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Durrigan retires after record-breaking stint as head coach for Ice Vols
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
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Campus rally unites, enlightens attendees Students, faculty gather for Middle East democracy rally to educate public, raise awareness Kristian Smith Student Life Editor Hundreds of UT students, faculty, staff and Knoxville community members gathered together to support human rights and democracy in the Middle East Monday. The gathering, organized by UT students, was held in the HSS amphitheater from noon to 2:30 p.m. Volunteers handed out yellow balloons, yellow ribbons and refreshments to attendees. Many students felt the gathering was a success. “We had more people than we expected,” Daniel Richards, senior in global studies, said. “A lot of people expressed their gratitude that UT had responded to international matters.” Richards said he and the other organizers wanted to get many different groups involved. “We wanted to do something to raise awareness and even more than that, foster a sense of unity and solidarity,” he said. Johannah Reed, junior in environmental studies and an organizer for the event, said the event helped to raise awareness about the issues in the Middle East. “A lot of people didn’t really know what was going on, but we got to talk with them about (the issues),” she said. Reed said many people seemed eager to support the cause. “I feel like (UT) is apathetic as a campus, but there was a lot of interest (in this event),” she said.
Reed said she learned a lot just by helping with the event. “At first, I was not that tuned in to what was going on in the Middle East, but I realized how much was going on and did some research,” she said. “America doesn’t support democracy. We give money to dictators when we were once the country without freedom.” Students at the gathering handed out flyers detailing the struggles for democracy and human rights in Arab countries like Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Jordan and Yemen. Some organizers led chants of “human rights” and “peace in the Middle East” throughout the gathering. Speakers at the gathering included Shareef Amer, a UT law student from Egypt, and Dr. Jim Harb, a Palestinian member of the community. Some students attended the event to show support. “It’s a really important cause to get behind,” Jodi Brown, senior in anthropology and Spanish, said. Other students felt they gained a new perspective by attending the event. Hannah Eberle, senior in biochemistry and cellular and molecular biology, said she was not aware struggles for democracy and human rights were going on in other places besides Wade Rackley • The Daily Beacon Tunisia and Egypt. Jim Harb, UT alumnus, and Emam Fatah, PhD in engineering, discuss the recent “It’s good to hear others talk about it political rallies in Egypt at the Democracy Rally in the Humanities Amphitheater on besides the media outlets,” Eberle said. “I Monday, Feb. 7. The event, in which six separate organizations participated, allowed learned a lot.” students to voice their support for the rallies currently taking place in Egypt.
Pearl, Vols travel to face Kentucky win late). They were down every time and they battled back, so they’ve got some character to them, they’ve got some toughness to them and they are really, really close to putting it all together.” Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl’s first game back after serving Putting it all together for the Wildcats means getting betan eight-game conference suspension couldn’t come in a much ter on the offensive end, because Pearl is impressed by the more hostile environment than Rupp Arena. Wildcats’ team defense. “You walk in there and it’s very special,” Pearl said. “There’s “It’s an excellent defensive team,” he said. “Probably the an atmosphere that’s very festive.” second-best defensive team in the league behind Alabama — The Volunteers (15-8, 5-3 SEC) travel to Lexington, Ky., for as far as having everybody to guard, move their feet, rally and a matchup with the 18th-ranked Wildcats (16-6, 4-4 SEC). help, block shots — very solid defensively.” “Great opportunities for Tennessee basketball this week, Still, the Vols believe they need to play within the game plan because not many people are going to beat Kentucky at if they hope to give Calipari his first loss in Rupp Arena as the Kentucky,” Pearl said. “Nobody’s beaten them yet at their Wildcats’ head coach. place.” “They bring in talent every year,” junior guard Cameron The Wildcats are a perfect 10-0 at home in Rupp Arena, but Tatum said. “It’s all about preparing and scouting those guys, just 1-4 on the road in league play. paying attention to details, everything they do. I think we “Very, very talented team,” Pearl said of Kentucky. “Some should go up there very special players.” and execute the game The Wildcats are led by plan the way coaches point guard Brandon have set out for us Knight and forward and we’ll be fine.” Terrence Jones. The Vols should Knight and Jones both benefit from the rank in the SEC’s top five return of junior guard in scoring. Knight averScotty Hopson. The ages 17.5 points per conteam’s leading scorer test, while Jones adds a missed the past two team-high 17.9 to go games with a left along with 8.9 rebounds a ankle sprain but is game. expected to play in his “Those two guys will home state. get votes for player of the “There are going to year in the league,” Pearl be some things Scotty said of the freshmen duo. can do,” Pearl said. “Great future NBA tal“There are going to ents.” be some things he Pearl noted that this won’t be able to do.” George Richardson • The Daily Beacon year’s Kentucky team was Hopson is officially much different from last Coach Bruce Pearl directs players during a game against UTlisted as “questionyear’s Elite Eight team, Martin on Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010. Pearl returns to the court able” for the game, which went 35-3 and lost for his first SEC game in the Vols’ Tuesday matchup against the but Pearl “anticipates five first-round NBA draft Kentucky Wildcats in Lexington, Ky. he’ll try to go” if picks. cleared by UT train“Last year, we played ers. zone almost exclusively in three games,” Pearl said. “This year, Tennessee and Kentucky tip-off at 9 p.m. EST on ESPN. we won’t be able to play any zone because of their ability to shoot the ball and spread the floor.” McRae back While this Kentucky team is more guard-oriented with the Guard Jordan McRae was reinstated to the team on loss of DeMarcus Cousins down low, John Calipari’s reliance Monday. The freshman had been suspended since Jan. 22 for on freshman play early in the year has led to some early-season violating the team’s conduct rules. losses. McRae practiced with the Vols on Monday, but did not trav“They’ve lost four games in conference, and all of them on el with the team to Kentucky. the road,” Pearl said. “All of them where they had a chance (to
Matt Dixon
Sports Editor
Sirmon replaces Smith as DL coach NFL Draft by the Titans. Lance Thompson, who Tennessee head football has coached linebackers for coach Derek Dooley two seasons at UT (2009announced today that by 10), will shift to coaching mutual agreement, defensive the Vols’ defensive line. line coach Chuck Smith will Thompson has significant not return to his position for experience coaching defenthe 2011 season and will sive linemen, including four pursue other career opportu- seasons at Georgia Tech (1996-98, 2001), two seanities. “I am grateful for the per- sons at Alabama (1999sonal investment, hard work 2000) and one year at LSU and passion that Chuck con- (2002). Thompson also spent tributed to our program this three seasons as the defenpast year,” Dooley said. “He sive coordinator at Central is a dear friend to me, and F lorida more impor( 2 004-06) tantly, will b e f o r e always be a rejoining part of the the staff at Te n n e s s e e Alabama as family.” outside lineDooley also backers announced the coach for hiring of Peter the two seaSirmon as linesons prior backers coach. to his Sirmon, who arrival in spent seven K n o x v i l l e seasons as a (2007-08). linebacker “Lance’s with the NFL’s e x t ensive Te n n e s s e e – UT football head coach experience Titans, spent the 2010 sea- Derek Dooley, on Chuck Smith’s c o a c h i n g departure from the staff defensive son coaching linemen the Vols’ combined safeties as a with Peter’s work product graduate assistant. After retiring from the over the past year makes NFL, Sirmon coached line- these decisions seamless,” backers at Central Dooley said. “Lance has tremendous Washington before joining experienced his alma mater, the success as both a defensive University of Oregon, as a coordinator and line coach, graduate assistant for the while Peter’s work ethic, 2009 season. He was an All- professionalism, coaching Pac 10 linebacker and four- ability and success as a lineyear letterman for the Ducks backer at both the collegiate and was selected in the and professional ranks prefourth round of the 2000 cluded me from pursuing any other candidates.”
Staff Reports
“
He is a
dear friend to me, and more
importantly, will
always be a part
of the Tennessee family.
”
2 • The Daily Beacon
Crime
InSHORT
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Log
Feb. 3
Feb. 5
A UT student reported that some of his possessions had been stolen from his room in North Carrick Hall some time between 7:45 a.m. and 9 a.m. The student reported that the value of the stolen items was around $1,200.
At approximately 5:19 p.m. near the northeast side of Thompson-Boling Arena, a 42-year-old white male Knoxville resident was arrested for public intoxication and simple possession of marijuana.
At approximately 9:39 p.m., UTPD and KPD officers recovered property that had been stolen from a UT staff member’s blue 2006 Volkswagen Beetle while it was parked in the parking lot on the north side of Clement Hall between 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. The suspect is a 49-year-old black male who is unaffiliated with UT.
At approximately 1:47 a.m., a UTPD officer reported to the parking lot of Cool Beans to investigate a fight in progress. Upon arrival, the officer arrested an unaffiliated Knoxville resident for public intoxication. The victim was a UT student. Feb. 6
Feb. 4 A student reported that he had been harassed outside HSS, apparently some time between noon on Jan. 31 and 10:50 a.m. on Feb. 4. The suspect is an unaffiliated white female.
A UT staff member reported that the glass door located in the downstairs lobby leading to the pool area of Laurel Residence Hall had been vandalized around 11:45 p.m. on Feb. 5. — Crime Log is compiled by Robbie Hargett
Compiled from a media log provided to the Daily Beacon by the Universty of Tennessee Police Department. All persons arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. People with names similar or identical to those listed may not be those identified in reports.
George Richardson• The Daily Beacon
Tyler King, junior in political science, and Courtney Shelton, junior in microbiology, hand out cookies to students on the Pedestrian Mall on Monday, Feb. 7. The booth, set up courtesy of the UTK College Republicans, recognized what would have been the 100th birthday of President Ronald Reagan
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
ENTERTAINMENT
The Daily Beacon • 3
Comedic web publication less amusing on TV Robby O’Daniel Recruitment Editor After establishing a stellar reputation for hilarious online videos, it was glorious news when The Onion announced two new series to debut in January: “Onion Sportsdome” on Comedy Central and “Onion News Network” on IFC. The sheer contrast in quality between the two shows curbs the initial excitement. It’s been said that sometimes The Onion’s hilarity begins and ends with a story’s headline, and it is never more true than “Onion Sportsdome.” One of the main problems with “Sportsdome,” through its first three episodes, is that it takes everything that is annoying about ESPN’s “SportsCenter” and does not just amplify it to 11; it cranks it up to 100. Yes, the “SportsCenter” anchors do, annoyingly, tell us too much about their personal lives by forcing nonsequitur pop culture references into sports highlights. But “Sportsdome” explicitly creates storylines for its two main anchors, Mark Shepard and Alex Riser. One anchor has a band that he is trying to shove down everyone’s throats. The other is getting over a suspension and makes bad decisions with women. Both storylines are dead on arrival. “Sportsdome” also attempts to make fun of some of the zanier segments on “SportsCenter.” The problem is that the parodies on “Sportsdome” completely jump the shark and come off as just amateurish attempts at humor. A frog predicting games? Please. The Onion is better than this.
The show does have some redeeming quality in a sketch here, a joke there. In particular, a commercial advertising a fake drama where baseball players attempt to solve murder cases, “CSI” style, is absolutely hilarious. But the winners are few and far between in a roughly 22minute show, and “Onion Sportsdome,” despite its genius-
overcompensating name (Fact Zone) and an overconfident anchor (Brooke Alvarez). “Onion News Network” also draws upon the wealth of existing sketches from The Onion’s website: “Today Now,” a parody of a morning show, “The Cressbeckler Stance,” a news commentary show with an old miser, “Onion-SPAN” showcasing Congress, and “In The Know,” a “Meet the Press”-style roundtable discussion. Perhaps the only downfall of “Onion News Network” is that it fails to show more of the other sketches. In terms of quality, it would also do better with less “In the Know” and more “Today Now” and “The Cressbeckler Stance.” More importantly, “Onion News Network” simply has better material. Instead of having a few winning jokes, “Onion News Network” has had many through its first two episodes. The standout story was one about how prospective voters were leaning toward voting in former Gov. Sarah Palin for the presidency in 2012 simply to see what would happen. Slogans for the movement included “2012: Let’s Go Out With a Bang!” That is comedy gold. But like “Sportsdome,” “Onion News Network” needs • Photo courtesy of The Onion News Network to worry less about fleshing out stories or having a story sounding premise, is ultimately not worth the time. continue throughout the episode and more about having more Perhaps the downfall of “Sportsdome” is that it so obvious- jokes hit the target. ly is just a parody of “SportsCenter,” leaving little room for creWith the style of humor that The Onion uses, rapid timing ativity outside the boilerplate presentation of “SportsCenter.” is everything. The speed of “Family Guy” and “Robot Chicken” “Onion News Network” on IFC, however, does not just draw is slow compared to what is necessary for The Onion’s shows upon its new, fictional, CNN-style news show, complete with an to not drag.
Sellout band fails to revive creativity removes their credibility as artists and almost starts to retrograde any artistic achievement Staff Writer stemmed from previous works. Common arguments against such criticisms Artistic progression and constant reinvention include “hating a band for being popular or sucis vital in retaining an artist’s musical and cultur- cessful,” but this could not be farther from the al relevance. This unrelenting pursuit always truth. Indeed, while much of modern pop music challenges artists, particularly if their debut is inane, trite and overproduced, it serves a valualbum achieves great critical or popular success. able purpose in capturing the popular culture Re-creating the first album is never possible, and environment, not to mention being damn those who try or fail to change in a significant catchy. way often stagnate on their sophomore release. That being said, Cold War Kids’ attempt at Such is the case of pop music falls short Long Beach, Calif.’s of being culturally Cold War Kids. indicative, particuCold War Kids’ larly catchy or innofull album debut, v a t i v e . “Robbers and U n f o r t u n a t e l y, Cowards,” is a King’s production diverse collection of job is more evident blues-influenced than any remnant of tracks in which the band’s sound. Nathan Willet’s All that is left of unique voice Cold War Kids’ sigcrooned over the nature sound is bands’ strippedWillet’s incredibly down, yet soulful, recognizable voice, instrumentation. but this album finds Two years later the that even his vocals band released its sound too clean and follow-up, entitled • Photo courtesy of Cold War Kids diva-like. It sounds “Loyalty to as though Willet was Loyalty.” This told to invoke Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder, record had a touch of the sophomore curse, in and with melodramatic lyrics like “Finally open that it did not succeed in fully progressing in a my arms wide/ Finally I let you inside/ Finally creative way. Regardless of the lack of change, made it past the end/ To finally begin” from Cold War Kids’ apparent don’t-fix-what-ain’t- “Finally Begin,” thoughts of Creed are broke attitude rendered a pretty solid album. inescapable. Anticipation for the band’s most recent Although “Mine Is Yours” is not entirely release “Mine Is Yours” created some anxiety as awful, it heftily reduces optimism for Cold War to whether it could pull through with a dynamic Kids to make another album as fresh as release and transcend the sophomore slump. “Robbers and Cowards.” The band did not However, while avoiding one trap, Cold War merely re-create an album for this release. Kids knowingly laid itself in another. It opted to However, perhaps in striving to move its sound sell out. The band hired Kings of Leon producer forward as is necessary, the band wandered too Jacquire King, and, similar to what he did with far into a realm from which few return. Kings of Leon, he can be credited with neuterIn this case, Cold War Kids did indeed ing Cold War Kids to engineer mediocre pop change. It just became worse, strengthening the songs as well. This process of changing bands adage, “Be careful what you wish for.” that had such raw and honest beginnings
Brian Conlon
OPINIONS
4 • The Daily Beacon
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
StaffColumn Auto-appeals easy way out for UT Parking
George Richardson Photography Editor Parking. It’s a situation almost every college student has to deal with, even if it’s secondhand. The fact that UT has a lack of parking isn’t a secret by any means. Everyone knows that the number of spots on campus is limited and that the ratio of spots to the number of passes is also limited, to the tune of 1.85 for commuters and 1.2 for noncommuters. However, this is the case at most every university. This is not to condone the practice, but to merely suggest that UT isn’t any more at fault than any other university. However, there are other areas where I feel that Parking Services has begun to drop the ball, namely ticketing. I will begin by pointing out the fact that Parking Services currently uses a private source for the actual ticketing of vehicles. Personally, I think this was a step in the right direction as it frees UTPD officers from the rather mundane practice of ticketing and allows them to focus on more important duties, such as keeping people on campus safe. I have no problem with the act of ticketing illegally parked cars on campus. I live off campus and bike to and from class daily, but on rare occasions, I do drive to campus. Now, I have received a number of tickets that I have had no qualms with. I took a chance by parking illegally, I was caught and I deserve to be ticketed. However, a recent event has changed my opinion of the way Parking Services handles questionable tickets. Two weeks ago, I was required to turn in forms for the rugby club to the Sports Club offices. I decided to swing by the TRECS before running a number of other errands on Friday afternoon. Now, by the time I arrived to the parking lot outside the TRECS, the lot was almost dead. Students had left the gym to attend to more important Friday afternoon duties (probably tanning or doing laundry) and just a few faculty vehicles remained parked in the lot. I went into the offices, turned in my forms and returned to my vehicle to witness a parking attendant entering information into his ticketing device. I approached the man and told him the situation and that I was leaving. I was met with only the response, “Don’t matter, kid. Bad luck for you.”
Now, at this point a lesser person would have exploded into a fit of rage. I considered doing so myself but thought it better to keep my cool and deal with the matter in a more diplomatic manner. After all, I was taking care of official business and was only in the spot for two minutes. Also, my use of one parking space would not have prevented anyone from finding parking in the mostly empty lot. So I jumped on the Parking Services website after I got home and found that I could make an in-person appeal of my ticket by appointment. However, when I called Parking Services I was met with a different story. I was told that in-person appeals were no longer conducted and that I was limited to only submitting a written appeal online. I can understand that Parking Services would want to streamline their processes, but by taking away the chance to plead a person’s case in front of a reasonable individual, you are now instead required to type up a brief message to get your point across. I did so and was quickly met with an appeal denial, the type of which could only be automatically generated as it mentioned nothing of the situation at hand and only said I needed to get a parking pass if I wanted to park on campus. As a friend of mine said, “In a system allegedly designed to promote justice and consequences for wrongdoers and wrongdoers ONLY, Parking Services has gradually grown more and more comfortable making revenue their one and only goal.” Had the parking attendant assessed the situation when I came out to my car, I could have avoided the situation entirely. Unfortunately, he is taught only to write tickets no matter the circumstances. The ticketing office probably sees situations like this daily. However, it has little accountability when it simply declines appeals through an e-mail. There isn’t anything I can do at this point except pay the ticket, which is what I will do as I’d really like to get grades at the end of the semester. I’m sure a number of you out there have had to deal with similar situations on campus. In the real world, if you receive a ticket, you can appear before a hearing to discuss the issue. I can’t imagine that inperson appeals really cause a serious backup for Parking Services, so I would like to see the process brought back. After all, isn’t college supposed to prepare us for the real world both in and outside the classroom? —George Richardson is a senior in electrical engineering. He can be reached at grichar6@utk.edu.
Scrambled Eggs • Alex Cline
The Great Mash Up • Liz Newnam
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.
Standardized tests fail to fulfill purpose T he Social N etwo r k by
Elliott DeVore Standardized tests are a huge source of stress for so many high-school seniors as they prepare to apply to institutes of higher education. While many teenagers stress about cramming for the SAT or ACT, there are so many other students who have no clue the magnitude their test scores can have on their futures as they apply to universities and colleges across the U.S. These very scores also give universities across the nation bragging rights for the outstanding average scores of their admitted freshmen classes. I have always been curious as to why these obnoxious tests have played such an important role, and I finally found some light at the end of the tunnel. This semester I am taking a graduate course, titled “Social Justice in Higher Education,” and this past week or so we have been reading about the history of standardized tests and how universities use them in admissions. Reading through these books and articles, I felt as if I had stumbled upon information that is not very open to the public. The American Education System has a history that is deeply rooted in meritocracy, and it was members of that elite who desired to break the system. Henry Chauncey was a dean at Harvard in the ’30s and ’40s, and he helped establish the SAT in order to assuage the staunch good-ol’-boy tactics in admission practices at the time. It was his hope to create opportunity for students throughout the country who were truly brilliant, yet lacked the privilege of being the legacies of wealthy alumni as they competed for admissions. The more I read about the issues surrounding admissions as they relate to test scores, the more it seems that unfortunately not much has changed. People from high socio-economic backgrounds typically score much higher on these tests than people from low socio-economic backgrounds. Think about it: If your parents attended college, they will probably push you much harder to do well on these tests, because they understand their importance.
Conversely, if your family exists on the margins of the federal poverty level and your parents are busy working two jobs apiece in order to simply provide the necessities of life, some test is probably the least of their worries. Even beyond encouragement, let’s consider financial resources: If your parents are fortunate enough to have a large disposable income, they could afford to pay a tutor to coach you on these standardized tests or to send you to Kaplan. For people on the other end of the spectrum, this simply is not an option, unless Kaplan finds a way to accept food stamps or other forms of government aid as payment for its services. In 2009, The New York Times did a review on SAT score reports of students compared to the income of their families. According to the review, students with a household income of $20,000 or less scored, on average, 430 on the writing portion, 437 on critical reading and 455 on math. Students with a household family income of $200,000 or more scored, on average, 560 on writing, 565 on critical reading and 580 on math. That is more than 100 points higher in each category than the students who lived in poverty. This study does not mean to say that the rich always score higher or that the poor always score lower, but these findings lead me to realize that there is quite a disparity between the American financial elite and those who struggle to pay the electric bill. The SAT is supposed to indicate the academic success of a student in his or her first year of college. It appears that these scores could possibly indicate mommy and daddy’s bank account or what neighborhood you grew up in. Granted, there will always be exceptions, but we should not turn a blind eye to this hegemony. We, as a land-grant institution charged with educating Tennesseans, are looking heavily at the “best and brightest” and these standardized tests are a portion of the rubric of denial. Based on the findings of the New York Times study, does that mean we can only recruit from a certain social class? Could we possibly be disenfranchising people because of their lack of privilege and opportunity? Next time you discuss the SAT, ACT or GRE (hate it) scores, remember that that number does not fully define your level of intelligence in the least. Food for thought. Enjoy! —Elliott DeVore is a senior in psychology. He can be reached at edevore@utk.edu.
Women should enjoy, not dread, single life For the Love. . . by
Ashleigh Disler
Zac Ellis
Ally Callahan
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XiaoXiao Ma 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, 5 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: http://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 Zac Ellis, 1340 Circle Park Dr., 5 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.
Here’s the terrible truth, and to be honest, it’s not so terrible. Hear me loud and clear ladies …it is okay to be single. That wasn’t so painful, was it? I stumbled upon this while having lunch with a girlfriend the other day. I asked her what she wanted for herself this semester. She laughed, and without thinking a second more said, “A boyfriend.” Her quick response made it very clear she’s thought about this question more than just now. It got me thinking … is that really what all of us 20-something-year-old college ladies are hoping for? A boyfriend? You’ve got to be kidding me. The more I thought about it, the more I could recall instances from friends, and friends of friends, who have recently made comments about being single. One particular instance was a female who actually put a time limit on when she needed to have a significant other. Let’s imagine if these girls were honest on a first date: “So, what are you studying here at Tennessee?” “Well, my transcript says business management, but I’m really just looking to find a husband while I sit here and waste my parents’ money, my time, your time and a greater portion of what is supposed to be the best years of my life, because I simply cannot be content being single.” (Girl twirls hair and smiles.) Okay, maybe the honesty doesn’t go that far, but it’s close. I decided to dig a little deeper, and I asked my guy friends what they wanted from this spring semester also. “I need to focus on school a lot more this semester,” Mark, a junior at UT, said. Anthony, also a junior, had a little more to say. “I’m not really looking for a girl at all, but if I found one right now, the only girl I’d consider keeping around is a friend or someone to just have fun with.” Guys, even the ones in their upper-level courses or getting ready to graduate, aren’t typically ready for a serious girlfriend. Girls, on the other hand, can’t wait to say “yes” to the first good-looking guy who walks through their front door asking to go out. We obviously aren’t seeing eye-to-eye on the issue of being in a relationship, or, eh, not being in a relationship. With that said, I’ve collaborated with equally content, and single, girlfriends to come up with the top five reasons to jump on the relationship bandwagon OR to wave happily as it passes you by (for now). In a nutshell: To be or not to be. That is the real question. Hasn’t someone said that already? Oh well.
We’ll start with my least favorite choice for this time in my life: To be. Because it seems to be everyone else’s favorite. Five reasons ‘to be’ (in a relationship): 1. This is your first boyfriend in at least a year. Everyone knows the kind of girls I’m talking about so don’t shake your head like you’re confused. We all have that one friend who is on the constant search for a boyfriend. 2. You’ve known each other for longer than two months. I laugh every time I see two people become friends on Facebook a week before they are in a relationship on Facebook. Especially because everyone knows that if it’s on Facebook, it’s serious business! 3. You didn’t give him a time ultimatum that required him to ask you out. Okay ladies, I know a lot of us have a tough time with this one. But telling him he has to ask you out within the next month or you’re going to go find someone else probably isn’t a big turn-on in his book. 4. Your friends have met him, they like him and they aren’t lying to you about it. The last part of this one is very important. 5. You aren’t dating him for the free meals. You’d be surprised gentlemen, you would be surprised. Five reasons not ‘to be’ (in a relationship): 1. Everyone knows that when you start dating someone, your friends take a seat on the back burner. And when they break up with you, who cleans up the mess? Your friends. So please ladies, save us the trouble and only make us clean up the mess if you are absolutely certain you wanted to be dating him. 2. Remember that good-looking boy at Cool Beans last week? Say goodbye to him. And any other good-looking boy at any other bar for that matter. In fact, say goodbye to bars … unless you bring him with you. 3. In about five years, and it will happen, when you’re still making your friends clean up the mess your last boyfriend left you in, we’ll all be engaged, because we didn’t date every loser that walked in the door because we “didn’t like being alone.” 4. Ever look at pictures of yourself single and pictures of yourself with a boyfriend? Trust me, you look better single because you still had to try. 5. Ever turned down the opportunity to study abroad or go on an extended vacation because you’d miss your significant other too much? If you haven’t, I am certain you can find someone who has … but make sure you have at least 30 minutes to spare if you ask them about it, because it’ll take them that long to tell you how much they regret that terrible decision … unless they married that man. That’s it, ladies! The truth isn’t so terrible after all! Be happy being single, and be happy being with your friends. Your boyfriend will come along … but let him mosey your way on his own time. And for the love ... in the meantime, find yourself and enjoy yourself. —Ashleigh Disler is a junior in journalism and electronic media. She can be reached at adisler@utk.edu.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
The Daily Beacon • 5
ENTERTAINMENT
Comedy sets bar for podcast-based TV excellent British series “The Office” and “Extras,” bring home the television quality Recruitment Editor once again. The format is traditional radio show — If “Seinfeld” was the “show about nothing,” basically just chatting about random events — then “The Ricky Gervais Show” sets new stanbut the catch is that Pilkington seems to play dards for nothing. an amplified version of his personality. He is At its heights of hilarity, “The Ricky so out there at times that it is borderline unbeGervais Show” gets surprisingly close to the lievable to think he is not playing some kind of comedy of “Seinfeld,” which is remarkable “character,” however subtle he is about it. considering the format of the HBO show. But it basically leads to Pilkington poking It is an adaptation of the popular British holes in Gervais’ logical, scientific sensibilities podcast of the same name. Now how can they by saying the past was a lot more like “The make a television show out of a podcast? The Flintstones” than Gervais thinks or that a genius of their decision-making in this regard monkey once made the news as an excellent is what turns “The Ricky Gervais Show” from construction worker. amusing to must-see television. To sum up every episode, Pilkington says While other stations, like ESPN2, just something absurd or illogical. Gervais and broadcast radio shows, Merchant gang up with the dreary view of on him, poke holes the radio hosts talking in his theories and into microphones for claim he’s insane. hours, “The Ricky But what makes Gervais Show” sets the the formula work is audio of the podcast to just how absurd and new animation. comical the material Usually the animation is. Running gags depicted is a literal include installments translation of a sarcastic of “Monkey News,” joke or aside from the a segment where show’s hosts, Ricky Pilkington details a Gervais, Stephen news story that Merchant and Karl involved a monkey Pilkington. So even doing something when a topic is not that incredible (and perfunny, the literal animathaps fictional), as ed interpretations of, well as “Karl’s say, how Gervais masDiary,” where sages his cat constantly Merchant reads out or how Merchant ended of Pilkington’s diary up naked on a beach, are and reveals the hysterical. strange ramblings Even the style of anithat go on in his mation is a top-notch head throughout a choice. There is no need particular day. for perfectly precise • Photo courtesy of Ray Burmiston Gervais and computer animation for Merchant are a podcast show. So known, but the podcast and television show “The Ricky Gervais Show” chooses the goofy have arguably catapulted Pilkington into mild nostalgia of Hanna-Barbera style animation. It stardom. The mere mention of his name leads to Gervais looking a lot like Fred brings thunderous cheers at Gervais’ latest Flintstone, and Merchant’s glasses looking stand-up comedy shows. more like Dexter’s from “Dexter’s Laboratory” Why? Because Pilkington is either utterly than someone’s actual glasses. Even before the daft or a comedy genius, and that, ultimately, jokes, just the way the hosts look is humorous. is why “The Ricky Gervais Show” is surprisOf course, even with all these great deciingly one of the best comedies on television sions about the show, it would fall flat if the today. actual content was not stellar. But here, Gervais and Merchant, the creators of the
Robby O’Daniel
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NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD • Will Shortz Across 1 The old man 4 Like a pool table, ideally 9 Flights like Lindy’s 14 French coin of old 15 Fail to pay, as taxes 16 Native New Zealanders 17 Yadda, yadda, yadda: Abbr. 18 “Dang it!” 19 “Primitive” feelings 20 ___ fiber 22 QB’s successes 23 Dawn goddess 24 Like a bug in a rug 26 Two, for many minigolf holes 29 Postlarval 32 Burn, as a wound 34 Last Supper query 35 Quantities: Abbr. 36 Not much 37 What every answer on the perimeter of this puzzle is 40 Brit’s baby buggy 41 Wings, in zoology
42 Musical featuring “Tomorrow” 43 Schoolyard snitch’s words 45 Activist Chávez 46 English poet laureate Henry James ___ 47 Millennium divs. 48 Exclamations of understanding 49 Reporter’s question 50 Gets the best of, in slang 54 Tony’s “West Side Story” love 57 Make sense 59 One in the family, informally 60 Norwegian king until A.D. 1000 61 Be dishonest with 62 Equal: Prefix 63 1/60 fluid dram 64 Guiding principle 65 Repeated machine gun sound Down
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE
1 Something good for a Boy Scout?
22 People of Rwanda
2 Stage opening
24 Margaret Mead interviewees
3 Il ___ (Mussolini)
25 Eggnog sprinkling
4 “Chocolat” actress
26 Rock climbers’ spikes
5 Civil rights leader Medgar 6 Results may do this, in commercials
27 “The Simpsons” voice man Hank
39 Decorative plant holder 44 Bar mitzvah toast 48 Like a 45° or 60° angle 49 Internet cafe connection 50 Yemeni port
28 More visibly ashamed
51 Black-bordered news item
29 Brit’s “Goodbye!”
52 ___ Major
30 G.I.’s org.
53 Barfly’s binge
10 Sculler’s gear
31 Pontius ___
54 Partner of baseball and apple pie
11 Trucker’s record
32 Comic who quipped “Weather forecast for tonight: dark”
7 Summer N.Y. hrs. 8 “___ Miz” 9 Makeup mishap
12 Vein contents 13 One in the family, informally 21 4:00 P.M., traditionally
33 Lack of experience 38 Family name in Chicago politics
55 Induction-refusing boxing champ 56 Hightailed it 57 Key near the space bar 58 Fizzle out
6 • The Daily Beacon
THESPORTSPAGE
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Durrigan to retire as head coach of Ice Vols UT hockey team records best five-year span in program history under Durrigan best run in Ice Vols history. UT also witnessed Williams’ career at Tennessee blossom; Durrigan’s fellow Chattanooga resident skated his way into the record books for most points (102), goals (47), assists (57), Ice Vols coach Steve Durrigan arrives at the Knoxville Civic power-play goals (28) and game-winning goals (6) in a single Coliseum on a bone-chilling Wednesday night, carrying his season, as well as for being the all-time career points leader in hockey bag in one hand and his hockey stick in another, naviUT hockey history (301). gating his way to the locker-room area. The now-assistant coach also holds the record for most After taking care of any off-ice issues, such as Robert Banks career penalty minutes (345), something he feels kept UT from returning to the roster for the first time this season, the allbeing better than it already was, but Williams credited time leader in coaching victories (105) in Southeastern Durrigan’s discipline for turning his conCollegiate Hockey Conference (SECHC) histoduct around in his senior season. ry sits in a steel chair and laces up his ice “We were wild, a pretty undisciplined skates, his hockey stick nearby. team from the start,” the former player This may not be the way practice goes on a said. “We were talented, probably regular basis for the winningest coach in UT should’ve won nationals a couple years. hockey history, but the main theme of this He gave me the captain seat in my senior practice — getting UT ready for game night — year, so that made me smarten up a little is just like every practice Durrigan has run bit, and that helped me learn how to lead since he arrived in 2005, when he coached the and not take stupid penalties and become Ice Vols to the best record of any first-year a better all-around player.” coach in SECHC history (18-6-0), as well as to Williams also owns a 1-0 record as head a conference championship and a top-five fincoach of UT hockey, but won’t be filling ish in the North Region of the American the soon-to-be vacant coaching spot Collegiate Hockey Association. because of traveling issues. With two games remaining, a battle with The four years he spent coaching UT’s Georgia on Friday with third place in the East career points leader may have brought Division on the line and a newly announced Durrigan most of his impressive coaching Orange-and-White Alumni Game on Saturday numbers, but overall, the Brockton, to replace Eastern Kentucky, Durrigan knows Mass., native said that every year has that when the season ends, it will be because it meant a lot to him in its own way. was time. “I’m pretty happy with every team I’ve Matthew DeMaria • The Daily Beacon “I live 100 miles from here, almost exactever coached, including the ones last year ly,” Durrigan said. “My grandson (Jason) is 2 A goalie for the UT Ice Vols blocks a shot from the alumni team on Saturday, Feb. 5. The and this year,” Durrigan said. “They’re years old, and so in two years, he’s going to be Ice Vols were able to end the home season against the alumni in an exciting contest, good guys and a lot of fun to be around.” which recognized the seniors and retiring coach Steve Durrigan. old enough to cross-ice.” The Ice Vols will honored their coach Unfortunately for young Jason, the closest at the alumni game on Saturday, an cross-ice skating for young skaters in the area is the Icearium said. “I’ve got some definite ideas with Volkswagen and so announcement Durrigan said couldn’t have come at a greater time. forth. I’ve just got to dedicate more time to that. “I couldn’t believe it when I read it,” Durrigan said. “It was So I figured between the two (reasons), we can get a new coach and I’ll stay involved with the paperwork and the recruit- a crappy week when I read it and I sent Joe a text, and I just ing ... and the scheduling, and so that way I can just come up said, ‘That’s one of the nicest things I’ve ever read all week!’ So it was pretty deep.” and watch the games.” Durrigan may be stepping away from coaching at season’s Assistant coach Joe Williams is the only other member of the Ice Vols coaching staff with experience this season; the for- end, but a possible second coming hasn’t been ruled out. “I’d like to come back to coaching, whether it be coming mer UT player had been on the roster since Durrigan first back here when the next person is ready to retire or go back arrived in Knoxville from Massachusetts. Durrigan and Williams together turned the Ice Vols into a and coach kids like I did in Massachusetts,” he said. “I’ve been powerhouse hockey club with a combined 88-26-2 record a coach all my life, so yeah, somewhere along the way, I’ll be a (.771) from 2005 to 2009. In 2006, the Ice Vols coach led UT coach. For right now, though, my wife deserves me to be home to 26 wins, the most of any coach in SECHC history. Add three once in a while; she’s put up with it for a while. “I’d like to come back and coach some day, but not for a litconference championships, an ACHA South Regional championship and three national-championship tournament appear- tle while. Not until Jason’s about 6 or 7, when I coach him in ances in the four-year span, and fans witnessed what is still the pee-wee and mites or something like that.”
Anthony Elias
Staff Writer
in Farragut, a conflict Durrigan said would significantly impact his time with his grandson. “What I was afraid of was if I kept doing this, I’d be driving back and forth, and then when it came time to take him, I’d say, ‘Eh, I don’t want to do this anymore,’ and that’s unfair to him,” Durrigan said. With his free time, the Chattanooga resident is putting together plans to build an ice rink closer to home but says he’ll continue to help UT with some of its off-ice affairs. “I really want to get a rink built in Chattanooga,” Durrigan