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‘Game of Thrones’ abolishes stereotypes

Get to know Lady Vol Melissa Brown

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

PAGE 10 T H E

Issue 57

E D I T O R I A L L Y

PUBLISHED SINCE 1906 http://utdailybeacon.com

Vol. 119

I N D E P E N D E N T

S T U D E N T

N E W S P A P E R

O F

T H E

U N I V E R S I T Y

PAGE 5 O F

T E N N E S S E E

Campus evangelist passes away Lauren Kittrell News Editor After battling colon cancer for many years, former campus evangelist, Sal Mattson, died at the age of 53 on Good Friday, April 6. A funeral service was held on Monday at First Baptist Church Powell in his honor. As seen on campus day in and day out, Mattson served as a mentor and friend to many students at UT. While his formal title might have been “street preacher” or “campus evangelist,” Mattson became a part of the campus and students’ lives as he shared his Christian faith day in and day out while people walked to and from classes. Brett Lewis, junior in material science and engineering, said that Mattson was not only a mentor, but also a friend. Lewis said Mattson’s life was a life of faith. “(Mattson) loved God and loved people unconditionally,” Lewis said. “As he was terminal with cancer, he told me that he wanted the students to know that he loved God with his whole heart and never lost faith. His faith increased as his death got closer. He finished well. His prayer was that the students at Tennessee would know the love of God and turn from their sin.” Greg Billings, junior in computer science with a minor in business, admired Mattson’s gentle presence and desire to befriend the students on campus rather than offend • Photo courtesy of Katy Campen/The Volunteer Review them. Billings said Mattson’s kind heart and positive Sal Mattson, right, poses with Teddy Strunk on the Pedestrian Mall in this photo on Oct. 1, 2010. Mattson, best outlook was radically different than many street evangelknown for his preaching on the Pedestrian Mall, passed away on Good Friday after years of battling colon cancer. ists and made his views more attractive. “He really brought a positive light to campus, espesaid. “The nice thing about Sal was, that dedication didn’t way. cially when viewed alongside the more radical street show through screaming at people or hassling them like “When I first saw Sal preaching my freshman year I preachers,” Billings said. “He had a kind heart and a love our view of most street preachers. He was polite to the thought to myself, ‘Well, there’s one of the nut jobs I was for God and spreading His word. He’ll be missed by many people that talked to him. He would spend time with each told to watch out for.’ However, I noticed that Sal changed on campus.” person, get to know them, ask them about their life, what each year and this past year I really grew to respect the Along with the many students Mattson met and con- their major was, etc. He was an example of someone who guy. Here he was, battling colon cancer, having five kids at versed with on the street, Mattson had a “text group,” to honestly cared about the people he talked to, enough that home, yet he was on campus almost every day talking to which he frequently sent encouraging texts. In his last he wasn’t trying to ‘convert’ you, he was trying to become people and handing out tracts. He really cared about text to Billings, Mattson said he was at peace with his lot your friend, to be there for you.” everyone on campus and he was dedicated not only to his in life. Billings said that, while he tries to keep an open mind family but to us as well.” “I asked my Father if He was going to heal me,” to idea-sharing, many street preachers tend to overstep Mattson faced opposition from many students on camMattson’s text said. “Today, He said no, through John boundaries. He said that while it’s hard to tell where the pus, but he never failed to come and share with anyone 14:28. I have Peace. Love Sal.” who would listen. Zach Varnell, graduate in environmenline should be drawn, Mattson seemed to understand. Billings said one of the most notable aspects of “I do know there is a polite and appropriate way for tal studies, said that Mattson’s love for the people who Mattson was his desire to share the gospel and his love students and visitors to share their opinions and Sal tried opposed him was unwavering. and care for others. Mattson’s humble personality and his his best to always take that route. He didn’t haggle you, he “One thing that marked Sal was that his love for God care for others affected Billings more than anything. was always respectful, and if you didn’t want to talk to showed itself in his unconditional love for the students, “Not only was Sal one of the most respectable people him he didn’t try to force you to,” Billings said. “He was even the ones who ridiculed him,” Varnell said. “That’s I’ve ever met, but he was dedicated to his cause,” Billings an example of how to share your opinions in a respectful why he was there every day.”

Panel discusses LGBTQ issues with students Victoria Wright Student Life Editor

Tara Sripunvoraskul • The Daily Beacon

iO Tillet Wright photographs UT students during a national photo project on surrounding LGBTQ image March 3. Amnesty International held a discussion panel on Wednesday to discuss the current state of LGBTQ rights and the issues faced in changing viewpoints in the South.

Amnesty International at UT held an LGBTQ discussion panel Wednesday in the IHouse Great Room as part of their second annual Human Rights Week. Though this year’s theme covered a spectrum of victims who suffered from injustice, Amnesty members said the discussion was held in the advent of recent Tennessee legislation against people on the LGBTQ spectrum, particularly the passing of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Four panelists sat in front of about 20 students and answered questions about LGBTQ rights in their particular field of work. The panelists also divulged their personal experiences as being LGBTQ both on and off campus. Despite the popular belief of historic Southern sentiment against diversity, the panelists

agreed that general UT attitude towards LGBTQ people is positive. “When I applied to the university, I consciously made the decision that I wasn’t going to hide who I was,” Scott Eldredge, Ph.D. candidate and panelist, said. “I thought at the time I was taking a risk. It’s been very open and accepting.” Panelist Caitlin Miller shared her relief when she arrived at the university from a small school where any expression of LGBTQ affiliation was unorthodox and nearly forbidden. “People at my school did not understand anything diverse,” Miller, junior in philosophy, said. “They didn’t know anything that wasn’t 100 percent straight.” Regardless of the panelists’ warm feelings toward campus acceptance, the state legislation does not share the school’s agreeableness. See LGBTQ on Page 3

Governor likely to sign bill The Associated Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Gov. Bill Haslam said Monday it would probably be close to the signing deadline before he decided whether to sign a bill to protect teachers who allow students to criticize evolution and other scientific theories, such as global warming. The deadline is Tuesday. The Republican governor can also veto the measure or let it become law without his signature. He has said he would probably sign it. Last week, Haslam was handed a petition with more than 3,000 signatures urging him to veto the legislation, which encourages critical thinking by protecting teachers from discipline if they help students critique “scientific weaknesses.” It passed the Senate 24-8 last month and 70-23 in the House last year. Haslam said the petition had an impact, but he also noted the support for the

bill in the Legislature. “It passed 3-to-1 in the House and the Senate, so you take that into account, as well,” he said. Scientists in Tennessee and the American Association for the Advancement of Science say evolution is established science that shouldn’t be taught as a controversy. The petition effort is led by Vanderbilt University Professor Larisa Desantis, who conducts research and educates students on both evolution and climate change. She wrote in a letter to the governor that the legislation would hurt students. “If this bill is signed into law, students in schools throughout Tennessee will receive a very different message, and will suffer the consequences,” she wrote. “Scientific literacy is an increasingly important factor for college acceptance and job prospects.” Critics deride the legislation as the “monkey bill” for once again attacking evolution.


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