02 11 15

One of the first black female faculty leaves legacy >>See page 5

Knox Mason: don’t call it fancy >>See page 6

Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors are set to perform two sold-out shows at the Bijou Feb. 13 and Feb. 14. • Photo courtesy of Drew Holcomb

Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors to bring double dose of ‘Medicine’ to Bijou Marina Waters Copy Editor (@MarinaWaters08)

Great in-state high school programs led to top 5 recruiting class >>See page 11

Americana band Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors are no strangers to Knoxville. The band has played in the Scruffy City many times, and now Holcomb and his favorite neighbors hit Knoxville on a two-night stop at downtown’s Bijou Theatre.

The band released their latest album, “Medicine” Jan.27.

Now coming off of his tour in the U.K., Holcomb sat down to talk to the Daily Beacon about the new album, life as a father

and his recent tour which hits Knoxville with a double dosage Friday and Saturday night.

The Daily Beacon: What made you want to perform two shows here?

Drew Holcomb: We are thrilled to be coming back to town.

We have sold out the Bijou three times now, so we thought it was time for a double header. Plus, when we only do one show, we are in and out of town too quickly. This way we get to actually enjoy the city.

See HOLCOMB on Page 7

See SAMPLE SLUG on Page X

Volume 128 Issue 24

utdailybeacon.com @utkdailybeacon

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

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INSHORT

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Haslam budget seeks to improve teacher salaries Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Gov. Bill Haslam says he’s committed to making Tennessee the fastest-improving state in the nation in terms of teacher pay and that his budget will reflect that commitment.

The Republican governor outlined his budget to the Tennessee General Assembly during his State of the State address Monday evening.

Despite making overall reductions of about $200 million, one of the highlights of Haslam’s budget is an investment of $100 million that will go to school districts to increase teacher pay. The governor is also fully funding the state’s school- funding formula, or BEP, with $44 million.

“We know that a big part of success is to have a great teacher leading every classroom,” said Haslam, who received a standing ovation during his speech when he announced raises for teachers. “We want to recruit, retain and reward the best and brightest educators. A big piece of doing that is paying good teachers well.”

Haslam had planned to increase teacher salaries in 2013, as well as pay for state employees, but decided not to because of poor state revenues.

He later vowed to make Tennessee’s teachers’ salaries competitive with other states, but acknowledged his actions would depend on state revenues. Haslam and state financial officials said earlier Monday that the revenue outlook for next year is promising.

“When we had the revenue shortfall, we had to make adjustments,” Haslam told reporters earlier in the day. “I came out of that saying the thing that hurt me the most was having to make the adjustment ... to teacher salaries.”

Tennessee teacher salaries have remained flat since 2011 — Haslam’s first year in office — when compared with the Consumer Price Index, according to the Tennessee Education Association, the state’s largest teachers union, which has been urging the governor to increase teacher pay.

Jim Wrye, TEA’s assistant executive director, said he’s pleased to see the governor taking action.

“I think every teacher in the state wants to see the governor’s dream come true, in that we are the fastest improving in teacher salaries in the nation,” Wrye said.

“We look forward to working with the administration and the General Assembly to see that the governor’s vision becomes a reality.”

The governor also plans to fully invest in the funding formula for Tennessee’s public higher education institutions with $25 million, and an additional $20 million to increase faculty salaries. Those institutions will also receive $260 million for capital projects.

“Funding the Tennessee Higher Education Commission recommendations ... will go a long way to helping us keep tuition in the 0 to 4 percent range recommended by THEC,” said Tennessee Board of Regents Chancellor John Morgan, who oversees six state universities, 13 community colleges and 27 colleges of applied technology.

Haslam’s State of the State comes exactly a week after he spoke to lawmakers at the beginning of a special session to hear his proposal to extend health coverage to

280,000 low-income Tennesseans. That measure failed 7-4 in the Senate Health Committee.

However, Haslam said Monday evening that the discussion about health coverage is not over.

“Last week, the decision was made not to move forward with Insure Tennessee.

However, that does not mean the issues around health care go away,” he said. “So, though the special session has ended, I hope we can find a way to work together to address those problems.”

Following the special session, Haslam said his next challenge will be to keep Tennessee’s rigorous education standards while abandoning the “worthless” brand of Common Core despised by groups ranging from teachers to tea partiers.

The governor said in his speech Monday that “it doesn’t really matter what we call our standards.”

“What does matter is that we continue to have high expectations for our students, teachers and this state,” he said. “We can come up with Tennessee standards that allow our students to compete with anyone in the world.”

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CAMPUSNEWS

Wednesday, February 11, 2015 • The Daily Beacon

3

Tennessee Promise to cut HOPE scholarship funds Hannah Marley Staff Writer (@hannahbob914)

U.S. students owed a total of $1.2 trillion in 2013.

This debt is a key reason President Barack Obama has championed education reforms to make higher education more affordable for students.

One of Obama’s education reform proposals is modeled after Governor Bill Haslam’s own Tennessee Promise, which guarantees graduating high school seniors two years of community college free of charge starting in the fall of 2015.

But where does the money for the Tennessee Promise come from, and what effect will this new policy actually have for the students, faculty and staff in universities across the state?

These are the questions posed by UT’s Progressive Student Alliance at a teach-in event Monday night to inform students about education reform and help them follow the money trail tied to the Tennessee Promise. To do this, they used statistics from the New York Federal Reserve and the American Sociological Association.

“Obama is saying that Tennessee is doing

good things for education, and we want to reject that and say that things aren’t going very well in Tennessee and we need to go in a different direction,” said Jenishea Lewis, a sophomore in psychology and member of the PSA. Robert Naylor, senior in global studies and the president of the PSA, said that while the president and the governor have praised Tennessee Promise as an innovative way to help students afford college, it is really just a reallocation of the HOPE scholarship money many students at four-year universities depend on.

“Students who are here for their first two years at a college like UT are going to lose a $1,000 worth of the HOPE scholarship, and students going to community colleges will gain that thousand,” Naylor explained.

“It’s just changing how the scholarships are being distributed in Tennessee.”

Lewis said this reduction in HOPE scholarship funds combined with higher education budget cuts will end up costing students, faculty and workers more in the long run, rather than truly providing a more affordable education.

“It’s hidden behind this facade of free community college, but along with 40 million in de-funding in higher education, it’s really like taking three steps back and one pseudo-step forward,” Lewis said. “It’s not really making any progress, not benefiting students the way

“Obama is saying that Tennessee is doing good things for education, and we want to reject that and say that things aren’t going very well in Tennessee...”

—Jenishea Lewis

that it says it is.”

Lewis and Naylor created an outline of the potential consequences involved with education budget cuts, including an obvious increase in tuition as well as a decrease in pay and benefits for university faculty and staff. The two con-

cluded these factors will lead to a decrease in the overall quality of education.

In order to accurately represent the difficulties many university faculty already face, the PSA invited Gabe Crowell, an adjunct history professor working at Pellissippi, Walter State, Bethel Univeristy and Roan State, to discuss the realities of working in higher education.

Crowell said that he, along with over half of all teachers at community colleges and the majority of adjunct professors, don’t receive basic health and retirement benefits or negotiating power and representation, leaving them in a constant state of job insecurity.

“I came here tonight, to say ‘Hey, your teachers might not be what you think they are; they’re struggling to pay their bills,’” Crowell said.

Students and faculty, however, are not the only people who will be affected by budget cuts, as campus workers currently make nine dollars an hour, lower than the “living wage” outlined by the UT Faculty Senate.

In order to avoid these negative effects of a decreased budget, PSA is calling for students and faculty to begin discussing the Tennessee Promise and education reform immediately.

“We need to do something about it,” Naylor said, “because this is going to spread far beyond our campus if we don’t.”

4

CAMPUSNEWS

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Christian fraternity dilutes stigma, encourages Greek wide community Heidi Hill Copy Editor

Buried in the rugged hills of Greece, the ruins of the legendary Oracle at Delphi were said to bear this inscription: “Nothing In Excess.”

More than 2,000 years later on Rocky Top, the Greek alphabet’s origins are largely forgotten and co-eds instead associate these letters with fraternities and sororities, often colored by a stigma of over-the-top parties and underage drinking.

In addition to Pi Kappa Alpha’s “butt chugging” incident in Sept. 2012, UT also suspended its chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity last spring for hazing, preventing the fraternity’s official recognition until August 2016.

With four fraternities currently on disciplinary probation at UT and Kappa Alpha’s recent suspension, “nothing in excess” may prove to be timeless wisdom for those participating in rumored activities in Fraternity Park.

Not all fraternities, though, are cur-

rently under scrutiny.

For Beta Upsilon Chi, the Christian fraternity that moved into the former Pi Kappa Alpha house in 2013, redefining the image of Greek life remains a goal for the organization as it approaches its third year on campus.

“Our heart behind pledgeship is we want to encourage the younger guys and empower them,” said Preston Morris, president of BYX and junior in accounting and German. “So that when they become brothers, hopefully, they can do the same exact thing to the next group of pledges.

It’s not a time where they’re degraded. It’s not where they’re forced to do something they don’t want to do.

“We want them to flourish.”

While BYX is still separate from Interfraternity Council, members have a series of requirements as brothers: study hall hours, regular chapter meetings and Monday morning reflections on testimonies and Biblical doctrine.

Like their fellow fraternities, pledges are also required to wear blazers and a tie that belongs to their designed “big brother.”

But these clothing essentials, accord-

Preston Morris is the current president of BYX. Esther Choo • The Daily Beacon ing to Morris, indicate more than just a preferred style of dress.

“There’s a passage in I Samuel where Jonathan takes off all his robe and takes off all his armor, and because of that (King) David goes and succeeds,” Morris said. “That’s kind of the mentality that we want to embrace with. My big brother, my fraternity is giving this to you to be your absolute best.”

Officiated as a fraternity on Jan. 17, 2012, Morris said the fraternity prohibits any alcohol at the BYX house or any events as a result of their faith-based principles.

Morris noted, however, that the fraternity does not believe alcohol as inherently evil but that there is room for improvement between the university and the Greek community “I think right now there’s kind of sour taste in everyone’s mouth with the Greek life,” Morris said. “And part of that is there has been a disconnect between fraternities and UT. It’s only fraternities at UT, and I know we would like to be in place where we can be a light and an encouraging force in that.”

As part of their philosophy of community building, the fraternity also serves meals to seven other fraternities in addition to the BYX brotherhood — or the “Bucks” as they are fondly named.

David Herberich, a junior in industrial engineering, said the intentional attitude

behind the pledging process was a big draw for him to join.

“One thing BYX is really good about is going to a level of closeness, like not being afraid to talk about the stuff in your lives that guys tend to stray away from,” Herberich said. “I mean some guys have a hard time talking about personal things, so I would figure that some of the fraternities would cause some of the friendships I had before where it never goes very deep,” College presents the dilemma seasonal friendships, Herberich explained, but BYX offers a community that promises to be more lasting.

“I definitely think until my graduation and then hopefully even on after that, we’ll always keep up with each other and be looking out for each other and helping each other out,” Herberich said.

As both sororities and fraternities at UT prepare for the coming year, Abby Powell, a junior in kinesiology and President of the Panhellenic Council said that all fraternities will be required to have house directors — also known as house “dads” — to foster a safer community and more accountability on Fraternity Row. “IFC is working with Dr. (Melissa) Shivers and the Vice Chancellor of Student Life to outline that job description,” Powell said. “This is something that has been in the works for a few years now, and I’m excited to see where it leads us.”

CAMPUSNEWS

Wednesday, February 11, 2015 • The Daily Beacon

Fleming honored for Civil Rights Era contributions Tanner Hancock Copy Editor (@TannerHancock26)

“I was part of that generation that realized African Americans had been left out of practically everything in the national heritage,” said Cynthia Fleming, one of the first two black female faculty members in UT’s College of Arts and Sciences.

Growing up during the Civil Rights Era, Fleming’s view of the world was profoundly shaped by momentous events of her time.

Graduating from a Detroit high school in the same year as the destructive 1967 Detroit riot, Fleming chose to become a historian to teach about the importance and role of African Americans in the nation’s history.

“African American history is American history. It’s just that part that was left out.”

—Cynthia Fleming

“I wanted to be one of those people to do the research and writing and teaching to make sure the record was fair and accurate and reflected the way in which African Americans functioned and contributed to American society,” Fleming said.

Originally trained in 19th century history, it was thanks to the constant prodding and encouragement of Avon Rollins, a local Civil Rights icon, that Fleming chose to write the biography of little known Civil Rights activist Ruby Doris Smith-Robinson. During her life, Smith-Robinson worked with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Commission, amassing more than 100 days in prison before her untimely death from cancer in 1967.

More than just recording history, though, Fleming wanted to teach it.

She first joined UT’s history faculty in 1982 and later earned her tenure in 1987. In

Cynthia Fleming more than 20 years of service to UT, Fleming helped foster the growth of UT’s African American Studies Program before her retirement last year.

Motivated by more than simply a love for history, Fleming’s “mission” has always been to rewrite and make others think about the way African American history is viewed and learned.

Before her retirement, Fleming frequently conveyed a message of historical equality to the students that would walk through her door.

“African American history is American history,” she said. “It’s just that part that was left out.”

Admittedly, Fleming said she thought that, by her age, the many racial issues within America would be largely solved. She sees the protests surrounding the deaths of Michael Brown, Eric Garner and other young African Americans, however, as contrary evidence.

“Unfortunately, what these events show is that we as a nation still have almost no understanding of African American history,” Fleming said.

Despite this criticism, Fleming said she remains resolute that the fate of blacks in this nation will not always be so bleak.

“I remain hopeful,” Fleming clarified. “The generation coming behind me and other historians of my generation who have retired, are going to continue to struggle and no doubt someday prevail.”

For History Department Head Ernest Freeburg, Flemings’ contributions to both the university and the history of African Americans cannot be understated.

“Dr. Fleming was a pioneer in the field of civil rights history,” Freeburg said. “Her work, including many oral histories with the great and now passing generation of civil rights leaders, will provide crucial documentation that will be used by generations of historians.”

Former University of Tennessee colleagues honored Cynthia Fleming Friday night in recognition of her work as both a historian and Civil Rights advocate.

5

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ARTS&CULTURE

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Knoxville eatery promotes local, Southern style Hannah Cather Photo Editor (@hannahcather)

It isn’t fine dining.

Chef and co-founder Matt Gallaher insists Knox Mason not be labeled anything synonymous with “fancy.”

He’d rather his two-year-old restaurant fall into the “casual dining” category that caters to the community, yet it sits cozily on the 100 block of Gay Street among designer boutiques and art galleries. The restaurant’s mark, a rustic, wooden sign, hangs above the entrance with white lettering which spells out “Knox Mason.”

In the back of his mind, Gallaher always knew he’d have his own restaurant. His passion for food blossomed as a child with a mother who grew vegetables on their land in Knox County and cooked dinner with the bounty every night. Their diets changed with the seasons.

When he was nine, his mother opened a catering business and restaurant. Before he was even a teenager, Gallaher was working for salary in the kitchen.

“I think I was getting $8 a week,” Gallaher recalled with a laugh. “Basically my allowance.”

Gallaher’s path from earning less than minimum wage to opening Knox Mason took a few turns. He originally earned a degree in chemical engineering and business from the University of Tennessee — all while working in restaurants to pay tuition. Not two years after graduation, Gallaher decided he wasn’t interested in engineering.

“If I was going to make a career, I wanted it to be something I really loved. I want to open my own restaurant. Have my own place,” Gallaher said. “There are so many years of training and learning that if I was going to do it, I wanted to do it for myself.”

At first, he didn’t do it for himself. He spent four years in the kitchen at Blackberry Farm, a luxury hotel and resort in the Appalachian Mountains. From there, he traveled the world cooking for bands like Kings of Leon, The Eagles and Neil Young. He later made his way back to Middle Tennessee where he spent two years cooking for Governor Bill Haslam.

Finally, he was ready to open a restaurant founded on his roots as a Southern man eating Southern food.

The sliver of a restaurant, with its shotgun style layout, seems to come from a world of high-end dining. It looks like something found in New York but with an undeniable Southern charm. With a capacity of 50 people and tables less than a foot apart, there’s an intimate coziness about the place. Snagging a seat at the bar offers diners a show of the three chefs expertly preparing plates as the orders flow in through-

Okay, Valentine’s Day isn’t for everyone.

Heartbroken or just over the whole thing?

Our Anti-Valentine’s Day playlist has got you covered.

Top: Chef Matt Gallaher is the owner of Knox Mason.

Bottom: Knox Mason offers fresh pork rinds sprinkled with Bourbon Barrel smoked paprika and Tennessee Sunshine hot sauce.

Hannah Cather • The Daily Beacon out the night.

“We don’t have a secret kitchen downstairs.

There’s no back room,” Gallaher said. “It makes us a stronger team because there’s not a barrier to our communication or eye line.”

Natalie Blocher, junior in psychology, has been on the team for almost a year. From the fresh, spicy pork rinds to deviled eggs to the decadent banana pudding and everything in between, Blocher brings it to the table.

“It’s really nice to work with people who take enormous pride in the work they do,” Blocher said. “It reminds me that I want to find a job I feel passionate about and strive to always do better in whatever I’m doing.”

Knox Mason’s menu is intentionally small and printed in-house, allowing for ebbs and flows of local produce. His dogmatic approach to sourcing local has Gallaher buying fryer oil and other pantry items from afar, but during the summer, when the farmers’ market is in full swing, he says they spend about 70 percent of

their food dollars on Tennessee farms.

“We do better than most when it comes to sourcing locally and seasonally, so the menu reflects that,” Gallaher said. “We make buttermilk biscuits at brunch, grits, collard greens and mac ‘n’ cheese.”

The five main courses served for dinner are listed on the menu with their ingredients’ sources like Roasted Ashley Farms chicken and Anson Mills farro ‘risotto.’ The sourcing and simplicity of the food allows each plate to shine.

“I wasn’t sure if Knoxville was ready for a restaurant the way I wanted to do it – if it was ready for Knox Mason,” Gallaher said. “That’s been a huge surprise -- how well we’ve been received. I had a notion, but I didn’t know that it would be this great.”

Knox Mason is located at 131 S. Gay Street and is open Tuesday through Saturday 4-11 p.m., Friday and Saturday until 12 a.m. and Sunday’s brunch is 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Stronger

Brittany Spears

You’ll Think of Me

Keith Urban

Single Ladies

Beyonce

Cry Me a River Justin Timberlake We Are Never Ever Getting Taylor Swift Back Together Forget You

Cee Lo Green

Since U Been Kelly Clarkson Gone Heaven Knows The Smiths I’m Miserable Now I Don’t Want to Good Charlotte be in Love Love Sticks

J. Geils Band

ARTS&CULTURE

Wednesday, February 11, 2015 • The Daily Beacon

7

Taste of (chocolate) poetry comes to campus Michaela Deaton Contributor

Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.

Sticking with a bridal theme, two poets will come together tonight for an exciting evening filled with poetry and chocolate.

“Bringing chocolate is always important. I’m not going anywhere without chocolate for Valentine’s Day,” said Marilyn Kallet, UT’s director of creative writing. “Chocolate always makes things better.”

Kallet and Andrew P. Dillon, a P.h.D. candidate in creative writing, were invited to read at “O Taste & See: Love Poetry and Dark Chocolate” by Donna Doyle, coordinator of the literary rounds at University of Tennessee Medical Center, to share works on love.

HOLCOMB continued from Page 1 DB: Your new album, “Medicine” was released recently. Congrats! Could you tell me a bit about where you wanted to go with this new album?

DH: I think my songwriting on this album is the best I have ever done. I was very clear headed from the start and really wanted to take a more traditional approach to recording. Most of my favorite albums over my life were albums recorded quickly, with great musicians and lots of room for humanity on them, meaning not letting the computers edit all the beautiful moments out of the recordings.

DB: Were you trying to go for any different/new elements for the new record?

DH: When we record, it is almost always driven by the song. I will play the song on the acoustic guitar for everyone, then we go in and start working out the arrangements. That approach is really what drove the record for us, very simple.

DB: There’s always a story or meaning behind an album title. What’s the reason behind “Medicine?”

DH: I was asked in an interview, “What is music for?” and I thought it was a

After having batted back and forth ideas with Doyle, Kallet came up with an idea to involve one of her favorite things in the event — chocolate.

Doyle loved the idea, wanting to move away from topics of illness and healing and have some emotional relief.

“Chocolate always makes things better.”

-Marilyn Karret

great question. For me, music has been an important ingredient and soundtrack to my worst and best moments, whether that was in the death of my brother, or the many heartbreaks of youth, or the welcoming of a child into the world. In all those instances, music has played a vital role. So I think, “What is music for?” It is medicine for us all.

DB: How has having a child changed your life musically and overall?

DH: Having a child takes the world from black and white to color. Everything with a child is new all the time. Discovering words and places and stories is a beautiful thing to watch. So I find myself continually inspired by fatherhood.

DB: You just got back from a tour in the U.K. How was that? Any differences between playing a show there and playing a show here?

DH: The U.K. audience is a very quiet, respectful crowd, and they love the storytelling part of what we do.

DB: You seem to have started out in such an organic way -- from playing at YoungLife camps to now selling out the Ryman Auditorium. Could you tell us a little bit about your mindset going into your career and how it influenced your music?

DH: My mindset was just to work hard

Having known Dillon from the first MFA graduate class, Kallet wanted someone that was a good performer and could set a relaxing atmosphere.

“Coming from different backgrounds, we get along really well,” Kallet said.

“We can look out at the audience and play with it, rather than mutter into the book.”

Kallet and Dillion will each choose an older and newer work of theirs, a poem from a different author and a poem related to the blues, hoping to include something for everyone.

“We will make sure that everyone makes friends with poetry and enjoys it,” Kallet said, referring to the people who may be intimidated by or do not understand poetry very well.

Performing at the Preston Medical Library, the venue will have doctors, nurses, cops, students and even workers from David’s Bridal in attendance to listen to some poetry and sneak in a little chocolate.

Christine Sledge, an undecided freshman, is planning to attend the event and is looking forward to a fun evening.

“From the things I have heard about Marilyn Kallet and Andrew P. Dillion, I cannot wait to hear what poems they have picked to read,” Sledge said. “I really like that they went with the bridal theme since Valentine’s Day is coming soon.”

The event is at 5 p.m. in the Preston Medical Library, and admission is free.

and let the chips fall. In the end, it was a good philosophy. On Conan’s last night on the “Tonight Show” he said something like, “I hate cynicism, don’t be cynical. If you work hard and treat people with kindness, amazing things will happen. Not necessarily how you expected them to, but great things will happen.” That has certainly been true of our journey.

DB: Relentless touring seems to be a big part of your journey as an artist. How has touring changed for you now as compared to how it has been in the past?

DH: Well it’s a bit easier. I used to tour manage myself, drive myself, sell my own merch. As it’s grown, we are able to staff the tour and make life on the road less chaotic. But it’s still the same idea, play

your songs and try to connect with a different audience every night. That part will never change.

DB: Could you tell me a bit about your new single, “Shine Like Lightning?” What made you choose this one as a single?

DH: In some ways the ‘single’ chooses itself. You think about radio, and you think about what song speaks the best for your record. “Shine Like Lightning” is really a three minute biography of the band and what we have fought through, so it’s a great song for radio for us.

DB: What made you want to get into music? What keeps you going on this musical journey?

DH: Other artists making music that I loved made me want to give it a try. I was moved by music like nothing else in my life, so I thought I should give it a try. I do not regret that impulse.

DB: What’s next for Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors?

DH: We are touring with our friends Needtobreathe, Ben Rector and Colony House all over the country this summer, including headlining our own Moon River Music Festival in Memphis. Hopefully we will find some time for home in the middle of all the chaos.

“My mindset was just to work hard and let the chips fall.”

-Drew Holcomb

When: 5 p.m. Wednesday, February 11 Where: Preston Medical Center Cost: Free

8

ARTS&CULTURE

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Somebody’s Darling to hit Knoxville with rock band authenticity Marina Waters Copy Editor (@MarinaWaters08)

During the days of the Civil War, unidentified casualties were branded as “Somebody’s Darling� with the notion that someone somewhere loved this deceased soldier.

The sweet and eerie term of endearment has now been borrowed by the Dallas-based soulful rock band, Somebody’s Darling.

To kick off their tour, these bluesy rockers are bringing their Lonestar state styling to the Scruffy City for a night of rock, soul and blend of Southern edge.

This blend is one that occurred rather naturally, said the band’s front woman, Amber Farris. “Our genres from each person vary, but we still have the same core respect for music we like and good music,� Farris explained. “I think our individual taste in music is different in lot of ways from each other. And I think that’s how the unique sound comes across.�

The assortment of musical interests is clear on the band’s latest album, “Adult Roommates.� While the soulful lyrics

and rock melodies are still there, a great deal of musical growth is apparent to the blonde Texas rocker. “I feel like we’re still kind of figuring it out - trying to get our sound to what we want it to be,� Farris said. “We think we’re going in the direction we’ve always wanted to. We really put everyone’s talent at the front of the line.�

Though musical growth was a main focus, the group has another objective in mind.

The four-man and one curly-haired female lead singer formation is, at times, difficult to come by. However, they just aim to be a rock ‘n roll band. “That’s what we all want to be – a true rock band,� Farris said. “It’s not like ‘Amber Farris and the Blah Blah Blahs’.

We are a band through and through. I think that’s what people like about us.

There’s no gimmicks. It’s just straight up.

We’re just a rock band.�

However, this identity comes with an honest name to match, said Farris.

Somebody’s Darling shares the sentiment and the identity of those soldiers long forgotten. “It’s a way that unknown soldiers are marked when they have their identity gone,� Farris explained of the band’s namesake. “It’s kind of sad, but we kind

The Texas rock band Somebody’s Darling will play at Barley’s Tap Room and Pizzeria in the Old City on Feb. 12. • Photo Courtesy of Somebody’s Darling of like the meaning of it. We just thought it was kind of a sincere, honest name. “I think everybody wants to be somebody’s darling, ya know?â€?

Somebody’s Darling is playing at the

WDVX Blue Plate Special on Thursday at 12 p.m. They’re also playing at Barley’s Tap Room and Pizzeria in the Old City Thursday night at 10 p.m. Admission is free.

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PUZZLES&GAMES

Wednesday, February 11, 2015 • The Daily Beacon

9

Get Fuzzy • Darby Conley

NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD • Will Shortz When this puzzle is done, the circled letters, reading from top to bottom, will spell something that belongs in the center square.

dadoodlydude • Adam Hatch

Cartoons of The Daily Beacon are the views of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Beacon or the Beacon’s editorial staff.

ACROSS 1 Blubber 4 Smartphone relative, for short 7 Allergy sufferer’s concern 13 Maze runner?

15 Item used by 13-Across to navigate the 22-Across 16 Visibly upset … or happy 17 Slangy word of regret 18 Pink-colored, to Pedro 19 Org. for seniors 21 Late TV newsman Garrick 22 Home of the [circled letters] 25 -like 28 Registered workers?

29 Poli-___ 32 Like some breaking news, nowadays 34 Goes on and on

37 “Me, too” 38 Sharon of Israel 39 Announcement at an airport 42 Worker with a béret, maybe 44 QB’s goals 45 First-timer 47 Began a relationship 48 Ruler of 30-Down 51 Spatter catcher 54 5:2, e.g.

55 “My bad!”

59 Front-___ (some washing machines) 61 JFK-based carrier 63 Avoid, as the [circled letters] 64 Daughter of 48-Across who helped 13-Across 65 Plan so that maybe one can 66 White House advisory grp.

67 Motor oil choice

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE B O O P

O H N O

T I T S

A B I T

T A P E

B R A N D N A M E S

G R A P H

E E R I E

T O O T H A N D N A I L

L A U D E R

B U T T E D

E A N M R Y O C L L O A L A R D M I N S C A E V S Y O R R O D T O N A T A

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Y O W I E

M O N T Y

A D A M

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E N O S

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DOWN 1 Kool-Aid packet direction 2 “I’m in for it now!”

3 They’re placed in Vegas 4 Soup veggie 5 Resistant to wear and tear 6 Analyzed 7 Sports dept.

8 “Give me a ___” 9 Tell it to the judge 10 Dante’s “Inferno” 11 Constructed 12 Old TV’s “Queen for ___” 14 Circus balancer 17 Like some punk rockers’ hair 20 Basics of education, colloquially

23 End of Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible,” e.g.

24 Intel org.

25 Where ___ (a happening place) 26 Weapon used to slay the [circled letters] 27 Catches word of 29 Earthquake 30 Home of the [circled letters] 31 Key 33 U.K. record label 35 San ___ 36 Hosp. scan 40 Many a girl’s middle name 41 They stick together in the playroom

56

62

67

42 Third-largest French-speaking city in the world [hint: it’s in Ivory Coast] 43 Some salon workers 46 Iraq war subj.

48 Big name in the film industry 49 Bumbling 50 Japanese noodles 51 Quaffs in pints 52 Sit (for) 53 Campaign 56 88, e.g., familiarly 57 Give up, at least for now 58 Ooze 60 ___ Speedwagon 62 Constantly twirling a lock of hair, e.g.

10

VIEWPOINTS

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Your college years are the perfect time to try out a new look

Kevin Ridder The Compass

After a particularly awful haircut three summers ago, I decided I was sick of it all. Why bother getting my hair lopped off every few weeks if I just end up looking like I was about to start 7th grade?

While I may have worn a (somewhat strained) smile on the outside as I sat in the swiveling barber’s chair that fateful day, only one thing was going through my mind: never again.

Okay, maybe that’s a bit dramatic. The truth of the matter? After the same look for 19 years, I was ready for a change.

I don’t know where I got the idea, really. Maybe it was this allencompassing feeling that we’re supposed to reinvent ourselves in college. Maybe it was a subconscious desire to compensate for my complete lack of beard-growing ability. Maybe I just thought it would look cool; and besides, what better time to grow out my hair than when I had at least a couple of years before a real job interview?

Whatever the reason, much to my mother’s dismay, I went an entire two years without a real haircut.

After about six months of the “oh God, I look like a deformed, ginger Shirley Temple” phase, it actually started to grow on me. When it finally got long enough to tie back in a ponytail (around the same time I switched my major to Environmental Studies...coincidence?), however, I started to notice a change in people’s general attitudes toward me.

When passing through Haslam Business on the way to class, I could almost feel the confused glances thrown my direction, as if to say, “What the heck are you doing? You don’t belong in here.”

And more than just looks, too. As I was waiting in line at Einstein’s one day, two students were discussing their required reading, Bill McKibben’s “Eaarth.” As they lamented on the woes of freshman life and the difficulty of 14 credit hours, one of them threw a glance my direction and said in a hushed voice, “I don’t even know why we have to read it. It’s a book for hippies.”

I found this fairly interesting. With my new-found hair style, I was automatically assumed to be less of a person compared to the social norm. Although, with my tie-dye shirts and Chacos, I daresay I was asking for it.

As the year went on and my hair grew longer, I simply got used to it. The ponytail turned into a man-bun. I wore it down occasionally, but after a retail worker passed behind me with an “excuse me, ma’am,” I stopped doing that as much.

Finally, after two years of obnoxiously long showers and an ungodly amount of bobby pins, I was ready to go back. While it had been a fun experiment that made concerts that much more fun, I was sick of managing it. Plus I didn’t really feel like it looked like me; I looked like a completely different person. So, contrary to my hasty promise to myself two years previous, I went and lopped off my hair again.

In the end though, I’m glad I did it. It was an interesting experience. Plus, I was able to donate 11 inches of hair, which I hope made somebody a little happier. And I’ll be honest; it’s nice to not receive a stifled eye-roll when I bring up my major.

Kevin Ridder is a senior in environmental studies. He can be reached at kridder2@vols.utk.edu.

UT: least beautiful, LGBT unfriendly, and now ... best value?

Adam Weatherell Dreaming of Dolly

At least we’re not Detroit.

In case you missed it, last week The University of Tennessee received yet another accolade from the test preparation and college admission company, Princeton Review.

The same Princeton Review that has previously honored our state’s premier academic institution with other noteworthy titles such as America’s #11 Least Beautiful Campus, though some would tout the mismatched concrete and soviet era industrialism as an East Tennessee urban renaissance and #14 most LGBT Unfriendly, even though UT, like, repurposed an unused dorm and hung up a pride flag (that has since been torn down no less than two times). But our newest addition is that of a Best Value College.

Now I can’t speak for all, but the great thing about a published column is that I only have to speak for me when I say, who the fish fudge is qualifying this and do they know how much I pay for printing?

In 2008, in-state tuition at the UTK was about $5,428 per year. Flash forward seven years and our tuition has jumped nearly 50 percent to $10,500 a year. This goliath growth has been met with general apathy from the students left with little options and already cuffed to an education system that continues to shift the price on those least apt to afford it sans surmounting student debt.

Who’s to blame us? At least for us in-state students, Tennessee’s poorest continue to invest in my education under the false pretense of mega-millions. As a result, nearly half of my, along with 60 percent of my peers’, education is at least partially covered. What’s another $500 a year when the lottery continues to pump out almost half of my fees? Since its induction in 2004, the Tennessee Hope Scholarship has consistently funded our state’s best and brightest (also known as anyone who got above a 21 on the ACT), while our state legislature has seen it fit to simultaneously reduce its higher education support. In the past six years, state appropriations for higher education have fallen more than 10 percent, and that difference has been left to be paid for in-full by students -- students who, three out of five times, are still paying tuition well after their fourth year.

I have no problem singing the praises of UT, and if you cut off my arm I would spew forth gallons of orange, white and red — mostly red, but still a little bit of orange -- but I also do not operate under any disillusion that there is any degree of pragmatism concerning the allocation of my tuition funds.

Deep down, I know I’ll keep paying $20 a semester to print, as well as another $200 for online homework, and God knows how much on overpriced POD goods because I am but a servile worm wriggling its way to compounding debt and an uncertain future. At least UT’s status as a top 20 Jock School (No. 17!) will keep the class changes entertaining - Go Vols.

Adam Weatherell is a sophomore in political science. He can be reached at aweath10@vols.utk.edu.

Columns of The Daily Beacon are the views of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Beacon or the Beacon’s editorial staff.

SPORTS

Wednesday, February 11, 2015 • The Daily Beacon

FOOTBALL

Rise in in-state talent leads to successful recruiting classes Nathanael Rutherford Staff Writer (@Mr_Rutherford)

For the first time since the 2007 recruiting class, the Tennessee Volunteers pulled in a top five recruiting class when National Signing Day came to a close on Wednesday, Feb. 4.

Tennessee’s 2015 class finished in the top five in every major recruiting service, finishing as high as 3rd in the 247Sports rankings. Doing so also allowed the Vols to have back-to-back top 10 classes for the first time since the 2009 and 2010 classes finished eighth and ninth, according to 247Sports.

Part of Tennessee’s recent success in recruiting has been because of Tennessee head coach Butch Jones and his staff ’s ability to recruit nationally, pulling in highly-rated prospects from California, Georgia and North Carolina among other states. But the foundation of Jones’s classes at Tennessee have started inside state borders.

“That’s where it starts, securing the home state,” Butch Jones said during his press conference on National Signing Day. “(The talent in Tennessee) continues to be elevated each and every year.”

The recruiting services support Jones’s notion.

According to data provided by the 247Sports recruiting database, high school talent in the state of Tennessee has grown over the past few seasons,

and the Vols have taken advantage.

From 2006 to 2009, the state of Tennessee produced only one player rated as a five-star prospect out of high school and just 19 players rated as fourstars. The 2007 recruiting cycle was the lone exception, producing eight in-state four-stars. The Vols took in three of the top seven in-state recruits that year, helping their class finish No. 3 in the nation.

The 2008 and 2009 cycles saw the number of highly-rated prospects in the state of Tennessee begin to dwindle, but 2012 began the resurgence in the state’s talent. From 2012 to 2015, Tennessee has had 32 players rated as four-star recruits and two five-stars come from the state.

The Vols were unable to capitalize initially however, only pulling in one of the six in-state players rated as four-star recruits in 2012. Tennessee’s 2012 class finished 20th in the country, partially due to the lack of successful in-state recruiting.

But Butch Jones has refocused the Vols’ efforts on recruiting in the state of Tennessee, and it appears to be paying off thus far.

Tennessee’s 2014 class that finished seventh in the nation included the top four players from the state of Tennessee and eight of the top 10 in-state prospects. The state’s talent had also replenished since 2012, as eight players were rated as four-star recruits and running back Jalen Hurd was rated as a five-star.

Similarly, Tennessee’s 2015 class that finished third in the country included the top three players from the state.

The depth of in-state talent continued to flourish as well, as 10 players were rated as four-star recruits, and defensive end Kyle Phillips sat atop the list as a five-star.

“That’s where it starts, securing the home state.”

-Butch Jones

A large part of Tennessee’s recent success in recruiting has been due to the rise of talent in the state of Tennessee, and Butch Jones has recognized that and capitalized on it, leading to success in recruiting for the program in Jones’ first three classes.

“We have great high school football in the state of Tennessee,” Jones stated.

“We’re going to start first and foremost in taking care of home. And we’ve been able to do that.”

FOOTBALL

Ex-Tennessee DB Riyahd Jones named in rape investigation Associated Press KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Former Tennessee defensive back Riyahd Jones has been named as a suspect in an ongoing rape investigation in which no charges have been filed.

Knoxville Police Department spokesman

Darrell DeBusk said Monday that an investigator responded Thursday to a report of a rape from earlier that day. Jones was listed as a suspect in an incident report, but there’s been no charge or arrest. The (Maryville) Daily Times first reported the investigation.

Jones announced via Twitter on Feb. 2 that he was transferring. He didn’t play any games for

Tennessee in 2014.

This report comes less than three months after Tennessee linebacker A.J. Johnson and defensive back Michael Williams were named as suspects in a different rape investigation. Both were suspended from the team. Neither has been charged or arrested. Johnson has since graduated and completed his eligibility.

11

12

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, February 11, 2015

MEN’S BASKETBALL

SPORTS

Richardson moving past Georgia performance Troy Provost-Heron Staff Writer (@Troy_Provost)

Senior Josh Richardson shoots the ball during the game against Mississippi State on Feb. 3. Hayley Pennesi • The Daily Beacon

It was not long after the final buzzer sounded on his two-point performance against Georgia that Josh Richardson began moving along.

The 1-of-13 shooting performance in Athens forced the senior guard into the gym in an effort to fix the kinks that led to his worst scoring performance since a scoreless output in a 67-41 loss to the Florida Gators on Jan. 25, 2014.

As the bus destined for Nashville and Tennessee’s next opponent, Vanderbilt, readied, Richardson’s confidence, stemming from the excess work, radiated.

“I’ve been working out every morning trying to get my groove back,” Richardson said.

“I feel good.”

Losers of four of their last five, the Volunteers could use a rebound performance much like the ones Richardson has delivered in recent single-digit scoring performances.

Following that scoreless outing versus Florida last year, the Edmond, Oklahoma native dropped 16 points against Ole Miss on 6-of-11 shooting.

After scoring nine against Marquette on Nov. 30, 2014, Richardson finished with a team-high 17 points to lead the Vols to a victory over Kansas State. In response to his latest single-digit outing — an eight-point performance versus Missouri — Richardson shot 5-of-6 from the field en route to a 13-point game.

And his teammates do not expect anything less of their senior leader.

“There’s been no difference (in him),”

sophomore guard Robert Hubbs said. “He’s the same Josh. He’ll bounce back and he’ll be fine and we’ll build off of that.”

Inside Memorial Gym’s unique environment, though, Richardson will have to do much more than just be a scorer.

With Tyndall located on the end line instead of the sidelines, Richardson will have to serve as the Vols’ floor general in a greater capacity than before.

“We understand it’s a huge rivalry game,” said Tyndall, who stated on Monday that he would be sporting an orange blazer Wednesday night. “Both fan bases will be very excited. I am sure it will be a passionate and electric environment in there on Wednesday. We will have to play very well to give ourselves a chance to win.”

For Richardson, though, the environment that surrounds the in-state rivalry is something he looks forward to.

“I kind of like it,” Richardson said. “I think it’s fun, especially because of all the Tennessee fans that will be there and all the Vandy fans that will be there. It’s always a good battle.”

The Vols hold a 114-71 lead in the alltime series against the Commodores, dating back to 1922, but Vanderbilt leads the series in Nashville with a 53-38 mark versus Tennessee.

A victory would give the Vols their fourth SEC road win, which would mark the first time UT has attained its fourth conference win before the end of February since 2011.

A win would also improve Donnie Tyndall’s record as a Division I head coach against teams from the state of Tennessee to 31-16 and prevent UT’s first three-game losing streak of the season.

Tipoff between the Vols and Commodores is scheduled for 9 p.m. EST and can be seen on the SEC Network.