Americana inspired sound that Barnett and Rebrovick recorded shortly after forming the group. The EP, which released in February

2016, has hints of country music influence, but nothing like the modern country music that can be heard on the radio.

The pair aims to maintain a constant craving for developing their sound and experimenting with different aspects of their music.

“Even in just last year, we’re learning more about what we sound like,” Rebrovick said. “It’s more of an explanation.”

While both men have an idea of where they would like their sound to go, they’re open to new changes and new ideas along the way. After releasing “Few of Days,” the pair began to stray away from the folk/Americana vibe, leaning toward a rock sound.

Recently, Joey English became the third addition to Blond Bones through previous connections with Barnett.

English has played guitar since he was about twelve or thirteen. Originally from California, he also plays music inspired by the folk genre.

Individually, English is also working on some new material to release in the future, possibly under a new name.

With Blond Bones looking to add a bass player and a drummer to their group, there’s room for more ideas to be thrown around and for different sounds to emerge.

“The drummer is a jazz student,” Barnett

• Photo courtesy of Blond Bones said. “There’s a certain lingo that you use just to be on the same page.”

Due to the members varied backgrounds, each member communicates in different ways.

“What was that word you used (with the drummer)?” English asked Barnett. “Fratata?”

“Fermata,” Barnett laughed.

Unlike some other musicians, Blond Bones goals do not specifically deal with a dollar amount or their fan count.

“It’s easy to say that we’d like to be famous,” Barnett said.

“But it’s really more of a process,” Rebrovick

said. “We want to keep making music.”

The idea of being able to live off of writing and performing is a main goal of the Blond Bones, as well as having total creative freedom with their music. Currently, Blond Bones is working on their second EP, which is at the moment untitled, unmastered, and according to Rebrovick, “somewhat unwritten.”

Blond Bones’s current EP and schedule of upcoming shows are on their website www. blondbones.com. For more updates about Joey English and his music, visit joeyenglish.net.

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German brewery transports Knoxvillians across the pond Hannah Overton Contributor

Knoxville’s long-expected castle is finally open for business.

After months of watching the structure slowly take shape on Bernard Avenue, locals can now enjoy an original pint with friends and family at the Schulz Bräu Brewing Company.

The new German brewery offers quality beer in a unique environment with an expansive and richly decorated interior taproom, or outside in the Biergarten with its Old World charm.

The exterior of the castle looks like it could be a medieval movie set—which doesn’t exactly fit the style and design of the rest of Bernard Avenue or North Central Street. But that doesn’t matter. You can see nothing of the outside world once you walk through the front doors and into the taproom, and you can easily begin imagine yourself in Germany rather than Tennessee.

The atmosphere is jolly, to say the least, and as I entered the taproom my ears were met with laughter and polka music. A flash thunderstorm had just blown through and many visitors looked soaked through. That didn’t stop the fact that good company, a well-lit atmosphere and a foaming brew could warm a person up as well

as the sun.

To further the castle atmosphere, banners proudly boasting the Schulz Bräu Brewing Company crest hang from the ceiling above the bar. Between these banners are two screens displaying what is served on tap that day. Across the room from the bar are floor-to-ceiling windows which display the shining brewing system Schulz Bräu uses to create its delicious beer.

The Biergarten outside is just as beautiful and charming as the taproom. High walls surrounding the Biergarten continue to block out the reality of being in the middle of Knoxville.

I half expected Tyrion Lannister from Game of Thrones to saunter around the corner with his own foaming pint. If he had, he would have found plenty of seating.

The tables and chairs lined up around the courtyard-esque Biergarten are interspersed with lampposts and trees, and there is even a covered seating area that sports hanging baskets of flowers.

The overall feel is charming and welcoming.

Even with the occasional drop of rain the night of my visit, everyone in the Biergarten had a smile on his or her face.

The beer itself is brewed using the Reinheitsgebot, or German Beer Purity Law of 1516. All of the grains and hops that Schulz Bräu uses are imported from Germany and are of the

highest quality. Right now, a lot of the options they have are more traditional, but according to their website they hope to branch out into some more experimental and non-traditional beers.

Though Schulz Bräu does not serve German food with their German beers, a food truck typically sits outside the Biergarten, and Schulz Bräu posts on their Facebook page whenever a food truck is going to be at their facilities.

So far, the types of food trucks have ranged from Japanese cuisine to pizza, and everything in between.

Overall Schulz Bräu provides an impressive presence to Knoxville. The castle-like structure adds a unique twist of the Old World to a thoroughly urban area, and the atmosphere inside its doors is jolly and inviting for folks of all ages.

The bartenders are friendly and go above and beyond to make sure you get the beer you want. Everything I encountered on my first visit to the Schulz Bräu Brewing Company impressed me, and I will most definitely be visiting them again.

The Schulz Bräu Brewing Company is located at 126 Bernard Ave, Knoxville, TN 37917.

They are open from 4 p.m.–11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 2 p.m.–2 a.m. on Friday, 12 p.m.–2 a.m. on Saturday, and 12 p.m.–10 p.m. Hannah Overton • The Daily Beacon on Sunday.

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The Daily Beacon • Friday, August 12, 2016

A student’s guide to downtown Knox

There’s so much to see and do in Downtown Knoxville that most likely even by the time you graduate, you still won’t get a chance to experience it all. There will be fun, but possibly disastrous, adventures and really good memories. All in all, your experiences in Downtown Knoxville will be quite colorful, but this list includes areas that you must it make your mission to go to at least once in your Knoxville life (or not go to ever).

-Tiara Holt, Staff Writer

Downtown Arts District

(or the 100 Block of Gay Street) If you’re an art lover, this is for you. If you’re not an art lover, this is for you.This area of downtown is pretty much self explanatory. As you make your way down the 100 Block of Gay Street, you will see art galleries that include the UT Downtown Gallery, Gallery 1010 and the Emporium Center.This area is known for their highly anticipated First Friday events in which the doors of the galleries are open for spectators, the streets are packed and the restaurants are full.

Old City District Compared to Gay Street, the Old City is what you could call more eclectic. If it’s your first time down there, you might get a little confused, but you’ll get use to the area in no time.The overall atmosphere is somewhat more grungy, not as polished, and you’ll see a lot of brown. However, that doesn’t stop it from being a place to go to in your down time. From one extreme to the other, they have cafes for the hipsters and bars for the drunks. Everyone is equal.

Bijou Theatre There’s nothing like seeing a play, live concert or movie screening inside a building with beautiful architecture, and in some cases you can even get a student discount. If you love plays and operas, this is a place you’ll definitely want to check out. However, it’s okay if you’re on the other side of the music spectrum too. Past performers here have included the Knoxville Opera, Blue Man Group and even Ghost, the creepy metal band.

See? This proves that there’s something for everyone here

Market Square Aside from the Arts District, this is by far my favorite place to go.This area of downtown includes a number of restaurants, clothing stores and local musicians playing their instruments.This area also hosts free festivals and concerts throughout the year, and in the winter there’s even ice skating. On Wednesdays and Saturdays in the summer there’s an annual Farmer’s Market where people sell everything from locally grown fruit and vegetables to handmade clothes and jewelry. In a nutshell, Market Square has pretty much everything you need and more.

Regal Riviera Stadium 8 If you’re ever taking a casual stroll down Gay Street and you get the urge out of no where to go to the movies (yes, it’s possible), it’s no problem. Regal Rivera Stadium 8 is right there at your convenience. Matinees will change your life and your wallet for the better.

World’s Fair Park/ Sunsphere I put these two together since they kind of go hand in hand.You can’t be at this park and not see the Sunsphere. Quite frankly you can’t miss the Sunsphere from anywhere in that area.The park is spacious, quiet when there’s not an event and in extremely close proximity to campus.

After you’re done lounging around and enjoying the park’s scenery, go up to the observation deck of the Sunsphere at night and admire the views of Downtown, the Tennessee River and campus.You’ll be happy you did.

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How to succeed at freshman year—without really trying By: JoAnna Brooker, Staff Writer

1 Pimp yo dorm

Welcome to college, you undergrad. I’m here to provide you with a guide to the start of the best years of your life, and how to make them so. The first thing you’ve got to do to blow it out of the water is:

When it comes to decorating your dorm, more is always better. The perfect layout includes a tapestry and a set of string lights, surrounded by various knick knacks and smaller canvases that scream YOU. Then there’s the option of lofting your bed. As one of the clumsiest people I know, I never fell out of my lofted bed and having that extra space was bomb.

2

New friends

If you moved in early for Greek life, you’ve probably already met new guys and gals to spend all your time with, and if so, congrats. For those of you who didn’t, making new friends is a little more complicated but doable. My advice to you is to try everything. Go to mixers, join clubs, talk to people in class and just don’t be afraid to branch out. You’ll find your niche group in no time.

3 How you study

It’s important for you to know how you study best, whether in groups, alone or in an organized study session. And these techniques can change depending on what you’re studying, or doing, as well. I have a favorite cubicle on the third floor that I write papers in which sits right next to the Hitler section. It is also covered in Dragonball Z cartoon sketches. But finding your own favorite cubicle or study spot will help you get in the right mindset to make those grades.

4 The love life

You can meet people in class, clubs, parties or even around campus. But if none of that works for you, Tinder is like dating on steroids. I’m warning you: it can be very distracting and should be used with caution. But if you must, a good first date idea is always coffee.

5 Freshman fifteen

If you don’t exercise regularly, eat well and watch your partying, you will gain weight. I’m not saying this to scare you but to warn you about what’s going to happen. The best way to counteract this is visiting the TREC. Group classes are a fun way to make friends, build friendships and force yourself to exercise because you’re surrounded by people.

Even if you don’t start doing these now, you can always start later. Like me, as a rising junior who’s trying to lose the twenty pounds freshman and sophomore year gave me.

Don’t be like me, start taking care of yourself now.

6 Don’t worry too much

If you follow my advice, your freshman year should go by without too many hiccups. You will have some of the best and worst days of your life. I won’t say it will be easy; college is hard. But if you do your best and stick with it, I promise it’s worth it.

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Greeneville farm raises alpacas, makes wine Eric Bailes

Staff Writer Alpacas are known for their tenacity to spit.

However, they will not spit at people unless they feel really threatened. Instead, alpacas should be known for their intelligence “They’re smart, they don’t really bite you, they don’t kick you,” Ruth Anne Goss, co-founder and co-owner of Two Roots Alpacas, said.

This alpaca farm rests on 138 acres in Greeneville, Tennessee, sitting in the shadows of the Appalachian Mountains, complete with two vineyards, a garden and a barn for the animals.

Two Roots gets its name from the origin of its two founders. Brad Goss is from western Canada, while Ruth Anne is from Alabama. Since both had agriculture in their upbringings despite the difference in location, they decided that Two Roots is a perfect name for their operation.

Ruth Anne knew she wanted to do something with animals, but after looking into operations involving animals like horses and sheep, she remained undecided. This is, until October 2013 when she and her husband visited farms on the Quilt Block Trail.

“I was hooked,” she said. “I knew that was

what I wanted to do.”

After that visit, Ruth Anne embarked on a six-month research period, learning as much as she could about alpacas and how to raise them. In June of 2014, the couple decided on purcasing a herd of 18 Huacaya alpacas, which produce softer and fluffier fiber.

Once they knew what they wanted, they got to preparing for them. After building a barn by themselves and putting in their own fencing to separate the boys from girls, they were ready.

The alpacas arrived on October 4, 2014, delivered by a couple in central Nashville who were getting out of the business.

While all the animals are special to the couple, the cria, or baby alpacas, hold a special place in their hearts due to the fact that they were born on the farm.

On their website, the farm’s alpacas are split into three different groups relating to their breeding status: the females, herdsires and the fiber boys. The females are used for breeding, except for the open females, which haven’t been bred.

The herdsires are part of the breeding stock.

The fiber boys will not breed, because they are not studs.

Speaking of fiber, the woolen fiber is harvested every April, which requires the animals be sheared. After their fleece is gone, the fiber

is skirted, cleaned, carded and made into roving and yarn. After that, Ruth Anne makes items like socks, scarves and more out of the fleece.

Ruth Anne sells the alpaca fleece and the products made from it at the Greeneville Farmer’s Market, founded in 1978, making it Greene County’s oldest established farmer’s market.

Judy Shelton, a volunteer at the market, offers nothing but praise for Ruth Anne. Since it is hard finding donors and vendors for the market, Shelton often has to rely on the vendors, who are supportive of the market.

“She’s one of the ones who have really gone above and beyond in helping me out,” she said.

Shelton says that people are starting to want less of the processed goods or things from China but instead want stuff made here in the U.S., especially in Greene County.

“Her homegrown llamas and alpacas and the wool and stuff (fleece and products) she does, that’s an intricate part of a farmer’s market,” Shelton said. “Anything that’s homemade or homegrown is what people are looking for.”

Keeping up with the farm keeps the Gosses busy throughout the year, from sun up to sundown. Most days, Brad wakes up at six to do his day job. Then from three in the afternoon until dark, he works with the alpacas. Ruth Anne works with the dye and tending the garden.

But alpacas aren’t the only thing found on the farm.

The Two Roots Alpacas vineyard started back in 2013 when the Gosses bought their house in Greeneville, originally as a spot to retire. But since Brad had always wanted to have a vineyard in order to see the entire winemaking process, the Gosses did soil tests and prepared the ground to see if they could plant anything.

The following April, the first vines were planted in their vineyard, which ended up around an acre in size. After they finished planting, they installed a trellis system to help the grapes grow correctly. Last year, the couple bought their neighbor’s farm, which came with a vineyard of its own.

Between the two vineyards, there are about two and a half acres. According to Brad, an acre typically has around 500 vines. The original vineyard had around 670 vines, but now the Gosses total at about 1,100 vines.

The vineyards have eight different varities of grapes. From red wines like merlot and cabernet sauvignon to white wines like viognier and riesling, the grapes they use are French-American hybrids.

Out of the wine made, they sell the chambourcin and the Riesling, and the rest of the varieties are made strictly for personal consumption as Brad’s hobby.

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Living in a college town with a college budget

Knoxville may not be solely a college town, but it still knows how to please a broke college student. Local bars and restaurants understand that we can’t live off of PCB pizza and Natty Light forever. So, to help us Vols out, many hotspots in town have created some of the best cheap eats and happy hours this side of the Mississippi.

Jenna Butz, Special Projects Editor This food cart turned brick-and-mortar store is the best for a filling but cheap meal. For $3 at the food cart or the store in Old City, you can buy a tamale stuffed with queso and poblano peppers for you vegetarians, a classic filled with ground beef and potatoes for you meat and potatoes kind of homies or a vegan soul made with mashed black beans instead of corn meal. Whatever your dietary restrictions are, these tamales are so cheap that you might as well grab two anyways.

If you’re looking to drink but can’t afford a $4 Blue Moon, head to Sunspot on the Strip for some of UT students’ favorite drink deals. Mondays have $5 moonshine cocktails, there are $2 drafts on Tuesday and everyone’s favorite is Wine Wednesdays, where bottles of wine are half-priced until 10 p.m. Go in with friends on a couple appetizers, and you’re set. Plus, you can just walk back to your dorm at the end of the night.

This one is kind of two-fold. First off, happy hour is 3-6:30 p.m.

Monday-Friday, which means it’s the perfect way to unwind between classes or during that marathon study session. Draft beers, all brewed in-house, are $3, and bar snacks top off at $4. So you can totally grab a group, order it all and go to town.

Second, there are $1 mimosas at brunch. So get five and save the rest of your money for an Uber.

There’s a lot happening here, so keep up. First, happy hour, which means $2.50 craft pints, $4 house wines and $3 margaritas, is Monday-Friday from 4-8 p.m., until 10 p.m. on First Fridays, and from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. on Sunday. Tuesday is actually $1.50 pints and half-priced select wines until 10 p.m.

Wednesday is Student Appreciation Night, so happy hour goes until 10 p.m. with free pool if you bring your student ID.

If you miss your mom’s homestyle, Southern cooking, you can stack up some fresh comfort food at Chandler’s Deli for barely the price of your weekly allowance. Staples include fried chicken, mac and cheese, collard greens, mashed potatoes— basically any Southern food you’re craving. If you order fried pickles or fried catfish though, be prepared to wait. They’ll fry it as you order, because nothing is worse than cold, soggy catfish.

This downtown favorite not only boasts a happy hour every night, but it also has killer food deals. Half-priced sushi on Mondays and Thursdays gets crowded but getting two sushi rolls for the price of one is worth the wait. There’s also $5 fish tacos all day on Tuesday and lunch specials everyday if you have the time in your class schedule.

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Vol legend Pat Summitt dies at age 64 Trenton Duffer

Sports Editor Long-time Lady Vols basketball coach, pioneer to the game of basketball, representative of UT athletics and one of the greatest coaches of all-time Pat Summitt passed away early Tuesday, June 28, morning at Sherrill Hill Senior Living in Knoxville. She was 64 years old.

Summitt was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease in August 2011, and her fight through the disease inspired many. The “We Back Pat” campaign began shortly after Summitt was diagnosed with the disease.

Summitt and her son Tyler announced during halftime of the Nov. 27, 2011 game against Baylor that they had started the Pat Summitt Foundation Fund, a foundation that made grants towards finding the cure for Alzheimer’s disease.

Tyler Summitt released a statement that morning about the passing of his mother.

“Since 2011, my mother has battled her toughest opponent, early onset dementia, ‘Alzheimer’s Type,’ and she did so with bravely fierce determination just as she did with every opponent she ever faced,” Tyler said. “Even though it’s incredibly difficult to come to terms that she is no longer with us, we can all find peace in knowing she no longer carries the heavy burden of this disease.”

Summitt’s 38-year coaching career at UT is considered by many to be one of the greatest coaching tenures in sports history. Summitt went 1,098-208 (.840) as a head coach, the most wins ever by a men’s or women’s coach. Her Lady Vols made 31 NCAA Tournament appearances, winning eight titles and finishing second place five times. The Lady Vols also made 22 Final Four’s under Summitt.

Perhaps more impressive is the fact that all 161 players that played under Summitt went on to graduate.

Former UT quarterback Peyton Manning said in a statement on June 28 that he wishes he

could have played under Summitt.

“She could have coached any team, any sport, men’s or women’s,” Manning said. “It wouldn’t have mattered because Pat could flat out coach.

I will miss her dearly, and I am honored to call her my friend. My thoughts and prayers are with Tyler and their entire family.”

Summitt was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000. President Obama honored Summitt with the Presidential Medal of Freedom on May 29, 2012.

“Nobody walked off a college basketball court victourious more times than Tennessee’s Pat Summitt,” President Obama said in a statement.

“For four decades, she outworked her rivals, made winning an attitude, loved her players like family and became a role model to millions of Americans, including our two daughters.

“Her legacy, however, is measured much more by the generations of young women and men who admired Pat’s intense competitveness and character, as a result found in themselves the confidence to practice hard, play harder and live with courage on and off the court ...

Michelle (Obama) and I send our condolences to Pat Summitt’s family — which includes her former players and fans on Rocky Top and across America.”

Knoxville mayor Madeline Rogero announced on social media the morning of June 28 that the Henley Bridge’s lights would be changed to orange, blue and white to honor Summitt’s legacy.

A private funeral service for friends and family of Pat Summitt was held in Middle Tennessee, and a public service to celebrate the life and career of Summitt was held in Thompson Boling Arena on July 14.

Current Lady Vols head coach and long-time Summitt assistant Holly Warlick announced in a statement on June 28 about how Summitt helped give her the courage to face any challenge that may be thrown at her.

“She played a very significant role in molding me into the person I am, and I will for-

ever be grateful for the genuine care, guidance and wisdom she unselfishly shared with me and so many others through the years,” Warlick said.

“I’ll always treasure the laughter we shared, the stories we loved to tell and certainly those stories we embellished … She was driven to perfection and always remained true to her standards. That meant doing things the right way, no matter what.

“In my eyes, there’s never been anyone better than Pat Summitt.”

• Photo courtesy of Tennessee Athletics

Impromptu memorial at Pat Summitt Plaza.

Justin Keyes • The Daily Beacon

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The Daily Beacon • Friday, August 12, 2016

Vol Nation mourns loss of legend Tom Cruise

News Editor When the title of legend comes to mind, many people’s thoughts may go to words like amazing, incredible, honorary and indisputable.

However, there are times when an elite few rise above words. Their actions resonate throughout an entire nation, their spirit lifts up the most unlikely individuals and their legacy reigns supreme.

Tuesday, June 28, 2016, Volunteers across the nation woke to news of the passing of Tennessee’s own Pat Summitt.

As early morning clouds still covered the sky, mourners began to visit the statue of the legendary coach on UT campus leaving flowers and mementos to pay their respect.

Tyler Summitt, son of Pat Summitt, announced the passing of his mother early that morning.

“She’ll be remembered as the all-time winningest D-1 basketball coach in NCAA history, but she was more than a coach to so many –– she was a hero and a mentor, especially to me, her family, her friends,

her Tennessee Lady Volunteer staff and the 161 Lady Vol student-athletes she coached during her 38-year tenure” Tyler Summitt said.

Several UT affiliates have released their condolences to the family of Pat Summitt and expressed their honor, memories and respect.

Tennessee Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Dave Hart expressed that UT athletics “are deeply saddened by today’s news of Pat Summitt’s passing. We send our deepest condolences to her son, Tyler, and to her family and friends.

“Her legacy will live on through the countless people she touched throughout her career,” Hart said.

During an emotional press conference, Dave Hart emphasized that “without Pat Summit, women’s athletics would not be where they are today.”

Volunteer Hall of Famer Peyton Manning shared his condolences as well as his memories of an amazing coach and mentor.

“I’ve always been honored to call Pat Summitt my friend,” Manning said. “It would have been a great experience to See SUMMITT on Page 35

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SUMMITT continued from Page 34 play for her. She could have coached any team, any sport, men’s or women’s. It wouldn’t have mattered because Pat could flat out coach.”

As condolences poured in, a trend began to emerge on the character of Pat Summitt. Although she is viewed as an extraordinary coach, most of her close friends agree that her legendary status stretches far beyond the basketball court and into the lives of every individual she touched.

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett stressed that “her character went beyond the basketball court, and she worked to ensure her players knew the same was expected of them.”

In admiration of her legacy, including a 100% graduation rate for her athletes, Dave Hart insisted, “there will never be another Pat Head Coach Pat Summitt during a game Summitt. between the University of Conneticutt Huskies “She didn’t request excellence, and the Lady Vols. she demanded it.”

• Photo courtesy of Tennessee Athletics

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Opinion: A young girl at Pat Summitt’s basketball camp Presley Smith

Opinions Editor From a young age, myself and many other young basketball players, viewed Pat as a hero. A legend. And so, given the opportunity, many young girls flocked from all over the country to attend the summer “Pat Summit Basketball Camp.”

The camp started with us all gathering around the well-known signature at center court, waiting anxiously to see Pat herself.

We were led in an “energy check,” which consisted of clapping and stomping, to make sure all the energy in the room was at an alltime high before Pat came to speak with us.

Year after year, having personally attended the camp too many times to count, the excitement never dulled.

Every year, the campers were surprised by every current Lady Vols player walking onto the court, and as you can guess, the room was filled with a million little girls screaming. The screaming, if possible, raised to an ear splitting volume when Pat herself walked onto the court, but she had our attention in an instant from her words “Welcome future Vols.”

At this camp, Pat showed us the personal side. As she addressed us for the first time, she explained to us that basketball was so much more than a physical thing and said that ‘you may not be the best player, but you can always be the hardest working.’

Her motivational speeches all throughout the three-day camp each year simply stuck with each and every one of us. She had a way of capturing everyone’s attention and making an impression that will never be forgotten.

Soon after Pat addressing us on the final day, all of the campers were allowed a tour of the locker room and athletic training room.

Here, we were allowed to get our shirts, basketballs and shoes signed by the members of the Lady Vols basketball team. And after this, we were allowed to speak with Pat herself.

When Pat was signing a pair of shorts or a basketball, she asked you how you enjoyed camp, what your interests were and where you were from. Her personal interaction with everyone made us each feel important.

In my experience, this sort of personal outreach was more than just for show. My mother and I were in a near fatal car wreck when I was eight years old, and when my cousin, Alyssa Drummer, mentioned the incident to Pat, she and the entire team

Neyland Stadium tribute to Pat Summitt. Justin Keyes • The Daily Beacon signed a Lady Vols shirt for me while I was unconscious in ICU. The shirt is my prized possession to this day.

The fact that Pat Summitt cared so much about each person she came into contact with made her the icon she was and still is.

Pat Summitt was not just the basketball coach with the outstanding record and icy

stare; she was so much more.

Pat not only made such an impression on each and every player she coached, but she also changed the lives of all those who came to the camp year after year. She was more than a coach to us; she was a hero, motivator and an all around admirable person.

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Opinion: The story I wrote for Pat Summitt Trenton Duffer

Sports Editor I was just a guy born in a small town northeast of Nashville, right on the Kentucky border (literally, if you were to travel a few miles down my road, you’d be in Kentucky). Being raised in a Tennessee-loving family pumped orange and white blood through my veins, and Saturdays weren’t the same without watching the Vols play. I didn’t know who the players or coaches were on almost any UT team, but I knew one name––Pat Summitt.

“

Pat was a living legend.

She was the embodiment of courage and one of the most genuine human beings I’ve ever had the honor of meeting.”

It was a name synonymous with success. When the Lady Vols were on, I tried watching them. And they would almost always win. It was rarer seeing them lose than it was seeing them win. Pat’s 1,098208 record is proof of that.

I don’t remember the football team’s championship in 1998. I barely remember the years of Casey Clausen. Heck, even Erik Ainge’s years as the Vols quarterback are a bit foggy for me.

But I always knew who Pat Summitt and the

Lady Vols were. They won back-to-back titles in 2007 and 2008 and always had deep tournament runs. And I watched in awe as she changed the game and drew me into the world of sports. I took up sports journalism in hopes of one day meeting Pat. I finally got my chance to thank her while covering the Lady Vols this past spring. As the Lady Vols game came to an end, I saw Pat Summitt sitting in the front row in the middle of the arena.

Letting my journalistic barriers down for just a few moments, I walked over to her and greeted her with a handshake. I told her how big of a fan I was and how truly honored I was to meet her. She didn’t thank me for the kind words. She didn’t even act like she knew that she was THE Pat Summitt.

Instead, she asked me what paper I wrote for and my name. After answering her with a quick response, she smiled and looked me dead in the eye.

“I’m going to read your story tonight,” she said.

“You write good about my girls, you understand me, son?”

I answered with a “Yes ma’am” and went to work.

I never spoke to Pat after that. Her health declined as the year progressed, and we all saw less of her at home games.

I just hope that my story lived up to her expectations.

Whether it did or it didn’t (and let’s face it––Pat Summitt always found places for you to improve), I hope that Pat enjoyed my story. I wrote it for her.

Pat was a living legend. She was the embodiment of courage and one of the most genuine human beings I’ve ever had the honor of meeting.

This tribute isn’t enough for you, Pat. So as I write this tearful goodbye, I want to thank you for everything that you did in your lifetime. Thank you for helping me find a love of sports. And more importantly, thank you for being an idol to millions.

One of the best things I think you ever said was when you were offered a job as the men’s coach and turned it down, asking why the men’s job would be considered a “step up.”

It wasn’t a step up. There is no step up from the best.

• Photos Courtesy of Tennessee Athletics

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Friday, August 12, 2016 • The Daily Beacon

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Downhill track offers mountain bikers wild ride Norris Eppes

Contributor Leaning against his mountain bike, Michael Davis pushes his helmet back to wipe sweat out of his eyes.

Davis is pausing for a moment after walking his mountain bike up the gravel access path to Devil’s Racetrack, the recently opened double black diamond downhill trail in Baker Creek Preserve.

Ahead of him, the trail starts as a dirt-skid of tiremarks which lead up a red-dirt ramp nearly his height. On the wooden fence beside Davis is a sign; there are two black diamonds painted to the left of “Devil” and two to the right of “Racetrack.”

Located on Baker Creek Preserve, Devil’s Racetrack is a professionally designed 0.8 mile downhill mountain bike trail that opened in June.

It was funded with the help of a $100,000 grant from Bell Helmets, an organization that hosted an online competition to award the money to a U.S. city for bike trail development. Knoxville’s Appalachian Mountain Bike Club helped launch a social media campaign that allowed the city to win the contest by an overwhelming margin. The City of Knoxville, the International Mountain Bike Association and the Legacy Parks Foundation then partnered to bring the project to fruition.

Devil’s Racetrack is one of eight mountain bike trails on Baker Creek Preserve and adds another unique attraction to Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness as a nationally rated, expert level downhill course.

A newcomer to the area, Davis biked Devil’s Racetrack for the first time Saturday, July 16.

“I know it’s a good trail,” he said. “I’m excited to try it. I just hope I don’t crash.”

Josh McGrew, Aftin Forsythe and a group of friends watched as Davis biked up the red-dirt ramp, paused for a second and let gravity take him to the first jump. Then Davis swung around two bank turns toward the 50-foot wall ride—one of the two unique and professionally designed features of Devil’s Racetrack, the other being the rock garden.

“At the bottom of this bank turn, the trail splits.

You can do either the rock garden or the jump line, which is the one I took,” McGrew said. “You can make this a pretty crazy trail, or you can cruise it and just have a good time.”

These are the jumps, the banks, the turns and the trails that McGrew said he could only have dreamed of making as a kid, biking around in the woods.

“We’ve got all these resources. We’ve got beautiful vegetation, tons of trees everywhere. We’ve got these great hills. Let’s use them,” McGrew said.

The prospect of riding smooth, maintained trails designed specifically for mountain biking was

Bikers ride down Devil’s Racetrack. Norris Eppes • The Daily Beacon what brought two brothers, Will Johnson, 17, and Wesley Johnson, 14, to Devil’s Racetrack on July 16. They’d spent the first part of the day biking the other trails in Baker Creek Preserve. Wesley enjoyed Barn Burner, particularly.

“Barn Burner has a bunch of jumps, so you can get a lot of air. It’s not as hard, so you don’t have to be as cautious as on this one,” he said, nodding toward the double black diamond trail.

Both brothers had been down Devil’s Racetrack before, and after a brief rest, both picked up their

mountain bikes and headed toward the downhill trail.

“It’s kinda scary,” Wesley Johnson said. “It’s really fast.”

“We try to be safe,” Will Johnson said. “But also have fun. Hey Wesley, ready to go?”

The brothers took off, one following the other: down the ramp, up the jump, swerving to the right, swerving to the left—then into the woods and out of sight with the sound of a fast swish and the whirr of spinning spokes.

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The Daily Beacon • Friday, August 12, 2016

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WELCOMEBACK

Friday, August 12, 2016 • The Daily Beacon

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Vols face heightened expectations this fall Shane Switzer

leads, the Vols would have been playing for the SEC title.

Asst. Sports Editor Jones is trying to narrow the focus of the team and get them to only focus on what they can control.

“We talk about owning it,” Jones said. “Own it.

For the first time in arguably a decade, the Own your attitude. Own the expectations. Own expectations for the Tennessee football team are your style of play own the football program, own high and it isn’t coming from fans. your position group.”

It’s coming from all corners of the college footStill, Jones is trying to balance staying humble ball world. with acknowledging the great expectations. Those UT is a heavy favorite to win the SEC East expectations began with the 2013 recruiting class for the first time since 2007, and some think UT – a class Jones only had 31 days to assemble. In could win the SEC Championship, something those 31 days, he was able to get Dobbs, Reevesthey haven’t been picked to accomplish since 2005. Maybin and Sutton, players Jones called foundaIn that year, UT fintion pieces. ished 5-6 and wound Jones said up fifth in the eastern he absolutely division. believed when But that is the those three signed past and this is the in 2013 that UT present, where head football could coach Butch Jones build around welcomed the high them and become expectations the fans favorites. and media placed on “They stayed his Vols during SEC the course,” Jones media days this past said. “They have July. really laid the hard “A few years ago work, the foundawe weren’t even the tion for what topic of conversawe’re experienction,” Jones said. ing right now.”

“Now Tennessee For Reevesfootball is at least in Maybin, he is the topic of conversaexcited about the tion.” high expectations While Jones is and likes to look happy UT is being back to his freshtalked about, he Butch Jones, Head Football Coach man and sophostressed being hummore seasons and ble and taking everysee how much thing as a wake-up the program has call. grown.

Jones told media “We’re not members that when even at the top he, Josh Dobbs, Cam yet,” ReevesSutton and Jalen Reeves-Maybin were picked up Maybin said. “We’re still climbing. In the years to from the team plane and taken to the hotel where come it’s only going to get better.” media days were being held, the bus was over 100 Starting quarterback Josh Dobbs was a little bit degrees. Jones joked that the bus driver might have more emphatic. even said “Roll Tide.”

“The message is ‘Tennessee is back,’” Dobbs That brought Jones and his players back to real- said. ity very quickly. While the media and fans might Dobbs said the team has taken a lot of strides be ready to crown Tennessee kings of the east and coming off last season and is figuring out how to SEC Champions, there are still many who have put away teams and win close games. He said he other ideas. is ready to play and is excited for the start of the UT had high expectations for themselves last season. season but fell short of that. They had a chance “People realize Tennessee is a true contender,” to play in Atlanta for an SEC Championship but Dobbs said. “Obviously we have our own expectainstead had to watch Florida represent the SEC tions… we still have high expectations for ourEast. Had it not been for three blown double-digit selves. We hold ourselves to high standards.”

“

We talk about owning it. Own it. Own your attitude. Own the expectations. Own your style of play own the football program, own your position group.”

UT football players with Head Coach Butch Jones Esther Choo • The Daily Beacon

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The Daily Beacon • Friday, August 12, 2016

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Fall 2016 Academic Calendar

Classes Begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wednesday, August 17 Administrative Closing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . Thursday, September 1 Labor Day . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Monday, September 5 1st Session Ends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wednesday, October 5 Fall Break . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thursday-Friday, October 6-7 2nd Session Begins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Monday, October 10 Thanksgiving. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thursday-Friday, November 24-25 First Study Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wednesday, November 30 Classes End . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thursday, December 1 Second Study Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Friday, December 2 Exams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Saturday-Friday, December 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Graduate Hooding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thursday, December 8 Commencement and Official Graduation Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Friday (4:00 p.m.), December 9

“We have to remember what’s important in life: friends,waffles,and work.Or waffles,friends,work.But work has to come third.”

Leslie Knope, Parks and Recreation - Jenna Butz,Special Projects Editor “Freshman year is the time to find your footing.

Classes will suck, you will hate your roommate, but the trick to freshmen year is finding out a way to make that not true.”

- Chris Salvemini, Asst. News Editor “What I wish I knew as a freshman is personal health is an absolute must.If you’re not taking care of your body and mind,you set yourself up for failure.”

- Lauren Ratliff,Design Editor “I wish I knew how important it was to attend more sporting events.A lot of events are free and a football ticket is just $10.”

- Trenton Duffer,Sports Editor “I wish I knew that in college nobody cares what you’re doing unless it affects them.”

- Altaf Nanavati,Digital Producer

“I wish I knew that it takes time to find real friends. You’ll find your group, just be patient.”

- Hannah Moulton, Copy Chief “I wish I knew that no matter how badly you think you’ve messed up, someone else has done worse. You’ll get through it.”

- Megan Patterson, Managing Editor “Don’t try to be anything but yourself, it’s so freeing not caring what anyone thinks.”

- Millie Tunnell, Social Media & Online Editor “I wish I knew that you could earn free pizzas at Dominos with a pizza profile.”

- Bradi Musil, Editor-In-Chief