Wednesday, March 22, 2023

THE SWEET LIFE

DAILY BEACON STAFF AND POLICY INFORMATION

EDITORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Daniel Dassow

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Letter from the Editor: To the staff of The Alligator

DANIEL DASSOW Editor-in-Chief

means student protest at first. As editor of a smaller paper, I have admired your multifaceted, persistent coverage of the backlash against the election of Sen. Ben Sasse to the office of president of the University of Florida.

It’s ancient history by this point, but there was fierce protest of the election of Randy Boyd as interim president by the UT Board of Trustees on Sept. 25, 2018. Students began using the hashtag #RunOutRandy and a student who rushed the podium at the board meeting was removed by cops.

At issue, of course, was Boyd’s campaign for governor, during which he was open about his conservative Christian values, his antiabortion stance and his support for the Second Amendment.

rightfully leads UF students to wonder if he will be an advocate for them.

There is another commonality between our states that makes Boyd and Sasse’s experience as politicians all the more important. Our governors are jockeying for national attention to see who can create the most outrageous headlines (spoiler alert: you’re winning).

As student journalists, we are used to being called biased hacks when we do our job and attend to power differentials that create lesser outcomes for marginalized groups.

But the news is never all bad, and sometimes anger creates real change. I am hopeful that Sasse will find ways to stand up for students.

To The Independent Florida Alligator,

I am writing to you because we now have something in common beyond our status as student papers. Our university presidents are both (ex)-Republican politicians.

Granted, our President Randy Boyd only ran for office, but the Board of Trustees approved him as interim president the month after he lost his primary bid for governor of Tennessee to Bill Lee, who is, by all accounts, his good friend.

What does it mean to have a once-political sloganeer as a college president? Of course, it

But at some point, the protests stop and the president gets to work and then our job as student journalists becomes harder. Anger is easy to cover. I’ve love interviewing protestors because they give such juicy, rage-y quotes. But Sasse’s Republicanism and his status as a politician will now operate in much more subliminal ways which are harder to uncover and decode.

At UT, this has meant enlisting the legislature’s help in creating more workers for Tennessee, a goal of Boyd’s which is admirable but has also led us to experience growth at an unsustainable rate and has alienated some faculty.

I do not know what Sasse’s story will be at UF, but he has a much longer voting record, which

In fall 2021, when President Boyd planned to pay for breakfast for a fundraiser for an ultraconservative state senator who supported a ban on gay marriage and the “Stop the Steal” movement, he quickly backed out of the event and hosted a town hall to hear students’ concerns. I gained a lot of respect for Boyd in that moment, as he publicly apologized and made changes.

Sasse’s tenure is likely to be a mixed bag of missteps, apologies, accomplishments, further alienations and growth. Covering all sides of a public figure is difficult but important work that we have striven to accomplish.

On the other side of all the anger, you all are in a position to create incredible journalism at a pivotal moment for Florida and the university, and I hope it gets the attention it deserves.

Letter from the Managing Editor: The Tennessee I know

ABBY ANN RAMSEY Managing Editor

where in the midwest. When they realized I went to UT, they immediately had questions.

“Oh my god, what’s it like in Tennessee right now?” one of them said.

They knew everything that had recently happened in my home state. I told them that it had been really hard and exhausting and the future seemed unclear. I felt embarrassed and ashamed to be from Tennessee.

I used to dislike being from Tennessee due to some internalized anti-southernness. It took some maturing for me to realize how much I love this state, but as I’ve reflected on my life, I can say I’m proud to be from here.

But at that moment, I did not feel proud. These people perceived a Tennessee that does not feel like the Tennessee I know.

The Tennessee I know is beauty. It’s driving down Pellissippi Parkway and seeing the sun set over the Smoky Mountains as clouds surround the peaks — an experience I didn’t realize I was so lucky to have until I visited Texas.

way that when you go on a walk, you can pause to take in the beauty and move at your own pace, admiring your green surroundings, even though the pollen is horrendous.

Tennesseans pride themselves on community as people make friends in the most unexpected places.

This place has gone through many changes. Everyone’s flocking here and it’s starting to feel tight. But we can deal with being popular. We can easily welcome new people here.

But what is hard to deal with is the state legislature’s attempts to frame Tennessee, my home, as a place that is hateful, exclusionary, backwards and a leader in a widespread wave of altright movements sweeping the nation.

I don’t want Tennessee to become a place that I’m ashamed of. We’re constantly making national headlines that feel shameful. Yet, I’m usually able to take a step back and remind myself that our government officials rarely represent the Tennessee I know.

I got on a plane the first day of spring break and was relieved to be leaving the state to catch a break from the recent days of exhausting politics. I’d been angry and confused because of the legislature’s anti-drag measures, further attempts to regulate health care and a bill that would allow guns on college campuses.

The break lasted a few hours until I met some girls my age on the plane who were from some-

It’s playing in the backyard every hot summer day, picking honeysuckles and tolerating the humidity, only stopping when dusk comes to tell you it’s time to go in and nurse your bug bites.

Tennessee is spending all day at Dollywood not just because it’s the actual happiest place on earth, but because being from the same place as Dolly Parton is simply awesome.

Tennessee life moves slow but not as slow as the rest of America likes to think. It’s slow in the

This time, it feels harder to remember that. But I still love Tennessee and know deep down it has more to offer than what people see in national headlines. And that’s what I tried to communicate to my new plane friends. I basically answered their question by saying that it’s really hard, but that I have to remind myself that Tennessee is resilient and there are Tennesseans who will continue to push for what’s right.

COVER PHOTO: UT Volunteers basketball player Jonas Aidoo (0) contests his opponent’s shot attempt during a NCAA tournament game against the Duke University Blue Devils at Amway Center in Orlando. (Cole Moore, Contributor)

The Grist Mill at Dollywood (Steve Carr/Creative Commons)

UT President Randy Boyd and UF President Ben Sasse.

Lt. Gov. McNally resists call for resignation amid Instagram debacle

his underwear.

Though these types of comments have been perceived as inappropriate, McNally asserted that his goal in interacting with McClure’s content was to “encourage him” as he does his other constituents. It is worth noting, though, that McClure now resides in North Carolina, not Tennessee.

“I have made a point to engage with people not only in posts, but in comments and messages as well,” McNally said in a public statement. “My comments to Franklin McClure and others, which have recently drawn so much attention, are no different. While I see now that I should have been more careful about how my comments and activity would be perceived, my intent was always engagement and encouragement.”

Described by his communications director, Adam Kleinheider, as a “prolific social media commenter” who doesn’t always use the “proper emoji,” McNally left one comment telling McClure that he can “turn a rainy day into rainbows and sunshine.” This comment was left on a photo taken of McClure’s backside while wearing only hiked-up briefs. The lieutenant governor also left a string of heart and fire emojis on the same post.

McNally’s actions on social media, he was “disgusted.” He explained that his repulsion was not due to the theme of McNally’s comments.

“I was disgusted at how the lieutenant governor supports anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation while being enamored with Queer culture,” Higdon told the Daily Beacon. “The impact on the community is seeing a ‘grandfather,’ a state Senator, who is the lieutenant governor, the individual who sets the governor’s agenda, speaking out of both sides of his mouth.”

Higdon also said that McNally’s resignation would not help the present political climate in Tennessee. He argued that it would only “transfer power to someone far worse.”

In response to accusations of hypocrisy, McNally asserted that, despite public perception, he is not “anti-gay” and believes “every person has value and deserves respect regardless of their orientation.” However, he also reiterated his publicly known opinion that he supports “traditional marriage.”

will be pausing my social media activity in order to reflect and receive more guidance on the use of social media.”

McNally’s only issued statement regarding the request for his resignation explained what is currently of most concern to him.

“I serve at the pleasure of the members of the Senate and my caucus,” McNally said. “As long as I have their confidence, I am committed to the important work of this state. We have several pieces of crucial legislation, as well as a budget, to pass. I remain committed to that critical work.”

Tennessee Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally, who represents Oak Ridge in the state Senate, was found to be regularly commenting on 20-year-old gay Instagrammer Franklin McClure’s half-clothed photos. This behavior was first reported by the Tennessee Holler on March 8 after the publication was sent an anonymous tip.

Using his verified Instagram account, McNally had been commenting on various racy photos and videos of McClure – who posts under the name Franklyn Superstar – since 2020. His comments have raised controversy in light of the recent passing of anti-LGBTQ legislation in Tennessee. Though he announced he would step away from social media, McNally has been called on by Republican State Rep. Todd Warner to resign from his office.

McNally’s comments on McClure’s scantily clad pictures frequently included emojis that are generally used flirtatiously, such as hearts, flames and heart eyes. On one video captioned, “just because My Life is Perfect,” featuring McClure dancing outside in purple boxers with the waistband rolled down, McNally commented “Love it,” along with a pink heart emoji.

Emojis are not the only way McNally has been reacting to McClure’s Instagram content. Many of McNally’s comments voice encouraging words to the young social media fanatic. Statements like “You need to be on dancing with the stars” and “Super look Finn” were made by the lieutenant governor on videos of McClure dancing in neon outfits and posing in

Rep. Warner, a Republican himself, insisted in a statement on March 16 that McNally step down from his positions as speaker of the state senate and lieutenant governor. The representative went so far as to denounce McNally as a “predator.” Also in his statement, Warner criticized McNally for “sexually grooming” McClure since his comments on the young man’s semi-nude photos began when McClure was still a minor.

A concern that arose for voters is the notable differences between McNally’s past support of anti-LGBTQ legislation and his recent engagement with queer content. Historically, McNally has voted to approve legislation that has been described as targeting the LGBTQ community in Tennessee. Most recently, he voted in favor of the controversial bill SB 0003 which prohibits “adult cabaret performances” — including drag shows — that are deemed “harmful to minors” from taking place in locations where those under the age of 18 could be present.

McClure told CNN that he never interpreted McNally’s comments to be suggestive or inappropriate, although he disclosed that McNally attempted to call him a few times via social media but was unsure why the lieutenant governor would do so. McClure also said that he felt “honored” to have a government official interact with his posts. However, he explained that, when contextualized with McNally’s political and legislative reputation, his interactions with the posts were “definitely hypocritical.”

Chief Financial Officer of Knox Pride Nathan Higdon said that he is not often surprised by the “hypocritical members” of Tennessee’s general assembly. Yet, after finding out about

Since being confronted, McNally has publicly apologized for his comments and has announced that he is taking a break from social media in order to take the time to reflect on how to best use it. He stated that criticism of his activity on social media is “fair.”

“I apologize for any embarrassment my postings have caused my family, friends and colleagues,” McNally said. “For this reason, I

EMMA JOHNSTON Staff Writer

Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, brought national media attention to Tennessee when it was revealed he had repeatedly commented on racy photos from a gay Instagrammer. Courtesy of Tennessee General Assembly

“While I see now that I should have been more careful about how my comments and activity would be perceived, my intent was always engagement and encouragement.”

Randy McNally Lieutenant Governor, Oak Ridge

Proposed life-saving exceptions opposed by anti-abortion lobbyists

through the state House on March 20.

A proposed amendment to Tennessee’s abortion ban is being advanced through the state legislature despite resistance from antiabortion lobbyists.

Currently, Tennessee’s abortion ban does not contain explicit exceptions, even for lifethreatening medical emergencies. Instead, it contains the concept of “affirmative defense,” which would place a legal burden on doctors to prove that the abortion care they provide is solely for emergencies where a patient’s life or major bodily functions would be endangered.

However, to be able to use affirmative defense, a doctor would have to first be charged for performing an abortion, which is considered a felony in Tennessee. This charge carries the risk of an individual losing their medical license, even if they are later found innocent.

In mid-February, Republican lawmakers introduced a bill that would remove affirmative defense entirely from the language of the ban and would instead clarify that it is not a crime to terminate a pregnancy to prevent or treat a medical emergency. The original bill received bipartisan support.

It is the provision that allows doctors to pre-

vent a medical emergency that is particularly distasteful to some anti-abortion lobbyists. Will Brewer, a representative from the state’s foremost anti-abortion lobbying group Tennessee Right To Life, called preventative abortion care “quasi-elective abortions” during a meeting with lawmakers.

Noé Monárrez, a health educator and condom distribution coordinator for Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi, explained that they were particularly outraged by that term.

“‘Quasi-elective abortion’ feels like an attempt from abortion oppositionists to further

demonize and stigmatize a very normal and old medical process,” Monárrez said.

After a tense meeting with the House Population Health Subcommittee, TN Right To Life issued a scathing press release about the bill.

“While well-intentioned, in reality this bill, if enacted, would offer cover to those who abort children in our state and would delete large sections of pro-life measures in Tennessee code,” the release said.

The organization also threatened to give poor ratings to the sponsors of the bill, amongst other political retribution. Due to this, the bill was drastically reworked before passing

The current version of the bill preserves the removal of affirmative decision and gives explicit protections on abortion care to treat ectopic pregnancies and miscarriages. However, language that would clearly allow doctors to terminate on the basis of lethal fetal anomalies and other medical emergencies has been deleted and replaced with “reasonable medical judgment.”

TN Right to Life has expressed support for this version of the bill.

Sam Traylor, president of the University of Tennessee’s College Republicans, clarified that while College Republicans supports the bill, he understands where lobbyists’ concerns are coming from.

“If a doctor is being told that they can practice ‘good judgment,’ this could potentially lead to corrupt doctors performing abortions,” Traylor said

“But overall, I think that doctors should be allowed to perform an abortion if it is for medical reasons to preserve the life of the mother.”

The bill is only one of several abortion-related legislation measures to have recently passed and the only one relaxing restrictions to have received Republican support. Democrat-led efforts to add protections to victims of incest and rape, exceptions for minors and to lower criminal abortion to a misdemeanor have all failed.

AURORA SILAVONG Staff Writer

Students, including one anti-abortion rights counter protestor, march on May 8, 2022 in protest of the leaked Supreme Court opinion draft which would overrule Roe v. Wade and trigger abortion bans across the country. File / The Daily Beacon

Ericksen Gomez-Villeda

What to know about Tennessee’s Sweet 16 opponent, Florida Atlantic

ANDREW PETERS Sports Editor

Tennessee is on its way to its first Sweet 16 since 2019 and is eyeing its first Elite Eight since 2010. Standing in the Vols’ way is Florida Atlantic University, which is playing in just its second NCAA Tournament ever.

The Vols path to the Elite Eight got easier when No. 1 Purdue fell to No. 16 seed Farleigh Dickinson, but FAU won’t be an easy feat.

FAU is having a historic season

The Owls are having an unprecedented season. They secured their first 30-win season and just their second 20-win season in program history this year, winning 33 games in route to a Conference USA regular season and tournament championship.

FAU is playing in its first Sweet 16 ever after beating No. 8 Memphis in the round of 64 and ending No. 16 Farleigh Dickinson’s Cinderella run in the round of 32.

The Owls are also ending a 15-year Sweet 16 drought for Conference USA teams. The last Conference USA team to advance as far as FAU was Western Kentucky in 2008.

The Owls are led by Johnell Davis but have a solid supporting cast

Sophomore Johnell Davis has helped FAU achieve much of its success this season. Da-

vis averages 13.9 points per game and 5.4 rebounds per game.

He put up a game-high 29 points to propel the Owls past FDU in the round of 32. Davis also put up a career-high 36 points earlier this season.

Davis scores at an efficient rate, hitting 50% of his field goals and 38% of his three-pointers. He also is a defensive threat, picking up 1.5 steals per game.

But like Tennessee, FAU has a cast of solid players and doesn’t lean on one player too heavily. The Owls have five other players averaging more than seven points per game.

FAU is well rounded and its No. 9 seed could be deceptive

Don’t let FAU’s low seed fool you — the Owls are a good team. That low seed is mainly a result of the Owls having played in a weaker conference compared to its Power Five counterparts.

FAU is the No. 22 KenPom team and boasts the 30th ranked adjusted offensive efficiency rating in KenPom and 36th ranked adjusted defensive efficiency rating in KenPom.

To put the Owls’ KenPom position in perspective, the No. 21 KenPom team is Kansas State, which is a No. 3 seed and just beat No. 6 Kentucky in the round of 32. The No. 23 Ken-

Pom team is Maryland, which took the Vols down to the wire back in December.

Tennessee has lost to seven teams ranked lower than FAU in KenPom.

Tennessee’s size and physicality will benefit the Vols

Tennessee took a really good Duke team into the mud for 40 minutes on Saturday and came out on top. The Vols leaned on their physicality to get past one of the hottest teams in the country and they will need to continue to play their physical brand of basketball against the Owls.

One area where Tennessee will have an immediate edge is size. FAU has just one player standing taller than 6-foot-8 in its sophomore center Vladislav Goldin. But despite his size, Goldin isn’t going to be a major headache on the defensive end as he struggles to block shots at a high clip.

Get physical in the paint on both the offensive and defensive side and the Vols should have success. If officials allow for a physical game like they did on Saturday, Tennessee will reap the benefits.

The Vols and the Owls will tip off around 9 p.m. ET after the conclusion of Michigan State and Kansas State. The game will be played at Madison Square Garden in New York City and will be broadcasted on TBS.

Vols leaning on physicality, prepared to take FAU into the ‘mud’ in Sweet 16

nessee’s operation to take Duke into the mud. At 7-foot-1 and 265 pounds, Plavsic ability to get physical with opponents is taxing — especially for a freshman-heavy team like Duke that hasn’t seen that type of physicality yet.

The Owls shoot the three at an efficient 37% and will challenge the Vols’ exceptional threepoint defense.

Florida Atlantic head coach Dusty May likened Tennessee’s physical brand of basketball to an Australian Rugby match when talking about the Vols after the Owls’ defeated Farleigh Dickinson in the round of 32 Sunday night.

That rugby-like physicality was enough to get Tennessee past a red-hot Duke team in the round of 32, and now the Vols are leaning on their physicality as they look for their first Elite Eight berth since 2010.

In his scouting report of Duke, assistant coach Justin Gainey told Tennessee to take the Blue Devils into the ‘mud’ — meaning Tennessee should be physical on both ends of the floor every possession. Though that scouting report might have been specific to Duke, the Vols will count on taking opponents into the mud going forward.

“Our physicality and our toughness is something that brings people down to the mud,” senior forward Uros Plavsic said. “Once you’re in there it’s not easy to get out of it. We’re looking forward and trying to do all those things to bring them down to the mud and see how they can handle it.”

Plavsic was one of the ring leaders of Ten-

But now things change for the Vols. They were underdogs against Duke and embraced the underdog mentality. They are favorites against No. 9 seeded FAU. Favorite or underdog, though, Tennessee’s mindset isn’t shifting. It still wants to take its opponent into the mud for 40 minutes.

“The mindset, we’ve talked about it all year long, whatever our guys have to do to make them decide we have to go out and play at the highest level, they’ve got to do that,” head coach Rick Barnes said. “Whether it’s just talking the talk or whatever, I just want to see them go out there and do what we need to do to win.”

FAU will bring one of the hottest teams in the nation into Madison Square Garden on Thursday night. The Owls have won a program-high 33 games and have only lost two games since the turn of the new year.

“You win 33 games, you talk about a model of consistency,” Barnes said. “They’ve certainly done that and earned everything they’ve got. And everything you talk to about, they rave about them as a team. They understand what they want to do together as a team.”

In facing FAU, Tennessee will take on a small, fast-paced, offensive-minded team.

“They shoot it with confidence,” Barnes said. “They really do a good job of knowing where each guy is one the court. They do a good job of getting in gaps and passing the ball, delivering it on the money.”

But Tennessee will count on its experience. The Vols have seen a lot this season in both their nonconference and conference schedule, and they expect to be ready for a new challenge when they take on FAU.

“We’ve seen teams like that in our conference and in preseason, so I think at this point in the year we’ve seen it all and we’ve played against teams of all kinds,” Plavsic said. “I think that we’re going to be ready for them as well.”

Tennessee and FAU tip off around 9 p.m. ET Thursday night at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The game will follow the conclusion of No. 3 Kansas State and No. 7 Michigan State, which tips off at 6:30 p.m.

And when the ball tips off between the Vols and the Owls, Tennessee will be prepared to take FAU into the mud for 40 minutes.

“We’re trying to play as hard as we can play,” Barnes said. “If that’s being physical, I guess we’re going to be physical.”

No. 4, Tyreke Key blows past his defender during a NCAA tournament game against Duke University on Mar. 18, 2023. Cole Moore / Contributor

ANDREW PETERS Sports Editor

Uros Plavsic No. 33 attempts a one-handed shot during a NCAA tournament game against the University Of Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns on, Mar. 16, 2023

Cole Moore / Contributor

Lady Vols prepare for redemption tour in Seattle

Tennessee rolls into Seattle playing its best basketball of the season.

Tennessee head coach Kellie Harper took a gamble when she made the Lady Vols’ schedule. She loaded it with ranked opponents and top matchups.

Now, Tennessee is seeing the result of the tough road.

After a rout of No. 12 seed Toledo in the round of 32, the Lady Vols earned a trip to the Sweet 16. It’s their first back-to-back trip since 2015 and 2016. It is also Tennessee’s 36th Sweet 16 appearance, the most of any men’s or women’s team in the NCAA.

The Lady Vols (24-11) draw the No. 1 Virginia Tech (29-4), which beat them in ThompsonBoling Arena by three on Dec. 4. When the Lady Vols faced Virginia Tech in December, they didn’t have their full lineup. Now, Tennessee can get revenge.

“We love a rematch,” guard Jordan Horston said. “We came up short in the first game, but we’re going to do everything in our power to make sure we don’t make those same mistakes and pull out a win.”

In the first matchup with Virginia Tech, Rickea Jackson did not play due to a coach’s decision. Two of Tennessee’s three current posts, Jillian Hollingshead and Jasmine Franklin, didn’t play either as they were hurt. Center Tamari Key was still on the court for the Lady Vols as well.

Tennessee has come a long way since the first matchup.

“We played them pretty early on when we were still trying to figure out who we were,” Horston said. “Our chemistry wasn’t as good as it is now, our defense wasn’t as good as it is now. We’re a completely different team. It’s like night and day.”

Horston led the way in the first matchup, finishing with a double-double of 26 points

and 11 rebounds. The next closest player had 11 for the Lady Vols.

With the Lady Vols’ first two victories over Toledo and Saint Louis in the NCAA Tournament, they became just the fourth team to beat their first two opponents by 45 points or more. UConn did it the other three times, making the Final Four two out of the three.

After successful runs in both the SEC Tournament and the NCAA Tournament so far,

“We can’t wait to play Virginia Tech,” guard Jasmine Powell said. “They’re big, they want to rebound, they want to offensive press. If we continue to rebound, continue to play in transition, continue to feed off our defense, it’s going to be huge.”

If Tennessee gets past Virginia Tech, they will face the winner of No. 2 UConn and No. 3 Ohio State. The Lady Vols played, and lost to both teams already.

For Tennessee to get to its first Elite Eight in seven years, it would take two redemption wins in Seattle.

“When you get to the Sweet 16 you’re clawing and fighting,” Harper said. “But our players remember that game and would love to have an opportunity to get that one back. I think both teams are different than we were earlier in the year.”

Virginia Tech is also hot going into the Sweet 16. The Hokies beat their first two opponents by a combined margin of 37 and capped off their season with an ACC Title.

Tennessee has played on big stages against the best teams, and they will do so again on Saturday at 6 p.m. ET.

“It really all paid off for us,” guard Jordan Walker said. “Obviously, we had goals since the season started, and when you go through adversity you have to remember those goals. I’m just proud of this team for keeping those at the forefront and continuing to push every day in practice.”

Photos: Lady Vols conquer Toledo 94-47

CALEB JARREAU Staff Writer

Jordan Horston (25) goes up for the layup during the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Thompson-Boling Arena on March 18, 2023. Kailee Harris / Contributor

Rickea Jackson, No.2 prepares for a layup on March 20, 2023. Cole Moore / Contributor Jillian Hollingshead No. 53 shoots a layup. Cole Moore / Contributor

Tess Darby (21) drives to the hoop. Cole Moore / Contributor

Bryan Tatum’s battle with cancer embodied Lady Vols’ mentality

CALEB JARREAU Staff Writer

Bryan Tatum sat in his office, reminiscing on his time at Tennessee. Bookshelves line the walls overflowing with everything from educational texts to devotionals. A stack of moving boxes sit in the corner, telling the story of Tatum’s two years in Knoxville.

He never expected those two years to unfold how they did — two years that saw the toughest fight of his life and a lot of growth. Two years that saw validation for his work translate on the court and in student-athletes’ lives.

When Tennessee assistant coach Jon Harper called Tatum about a job opening in 2020, he was training athletes out of his garage and content with never entering the college ranks again.

“He kind of hinted around that they may be looking for someone and asked if I was interested,” Tatum recalled in a conversation with The Daily Beacon. “And I just said, ‘only for the right people.’”

Then, Tennessee head coach and Jon Harper’s wife, Kellie Harper, called and offered him the position of Director of Women’s Basketball Sports Performance.

Tatum couldn’t resist joining Harper, whom he worked with at his first full-time job at Western Carolina from 2008-10 and again at NC State from 2011-14. He moved to Knoxville and was ready to hit the ground running on June 10, 2020.

Later that month, Tatum was hit with news no one wants to hear. He was diagnosed with stage four lymphoma.

During his battle with cancer, Tatum was able to grow and translate the lessons he was teaching athletes back to himself.

“We wanted to support him the best we could,” Harper said at the time. “He just moved to Knoxville, they just bought a house, their family’s just now going to get settled, and then he’s got to start working through chemotherapy.”

With the support of Tennessee’s staff and his faith, Tatum beat cancer and returned to coach the Lady Vols. Whether it was his diagnosis or just maturing over his career, Tatum is a different coach today from when he was beginning his career as an intern at Notre Dame in 2005.

He went from a strength coach that thought, “weight room, weight room, weight room,” to someone who tries to better student-athletes on and off the floor.

“I kind of ran things like a dictator,” Tatum said. “I would say I matured to some degree. I’ve spent a lot more time just trying to help develop the athletes mentally on skill sets that they can utilize day in, and day out, whether they’re training or not.”

Tatum’s mental teachings are evident in this year’s Tennessee team — a team that has faced as much adversity as most in the country and didn’t have the season it wanted.

The Lady Vols have kept fighting, no matter the situation. Tatum’s fight with cancer is embodied by this team’s fight on the court, and it all starts with love.

“If you love something, you’ll fight for it,” Tatum said. “You’ll pay a price without even thinking about it. So, that’s one of the things that I really try to get them to buy into.”

Love is something he sees in this team. He sees that they love each other, they love basketball and they love to win. All of those are ingredients that can take the Lady Vols to their first championship since 2008.

He also tells his athletes to control the 15 feet around them. The power everyone possesses in their day-to-day life is something Tatum learned through his life, and it is something he wants to pass off to everyone he can.

“If you can really get them to understand how much power they have from the moment they get up to the moment they go to bed with their decision-making, that’s when you can really help someone just make that leap,” Tatum said.

Those decisions all come down to a formula Tatum preaches, E+R=O – events, response, outcome.

It is an equation that has driven Tatum’s coaching philosophy, and it is an equation that he used in his own fight against cancer. You can’t control the events that happen to you, whether in life or in basketball, but you can control your response to the events.

“That’s the big thing, when you can have that moment of clarity,” Tatum said. “Which happens at that moment where you deliberately pause, assess the situation, realize what’s going on and then figure out what’s the best outcome.”

At the end of the day, it all comes down to someone’s “why” for Tatum. He helps athletes find why they’re doing what they’re doing. What are their goals?

Tatum’s goal is to hang another banner in the rafters, and he’s going to do everything in his power to get Tennessee back to that point.

“Trying to get them to understand what’s worth fighting for,” Tatum said. “If you aim at nothing, you hit it every time. I think you see a lot of that.”

The philosophy that Tatum has preached at his past stops becomes amplified at Tennessee. When you walk into Thompson-Boling Arena, it is overwhelming to look at the banners hanging.

Eight national championships hang in the house that Pat Summit built. The legacy of becoming a Lady Vol is unquestionable. However, along with that comes criticism, high expectations and outside noise.

It is unavoidable and Tatum doesn’t use social media himself. He tells his athletes to do the same, but he knows that likely won’t happen. So, he focuses on what’s between the ears.

Being a Lady Vol means being mentally tough.

“We want to add to the legacy that’s here,”

Tatum said. “Being mentally tough is at the root of that because you’re not going to get there without paying a serious price.”

“Tenacious” is the word Rickea Jackson used to describe the Lady Vols after they defeated top-10 LSU. Tenacity is what Tatum preached to this team.

It took until March for Tennessee to defeat a ranked team and get over the figurative hump that has plagued them all year. Tatum wasn’t surprised by the win — it was only a matter of time in his eyes.

A sermon that Tatum heard before Tennessee left for the SEC Tournament led him to give a message to the Lady Vols. There is no salvation without submission.

The season hadn’t gone Tennessee’s way. The first matchup against LSU didn’t go Tennessee’s way. But the Lady Vols persevered.

“Just keep fighting,” Tatum preached to the team. “You never know what swing of the hammer’s going to crack the stone. That was a testament to the tenacity that they have developed throughout the season, it was an absolute grind.”

The stone was cracked against LSU. Now, Tennessee goes into the NCAA Tournament with the confidence that it can overcome ranked opponents.

But Tatum has bigger goals. Now in remission, his battle with cancer is winding down, but the battle for the Lady Vols is just beginning.

“I’m going to beat cancer, and I’m going to hang a banner up before I leave this place,” Tatum said. “And that is my mission. That’s what I’m focused on. And, if I’m fortunate enough to do it, then the next goal will be to hang another one.”

Rickea Jackson, No. 2, shoots the ball during the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Thompson-Boling Arena on March 18. Kailee Harris / Contributor

Faculty Fellows Program launches

engagement, relationships, meaning and accomplishments, or “PERMA,” model of well-being, created by psychologist Martin Seligman.

UT also uses the CliftonStrengths framework, which is an assessment students can take through the Academic Success Center. Sally Hunter, Volunteer Experience Faculty Director, explained that UT is unique in using a classroom-based program, however.

“We wanted to make sure we had a full team of fellows to really help us think through what are the best interventions,” Hunter said. “If you look at best practices that would make the most sense for each unit, for each field, for each classroom type.”

Hunter also noted that some staff units are already using the model.

“(It’s) trying to get us to be using more consistent language,” Hunter said. “So that as a student is going from their biology class into English, and then after that they go into their theater class, the student is able to have professors and faculty members who are using the same language about how they want to support their students.”

The 18 instructors completed an online certification in PERMA in January. Now, they meet with Hunter to plan specific approaches both to fill in their colleagues and plan classroom changes that will begin fall 2023. Fellows are responsible for leading workshops, consultations and discussion in their respective departments and contributing to a resource library.

Hunter expressed that one of the ways to encourage support and equity is to provide a variety of opportunities for students to present their knowledge.

Ayres Hall, completed in 1921, is an iconic landmark rising above campus on the Hill.

Kailee Harris / The Daily Beacon

18 instructors across UT are updating teaching techniques for their classes and departments. They are the first participants in the Volunteer Experience Faculty Fellows Program, a new academic collaboration between the Office of the Provost, the Division of Student Success and the Office of Teaching and Learning Innovation.

“The goal is really just as a campus to slowly evolve our culture to where we’re all taking our own wellbeing practices,” Krystyne Savarese, assistant vice provost and chief strategist in the Division of Student Success, said.

The Division of Student Success runs programs for first-year, first-generation and veteran students among others, while the Office of Teaching and Learning provides professional development for instructors, and the Office of the Provost oversees all academic activities on campus.

After the Board of Trustees approved a new strategic vision in October 2021, the program started as part of the first of the five goals – “Cultivating the Volunteer Experience.”

A 50-member council of half faculty and half staff and students looked at different ways to address the entire campus and decided on the positive emotion,

“For example, one student might prefer to write a paper … another, different student in the same class might have a preference for doing a Google slides presentation and a third student might want to make a podcast to demonstrate the knowledge,” Hunter said.

Renee D’Elia-Zunino, distinguished lecturer in Italian studies and Faculty Fellows member, said the program was completely in line with her purpose.

“I was pleased because, in the last few years, I have been working on the insights and tools of positive psychology and redesigning my courses to focus on student motivation, self-reflection and strengths,” D’Elia-Zunino said.

Program appointments last from January through December, with additional departments being included in 2024.

“The goal is ... to slowly evolve our culture to where we’re all taking our own wellbeing practices.”

Krystyne Savarese Assistant Vice Provost and Chief Strategist Division

The Weekly Crossword by Margie E. Burke

‘We trusted her’

UT students, alumni speak out about pet sitter charged with animal cruelty

ABBY ANN RAMSEY Managing Editor

A Knoxville family of four is facing animal cruelty charges after animal control discovered five dead animals and 38 living ones in a Powell home on March 8. Now UT students and alumni who paid one of the family members to watch their pets, including some who say their pets died under her watch, are speaking out about their experiences.

A week after the discovery, Thomas Morris, 52, Michelle Burgess-Morris, 50, Haylee Morris, 22, and Isabella Morris, 19, were each charged with two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, a class E felony, two counts of cruelty to animals, a class A misdemeanor and one charge of violation of rabies laws, a class C misdemeanor.

The house was an animal foster home but was also home to Knoxville pet sitter Haylee Morris, operator of Haylee’s Petsitting, who came highly recommended on Facebook. The business is now permanently closed on Google and its Facebook page has been deactivated.

According to Knox News, officials first tried to investigate the house last summer on an animal welfare call. They weren’t able to enter the home until March 8, after responding to several animal welfare checks, just days after some Facebook posts detailing clients’ experiences with Morris gained traction.

Previous clients of Morris say that the sitter’s negligence was evident before animal control’s recent discovery. UT students and alumni often booked Morris’ services through UT-specific Facebook groups, and many are now reporting that damage was done to their homes and their animals were returned in poor condition. In some cases, clients say their pets died under Morris’ care.

Morris’s clients say she came so highly recommended that on the surface, it didn’t seem like hiring her would be a mistake.

Savannah Black, a second-year student studying animal science, said she posted in a Facebook group for female UT students asking for pet sitter recommendations, and several people recommended Morris. She then saw Morris come up as a certified sitter on Rover and decided to employ her shortly after that.

“I just kinda did some research on her, and it looked like she worked with multiple different rescue organizations in the area, she fostered and she just made it look like she had dedicated her whole entire life to animals,” Black said.

She used Morris several times with few to no problems. Her house was messier than she would have wanted when returning home and the sitter missed some calls and texts, but nothing to make

her question how her four dogs and one cat were cared for.

That was until a few months later when Black, along with her husband and baby, went on a long trip to Memphis to visit family and hired Morris to watch the animals. They did not get many updates, but Black didn’t want to pester her too much by asking for constant photos and videos.

“We trusted her,” Black said. “So we weren’t just like on her back the entire time.”

Black said that trust was broken when they returned to find their house in shambles.

They discovered 13 different urine stains on their area rug, found the sectional couch covered in urine and vomit and realized that two of the dogs’ crates had been zip tied together. Each dog had an identical wound on their nose, which Black thinks was from trying to escape from the crates when they had been left for too long.

“We were so excited and then we just walked into a complete disaster,” Black said. “It smelled like a rotten pig barn in there.”

Black said the smell overtook the house, even though all of their animals are house-trained. They discovered more and more damage over the course of several days and had to throw away the majority of their furniture.

“We got home so late that night that we were just glad the dogs were alive,” Black said. “I guess the reality of everything didn’t really set in until the next day.”

Not only did two of the dogs have injuries, but Black said it was clear they had been further neglected.

“The dogs and cat acted like they hadn’t drank or eaten in days,” Black said.

The police report from March 8 detailed the state of the Morris household, writing that the home was covered in urine and feces.

“The reality of picturing what our dogs and cat went through kind of set in because I can’t really imagine a dog willfully spreading their feces around unless they’re starving for days and they have to eat it themselves because they don’t have anything else to eat,” Black said.

Despite the state of the house and the animals, multiple apologies from the Morris family convinced Black that this was an isolated incident. A few months later, Black needed a new sitter since spring break was approaching. She once again asked on Facebook and briefly included her experience with Morris, not expecting to get the overwhelming response that she did.

Within minutes, over 300 comments came pouring in with tales of similar experiences. It was just three days later that animal control rescued discovered all the animals in the Morris household.

Hayley Sponcia, another member of the Face-

book group and a senior marketing major, also had a questionable experience with Morris as she received little communication while out of town.

She said after picking up her dog Emerson, the dog was so tired she had to be carried and couldn’t be woken up for hours after picking her up. She made another post, asking people to talk about their experiences and received almost 500 comments.

“I was absolutely blown away,” Sponcia said. “I figured there’d be like three or four, but my phone was going crazy.”

That’s when Natalie Hartman (‘20), a digital advertiser with PetSafe, began to rethink her experience with Morris. Last summer, Hartman’s dog Koda died under Morris’s care, from what Morris said was an unexpected seizure. Hartman said Koda was perfectly healthy when she dropped her off.

Hartman was on a hiking trip in Canada, getting little phone service, but still asked Morris for updates and pictures when she could. She said it took her a long time to send a photo and then the next day, she received several calls from Morris.

“She had just said that Koda had a seizure and like she’s unresponsive and they’re giving her CPR and obviously I’m freaking out,” Hartman said. “There’s nothing I can do so I called my parents.”

Thinking that Koda’s death was a freak incident that could happen in the hands of any pet sitter, Hartman and her family opted not to pay the expensive cost of a necropsy.

“Now we look back on it, and it’s like she had to have been dead for more than two hours for her to be that hard and cold,” Hartman said.

Koda was Hartman’s registered emotional support animal. Even when she assumed Morris played no role in the death, she struggled to accept that Koda was gone.

“I fully have not been able to accept it, and this coming to light,” Hartman said. “How am I supposed to process it now?”

Hartman, Black, Sponcia and the dozens of others that have taken to Facebook to share their experiences said that justice is necessary. For sev-

eral people, that looks like jail time for the people involved in the abuse and neglect of animals that came from Morris and her family.

“Honestly I’m just happy that this has been brought to light,” Hartman said. “I’m hoping that she will never be able to watch or own a pet ever again and I do think that she deserves time for what she has done.”

Sponcia added that Morris was not only neglecting the animals but was also profiting off of it, which is evident through a now-deleted TikTok the pet sitter posted, where she claims to have made more than $75,000 from pet sitting last year.

“You see animal abuse like on the news and everything, but like you just never suspect it I guess,” Hartman said. “Now it’s like oh my god, it was like right there in front of my face and how did I not notice.”

At the same time, she said Morris’ popularity and Rover certification gives victims a reason not to blame themselves.

Rover allows customers to find local pet sitters online for services like boarding, dog walking and drop-in visits and boasts its commitment to background checks, safety quizzes and profile reviews. Rover removed Morris’ profile, barring her from taking bookings or offering services, in the fall of 2021.

“As pet parents ourselves, we are appalled by these reports,” Rover said in a statement to the Beacon.

Black and Hartman both said people often fail to take stories of animal cruelty seriously, even though animals feel like family members to many.

“It’s like some people look at their pets as like their babies and their everything and I think most of the people who were affected by her, that’s how we look at our pets,” Hartman said. “It’s gutwrenching.”

The animals rescued from the Morris household have been transported to Young Williams Animal Center. A GoFundMe was created specifically to help care for these animals, and the public can donate online.

Savannah Black pictured with her dogs who she left in Morris’ care. Ericksen Gomez- Villeda / The Daily Beacon

Blake Ruby on boldness, bedroom pop and where to go from here

ADAM DELAHOUSSAYE

It should come as no real surprise that someone as artistically upfront as Blake Ruby had an entry into the arts that felt equally as storybook – or High School Musical – quality as his music does. Ruby described the moment he knew where his heart lay.

and no one was really happy about that. That was the moment where I kind of realized what was more important to me.”

Instead of pursuing a career in collegiate athletics, Ruby would then go on to tour Belmont University, the only school he visited and the one he graduated from in 2020.

Ruby, now 24 years old, has been surrounded by music his entire life. He grew up playing in his grandparents’ church band, played for Maryland collective Red Couch in high school and recorded his first ever EP “Not I” in his Belmont dorm room with friend Chris Donland. It should, by now, be safe to say that Ruby made the right call on that fateful gameday.

they’re in A&R or a producer. And that’s cool if you’re really trying to grind it out and be competitive, but one thing I realized coming home is how important creating is from the perspective of being a lover of music, and not just because you’re surrounded by the industry.”

“I played lacrosse in high school, and there was one game where the school jazz band concert I was drumming in got scheduled the same night as a playoff game, and it was one of those moments like ‘you have to pick one,” Ruby said. “And I picked the concert over it,

Ruby signed his first publishing deal with Black River Publishing three months after his college graduation. After five years of making Music City his mainstay, Ruby has returned home to Westminster, Maryland to focus on his wife, newborn child and new puppy, Mowgli. For Ruby, it’s a homecoming that’s felt like it’s been a long time coming. More than that, it’s given a new perspective for an artist whose main concerns lie in personal growth rather than the external.

“One of the things that’s so great but also kind of depressing about Nashville is it’s such an ‘industry’ town,” Ruby said. “Like everyone you meet or go get drinks with is in music, or

Ruby, now two years married, is always bringing new insight into his favorite emotion – love. In 2019, he released “Bless You,” a track that, in Ruby’s words, capitalizes on that feeling you get when someone loves you, even if you can’t even bring yourself to do the same. After three years, those feelings haven’t seemed to sway in any particular direction, but rather reinforced by an outlook of a love more permanent.

A lot of Ruby’s catalog could simply be boxed into a package simply labeled “indie pop,” but as with any post-internet artist, there’s more to it than that. Jazz influence peppers his production, the prose and cohesiveness of his lyrics almost feel akin to country music’s songwriting, yet it still feels too soon to predict what that overarching sound will be, even for the singer himself.

“I’m never sitting around saying to myself ‘okay, whats popping on TikTok?’ or whatever, I try not to let outside forces influence what I’m making at all,” Ruby said.

Ruby’s new single “Love You,” was released

March 10. The singer says it’s probably his most pop-influenced track on his upcoming album, which should be seeing its release this summer. He cites Tears For Fears’s “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” as an influence and artistic relative for the song. If it’s as creatively honest as any of his releases thus far, listeners can expect that uplifting tenor to only solidify the journey he’s had so far.

‘Endless Summer Vacation’ review: Miley’s back and ready to empower

back with a bang. “Endless Summer Vacation” is a 12-track record that includes her newest single, “Flowers.” Without a doubt, this album is a hit.

Before the album dropped, I assumed that this would be a post-breakup revenge album. “Flowers,” released earlier this year, was a comeback song for the brokenhearted. With this vengeful single topping the charts, I thought this would be the introduction to a self-empowering album and era for Cyrus. While the self-empowerment element is there, the revenge theme is not the most prominent message. “Endless Summer Vacation” is a coming-of-age album that conveys themes of love, self-reflection, hope and tribute.

This record explores many genres from psychedelic pop to pop country, and even a few ballad-esque pieces. While I will not go into the details for every song, I will for what I consider to be the key tracks for this record.

Songs like “Flowers,” “Muddy Feet” and “Jaded” are the breakup songs of the album. These songs give us the frustration and regret of a complicated relationship that has come to an end, but probably for the better.

She knows she could have “taken you places,” but cannot be sorry because she knows what is best for her. All three tracks are incredibly done.

“Handstand” and “Wildcard” are probably the most reminiscent of Cyrus’ “Bangerz” era from 2013. These songs are psychedelic and include very unique lyricism and instrumentals.

“You” is a stand-out track for me. This song is beautiful and showcases Cyrus’ outof-this-world vocals. This pop-ballad is a coming-of-age song about wanting to put the past behind and live wild and free with a lover. I can see this song becoming a standalone hit.

“Rose Colored Lens” and “Violet Chemistry” are the true love songs of the record. They are about cherishing a moment with someone. After Cyrus’ very public split with Liam Hemsworth, it is so refreshing to hear her sing about love again. The vulnerability in these tracks is a refreshing sound to hear from her.

overarching analogy is beautifully executed.

Lastly, two of my favorite tracks, “Thousand Miles,” featuring Brandi Carlisle, and “Wonder Woman” are tributes. “Thousand Miles” is a unique mix between pop and country. Written for her sister, this is a call to home for Cyrus, speaking of having to deal with sadness and troubles while being “a thousand miles from anywhere.”

Other than “You,” “Wonder Woman” is the other stand-out track for me. This is a beautiful ballad dedicated to Cyrus’ mother. Written after Cyrus’ grandmother — her mother’s mother — passed away, this song is a beautiful tribute to her mother’s strength. “She is a won’t-stop woman,” Cyrus sings. Songs like this, straight from the heart and absolutely gorgeous lyrically and instrumentally, are not common anymore.

Miley Cyrus has made a great return to the music scene with her new album, “Endless Summer Vacation.” It has been a little over two years since Cyrus released “Plastic Hearts.” Needless to say, Cyrus has come

“Muddy Feet” is one of the two songs on the album with a featured artist. Sia joins Cyrus as background vocals for this power track, which screams power and resurgence for Cyrus. “Jaded” tells a story about feeling sympathy for an ex-lover who is struggling.

“River” is a pure dance anthem that radiates psychedelic vibes and feels nostalgic of the early 2000s dance genre. This is most definitely a dance-party approved track.

“Island” is a beachy self-reflection piece. “Am I stranded on an island or have I landed in paradise?” Cyrus echoes about life itself in this track. Is being on your own a paradise or a lonely life? This track is so unique, and the

Overall, this album exceeded my expectations. Cyrus’ vocals are phenomenal. She has been an icon since her early days on Disney Channel and just keeps getting better. This album is a must-listen for anyone. “Endless Summer Vacation” is the soundtrack for the summer with every kind of vibe you need. Each song showcases a unique sound and Cyrus perfectly displays emotion with every line. Like the title, I wish this album was endless.

Contributor

ABIGAIL RIGGS

Contributor

Blake Ruby’s 2022 album “Momentum.” Courtesy of Apple Music

“I mean, I’m never one to chase a trend. Like if there’s something I think is cool, I’m gonna make it.”

Blake Ruby

Miley Cyrus made her return to the music scene on March 10 with her new release, “Endless Summer Vacation.” Courtesy of Apple Music

McClung Museum’s ‘Let Me Tell You About … ’ exhibit celebrates people on campus

Vol, Johnny Glennan who is an academic advisor in the departments of history, classics, religious studies and philosophy, and many other personal connections.

through this. My mountains are more like mole hills, you know? Not in a self-deprecating way, but in an empowering way.”

most likely to see your submission if it is on one of those platforms and you use their hashtag and tag them.

Located in the McClung Museum, there is a hallway lined with photos of everyday people who have had a great influence on the lives of some Volunteers. Each of these photos are accompanied by a description of how this person impacted the Volunteer who submitted it — and any currently enrolled student at UT is encouraged to submit to this exhibit.

The main goal of the exhibit is to showcase ordinary people or organizations that have had an extraordinary impact on the life of another individual, as well as serve tribute to those who have been there for others. This exhibit also upholds one of the visions of the McClung Museum — to converge multiple world views and perspectives. In the explanatory plaque at the beginning of this exhibit, curators pose this question: “What better way to debut the Community Gallery than with a celebration of our campus?”

People who are currently featured in this exhibit range from family members to mentors to best friends to animals — “Roman: Apartment Dog” was an unexpected but welcome submission.

Examples include Prof. Lisa King of the Native American Student Association, Santa

One of these personal connections is Jenni Rice, a junior studying English and Cinema Studies.

“When I saw that I had been entered into this exhibit, I honestly felt extremely emotional. I’m three years into college now, and I sometimes feel like I haven’t made an impact on anyone or anything here, so to be acknowledged like this really allows me to step back and feel like people see me,” Rice said.

Rena Eller is one of the people who submitted to this exhibit. She is a junior studying English. Her twin sister, Lynley Eller, is the person who is featured in the exhibit. In November of 2021, Lynley Eller was involved in a car accident that left her with a traumatic brain injury. Within a year, she was back in school. Rena Eller decided to submit her sister for this exhibit to honor her.

“Immediately after I found out about this exhibit, I knew I wanted to talk about Lynley. My twin sister literally has to have superman powers going on to have fought and survived her accident and be in school again within a year,” Eller said.

“I will have a hard day and know I can push through because she was able to push

The ability to honor someone publicly who impacted you in a positive way does not come around very often. That is why the curators of this exhibit encourage UT students, faculty and staff to continue to submit their people to this exhibit. If there is someone that comes to mind as you read this article, then you should definitely submit them to the exhibit. It is a great way to express appreciation for a person who helped you get to the point where you are now.

“This project is so special because college can be such a constant stream of non-stop working and thinking about ourselves and our futures, while this project reminds us to look at the people around us who impact us and make our lives so much better,” Rice said.

Though no more submissions will be added to the physical exhibit, the curators and the McClung Student Advisory Board want submissions to continue. Sean Burke, the president of the McClung Student Advisory Board, noted that any continuing submission can be made with the hashtag #letmetellyouabout and tagging McClung in the post.

McClung Museum is currently on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, so they are

Celebrating women’s rights and wrongs: 5 movies for Women’s History Month

During the month of March, we acknowledge and celebrate the incredible contributions and achievements that women have made throughout history, though the fight for recognition was not easy.

In 1978, a school district out of Sonoma, California hosted a weeklong celebration highlighting empowering women through the decades. It was not until 1980, once the celebration had snowballed to other schools in the nation, that a presidential proclamation was issued by President Carter recognizing the week of March 8 as National Women’s History Week. The National Women’s History Project went on to petition Congress in 1987 to expand the event to the entire month.

Here are five must-watch films that commemorate the women, fictional and real, that have changed the course of our cultural landscape.

“The Woman King” (2022)

Based on real life events of the 1800’s, this film tells the story of the Agoji– an all-female group of relentless and fearless warriors sworn to protect the West African kingdom

of Dahomey. General Nanisca, played by Viola Davis, is tasked with preparing the up-andcoming recruits for a battle against an evil that pledges to demolish their livelihood. The movie brought forth several standout performances with Davis earning both a BAFTA and SAG nomination for her work.

“Little Women” (2019)

Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of the iconic Louisa May Alcott novel racked up six Oscar nominations and one win at the 2020 ceremony. With an impressive cast consisting of Laura Dern, Florence Pugh, Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Meryl Streep and Eliza Scanlen, the film retells the story of the ambitious March sisters post Civil War. Jo, Amy, Meg and Beth butt heads as any sisters do, but this coming of age tale has been passed on for generations and has touched the hearts of so many girls everywhere.

“The Joy Luck Club” (1993)

Amy Tan’s 1989 New York Times bestseller was adapted to the silver screen in 1993 and explores the complex relationships between four Chinese mothers and their ChineseAmerican daughters all living in San Francisco. The depiction of the immigrant experience is detailed beautifully through flashbacks and conversations at the Mahjong table, a place in which these women are able to learn and absorb generational memories to better under-

stand their identity. Tan earned a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination at the 1995 BAFTA Awards for the film.

“Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)” (2020)

Harley Quinn has cemented herself as one of the most recognizable comic book characters in the modern era. Though her story has been told time and time again through the eyes of different creators, director Cathy Yan totally encompasses the zaniness and chaos that follows Harley in her escapades around Gotham City. In the film, after cutting ties with the Joker, Harley finds herself on the run from nearly every criminal and mob boss in town. She unexpectedly bands together with an assassin, police detective and singer in hopes of saving a young girl who has also caught the eye of some of the most dangerous people in the city.

“She Said” (2022)

Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan star as the real life New York Times journalists Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor, who exposed the acclaimed Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein for sexual misconduct. Directed by Maria Schrader, the film tracks the saga of these two women as they unearth firsthand accounts of the abuse from the victims. Ashley Judd and Gwyneth Paltrow make appearances in the film as themselves, as they were real life victims of Weinstein and eventually went on the record against him.

ABBIE SMITH Staff Writer

REAGAN DESOTO Contributor

“Let Me Tell You About...” is located in McClung Museum and is accepting submissions. Abbie Smith / Sta� Writer

Courtesy of IMDb