Wednesday, March 9, 2022

Volume 141, Issue 7 Wednesday, March 9, 2022

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THE FUTURE OF UT

Campus boundary to extend south across river

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CAMPUS NEWS

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, March 9, 2022

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Plans advance for pedestrian bridge across Tennessee River DANIEL DASSOW Campus Editor

The Tennessee River has long been viewed as the immovable southern boundary of UT’s campus. But on Feb. 25, the board of trustees approved the expansion of the campus boundary to include a narrow parcel of land on the south shore of the river along Scottish Pike and W. Blount Avenue.

Campus planners, partnering with the city of Knoxville and Knox County, have proposed construction of a pedestrian-bicycle bridge which would connect the area along the South Waterfront to the rest of campus. The plan is in its earliest stages, and UT has yet to acquire the tract of land added to the official campus boundary.

Representatives from UT, the City of Knoxville and Knox County said the three were working in tandem to move forward with funding on the bridge project, which is projected to cost between $50 and $55 million.

The idea for the bridge, which would extend from near Thompson-Boling Arena to the South Knoxville Waterfront, first appeared in the city’s 2006 South Waterfront Vision Plan. This plan was halted by lack of funding, including a failed attempt to secure federal funding in 2015.

The project, if fully completed, would connect an 18-mile downtown greenway with the pedestrian-bicycle bridge and the Knoxville Urban Wilderness, a system of over 50 miles of trails and scenery in South Knoxville.

Since 2006, the South Waterfront area has seen $61 million of public improvement, as well as millions more in private investment. According to city officials, the renewed energy for the bridge proposal is tied to momentum for developing the South Waterfront and connecting it with UT and downtown Knoxville, as well as the increased availability of federal infrastructure funding under the Biden administration.

From the latest board of trustees meeting, however, it was clear that the central reasons for moving forward with the bridge proposal were the growing number of students at UT and the limited room to build within the campus boundary.

The agenda for the meeting stated that the 2016 Master Plan Update for UT “recognized the university’s long-range building needs exceed both its currently owned property and that which could be acquired within the existing campus boundary.”

UT accepted the largest freshman class on record in fall 2021, reaching almost 6,000 new students. Applications for fall 2022 increased by over 30% from last year, and the enrollment management team projects the incoming freshman class could rise to between 6,200 and 6,300 students.

The advance of plans for a pedestrian-bicycle bridge to expand campus coincides with a housing crisis for students who live on campus after their first year, when all students are required to

Photos courtesy of the City of Knoxville, Lawrie and Associates, CRJA, Wilbur Smith Associates, S&ME and Sanders Pace Architecture live in residence halls.

Enrollment management projected a 50% decrease in on-campus housing for students who stay on campus after freshman year. Fewer than 1,000 continuing students will be able to live on campus in fall 2022, down from the historical average of around 2,300 continuing students.

In response to a lack of on-campus housing, UT created a lottery system for fall 2022 housing selection that would prioritize incoming freshman and push upperclassmen off campus.

At the Feb. 25 meeting, the board of trustees also approved the amending of the UT master plan for the construction of two new residence halls, which the university plans to build on the west side of campus near Magnolia and Dogwood residence halls and the Terrace Avenue parking garage.

Though the South Waterfront property is not the site of any proposed residence halls or parking areas, the proposal for the campus extension made clear that the area represented a “unique opportunity” to address increasing housing and parking needs in the future.

Plans for the bridge have received new momentum in part because of a university agenda that has prioritized growth.

At the 2022 State of the University Address, two days before the board of trustees approved two new residence halls and the expansion of campus boundaries, UT President Randy Boyd and UT

chancellors touted the growth of the system and the expansion of educational opportunities.

“Without a doubt, this is a strong second year to the greatest decade in the history of the University of Tennessee,” Boyd said.

Tyra Haag, director of news and information at UT, said that, although proposals for a bridge have been around since 2006, the board of trustees meeting represented the first step of the early planning stages.

“We are grateful to have alignment with city and state leaders, but we are in the early stages of exploratory discussion and planning,” Haag said.

“Going to the board of trustees last week was a first step in planning. As part of the early discussions, both President Boyd and Chancellor Plowman’s chief of staff met with Governor Lee and members of the Knox County delegation earlier this week.”

The South Waterfront tract included in the campus boundary is currently home to underutilized or vacant industrial and commercial property, according to campus reports.

Representatives from UT, the City of Knoxville and Knox County said “substantial work” had been done since 2009 to prepare the bridge location for future construction and to secure approval from various agencies. The bridge will need to meet clearance requirements for the river’s barge channel and for Neyland Drive.

CAMPUS NEWS

Wednesday, March 9, 2022 • The Daily Beacon

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‘Blood At The Root’ brings Black history close with exquisite student performances AUTUMN HALL Staff Writer

On March 4, UT’s Clarence Brown Theater opened its newest show, “Blood At The Root.”

Written by playwright Dominique Morisseau in 2017, the play is based on the true story of the Jena 6, a group of Black teenagers in Jena, Louisiana, who decided to sit under a tree where white children usually sat. To their surprise, when they returned to the tree that afternoon, they found that three nooses had been hung from it.

The white students responsible faced only three days of in-school suspension as a result. Many Black students protested this unfair punishment, and even attempted to address the school board, but to no avail.

These racial tensions resulted in a physical altercation between Black and white students.

A white student named Justin Barker was injured in the fight, and in 2006 six Black teenagers were convicted in his beating, which was ultimately upgraded to an attempted murder charge.

Morisseau has written a myriad of acclaimed plays, such as “Skeleton Crew,” “Pipeline,” “Detroit ‘67” and “Paradise Blue.”

The play consisted of a student-filled cast, including Guthrie Butler, Neveah Daniel, Jas-

mine R. Handy, Peter Mayer Klepchick, Abigail McCarter, Bethany Moon, LoRen Seagrave and Alan Toney.

This was an incredibly eye-opening contrast from the shows normally performed at the Clarence Brown Theater, as it exhibited a true retelling of race relations within the United States and the adversity that Black individuals face at the hands of the legal system.

Not only was “Blood At The Root” an exquisite display of artistic expression from the student actors, but it was also an important depiction of Black culture. Its retelling of a crucial story in recent Black history is important in showing that discrimination is not only a thing of the past. Whether implicit or explicit, it is still prevalent in our society.

The actors, dressed in trending clothes of the early 2000s, created a scene of seemingly normal high school life at Jena. This appearance made the story even more surprising by further representing that the story was not from long ago in Black history, and internalized racism still remains prominent in our society.

Handy, who played the leading role of Raylynn in the show, played an exquisite role in her portrayal of Black pride and power, as well as her drive to overcome the long standing habits of her high school.

It is important to experience shows such as “Blood At The Root,” as they provide an inside view of the experiences that Black people have

Cast from the March 2022 Clarence Brown Theatre production of “Blood at the Root,” a play by Dominique Morisseau based on the Jena 6. Courtesy of Ella Marston

faced. These issues can be difficult to comprehend on paper or through stories, but actually being able to watch them play out can help to provide a more easily understandable perspective of the situation.

Not only did the show strongly depict racial relations in the United States, but it also represented the lack of belonging that people of color often feel. Although the tree on school grounds was not legally whites only, it was seen as such, and people of color often felt left out because of their skin color.

Toney’s powerful monologues depicted his inability to fit in with either Black or white students, which revealed the societal expectations of race relations, and how this can be extremely detrimental to someone’s sense of belonging.

“Blood At The Root” expresses that this does not have to be the case and that everyone deserves a seat at the table.

The student actors of “Blood At The Root” did a wonderful job of making the passions of this story come to life on stage.

With equal expression of hilariously raunchy teenage humor, passionate monologues and songs concerning both race and sexuality, this play made for the perfect representation of internalized racism and homosexuality within the Southeastern United States.

The show will run through March 13, with eight available show dates and times. Tickets can be purchased on the Clarence Brown Theater’s website.

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CAMPUS NEWS

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, March 9, 2022

UT professors lead international Holocaust journal, bring scholarship to classroom ABBY ANN RAMSEY Staff Writer

At the beginning of the year, the McMinn County school board removed the graphic novel “Maus” by Art Spiegelman from the county curriculum. This event, along with the increase in disagreements about teaching critical race theory in schools, have sparked conversations on how schools should present difficult history.

While there are increased debates on how events like the Holocaust and the Civil Rights Movement are taught, there is still a plethora of research being done on these events. The Holocaust and Genocide Studies international journal is at the forefront of academic research on the Holocaust and other genocides.

It may be surprising to learn that the coeditors of Holocaust and Genocide Studies, run by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C. and published by Oxford University Press, are both UT faculty who are editing scholarship on genocide in a tumultuous time in America.

Helene Sinnreich, associate head and associate professor of religious studies and the Director of the Fern and Manfred Steinfeld Program in Judaic Studies and Daniel Magilow, associate professor of German in the department of Modern Foreign Languages and Literatures, have served as co-editors of Holocaust and Genocide Studies since late 2020.

Sinnreich and Magilow’s job includes reviewing articles after they are first checked by an editorial team who makes minor revisions such as formatting and grammar.

The Holocaust is as relevevant today as it has been, even as the first-hand witnesses are dying off.

DANIEL MAGILOW ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF GERMAN

After that, the duo decides if the research is appropriate for the journal and they contact people in academia who they know are familiar with the subject to analyze the work and report if it needs major or minor revisions or if it is not acceptable.

Their job as co-editors is part of a five-year contract, and they have been fulfilling it for just over a year. But this is not the first time the two of them have edited a prominent academic

The Wall of Remembrance in the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in D.C. Courtesy of Creative Commons journal together.

In 2006, Sinnreich decided to create her own academic journal entitled the Journal of Jewish Identities. Early in the process, she thought to seek help from someone she had met years earlier through academic circles.

Due to their overlapping research interests, Sinnreich asked Magilow to serve as the managing editor of the Journal of Jewish Identities.

The two worked together for 15 years on the journal. After a while, however, they mutually decided it was time to take a step back.

“We had decided that we had really brought the journal as far as it could go, and it was ready for new leadership, new directions, new ideas and so we … retired from the journal thinking that it was time to move onto something else, make space in our lives for other things,” Sinnreich said.

Eager to transition out of the roles, Sinnreich noticed an opportunity. She saw that Holocaust and Genocide Studies was on the search for new editors of the publication. Even though she and Magilow had barely gotten a break from their work on Jewish Identities, they decided to apply.

“I guess I really called Dan and I said, ‘you’re going to think I’m crazy’ because … we had to give like three years’ notice that we were stepping down from the journal. We found new leadership and we were finally free,” Sinnreich said.

The previous academic journal they led focused on a more niche topic than large journals like PLOS One and the Journal of Popular Culture. Their next move, however, has allowed them to narrow down their work even more.

“We were both ready to do other things. I

mean, you work on a journal for 15 years and it’s a very rewarding experience, and it was about Jewish identities more broadly whereas Holocaust and Genocide Studies as a journal is more specific, it’s closer to our research areas,” Magilow said.

The specificity of the field of study allows more room for in-depth research in the journal. For Sinnreich and Magilow, the journal is vital to producing scholarship, preserving history and informing the public.

Magilow said that studying the Holocaust is crucial because genocide is an ongoing phenomenon and because people in the United States have trivialized the Holocaust in the past few years with false equivalencies.

He specifically named the example of antivaccine advocates trying to make a comparison between public health mandates and an event that killed over six million Jewish people.

“The Holocaust is as relevant today as it has ever been, even as the first-hand witnesses are dying off,” Magilow said. “It’s not just an academic exercise, it’s something that we hope will be relevant and meaningful.”

Magilow and Sinnreich dedicate a significant amount of time to their work not just on the journal, but in every aspect of their jobs at UT. “Students know professors through teaching, obviously that’s our main point of interaction with students, but that’s about half of the work we do,” Magilow said.

Although they have a lot on their plates, the role of co-editors actually assists them in other aspects because their work with journal articles does not stop after publication. Sinnreich said her role helps her contribute significantly to

academia.

“I consider it to be part of my scholarly portfolio and part of really shaping a field,” Sinnreich said.

Both of them use their position as editors to improve all other spheres of their work as well. They bring the knowledge they take from their shared editorship to the classroom where scholarly research is crucial to students’ learning.

“I take it right into my classroom. I’m not only an active scholar, like I’ve always brought my own research into the classroom, but I’m literally reading the most cutting-edge scholarship the moment someone basically completes their thought and sends it to the journal,” Sinnreich said.

After all, Magilow believes their fairly new positions are what professorship and learning is all about.

“That’s the whole idea of a research university is that your scholarship informs your teaching and your teaching informs questions for your scholarship,” Magilow said.

I consider it to be part of my scholarly portfolio and part of really shaping a field.

HELENE SINNREICH ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, RELIGIOUS STUDIES

CAMPUS NEWS

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, March 9, 2022

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UTK Veganteers club offers space for vegan, vegetarian students to connect OLIVIA HAYES Staff Writer

For students interested in starting sustainable eating, trying new recipes or meeting unfamiliar faces, look no further than the UTK Veganteers club.

Created as a way for vegan and vegetarian students to meet each other and interact, the Veganteers club was founded by sophomore Brice Florey.

“Our primary goal is to provide a space for people to enjoy and engage with veg stuff — vegetarian, vegan and meat-eating students alike,” Florey said.

Florey serves as the club’s president, along with vice presidents Blake Wells and Thomas Witcher, graphic designer Lynn Chau and general coordinator Madison Hoskins.

While it is a fairly new club, the idea for a vegan social club has been in the works since December of 2020. Florey, Wells and Witcher got plans rolling with help from advisor Michael McKinney, a professor of environmental science and urban ecology in the department of Earth and planetary sciences. The club held their first ever meeting in August of the fall 2021 semester.

Meetings take place every Wednesday from 5-6:30 p.m. in HSS 219. Each meeting consists of warm conversation, free food and games like Jackbox games, Mario Kart, board games and cards.

The weekly meetings also typically have a theme. Last week’s theme was movie night where they watched Dr. Seuss’ “The Lorax” and served popcorn, drinks and soy milk ice cream.

The meeting on March 2 was cereal and pajama themed with vegan cereal and plantbased milk for members to enjoy. The next meeting is on Wednesday, March 9, and the theme is bean day where members can expect plenty of bean dips and dishes.

Every Wednesday the UTK Veganteers gather for games, movies, and camaraderie over the tasting of vegan and vegetarian foods and recipes. Edward Cruz / Contributor

Homemade dishes, like banana bread, vegan lasagna and vegan brownies are another perk of the meetings. Members are encouraged to bring a shareable homemade dish but ask that they include a label for possible food allergies. The recipes for these homemade treats can be found on the club’s Instagram page.

Vice President Blake Wells explained what he likes most about the Veganteers.

“I think the thing I love most is we have awesome foods, homemade food all the time, but I think just being able to bring people together with like-minded interests,” Wells said.

The Veganteers hope to expand their weekly meetings and beyond, including having guest speakers and collaborating with other clubs. They have already participated in an event hosted by Students Promoting Environmental Action in Knoxville, or the SPEAK club.

Our primary goal is to provide a space for people to enjoy and engage with veg stuff.

O�cers of the UTK Veganteers (left to right): Lynn Chau, Thomas Witcher, Brice Florey, Blake Wells, Madison Hoskins during the Veganteers weekly meeting in HSS 219 on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Edward Cruz / Contributor

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WORSHIP GUIDE 2022

BRICE FLOREY UTK VEGANTEERS FOUNDER

“We have a lot of hopes and goals for doing more as a student organization,” Florey said.

“For instance, we have plans in the works to participate as judges in a cooking competition with the UTK Culinary Club. Plus, we are thinking of ways to do outreach and promote plant-based eating at large.”

Wells also shared his goals for the club in the future.

“I think we all have sustainable ideals, and we really want to promote that and just have like-minded people all engaging. People are making friends through this, and that’s really important,” Wells said.

On Wednesday, March 23 after the meeting, the Veganteers are hosting a trivia night at Mellow Mushroom at 8 p.m. It will be their first event outside of their weekly meetings.

The Veganteers currently have 25 to 30 active members and welcome new members, herbivores and carnivores alike. If you’re interested in joining, you can follow the club on Instagram @utk.veganteers and find their Reddit @UTK_Veganteers for more information.

UKIRK IS AN OPEN AND AFFIRMING CAMPUS MINISTRY, WELCOME TO ALL. 1831 MELROSE AVENUE

JOIN US FOR DINNER AND WORSHIP EACH WEDNESDAY AT 7PM

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NEWS

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, March 9, 2022

What new CDC mask and risk level guidelines mean for campus LEXIE MARTIN Staff Writer

During the last week of February, the CDC outlined new guidelines based on the risk levels in each state stating that most Americans living in medium or low risk areas can take a break from masks. On Thursday, the CDC said that 90% of Americans live in areas where masks can be optional.

Knox County went from being at high risk to medium risk in only a couple of days.

There are three categories of community COVID-19 levels — low, medium and high.

People in low risk areas are advised to stay updated on COVID-19 related news and get tested when suspicious of any symptoms.

Residents of medium risk counties, like Knox County, also need to stay up to date, ask their healthcare providers about masks if they are at risk of contracting COVID-19 and get tested. Residents of high risk counties need to do the same as medium risk ones but wear a mask indoors.

This is also means that hospitalization rates are also on a downward trend, which is something that was on a continuous rise at

the start of the pandemic in March of 2020.

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said that anyone can wear a mask if they wish to and that their priority was watching hospitalization rates and keeping people informed.

“We want to make sure our hospitals are okay and people are not coming in with severe disease,” Walensky said. “Anyone can go to the CDC website, find out the volume of disease in their community and make that decision.”

The new guidelines don’t change rules on public transportation, airports, buses or train stations.

Immunity is on the rise as well with more Americans getting vaccinated and boosted as well as the immunity from previous infection.

Friday morning, Chancellor Donde Plowman sent an email that announced the beginning of the end of specific COVID-19 guidelines on campus. This includes the signage about masks being changed to encourage routine health hygiene and staying at home when students, staff and faculty don’t feel well.

“We will be updating our campus mask signage to reflect broader health messages of staying home if you are not feeling well and practicing good health hygiene,” Plowman said. “Wearing a mask is always an option for

any individual who chooses to do so.”

Plowman’s email suggests a transition in campus policy away from campus-wide guidelines and towards individual choice. On campus, the case numbers have dropped to the single digits which mirrored the drop in case numbers in Knoxville itself as the city and state continue to open up.

Dr. Spencer Gregg, director of the Student Health Center, also said that students and faculty are encouraged to stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and testing. The Student Health Center offers rapid testing for those showing symptoms as well as some pharmacies in the area, like the Walgreens on Cumberland Avenue.

“Currently, our numbers on campus and in Knox County continue to trend downwards.

The university encourages students, faculty and staff to stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations and offers free vaccines, boosters and COVID-19 tests at the Student Health Center,” Gregg said.

Information on COVID-19 resources can be found on the Student Health Center’s website as well as UT’s coronavirus website.

A student poses in Circle Park holding a sign requiring participants of the BLM March to maintain social distancing and to wear a mask at all times, on Aug. 29, 2020. File / The Daily Beacon

OPINION: Wondering Wanderer: Women’s History Month

KELLY ALLEY Columnist

I’ve written about Women’s History Month before, highlighting a few notable women a couple of years ago.

I’m not going to go into the history part of this month again this year, but I am going to say, “Wow. Women really are that amazing, huh?” in this column.

See, women are indeed amazing, wonderful and all sorts of lovely, supportive words. This goes for all women, regardless of their orientation, assignment at birth, etc.

It takes a lot to be us.

Take a quick look at the women who work labor jobs, such as those on ranches and farms. Yes, this column is for them.

As anyone who may have experience in those fields might tell you, it takes a life’s worth of dedication to see success in any form.

Ranch life is hard for anyone, full stop. It requires those dedicated to this livelihood to work in all types of weather and to be around and ready all hours of the day and night. No sick days and little in the way of an actual vacation too.

On top of that for women in this line of work, most — not all, but most — have other responsibilities besides those agricultural jobs to juggle and take care of.

Many of these fine farming females are ridiculed or spoken down to, the jeers often rooted in sexist ideals from the past. Folks wanting to know if the women driving a big rig with a large stock or six-horse trailer can back it up all on their own.

Trust me, they can. In record time too.

Sure, some of us may not be able to lift as many heavy objects as our male counterparts, but I guarantee you they will find a quicker, easier way of moving those objects. “Using your lady brain,” as we girls tend joke around the barn.

Rural women are as tough as a wild horse’s hooves. It’s not unusual to see bruised arms and knees, barbwire scratches, torn shirts and pants, callouses on their palms, dirt under their fingernails and rope burns on their fingers. They get stepped on, bitten, dragged and bucked off — and that’s just the things that happen around equines.

They see their fair share of birth and death, sometimes in the same day and sometimes to the same animal. They understand that grieving is necessary but life most go on — compassion with an equal dose of humility and grit. The other animals need fed, watered, mucked out, loved on and just generally taken care of, regard-

less of what happens.

Not to mention the girls who do all that, plus grow their own food and can it. Y’all are a special kind of super-human, and I more than respect you.

For the women who continue family farms or start one, and for those who even try a little outreach to help educate nonrural folks on the intricacies of farm livin’, I just want to say thanks.

It’s hard work to do what we do every day, but gosh is it ever worth it.

Kelly Alley is a graduate student at UT this year in the School of Journalism. She can be reached at kalley2@vols.utk.edu.

Columns and letters 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.

OPINIONS

Wednesday, March 9, 2022 • The Daily Beacon

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East Tennessee Maverick: State GOP bill targets higher education

WALKER KINSLER Columnist

Continuing with the theme of education following last week’s article on book banning, a proposed Tennessee GOP bill restricting “divisive concepts” in colleges is yet another push to force a conservative social and cultural agenda through learning in Tennessee.

The legislation, Senate Bill 2290, bars the “indoctrination” — or rather, teaching — of divisive concepts including race and gender at public colleges and universities in Tennessee, including UTK. It would allow students, faculty and staff to sue the school and specific teachers

if the individual feels the law has been violated.

Among a plethora of terms, divisive concepts listed in the bill include if Tennessee or the U.S. is mentioned as being “fundamentally or irredeemably racist or sexist,” and that the “rule of law does not exist, but instead is a series of power relationships and struggles among racial or other groups.”

Another concept banned in the bill is the idea that “all Americans are not created equal and are not endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, including, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

These three terms stand out in particular because they are tied heavily to the teaching of slavery, the Civil Rights Movement and modern day economic inequalities. Not every American is always born equal, despite our best efforts.

This bill is a roundabout way to ban teachings socially unacceptable to the GOP such as Critical Race Theory and discriminations still being faced by minorities. It is an avenue to teach a more conservative curriculum and to snuff out the more liberal ones. It is very similar to a bill signed into law in May 2021 that restricts how race and bias can be taught in schools K-12.

Thus, it is very likely that this bill will pass the state legislature as well.

The hard truth is that there is no need for this bill.

Section Two of the bill states that the “General Assembly finds that the divisive concepts exacerbate and inflame divisions.” However, it provides no evidence that the well-being of students are at risk due to these concepts, let alone that universities are teaching them in a harmful way. There are zero widespread accounts of professors forcing classes to believe in their ideology.

This bill is simply a manifestation of the opinions held by republicans within the state legislature. They believe that public universities, particularly the UT system, are teaching a “narrow ideological view diverting toward a mission of leftist activism,” as stated by a conservative report being passed around by lawmakers called “Critical Social Justice in Tennessee Higher Education: An Overview.”

As you can see, this bill could be a way to restrict teachings that the republican legislators disagree with. In their mind, public universities are corrupting the youth through indoctrination and must be held in check. As a result, a teacher discussing uncomfortable topics such as the slavery in the U.S. or the Holocaust can be reported on and sued by a student or staff disagreeing with them. This might greatly restrict the way that difficult topics are covered, resulting in a much less accurate, and thus incorrect, way of teaching.

How can we fix difficult topics facing us today, or prevent ourselves from repeating grievous mistakes from the past, without being able to learn about them properly? Without the ability to stare face-to-face with uncomfortable issues, they will never be solved. I know that talking about the removal of Confederate statues or the pay gap caused by being a different gender is hard to talk about, but the absence of the conversation altogether leads to stagnation and the end of progressive change.

To fix the issues the Tennessee GOP sees as divisive, we must teach about their context, how they relate to our modern society and ways we can change them for the better.

STORY CONTINUED ONLINE Read more at utdailybeacon.com

Walker Kinsler is a freshman at UT this year studying political science. He can be reached at wkinsler@vols.utk.edu.

Columns and letters 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.

Film According to Grant: Pattinson’s Batman

GRANT T. MITCHELL Columnist

This year’s biggest new film, “The Batman” had lofty expectations. The production saw the role and creative control of Batman go from Ben Affleck writing, directing and starring as the caped crusader, to a new regime entirely. Director Matt Reeves and new leading man Robert Pattinson shook fears of the film not living up to fan’s stan-

dards, and “The Batman” included more from Batman source material than any of the previous incarnations of the dark knight.

For about the first hour of the film, I was worried. “The Batman” had many different avenues it was trying to explore and none of them were getting enough time for me to digest fully. I started to overreact, as I do, and think that they weren’t going to be able to set a solid foundation for their planned Batman trilogy. Given another 30 minutes, however, each of the key components of the story were being covered with great care and intention.

I am an unabashed DC and Batman nerd, I love the characters and stories in Batman comics, animated shows and of course movies.

With “The Batman,” I was pleasantly surprised with how much the film took from source material in animated films and comic series. The story for this film had noticeable influences from “Batman: Year One” as well as “Batman: The Long Halloween.” Which was a great thing to see as a huge fan of the characters as so many superhero films are completely original and/ or do not give justice to the amazing source

material they have access to. I think anyone who is an avid consumer of Batman stories will absolutely love the influences clearly felt and seen in this film.

Furthermore, “The Batman” is held up most prominently by both its gritty depiction of Gotham City and a vulnerable and incredibly human depiction of Batman from Robert Pattinson. I knew that Pattinson was a much better actor than my hatred of the “Twilight” film series would have had me think, but oh my god is he Bruce Wayne!

I mean really and truly, Pattinson completely embodies the young and mildly unhinged Bruce Wayne/Batman who struggles to separate his two personas. Throughout the film, I felt completely at ease with Pattinson’s performance even if I felt early on that some aspects of the film were rushed.

Again, this is not a dig at the film, and I need to emphasize that everything came together in the last hour and especially the last 15-20 minutes. Especially when considering the massive number of characters included in the film’s story, such as Catwoman, the Penguin and the Riddler.

When I walked out of the theater, I had this thought in my head. There have been

great Bruce Wayne/Batman depictions from Hollywood films. Never, though, had I seen a live-action caped crusader that resembled the one I knew so well from all the animated films and comics I’ve had the pleasure watching and reading over the years.

Pattinson is more of a true Bruce Wayne/ Batman than any of the others who have come before him, and his relationship with Selina Kyle/Catwoman is refreshing and powerful. I just wish there was more time for the two characters to be together, here’s to hoping we see Bruce and Selina together again so their undeniable chemistry can have the further progression it deserves.

Beyond those two, I am sure whatever characters included in the Bat-tinson films to come will be just as satisfying and just as significant as what we had in “The Batman.”

Grant T. Mitchell is a graduate student in the college of Communication and Information. He can be reached at gmitch16@vols. utk.edu.

Columns and letters 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.

8

CITY NEWS

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, March 9, 2022

Lyle Lovett’s first tour in 2 years comes to the Bijou, performs fan favorites MACKENZI DAVIS Staff Writer

On Wednesday, March 2, Lyle Lovett gave an energetic performance at the Bijou Theatre on Gay Street. Fans seemed ecstatic as the musician and four band members played their instruments with passion and excitement.

Lyle Lovett is a 64-year-old singer, guitarist and pianist from Texas. His hits include, but are not limited to, “If I Had a Boat” and “Cowboy Man.” During his show, he infused storytelling throughout the concert. These stories included past concert experiences, loss of friends, the band’s experience throughout the pandemic and Knoxville itself.

“It was really weird not playing with each other for two years,” Lovett said. “Knoxville is fun, people are always happy in Knoxville.”

Fans piled into the Bijou as early as 7 p.m. to get ready for the concert. Lovett’s entrance onto the stage led to an uproar of clapping and cheering as fans anticipated his performance.

He took the stage without a word and immediately started playing, which seemed to increase fans’ excitement. Lovett’s fans were passionate, some screaming the lyrics to his songs and others dancing enthusiastically during the fast-paced songs.

Lovett’s band included Viktor Krauss, Luke Bella, Jeff White and Josh Swift. The instruments played included a unique set of acoustics such as a bass cello and a violin. The band members each got their own solo opportunities throughout the show to showcase their talents, as well as opportunities to tell their own stories within the music industry. Violinist Luke Bella seemed to have blown the crowd away with his many solo performances, resulting in very loud cheers that could be heard outside the venue doors.

During the concert, Lovett played many of his hits such as “If I Had a Boat,” and “That’s Right (You’re Not From Texas).” He also played upbeat songs such as “Pants is Overrated.” His most emotional performance included a slower song called, “The Road to Ensenada,” which he dedicated to the Knoxville-based doctor that helped his friend who had passed.

After the show, Mark and Tina Moore waited outside the Bijou for their Uber. They are longtime fans of Lovett and his bluegrass-style music. The couple was also excited not only for his appearance in Knoxville, but also for the Bijou itself as they prefer smaller venues.

T. Moore, a senior client service assistant at the Tennessee Valley Group, gave her insight into her favorite song of the evening. She mentioned many of his songs as her favorites, unable to pick just one after being a fan for 20

Lyle Lovett at the Tennessee Theatre on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Mackenzi Davis / The Daily Beacon

years, but one of her all-time favorites included one of his closing numbers.

“Oh, that’s tough,” T. Moore said. “The last one he played about if you ain’t from Texas, but I really love them all.”

Lovett interacted with his band and the crowd throughout the night. While storytelling was a large part of the charismatic singer’s

performance, Lovett and his band were playing nonstop. Their vocals, harmonies and instrumentals never faltered throughout the performance, despite playing for nearly three hours.

Lovett was very excited to tell the crowd about the new album he is releasing in mid-2022, after years of setbacks from the pandemic.

At Camp Koinonia, students grow alongside campers with disabilities KAITLYN PILCHER Staff Writer

Camp Koinonia staff members take participants on a canoe ride as they teach them how to effectively row and go canoeing. Courtesy of Jacqui Pearl

Camp Koinonia is an outdoor education program that was developed in 1977 at Vir-

ginia Tech. The purpose of this camp is to offer around 130 individuals ages 7-21 who have multiple disabilities a chance to participate in outdoor activities.

For those wondering where the camp got its name, Koinonia — pronounced “kwan-anee-yah” — comes from Greece and means “fellowship” and “caring community.” The individuals involved with the camp try to ensure that the organization lives up to this name by providing their support.

The staff within this program are a variety of college students that focus in special education, child and family studies, therapeutic recreation and psychology. They attend a 14-week course to learn how to work with children with disabilities before they conduct the week long camp.

The goal of this training is to provide a meaningful learning opportunity for university students that will help them long after graduation.

Activities that are offered to participants include horseback riding, canoeing, arts and crafts, sports and games, a low ropes course, music and movement and many other opportunities. Some of the special events include campfires, game nights and a movie night.

Each activity provided is developed and implemented by around two to three UT students.

Additionally, these students raise funds that

provide them with enough money and materials to put on their activity.

Camp Koinonia also offers scholarships for students who need financial help. The foundation and camp relies on the generosity of donors to sustain the program. Contributions support scholarships for leaders and campers and supportive services for planning and programs.

Angela Wozencroft, associate professor of therapeutic recreation and Camp Koinonia program director, spoke on the importance of donations for participants of this program.

“The support we receive from donors goes toward funding scholarships for campers whose families cannot afford the cost of attending camp. They help to ensure that no child is turned away due to inability to pay,” Wozencroft said.

A foundation for the camp was created in 2001 to promote and support Camp Koinonia and other weekend camps offered by the university through the Therapeutic Recreation Program.

The mission of The Camp Koinonia Foundation is to provide individuals with disabilities programs that provide the opportunity to enrich their lives and achieve lifelong learning.

The executive director of the foundation, Jacqui Pearl, has had a lifelong experience with Camp Koinonia. She is a graduate of UT with

much experience due to her positions on multiple boards for different non-profits in East Tennessee, where she gained helpful knowledge about the management and oversight of nonprofit organizations.

Pearl’s family had been involved for years before she was offered the position. Her father, former UT men’s head basketball coach Bruce Pearl, was a major advocate for the program.

She is appreciative to be able to follow her father’s footsteps and continue to help an organization that means a lot to her family.

Pearl shared what parts of the program interested her.

“I always marveled at the fact that UT students were the ones facilitating the program.

What a unique experience for them to be a part of a service-learning program that positively affected so many people,” Pearl said.

Additionally, Pearl spoke on her favorite aspect of the program.

“To see the joy on our camper’s faces when they arrive is just something that sticks with you. To see the joy on our counselors’ faces while they’re working with their campers is likely the reason why this program has been around for so long,” Pearl said.

To learn more about Camp Koinonia and donate to the cause, visit the organization’s website.

CITY NEWS

Wednesday, March 9, 2022 • The Daily Beacon

9

Maryville non-profit Build for Bees focuses on species conservation, community activism AUTUMN HALL Staff Writer

Logo courtesy of Build for Bees In 2018, Maryville High School junior Emily Huffstetler learned about the declining population of honeybees — one of the most important pollinating insects — and she was inspired to make a change.

Huffstetler decided to make efforts to fight this decline by raising and preserving mason bees. For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, she created Build for Bees, aiming to educate the community on how to build mason bee houses.

She explained the importance of mason bees in the pollination process and how simple it is to

conserve the species.

“Mason bees pollinate 95% of the flowers they visit, as opposed to the 5% honeybees pollinate, and they’re easy to raise. All you have to do is build a house for them and place it outside — which can be as simple as tightly packing paper straws into a recycled mug or drilling holes of a three-eighth inch diameter into a block of wood — and place it outside. The mason bees, who likely already live in your backyard, will eventually find the house and nest in it,” Huffstetler said.

Little did she know that this project would blossom into a community effort to save mason bees.

In 2020, when Huffstetler was a freshman in college, she was set on turning Build for Bees into a nonprofit organization.

Huffstetler, who is now the CEO and President of Build for Bees, talked about her perseverance in taking steps to accomplish this goal.

“To make it happen, I enrolled in the classes required to become a Certified Nonprofit Professional, and I taught myself to write grants.

I earned a $500 grant awarded by the Earth Island Institute and a $10,000 grant awarded by an organization founded by the creator of the Nobel Peace Prize. I used some of this money to hire an attorney, who helped me turn Build for Bees into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit,” Huffstetler said.

Without Huffstetler’s diligence in turning

Build for Bees into a nonprofit organization, many community members would not have been able to learn about its mission. She aims to spread her nine years of background knowledge on raising mason bees to everyone willing to learn, in the effort of multiplying the mason bee population at a greater rate.

With a mission of restoring bee populations through education and available bee habitats, the organization provides mason bee house workshops, where community members can learn more about how to build their own habitats.

Maryville native Alex Maddox, who is now a junior at UT, explained her experience with the workshop and how her mason bee population has grown.

“I attended a workshop last year, where I learned about mason bees. I instantly was inspired to put a house up in my yard. The houses are such an easy way to help out the environment and give back to the community. Originally I only had a few bees that were already in my backyard, but now I have a lot more,” Maddox said.

Many community members have become involved in this initiative, and these individuals are helping to preserve the mason bee population, one step at a time.

Huffstetler dreams of ultimately pursuing a career in Build for Bees. She is currently working to get her degrees in writing communica-

tion, Spanish and design, while also continuing to move toward becoming a Certified Nonprofit Professional.

Huffstetler alluded to an upcoming project for the organization.

“Bee habitat loss is one of the greatest contributors to bee population decline. To help restore local bee habitat, we’re working with local experts to design region-specific bee habitat kits suitable for any outdoor space. The initiative, called Habikit, is set to launch later this spring. For every pilot Habikit purchased, we plan to install one in an area of need. Please reach out if you’re interested in this limited opportunity,” Huffstetler said.

With more available habitats in the East Tennessee community, Build for Bees continues to preserve mason bees in mass quantities, which has a large impact on the broader environment.

To get involved with Build for Bees, follow their Instagram, where they often post updates about available positions and involvement. If you are interested in having a workshop hosted at a club meeting, email Build for Bees at buildforbees@gmail.com.

The non-profit organization is accepting direct donations or donations through t-shirt purchases. They are always accepting new volunteers and are currently looking to expand their Board of Directors and TikTok management team.

‘The Batman’ review: Through Pattinson, the bat is back RYAN CLARK Staff Writer

Courtesy of IMDb

It’s been a long time since we’ve had an adaptation of Batman that could stand toeto-toe with such legends as Michael Keaton, Christian Bale and Val Kilmer. Robert Pattinson however, has certainly earned his place with the rest of the bat juggernauts.

In a world where many superhero films have become extremely cut-and-dry, dull and predictable, “The Batman” is a welcome change to the constant stream of lighthearted narratives featuring quippy protagonists and laughable villains. The Batman strays from these popular writing archetypes and gives us a fresh new look at the caped crusader and his iconic rogues’ gallery.

We follow Bruce Wayne, played by Robert Pattinson, during his second year of crimefighting as Batman. A new case presents itself through the murder of Gotham’s mayor, and the list of victims grows as the Riddler, played

by Paul Dano, wreaks havoc on the city and its most powerful figures. With the help of Selina Kyle, played by Zoe Kravitz, only time will tell if the bat and the cat can unravel the mystery that is the Riddler and save the city from plunging into complete chaos.

The first thing to note is the film’s tone.

It’s not your average Batman flick. It certainly is darker than the majority of other Batman adaptations, and director Matt Reeves revels

in that gritty setting. The movie doesn’t pull punches and exposes Gotham for the rotten cesspool it’s meant to be.

The film is visually stunning overall. With gorgeous colors and jaw-dropping cinematography, Reeves ensures that there’s always something that glues your eyes to each individual shot. Reeve’s Gotham is just as dark and disgusting as you’d hope it to be, providing a perfect backdrop to the macabre tone.

Plot-wise, the movie’s good. It’s not a particularly mind-blowing mystery, but it’s competent, fun and gives each character plenty to do. The movie is extremely Batmancentered, giving us meaningful insight into Pattison’s character. Every other performance featured in the movie revolves around Batman, spawning some great drama throughout the narrative.

The score is good, but it’s not as memorable as previous movies. The main theme could have been played a lot less throughout the film. Despite this, some of the musical choices were stellar, and sometimes the absence of music was a powerful enough choice.

The film would’ve been a lot more exciting had it gone for an R rating, as the lack of more grisly details was somewhat jarring in some scenes. The movie refrains from showing bodies, too much blood, wounds and so on.

It feels a little out of place for a setting that’s supposed to appear as dark as it is.

Otherwise, the runtime is long, but it goes by quickly. The movie is very film-noir and doesn’t waste time on pointless details and provides a perfect young Batman. Don’t go into the theater expecting your typical actionheavy superhero flick. The movie is extremely reliant on its dialogue and mystique to keep you absorbed throughout. “The Batman” provides an exciting new version of the character, and I believe audiences should begin to expect more from their favorite cinematic universes.

Someone in my theater yelled, “Batman’s back baby!” during the opening sequence. I’m inclined to agree.

4.5 of 5 Torches

10

SPORTS

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, March 9, 2022

Tennessee sending 15 athletes to track and field Championships ZACH BALL Staff Writer

The NCAA Track and Field Indoor Championships is set to take place on March 11-12 in Birmingham, Alabama, and 15 athletes from Tennessee have qualified to compete by ranking inside the top-16 for their event.

Here is everything to know before the Championships this weekend.

Watch for the stars Nine of the Vols will be performing in individual events at the Championships. Favour Ashe and Charisma Taylor have consistently made headlines throughout the season, and while they will be the highlight of the Vols’ trip, Tennessee has a deep group of athletes being sent to Alabama.

Ashe will enter the weekend as No. 3 seed in the men’s 60m dash. The freshman has proved to be quick off the gun, boasting a time of 6.52

that leads the SEC and ranks seventh in the world.

Taylor’s versatility will be in full form this weekend, as the graduate transfer will compete in three events. She will be one of only two athletes doing so.

Taylor will enter as a four seed in the women’s triple jump, a six seed in the 60 meterhurdles and an 11 seed in long jump. She last won both a silver and bronze medal at the SEC Championships two weeks ago.

Tennessee is looking to produce a win off senior experience in the shot-put competition.

Latavia Maines will make her third straight NCAA Indoor Championship on the women’s side. Likewise, Jordan West will make his second appearance for the men.

Maines is Tennessee’s all-time leader for the women’s shot-put with a best mark of 18.00m. Maines possesses a clutch gene, having won three SEC Championships throughout her career at Tennessee. Expect Maines to be calm and collected when her time arrives in the Nationals.

Like Maines, West is Tennessee’s all-time shot-put leader but on the men’s side. West

broke his own school record when he placed silver at the SEC Championships. He is the only Tennessee Vol to throw for over 20-meters and will enter the competition ranked eighth nationally.

Two-event duo Emmanuel Bynum and Carey McLeod will both compete for two events at the National Championships for the Vols.

Bynum will begin his weekend by running in the 200m meter as an eight seed. Later, he will join the rest of the 4x400 team looking to place a medal.

The rest of the 4x400 team will be made up of Christopher Bailey, Jakwan Hale and Alex Kay. The group ranks 10th nationally but brings potential as Bynum, Bailey and Kay each have several SEC accolades under their belt.

Senior McLeod will compete in two events for the Volunteers as well. His springs will be put to use in both the long jump and triple jump for the third consecutive Nationals. After capturing a gold medal in the SEC Championships, McLeod enters the weekend with a No. 3 rank-

ing in the long jump.

Young guns Aside from Ashe, Tennessee is sending a number of talented young athletes looking to make their marks at Nationals.

Redshirt sophomore Joella Lloyd will make her second appearance at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Although she is ranked an 11 seed, Lloyd has experience performing in front of the spotlight. Within the last year she has competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and won an SEC gold medal in the 60 meters last season.

Fellow sophomore Yariel Soto will compete in the seven stages of the heptathlon. He is the first Volunteer to qualify for the event on a national level since Michael Ayers in 2009.

Lastly, freshman Wayne Pinnock will join his senior teammate McLeod in the men’s long jump as a No. 6 seed. Both men present the Vols with a medal opportunity as they are ranked in the top-10.

The heptathlon will begin the NCAA Championships on Friday, March 11 at 11 a.m. EST.

Freshman starters dominate, Vols showcase depth in Houston JOSH LANE Sports Editor

The Vols went 2-1 over the weekend at Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic from Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. The Vols dropped the opening game to No. 1 Texas on Friday night but bounced back with a pair of impressive wins over Baylor and Oklahoma on Saturday and Sunday.

In the process, the Vols climbed seven spots to a No. 10 ranking in the latest D1 Baseball poll.

Here are two takeaways from the Vols’ weekend in Houston.

Freshmen arms make statement Tennessee used its weekend in Houston to answer the lingering questions surrounding its rotation — especially after the injuries to Blade Tidwell and Seth Halvorsen. The Vols’ freshmen starters Chase Burns and Drew Beam proved that Tennessee will be just fine in the interim, and when Tidwell and Halvorsen return, the Vols will have more arms than they know what to do with.

Burns worked five innings of one-run ball in Friday’s opener against the top-ranked Texas team. He allowed 2 hits and a walk but struck out 10 Longhorns. His one mistake — a 2-0 fastball to Trey Faltine that split the middle of the plate — left the park in the fifth inning.

Burns struck out the next two batters to end the fifth after the home run, but Tennessee’s

head coach Tony Vitello removed the freshman before the sixth inning after 81 pitches.

Tennessee’s bullpen coughed up the lead, and postgame Vitello lamented his decision to pull Burns so early.

We’ve got guys seizing the opportunity, but I don’t think the doors are shut for several roles on our team.

TONY VITELLO UT BASEBALL HEAD COACH

“Chase Burns was outstanding,” Vitello said. “I chose not to ride him. We definitely chose to ride Camden Sewell, cause he did a lot for us in the middle of the week. I think anyone would like to see what would have happened if we would have flip-flopped that deal a little bit with those two in particular.”

After Chase Dollander was touched for four earned runs in three innings on Saturday, Beam gave the Vols some rotation stability in the series finale. The Murfreesboro, Tennessee, native set a career-high in both innings pitched (5.0) and strikeouts (6) as he shutout Oklahoma in his best start of the season.

Vitello said after Beam’s start against Iona last weekend that he deserves to be in the same category as Burns and Dollander. Beam — who was an under-the-radar signing compared to the high-profile prospect Burns — bolstered

Vitello’s words.

“Even though his pitch count wasn’t built up to take us in the sixth and the seventh, he’s got the presence and the approach that we’re looking for,” Vitello said.

Lineup competition stronger than ever Tennessee showcased the full depth of its lineup over the weekend, as it started 11 different players and used 15 different position players over the course of the three games.

The Vols’ returners all had their moments in the spotlight over the weekend. Jordan Beck hit a long solo home run on Sunday, and Drew Gilbert, Evan Russell and Luc Lipcius all drove in runs in the final two games.

What stood out to Vitello was that Tennessee’s bench pieces were just as productive as the regular starters.

Christian Scott started twice over the weekend and went deep on Saturday. Christian Moore continued his red-hot start to the season, as he went 3-for-4 with an inside-thepark home run and a double against Oklahoma.

Even Blake Burke made something happen with just two plate appearances over the weekend, as he hit a pinch-hit home run in Sunday’s finale.

For Vitello, an abundance of productive players with not enough positions to fill is a good problem to have. Over the course of the long season, these problems tend to work themselves out. Whether for injuries or other reasons, everyone will get the share of at-bats as the spring rolls into the summer.

And with one more weekend before SEC play, the lineup competition is stronger than ever.

“Everything is up for sale right now,” Vitello said. “And we’ve got guys seizing the opportunity, but I don’t think the doors are shut for several roles on our team, which should be exciting for the guys when the come to the park for practice or for games.”

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SPORTS

Wednesday, March 9, 2022 • The Daily Beacon

11 11

Vols take round 2, remain perfect at home in win over No. 14 Arkansas ETHAN STONE Assistant Sports Editor

It’s hard to beat a team that finishes the game 12-18 from three-point range.

Despite a furious, inspired comeback bid, the Razorbacks also learned it is hard to erase a 23-point deficit in the second half.

And, as Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes said prior to No. 13 Tennessee’s 78-74 win over No. 14 Arkansas Saturday afternoon, “it’s hard to win on the road.” But those were the realities for the Razorbacks in the final game of the regular season.

“The first half we got more stops, got out and got going,” Barnes said. “You gotta give them total credit. What we did to them, they turned around and did to us in the second half.

I think you had two teams who were playing extremely hard, both teams this time of year fought, found themselves in a big way.”

The Vols, now a perfect 16-0 at home on the year and 23-7 on the season, have previously looked like the best team in the country when playing inside Thompson-Boling Arena, but had to hang on for dear life to pick up number 16.

That’s why two halves are played, though.

The Vols were firing on all cylinders early, draining nine-of-12 three-pointers in the first period to jump to a 21-point halftime lead.

Tennessee continued its three-point shooting trend in the second half, draining 3-of-6 to finish a season-best 67% from range.

Tennessee’s previous season high from downtown was 51.8%, which it set against both South Carolina and Presbyterian.

“Knock on wood …” Barnes said. “When we take good shots, when we take rhythm shots as I have said all year I think we’re a good threepoint shooting team. Are they all going to go in? No, but when we get looks and take the right ones and don’t get anxious we can make

Josiah-Jordan James, No. 30, hugging Zakai Zeigler, No. 5, during the Tennessee vs Arkansas game on March 5th, 2022 at Thompson-Boling Arena. Kailee Harris / The Daily Beacon three’s.”

And it was Kennedy Chandler and Santiago Vescovi who led the way for the Vols. The two combined to shoot 8-10 from range, and it was Vescovi whose two free throws gave Tennessee the cushion it needed to hang on for the win in the final minute.

Chandler, on the other hand, struggled from the free throw line. The freshman guard hit 5 of his 6 attempted three’s on the afternoon but missed all three shots from the charity stripe.

“Free throws, like coach said, is just mentality,” Chandler said, “This is the worst I’ve ever shot free throws, I’m usually a 90% free throw shooter, honestly. It’s just mental, not like I can’t shoot free throws, not like I can’t shoot. Just all in my head, just mental.”

“I know during March Madness, the NCAA Tournament those free throws are going to be

Kennedy Chandler, No. 1, with the ball during the season finale game.

Kailee Harris / The Daily Beacon

important so I’ve just gotta get right mentally.”

Twelve of Chandler’s 15 points on the night came in the first half. A combination of foul trouble and higher intensity from Arkansas guards was to blame for his struggles in the final 20 minutes.

Chandler wasn’t alone, though. The Vols fell on their face out of the game, letting the Razorbacks close the gap via a pair of 10-0 runs.

Tennessee looked up at the two-minute mark and saw its 23-point lead dwindle to just 3 with 2:05 remaining.

The Vols won the day by leaning on their defense. The Razorbacks failed to score a field goal in the final three minutes of game time.

Despite the result, squandering double-digit leads has been a thorn in Tennessee’s side at home this season. The Vols saw large leads become close games in the final minutes against

Auburn and Arizona earlier this season.

“Gotta close out the game, we played great in the first half both games, but we have to find a way to close it out in the second half,” Chandler said. “First four minutes are always important, Arkansas they beat us the first four minutes, so did Auburn last game.”

“So in the second half we’ve just gotta have the same intensity, energy as we do in the first half but bring it to the second half as well.”

But still, a win is a win. Tennessee has now collected five top-15 wins this season against LSU, Arizona, Kentucky, Auburn and now Arkansas.

The Vols look to continue their momentum from a memorable regular season into the SEC Tournament, where the Vols will compete as the No. 2-seed.

No. 30 Josiah-Jordan James drives the ball offensively during the Volunteer’s season finale vs Arkansas. Kailee Harris / The Daily Beacon

12

SPORTS

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, March 9, 2022

Feels like 1997: Lady Vols on familiar path following SEC Tournament RILEY THOMAS Staff Writer

sclaw, and current head coach Kellie Harper (Jolly).

The Lady Vols were knocked out of the SEC Tournament in the semifinals last Saturday by the eventual tournament champions, the Kentucky Wildcats.

At the conclusion of the contest, head coach Kellie Harper reminded her squad of a certain Lady Vol team that made a special run after getting bounced out of the SEC Tournament earlier than expected.

“I did tell the team, I remember one year we lost in the SEC Tournament when I was a player and Pat came in and said that we got about two weeks and we’ve got to get better,” Harper said.

“I guess we just said ‘OK,’ and we got better and we ended up winning the National Championship.”

The team Harper is referencing is the 199697 Lady Vols.

Heading into the 1996-97 season, this Lady Vols team had high expectations coming off of their National Championship in the 1995-96 season.

Pat Summitt was at the helm and her squad was led by Lady Vols legend, Chamique Hold-

Even with the high hopes and all of the returning players, the regular season did not turn out the way people had hoped.

It was evident immediately when the Lady Vols suffered their first loss of the season, just four games into the season to Louisiana Tech and only five games later, UT dropped back-toback games for the first time since to Georgia and Stanford.

When January hit, it happened again with back-to-back losses to Connecticut and Old Dominion.

The Lady Vols held an 11-6 record following the two straight losses and fell out of the top-10 for the first time since 1986.

The Lady Vols made more history during the season, but not the kind to brag about.

For the first time in school history, the Lady Vols lost games to Florida and Arkansas during conference play. Another pair of games were dropped back-to-back, and the Lady Vols did not qualify for a bye for the SEC Tournament for the first time in program history.

The Lady Vols made it all the way to the semifinals in the tournament but fell to Auburn.

Many people had written off this Lady Vol team, but remarkably, the loss to Auburn would be the final loss the Lady Vols had the rest of the season.

Tennessee entered the NCAA Tournament as a No. 3 seed and beat its first four opponents, including a 10-point win over previously undefeated and top-seeded Connecticut in the Elite Eight, by an average of 20 points.

The Lady Vols entered the Final Four in Cincinnati matching up in a rematch versus Notre Dame, and UT dispatched the Fighting Irish with ease, 80-66, to play for the National Championship.

There the Lady Vols would face off in a rematch against Old Dominion, and Tennessee would enact its revenge and win the National Title with a 68-59 win over the Monarchs.

With the victory, the Lady Vols became the second team in women’s NCAA history to win two straight titles and the first team with more than six losses to win the championship.

Harper brought up this National Championship team to her current squad for very good reasons, but she probably did not realize the eerie similarities between the two.

To start, both teams were riddled with injury.

This year’s team has suffered season ending injuries to Marta Suárez and Keyen Green, Rae

Burrell missed 12 games early in the season and Jordan Horston is currently on the shelf with an elbow injury.

In 1996-97, Harper suffered major injuries herself, tearing her ACL, before making an incredible comeback to only sprain her ankle in the NCAA Tournament and point guard Laurie Milligan was on the shelf with a partially dislocated patella.

Both teams racked up similar wins during their respective seasons, defeating Big 12 foes Kansas and Texas.

The losses, however, are more similar.

Both teams suffered double-digit home losses to Stanford, double-digit road losses to UConn, road losses to Florida, the SEC regular season finale was a loss to LSU and both teams fell in the semifinals of the SEC Tournament.

One more thing that is not solidified yet, but could still be a possibility is the seeding the current Lady Vols earn. Currently, UT is projected as a No. 3 and the 1997 team was a No. 3 seed for the big dance.

Does this mean that the current Lady Vols are a lock for the Final Four and the National Championship?

Only time will tell, but don’t be surprised if the current Lady Vols make another magical run similar to the 1997 Lady Vols.

Freshmen prepared for uptick in intensity as conference tournament season approaches ETHAN STONE Assistant Sports Editor

Thirty-eight of 78 total points scored by Tennessee in its win over No. 14 Arkansas Saturday were scored by a freshman.

To some extent, that’s been the reality of Tennessee basketball this season. The Vols’ two most dynamic players over the past few months have been the freshmen guard duo of Kennedy Chandler and Zakai Zeigler.

“Both Kennedy and Zakai are talented young men,” assistant coach Justin Gainey said Monday. “They possess elite basketball skills but also have this confidence and toughness about them that allow them to compete in this tough league.”

On the other side of things, the Vols’ two freshmen forwards have played major roles as well, roles that were necessitated by the loss of Olivier Nkamhoua halfway through the SEC slate. Jonas Aidoo and Brandon HuntleyHatfield were thrust into a, ‘play the hot hand’ rotation that also included super-senior John Fulkerson and Uros Plavsic.

And up to this point in the season, that strategy has worked. Tennessee finished the season having won nine of its last 10 games and faces the SEC Tournament as a two-seed.

But with March and conference tournament season comes a different mentality and inten-

sity. Will Tennessee’s group of capable freshmen be able to translate their play?

“You never know because this is their first SEC Tournament,” Gainey said. “You would hope that the Mohegan Sun event (Hall of Fame Tip-Off) kind of gave a little feel of what it’s like to play back-to-back games and in this situation, we’re hoping to go back-to-back-toback, but that’s when we rely on the older guys to talk to them.”

“We’ll prepare them as much as we can, and coach Barnes will have a plan in place to make sure everybody is prepared through conversations, practice and video. I think they will understand the magnitude of it, but it’s totally different when you step foot on that court.”

Tennessee’s first matchup in the SEC Tournament will be Friday against the winner of Thursday’s Mississippi State versus South Carolina 7-10 seed game. It’s often been said that teams with elite guard play are more highly favored to make a run in tournament season, whether it be conference or the Big Dance itself.

That’s where Chandler and Zeigler’s efficacy as guards in March comes into play. Whereas Santiago Vescovi and Josiah-Jordan James have been in this position before, the freshmen duo will be leading the team stepping into an entirely new arena.

The leadership from Vescovi and James has helped both Zeigler and Chandler to this point, and Gainey believes it will help them in the coming weeks as well.

“I think Kennedy and Zakai will be the first to tell you that they wouldn’t have had the success they had, if it wasn’t for Santi, Josiah and VJ coaching them up and taking pressure off them at times,” Gainey said.

The duo has learned from each other as well throughout this process.

“I think we’ve helped each other with our speed,” Zeigler said. “I’m not sure if (Chandler has) guarded someone as quick as I am, but I definitely have never guarded anyone as fast as he is.”

Freshmen guards Chandler No. 1 and Zeigler No. 5 during the season finale against Arkansas on March 5 in Thompson-Bowling Arena. Kailee Harris / The Daily Beacon