Issue 14, Volume 122
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Lady Vols’ defense key to disappointing loss Lauren Kittrell Sports Editor The Lady Vols walked onto “The Summitt” court in Thompson-Boling Arena with their heads held high. They were there to honor head coach emeritus and legend Pat Summitt, they were there to win a basketball game for her and for the team. The No. 9 Lady Vols (16-4, 7-0 SEC) were looking for an upset over No. 2 Notre Dame. It didn’t happen. While the team struggled to stay in the game, Tennessee climbed back within five in the second half, but the Fighting Irish stayed in control, overcoming the Lady Vols 77-67. Junior guard Meighan Simmons said that while the day was about Summitt, the ceremony was no distraction, it was a case of just playing hard for all forty minutes. “It’s an emotional thing because it is our coach, but we just gotta go out there and play,” Simmons said. For the Lady Vols, the biggest challenge was stopping Notre Dame senior guard Skylar Diggins. Diggins drained 33 of her team’s 77 points, 22 in the second half alone. Senior Taber Spani said that while the team prides itself on a strong defense, it was ultimately their defense that let them down. “We didn’t have it at all until the first ten minutes of the second half and they were able to do whatever they wanted, and they executed extremely well,” Spani said. Simmons said she realized too late that the Fighting Irish were working to trap her off of any ball screen she managed to accomplish. “They read our offenses really well,” Simmons said. “Notre Dame is the No. 2 team in the country so their defense is going to be really good.” Spani said the heart of the team was the only thing that kept them within reach of a top 10 win. “This team is one of the most competitive teams I’ve been on since I’ve been here. Everyone is invested into wanting to win and
wanting to play not just for yourself but for each other and for this program,” Spani said. “We had an amazing turnout and amazing fans who are loud and crazy. Pat Summitt and her ceremony and then you have all these former Lady Vols and we want to play for them. I think the heart of this team and their competitiveness got us back into the game.” Unfortunately for the Lady Vols, that just wasn’t enough. “Notre Dame’s exceptional and we just didn’t make the adjustments,” Spani said. “We didn’t move and react quick enough to jump to the ball and get back to the high side of that cut and they just had layups.” Head coach Holly Warlick said the outcome was disappointing. “We went up against a great team and a great player in Skylar Diggins and we battled,” Warlick said. “When we learn to maintain a level of play for us we’re going to be very good. We just get in some lulls and valleys and that’s just part of us continuing to practice and demanding their focus. “At times I thought we played really well, then we give somebody a backdoor cut about six times to different players. We just aren’t consistent,” Warlick said. In spite of the loss, there was one highlight to the evening. Summitt was awarded one of the highest honors the athletics program has to offer: a banner hung from the rafters of the arena. Summitt said the ceremony made for a very special evening. “I find myself in very good company among the others with banners hanging from the rafters in Thompson-Boling Arena,” Summitt said. “I am grateful for this incredible honor and want to share it with the exceptionallytalented student-athletes and staff who have represented Tennessee and with our amazing fan base that has been so supportive through the years.” Vice Chancellor and Athletics Director Dave Hart said it was a thrill to honor the former coach. “She is a legend who transcends women’s
Around Rocky Top
Tia Patron • The Daily Beacon
Meighan Simmons rejects a Skylar Diggins shot during the Notre Dame game. basketball,” Hart said. “This banner serves as yet another reminder of the impact Coach Summitt has at our university and throughout the country. Her integrity, class and competitiveness continue to inspire the world of sports and, now, the fight to beat Alzheimer’s.” After being cleared to play despite a lateral meniscus injury in her left knee, sophomore center Izzy Harrison spent 13 minutes on the floor before falling, crippled, to the floor.
Professor to give two lectures on health reform Justin Joo
Staff Writer
Health care reform will be the focus of two presentations presented to UT students, faculty, staff and the general public. Dr. David Mirvis, adjunct professor of public health, will be leading two discussions on various topics revolving around health care reform both today and Wednesday. The first lecture, entitled “Why is Health System Reform So Hard,” will take place from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. today in room 201 of the College of Nursing. On Wednesday, Mirvis will conduct a second lecture on health reform, entitled “Implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.” It will take place from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the Claxton Complex, room 206. “Why is Health Reform So Hard” will primarily be a general discussion on health care policy. The Tuesday presentation is more about the difficulty involved in health care reform. Mirvis will be discussing the nature of health care reform and the common debates and philosophies that come into play when • Photo courtesy of Twitter.com policy makers debate the issue. “Why is it so hard? Why can’t we do someStudents walk past a homemade sign mocking “Big Orange, Big Ideas” outside AMB thing?” Mirvis asked rhetorically. “Every time on Monday. The sign was quickly taken down.
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Teagan and Sarah’s album disappoints Page 3
Warlick said she wasn’t sure what her condition was at this point. “Her knee was sore for the Vanderbilt game and she didn’t practice the past two days,” Warlick said. “I thought it hurt us when Izzy (Harrison) went out. I thought she was playing well on the defensive end, rebounding, but it’s part of the game. I hope she’s going to be back because we need her. She’s a vital part of our program.”
health care reform comes up, it’s just this huge battle. It seems much bigger than any other thing we try to do. … I want to explore some possible reasons for that.” The second lecture on Wednesday will focus more specifically on the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act (commonly referred to as “Obamacare”) and how it will affect Tennesseans. Mirvis will discuss issues about coverage and decisions that the state government will need to address, such as whether to expand TennCare (the state’s health insurance policy) and the general pros and cons created by Obamacare. Mirvis said that it is important for people of Tennessee to understand the effect of Obamacare and health care reform in general because these types of laws are going to have a major impact on Tennessee at large. “The health care reform law is going to change the way we do business in all sorts of ways,” Mirvis explained. “Not just in understanding insurance and the uninsured but the way health care is financed, the way insurance works, everything. There’s going to be major impacts on everybody in Tennessee. This affects the whole health care system.” See HEALTH CARE on Page 2
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2 • THE DAILY BEACON
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 News Editor RJ Vogt
CAMPUS NEWS HEALTH CARE continued from Page 1 Dr. Carole Myers, an associate professor in the College of Nursing, elaborated on the importance of the lectures, especially in regard to how difficult it is for health care policy to be created or changed. “First off, health care is very personal, it’s extraordinarily complex. Health care is a major industry in our country,” Myers said. “And when we discuss what the problems are, and therefore the solutions, there’s not a singular answer. And there ... certainly are major philosophical differences and perspectives.” She added, “We need to think of reform as a process and not as a singular event.” Myers said that it’s not necessary to see both presenta-
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Assistant News Editor David Cobb
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tions to understand the concepts Mirvis will be discussing, although she said that it could help to make them a bit clearer. “In our mind … these two are independent presentations,” Myers explained, “and I would call them separate, but in some ways inseparable. If you want to understand the implementation of the Affordable Care Act in Tennessee it helps to have an understanding of why health reform is so hard.” With regard to the often heated element of debating health care reform, Mirvis is planning to avoid much of the political rhetoric that comes from policymakers on the right and left. Instead, he will focus on what he calls “real data” based on studies conducted in Memphis. “We’re trying to dig it out of the political sphere and toward the real evidence sphere,” Mirvis said.
Around Rocky Top
• Photo courtesy of Fritz Polite
Super Bowl Team: Top (left to right): Alice Mitchell, Brad Briggs, Debbie Mackey, Bryan Lundquist, Darren Brown, Fritz Polite, Andrew Busa, Erika Brown, Ladina Poltera Bottom (left to right): Destini Long, Danielle Polk, Taylor Hathorn, Kristy Lancaster, Abby Bensen, Kristen Petway, Sara Frazier
UT sends students to Super Bowl R.J. Vogt
and the founder of the Institute for Leadership, Ethics and Diversity. After working for NFL superstars and witty the NFL as a consultant, he TV commercials will captivate was asked to support Super the entire country on Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville Bowl Sunday, but 15 UT stu- in 2005. dents will be more focused “While I was there I met on their task at hand: actually someone and asked if it was working the biggest game of possible to bring my students. the year. They said sure, so I brought The team of undergraduate six students to Jacksonville, and graduate students will join developing a relationship with three faculty members in New several senior administrators Orleans as they work directly there,” Fritz said. with M Group Scenic Studios, After moving to Knoxville, the Super Bowl event planner. Fritz instituted TEAM UT, Tia Patron • The Daily Beacon The program was founded hoping to provide more stuEvan Peasant, sophomore in marketing, looks over a by Fritz Polite, a clinical prodents with the opportunity to booklet on IES options at the Study Abroad Fair on Jan. fessor of sports management work the Super Bowl. The 23. group grew from six students working the parking lots to a group of almost 20 working inside the stadium. “Because of my relationships I’ve built over the years, we’ve been able to get closer and closer to the action,” Fritz said. “Now we’re an integral part of the game day operations.” Applicants must prepare a resume, business card and 15 year plan detailing the benefits that attending the Super Bowl will have on their professional development. A rigorous interview, led by former TEAM UT members who now work in professional sports organizations, helps narrow the field. Once accepted, the real work begins. “Students are responsible for all aspects of the trips. They had to book vans, they had to raise the money, they had to create sponsorship packages and present those sponsorships to different organizations,” Fritz said. News Editor
Taylor Hathorn, junior in journalism and electronic media, said the preparations for the game were demanding. “I’m not gonna lie, it was a lot of hard work,” Hathorn said. “Raising this money … it was really, really difficult. We had to do a fundraiser, and prior to the fundraiser we had to sell tickets to the fundraiser, then we had to get people to the fundraiser, then we had to get auction items for the fundraiser, and then set up free food, get T-shirts … We basically ran our own corporation for the last six months. It was exhausting.” Kristen Petway, senior in recreation and sports management, is a co-director for this year’s trip. She equated preparing for the Super Bowl to a full-time job. “We met about an hour and a half each week, and aside from that there’s continuous e-mails and phone calls. I would honestly say I put in at least 20 hours a week working on the Super Bowl, preparing and making sure everything is in line,” she said. “This is the biggest group we’ve ever had so far, and communication is crazy with this amount of people. You have to be in touch on a daily basis.” Much of the coordination revolves around fundraising. TEAM UT hosted a golf tournament that raised $3,000 and an auction that raised another $6,000. They also relied on corporate sponsorships. Magnetrol/Orion, a company that specializes in magnetic level indicators, donated $10,000. All totaled, TEAM UT raised almost $20,000. All the planning is difficult
for the students, but Hathorn also said it’s what sets this trip apart. “It’s satisfying. A lot of the trips at UT, if you can’t put forth $2400, you can’t go. But for this one, if you work your butt off, you’re going to be able to go,” she said. During their time in New Orleans, the team will work with Habitat for Humanity on a build project. As the game draws nearer, however, they will begin the work they have been preparing for all year. “We really don’t get a chance to watch very much of the game. Students are normally pretty shocked by that,” Fritz said. “We’re not there to watch; we’re there to work.” TEAM UT will work presidential boxes assigned to various corporations. Much like UT’s Student Alumni Associates, the students will interact with various businessmen and represent both UT and M Group Studios. They will also help run the commissioner’s tailgate party, the owner’s party and The NFL Experience, an interactive fan event on the field. “Unfortunately, working with sports you can’t really watch the game and enjoy it. But you do get to enjoy the behind the scenes process and working the actual event,” Petway said. And although countless celebrities will be milling around the stadium suites, Hathorn is more excited for the chance to network with top executives. “You may not meet J-Lo, but you get to meet these people that make a big impact on society,” she said.
UT to host Senegalease basketball delegation Staff Report A Senegalese basketball delegation arrived at UT last week as part of the U.S. Department of State’s global effort to engage women and girls through sports. The Center for Sport, Peace, and Society will host the twelve female basketball players and two coaches until February 1st through the Empowering Women and Girls through Sports Initiative, a global effort established by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. While in Knoxville, the Senegalese sports visitors will participate in the “Strong Women. Better World.” curriculum created by assistant professors Sarah Hillyer and Ashleigh Huffman. As part of the curriculum, participants will identify the needs of women and girls in their local communities and develop action plans that use sport to meet those needs. The Senegalese women will meet representatives from key program partners in the Knoxville community, including the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, Girls Inc. of Oak
Ridge, the Boys and Girls Club at Montgomery Village and the YWCA After-School Program. Members of the athletics department, the Lady Vols basketball team, and faculty members, including Joy DeSensi, Leslee Fisher, Gene Hayes, Rebecca Zakrajsek and Craig Wrisberg, will help the Senegalese visitors learn about sports in the U.S., especially as it relates to women and girls and how to work together to accomplish community change. The Center for Sport, Peace, and Society is composed of faculty, staff and students who believe that sport can be used to promote cultural understanding, enhance student learning, improve community welfare, and foster social change. The goal of the center is to create a civically engaged university and a more unified and inclusive community. In 2012, the center was awarded a grant from SportsUnited to facilitate programs that will empower women and girls through sports. SportsUnited is housed in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
THE DAILY BEACON • 3 Arts & Culture Editor Victoria Wright
ARTS & CULTURE
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Assistant Arts & Culture Editor Melodi Erdogan
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‘Red’ portrays artist’s life, struggles Molly Loftus Contributor
• Photo courtesy of Clarence Brown Theatre
Matt Leisy and Michael Elich
The 1960s Tony Award-winning play “Red” will be shown this Thursday, Jan. 31, at 7:30 p.m. in the Carousel Theatre. Play author John Logan wrote the bio-drama, which depicts the artist Mark Rothko in his two-year journey to complete the most profitable commission in modern art. Rothko, referred to as an abstract expressionist, yet selfproclaimed abstract artist, composed 30 murals of varying shades of red for the luxurious Four Seasons restaurant in 1958. The restaurant, located on Park Avenue in New York City, was owned by the beverage company, Joseph Seagram and Sons. Rothko revealed to Harper’s Magazine publisher, John Fisher, that the Seagram murals were intended to portray “something that will ruin the appetite of (everyone) ... whoever eats in that room. If the restaurant would refuse to put up my murals, that would be the ultimate compliment. But they won’t. People can stand anything these days.” “Red” absorbs viewers into the internal thoughts of Mark Rothko’s struggle during the composition of his paintings. Rothko is confronted with the prospect of commercial success leading to personal sacrifice when he is challenged by his young assistant. The play takes audience members through Rothko’s internal battle to reach an enhanced understanding as an abstract artist. Robin Conklin, marketing and public relations director of the theatre, and John Sipes, the director of UT’s showing of “Red,” discussed the impact these murals had on Rothko in a press release. “The making of these Seagram murals became a kind of crisis for him (Rothko) artistically, creatively, intellectually and morally. Why did he accept the commission? Why did he agree to be part of the commercialism he so decried? That’s partly the debate within the play,” Sipes said. “But ‘Red’ is largely about Rothko’s tragic battle to make a place for himself and his works in a world he believed was on the cusp of being overrun by superficial self-involvement, inhuman pretense and unconscionable hypocrisy. It doesn’t take a great leap to imagine what he
would say if he were alive today.” Sipes said the production will paint an accurate picture, closely mimicking the aesthetics of Rothko’s studio. “I know of no other play quite like this one. It invites the audience into Rothko’s studio where the work of the artist is in progress,” he said. “The set in the Carousel Theatre has been designed to represent, in considerable detail, aspects of Rothko’s actual studio. Through the course of the performance we watch the actors prepare canvases, mix paints and busy themselves with the work of creating Rothko’s large paintings. While performing these tasks in real time, the actors embody the characters as they would in any production.” According to Sipes, the creativity of the set and its detail add to the play as a whole. “Purely from a theatrical perspective the production is unique and offers the viewer an opportunity for a novel experience in the theatre,” Sipes said. Sipes’ attraction to “Red” is one that he feels students will experience as well. “In the play, this volatile conflict between the older generation and the younger generation of artists is explored within the dramatic framework of the relationship between Rothko, and Ken, his new, twenty something assistant,” he said. “But this relationship is more than just a vehicle to explore Rothko’s aesthetic and personal crises. John Logan has said that this play ‘is about my relationship with my dad. It’s a story that’s less about art than it is the story of old vs. young, protégé vs. mentor.’” Although Ken and Rothko vie with each other for most of the play (like a father and son might), eventually their conflict is resolved and they both learn from each other. Rothko begins to value the wisdom of Ken’s youthful perspective, and Ken is liberated from the master to make his own way in the world. In a curious way, they both have been looking for the same thing — to be heard. “Part of the appeal of the play, and something that contributes immeasurably to the human vibrancy and personal relevance of the story, is the evolving relationship of these two men — one, the father/teacher/master, and the other, the son/student/apprentice,” Sipes said. “Students will relate to this also.”
‘Heartthrob’ gets mixed reviews, breaks from previous album Kayla Lingerfelt Staff Writer Tegan and Sara deviate from their indie-rock roots in their seventh studio album, “Heartthrob.” The album features an electronic dance-pop sound, switching up guitars for keyboards and synthesizers. It is musically different, but Tegan and Sara’s signature confessional, angst-ridden lyrics remain the same. Relationships and their downfalls are the main topics addressed on the album. The album’s first single and opening track, “Closer,” displays the rest of the album’s synth-pop sound and relationship theme. It is a fun, energetic song that captures the feelings of youth, love and sex. The song has a good hook with, “So let’s make things physical/I won’t treat you like you’re oh so typical.” “Love They Say” continues with the relationship theme. It is filled with clichés of what “they say” love is, such as “it heals all wounds/removes the hurt in you,” and “that it is blind.” The song’s message shouts “there’s nothing love can’t do,” a line that is repeated throughout the song. Overall, it is catchy and sweet, but with all its clichés it comes across as unoriginal. Following the optimistic love song is “Now I’m All Messed Up,” an emotional break-up song. It follows the thoughts of someone hurt, going through the questions that arise during a break up. “Why do you take me down
this road if you don’t wanna walk with me? Why do you exist all alone when you could just talk to me?” The song is heartfelt and raw, leaving the listener feeling as though they’ve just been through the same situation, but in a good way. “I Was a Fool” is another earnest, emotional song. Anyone who has been blindly in love in an unhealthy relationship can relate to this song. Tegan and Sara seem to reminisce on this type of relationship with lyrics such as, “I saved you every time/I was a fool for love,” and its eventual downfall in “You best be looking for somebody else.” The album closes with the Madonna-like “Shock to Your System,” yet another break-up track. Many can relate to the shock of a break-up where it knocks “your heart right out of sync.” It’s a song about getting out of that funk. This song’s catchy tune and the universally understood feeling of rejection make it a nice end to the album. Overall, Tegan and Sara succeeded in making a pop album whose lyrics will resonate with many listeners, especially women. Most songs are strong, though some flimsy filler songs weaken the album. Some sound like they were right off a Katy Perry album, which could lose the duo some fans. Their new direction is sure to draw in a new crowd for Tegan and Sara but still maintain enough old fans who will love them for their relatable lyrics. “Heartthrob” is set to be released Tuesday.
• Photo courtesy of Lindsey Byrnes
4 • THE DAILY BEACON
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 Editor-in-Chief Blair Kuykendall
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Letters Editor to the
‘Fracking’ allowances by UTIA dangerous Dear Editor, I am writing about a proposal by the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture to use publicly-owned land in Scott and Morgan counties for an oil and gas research project involving hydraulic fracturing. The study area is listed by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture as a crucial conservation site, containing the headwaters for the Little Emory River Watershed and uncommon plant and animal species. Because of the risks of hydraulic fracturing, this proposal indicates poor stewardship of the land by the university. The Little Emory River Watershed supplies the local water utility and many wells and creeks used for agriculture and livestock. Hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas production is so poorly characterized that its effects on water sources are unsure, making this technology an irresponsible risk. Additionally, the areas the fracturing wells will drill into have been documented by the Office of Surface Mining to be broken by joints and fractures, giving the high-pressure damage to shale beds a much greater risk for contamination. Even worse, if an accidental release or well blowout such as the recent well fire near Oliver Springs should occur, then toxic, carcinogenic and even radioactive byproducts of the well could pollute the water supply for decades to come. The Chattanooga shale the wells would drill into contains radium-226 and radon gas. The USDOE has marked this shale bed as a potential source of uranium. The rock layers surrounding the shale, which drilling operations could disrupt, contain toxic materials such as selenium, which could contaminate groundwater if disturbed. Unfortunately,
hydraulic fracturing is exempted from federal regulations via the Halliburton Loophole, and state regulations are minimal. While the proposal would net UTIA a portion of the natural gas production revenue, other universities that have undertaken similar research, such as the University of Texas and the State University of New York at Buffalo, have suffered conflicts of interest, forcing them to withdraw research findings and terminate staff. These universities also failed to remain transparent; the UTIA has bypassed a promised meeting with local residents and members of the environmental community, and quietly submitted a request for proposal to the State Building Commission to enter into a gas and oil lease agreement for a maximum period of 20 years “or as long as product is being produced in paying quantities.” Members of the State Building Commission are scheduled to meet January 31 in Nashville to make a decision on this issue. There is simply too much risk to drill in the proposed areas, for the local environment and for UTIA with the risk of a conflict of interest. If UTIA intends “to investigate the impacts of natural gas and oil extraction,” as the fact sheet for the oil and gas research proposal states, why not leave the land as an untouched baseline, and compare that data to existing wells on state or publicly owned land? If UTIA is so interested in earning revenue from the land, they can always sell its carbon credits. Sincerely, Jackson Culpepper UT Alum Class of 2008
SCRAMBLED EGGS • Alex Cline
SOUTHERN GLAMOUR •Jacob Hobson
Columns of The Daily Beacon are reflections of the individual columnist, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Beacon or its editorial staff.
Moves toward equality welcome Lost in Communication by
Jan Urbano It has been a busy week with regard to gender equality legislation, with the effects ranging both from local scopes to the entire country. I say this in response to two main pieces, with one already in effect, and the other potentially coming into play in the near future. First is the lifting of the ban on female soldiers in combat roles, and second is the introduction of the gender-neutral housing bill. Both are big strides, each remarkable by themselves — together, though, they are even more significant. In the past, it would have been unethical to have women serve in direct combat roles with men, due to their inherently smaller frame and different muscular build. This covert discrimination against women was further reinforced by the 1994 Direct Ground Combat Definition and Assignment Rule, which outlined five areas that could compound their military service – “direct ground combat, berthing and privacy, co-location, long-range reconnaissance and special operations forces, and physically demanding tasks.” In essence, the rule said that having women on the front lines in direct combat would be too costly, cause potential problems with male combat troops, serve as distractors and would not be strong enough to fulfill specific duties. These reasons, though, are not enough to have women banned from direct combat. Women have fulfilled a variety of other combat roles in the field even before the United States became its own country. Serving as medical personnel, spies, and radio and communication technicians, they have contributed so much to the war efforts throughout U.S. history that they face the risk of being targeted by enemies almost to the same extent as front line combat roles. It is surprising that the U.S. military has only recognized this fact and released the combat ban on women, when they have faced the dangers of wars even behind the front lines. If a woman wants to serve her country, and meets the roles
of assuming front-line positions, then by all means, she should have as much as an opportunity to apply for the role as another man who fits that role as well. Though the gender-neutral housing bill is not as big of an issue as the release of the combat ban on woman in the military, it still contributes a significant step for gender and sexual equality. By introducing this bill, future students at UT will have the ability to not only break down the oppressive and denouncing walls that surround the differences in gender, but also to punch through the much more dense and difficult barricades that separate sexual orientation. We say that we separate students into different floors and dorms to protect them, but such a plan can also sets up the foundations for perceived prejudice and discrimination. Such an idea brings back memories of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, where African-Americans and black communities fought to fight the infamous and deceptive phrase “separate but equal.” Of course, for those who don’t want genderneutral housing, they can always opt out and pick a different dorm – but how exactly does that help in opening our minds and breaking down these misconceived barriers that we say we oppose, but in actuality do nothing to address? I commend the Pentagon for finally making a big change in their military policy that supports equality and also those that proposed the gender-neutral housing bill into the SGA. These two events show that our ideals towards equality are actually exerting effects on our day-to-day lives, and not just in theory. We should exercise caution, though. Advocating for human rights is not something that we can simply stop doing just because we have one goal accomplished. Some will not accept these events and the ideologies behind them and, utilizing horrible logic and severly prejudicial arguments, they will continue to raise fires against progress for human rights. By promoting awareness and creating actual interactions between people of different views, such as gender and sexual orientation, we can make this planet worth living on. —Jan Urbano is a junior in biochemistry and molecular biology. He can be reached at jurbano@utk.edu
Reverse culture shock poses challenge (Un)Common Sense by
Ron Walter
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The Daily Beacon is published by students at The University of Tennessee Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and Tuesday and Friday 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. 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. 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 Blair Kuykendall, 1340 Circle Park Dr., 11 Communications Building, Knoxville, TN 37996-0314. The Beacon reserves the right to reject any submissions or edit all copy in compliance with available space, editorial policy and style. Any and all submissions to the above recipients are subject to publication.
A couple weekends ago, I saw Kathryn Bigelow’s “Zero Dark Thirty.” Besides being an incredibly well made and tense film, it was an intriguing portrayal of one of the more important moments of recent American history. I was not in the United States when the news of Osama Bin Laden’s death was released. I was in a small, relatively obscure French town and one of perhaps ten or eleven Americans there. As the event spread through the news, I vividly remember sitting at my desk reading the reports and not knowing how to react. While watching the news later that night at a local bar, I saw video of Americans wildly celebrating the news of bin Laden’s death. Locals approached me and asked if my conscience, my national pride, and even if my sense of revenge was satisfied. I just stared blankly at them, not really sure of how to answer the question. Being removed from my hometown, my university and my native culture granted me a fascinating opportunity to study, for lack of a better word, my culture, but at the same time it was a wildly alienating experience. As surreal an experience as that was, however, it paled in comparison to the alienation I felt when I came back to the U.S. a few weeks later. It’s a weird feeling, being grouped into an entire category by someone, as I’m sure everyone can attest to experiencing at some point in their life. However, it is perhaps even stranger to come back to your native country and feel like an outsider amongst the people you were grouped together with only a few weeks earlier. Social trends are missed, fads come and go, and you have to relearn, in essence, how to live there again. It’s an
isolating feeling, not to mention an incredibly humbling one, to come back home and see that life has moved on without you. You have a wealth of stories, adventures and misadventures, epic late nights, and a profound sense of change that you just want to share with everybody; the only problem is, sometimes not everybody wants to hear about your experiences constantly, or sometimes, even care about them. Coming to terms with this reality is not an easy lesson for anyone to learn, nor is it a quick fix. I’ve been back in Knoxville for almost two years now, and I still have moments where I suffer from acute bouts of reverse culture shock, and have to take mental timeouts. But back to “Zero Dark Thirty.” As I sat in the theatre watching one CIA operative’s obsessive quest to find bin Laden, I was reminded of that night in May 2011, of that feeling of confusion and being lost, even amongst fellow Americans. In particular, I remembered the challenges of coming home and how fortunate I was to still have people who liked me enough to listen to my constant stream of study abroad clichés and complaining. Sometimes, all one needs to help battle “reverse culture shock” is a sympathetic ear or someone who has navigated that minefield themselves. The reverse culture shock that returnees experience is a difficult challenge, but fortunately, UT’s recent push to create more globally aware students has led to an increase of students who have gone abroad and readjusted to life back home, and even the creation of a new student organization this semester for Study Abroad Alumni. As with most challenges in life, the challenge of reverse culture shock is all the easier to overcome with the help of others who completely understand what you are going through. — Ron Walters is a senior in English literature, French, and global studies. He can be reached at rwalter5@utk.edu.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
THE DAILY BEACON • 5 Sports Editor Lauren Kittrell
SPORTS
lkittre1@utk.edu
Assistant Sports Editor Austin Bornheim abornhei@utk.edu
Lady Vols softball gears up for season
Beacon Flashbacks
Troy Provost-Heron Staff Writer
File Photo • The Daily Beacon
Quarterback Bobby Dodd runs the ball in a game against Mississippi during the 1930 season.
Vols look to keep momentum going against Vandy Thomas Duggins Contributor After tallying an exciting 54-53 win in a down to the wire finish versus conference rival Alabama, the Tennessee Vols (10-8, 2-4) look towards getting another SEC win versus fellow state and SEC rival Vanderbilt (8-10, 2-4) Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in ThompsonBoling Arena. “They shoot a lot of threes, shoot them well, and space you out to dribble penetrate and find their shooters, especially when they go small,� said Tennessee head coach Cuanzo Martin, “It’s a good test for our guys.� Vanderbilt’s reliance on guards and other perimeter players likens them to the opponent the Vols just beat, Alabama. The Crimson Tide’s guards scored 41 of the team’s 53 points. Vanderbilt’s offensive attack is keyed by guards
Kedren Johnson and Kyle Fuller, who average 14.9 and 10.2 points per game. Sophomore forward Jarnell Stokes sees those similarities between Alabama and Vanderbilt. “They play with four guards, they play one big, basically a defender, a sort of put back kind of guy,� said Stokes. “It’s a similar team to Alabama, same playing styles.� A key to the Vols’ success in their matchup with the Crimson Tide was the effectiveness of Stokes. The big man’s performance against Alabama saw him score 15 points on 7-11 shooting. “I feel like I rebounded better last game,� said Stokes. “I had fun playing, I think that was the biggest thing, I just had fun playing.� Stokes has averaged 11.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game this season on 53 percent shooting from the field,
but there has been a significant difference in his play in Tennessee’s wins and losses. In Tennessee’s ten wins, Stokes is averaging 14.2 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, in Tennessee’s eight losses; Stokes is averaging 7.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. Stokes’ offensive rebounding is a key to the Vols success as it allows him and the rest of the team more offensive opportunities. “He had eight offensive rebounds (versus Alabama), keeping that ball alive,� said Martin. “That was a credit to his hard work.� Stokes agreed with Martin’s assessment that his work on the boards can change games in the Vols’ favor. “That’s something I had learned this year as far as dealing with double teams and not being able to be an offensive factor as much as I expected,� said Stokes. “( I learned) just
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how can I affect the game without scoring. I definitely want to go into every game trying to rebound the best I can.� Some of the adjustments Stokes has had to make this season are getting used to double teams and the tough foul calls that come with being a big man in the SEC. Those foul calls actually spurred Martin into sending a letter to the SEC after last Thursday’s loss to Ole Miss about how Stokes was being officiated. Stokes maintains it is up to him to keep his head up when adversity strikes during games. “If things don’t go good early, just don’t get mentally frustrated,� said Stokes. “Just go out there, play my game and have fun.�
With less than two weeks before their season opener, the Lady Vols softball team is wrapping up spring practice and gearing up for the upcoming season. The Lady Vols come into the season ranked No. 6 in the USA Today/NFCA preseason poll, which co-head coach Karen Weekly says isn’t that surprising but will have no affect on the way the team plays. “Well, I don’t think it’s a surprise given that we have a lot of returning players from last year and we did go to the World Series and had a good season,� Weekly said. “I think this team expects to win. I don’t think this team is going to look at the rankings and that they are going to change anything about their expectations coming into the season; this team wants to win, this team wants to perform better than they did at the end of the year last year and they expect to. That’s what we want here at Tennessee, and that’s what we strive for every year.� A big factor for the Lady Vols and the success of the season is the pitching of the Renfroe sisters, Ellen and Ivy. “We’re so excited just to see how this team is and the experience that we have obviously in the pitchers circle and every position really going into it,� Ellen Renfroe said. “I’m really excited to see how this team performs because we know what it’s like to be in those pressure situations, we know what it’s like to go to the College World Series
and the kind of excitement that comes along with it so we’re prepared. We kind of know what it’s like, so there really is nothing this year that we shouldn’t be ready for. We’re excited and ready to go.� With a high preseason ranking comes a tough schedule for the Lady Vols as they will play 19 games this season against ranked opponents or teams receiving votes, but Weekly feels that the team is prepared and looks forward to the road ahead. “It’s something we prepare for every year here,� Weekly said. “You have to play the best if you’re gonna beat the best and hopefully be the best at the end of the year, so we have to prepare ourselves for what’s going to be a very tough SEC conference schedule. Then hopefully on into post-season you want to be battle-tested and ready for the toughest games you’re gonna play at the end of the year, so we want to have a tough schedule and we look forward to it.� This Lady Vols team returns eight of 10 starters from last year’s squad, and junior infielder Madison Shipman feels that that experience could go a long way toward a successful season. “We all feel like veterans out there,� Shipman said. “We’ve been through it and we know what it takes to get things done and that’ll really help us throughout the year. The Lady Vols’ season officially starts on Feb. 7 against the Southern Utah Thunderbirds in St. George, Utah, for the Red Desert Classic.
NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD • Will Shortz ACROSS 1 Kinnear of “Little Miss Sunshineâ€? 5 Turned red, say 9 Turned white 14 Streetside shout 15 Verne captain 16 “___ the other reindeerâ€? (common mishearing of a Yuletide lyric) 17 Cookie baker 18 Eye carefully 19 Turn into mush 20 1966 Johnny Rivers hit 23 ___ Bator 24 Anthropologist Fossey 25 Create skid marks, perhaps 32 ___ crab 33 Malt-drying 17-Across
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6 • THE DAILY BEACON
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 Sports Editor Lauren Kittrell
SPORTS
lkittre1@utk.edu
Assistant Sports Editor Austin Bornheim abornhei@utk.edu
Projected Starters Tennessee
Vanderbilt
G Armani Moore G Josh Richardson G Jordan McRae F Kenny Hall F Jarnell Stokes
G Dai-Jon Parker G Kedren Johnson F Shelby Moats F Sheldon Jeter F Rod Odom
How they Match-up
Why The Vols Will Win:
UT
Matthew DeMaria • The Daily Beacon
Jordan McRae launches a 3-point shot against Alabama on Saturday. The junior guard led all Vol scorers with 17 points.
VU
64.4
Scoring Offense
59.8
61.8
Scoring Defense
61.8
0.428
Field Goal %
0.409
0.292
Three Point %
0.350
+5.2
Rebound Margin
-2.0
3.8
Assists Per Game
11.6
10.6
Steals Per Game
5.9
3.9
Blocks Per Game
2.9
-1.7
Turnover Margin
-0.5
Last Meeting: March 3, 2012 in Knoxville, Tennessee Volunteers 68-61
The Tennessee Volunteers (10-8, 2-4 SEC) are hyped up after a big win against Alabama, in which they arguably played their best basketball of the season in the second half. Jarnell Stokes is finally starting to emerge as the Naismith Trophy Watch List player that he was honored as, and against a team like Vanderbilt that has a negative rebound margin and no real interior defensive presence, he could spell trouble for the Commodores. With Jordan McRae continuing to score the ball with ease, the combination of him and Stokes playing at the peak of their abilities should be enough to finally get the offense of this Vol team rolling in the right direction. Against a team whose talent level is representative of their record, this Vol squad that seems to have clicked should be able to take care of business in this game in front of their home crowd. Why The Commodores Will Win: The Commodores (8-10, 2-4 SEC) are desperate for a win, having lost four of their last five games, and what better way to end a rough patch than defeating your in-state rival. While this Commodores team lost a lot of talent in the offseason, it is still a team that has seven players who played on last year’s team that went 25-11 and made it to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. The Vols have had difficulties this season defending against teams that rely on the three point shot, and that is where Vandy’s offense is at its best. The Commodores also rely heavily on creating turnovers off of steals on defense and the Volunteers backcourt has the tendency to give the ball away. This Vanderbilt team was picked in the preseason to be a doormat team in the SEC while the Vols were predicted to be near the top, so Vandy could be able to catch Tennessee napping.