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Wednesday, January 25, 2012 Issue 10

T H E

E D I T O R I A L L Y

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PUBLISHED SINCE 1906 http://utdailybeacon.com

Vol. 119

I N D E P E N D E N T

S T U D E N T

N E W S P A P E R

O F

T H E

U N I V E R S I T Y

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T E N N E S S E E

Fair offers opportunities for students abroad Victoria Wright Student Life Editor

Sometimes, an enhanced college experience cannot be fulfilled with pen, paper and a UT classroom. The Spring 2012 Study Abroad Fair will be held in the UC Ballroom Jan. 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Study abroad program coordinator Heather Grigsby said the location this year will help attract student interest. “The UC is central to campus,” Grigsby said. “Lots of students pass through the UC and it’s a centralized location to see what’s available.” Students will have the opportunity to meet with about 40 to 50 tables of faculty members who will host summer abroad programs and mini-terms to outside vendors who run programs in multiple countries, such as China and the Dominican Republic. About 10 to 15 representatives of private study abroad programs are expected to attend. “Deadlines for the summer programs come up pretty quickly,” Grigsby said. “Our purpose is to give students a place to explore all the things at once. It’s a good way to get a feel for all the opportunities. It’s one last chance to talk to all faculty and staff who run the summer programs because of the deadlines.” For the summer programs, applications are usually due as soon as a week after the fair. UT financial aid representatives will also be in attendance to assist students with any questions on financing their travels. Advisers from different colleges, such as the College of Engineering, will attend as well. Grigsby said engineering and other science- and mathbased majors are more reluctant to study abroad. “With engineering, their curriculums are very rigorous,” Grigsby said. “It may be difficult to have time to study abroad for a semes-

ter. We encourage students to do the semester because it’s longer and more immersive. We try to find courses to work with these very structured majors. This year we have facultyled programs for these structured majors and advisers to speak with the students.” Max Crabtree, a junior in pre-pharmacy and biochemistry and molecular and cellular biology, is interested in a study abroad program where he could focus on his science courses and pursue his passion. “Personally, having grown up playing soccer my entire life, I would love to go somewhere in South America in order to pursue my passion for soccer, but more importantly for the diverse cultural experience and knowledge which I would be able to acquire through a direct perspective and understanding for different lifestyles outside of the United States,” Crabtree said. A balance between social and intellectual growth when studying abroad is crucial for interested students, Grigsby said. “It (studying abroad) will help you later when working in the real world,” Grigsby said. “It’s a great personal experience. You learn about yourself. You learn about what you can do, how to problem solve, and how you work with different people. It’s a great way to learn how adaptable you can be.” Corey Hodges, a freshman in music performance, is currently applying for a miniterm session in Ghana. If accepted, he believes the majority of his studying will be conducted outside the classroom. “I will be studying way more than is Tara Sripunvoraskul • The Daily Beacon required,” Hodges said. “And what I mean by Kelly Carter, junior in kinesiology, speaks with a representative during the Study that is that I will be studying with my eyes. I will be paying special attention to the people, Abroad Fair on Jan. 26, 2011. The fair this semester takes place Jan. 25 from 10 a.m.the trends, the city and the overall environ- 3 p.m. ment. This is a trip that means more to me than a simple grade of an ‘A’ can express.”

Leadership group looks for applicants

Agencies sue derelict adoptive mother The Associated Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. — An American woman who sent her adopted Russian son back to Moscow alone on a plane with a note stating she didn’t want him anymore is facing a lawsuit for child support in Tennessee that could require her to publicly answer questions about her actions. Torry Hansen has refused to cooperate with investigators after the then 7-year-old boy — identified in court documents as Artem Saveliev — arrived in Russia in April 2010 with a note saying he had psychological problems. No criminal charges were ever filed, but her adoption agency filed a lawsuit seeking child support in Tennessee, where she was living at the time. The case, which drew international attention at the time. Russian officials also threat-

ened to suspend adoptions to the United States though negotiators have been conducting talks since on reaching a new adoption accord. The woman had no immediate comment on the suit. Her mother, Nancy Hansen, told The Associated Press that her daughter has previously refused to answer questions sought by attorneys, but she did not know whether Torry Hansen would have to appear in court for questioning. Nancy Hansen said she questioned why two agencies were suing her daughter, World Association for Children And Parents and the National Council for Adoption, noting the child is now living in a home run by a charity in a village about 10 miles southeast of Moscow. See RUSSIAN BOY on Page 3

Tara Sripvoraskul • The Daily Beacon

Tyler Wheeler, junior in graphic design, signs the Harry Potter sock puppet of Ben Miller, junior in graphic design, before an arm wresting match Jan. 20. Both students designed their own sock puppets.

electronic media, said. “I was the only person I knew, so having a friend already Staff Writer would have been great. The goal for all of us Welcome Leaders is to provide a calm, The Student Activities Office is cur- welcoming atmosphere to the freshmen. rently seeking 2012 Welcome Leaders. We all know that this is a major part of Welcome Leaders is a leadership and life, and the easier that we can make it for mentoring opportunity open to all stu- them, the better off they’ll be and the less dents interested in assisting first-year they have to worry about.” students with their transition to UT. Being a Welcome Leader provides stu“A Welcome Leader is very important dents with the opportunity to leave a to first-year students because they help legacy at UT through leadership and them get further mentoring. Students adjusted to college will also gain practilife and familiarized cal knowledge of UT with the campus and its programs and during Welcome services. Week,” Monique Interested stuSimpson, senior in dents need no leaderpsychology and forship experience. mer Welcome “It’s about the stuLeader, said. “They dents,” Veronesi served as a firstsaid. “Have a great hand mentor, guide outlook on campus and personal life and simply serve resource to help the students. A sense them with anything of selflessness helps they might need.” a lot too.” Simpson served The Welcome as a 2011 Welcome Leaders program Leader. For her, the • Photo courtesy of Tennessee Today offers students a most beneficial part Zac Brown, senior in psychology, and chance to make a poswas the fun she had Brandi Panter, senior in history, go sible impact on UT meeting new people through packets for the other stu- within a small time and seeing the posi- dents in the Welcome Leader pro- commitment. tive impact that she gram in this undated photo. To become a and other Welcome Welcome Leader, stuLeaders made on the first-year students. dents must have a 2.0 cumulative GPA, As a Welcome Leader, students will be a full-time, returning student for the serve as mentors and introduce approxi- fall 2012 semester and be in good judicial mately 20-25 students to the college envi- standing with the Office of Judicial ronment. Welcome Leaders will guide Affairs. Applications can be found online students through Welcome Week, Aug. at http://activities.utk.edu/welcome-lead16-22, with a focus on providing a quality ers/become-a-welcome-leader/. All applitransitional experience for each student. cations are due by Jan. 25. In addition to supporting the importance After applying, students must particiof Welcome Week events, Welcome pate in a Welcome Leader group interLeaders will collaborate with the Life of view process from Jan. 30-Feb. 3. When the Mind’s discussion leader to facilitate chosen, each new Welcome Leader will dialogue on the book. participate in one to two weekly training “When I was a freshman, it would have sessions led by Welcome Leader Student been cool to have an upperclassman help Coordinators. This will begin the week of me through my first week,” Robby March 12. Meeting days and times are Veronesi, sophomore in journalism and flexible, and will last until April 23.

Tiffany Perkins


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