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Thursday, April 5, 2012 Issue 60

T H E

E D I T O R I A L L Y

PUBLISHED SINCE 1906

I N D E P E N D E N T

S T U D E N T

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Vol. 119

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U N I V E R S I T Y

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Policy expert explores A-Bomb impact Blair Kuykendall Editor-in-Chief The Department of History announced its new atomic research initiative with a visit from Walter Russell Mead on Monday.

“Professor Mead is one of our most noted experts on American foreign policy,” Vejas Liulevicius, professor of history, said. “This lecture is a cooperative venture, intended as the kick-off to a larger project on the history of the atomic age. This is a partnership between UT, Y-12, and parts of ORNL, to document our area’s role in a new age of history.”

Mead delivered an address, “American Strategy in the Atomic Age,” to a crowd primarily composed of faculty members and graduate students.

He characterized the often grim focus of his research as somewhat of a curse.

“I’m interested in things a lot of people aren’t interested in: American foreign policy in the atomic age,” Mead said.

“Historicization of the eschaton sounds very abstract, but is actually quite relevant to where we are today. Eschaton means last, last things. Eschatology is the study of the end of things. This concept we have that someday the world as we know it will end, is an important concept in the history of thought.”

Mead views the creation of an atomic bomb as a major shift in human perception of the world’s end.

“In the past, people couldn’t do anything that would bring about an end to the world,” Mead said. “Humanity was completely passive with regard to how the world would end.”

Human perspective was largely influenced by religious ideology. Specifically, they believed the world was created to exist for a time before divine destruction.

“This begins to change in early modern Europe, at the time of the Enlightenment,” Mead said. “With the Enlightenment people began to notice that we knew more than the Greeks and Romans did. They began to apply scientific techniques and ideas to gadgets that make life better or longer. They started to tame smallpox. People started to see history on an upward trend, with a concept of progress, thinking maybe someday mankind could live forever.”

This realization gave life to new, seemingly radical ideas.

“There begins to be this idea that human beings can escape history on their own,” Mead said. “We begin to see the historicization of the eschaton. Human activity, normal process of ordinary history, could lead us out of history into something new.”

America’s early leaders applied this idea to their vision for the nation’s future.

“In America, this idea is a very important concept. The American colonists were infused with this idea of progress.

They came up with a different vision of history: the idea

• Photo courtesy of usembassy.gov

Walter Russell Mead speaks at a roundtable discussion at the US Embassy to Germany on Nov. 25, 2009. Mead, an expert in US foreign policy, spoke to students and faculty at UT about the new research initiative on the atomic bomb and how it has shaped public outlook on the end of times. that the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, the rise of human freedom, the rise of the United States, were all part of God’s plan ... America was seen as the leading edge of God’s work of redemption, that new freedoms were all part of Gods plan that had been there from the beginning. Americans by and large get uncomfortable if you talk about putting a theological mantle on it, but we believe we are here to make the world a better place. America is on a mission to change the world.”

This stream of thought had a powerful impact on the nation’s collective consciousness.

“America was saying we are going to stop this,” Mead said. “War, tyranny and oppression was no good for anyone.

That call to America to end history still lingers today.”

Mead contends that the discovery of the atomic bomb forced perception to shift yet again.

“In 1945 the world changed in ways that still profoundly affect us today,” Mead said. “The vision of life just getting better and better was changed in ways that still affect the way we think about ourselves. The bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the discovery of the Holocaust illustrate the emptiness of the hopes of the Enlightenment.”

Disenchantment with Enlightenment ideals ushered in a new era of eschatological thought.

“Now we are talking about a very different kind of end to history ... human beings as a result of international politics have the power now to wipe out human life, and not in a very nice way,” Mead said. “The Holocaust is even more frightening in light of Hiroshima ... you see human evil come to life, here in Germany, the most Enlightened civilized nation in Europe. Absolute evil is now revealed to be in the heart of even enlightened man.”

Mead sees that transition as a dismal foreshadowing to humanity’s future.

“You combine Hiroshima and the Holocaust and you do not get a good post-millennial future,” Mead said.

“Technological progress is making the world a more dangerous place. I am more frightened about biology than I am about physics. What humanity is now facing ... the onrushing power of technology ... is leading us into deeper and darker waters. We see apocalyptic fear entering politics.”

Mead’s lecture highlighted the radical toll atomic advancement has taken on the world’s citizens. His address illuminated the need for UT to explore our region’s role in the development of the atomic bomb.

“I hope my talk will inspire you guys to look at the way this is impacting the world,” Mead said.

Program offers summer Southwest adventure Sara Jung Staff Writer

Rebecca Vaughan • The Daily Beacon

Students break dance during a contemporary performance in the International Dance Competition at the University Center on March 28.

Those seeking to start their summers off with a physical challenge take note: This May, UT’s Outdoor Program (UTOP) is offering a Southwest multi-sport adventure trip.

From May 12-29, three experienced UTOP staff members will lead eight participants through the deserts of Utah and Arizona and the mountains of Colorado, mountain biking, rock climbing, canyoneering and hiking.

“This is a great beginner-friendly trip,” Ryan Worth, UTOP trip leader and senior in environmental science, said. “You don’t have to have previous experience doing any of the activities. We will teach anyone anything they need and want to know on the trip.”

The exact locations of the trip are still being planned. Location details will depend on where participants want to go and what they want to do.

“We cater to the group going,” Nick Shoemaker, trip co-leader and UTOP’s Bicycle Program Coordinator, said. “If more people like to mountain bike, then we can spend more of our time mountain biking. The trip will really focus on participants building up the skills they wish to.”

According to Worth, most of the mountain biking trails are in Colorado, near Buena Vista.

The trip will venture all over Utah, to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in the eastern part of the state to Antelope Island State Park,

the island in the Great Salt Lake.

In southwest Utah, canyoneering is the main focus. The sport is a combination of hiking, caving, swimming and rappelling in canyons that have been carved slowly over time through the landscape by rivers.

“Canyoneering is all about the aesthetics and having fun,” Worth said. “It can be physically challenging, but that is part of the experience.

The canyons are incredible in the Southwest and this is a rare opportunity that we get to take advantage of.”

There will also be some multi-pitch rock climbing, which is necessary when the climbing route is too tall to climb with the length of a rope. Each section climbed to reach the top of the rock face is called a pitch.

A rock climber ascends up the rock, placing protective gear along the way, and then stops and anchors himself into the rock face at a safe and sturdy belay station. This type of climbing provides climbers with views of grand vistas that many people do not get to see.

“The multi-pitch climbing that we will be doing is low-grade and not too hard, but still very rewarding,” Worth said.

Shoemaker said the trip is open to anyone with enthusiasm and willingness to learn.

“We don’t expect experts or really experienced people,” Shoemaker said. “This is a great opportunity to learn new skills because the Southwest is a world-class destination for mountain biking, climbing and hiking.”

See OUTDOORS on Page 3

2 • The Daily Beacon

InSHORT

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Anna Forrester • The Daily Beacon

Students dance in unison in the TRECS late Friday night during the Dance Marathon on March 2. Despite having just wrapped up another successful year of fundraising for the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, plans are already underway for next year’s philanthropy event.

1792 — Washington exercises first presidential veto George Washington exercises the first presidential veto of a Congressional bill on this day in 1792. The bill introduced a new plan for dividing seats in the House of Representatives that would have increased the amount of seats for northern states. After consulting with his politically divided and contentious cabinet, Washington, who came from the southern state of Virginia, ultimately decided that the plan was unconstitutional because, in providing for additional representatives for some states, it would have introduced a number of representatives higher than that proscribed by the Constitution.

After a discussion with the president, Jefferson wrote in a letter that votes for or against the bill were divided along perfectly geographical lines between the North and South. Jefferson observed that Washington feared that a veto would incorrectly portray him as biased toward the South. In the end, Jefferson was able to convince the president to veto the bill on the grounds that it was unconstitutional and introduced principles that were liable to be abused in the future. Jefferson suggested apportionment instead be derived from arithmetical operation, about which “no two men can ever possibly differ.” Washington’s veto sent the bill back to Congress. Though representatives could have attempted to overrule the veto with a two-thirds vote, Congress instead threw out the original bill and instituted a new one that apportioned representatives at “the ratio of one for every thirty-three thousand persons in the respective States.”

Washington exercised his veto power only one other time during his two terms in office. In February 1797, the former commanding general of the Continental Army vetoed an act that would have reduced the number of cavalry units in the army.

1862 — Siege of Yorktown begins Union forces under General George McClellan arrive at Yorktown, Virginia, and establish siege lines instead of directly attacking the Confederate defenders.

This was the opening of McClellan’s Peninsular campaign. He sailed his massive Army of the Potomac down Chesapeake Bay and landed on the James Peninsula southeast of the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia. He reasoned that this would bring him closer to Richmond, and the Confederates would have a difficult time gathering their scattered forces to the peninsula. The first resistance came at Yorktown, the site of George Washington’s decisive victory over Lord Cornwallis to end the American Revolution 91 years earlier.

He opted to lay siege instead. Not until May 4 did Magruder’s troops finally abandon Yorktown, giving the Confederates valuable time to gather their troops near Richmond. The campaign climaxed in late June when McClellan was driven away from the gates of Richmond in the Seven Days’ battles.

— This Day in History is courtesy of History.com.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

The Daily Beacon • 3

NEWS

OUTDOORS continued from Page 1

Worth agreed.

“If you have no experience with any of these activities, that’s totally fine,” he said. “If you are physically active, are eager to have fun and can take direction, then this is the trip for you.”

For 18 days of adventure, the trip costs $650.

That price includes all food, transportation, any gear needed and lodging expenses, such as backcountry camping sites or hostels, if necessary.

UTOP trips also cater to any dietary restrictions or preferences.

• Photo courtesy of the Nouvelle Experience Finale

Members of Cirque Du Soleil appear in a performance by the internationally renowned entertainment company on Aug. 26, 2006. The group will be performing their act, Quidam, in Thompson-Boling Arena through Sunday.

Haslam likely to sign ‘monkey bill’ The Associated Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee, where the nation’s first big legal battle over evolution was fought nearly 90 years ago, is close to enacting a law that critics deride as the “monkey bill” for once again attacking the scientific theory.

The measure passed by the Tennessee General Assembly would protect teachers who allow students to criticize evolution and other scientific theories, such as global warming.

Republican Gov. Bill Haslam said this week he would likely sign it into law.

Haslam said the State Board of Education has told him the measure won’t affect the state's current scientific curriculum for primary, middle or high school students. Louisiana enacted a similar law in 2008.

“I think the one thing about that bill is this: Nothing about the curriculum of the state of Tennessee will change, and the scientific standards won’t change,” he said. “So I think some of the discussion about its impact has probably been overblown.”

The bill says it will encourage critical thinking by protecting teachers from discipline if they help students critique “scientific weaknesses.”

Scientists in Tennessee and the American Association for the Advancement of Science are asking Haslam to veto the bill, saying that evolution is established science that shouldn’t be taught as a controversy.

“The Tennessee legislature is doing the unbelievable: attempting to roll the clock back to 1925 by attempting to insert religious beliefs in the teaching of science,” three Tennessee scientists wrote in an op-ed column in The Tennessean. The PhDs and members of the National Academy of Sciences — Roger D. Cone and Jon Kaas of Vanderbilt University and Robert G. Webster of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital — argue that the law is unnecessary and likely to provide expensive legal fights and hurt

the economy in Tennessee, which is home to Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The Tennessee Education Association argued that the bill wasn’t necessary.

“I think at a time when we're trying to put a focus on science, math, education; to pass something like this really sends a signal that the state is going backward instead of forward,” said TEA lobbyist Jerry Winters. “They’re avoiding the real problems in education by dealing with some of these emotional hot-button issues.”

The state held the famous Scopes “monkey trial” in 1925 in Dayton, Tenn., and opponents of the legislation say evolution is still under attack in 2012.

The 1925 trial convicted school teacher John Scopes of violating state statute by teaching evolution in biology class and fined him $100. The Tennessee Supreme Court overturned the verdict on a technicality a year later. In 1967, Tennessee’s anti-evolution law was revoked.

Scientists believe the legislation — which passed the Senate 24-8 last month and 70-23 in the House last year — could open the door for some religious teachings.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee on Tuesday sent Haslam a letter asking him to veto the legislation on the grounds that it’s unnecessary and “likely to result in significant violations of students' and parents’ First Amendment rights.”

State ACLU executive director Hedy Weinberg said allowing students to critique “scientific weaknesses” is actually language frequently used by those seeking to introduce nonscientific ideas like creationism and intelligent design into science curriculum.

There are eight spots left, and officials said they will go quickly.

Interested students can sign up in UTOP’s Outdoor Center located on the first floor of TRECS. There is an interest meeting April 3 at 7 p.m. in the Outdoor Center as well.

For inquiries, contact the UTOP staff at 865974-9479. Students can also access the website at http://recsports.utk.edu/ Programs/Outdoor%20R ec/. UTOP is also on Twitter at https://twitt e r. c o m / # ! / U T _ R E C SPORTS and Facebook http://www.facebook.co m/utkrecsports.

4 • The Daily Beacon

Thursday, April 5, 2012

OPINIONS

Going

Somewhere... Hopefully Fear exists as more than physical Preston Peeden Managing Editor Last Tuesday morning, I spent three hours sitting in the library trying to cram for a test that was cruelly placed during the week after Spring Break.

While there, instead of actually trying to figure out the terms and essays I had been assigned on our study guide, my friend and I decided to go completely offtopic and just ramble. After about 30 minutes of random conversations, my friend said that he couldn’t help but worry about his test because his biggest fear was “failing this test, which would make me fail the class, then finally make me fail out of school.”

While my friend continued on this diatribe of personal fears of ultimately failing school, my own mind started to jump around and ask myself what I was most afraid of.

The first answer I could think of was spiders. It may sound funny, but to me, for some unbeknownst reason, spiders freak me out. However, I immediately passed over this thought because, while it is true that spiders weird me out, I wouldn’t consider them to be something that I am deathly afraid of; if I see a spider, I simply avoid it.

My first attempt at finding my greatest fear was unsuccessful. While spiders are a physical fear for me, they don’t shake me to my core, so I had to find out what did.

Obviously, my absolute fear would have to be more than a simple spider. You could make an argument for death as everyone’s ultimate fear, but a fear is usually something that has the possibility of being avoided.

Death in itself is universal and unavoidable. Additionally, as a 20 year-old who was never a Sylvia Plath or Virginia Woolf fan, my own mortality was never an issue I spent too much time thinking about. So if it wasn’t death, then what do I fear?

After an hour or so of soul searching (an hour I should have probably spent studying, which would have increased my grade exponentially), I think I came up

with a solution. I realized that I feared the possibility that I would never make an impact in the world.

When I talk about making an impact, I mean in nearly every possible way. I want to be remembered, not necessarily for being the next great Proust-like thinker or a Kennedy-type politician (though I wouldn’t say no if either situation was a possibility), but rather at the end of the day, I want to be content with what I have done with my life. I want what I have been, what I have done and what I did to get where I was to be worth it. I want my life to have had meaning.

Searching for meaning can be a tricky endeavor; it’s all relative. What meaning is, whose meaning matters and how much meaning validates yourself are all considerations that can only be made by the beholder; there is no objective measurement of self-worth. Not only is finding meaning hard to define, but it can also lead to tricky consequences. For example, in Homer’s “Iliad,” the hero Achilles was prophesized to have either a long but dull life, where he would be remembered by his family but no one else, or a short but glorious life, that would lead him to live forever in memory. Achilles chose the latter. He wanted to be remembered, which he was, but he paid the price for it.

If I was offered Achilles’ options, I would have chosen the long but dull life in which my impact would be felt within my family. This isn’t because I don’t want to live on in the annals of time, but rather that life would be enough of an impact for me. I don’t say this because I don’t want to live for forever, but because I want to make myself worth what I was given.

I was born into a loving family, with great parents and two great siblings, who all love me (and for some reason tolerate me). My family gave me everything I could ever want or need. My family has made the impact on me that I want to make on this world. They made me worth something to them.

At this point, we get back to the question of what I, and by extension probably many other people, are afraid of. We want meaning; we want justification. My deepest fear is that I won’t be able to have the impact on someone else’s life the way others have had on mine. I want the world to have been better because I did my best in it.

But I will admit, spiders still scare the crap out of me.

— Preston Peeden is a junior in history. He can be reached at ppeeden@utk.edu.

SCRAMBLED EGGS • Alex Cline

THE Great Mash Up• Liz Newnam

Columns of The Daily Beacon are reflections of the individual columnist, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Beacon or its editorial staff.

Ghosn innovates for Nissan’s success Urb an La n d sca p e by

Lindsay Lee Since Japan’s post-World War II economic bubble burst in the early ’90s, companies in the country have struggled to keep up with their competitors abroad.

Japan is very stuck in its ways, and is generally extremely reluctant to let any outsider come in and shake up the way the system works.

Nissan was certainly hit hard in this recession in 1999.

It was only months away from bankruptcy when the parent company Renault decided to do the unthinkable: hire a foreigner, Carlos Ghosn. He started out as complete outsider in Japan, surrounded by an entire nation with no confidence in his ability to save Nissan.

But Ghosn was able to overcome and become one of the most loved and successful CEOs today. He succeeded by ignoring people who told him what he was not allowed to do, thinking of the future of Nissan on a long-term scale, and innovating the way the car operates.

When Ghosn came in, the Japanese saw him as an extreme disruption of the harmony of society. Not only was he a foreigner, but he also came in and wanted to completely restructure how the company operated. He shut down five Nissan plants and let go of about 14 percent of the company’s workforce. In Japan, lifetime employment is usually the norm, but Ghosn completely disregarded this for the sake of the economic success of the company. He also completely threw away the value of seniority when it came to promotions within the company. No longer was it enough to be the oldest to have any sway at Nissan. Ghosn applauded innovators and people who were willing to take risks to discover something new and great for the company.

Part of Ghosn’s success plan for Nissan is to expand into other regions of the world.

In particular, it has expanded into emerging economies like Russia, China and India. Expanding into these markets widens Nissan's customer base. The number of people who are able to buy vehicles is increasing as the population of the world increases and as the price of vehicles decreases. Two billion vehicles

will be on the world’s roads in 10 years, and Ghosn recognized that he needed to get ahead in selling his cars to these new customers in order to stay competitive in the future.

The first step in staying competitive long-term is to survive the current global recession. Ghosn recognizes that not everyone will survive these difficult economic times, but those who will are going to have to be creative.

To stay ahead of the curve, Nissan has been an innovator in all-electric vehicle technology. Though electric vehicles are far from being the most sought-after vehicles on the road, Ghosn has seen that the future of automobile technology is there because eventually that oil will run out, and we will need an alternative ready. He also recognizes that urban centers are becoming more and more crowded, so there is going to be a greater need for smaller, more efficient, cleaner cars.

Nissan has already introduced the only zeroemissions, no-gasoline vehicle: the Leaf. At $25,000, it is much cheaper than the Chevrolet Volt and any other electric vehicle on the market. As more competitors make cars like the Leaf, prices will go down, and people will be looking for the next exciting product. For this reason, Nissan is trying to stay ahead of the competition in all its research and development. Creating futuristic vehicles not only keeps Nissan ahead of the curve, but it also sends all other competitors a message that Nissan is a force to be reckoned with.

Carlos Ghosn and his rescue of Nissan are completely symbolic of the process of globalization that has taken hold of the world. Ghosn himself is like a product whose different parts were made in different nations; he was born in Brazil but he’s of Lebanese descent. He was educated in France, and had work experience in other parts of South America and United States before becoming CEO of Nissan.

Nissan has proven that success comes by embracing globalization and change. It expanded the scope of its enterprise by innovating and building vehicles for citizens of the entire world, not just for people in one select area. They have called upon the talents of people from all over the world, regardless of cultural background.

They have proven that the key to success in this new, increasingly globalized world is to embrace innovation and view the entire world as the primary marketplace.

Other companies will have to follow suit if they wish to keep up.

— Lindsay Lee is a sophomore in mathematics. She can be reached at llee26@utk.edu.

Racial tension not solved by tragedy C ommit tee o f I n f ra ct i o n s by

Greg Bearringer

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Sometimes, I think, people tend to put all sorts of ideological weight on precisely the wrong sorts of events. Often, at the occurrence of an event — like, say, 9/11 — people’s initial reaction is understandably a bit from the hip. Of course, eventually major events usually lead to some healthy sorts of conversation, much in the same way 9/11 lead people to discuss the role of the United States in the world, the consequences of meddling in distant affairs, the over-bureaucratized defense system, and the like.

I am hoping that the death of Trayvon Martin will lead to a new and better type of discussion about race: that no singular event will ever be a dramatic turn around.

Of course, I would love it if, in three months, the racists of the world would unite and announce that they saw the error of their way and would learn to accept or reject people on their own merits. Please understand me: this isn’t a discussion about whether or not George Zimmerman is innocent, nor is this really a review of the quality and types of audio files that NBC chose to edit. In fact, my point goes into another direction entirely: this case shouldn’t be about race at all.

Many people have been pontificating about how they hope we can finally have an open discussion about race — which, in a sterile setting, might not be a bad idea. However — since, you know, every one in the world has a “race” — asking us to have an open discussion about race after the sad death of a teenager is a bit like asking a family to have an “open discussion” about finances after the death of a wealthy grandparent. There is no way that anyone can go into a discussion with death as a backdrop and have anything like an open discussion; rather, any discussion about race in this setting will be a bit too open, with too many people emotionally charged to think about that which can be instantly changed.

Because there are two separate discussions which

people want to have right now. The discussion about the right of a person to carry a gun is a discussion worth having — there is a clearly a set of data on crime rates, accidental shootings, and similar stats which can be used to revise gun permits laws — or not. Of course, the death of a teenage boy isn’t the best backdrop, but at least in this case that backdrop will always be there.

Race, however, is a different issue. There was a time when advances in legal and institutional rights were enough of a goal; to bridge the gap of realized rights between the white majority and the racial minority was the goal. The thousands of people involved in far more clear-cut instances of racial violence have at least led to explicit court rulings, laws and further institutional support for minorities.

Of course, many would point out that there is still a lot of work to do. I would agree. My point is that where the work needs to be done is not something that can be accomplished by the passing of a new law or 24/7 media coverage of an event that frankly will not financially or legally affect most of us. There is no magic law or event that will lead to true racial equality; it is doubtful whether that will ever be totally accomplished.

After the artifice as been knocked down and people have been forced to treat everyone equally, the last great hindrance is to attempt to get people to perceive everyone equally. This, much like erosion, is something that will take time and will take millions of conversations and events in the lives of individuals to truly take hold. Perhaps this particular case will lead to many such instances; we can only hope that it does. It seems to me, though, that people who are hoping for dramatic ideological change overnight are probably asking the impossible. I also wonder if the writers stopped writing and the pundits stopped, uh, pundit-ing about Trayvon Martin’s race or clothing or background and simply talked about his humanity or about the tragedy of any young life being snuffed out for whatever reason — in other words, we stopped talking about Trayvon the black kid in the hoodie and started talking about Trayvon the human — if that wouldn’t be a more significant change. Of course, now I am the one asking the impossible.

— Gregory Bearringer is a graduate student in Medieval Studies. He can be reached at gbearrin@utk.edu.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

The Daily Beacon • 5

ARTS&CULTURE

Saturday, April 7 What: Taboo When: 9 p.m.

Where: The Valarium How much: UT student $5, non-UT student $12, public $15 Our take: The orgiastic dance party continues. This is what passes for high brow, nowadays. Truly the end is nigh.

Thursday, April 5 What: “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: Clarence Brown Lab Theatre How much: UT student $5, non-UT student $12, public $15 Our take: A mysterious cell phone call leads to a soul-searching journey and challenges the growing gulf between people in the technocratic now.

What: Martin Sexton Fall Like Rain Tour When: 8 p.m.

Where: Bijou Theatre How much: $21.50 advance / $25 day of show Our take: Sexton is a troubadour who has risen from selling homerecorded tapes out of his guitar case to touring the world. He must be doing something right.

Friday, April 6 What: First Friday When: 5 p.m.

Where: South Gay Street and North Knoxville How much: FREE Our take: This monthly celebration of local art and culture features new exhibits, excellent people watching opportunities and free alcohol. Did I mention it’s free? Fluorescent and Fireproof always brings the best shows.

What: “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: Clarence Brown Lab Theatre How much: UT student $5, non-UT student $12, public $15 Our take: A mysterious cell phone call leads to a soul-searching journey and challenges the growing gulf between people in the technocratic now.

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

Babysitter/ nanny with household choirs. 5 minutes from campus. Call 637-3600.

Honey Baked Ham Co. is looking for seasonal part-time help for Easter.

Please apply in person at 7205 Kingston Pike (865)584-8886.

Camp Counselors, male/ female, needed for great overnight camps in the mountains of PA. Have fun while working with children outdoors. Teach/ assist with A/C, Aquatics, Media, Music, Outdoor Rec, Tennis, & more. Office, Nanny & Kitchen positions available.

Apply online at www.pineforestcamp.com.

Computer Tech. Part time, 10-15 hours/week. Web page update and maintenance, designing and producing promotional and marketing materials, creating content for websites or using approved content from project directors, creating and editing images and graphics for website use. Excellent verbal and written communication and collaboration skills required. Please e-mail a resume, cover letter, and references to imcgahey @utk.edu.

FRONT DESK position available at Chiropractic office in Farragut. Approximately 30 hrs/wk Mon-Fri during summer. Afternoon hrs only starting fall semester.

Applicant must be friendly, organized and be able to make quick decisions. Please send resume to volunteerchiropractic@hotmail.com Golf vacation specialist wanted for PT assistance.

Sports related majors preferred. Email resume to contact@mygolfvacation.com

Part-time 25 plus hours a week. Lawn care experience preferred. $9/hr. 216-5640.

JOB - HELPING WITH SCHOOL CAMPUS Need help with mowing & grounds keeping on school campus. Starting immediately and through the summer. Part-time or full-time.

Contact Pennie at (865)693-3021 or email info@tatesschool.com Part time Job. Set-up, run, and break-down audio and entertainment/DJ equipment for event trailer. Must be available for flexible hours. Experience pulling a trailer and setting up karaoke-type audio equipment.

Pay based on experience. approx. $12 per hour. Send resume and salary history to emplpropmgmt@gmail.com or fax to 865-244-3650.

Seeking a CHURCH MUSICIAN to provide worship music for a growing multicultural congregation. Some experience req’d. For more info and to apply, go to www.mybethanybc.org and click on "Help Build the Kingdom" or call 257-1110.

THE TOMATO HEAD KNOXVILLE Now hiring dish and food running positions. Full and part-time available, no experience necessary. Apply in person at 12 Market Square or apply online at thetomatohead.com.

This could be YOUR ad.

974-4931

EMPLOYMENT Staying in Knoxville This Summer? Need a Fun Summer Job? Camp Webb day camp, in West Knoxville, is now accepting applications for full-time summer camp counselor jobs! Positions: general camp counselors, lifeguards, and instructors for Archery, Arts & Crafts, Drama, Swimming, Ropes Course, Nature, Sports, & some leadership positions. Part-time available. www.campwebb.comto apply.

THE TOMATO HEAD MARYVILLE Hiring all positions Full and part-time. No experience necessary. Apply in person.

211 W. Broadway, Maryville, TN (865)981-1080 or online www.thetomatohead.com.

UNFURN APTS 1 and 2BR Apts. UT area and West Knox area. Call for appointment (865)522-5815.

South Knoxville/ UT downtown area 2BR apts. $475.

Call about our special (865)573-1000.

What: “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: Clarence Brown Lab Theatre How much: UT student $5, non-UT student $12, public $15 Our take: A mysterious cell phone call leads to a soul-searching journey and challenges the growing gulf between people in the technocratic now.

FOR RENT

FOR RENT

FOR RENT

16th PLACE APARTMENTS 3 blocks from UT Law School (1543- 1539 Highland Ave.) 1BR and 2BR apts. only.

Brick exterior, carpet, laundry facility on first floor.

Guaranteed and secured parking. 24 hour maintenance. No dogs or cats. 32nd year in Fort Sanders. www.sixteenthplace.com. brit.howard@sixteenthplace. com. (865)522-5700.

Ut area. Studio apartment.2 blocks from campus. Water, Internet included. Pool, laundry. 1700 Clinch Ave. Avail August. $525/mo. www.absolutecom.com/405.

423-956-5551.

WALK TO CAMPUS Great Specials! 1,2,&3BR Apartments. Available. No security deposits. Prime Campus Housing (865)637-3444. primecampushousingtn.com.

1BR apartment. 1412 Highland Ave. Extra Large.

Free parking. No pets. $485/mo. Summer lease for one year lease available. Atchley Properties (865)806-6578.

Double cabin 50’ coastal cruiser with all amenities at Volunteer Landing Marina.

Very reasonable rent. Call Jim 865-414-3321 or 865-577-8970.

HUNTINGTON PLACE UT students! Only 3 miles west of campus. Eff. to 3BR. Hardwood floors. Central H/A. Pets allowed.

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VICTORIAN HOUSE APTS Established 1980 3 blocks behind UT Law School. 1, 2 and 3BR apartments. VERY LARGE AND NEWLY RENOVATED TOP TO BOTTOM. Hardwood floors, high ceilings, porches, 3BR’s have W/D connections. 2 full baths, dishwashers. Guaranteed and secured parking. 24 hour maintenance. No dogs or cats. www.sixteenthplace.com. brit.howard@sixteenthplace. com. (865)522-5700.

AVAILABLE FOR FALL 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5BR units in the Fort. No pets. Call now for best selection.

Leave msg (615)300-7434 (865)389-6732.

Studio condo near campus.

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Available now. Secure building, with pool and laundry.

(510)686-3390.

2BR apt. 3 blocks from UT. 1803 White Ave. 584-5235 or 548-6633.

Walk to class! 2BR and a 4BR and a 7BR available August 2012. Call for more information (865)388-6144.

CONDOS FOR SALE FSBO Student housing, Laurel Station. 3BR/2BA, designated parking spaces, stainless appliances, full size W/D, new flooring, security system, private balcony, cable/ internet included in low HOA fees. 404-824-2291

CONDOS FOR LEASE ON UT CAMPUS 2 & 3BR units available for lease in popular complexes on UT Campus.

Most include internet, cable, W/D, water, sewer and parking. University Real Estate & Property Mgmt., LLC 865-673-6600 www.urehousing.com or rentals@urehousing.com

HOUSE FOR RENT

LAUREL STATION $188,500 3BR 2BA, 1040 square ft.

Price reduced! (615) 579-7107 http://knoxville.craigslist.or g/reo/28845814html

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AUTOS FOR SALE 100+ vehicles $5,995 or less. Specializing in imports. www.DOUGJUSTUS.com

CONDOS FOR SALE

Houses in the Fort available for Fall. 4, 5, and 7BR, includes appliances and Internet. All have a front yard and parking. Call 521-7324.

Condo for sale. Easy walk to campus. 3BR unit. 3rd floor.

Laurel Station Condos. 1517 Laurel Ave. 615-969-1013.

Priced to sell.

This space could be yours. Call 974-4931

Read the Beacon Classifieds!

This could be YOUR classified ad.

Call 974-4931 NOW!

NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD • Will Shortz 1

Student Housing in The Fort. 3, 4 and 5BR units still available for Fall semester. Call 521-7324.

CONDOS FOR RENT

Avaliable Now! One person home with carport, W/D, fireplace. 5 minutes drive to UT. No Pets. $485/mo 865-850-0983.

Walk to class! 3, 4 or 5 bedroom houses in Ft Sanders.

Large rooms, hardwood floors, laundry facilities and parking.

Available Fall.

Please call 865-300-6772.

ACROSS

FOR RENT 1 BR CONDOS Security/Elevator/Pool/Pkg 3 min. walk to Law School. $520R, $300SD, No app. fee.

865 (4408-0006 , 250-8136).

• Photo courtesy of The Clarence Brown Theatre

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6 • The Daily Beacon

ARTS&CULTURE

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Mass Effect 3 lives up to series’ predecessors Wiley Robinson Staff Writer This review contains absolutely no plot-specific spoilers. Most of this review will stick to the gameplay in an attempt to avoid opportunities for spoilers.

Let’s get right to it — “Mass Effect 3” is a hugely entertaining game that, by and large, delivers exactly what fans want — more cinematic, relationship based dialogue, more continuity from the other two games, and more interesting, consequential choices! The action hits the ground running with some light platforming and (you’d have to have been ignoring every trailer and commercial for this one) the Reaper invasion of Earth, but quickly gets into what 95 percent of the game is going to be: forming political alliances and good will among the Council species against the Reapers in a divided, mistrustful galaxy.

One of the coolest additions to ME3 is the “war assets” section of the Normandy where you can view all the ships, manpower and resources, both military and non-military, that Shepard has accumulated and contributed to the war effort. Everything is designated with a number that quantifies its value, which adds a nifty logistical dynamic to everything.

Choices still matter. In the body of the game, you still get that feeling that you’re not even experiencing half the dialogue you could be. Largely using the same methods as “Mass Effect 2,” “3” makes you feel fuzzy for the choices you made in the last game with everything from a multitude of major (if overly convenient) cameos to nice emails to casual chats around various locations. Awesomely, your choices largely deter-

mine the nature and outcome of the more major cameos (hint: “ME2” loyalty missions).

The overall quality of the dialogue and writing just gets better as the game goes on.

I love sci-fi, and “ME3” gave me the pleasure of hitting that high sci-fi mark--that rare blend of philosophy, the consequences of the technology, and human drama — over and over again, albeit mostly by virtue of how good the sci-fi concepts were in the first two games (hint: the Geth). I tended to choose the happy, everyone-is-finally-gettingalong outcomes, but something tells me the more ruthless, bittersweet options would evoke an equal amount of emotion. That’s right, at least one dialog at the climax of an ongoing situation in the series made me uncontrollably tear up. That’s entertainment.

Inconsistencies and plot holes aside (mostly regarding just how little tension there is regarding the Reapers, who only engage in conventional warfare for some reason) I highly commend the main quest line of this game — literally the core 95 percent of the action. But the last 5 percent of it has to be the most revoltingly bad answer to how a series has been built up I’ve ever seen. Some degenerate at IGN who does not deserve to be named (Colin Moriarty) answered the overwhelmingly negative fan feedback to Bioware by saying “it’s not your vision.” Oh, how observant! Interactive entertainment isn’t just observed, Colin, it’s also, well, interacted with. “Mass Effect” has only increasingly become more of a choose your own adventure/outcome/relationship RPG as time has passed.

The only way I can describe the horror of the ending(s) without specifics is that “Mass Effect” has always been about micromanaging outcomes, and the “ME3” endings are painted in such large, impersonal strokes that I do see what they were going for; the broadness was supposed to shock us, impress us relative to how much, uh, relative control we’d had before — which I’m not ruling out as a good idea. But these endings are simply too impersonal, too off-topic, too irrelevant to what’s been going on, and too vague (it’s like they skimmed over anything meaningful or philosophical about the Reapers on purpose) to be considered good sci-fi, even in their own right. And they’re all like that — bleak (not necessarily a bad thing), rigid, and not a decision you made prior to the ending, not even your damned paragon or renegade points, are going to change a thing about it. It was dishonest — Bioware did promise to make prior choices reflect the ultimate endings, and that simply was not the case. But more importantly, it was merely ineffective, underwhelming despite the violent and perhaps novel juxtaposition of power vs. helplessness, and just bad sci-fi that ignored every issue it had been building impressively on for years. So cheers.

Shifting gears, combat has been marginally built upon but is ultimately less satisfying then “ME2” — in fact, “ME3” seems to offer much less intuitive control, visual feedback regarding what’s going on, and balance altogether. Though “ME3” offers a lot of climactic, creative and plot relevant enemies, they’re honestly no less repetitive than “ME2’s” waves of tactically varied merc groups, criminals, and the Collectors. The new groups you face also don’t add much too much variety between the beginning and end, and certainly don’t demand a very wide range of tactics — but the AI did seem a bit more effective and aggressive with flanking, weapons and the newly added grenades.

These features flesh out the shooter dynamic but the lack of attention to powers marginalizes the need for most of them other than Overload and, by proxy, actual need for teamwork like you had in “ME2.” And yet in the process of more closely emulating Gears of War’s cover system, the animations for rolling and going in and out of cover seem jerkier, badly refreshed, and incomplete.

Instead of “ME2’s” relative ammo scarcity (”ME3” dumps thermal clips on you), there is a brand new weapon weight system that has an incredible impact on how fast your powers recharge. This provides some very welcome weapon flexibility that is independent of what class you initially choose. The effect on power recharge time, as well as stats like capacity and power, can then be influenced somewhat by dumping credits into expensive weapon upgrades available on the Normandy as well as changeable, modular ones (which subtly alter weapon appearance) that can be found in the game’s usual small, haphazard network of kiosks. But tragically, the weight system is terribly biased in favor of certain weapon types — especially assault rifles and SMGs. While every category has a great variety of choices that offer some balance between power, weight, ammo capacity and fire rate, the heavy pistols — while far cheaper to upgrade and still packing their much needed punch in a pinch — never get their weight down enough to ever justify choosing them over some mix of upgraded primary weapons. Adding to this is the pair of late-game semi-auto assault rifles with median weights that, especially when upgraded, exceed the power of the heavy top tier snipers with a quick double-tap; combined with the exceedingly useful scope zoom upgrade that can be applied to any weapon, snipers are rendered completely obsolete, and upgraded pistols worth using inexplicably weigh as much or more than an upgraded primary. Despite the unparalleled variety and attractiveness of weapons in “ME3,” the creative mix-and-match is just bottlenecks and narrows as one’s choices increase. It’s quite a mess.

See MASS EFFECT on Page 7

Thursday, April 5, 2012

The Daily Beacon • 7

ARTS&CULTURE

Transgendered contestant allowed in pageant The Associated Press

Tara Sripunvoraskul • The Daily Beacon

Brandon Swinford, junior in psychology, plays the hand drums while tabling for the Volunteer Vine on Nov. 2, 2011.

MASS EFFECT continued from Page 6 Unfortunately, overall combat feedback is somehow less intuitive than it was “ME2.” Instead of moving forward by making effects more noticeable and consistent, Bioware has turned on its heel and marched confidently backwards. Marginal numerical, decimal and percent changes applied to anything from armor upgrades to all random bonuses are supposed to inform us of small increases in things like damage, health and radius when there is absolutely no central aggregate amount giving us the total. Worse, there is simply nothing to compare the numbers to.

What’s especially negligent is how when upgrading powers and abilities you get to choose largely between total damage and

recharge speed (in increasing percentiles) when recharge speed is determined overwhelmingly by the weapons you’re carrying, making it hard to calculate how your hardearned drop-in-the-bucket bonuses will help a fraction as much as taking your useless pistol off will. Bars give a non-aggregate visual of sorts for how close a stat is to it’s maximum for an ability or power when dumping points into upgrades, but it all remains regrettably abstract.

Continuing with this tirade about feedback, there aren’t really any new power combos in “ME3,” and the ones that remain, like manually igniting a biotic Singularity with Warp, are infuriatingly glitchy, inconsistent, impotent, and hard to execute.

This renders biotics and their interactions with other kinetic moves (like Concussive Shotting float-

ing bad guys off cliffs and such) — physics so satisfying and solid in “ME2” and some of the best innovations of the series — flaccid and nearly useless.

Remember Jack’s Shockwave in ME2 and how, no matter if you increased force, range or radius, shieldless foes just flew around everywhere?

And you could at least how your upgrade choices affected its performance?

When upgraded to its maximum from the start of “ME3,” everything about it — from the nerfed animation and sound effect that you see rather than hear and feel, to its limp physics — just feel boring and indirect by comparison.

And it doesn’t matter if you deck out Concussive Shot with armor piercing effects, 100 percent more damage to frozen foes, and max its paltry damage physics-based moves now just take a backseat to

moves like Overload that make things easier to kill with weapons.

In contrast, weapons do a great deal more damage than powers, their upgrades have dramatic, noticeable effects, and their placement on Shepard all but determines whether the same fully upgraded power will take 11 seconds or 33 seconds to recharge. Sure, the combat is still challenging and fun its own right, but the powers feel like afterthoughts amateurishly tacked on. The same decision making body responsible for the opinion that “console gamers are stupid and don’t want to think” is probably responsible for this irresponsibly amateurish direction.

“Mass Effect 3” is great.

The ending, mixed with the shallow gameplay, take

LOS ANGELES — A boy who became a girl got her wish to compete for title of hottest woman on the planet after Donald Trump said she could compete for Canada’s spot in the Miss Universe pageant.

Trump, who runs the Miss Universe Organization, issued a statement Tuesday wishing Jenna Talackova “the best of luck in her quest for the crown.” The statement came the same day that Talackova and her attorney Gloria Allred urged the organization to clarify its gender requirements.

The organization said it actually made the decision Monday to let the 23-year-old Talackova compete in the 2012 competition to become Canada’s contestant.

The organization said Talackova could enter the pageant “provided she meets the legal gender recognition requirements of Canada, and the standards established by other international competitions.” No further details were provided.

Earlier Tuesday, Talackova and her attorney Gloria Allred urged the organization to clarify its position, and displayed a copy of Talackova’s passport, which lists her as female, as do her birth certificate and driver’s license.

Talackova, a Vancouver resident, underwent a sex change four years ago after being born a male.

Her sex change initially led organizers in Canada to disqualify her from the 61st Miss Universe Canada pageant in May, citing a rule that she must be “naturally born” a woman.

Talackova pleaded with the pageant's leaders to drop the rule.

a big chunk out of the experience, but ultimately they can’t spoil the core Mass Effect experience. I went into the game openly, honestly (no DLC), with no spoilers, and I recommend the same. Bioware, also, has already promised to work on more endings

— which might make a game worth experiencing again worth experiencing again without fear of having to stab your eyes out when you get to the ending again.

No rating due to pending variables.

8 • The Daily Beacon

Thursday, April 5, 2012

THESPORTSPAGE

Sunseri: ‘We can be pretty good’ Riley Blevins Staff Writer While the Volunteers’ defense will field all but two starters from last year’s team, the unit will look different with first-year defensive coordinator Sal Sunseri at the helm.

Sunseri is in the process of putting in place a 3-4 scheme, which he believes will give life to a squad that allowed 30 or more points in four games last season.

“It’s extremely different,” Sunseri said. “You’re playing on top of a tight end or uncovered. It’s a multiple front, which covers a lot of stuff. If they can learn this scheme we have in place, they have a good chance at success.”

Sunseri said the task of installing a new defensive scheme comes with its trials.

“It’s tough,” he said. “But, it’s like anything else in life, it’s tough. It’s hard to both coach and for the players to grasp the concept. Once you understand the concept, that’s when progress is made — easier said than done, though. If you understand the concept and how you fit into it, then you’re set.

It’s all about figuring out who can grasp the concepts first and fill the spot best.”

However, the front isn’t the only thing changing on the defensive side of the ball for the Vols.

“I think like anything else, it’s more than the technique and

front that is different,” said Sunseri. “Our mentality and how we want them to play each of their positions is different. We’re going to have a whole new mindset this year and be a lot more aggressive and closer to people.”

With the team’s depth improving from last season, Sunseri believes personnel will be in no shortage.

“We got a lot of young kids coming in that will have to give us some depth,” said Sunseri. “At the same time, we have lots of guys returning and we get (Herman Lathers) back.”

Headed by sophomore linebacker A.J. Johnson, who led all SEC freshmen last season with 80 tackles, the defense will also be reunited with senior linebacker Lathers, who did not play last season due to a fractured ankle he suffered in June.

“I think we’re pleased on our talent levels on both sides of the ball,” said offensive coordinator Jim Chaney. “We have a great group of kids and this staff is excited to coach this group of kids.”

Following a busy offseason that saw the addition of seven new assistant coaches, Sunseri feels spring practice is off to a relatively smooth start.

“It’s been a unique experience for them,” said Sunseri.

“Lots of commotion in the offseason and a new look, but I think they’re enjoying it and learning it. After 15 days once they go back and look at the progress form Day 1 to Day 15, they’re gonna say, you know what, we can be pretty good if we know our stuff and all do what we’re supposed to do.”

George Richardson • The Daily Beacon

A.J. Johnson makes a leaping tackle on a Vanderbilt player during a game on Nov. 19, 2011. Johnson, who led SEC freshmen last year with 80 tackles, returns to the field for the Vols’ defense under new direction from Sal Sunseri.

Chaney high on quarterbacks Patrick MacCoon Staff Writer On Wednesday morning Tennessee football assistant coaches talked to the media for the first time this spring and had much praise as well as high expectations for their players in the upcoming season.

While much of the hoopla surrounding the first week of spring practice was centered around the defense getting into the new scheme of things in defensive coordinator Sal Sunseri’s new 3-4 defense, other coaches really liked what they have seen so far on the offensive side of the football.

One area that the coaches are extremely pleased with is the quarterback position, which is led by junior Tyler Bray.

“I’m tickled to death with them (quarterbacks),” offensive coordinator Jim Chaney said. “I don’t think we have a guy in our room that can’t play in the SEC. My job is to keep developing them one day at a time and make as much competition in that room as I possibly can.”

Bray, who ranks seventh in career passing touchdowns in program history with 35, should provide a huge help to sophomore quarterback Justin Worley and four-star incoming freshman Nathan Peterman.

Worley threw for 604 yards and one touchdown while completing 48-of-67 passes last season filling in for Bray while he was out with a fractured thumb. Peterman comes into UT after being rated the eighth best pro-style quarterback in the 2012 recruiting class.

“I wouldn’t trade this group for anything,” Chaney said.

Not only does the quarterback position look in good hands, but the running back position looks to be in the same boat with first year coach and former Vol running back Jay Graham hoping to get UT’s running game back to a threat in the SEC. Sophomore back Marlin Lane returns as the team’s leading rusher from last season in which he carried the ball 75 times totaling 280 yards and two touchdowns. However, the Vols have a lot of work to do this spring in the running game as they only averaged 2.7 yards per carry.

They also came in at 116th in the country in the country in rushing yards per game (90.1).

“I think 5 yards per carry is always important to get to and that’s always the mark you want to get to,” Graham said. “But also managing the run game on first down you want to get it to second and choice downs where you have an option to run and pass.”

Other backs that will compete for a spot this spring are expected to be sophomores Rajion Neal and Tom Smith. Incoming freshman recruits Alden Hill and Davante Bourque will compete for spots as well.

“I think every guy has to strive to be an every-down back,” Graham said. “I don’t want to be in a situation where I have to put different guys in to do different things we have to be good at everything.”

The running game and the lineup front for the Vols go hand in hand and will have to both be on the top of their game this year if they want to get back to the ground-and-pound game that has been UT’s staple.

Senior Dallas Thomas, who is listed at tackle but is being experimented with at the guard position this spring, will be expected to lead up front for the Vols as he has started in 25 straight games over the last two seasons.

Junior Zach Fulton will be back in full pads

soon; he was out with a stress fracture in his foot that he suffered in offseason workouts.

“I want to play obviously the best five guys we have,” said offensive line coach Sam Pittman. “We went over the depth chart the other day and we felt like we’ve got the guys in the right spot in order to help us win.”

Perhaps the position with the most depth on the team is the receiving corps, which will be ecstatic to have a healthy junior receiver Justin Hunter back for the season. He and fellow junior Da’Rick Rogers are expected to be one of the country’s top duos at wide receiver.

On top of that the Vols will also look for senior Zach Rogers to continue to bring his leadership skills to the field and expect five-star JUCO incoming recruit Cordarrelle Patterson to make an instant impact on the gridiron.

Tight end Mychal Rivera returns as the team’s second leading receiver from a year ago in which he caught 29 passes for 344 yards.

All in all the offense for the 2012 Vols looks in good hands as they return with a great deal of experience, with 10 returning starters, and they are being coached by a coaching staff that Dooley believes is the best he has been a part of since being at UT.