Cloudy 40% chance of rain HIGH LOW 55 51
Follow us: @DailyBeacon
Check out the UTUConn Basketball Preview
PAGE 7 T H E
Fan reaction to Skyrim mistakes Friday, January 20, 2012 Issue 7
E D I T O R I A L L Y
Vol. 119
I N D E P E N D E N T
S T U D E N T
PUBLISHED SINCE 1906
PAGE 5
http://utdailybeacon.com N E W S P A P E R
O F
T H E
U N I V E R S I T Y
O F
T E N N E S S E E
HSS begins makeover, renovates for 2012 Claire Dodson Staff Writer UT students and faculty who have classes in the Humanities and Social Sciences Building (HSS) may have noticed a few changes this semester. Most notably, the floor is gone in almost every classroom. These changes are in preparation for the large-scale renovation HSS will be undergoing this summer. William Dunne, associate dean and professor of research technology in the College of Engineering, said these renovations are simply the next step in improving student learning at UT. “We have seen an improvement in the caliber of the students at UT,” Dunne said. “We take that as a challenge to make students’ learning experiences better. The HSS renovations are a large part of that.” HSS, which was built in 1965, has been the source of a lot of student complaints over the past few years. UT has been making slow but steady improvements to relieve these concerns. In the summers of 2010 and 2011, the lighting and HVAC systems were replaced, resulting in more comfortable temperatures and added energy efficiency. “I had classes in HSS my freshman year,” Megan Lange, junior in
English, said. “It was always either really hot or freezing cold. This made it a very distracting learning environment.” With the HVAC systems now fixed, the Classroom Upgrade Committee, chaired by Dunne, can focus completely on the renovation of the entire building. For three years, the committee has been working on diversifying the style of learning through classroom style in HSS. “Most of our classrooms now reflect a focus on lecture-style teaching,” Dunne said. “While this is still a valuable teaching method, we recognize it may not work best for every type of class UT offers. Our aim is to make those classrooms more accessible for learning.” This accessibility comes in the form of flexible rolling chairs, matceramic boards to take the place of white boards/chalkboards, and smartboards in smaller classrooms. These are all meant to enhance student-teacher interaction. Currently, a few classrooms in HSS are already using the colorful chairs, and Dunne said the feedback has been excellent. “These chairs make it easy for teachers to construct their classrooms in different ways,” Dunne said. “Students can work in groups much more efficiently to maximize classroom space.” See HUMANITIES on Page 3
Knoxville expo raises health awareness among UT students Matt Miller Staff Writer According to the Centers For Disease Control in Atlanta, about three out of 10 people in Tennessee are too fat, and university students are not immune from this staggering statistic. “If I have to write a big paper or I get stressed out, I tend to eat a lot of sweets and chocolate,” Anna Nisch, a grad student studying German literature, said. “Coffee is also an issue for me.” So far, though, Anna remains trim, despite her penchant for relieving stress with chocolate. To help students combat this problem and to make Tennessee a healthier place, the Healthy Living Expo is back in Knoxville. The expo will be held at the Knoxville Convention Center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21. For many college students, staying up late, partying, eating cheap food and other such activities make their college lifestyles unhealthy. The expo will feature a wide variety of events, from free health checks to food samplings. “The more people we can teach about living healthier, the better,” said Susan Benton, the communications director at the Healthy Living Expo. The expo is designed to help people become healthier by talking face-to-face with specialists and people going through similar health issues. Free health checks from specialists will be available at many of the more than 250 interactive, eduFrancis Glynn • The Daily Beacon cational exhibits. If there is a question about The Dunkin’ Donuts mascot hangs out on the Pedestrian Mall on Jan. 18, holding a health, one of these exhibits should be able to sign advertising the new opening of a Dunkin’ Donuts at Volunteer Hall. The store answer it. opens at 7 a.m. Monday-Friday and at 10 a.m. on Sunday. As a college student, finding the time to be
TeamVOLS gears up for day of service Tiffany Perkins Staff Writer The King Holiday and Service Act was passed by Congress in 1994 as part of the president’s national call to service initiative. Instead of having a day off from work or school, Congress urged Americans of all backgrounds to honor Dr. King’s legacy with service and community action. Approaching another year of giving, TeamVOLS Volunteer Center asks students to “continue to make this a day ON and not a day OFF.” The TeamVOLS Volunteer Center will host the 11th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on Saturday, Jan. 21. Since its start at UT in 2002, the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service has seen great progress. Participation has more than doubled since 2010 with over 600 students currently registered this year. The 2011 Day of Service gave over 1,100 hours of service to the Knoxville community, and members of TeamVOLS feel that this year will be “the biggest one yet.” “I hope everyone who pre-registered and (who) comes out to volunteer has a positive attitude and a willingness to serve,” Kate Humphrey, program adviser, said. Each year the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service gives students the chance to volunteer at different places throughout Knoxville. This year’s volunteers can expect to serve at places like the Ijams Nature Center, the YWCA Phyllis Wheatley Center and the Knox Area Rescue Ministries and Boys and Girls Club. Though much emphasis is placed on community service, it is not
the only objective of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. King said that “service is the great equalizer” and this nationally observed day of service aims to bring UT students together, regardless of barriers that have divided them in the past. Students like Kewana Phennessee, senior in sociology and criminal justice, volunteer for this very reason. “Dr. King dedicated his whole life to fighting for equal rights and giving back to the community,” Phennessee said. “Dedicating my whole day to giving back in honor of him is the very least I can do. Even though it is only a small step, I know that it is a part of a huge effort to continue breaking barriers.” Humphrey also said breaking barriers is one of the reasons she is so passionate about the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. “Another reason I love this day of service is because almost anyone can serve,” Phennessee said. “TeamVOLS prepares the volunteer sites and provides transportation for those who might not normally have it. Dr. King said, ‘Everybody can be great ... because anybody can serve.’ We do have to limit the amount of students who sign up, due to the amount of buses our office can afford, etc., but I am proud to see how many UT students are willing to give up a Saturday morning to help their community.” Since pre-registration numbers were so high, registration was closed early. Students who did pre-register are asked to be at the UC from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. to check in. This is mandatory. A light breakfast will be served, a brief presentation will be made and students will be transported to service sites around the city. All students will be back to the UC by 1 p.m.
healthy is difficult enough, not to mention expensive. A drawing will be held every hour to win a one-year membership in Fort Sanders Health and Fitness Center. Along with this drawing, tons of other prizes will be distributed. Different stages will be set up throughout the expo as well. The Zumba Stage is set up for people of all ages to try the easy-to-follow, Latininspired, fitness dance. There is also an Eat Right Stage where local chefs and nutritionists will help show people how to eat healthier. Chef Walter Lambert, whose popular cooking show airs on local Channel 8, will be there to talk and share some recipes. There also will be free food tastings. The Get Active Stage will have physical activities such as dance, karate, gymnastics, Pilates, kickboxing and yoga. Missy Kane, a UT graduate and track star, is going to speak at the expo about preventive health screens and wellness. The Family Fun Center has activities for all ages, including a portable tennis court. Last, but not least, there will be free massages for anyone attending the Healthy Living Expo. When asked if he would go to the expo, Stephen Palmer, a sophomore in logistics, said it was a nobrainer. “I would definitely go,” Palmer said. “I mean, come on, free massages.” The Healthy Living Expo is committed to helping people live healthier, whether they are trying to counteract long nights of partying or just curious about how to stay healthy in everyday living. Free tickets are online at http://www.thehealthylivingexpo.com/knoxville/index.php.
Northwest prepares for harsh weather The Associated Press OLYMPIA, Wash. — A winter storm that packed winds of 100 mph and dumped more than a foot of snow in the Pacific Northwest could soon give way to another threat: warmer weather and the potential for flooding. However, an icy Thursday morning commute was the next challenge likely to face Western Washington drivers, local emergency management officials warned. Sub-freezing temperatures were the rule late Wednesday with Bellingham forecast to dip as low as 15 degrees with wind gusts to 25 mph. Light freezing drizzle fell in Seattle and Tacoma. More than 40,000 electrical customers lost power at least temporarily late Wednesday, in many cases as icy, snow-laden tree limbs drooped or fell onto power lines. Many of the outages
were quickly restored. Some residents in Washington state’s capital tried to find a way to enjoy the abundance of snow Wednesday in a region not used to huge snowfalls. “I love it,” said teenager Emily Hansen, who had the day off from high school and spent the morning with her mother taking photos of the growing piles of snow outside the Capitol. Her mother, however, was more measured, mindful of what the days ahead could bring. “A day or two it’s fun, but after a while you start looking at accidents and slush and flooding,” Pat Hansen said. From Olympia to the Oregon coast, the storm closed schools, caused dozens of flight cancellations and clogged roads with snow and hundreds of accidents. Kennewick and Richland. The University of Washington canceled Thursday classes at 3 campuses, including Seattle.