Tuesday, February 26, 2014
Issue 34, Volume 125
SEE
INSIDE Letter to the Editor from an anonymous convicted rapist: read why the Beacon chose to print the story NEWS >>pg. 2
Tennessee looks to turn away negativity as they head down the home stretch towards the Big Dance
SPORTS >>pg. 6
Less freebies, more ethics
SGA campaign finances reformed for 2014 elections Hayley Brundige Assistant Photo Editor
Gearing up for the Oscars: an analysis of this year’s short film contenders from Disney to Japanese Myth ARTS & CULTURE >>pg. 5
wanted to learn how to use it. Eventually the people downstairs noticed him and said, ‘You’re good,’ and it all snowballed from there.” People of all ages filtered on and off the rooftop throughout the night. In attendance was a class of sixth grade students sent by their science teacher on an extra credit assignment. “It’s really great that all of these kids came out tonight,” Ferguson said. “It’s amazing what they know already. Some of them are asking questions you wish that the college students would ask.” “I had a really great time,” said Gracie, one of the sixth grade students. “Looking up into space was so cool. “I can’t wait to come back Paul Lewis, director of Space Science Outreach, right, and Maddie Bynum, and bring some more of my freshman in child and family studies, discuss the elements of observing the sun friends with me.” using the telescopes atop Nielsen Physics on Feb. 17. See STARGAZING on Page 2
• Graphic Courtesy of Dillon Canfield
It was a quiet and chilly Friday night on The Hill. All was deserted, except the Alvin H. Nielsen Physics and Astronomy Building, where the bi-monthly stargazing session was bustling with people once again. Stargazing from “The Roof” has been a UT tradi-
tion since 1987. Gatherings take place at 8:30 p.m. every first and third Friday of the month, weather permitting. Paul Lewis, director of Space Science Outreach, has been conducting these observational opportunities for the public from their infancy. “The department has supported observing sessions for students for longer than I have been here,” Lewis said. “The program had gotten so big; we needed to have someone on a regular basis.” Operating the second telescope, Charles Ferguson, director of the East Tennessee Discovery Center’s Akima Planetarium, claims he is the reason Lewis got hooked on astronomy. “I got him started,” Ferguson said. “He called me up in the early 80s saying he had a telescope and
•Source: 2013 SGA Ccampus Value Reports
Kevin Ridder Copy Editor
Wondering where your free Chick-fil-A is? New amendments to this year’s Student Government Association election packet stipulate that campaigns can spend no more than $12,500 with a total of $5,000 in cash. Previously, campaigns were allowed to spend $7,000 and could accrue unlimited nonmonetary donations. According to Dean of Students Jeff Cathey, some of last
year’s campaigns took advantage of non-monetary donations more than others. Engage, the campaign headed by Christian Powers, spent an estimated $24,000. Of that total, $5,571.81 was out-of-pocket cash. Expenditures consisted of drinks, food, other handouts and website access provided by DreamHost. The remainder consisted of donations from local businesses, including free sandwich coupons from Penn Station Subs, sign materials from Wendy’s and donuts from Krispy Kreme. Spending $2,546.76 and
receiving zero non-monetary donations, Jake Baker and Paige Atchley campaigned with minimal funds and found ways to actually make money. “Campaigns usually spend the majority of their funds on T-shirts,” Baker wrote in an e-mail. “These are generally handed out for free, but Paige and I actually sold our shirts and tank tops to students. They were both very high quality shirts and this cost made up most of our campaign value.” In Cathey’s opinion, the frugal methods of Baker-Atchley, a campaign that started several
months after other campaigns, demonstrate that students are focusing more on the campaign platforms and the ability of each candidate to represent the student body and less on the freebies they offer during election season. Falling between two extremes, the Amplify campaign spent $2,117.69 and an estimated $6,000 total after donations are factored in. Lisa Dicker, finance manager for Amplify, said that while the campaign did receive some non-monetary donations, little focus was given to handouts. See CAMPAIGN on Page 2
Famed pianist to be honored for 85th bday Liv McConnell INSIDE THE DAILY BEACON
News Opinions Arts Sports
Page 2 Page 4 Page 3, 5 Page 6
Copy Editor Legendary pianist Byron Janis will be honored in a five-day series of events celebrating his 85th year beginning today at 3 p.m. in the Natalie L. Haslam Music Center. Since his debut with the Pittsburgh Symphony at age 16, Byron has gone on to forge a nearly seven-decade long musical legacy, including such historically signifi-
cant honors as being the first American pianist to perform in the Soviet Union during the Cold War. His birthday celebration will be composed of an assortment of lectures, master classes, video presentations and Q&A discussions. “He’s going to be talking about his early career,” said David Northington, UT professor of piano in the School of Music. “He’s played all over the world with every major orchestra in every major concert hall.”
Northington, who is coordinating the celebratory event, first studied under Byron Janis as a young Yale student in the 70s. “He came over and gave a one-week master class session and I was asked to be responsible for taking him back and forth from the hotel and train,” Northington said. “He invited me to come take classes from him in New York, and so I’d have lessons in his apartment on Park Avenue. We’ve been good friends since.”
People from across the nation will have the same opportunity Northington once did to learn from a true visionary in the daily master classes he will be offering in conjunction with his presentations. “We already have over 100 people registered from around the country who are going to perform for him,” he said. “He’s very sharp and wants to stay engaged, with the piano and with people.” See BYRON JANIS on Page 5
Matt Cikovic • The Daily Beacon
On-campus stargazing still holds cosmic aura for Knoxvillians
US Navy Band to make pit stop on campus Chelsea Faulkner Contributor Between performances at the White House and the U.S. Capitol Building, the U.S. Navy Concert Band, one of the United States’ premier musical organizations, will make a special stop at UT’s Cox Auditorium at 7 p.m. Thursday. Sponsored by the UT Band Department, the U.S. Navy Band concert promises to be an evening of musical excellence, patriotism and entertainment. “Under the baton of Capt. Brian O. Walden, the band will perform selections from their national tour program,” said Donald D. Ryder, interim director of bands. Along with several featured soloists and a special tribute to our military veterans, an assortment of popular and classical concert favorites will be included in tomorrow’s performance. “This is also a homecoming event for UT alum, MUC Courtney R. Williams of Greenbrier, Tennessee,” Ryder said. Williams is the concert narrator for the U.S. Navy Band, as well as an accomplished vocalist. He was the narrator at the 2004 opening of the Clinton Presidential Library and, more recently, the announcer at the 56th Presidential Inauguration ceremony for President Barack Obama. While a student at UT, Williams studied voice with former “Anthem Man” Professor George Bitzas and was winner of the freshmen men’s category of the Tennessee National Association of Teachers of Singing competition in 1994. See NAVY on Page 5
2 • THE DAILY BEACON
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 News Editor Hanna Lustig
CAMPUS NEWS STARGAZING continued from Page 1
As each child stepped up to the eyepiece, Lewis and Ferguson would ask the child’s name and start a conversation. Lewis, who closely resembles a certain resident of the North Pole, cracked jokes and asked the kids what they wanted to be when they grew up. In a previous article, Lewis emphasized the importance of making astronomy accessible and understandable to children. “If I had to say I was proudest of anything, it’s my ability to communicate with kids,” Lewis said. “The only evidence I really have for that is that we still have their attention at the end of the program.” Although he was first hired part-time to run the stargazing sessions, Lewis’ job now encompasses many more components. “I also give public lectures on space science and astronomy topics at venues all over East Tennessee, mostly elementary and middle schools, churches and civic organizations,” Lewis said. “I also regularly give presentations in local, state and national parks, including the Tennessee Spring Star Party each
spring at Fall Creek Falls State Park.” Lewis is also the planetarium director. The planetarium, added in May 2013, seats 32 people beneath a 20-foot dome where they can view the nighttime sky through a digital lens. “The planetarium offers us the capability of showing the sky for anytime from anywhere,” Lewis said. “It is a wonderfully immersive environment that promotes curiosity. “It is a remarkable teaching tool used for both lecture and lab.” The planetarium is especially useful given the amount of light pollution in Knoxville. “We do have a very lightpolluted sky here, but that does not stop us from ‘putting our best telescope forward,’” said Lewis. “The moon and planets are pretty easy targets, and there are a number of deep space objects such as nebulae and star clusters that we frequently observe.” April 15, Lewis said, will be an “especially interesting” day to have a look at the sky. That is the date of the next total lunar eclipse. To learn more about space science outreach at UTK, visit http://www. phys.utk.edu/trdc/.
hlustig@utk.edu
Assistant News Editor Emilee Lamb
elamb1@utk.edu
Hot date auction to benefit local literacy Jenna Butz Staff Writer
Ladies, get your money ready. Friends of Literacy will be hosting a Bachelor Auction on March 14 at the Holiday Inn at World’s Fair Park to raise money for literacy education in Knox County. The Friends of Literacy website declares the chosen bachelors have “put their boyish reservations aside for the good of a greater cause.” By auctioning off dates, the organization hopes to raise both awareness and funding. Bowman Townsend, UT alum and drummer for The
Black Lillies, was recruited for the auction through his manager. Prior to joining, Townsend had not heard of such an auction. Likewise, he said he had not realized the prevalence of this issue in East Tennessee. “It is not your typical fundraising event,” Townsend said, “so it catches people’s attention.” Cameron Lee, a graduate student in polymer chemistry, was referred by a friend who participated in the auction last year. Lee’s friends encouraged him to participate, saying he, at the very least, looks “good on paper.” “It’s a fun way to raise money for a charitable cause by turning the dating game
on its head, letting the women decide, all for a good cause that’s relevant in our community,” Lee said. “From what I’ve seen so far, there is a lot of interest by possible ‘buyers.’” While the Friends of Literacy website promises “Knoxville’s most good looking, well-versed, and multi-talented men,” Townsend admitted he believes he exhibits other attractive qualities. “For starters, the fact that I am single certainly helps,” Townsend said. “I also, through the help of The Black Lillies and our manager, have a really sweet date planned for anyone who enjoys live music.” The winner of Townsend’s date will receive a three-day
pass to this year’s Rhythm N’ Blooms festival. On Saturday, Townsend said he will take his date out for a “nice dinner” at a yet-to-be-determined location, and the pair will see one of the festival’s shows together. Townsend himself will perform with The Black Lillies on Sunday. If nothing else, Lee said he hopes his efforts will aid the cause. “I did not know it to be such a problem until I got involved with the auction, nor has anyone that I’ve mentioned it to,” Lee said. “The hope is that more widespread awareness will educate the general public and also help fund the program to adults who require literacy education.”
RootsRated puts ease on outdoor exploration Kevin Ridder Copy Editor Knoxville is right next to “the great outdoors.” But, even so, many are not sure precisely how to get there. Enter: RootsRated, a startup website dedicated to providing people with the best outdoor experiences. Founded in the summer of 2012 by Fynn Glover, RootsRated utilizes the knowledge of local specialty retail stores like Knoxville’s own River Sports Outfitters to curate the very best hikes, climbs, rides, trail runs, paddling routes and more. Jake Wheeler, a 2013 UT graduate in graphic design and the creative director at RootsRated, said he sees himself as a liaison between people and what they’d love to do outside. “We’re trying to solve a problem,” said Wheeler. “One of the hardest things to do, wherever you are, is to find somewhere to get outside. It might take tons of Yelp reviews and searching through Google, and by the end of that process you’re over-
CAMPAIGN continued from Page 1 “Our budget came almost entirely from donations from members of the campaign,” Dicker said. “This really made us take every step in spend-
whelmed and don’t even want to go outside anymore. “We’re really trying to harness the expertise of the outdoor industry in the most dead-simple way possible.” Beyond providing access to outdoor experiences, RootsRated also connects the user to the best local eateries. Presently, RootsRated is active in 55 U.S. cities, with 3,330 outdoor destinations curated by 518 local experts across the country. RootsRated is now in the process of acquiring brand sponsorship for each city. To date, the company has arranged sponsorships for 13 cities, including Knoxville. Chaco makes Knoxville’s guide to the outdoors possible. Unlike most review sites, RootsRated does not use crowdsourced reviews. “Specialty retailers such as River Sports are really the town centers for local outdoor knowledge,” said Wheeler. “We hire a writer and a photographer, who are introduced to the specialty retailer store. They talk with the representatives of the store, and are given insider info on all of
the best locales for outdoor recreation. The writer and photographer then spend a few months trying all of these experiences, writing about each one for the website.” This relationship is mutually beneficial. RootsRated gets content for their website; the outdoor shop gains visibility. Laura Jones, general manager at River Sports Outfitters, said her store’s work with RootsRated has boosted marketing and social media. “What’s really cool about RootsRated is that they are able to showcase a lot of different areas of Knoxville that a local would know about, but visitors who are coming to the Smokies or coming through Knoxville would not,” said Jones. “Then these people will bring their business to River Sports. If you were to go to a Knoxville tourism site, it would mention World’s Fair Park, the nature center, and how we’re 40 minutes from the Smokies. It wouldn’t mention the 40-mile trail running site, the climbing center, and the hundreds of miles of blueway within
Knoxville. “RootsRated gets down to the nitty-gritty, to the local level. That’s what it’s all about.” After creating the outdoor guides for RootsRated, the writer-photographer team maintains an ongoing blog about each city’s outdoor community. “After the team fleshes out the destinations for each city, they’ll write a continuing story about the location,” Wheeler said. “That way there’s a local writer on the ground. It’s very important to have that network of authenticity.” This April, the RootsRated team will also be releasing a “native app.” “Our mission can be summed up in three words: simple, local and useful,” said Wheeler. “I love being able to connect people to these experiences. When you’re in college, you have the ability to go out and experience the world on your own time. “Get outside and seize the day.” To find your own adventure, visit rootsrated.com
ing our money very seriously since 40-plus persons were invested – literally – in how that money was spent. “Almost everything budgetrelated was decided by a campaign-wide vote.” Cathey said he hopes to continue reducing the budget for campaigns in future elections and to eventually elimi-
nate non-monetary donations altogether. “Baker-Atchley ended up winning the top two positions without going overboard on expenditures or giveaways,” Cathey said. “That’s part of why it was voted in by the senate to put a cap on donations – there was not a perception this year that it was taking anything away from the candidates’ ability to get their voices out.” “It’s to each his own,” said John Keny, who briefly served as election commissioner until his sister, Kelsey, announced her candidacy. “When people set out to start a campaign, they decide on the vision early on. And you’ll see that again this year, I’m sure. You’ll see spending ranges from the bare minimum to the very maximum.” Kelsey Keny, junior in journalism and current presidential candidate running with Connor Dugash, said that while handouts on Pedestrian Walkway can be helpful conversation starters and useful tools for outreach, they won’t
be the focus of her campaign. “Quite frankly, I don’t think that a student government election is the place to go raise thousands of dollars when those dollars could be better spent somewhere else,” Kelsey Keny said. “I want to put attention and thought into my campaign instead of the dollars in my pocket.” New budgetary limitations will force the election commission to more closely monitor the three Campaign Value Reports that must be submitted throughout the election season. “It’s going to be a little more work for the election commission, but it’s definitely something we’re willing to do to ensure that everyone is held accountable and follows the rules,” John Keny said. “The biggest problems last year were making sure we get back and stay focused on the issues and that’s always been the case. “We want to keep focused on the issues not just for one week, but year-round.”
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
THE DAILY BEACON • 3 Arts & Culture Editor Claire Dodson
ARTS & CULTURE
pdodson@utk.edu
Assistant Arts & Culture Editor Cortney Roark
croark4@utk.edu
the U.K. was next. Simon Pegg narrated this 3D animated story about a witch that makes friends with some animals who eventu-
in a slew of hilarious mishaps, including a chicken catching two other chickens in the bedroom. This short was hilariously weird with slightly adult undertones that made it wonderful to watch, but a nomination was not deserved. The animation was good but not great, and the story shallow. The last short, narrated by George Takei, was the most jarring to the audiis a mixture of real life and ence. “The Missing Scarf,” CGI that leaves the viewer tells the story of a squirrel feeling that it was very real. asking his other woodland You find yourself rooting for that umbrella as it tries to find its true love. This was snubbed a nomination, as it mirrors the feelings of last year’s winner, “Paperman.” Next was a rather strange film. “A la Française,” from France, tells the story of the French Court, with one difference: They’re chickens. Set in Versailles, friends if they’ve seen it. the chickens dance, hunt, The squirrel is animated play croquet and just enjoy to look like origami, but each other’s company. his friends are all simple Eventually things go awry shapes and bright colors. As the squirrel asks around, he learns his friends each have their own problems with things like self acceptance and fears of failure. However, his final friend, the bear, turns out to be in an existential, nihilistic crisis that takes everyone by surprise. All in all, the shorts have solid competition this year, and the academy has a tough choice to make.
• Photo Courtesy of Eoin Duffy
• Photo Courtesy of Pixar
ally help her out of trouble. Each animal has varying reasons for asking if there’s “room on her broom,” all of which make her pet cat very upset. In the end, it’s a cute lesson on friendship, although it felt more like a storybook’s DVD accompaniment than a short film. Unfortunately, its animation and storyline are not good enough competition for this group. Next was “Possessions” from Japan, a tale of a man who takes refuge in an abandoned cabin while lost in the woods during a storm. The cabin is possessed, forcing the man to fix certain possessions before allowing him to leave. The animation is very similar to other Japanese animated works, with bold colors and solid lines. However, the difference in animation between the man and his surroundings was visually distracting, as was his constant gasps and breathing. The story followed a Japanese myth explained in the first credits of the short. It was cute, but didn’t necessarily deserve a nomination, especially compared to some of the honorable mentions. Honorable Mentions: The first Honorable Mention animated short was a crowd favorite, called “The Blue Umbrella.” Shown before “Monster’s University,” it’s a tale of two umbrellas’ love and how things that are meant to be will happen in the end. The song playing throughout this short is a lovely melody that beautifully accompanies the short, and the animation
• Photo Courtesy of Julien-Hazebroucq
The second short was entitled “Mr. Hublot” and was made in Luxembourg and France. The 3D animated short lacked any dialogue whatsoever, a touch that was rather nice; it being a foreign short without subtitles allowed for appreciation of the lovely animation. The short is about Mr. Hublot, a cyborg-like creature living in a very Steampunk world. Mr. Hublot has a rigid daily routine that is interrupted when he adopts a robot dog off the street. In the end, it’s a lovely tale about friendship and compromise that
will leave a smile on your face. Although this short may deserve the win, it will likely fall to Disney. Keeping with the theme of silent shorts, “Feral” from the U.S. is a beautifully animated silent tale of a young boy rescued from the wild by a man in the woods. The animation was stunningly hand-drawn with wispy lines and well-placed shadowing. The actual plot of the short is confusing, wrought with more metaphors than solid plot points. The animation definitely deserved the nomination but won’t be enough to secure a win, especially with such a confusing story. “Room on a Broom” from • Photo Courtesy of Daniel Sousa
The Oscars have always been one of the most important nights of the year for Hollywood, with all the big names dressing to the nines and winners floating to the stage in a mess of tears and drawn-out gratitudes. However, many of the categories get outshined by the likes of “Best Actor” or “Best Picture,” especially the nominated short films. This makes predicting winners very difficult for viewers at home. Luckily, Regal Cinemas Downtown West Cinema 8 is now showing the collection of nominated animated short films, including a few honorable mentions, with a giraffe and ostrich introducing each film. The giraffe and ostrich were interesting hosts, using puns about certain animated characters to drive their humor. However, some of the humor got dark rather quickly when the giraffe made a joke about Thumper from Disney’s “Bambi” having Parkinson’s disease. Despite some poor taste, the hosts were adequate and moved the shorts along nicely. The Nominated films: The first film shown was “Get a Horse!,” made by Disney in the U.S. The short, which was shown before Disney’s “Frozen,” tells the tale of Mickey and his friends dealing with the ever-pesky Peg-leg Pete. However, the classic tale has a new twist, utilizing characters ripping through a movie screen to be 3D ani-
mated in the “real world.” Typical comedic hilarity ensued, complete with cartoon violence and Mickey saving the day. The best part of the short was that they used Walt Disney’s original voice acting for Mickey, an impressive feat of nostalgia. This short is a likely winner due to the little Mickey touch and Disney’s relevance as of late, with movies like “Frozen” and “Saving Mr. Banks” creating buzz. • Photo Courtesy of Disney
Jordan Achs Copy Editor
• Photo Courtesy of Laurent Witz
Stakes high between 2014’s Oscar-nominated shorts
4 • THE DAILY BEACON
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
OPINIONS An open letter to my future (unbridled) self Guest Column by
Hayley Brundige
This is an open letter of equal parts reverence and bewilderment to a few people I have recently encountered. To the girl in my literature class last semester who did not hesitate to raise her hand and raise her voice: you scare me. You sat in the front of the classroom. I sat in the back. We both had opinions, but only you expressed them loudly and cleverly. Full disclosure: I rolled my eyes at you at least once a day. With my high school definition of “coolness” deeply ingrained, I confided to the person next to me that I hadn’t even done the reading the night before and had instead gone on a Netflix binge of “Parks and Rec,” looking for confirmation of my laziness. You could probably take my notions of “cool” and write a thousand-page dissertation. You say out loud what I keep inside for fear of being wrong. You are wrong – frequently. But your wrong answers are declared just as confidently as your right ones. I wanted you to be quieter, less sure of yourself. But I also wanted to be you. I wanted to be able to speak fluidly about the dystopian society in Franz Kafka’s “The Trial” or the Transcendental Idealism of Immanuel Kant. To the man who occupies the front pew every Sunday, come rain or shine: your faith unnerves me. You sing with all of your voice and raise your hands when the feeling compels you – and during each service, the feeling unfailingly does. If I started to raise my hands, I’d feel too vulnerable, too conscious of the eyes of those around me. I often glance over at you, my half-open lips only singing “hallelujah” softly. You sing like there’s really someone to sing to. You feel some deep connection to a God I only know from the pages of a holy book. You have something I don’t. You know something I wish I did. To my outlandishly theatrical friend: I cringe when you scream “Singing in the Rain” at the top of your lungs in the street, but I wish I could shed the inhibitions that hold me back from doing the same. To the buff guy on the treadmill next to me: your massive containers of whey protein powder make me scoff, but you out-run me every morning by at least a mile. To you dreamers, weirdos and loose cannons: teach me how to let go. Teach me to stop cringing and scoffing and hiding behind my preconceived notions of what is socially acceptable. Those who don’t look over their shoulder to see what people think are those living honestly. I want to be bold. I don’t want to settle for unfulfilled silence and let personal inhibitions control the person I become. What that guy in the gym and that man in church have that I don’t is the courage to misstep and fail. I fear sounding wrong, looking silly and being judged by the societal jury I’ve imagined in my head. But by never speaking up, I’ll never learn what my voice sounds like. It’s better to make one girl in the back of your literature class uncomfortable than to forgo expressing yourself fully. It’s better to raise your hands and believe in something than to dwell in silent hope. In the end, this has become a letter to myself. To my future, uninhibited self: don’t look around. The next time your favorite song comes on, dance and make sure someone is watching. Be the “know-it-all.” Be the weirdo. Hayley Brundige is a freshman in political science. She can be reached at hbrundig@utk.edu.
Editor-in-Chief R.J. Vogt
rvogt@utk.edu
Contact us letters@utk.edu
Letters Editorial Note: The Daily Beacon offices received this anonymous letter by mail Tuesday, and the editorial staff elected to publish it. This decision is a break from our typical policy, which requires a byline in all letters to the editor. The gravity, relevance and justification for anonymity that this letter offers factored heavily into our decision to run it, especially
Editor-in-Chief: R.J. Vogt Managing Editor: Melodi Erdogan Chief Copy Editor: Gage Arnold News Editor: Hanna Lustig Asst. News Editor: Emilee Lamb Sports Editor: Troy Provost-Heron Asst. Sports Editor: Dargan Southard Arts & Culture Editor: Claire Dodson Asst. Arts & Culture Editor: Cortney Roark Online Editor: Samantha Smoak
Editor
considering the current controversy surrounding Sex Week. And though we admit that the letter could be fabricated, as there is not enough information to confirm its contents, we maintain that the consequences described are real consequences, ones that we think students should be more directly aware of. Be it fact or fiction, the letter accurately details the ramifications of conduct common on our cam-
pus and college campuses across the country. Whether this man really experienced these events is up to you, the reader, to decide for yourself. But the letter’s depiction of the repercussions of unprotected sex is truthful, and the editorial staff of the Daily Beacon believes that the letter’s underlying message is vitally important to the college community that we serve.
A resolution condemning certain leaders In response to House Joint Resolution 661, which condemns the organizers of Sex Week: A RESOLUTION condemning certain leaders within Tennessee’s General Assembly for representing the residents of Tennessee in an ineffective manner; WHEREAS, the students of this public institution are most distressed by the Tennessee State Legislature once again for wasting time and therefore tax dollars on useless resolutions; WHEREAS, zero tax dollars are used to fund a week’s worth of sexual education – in a state with the 10th highest teen pregnancy rate – and programs promoting sexual openness and acceptance; WHEREAS, Tennessee lawmakers have no authority over the allocation of student fees no matter how loud they whine; WHEREAS, Tennessee has the ninth highest unemployment rate in the nation, yet these lawmakers are spending their constituents’ time and money on outrageous fringe bills – the sole purpose being to prove they stand far enough to the right; WHEREAS, we can look to exhibit A, SB1425, Sen. Stacey Campfield’s “Merry
Christmas” bill coming up in the House Education Committee this week, allowing civic institutions to display religious memorabilia during the winter season; WHEREAS, we can look to exhibit B, SB2566, allowing businesses to refuse to sell goods or services to people who are “related to the celebration of any civil union, domestic partnership, or marriage not recognized by the state;” WHEREAS, we can look to exhibit C, House Joint Resolution 642, a resolution urging conservative talking-head Sean Hannity to move to the state of Tennessee; WHEREAS, we can look to exhibit D, HB716, the “guns-in-parking-lots” bill spearheaded by Senate lawmakers, allowing gun owners to keep their firearms in their vehicles at all times – on both private and public property; WHEREAS, we can look to exhibit E, SB49, Sen. Stacey Campfield’s proposal for the discussion of any sexual behavior that is not heterosexual in nature being rendered illegal in public schools; WHEREAS, we can look to exhibit F, SB0132, Sen. Stacey Campfield’s proposal which would cut welfare benefits by 30 per-
cent to parents of children who fail a grade in school; WHEREAS, we can look to exhibit G, HB1129, a bill requiring school districts to teach only curriculum that stresses the positive difference the United States has made in the world; BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RESIDENTS OF THE GREAT STATE OF TENNESSEE that we shall hereby condemn certain members of the legislature for failing to promote the well-being of Tennesseans by straying from legislation concerning jobs, health care and education, to instead propose petty and ideologically-charged bills. It is evident that the General Assembly continues to spark up issues that are inherently polarizing and pointless, and the state of Tennessee deserves good, genuine representation. Tennesseans are not being truly represented by the leaders in Nashville, whose actions keep this state abuzz in the satirical news cycles. The state of Tennessee deserves more than what it is getting from its legislature. Suzanne Lamb is a senior in philosophy. She can be reached at suzanne@utk.edu.
Get Fuzzy • Darby Conley
Non Sequitur • Wiley
EDITORIAL
to the
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Wednesday, February 26, 2014
THE DAILY BEACON • 5 Arts & Culture Editor Claire Dodson
ARTS & CULTURE In the Feb. 19 issue of The Daily Beacon, the front page article headlined “Unusual classes allow students to dance, drink, be merry� incorrectly cited the class “history and culture of food� as FDST 150 in the course catalog. The class is actually HIST 261, world civilizations to 1500, in the course catalog.
croark4@utk.edu
Beck’s ‘Morning Phase’ paints somber, melancholy narrative Hannah Moulton
• Photo Courtesy of Beck
Beacon Correction
pdodson@utk.edu
Assistant Arts & Culture Editor Cortney Roark
Contributor
BYRON JANIS continued from Page 1 Having not visited Knoxville in the last 30 years, Janis, a New York resident, voiced his approval of the city upon his Thursday afternoon arrival. “I am very impressed with Knoxville,� Janis said. “It’s really grown and I feel in the air something about it I didn’t before; somehow, its more cosmopolitan. It’s really wonderful.� Janis expressed his wonder at having reached his current age and at all of the tribulations and awe-inspiring moments that have comprised his 85 years. “Sometimes, I shake my head,� he said. “Sometimes I feel 85, sometimes I feel about 20.� Beyond a showing of the film “The Byron Janis Story,� a discussion of his 2010 memoir, and a tribute to Chopin, Janis will be additionally lecturing on subjects relevant to his life’s history, like the healing power of music. In 1984,
US NAVY continued from Page 1 In addition to their extensive concert schedule, the U.S. Navy Band is also dedicated to music education and the betterment of young musicians. “The Music in the Schools program features band members presenting clinics, master classes and recitals at local schools,� according to the U.S. Navy website. Even though they are recognized as one of the finest wind ensembles in the world, the band often per-
at a State Dinner at the White House by invitation of President Reagan, Janis first publicly revealed he had been suffering severe arthritis throughout much of his illustrious career. “It started in 1973 in one finger, and then it gradually spread to all my fingers and wrists,� Janis said. “The doctor said, ‘Well, I can treat them, but you won’t be able to play.’� Janis, who has since dedicated much philanthropic effort to the assistance of others suffering early onset arthritis, said he believes will power helped him overcome physical obstacles in order to continue his passion for the piano. “I believe in mind over matter,� he said. “It works a lot more than most people realize.� Byron Janis’ wife of nearly 48 years, Maria, said she is in “untold admiration� of her husband’s persistence. “I’ve seen the struggle and I’ve seen all the work and the discipline, given the health issues my husband has had to face,� she said.
“He’s never given up and has always had this sort of torpedo, full-speed-ahead kind of an attitude because of his own passion and love of music. “He’s let nothing stand in his way.� Maria Janis will also be presenting a lecture, “Reflections on Life With Creative Artists,� a subject she has much experience in, with actor Gary Cooper being her father. A painter herself, she voices veneration at her husband’s dedication to his craft. “His favorite expression is ‘passion and perseverance,’� she said. “I think his life exemplifies that.� Byron Janis, his voice full of memory and assurance, admitted he believes his passion has been wellplaced. “At this point, I say whatever happens to me now, it’s OK,� he said, “because I’ve lived a fantastic life.� For a full schedule of Byron Janis’ birthday celebrations, visit the School of Music’s website, http:// www.music.utk.edu/janis/.
forms for local high schools and civic auditoriums in addition to their concerts at Carnegie Hall and The White House. “When I was younger, I used to love seeing the Navy Band play in Washington, D.C.,� said Jessie Anne Compton, junior in vocal education. The U.S. Navy Band has performed at 21 presidential inaugurations, shared stages with popular recording artists such as Vince Gill and Tony Curtis, and participated in the 300th Anniversary of the Russian Fleet in St. Petersburg, Russia.
“The United States Navy Band, nationally and internationally, stands for musical and military excellence,� according to the U.S. Navy website. The concert is free and open to the public, but tickets are required for entry. Currently, all free tickets have been distributed. However, at 6:45 p.m., any unused seats will be made available to patrons who do not have a ticket. For more information on the U.S. Navy Concert Band and all other U.S. Navy musical ensembles, visit their website at www.navyband.navy.mil.
Beck, an American legend and singer-songwriter, has returned with yet another somber folk-rock album. “Morning Phase� is the latest album from Beck since 2008, when he released “Modern Guilt.� The newest addition to the artist’s discography bears a resemblance to his 2002 album, “Sea Change.� If you listened to both these albums back-to-back, you would swear they were identical. This comes as no surprise, as many of the musicians who played on “Sea Change� are back for “Morning Phase.� Despite the similar sound, the inspirations for the two albums seem to differ. “Sea Change� was Beck’s signature breakup album, which would explain the heartbroken, angst-ridden tone. The only explanation for the somber, slightly emotional sound in “Morning Phase� is that it was presumably caused by the spinal injury Beck suffered a few years back. The injury was so severe that Beck was unable to perform or record for several years. This gave him the opportunity to cultivate his music and develop “Morning Phase.� The comparison to “Sea Change� seems to work in favor of the new album, bringing back that folksy, acoustic sound and somehow managing to give it a new soul. The tracks on “Phase� are at times a little too slow, but Beck somehow manages to make his voice match the beats perfectly. The first track, “Cycle,� is a 40-second instrumental which
Singer-songwriter Beck released his latest album, “Morning Phase� on Monday. sounds like the opening to a melancholy symphony piece. “Morning,� the album’s first full track, sets the pace for the rest of the album. The next few tracks blend with each other; the ends feed into the beginnings to create one long folk ballad. It’s not until “Blue Moon� that the beat quickens a little and has a more upbeat rhythm. The slightly speedier tempo is short-lived as the next track, “Unforgiven,� returns to that slow, melancholy beat. Beck’s voice drones on while an almost sci-fi sounding tune plays in the background. “Wave� has the same orchestral sound as “Cycle.� Beck’s voice sounds eerie when paired with the musical score. “Waking Light� is the perfect end to the album, with a booming piano ballad and gentle lyrics. Throughout “Morning Phase,� it seems as if
Beck is just going with the flow of the songs in terms of singing. He’s not forcing lyrics or commanding that his voice be the centerpiece of the song. The lyrics Beck composed during his recovery seem to be more optimistic than his 2002 album. They are less hopeless and more hopeful. The lyrics, however, come second in terms of importance. It seems Beck intended for the audience to pay no mind to the lyrics of the songs, but to the instrumentals accompanied with them. The flowing sounds of the guitars, the pulsing beats of the drums and the symphonic melodies steal the album. “Morning Phase� has a very mellow tone. The songs aren’t asking much from their listeners, nor are they confessing much. The tone of the album and the atmosphere it creates is all that is needed.
NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD • Will Shortz
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6 • THE DAILY BEACON
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 Sports Editor Troy Provost-Heron
SPORTS
tprovost@utk.edu
Assistant Sports Editor Dargan Southard
msoutha1@utk.edu
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Matthew DeMaria • The Daily Beacon
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Vols hit crunch time to curb losing skid against Bulldogs Steven Cook Copy Editor
passes, so he’s a really important piece to their team.” Vols downplay negative buzz This season hasn’t exactly gone as planned for the Vols, and it has created a firestorm of talk and speculation from fans about a potential coaching change. An online petition promoting the firing of Martin and re-hiring of former UT coach Bruce Pearl has quickly gained steam, amassing more than 24,000 signatures as of Tuesday night. UT senior guard Jordan McRae is among the Vols who find it as an excuse to distance themselves from social media. “It’s best for all of us to stay off Twitter, Instagram, things like that,” McRae said. “(We) just try to stay away from all that stuff.” Richardson also downplayed the effect of the rumors and outside chatter on the program. “We don’t really pay it any mind,” Richardson said, “we just worry about our next game. We are just worried about what is in our gym and not what’s going on out in the media or in the public or anything.” Richardson couldn’t speak for his teammates, saying it’s a topic that has never before been talked about between the players — yet another indication that it isn’t weighing large on the Vols’ minds. “I mean, you just have to know where your head is at,” Richardson said. “I don’t know about the other guys, we’ve never talked about it or anything, but I know for me it’s easy to not pay attention to it. “(We’ve) just (got to) know what’s important.” Janie Prathammavong • The Daily Beacon
At least Tennessee has been here before. The Vols basketball team, losers of three of their last four, will go on the road to face Mississippi State Wednesday night for an 8 p.m. tip with pressure of a fleeting NCAA Tournament bid mounting. Just like in his first two years, head coach Cuonzo Martin and the Vols (16-11, 7-7 SEC) will head down the home stretch of the season needing their best days to be ahead in order to secure a spot in the Big Dance. “We’ve done the same thing for two years,” UT guard Josh Richardson said, “and the last two years, we haven’t really played up to our potential at the end. But (this season) we can make the most of it.” The Vols have needed lateseason win streaks to formulate a decent postseason resume in those previous two seasons. This year, however, they have failed to win more than two straight in SEC play. With an experience-laden roster who has been in a very similar position at this time of year, Richardson said the Vols aren’t sweating it this time around. “We’ve just been there the last two years, so it’s nothing new now,” Richardson said. “We just have to keep playing hard and we hope it will all come together.” As the Vols stand at a crossroads with four games left, failing to win out could spell doom for Martin’s squad. That’s especially so against the Bulldogs (13-14, 3-11), who rank a lowly 212th
in RPI. Martin has come off impressed by Mississippi State’s play despite their unfavorable record and a short rotation. “I think Rick (Ray) is doing a great job with his guys,” Martin said, “probably limiting his numbers. I think they might play seven, sometimes eight guys, but they compete always in games. We have to be locked in, ready to go.” Richardson and his fellow teammates have been breaking down tape on the Bulldogs, and agreed it would be a dogfight just like most other conference matchups. “They have a lot of quick guards, and they are a really scrappy team,” Richardson said. “They play really hard every night. “It’s not going to be an easy game. It’s going to be a tough game — just like every other one.” Sword-of a big deal Mississippi State started its SEC slate off 3-2 but has since lost 11 straight. However, that hasn’t been without a steady contribution from sophomore guard Craig Sword. The Bulldogs’ leading scorer averages 13.5 points per game, including 33 points last Wednesday in a loss to LSU. The Vols’ defensive stopper, who is likely to matchup against Sword for much of Wednesday’s game, has taken notice. “Craig Sword, (he’s) probably one of the best sophomores in the SEC,” Richardson said. “He does so much more than score the ball. He defends, rebounds and
Tennessee junior guard Josh Richardson, right, drives through the lane in the Vols’ 67-48 win over Georgia at Thompson-Boling Arena on Feb. 18.
Senior guard Meighan Simmons crosses over Kentucky’s Janee Thompson in the Lady Vols’ 75-71 loss against the Wildcats at Thompson-Boling Arena on Feb. 16.
Lady Vols still vying for SEC regular season title Troy Provost-Heron Sports Editor When the Tennessee Lady Volunteers take to the court on Thursday in Baton Rouge, La., they may have something more to play for than just their 23rd victory of the season. With a 9 p.m. tip against the LSU Lady Tigers, the No. 10 Lady Vols’ hopes of a SEC regular season title will hang in the balance as the No. 4 South Carolina Gamecocks square off against the Georgia Bulldogs. A Gamecock loss would open up the possibility for Tennessee to face off against the current leaders in the SEC – USC has already claimed a share of the regular season title – with an opportunity to share the conference crown. With so much on the line, the Lady Vols will surely be watching closely as that contest concludes. Or will they? “It really doesn’t matter to me if we find out or not,” said senior guard Meighan Simmons about finding out the result of the USCUGA game. “Let the best team win and we will see what happens from then on.” It was only 10 days ago that the Lady Vols controlled their own destiny in the SEC, but a crippling loss at the hands of the Kentucky Wildcats derailed that path. Head coach Holly Warlick said that loss to their bordering rival showed a new side of this team she hadn’t seen before. “I do (think the girls took that one especially hard),” Warlick said. “I think the meaning behind it – with us staying in track with South Carolina and playing on our home court and having a huge crowd – all came into play. They took it very hard and that’s OK. That shows me that they care and that it means something to them.” But with everything riding on
the game prior to theirs, the Lady Vols are more focused on LSU, a team that defeated them back on Jan. 2 inside ThompsonBoling Arena. “We had a chance to control our own destiny and we lost, so our fate is kind of in Georgia’s hands,” Warlick said. “Would I love Georgia to beat them? Absolutely, but it’s not even a contest if we don’t take care of LSU ... so that’s what our focus has been on.” Hot off the press In their previous matchup with the Lady Tigers, Tennessee found itself down 16 points with 4:37 remaining in the game when Warlick decided to change things up. With nothing else working, the second-year head coach turned to the full-court press on defense – a move that almost won UT the ballgame. The Lady Vols recorded five steals in those final four minutes and cut the lead down to three with one final possession, but redshirt freshman Andraya Carter’s game-tying 3-point attempt rimmed out. With the press being such a success against LSU, Warlick said the Lady Vols may use the defense as more than just a desperation scheme – if there current minutes situation allows it. “I think we’ll probably press them a little bit more,” Warlick said. “I thought we did a great job at Missouri off pressing and slowing them down, so I think we are going to use our press when need be. “We are going to have to be very mindful because if Jordan (Reynolds) doesn’t play we are going to have to make sure that we watch our minutes and use our timeouts very wisely.” For Carter, there is another takeaway from the end of that game she believes the team would benefit more from. “Even more so than the press, we need to come out with that
sense of urgency,” Carter said. “No matter what defensive scheme we try to do, I think that sense of urgency and energy that we had when we went to the press in the final minutes of that game is what we are going to focus on more. “Having that attitude, that energy and that heart. That’s what we want.” Hampering Harrison While Isabelle Harrison is currently in the midst of a career year – averaging a career-high in points and rebounds per game, as well as a career-high in field goal percentage – one thing has limited even further production from the junior center: foul trouble. In the Lady Vols’ last contest against the Missouri Tigers, Harrison played only 18 minutes and didn’t make a field goal due in large part to battling foul trouble. The reduced playing time, however, did not affect the Nashville, Tenn., native in terms of her dominance on the boards as she still managed to corral 10 rebounds. Harrison’s ability to stay on the floor could be the difference maker in the Lady Vols’ ability to stay alive in the SEC regular season title race. “Izzy is one of our leaders on the team, especially in the post area,” Simmons said. “I think with her being in foul trouble, it kind of slows the game down. Izzy brings that extra oomph, she gets a lot of rebounds, she has great communication – she’s always talking out there on the floor – and we really need her to be out there on the floor. “Thursday there are going to be some lessons that she learns, there are going to be some things that she will do in practice that are going to help her get her confidence back up and be a lot smarter, so I think she’s going to do a pretty good job in the next game.”