01 22 15

Come on in,

the water’s

fine.

Cherelle Thompson left her home in Trinidad to pursue her dreams of competitive swimming in the U.S. See the full story on page 11. • Photo courtesy of Brandon Crawford

Volume 128 Issue 10

utdailybeacon.com @utkdailybeacon

Thursday, January 22, 2015

2

INSHORT

The Daily Beacon • Thursday, January 22, 2015

DISPATCHES Scientists put worm brain in Lego robot

Doctor shot Tuesday at Boston hospital dies

Gathering scientists and programmers from around the world, the Open Worm Project is the research venture aiming to recreate the behavior of the common roundworm in a machine. This collaboration recently had its first major breakthrough after original software, modeled on the neurons of the worm’s nervous system, independently controlled a Lego robot.

Without any prior programming, the Lego machine’s sensors made the robot behave in a similar fashion to that of a roundworm, approaching and backing away from obstacles or being stimulated by food. While the researchers behind the project say it will be some time before the bot is avoiding predators and searching for a mate, their research thus far shows that artificial intelligence, like applying a human brain to a machine, could one day be possible.

Stephen Pasceri, 55, entered the second floor of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston on Tuesday asking to speak with a doctor Davidson, according to reports from Boston Police Commissioner William Evans. As Davidson came into the foyer between the waiting and exam room to see Pasceri, he was fatally shot upon arriving.

A source briefed on the investigation told CNN Wednesday the Boston doctor, the director of endovascular cardiac surgery at the hospital and an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, had treated the mother of the gunman, Marguerite Pasceri, who had recently died. Pasceri was later found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

THE DAILY BEACON STAFF EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief: Claire Dodson Managing Editor: Hanna Lustig Chief Copy Editor: Emilee Lamb, Cortney Roark News Editor: Hayley Brundige Asst. News Editor: Bradi Musil Special Projects Editor: Liv McConnell Sports Editor: Jonathan Toye Asst. Sports Editor: Taylor White Arts & Culture Editor: Jenna Butz Online Editor: Kevin Ridder Asst. Online Editor: Cara Sanders Photo Editor: Hannah Cather, Esther Choo Design Editor: Katrina Roberts, Lauren Ratliff Social Media Editor: McCord Pagan Copy Editors: Tanner Hancock, Alexis Lawrence, Hannah Moulton, Faith Schweikert, Marina Waters, Savannah Gilman Editorial Production: Eric Gibson, Reid Hartsell, Justin Keyes, Teron Nunley, Steven Woods Training Editor: R.J. Vogt

ADVERTISING/PRODUCTION

Advertising Manager: Shelby Dildine Media Sales Representatives: Carly Kirkpatrick, Taylor Rife, Connor Thompson Advertising Production: Brandon White, Steven Woods Classified Adviser: Jessica Hingtgen

CONTACTS To report a news item, please e-mail editor.news@utdailybeacon.com or call 865-974-2348 To submit a press release, please e-mail pressreleases@utdailybeacon.com

To place an ad, please e-mail beaconads@utk.edu or call 865-974-5206 To place a classified ad, please e-mail orderad@utdailybeacon.com or call 865-974-4931 Advertising: (865) 974-5206 beaconads@utk.edu Classifieds: (865) 974-4931 orderad@utdailybeacon.com Editor-in-Chief: (865) 974-2348 editorinchief@utdailybeacon.com Main Newsroom: (865) 974-3226 editorinchief@utdailybeacon.com LETTERS POLICY: The Daily Beacon welcomes all letters to the editor and guest columns from students, faculty and staff.

Each submission is considered for publication by the editor on the basis of space, timeliness and clarity. The Beacon reserves the right to reject any submissions or edit all copy in compliance with available space, editorial policy and style. Contributions must include the author’s name and phone number for verification. Students must include their year in school and major. Letters to the editor and guest columns may be e-mailed to letters@utdailybeacon.com or sent to Editor, 1340 Circle Park Dr., 11 Communications Building, Knoxville, TN 37996-0314.

The Daily Beacon is published by students at The University of Tennessee Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and Wednesday during the summer semester. The offices are located at 1340 Circle Park Drive, 11 Communications Building, Knoxville, TN 37996-0314. The newspaper is free on campus and is available via mail subscription for $200/year, $100/semester or $70/summer only. It is also available online at: www.utdailybeacon.com

Around Rocky Top Brooke Conner, sophomore in marketing and Cultural Attractions Committee member, participates in the Taikoza drum performance on Tuesday.

Esther Choo • The Daily Beacon

CAMPUSNEWS

Thursday, January 22, 2015 • The Daily Beacon

4th Meal satisfies students’ hunger Series provides students with critical discussion training Tayllor Cochrane Contributor

Like Taco Bell at midnight, you don’t necessarily need it, but you certainly don’t regret it.

This year, UT’s Office of National Scholarships and Fellowships created the 4th Meal series to give students the opportunity to practice speaking extraneously outside the classroom. Once a month, students gather to examine topics such as nuclear energy and climate change.

“This series hopes to provide an environment for casual, critical discussion that engages all disciplines and welcomes all viewpoints,” said Becca Harman, graduate student assistant pursuing a master’s in soil science.

The 4th Meal series allows students to discuss contemporary and critical topics that are relevant to life outside the university. For Nichole Fazio-Veigel, director of ONSF, these discussions act as a training ground for students interested in going through the rigorous application process for a top-tier scholarship.

“In our experiences for national scholarship processes, many students can look terrific on paper but when it comes to interviewing and actually engaging in discussion about things that matter, things fall a bit flat,” Fazio-Veigel said. “In small measure, we hope the 4th Meal is also good practice as we all learn how to better engage in thoughtful discussion with one another.”

The series began with the topic “Your phone: A Hackable World,” a discussion that focused on how mobile security lags behind rapid advancements in smartphones. Harman said they felt that the topic was “consequential to all, current in nature and locally, nationally and globally significant,” especially in light of recent uproar over government data collection and high-profile hackings.

By the end of the discussion, the group of students and advisers agreed that as a society, we are far less aware of the susceptibility of our phone than we should be.

By offering a space to explore topical and often controversial subjects, ONSF facilitates academic discussion between peers that might not occur organically or in the classroom.

“As a non-credit bearing, graded or outcome driven initiative, it is our hope that the 4th Meal becomes a forum for undergraduates to engage in challenging but rewarding conversation with their peers and colleagues,” Fazio-Veigel said.

The 4th Meal series will hold monthly discussions this semester, starting with the topic of “Nuclear Energy: What is it worth?” this Thursday, Jan. 22, at 5 p.m. in the Mary Greer Room of Hodges Library.

For more information, email Nichole FazioVeigel at nfaziove@utk.edu.

Monthly meetings begin this Thursday at 5 p.m. in the Mary Greer Room in Hodges Library.

Facilities services wellprepared for winter weather Chris Salvemini Staff Writer

During the winter, facilities services workers are considered to be emergency essential personnel.

All shifts run regardless of the weather, and it is not uncommon to have people sleep on campus in order to be present for their shifts.

This is a practice made out of consideration of safety for both the personnel and for the rest of campus.

When something goes wrong, facility services is there to rectify it.

“We must remain vigilant throughout the season making any repairs or adjustments as the need arises, and we are continuously

inspecting the underground and aboveground systems,” said Roy Warwick, director of utilities.

Facilities services constantly checks its areas to ensure everything is working properly.

Most freezing damage occurs during winter nights, so custodians inspect the building at the end of their shifts to ensure that all windows are sealed. Anything that seems colder than it should be, or just different, is immediately reported to the Zone Maintenance.

Chilled water coils, the component that keeps air chilled in HVAC systems, are given a valve and drained. Winter also sees 24/7 coverage on pipes and fresh air intakes, to ensure they work properly.

See WEATHER on Page 4

3

4

CAMPUSNEWS

The Daily Beacon • Thursday, January 22, 2015

Around Rocky Top

WEATHER continued from Page 3 “We have an experienced group of folks,” said Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities Services and Operations Dave Irvin. “We’re all committed to this place so students can learn and faculty can teach.”

Irvin said preparation is the key to surviving winter.

In July, both to save money and ensure it arrives on time, facilities services orders a supply of salt and sand to pave the roads with during snowy weather. By October, the supplies have usually arrived and been placed in strategic points across campus so workers can easily apply them if necessary.

More important than buying supplies, Irvin said, is ensuring that personnel are trained in how to maintain their areas during the cold. Before winter arrives, facilities services has trained its employees how to use and fix utility systems.

This includes boilers at the steam plant, electrical systems -Dave Irvin and emergency fuel systems.

These employees are also trained to service their own areas so anyone knows his or her craft inside and out.

When deciding what streets, buildings or sidewalks are to be taken care of first, facilities services prioritizes areas with heavy traffic during the day, such as Hodges Library and Volunteer Boulevard.

The geography is taken into consideration as well. The Hill is next on the list simply because of its steep slopes.

Bob Caudill, director of facilities services, noted such upkeep during the winter months is not reserved for the outdoors.

“We get salt and sand tracked into the buildings,” Caudill said. “Even with the extra mopping we do, we often have to strip and refinish hallways where the floor finish is abraded by people walking on salt and sand.

Doing this in every building on campus is more expensive than most people realize.”

Facility services’ One Call system is always available twenty four hours a day, for anyone who may need immediate service. The phone number is (865) 946 – 7777. More information can be found online at http://facserv.utk. tennessee.edu/.

“We’re all committed to this place so students can learn and faculty can teach.”

Carson Wittaker, black dress, holds the chain to the cardboard sculpture she made with Kegan Bryant and Tim Carmichael, not pictured, for the School of Art’s Spring 2015 Charette. This year’s theme was “Monsters.”

Reston Campbell • The Daily Beacon

Haslam hits the road to promote Insure Tennessee proposal Associated Press JACKSON, Tenn. — Gov. Bill Haslam on Wednesday kicked off a statewide tour to make the hard sell for his proposal to extend health coverage to more than 200,000 low-income Tennesseans.

Haslam opened the tour at Jackson-Madison County Memorial Hospital, where he sought to explain his Insure Tennessee proposal and assuage the concerns of fellow Republicans wary of approving the program in a special legislative session next month because it would draw on federal money available under President Barack Obama’s health care law.

“This is not Obamacare,” Haslam told reporters after the event. “This is a different program that puts incentives in there for healthy behavior both on the user side and on the medical care provider side.

“And it won’t cost Tennessee taxpayers another dime,” he said.

Haslam headed to Memphis after the

Jackson stop, and said he would make up to eight more stops around the state before the special session begins on Feb. 2.

“We’re not here to twist anyone’s arms — yet — for a vote,” Haslam said.

During the governor’s visit to Christ Community Health Services in Frayser, a community in north Memphis, state Senate Democratic leader Lee Harris praised the governor for “bucking” Republican lawmakers in coming up with the plan.

Republican Rep. Mark White took issue with Harris’ statement, saying the governor was not acting against the wishes of his own party.

“This is a critical problem,” White said of the health care issue. “We’re trying to find an answer.”

Hospitals have agreed to cover any extra costs to the state that Haslam’s Medicaid proposal would incur, and the governor said he will obtain guarantees from the federal government that the state can drop out of the program at any time.

Haslam received a positive response among several lawmakers who attended the meetings, including Rep. Jimmy Eldridge and newly elected Sen. Ed Jackson, both of Jackson, and Rep. Steve McDaniel of Parkers Crossroads.

“There’s still a lot of gray areas I’d like to have answered,” Jackson said. “But it looks promising.”

Eldridge cited the importance of the survival of rural hospitals in supporting the governor’s plan, and said he was undeterred by outside groups threatening political ramifications for those who vote for it.

“I don’t worry about re-election. I worry about doing the right thing,” Eldridge said.

“If I do the right thing, I let the voters decide whether to send me back to Nashville. There is life after politics.”

The governor said he has worked with hospitals to establish a new payment plan that would control health care costs by offering lump-sum reimbursements for complete medical treatment rather than for individual procedures.

ARTS&CULTURE

Thursday, January 22, 2015 • The Daily Beacon

Taikoza drums bring sounds of Japan to UT Faith Schweikert

Copy Editor (@got_2haveFaith)

Their hearts beat to a different drum.

Literally.

Cox Auditorium was roused Tuesday night as it welcomed Taikoza, a Japanese Taiko drum and dance group stationed in New York, to UT. The Cultural Attractions Committee hosted the show with the goal of “presenting diverse events at a low cost to the University of Tennessee,” according to the CAC website.

Before the Taikoza members arrived, the audience had nothing to look at in silence but the instruments which lined the stage.

Some weighed upwards of 100 pounds, as the audience would later learn, others the size of hand drums. A set of varying sizes of bamboo flutes rounded out the collection.

This silence did not last for long, however. The moment Marco Lienhard, executive director of Taikoza, and his group members picked up their drum sticks, the audience was captivated. One such audience member let out more than one uncontrollable gasp of “wow” after many of the acts.

The group combined numerous traditional Japanese festival songs with the interpretive dances to match. The sticks used on the Taiko and other drums moved so swiftly, one could hardly tell they’d touched the drum at all. They became blurs in a whirl of move-

“I just really enjoy learning about other cultures and just experiencing some things that I can’t find here.”

- Katie Beckett

ment. No part of the body was left out of the action as dance transformed Cox’s stage.

The usage of the bamboo flute brought the audience, and one could tell from the passionate expressions on their faces, the group members, into Japan as the sounds of nature calmed the energetic crowd. All soon

Members of the Taikoza drum group perform Tuesday.

Esther Choo • The Daily Beacon were lost in the song and thought, imagining the Japan that the songs were inspired by.

It seemed that no one knew quite what they were getting into. Despite its advertisement as a drum and dance performance, many attendees had only focused on the dance aspect of the show.

“I really liked it; it was not what I was expecting but it was really cool,” Katie Beckett, sophomore in linguistics, said. “I thought it might have been 50/50 dances and drums or it might’ve been more dance, but it was awesome. I just really enjoy learning about other cultures and just experiencing some things that I can’t find here.”

Others were more than shocked to find that they too would be a part of the show as Taikoza members pulled attendees up to beat the drums and dance along with them.

One such soul was senior in economics and Japanese foreign exchange student, Aryosuk Kato.

“I was so nervous, and I was very surprised,” Kato admitted as he placed his hand over his heart, recreating his shocked expression. “It was very fun. I am Japanese but I have never heard of Taiko, so it was very different.”

5

6

VIEWPOINTS

The Daily Beacon • Thursday, January 22, 2015

If sororities had parties I would go and never leave “My idea of a great party is one where a good fraction of the guests are Alexandra Chiasson wearing wigs and no one gets raped.”

Stained and Confused

Claire Dodson Editor-in-Chief

This week, The New York Times published an opinion piece called “Sororities Should Throw Parties” in which the author, Juliet Lapidos, argues rather directly that sororities should throw parties.

The rationale is thoroughly — and excitingly — compelling. Citing recent crackdowns on fraternities in light of sexual assault scandals, Lapidos points out that should sororities gain alcohol privileges and be permitted to host parties, they could potentially provide a redemptive “social counterweight to fraternities” and prevent sexual assault by putting control of beverages and venue in the hands of women.

This is a fantastic idea and a long time coming. I might not be in a sorority, but I stand in adamant solidarity with all of the sisters who should be allowed to get wasted in their own damn house if they want to.

Let the frat boys eat cake, I say! Let this be the dawn of a new era! Let the sororities have parties!

Once “Sororities Should Throw Parties” put the idea in my head, I couldn’t stop imagining what a sorority party might be like. Honestly, I think if I ever got a chance to go to one, I would never want to leave.

First of all, can we agree that the music at a sorority party would be outstanding?

Fantasizing about getting turnt in Sorority Village, I found this playlist on Spotify called “Total Sorority Move” and listened to it on repeat until I knew all the words to “Lip Gloss” by Lil Mama. Probably all I would add is “I Don’t Need A Man” by The Pussycat Dolls.

Dollar signs à la “Ke$ha” and “BO$$” notably pepper this playlist, which brings me to my next point: not to be overly brazen, but I think we all know sororities would drop major cash on their parties.

Does anyone remember that one episode of Lizzie McGuire where the mean girl nemesis, Kate Sanders, gives out cell phones in her birthday party goody bags?

Is it unreasonable to think that we could expect comparable treatment from our sorority friends? I just wouldn’t be surprised if, after a long night of dancing to Taylor Swift and not getting roofied, I walked away from Sorority Village with

Hanna Lustig Managing Editor

Emily Wildenburg @eawildenburg This weather almost makes me want to go on a run outside. keyword = almost because I don’t run

Yoshitaka Hamada @takahamada87

some handmade doohickey that features glitter and an airplane bottle in my pocket.

Additionally, having explored a sorority house or two, I can testify that these places are prime party locations. You could soundly hit Gatsby-level in these palaces of opulence. Above all — and I’m sure others will agree — I want to get white girl wasted in a place where I could literally swing from a chandelier.

Although sorority parties would probably only fulfill part of my good party criteria, I think they deserve a chance to provide “party choice,” as Lapidos phrases it, to campuses around the country.

Sorority women have inspired campus fashion trends, made Tumblr mainstream and granted us a foolproof way to fit an absurd number of people in a single photograph — the time has come for them to throw us a party.

Alexandra Chiasson is a senior in English. She can be reached at achiasso@ vols.utk.edu.

EDITORIALBOARD Jenna Butz Kevin Ridder

Arts & Culture Editor

With highs in the 50s this week, many students are taking advantage of the warm weather.

Online Editor

65F in Greeneville...what is this? April!? It’s great to be in warm, but it’s not right #weather for this time of the year.

Zach Williford

@Big_Willy28

Wish this weather would make up its mind. Wore a jacket to my 8 am and felt fine. Wore it to my 11:15 and I’m dying.

Maria Myers

@Maria_Myers19

It is a sin that baseball is not being played in this weather

Macie Solomon @SassiestSolomon Freaking obsessed with his weather seriously never going inside

Emilee Lamb Chief Copy Editor

R.J. Vogt

Training Editor

VIEWPOINTS

Thursday, January 22, 2015 • The Daily Beacon

Facilities services fixes more than sidewalks LETTER to the EDITOR

On behalf of UT Facilities Services and the many people across our campus and in the community who support our work, I’d like to respond to the column “Congratulations on the sidewalk, University of Tennessee” written by Mr. Grayson Hawkins and published in the Jan. 16 edition of The Daily Beacon.

In his column, Mr. Hawkins implies that the administration has recently fixed just one stretch of sidewalk and that we are not focused on improving buildings and the overall environment campus-wide.

We, in fact, take quite seriously our commitment to improving the learning, working and living environment for our students and all of the members of our campus community. Dedicated people across our campus are working together to transform our campus through new construction, renovations, landscaping and hundreds of other improvements inside and outside our buildings.

A primary goal of our campus master plan is to make it more pedestrian-friendly and create more welcoming outdoor study and gathering spaces, along with improving the linkage between our buildings and landscaping. It’s impossible for anyone not to see the progress we’ve made toward these goals in just the past several years.

Pedestrian safety is a primary concern and something we all work on every day. Our facilities services team members have worked on 30 sidewalk repair and improvement projects in the past year. These projects included re-pours, grindings, epoxy work, lifting slabs and the complete design and installation of new sidewalks. The results of this work can be seen outside Walters Life Sciences, Dabney Buehler, Pasqua Engineering,

HPER, Hodges Library, Veterinary Medical Center, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Austin Peay, the McClung Museum, Food Science and Technology, Neyland-Thompson Sports Center, the Early Learning Center, UT Conference Center and the Carrick, Reese, Morrill, Massey, Hess, and Volunteer Residence Halls.

Sidewalks along Lake Loudon Boulevard and Phillip Fulmer Drive have also been improved as part of two comprehensive beautification projects

“A primary goal of our campus master plan is to make it more pedestrianfriendly and create more welcoming outdoor study and gathering spaces, along with improving the linkage between our buildings and landscaping.” completed in the past two years. Next slated for improvement are the walkways along Melrose Avenue, Volunteer Boulevard, Andy Holt Avenue

The power of a muggy morning Jonathan Burkhalter Kinda-Gourmet

Having the will to wake up before class to cook breakfast is arduous at times, even for the student who wasn’t out drinking all night. Having the urge to cook is especially difficult the moment you realize you have to clean the pans and bacon grease afterward, which, of course, you really don’t have time for.

Cooking in bulk and keeping leftovers can help reduce this dilemma of needing breakfast and not having time or energy to cook every morning.

However, for those in dorms or those who simply don’t want to eat the same meal for six mornings in a row, there is another solution to this pandemic: mugs.

That’s right, rinse out the coffee stains, because that little blue cup that’s been sitting next to your bed for the past week has new purpose. Mugs can be used for making a variety of meals. Recently The Washington Post’s food and travel editor, Joe Yonan, accepted a challenge from NPR to create a recipe that could be made in a mug in the office.

He came up with mushroom mac and cheese.

Yonan shares sound advice that I feel is worth repeating: cooking in the microwave is different than cooking on a stove. Instead of the food being heated by the warm pan, the food is being cooked from the inside out. As Yonan says, “the whole thing is kind of exploding inside.” That being said, be careful cooking in microwaves.

Disclaimers out of the way, let’s begin with this week’s recipe for microwavable frittatas made in a mug, from powerhungry.com. I chose this recipe because it calls for cottage cheese, which keeps the eggs from having the same texture as the sole of a boot. I will confess, I am not usually a big fan of cottage cheese, but you really can’t taste it in this recipe. It’s basically to keep the texture appetizing. The ingredients you need for this recipe is as follows: 2 eggs, 2 tablespoons of cottage cheese, 2 teaspoons of grated Parmesan cheese, a pinch of sea salt, pepper and 2 tablespoons of chopped green onions. Of course, if you don’t like onions, or want to throw in a few different ingredients, go for it! All of these ingredients are fairly basic.

7

and the Johnson Ward Pedestrian Walkway.

Since 2013, we’ve opened the Natalie L. Haslam Music Center, the Tickle Engineering Building, a new RecSports Field Complex and the Fred D. Brown Residence Hall. Later this year, students will begin enjoying the first phase of our new and long-awaited Student Union. We’ve also started a large-scale redevelopment of the west side residence halls, which will create a pedestrian-centered village community by replacing six residence halls with seven new modern facilities.

These are just a few of the many improvements underway.

We appreciate our team members for the hard work involved in the many projects that help to make our campus a better place for our students, faculty, staff and visitors. We’d also like to thank everyone for their patience with our many detours, construction cones and the other temporary inconveniences that come with transforming our campus.

We invite all members of the campus community to let us know about maintenance issues or any unsafe conditions that we need to address by calling our Facilities Services One Call number 865-946-7777.

We also encourage students and all members of the campus community to share their feedback and views on our Twitter and Facebook pages.

Our progress is quite evident campus-wide.

We’re proud of the changes being made and we hope that you are, too.

Dave Irvin is the associate vice chancellor for Facilities Services for the Knoxville campus.

First, use nonstick cooking spray on the inside of your mug. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs.

Then add cottage cheese, the green onion (or other ingredients), Parmesan (or other cheeses), salt and pepper. Microwave on high for 30 seconds and stir. Microwave on high for 30 more seconds, then stir again. Finally, microwave for 45-60 seconds more, until the eggs are set.

Frittatas are an inexpensive, healthy and tasteful meal. They can be great to eat on the go, spread on an English muffin, or served as breakfast in bed to a loved one. I would suggest washing out the mug very well after using it to cook, or designating one mug as a “cooking mug,” simply because the flavors of cooking spray and eggs might not mix in well with your hot chocolate.

Enjoy your frittatas!

Jonathan Burkhalter is a senior in history and can be reached at jburkhal@vols.utk.edu.

8

ARTS&CULTURE

The Daily Beacon • Thursday, January 22, 2015

WILL Will Warren

WRECKS IT it’s on, Fall Out Boy.

Staff Writer (@wwarren9) This was originally going to be a real review, but sometimes albums draw out the real passion inside of me.

Now, don’t start thinking that hatred is inherent for me: I go into every album I listen to hoping that it’s going to be worth my time.

Sometimes, the outliers – those that are truly special – really grab my attention.

Fall Out Boy’s newest album, “American Beauty/American Psycho,� is not only nowhere near as good as either of the films mentioned but feels like a cheap exploitation of a fan base that has long confounded me.

This opportunity cannot be passed up —

TUTORING 7(6735(3 (;3(576 *5( *0$7 /6$7 )RU RYHU \HDUV 0LFKDHO .

6PLWK 3K ' DQG KLV WHDFKHUV KDYH KHOSHG 87 VWXGHQWV SUH SDUH IRU WKH *5( *0$7 /6$7 2XU SURJUDPV RIIHU LQGL YLGXDO WXWRULQJ DW D UHDVRQDEOH SULFH &DOO IRU PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ ZZZ WHVW SUHSH[SHUWV FRP

EMPLOYMENT .LG7LPH ,QF QHHGV HQHUJHWLF GHSHQGDEOH VWDII IRU $IWHU VFKRRO 3URJUDP 0XVW KDYH D KLJK VFKRRO GLSORPD H[SHUL HQFH ZLWK FKLOGUHQ DQG EH DW OHDVW +RXUV DUH 0RQGD\ )UL GD\ S P S P 6WDUWLQJ UDWH RI KU &RQWDFW .7 FRRUGLQDWRU %URRNO\Q 1HOVRQ #

7KH 7RPDWR +HDG ,QWHUYLHZ ,PPHGLDWHO\ 1RZ KLULQJ ZDLW VWDII FRRNV SUHS FRRNV DQG GLVKZDVKHUV 8VH OLQN WR DSSO\ KWWS WKHWRPDWRKHDG FRP Z RUN LQGH[ KWPO ,QWHUYLHZ LP PHGLDWHO\ HYHU\ :HGQHVGD\ EHWZHHQ S P DW ERWK ORFD WLRQV 0DUNHW 6TXDUH DQG .LQJVWRQ 3LNH *DOOHU\ 6KRSSLQJ &HQWHU

Assuming Pete Wentz still writes these lyrics, has anyone penned an oral history of the first time they heard “I’M ON FI-YA!� yet?

4

The Ten Reasons Why Fall Out Boy’s Success Confuses Me I am a college football viewer. I have heard the chorus of “Centuries� around 30 times in the last month on ESPN. Even those that have yet to give up on this group have to admit this song is trash.

1

The title track features a Motley Crue sample. This is 2015.

2 3

“Sugar, We’re Goin’ Downâ€? had a bizarre video – the boy with antlers! – and, admittedly, a catchy hook. Yet, those lyrics ‌

EMPLOYMENT

&HOHEUDWLQJ \HDUV DQG VWLOO JRLQJ VWURQJ -RLQ RXU WHDP WRGD\ )LUVW 7HQQHVVHH %DQN QRZ KLULQJ IRU WKH IROORZLQJ SRVLWLRQV &XVWRPHU ([SHULHQFH $JHQWt ) 7 3 7 5HFRYHU\ 3RUWIROLR $FFRXQW 0DQDJHUt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

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thnks fr the Mmrs.â&#x20AC;? Not â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thanks for the Memories,â&#x20AC;? mind you.

5 6

Back in the halcyon days of 2005 and 2006, these weird emo kids from Illinois were hanging with pop stars. It still makes no sense.

Imagine if that was American Football or Capâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;n Jazz instead.

7 8 9 10

Pete Wentzâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s marriage to Ashlee Simpson, in general.

Their touring partners: Hoodie Allen and Wiz Khalifa.

American Beauty/American Psycho Fall Out Boy

Lastly, the most important: how many good songs did these guys write? One? And theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve built a career solely upon that first big hit? I know for a fact weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re better than this.

This review is part of the weekly series New Music Tursdays. For more reviews, see page 10.

EMPLOYMENT

FOR RENT

FOR RENT

/LNH PRQH\" /LNH %HHU" 1RZ KLULQJ DOO SRVLWLRQV 3OHDVH DS SO\ GDLO\ DW 'RZQWRZQ *ULOO DQG %UHZHU\ 6RXWK *D\ 6W

%5 KRXVHV LQ )RUW 6DQGHUV VKRZLQJ VRRQ IRU $X JXVW 1HZO\ UHPRGHOHG : ' +9$& SDUNLQJ ODUJH EHGURRPV ZDON WR FDPSXV %HVW KRXVHV JR TXLFNO\ 9LHZ KRPHV DW ZZZ YROUHQWDOV FRP (PDLO NQR[YLOOH#YROUHQWDOV FRP IRU VKRZLQJ

:DON WR FODVV %5 %$ FHQWUDO + $ *UHDW SDUW\ GHFN :DVK HU GU\HU RII VWUHHW SDUNLQJ %5 %$ FHQWUDO + $ RII VWUHHW SDUNLQJ %5

0F6FURRJH V :LQH 6SLULWV LV QRZ KLULQJ 3DUW WLPH FDVKLHUV DQG 3DUW WLPH VWRFNLQJ SHUVRQ QHO ( PDLO UHVXPH WR PDWW#PFVFURRJHV FRP

2XWERXQG &DOO &WU )7 37 IOH[ VFKHGXOLQJ *UHDW MRE IRU UHWLU HHV VWXGHQWV RU ORRNLQJ IRU VXSSOHPHQWDO LQFRPH KU 1R :HHNHQGV %L OLQJXDO 6SDQ LVK DSSOLFDQWV SOHDVH DSSO\ (PDLO UHVXPH KU#HWVHOOLQF FRP RU FDOO

:DQWHG )8// 7,0( H[SHUL HQFHG FHOO SKRQH UHSDLU WHFKQL FLDQ 0XVW KDYH FHOO SKRQH UH SDLU H[SHULHQFH 2WKHU HOHF WURQLF UHSDLU H[SHULHQFH D SOXV 0XVW KDYH JRRG DWWLWXGH DQG ZRUN HWKLF &RQWDFW 7UDYLV #

%RXOGHUFUHVW $SWV &ORVH WR 87 FDPSXV (QMR\ VLQJOH VWRU\ OLY LQJ RQ DFUHV RI EHDXWLIXOO\ ODQGVFDSHG JURXQGV 6WXGLRV IURP PR %5V IURP PR $VN DERXW RXU 6SULQJ 6SHFLDO ZZZ HV WDWHSL FRP 0RQGD\ 3OD]D %5 DQG VWXGLRV DYDLODEOH RQ 7KH 6WULS 6WDUW LQJ DW PR &DOO IRU PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ 6HTXR\DK +LOOV QHDU /DNH DQG 3DUN 6SDFLRXV %5 FRQGR %$ PR GHSRVLW :DWHU FDEOH LQFOXGHG &DOO IRU PRUH LQIR $OVR %5 DSW PR GHSRVLW

FOR RENT %5 %$ YHU\ QHDU FDPSXV 8WLO LWLHV SDLG &RPSOHWH NLWFKHQ PR 3HWV DOORZHG &DOO

6SDFLRXV %5 DSWV 87 DUHD DQG :HVW .QR[YLOOH DUHD &DOO IRU DQ DSSRLQWPHQW

This could be YOUR classified ad.

Call 974-4931 NOW!

PUZZLES&GAMES

Thursday, January 22, 2015 • The Daily Beacon

9

NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD • Will Shortz 1 5 8 14 15 16

Dadoodlydude • Adam Hatch

17 19 20 21 23 24 27 31 32 37 38 39

ACROSS Nincompoops Pharaonic symbol Opposite of hip A butterfly flying into a house is said to be a good one Former name of the physics unit siemens Stannite or cassiterite X-ray Ones who are never billed?

15-Across’s symbol, when turned upside down Go without saying?

It’s all abuzz Ashtray ___ King (big name in cooling) Defunct G.M. division eBay Included on an email “___ Como Va” Ingolstadt-based automaker

41 Outlay 46 Cheese ___ 47 Classical concert halls 48 Airway 53 Frist’s successor as Senate majority leader 54 Part of an engineering project 55 Important acid 60 Palestinian guest at Camp David 62 Hint to interpreting the five italicized clues 64 Rival of Caesars 65 With 45-Down, phrase accompanying a handshake 66 Bank 67 George who directed “Miracle on 34th Street” 68 Roseanne’s man on “Roseanne” 69 Green card distributor, informally

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE D A W G P L E A I T L L L L M A K E A T N O S E I N S E T S I N L A N D

S O I S E E

M T E T N A

T A H O E

S H A M A N

M H Y A N U N A T O H I C E T R S

L U K A S Z I P I T K E W

U R S N A N E F O R A T E S L R E A P I L C H T E S E R J S K A T R A C A R O A S A B M P T I S S

C R E D O

F I V E W S

O T E L L O

S T R A Y S

R E S T A R E A

O L D I R I S H

S L A V

A O N E

C K A U M E

1

2

3

4

5

14

7

8

15

17

24 29

22

33 38 42

34

36

39

43

44

46

40

45

47

50

51

53 60

35

13

26

32

49

12

31

37

48

11

23

25

30

41

10

19 21

28

9

16

18

20

27

6

52

54 61

55 62

56

64

65

66

67

68

69

DOWN 1 Good place to kick back?

2 Muslim scholar 3 The King of Football 4 French, e.g., to Brits 5 “___ missing something here?”

6 One of the original Stooges 7 Propose as fact 8 Carillon holder 9 B’way purchases 10 Performing, say 11 Dialect in ancient Greece 12 Serious 13 Acceptances 18 Italian city known for its cheese

57

58

59

63

22 At anchor 25 Kind of exchange 26 Nez Perce Natl.

Forest locale 27 Something Nurse Ratched did not dispense 28 Rube 29 Square 30 Attribute of the 1%?

33 Spoonful, say 34 What a seed often has 35 Black on the Supreme Court 36 Location of a bad apple?

40 Shelter investigator, for short 42 Skunk

43 Actress Wiig 44 Codswallop 45 See 65-Across 48 1/8 ounces 49 Otherworldly 50 Diadem 51 Allegro 52 Santa ___ Derby 56 Rooney ___, star of “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” 57 Thing 58 Lotus-laden waterway 59 Inky 61 Long ___ 63 TV channel with the slogan “Get Smarter Now”

10

ARTS&CULTURE

The Daily Beacon • Thursday, January 22, 2015

NEW MUSIC THURSDAYS “Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance”

“Tetsuo & Youth”

“The King is Dead”

“No Cities to Love”

Belle and Sebastian

Lupe Fiasco

The Decemberists

Sleater-Kinney

Few things in the contemporary world are as boring as being average.

Even the world itself is forgettable.

Where’s the fun of saying “fantastic,” “outstanding” or even “elegant?”

The main issue that I have with Belle and Sebastian’s first album since 2010, “Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance,” is a major shift in tone and experimentation ends up being … well, boring.

Experiments are never supposed to be boring, apathetic sideshows, but that’s what “Girls in Peacetime” turns into after a very good opening track, “Nobody’s Empire.”

For starters, the album, billed as a step in the electronic dance direction for the Scottish group finishing their second decade together, doesn’t come close to resembling “dance” until the third track, nearly nine minutes in.

After that, there are few hints of dance until the sixth track, 22 minutes in.

If a band is going to brag about experimenting and new directions, don’t you think they could bother to show off their experiments more often than twice in six tracks?

Also, the album is just too long; few will have patience to listen to a 61-minute quasi-dance-that-isn’t-dance record in 2015.

As someone who has previously enjoyed Belle & Sebastian’s work, this is a continuation of a downturn for them.

Looking back through their releases, their last album that could be called “good” or better is 2003’s “Dear Catastrophe Waitress,” which was – you guessed it! – 12 years ago.

Maybe the more dangerous point should be asked: if billed experimentation and forgettable songwriting are the new, bold direction, is anyone going to care?

For now, download the first track and the last one; they’ve both got nice melodies and nice songwriting, I guess.

Lupe Fiasco is back, and he came back with genuine rap.

Over the last couple of years, rap hasn’t been the same. It has been more commercially based, written for the purpose of being “radio-friendly.” But Fiasco would not bow down to his label anymore, and it shows in his new album, “Tetsuo & Youth.”

Fiasco’s fifth album reveals a more creative approach in his lyrics. It is well worth the wait during the three years since his previous album, “Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album, Pt.1.” Like that record, Fiasco goes deeper into his lyrical styling. Though the album is not full of head-banging club tracks, it does not stop Fiasco from delivering skillfully written lyrics. This album confirms Fiasco is not just another rapper; he is an artist.

Although a few of his songs were lengthy, you cannot help think that Fiasco has mad flow in his lyrics that parallels those of Kendrick Lamar. He makes up for the drawn-out songs with experimental instrumentals and harmonies that fit well with his cleverly rhymed words.

“Tetsuo & Youth” demonstrates what makes a rap album a respectable rap album. His verses are truthfully painful on “Madonna (And Other Mothers in the Hood)” featuring Nikki Jean, which defines the mother/son bond in the ghetto.

Pair that with “Adoration of the Magi” featuring Crystal Torres that begins with a jazz melody from a saxophone, and you can’t help but nod your head to the tranquil melody along with poetic verses, piecing it all together perfectly.

In “Tetsuo & Youth,” Fiasco reveals his creative side with an experimental approach. It is like no other rap album.

And compared to other albums, that is a good thing.

The Decemberists, a Portland, Ore. band with a previous 2011 Billboard chart topping album “The King is Dead,” are back with new music (sort of).

With the Jan. 20 release of their seventh studio album, “What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World,” The Decemberists released music with an age range of a few months to a few years. And the time from the beginning of the album to the end feels as long as the age gap between some of the album’s songs.

With the songs “Cavalry Captain,” “The Wrong Year,” “Make You Better” and “Anti-Summersong,” the album was slightly enjoyable, but in an album of 14 tracks, four up to snuff songs aren’t enough to keep the other ten marginally average songs afloat. When more than half the album gives you that sharp pain of boredom and a feeling of intense frustration like you’re being dragged to a disastrous family gathering that you never wanted to attend to in the first place, you’ll be asking for a refund for the moments you have wasted.

Enjoyable, however, is the theatric approach The Decemberists have been taking with their music. They’ve worked to incorporate the intensity of Mumford & Sons with the theater of indie rock bands.

“Cavalry Captain,” a toe tapping song seemingly about one half of a potential couple trying to mend the broken heart of the other, is a lyrically alluring ditty.

Meanwhile, “Anti-Summersong,” a song lead singer Colin Meloy said is a song of self-reflection, gives off a feeling similar to that of Panic! At The Disco’s “Pretty.

Odd.” album.

Yet, “What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World” is characterized by an overall feeling of sluggishness.

Break neck speed isn’t necessary for the folk indie band but neither is turtle slow.

Don’t call it a comeback.

Instead, let’s call it what it is: pressing play after being on pause for a little while, resuming the position that was previously held.

Sleater-Kinney, called “the best rock band in the world” by the great rock critic Greil Marcus in 1999, are no strangers to acclaim and love from those in the know.

However, upon their ceremonious return in 2015 with their new album “No Cities to Love,” ten years removed from 2005’s “The Woods,” the stakes feel different.

This time around, there’s a larger fan base, built on years of word-of-mouth and critical support, along with the mystique of “they were here for a short time because we could only handle them for a short time.”

Oh, and guess what?

Ten years did nothing to break the bonds amongst Corin Tucker (guitar, vocals), Carrie Brownstein (guitar, backing vocals, “Portlandia”) and Janet Weiss (drums).

Team unity is higher than ever, as Tucker yelps on “Surface Envy” — “We win, we lose/ Only together, ‘til we break the rules.”

They almost sound even fiercer than they did when they were shredding the Bush administration on 2002’s “One Beat” or taking groups like Interpol to task on songs like “Entertain.”

The transition from 2005 to 2015 is not seamless, and Tucker notes this on opener “Price Tag” — “The clothes are stiff, the fabrics itch/The fit’s a little rough.”

“No Cities to Love” suffers from that rough fit from time to time, as the girls from Portland strive to make their guitar-laden punk rock sound fit a more danceable look.

For the most part, it works – there are no bad songs here (Sleater-Kinney doesn’t dabble in “bad”) and only three that I struggle to remember anything about. Plus, this is just 32 minutes; while that’s too short for a return, it means clunkers are quickly forgotten.

Rest easy, listeners, and turn off everything else.

The best rock band in the world is back, and I advise getting out of their way.

—Will Warren, Staff Writer (@wwarren9)

—Sage Davis, Contributor

—Tiuana Brown, Contributor

—Will Warren, Staff Writer (@wwarren9)

SPORTS

Thursday, January 22, 2015 • The Daily Beacon

11

SWIMMING

From Trinidad to Tennessee Thompson overcomes cultural differences to achieve successful swimming career Lucas Hunter

Contributor On any given day, Cherelle Thompson, a senior on the Swimming and Diving team, can be found in the pool, training and getting ready for her last SEC meets.

However, before she was an athlete for The University of Tennessee, she was living in Trinidad and Tobago, her home country in the south Caribbean, with her three younger sisters and her parents.

It was four years ago that Thompson was one of the fastest sprinters in her home country and named a National Junior Athlete, but it was around 7 years old that swimming beckoned her.

“It was between 6 and 8 - I can’t remember exactly - that I came to the States on a family vacation, and we went to my aunt’s,” Thompson said. “She got us into a summer program, and after that the coaches thought I had a pretty

good chance in the sport.”

Thompson said she gradually lost interest in swimming after the age of 9, but her aunt in the United States pushed her to compete in swimming meets, where she excelled and eventually learned to take swimming seriously.

Thompson’s desire to play against the best competition is what led her to the United States, and ultimately to Tennessee.

“In the United States swimming is one of the biggest sports, and the competition is second to none.” Thompson said. “They bring a lot of international students to the United States’ colleges, so it was a way for me to be able to continue doing what I loved and a way for me to continue my education, because at home it wasn’t possible for me to do both of them.”

More than 3,600 miles separate Knoxville and the country of Trinidad and Tobago, but the distance isn’t purely physical – it’s also cultural.

In Trinidad, stopping by someone’s house

FOOTBALL

Recruits enjoy official visit to Tennessee, anticipate signing day Stephen Kasper Contributor

Tennessee played host to multiple official visits over the weekend.

The official visitors included current Tennessee commits such as 4-star quarterback Sheriron Jones, 3-star linebacker Austin Smith and 5-star defensive tackle Kahlil McKenzie.

McKenzie even offered a message via Twitter concerning his commitment.

“Countdown to signing day Just so y’all know where I stand I can’t wait to ink my name and officially be a Vol #GBO,” the tweet read.

Still Some Work to Do: National signing day is two weeks away, and the Vols currently have a near-full 2015 class of 28, but there may be room for one or two more assuming all verbal commitments sign.

Tennessee hopes to flip 5-star offensive lineman Drew Richmond, who committed to the Rebels in September. The Memphis

native would have the chance to contribute immediately on an offensive line that struggled in the 2014 season.

The Vols also hope to land 4-star linebacker Quart’e Sapp. The Alpharetta, Ga. native just visited Knoxville over the weekend and could be a late addition to the recruiting class.

Some other possible names to keep an eye on might be 4-star offensive lineman Patrick Allen and 4-star wide receiver Van Jefferson, who decommitted from Georgia on Tuesday.

Recent Movement: Tennessee received a commitment from tight end Davante Brooks for the 2016 class on Thursday who chose the Vols over other schools including Virginia Tech and Nebraska. Brooks’ commitment moves Tennessee up to fourth in the 247Sports.com recruiting rankings for 2016.

Ryan Newsome, a 4-star receiver from Aledo, TX, officially eliminated the Vols from his final three and will now be choosing between UCLA and Texas.

All recruiter ratings are based on 247Sports.com unless otherwise noted.

without invitation is perfectly acceptable and family bonds are always strong, compared to the U.S. where privacy and independence are important values.

Even daily diet is a factor when moving such a long distance away. The Trinidadian staples of mixed rice and potato pie during sit down family meals contrasts the fast-paced American style of eating on the move. Thompson said she does buy her own groceries and cooks her home favorites frequently.

“It was a way for me to be able to continue doing what I loved and a way for me to continue my education, because at home it wasn’t possible for me to do both of them.”

-Cherelle Thompson

“My transition from Trinidad to college here was a big change because I would describe it as being a big fish in a small pond to a big, huge pond,” Thompson said.

Thompson’s role on the team evolved over time, beginning as a redshirt freshman in the spring of 2012. Over the course of the next three years, Thompson began to showcase her talent as she helped the Lady Volunteers to the SEC meets her sophomore year, along with silver medal at the SEC meets and a trip to the NCAA meets as a junior.

Thompson recalls one of her favorite memories as a swimmer, when she competed in her first NCAA meet and swam side-by-side with the best swimmers across the country.

She was in awe as her dream to be alongside the best competition in the world had finally come to fruition.

Now a 2014 All-American and two-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll, Thompson is entering the last leg of her career.

“Going into my last year being able to represent Tennessee, it’s been an upward journey,” Thompson said. “It wasn’t easy at all when I was a freshman, but overall it has been a very great experience, and I’m appreciative of all that I’ve learned and all that I’ve been afforded by the university, and all I’ve learned from my coaches and fellow athletes.”

12

SPORTS

The Daily Beacon • Thursday, January 22, 2015

TENNIS

Israeli native has ‘high hopes’ for freshman tennis campaign

Trenton Duffer

Staff Writer (trenton_duffer)

The University of Tennessee men’s tennis team has had players from all over the world compete on their team throughout the years.

However, there has never been a player from Israel play for the Volunteers.

That is, until Igor Smelyanski joined the team in the fall of 2014. The freshman brings diversity to the Vols’ roster.

“One of the things, as a coach, we’re not afraid to do is embrace all different cultures and all different personalities,” head coach Sam Winterbotham said. “He’s a character. He’s got a great smile, great energy. The guy can’t stop moving ... We love having him in the program.

He’s a lot of fun.”

Smelyanski was born in the Ukraine, but, at the age of 3, he moved to Be’er Ya’akov, Israel.

He lived there for most of his life. He played basketball until the age of 8, but a broken arm soon sidelined him. He then moved on to a new sport: tennis.

His tennis career took off as he was regarded as one of the top tennis players in all of Israel.

He won multiple championships in Israel with his physical play on the court. At one point, Smelyanski reached a ranking of No. 721 in the world ATP rankings, becoming one of three Volunteers in the top 900.

“Igor loves tennis,” Winterbotham said. “On a daily basis, he comes out to work … He works hard every time we get him out there.”

Smelyanski’s tournament play and national recognition caught the eye of Sam Winterbotham and the University of Tennessee.

“I remember seeing him for the first time in Austria,” Winterbotham recalls. “I watched him for a number of years, and I just tracked him from there.”

Coming from a different state to compete in athletics is always a difficult feat for college athletes, but there is extra pressure coming from a different country. However, Smelyanski welcomes the challenge with his own personal lifestyle of grit and determination. He does admit, though, that he couldn’t have gotten this far without his teammates and coaches.

“Honestly, the culture of Israel and the United

Freshman Igor Smelyanski during the Tennessee Spring Invitational on Saturday. Reston Campbell • The Daily Beacon States is kind of similar,” Smelyanski stated.

“It’s kind of Americanized in Israel, so it’s not very different, but the study program is kind of different for me. In the beginning, I was struggling with everything because I didn’t know the people very much here and everything’s new.

“All the teammates here, and the coaches and friends here I’ve met, they’ve helped me out here to understand things better and just settle in with them. It’s helped me a lot.”

Smelyanski started playing tennis in the fall of this season, and he has enjoyed success while competing. Smelyanski is 10-6 in singles competitions, and 9-5 in doubles competitions with his partner, fellow freshman Luis Valero.

“There isn’t an area (of his play) I would say is weak,” said Winterbotham. “It’s just one of those things where, mentally, he has to focus every point. He has to let his natural ability shine, and the sky’s the limit for him.”

The freshman has high hopes for himself and for the entire team this year.

“Hopefully we can win a championship,” Smelyanski said. “I believe we can. We’re a good team, we’re a strong team, there’s good coaches, and it’s a good program. I support this team, and I really think we can. I’m going to do everything I can for my team and help them every way I can. I think that this is the most important goal.”

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Lady Vols look to bounce back during ‘We Back Pat’ week Taylor White

Assistant Sports Editor

After snapping an 11 game winning streak Monday night at No. 6 Notre Dame, the No. 5 Lady Vols (15-3, 5-0) look to get back on track Thursday as they host LSU (10-8, 4-2).

This game will be about more than basketball, though. It is part of the SEC’s “We Back Pat” week, in support of former Tennessee coach Pat Summitt who was diagnosed with early on-set dementia in 2011.

This is the fourth annual “We Back Pat” week, but this year is a little more special to the coaches and players. Former Lady Vol Nikki Caldwell is the head coach of this Tiger team meaning that both head coaches have played for and coached under Summitt.

Caldwell played for the Lady Vols from 199094, and played a key role in the 1991 National Championship team. She then served as an assistant coach under Summitt from 1998-99 and then from 2002-08.

“I’m excited Nikki is here,” third year coach and former Lady Vol player Holly Warlick said.

“She’s been through years of this program, and

has been a big part of our success here. It’s great for me to know that she will get a chance to play here and that Pat will be watching.”

LSU has had an up and down season to this point, but appears to be finding its stride after consecutive wins over No. 15 Mississippi State and No. 10 Kentucky.

A key part of the Tigers recent success has been the return of junior guard Danielle Ballard, who sat out the first 14 games of the season due to an undisclosed violation of team rules. Since her return, LSU is 3-1, thanks to Ballard’s 14.3 points per game, including outputs of 24 and 25 over her last two contests.

“They missed her a lot,” junior forward Bashaara Graves said. “Danielle is a great player, so I’m definitely looking forward to her being in the game, and seeing how we can stop her.”

DaShawn Harden and Raigyne Moncrief had stepped up in Ballard’s absence, averaging 11.5 and 11 points respectively, and both players can be dangerous offensively.

With both coaches spending much of their careers around Summitt, they tend to put a large emphasis on defensive and rebounding.

Meaning this is one of the more physical games of the year for these two squads.

“I just think it’s athletes and competitiveness,” Warlick said. “I think it’s part of the game.

Hopefully, if it gets too rough the officials will step in, but it’s just basketball. It’s a contact sport, so we’re gonna do as much as we can until the officials call it.”

Though it came in a loss, junior forward Bashaara Graves broke out of her slump and played like her teammates and coaches expect her to play. The Clarksville, Tenn. native registered 22 points and 8 rebounds in 34 minutes of play.

Graves had been averaging just more than nine points per game and hadn’t scored in double figures since recording 10 points on Dec. 20 against Stanford. She has the potential to be a difference maker for this Tennessee team if her she can maintain her level of play.

“Bashaara Graves showed the beast that she is on Monday night,” senior forward Cierra Burdick said. “And we’ve been waiting for that.

I think she got away from being aggressive, but she’s getting it back.”

No. 5 Tennessee will host LSU on Thursday night at 7 p.m., and fans are encouraged to be in their seats 25 minutes early for the “We Back Pat” ceremonies.