Wednesday, April 20, 2022 - Hard Knox Life

Volume 141, Issue 12 Wednesday, April 20, 2022

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IT’S A

HARD KNOX LIFE College campuses are overrun with underage drinking, drugs, robberies and other crimes.

How can you stay safe and aware in Knoxville?

Bella Hughes / The Daily Beacon

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HARD KNOX LIFE

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, April 20, 2022

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Letter from the Editors: It’s a Hard Knox Life SARAH RAINEY, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND CALEIGH ROZMENOSKI, MANAGING EDITOR

It’s a hard Knox life, y’all.

For this special edition of The Daily Beacon, we decided to pay homage to a 2016 edition of the Beacon entitled “It’s a Hard Knox Life” — which was actually a Halloween version our publication — but to put our own spin on what we were featuring. While ours is not debuting on Halloween, that does not make the crime and other activities mentioned any less frightening.

It is a well-known fact that college campuses are hot spots for underage drinking and other, similar illicit activities. College students are oftentimes the poster children for partying and acting rebelliously. However, there are also more serious criminal activities occurring all around us whether we are aware of them or not.

Off the top of our heads, in the four years we have been at UT, there have been reports of

shootings, assaults, missing traffic cones, kidnappings, armed robberies and even jaywalking — before the pandemic, UTPD would often issue citations when people chose to cross Volunteer Blvd. before the walk signs indicated that it was safe to do so.

There would be weeks where it seemed that we received UT Alerts or Clery Compliance reports nearly every day, and then sometimes we would go months without receiving any notification that some sort of crime had occurred.

While these crimes have ranged from minor to major, it is important to talk about the fact that crime is occurring on UT’s campus and in the Knoxville community. It is best to be prepared and aware before it happens and to also know what steps to take after the fact.

It can be frightening to be in a dangerous situation and not know what to do or who to reach out to. Luckily, UT has systems and policies in place to help negate that fear.

In this special edition, The Daily Beacon has focused on criminal activities occurring on campus and in the surrounding area. There is infor-

mation ranging from how to spot the signs of stalking, to the resources offered by the Office of Title IX, to the rebranding of the popular bar on Cumberland Ave. from “Uptown” to “Yesterdays,” to the recent onslaught of car burglaries and thefts and more.

These are serious issues that we are facing here at UT and in Knoxville, and we need to put our best feet forward to stay aware and alert, and also to take the necessary actions after crimes have occurred.

Unfortunately, we cannot always control whether we are affected by crime or not, no matter how many precautions we take.

Along with the more obvious crime-filled pieces, there are also some different types of content mentioned, such as apps to consult for sports betting, a new state law regarding “divisive concepts” in higher education along with others.

We hope that you enjoy this special crimefilled edition of the Beacon, and that you take away the important information distributed to you. You never know when you might need it.

A look at some of the most recent crimes on UT’s 60-Day Crime Log Incident Description

Date/Time Occurred

Incident Location

Public Intoxication, Warrant Served, Fugitive from Justice

04/16/22 2241

799 22nd St

Theft $2500-$10,000

04/14/22 1925-04/14/22 2105

3500 Sutherland Ave.

Domestic Assault

04/17/22 1230

Highland Ave.

Aggravated Assault

04/16/22 2241

2135 Cumberland Ave.

Burglary

03/30/22 2330-03/31/22 0930

1200 Laurel Ave.

Vandalism

03/29/22 2338-03/30/22 0004

1735 Lake Ave.

Drug Law Violation

03/30/22 2223

Clarence Brown Theatre

Motor Vehicle Theft

03/03/22 0300-03/03/22 0400

2309 Laurel Ave.

Harassment

Liquor Law Violation

03/29/22 1151-03/29/22 1223

03/29/22 0103

On Campus Location

Stokely Hall

HARD KNOX LIFE

Wednesday, April 20, 2022 • The Daily Beacon

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5 apps to check out for sports betting opportunities MACKENZI DAVIS Staff Writer

gambling apps in the country. The minimum deposit required is $10 and the first bet is riskfree — even if they lose the bet, they get something in return.

There are millions of people across the United States tuning into sports events each day.

These high-profile sports include football, basketball, soccer and many more. In recent years, viewers have been able to add a new element of anticipation to their viewing experience through sports betting.

Sports betting is currently legal in 30 states, including Tennessee, with certain platforms only being legal in up to 18 states.

Sports gambling has been around since sports existed, especially in the past with horse racing. In modern America, there are easy and accessible ways for people to participate in sports betting through apps. There are now a variety of different apps for people to use for their betting, and these apps are advertised all across media platforms.

BetMGM One of the most advertised sports betting apps is BetMGM. On any given day, one may come across the famous ad featuring entertainer Jamie Foxx. BetMGM began in 2018 and has since become one of the most popular

FanDuel Similar to BetMGM, FanDuel offers a riskfree first bet of up to $1,000 with a minimum of a $10 deposit. This platform is most known for its many different types of betting, including spreads, parlays, props, money lines, over/ under and in-game bets. They accept most types of payment options and most refunds are processed in under 24 hours.

DraftKings This sports betting app offers thousands of ways to bet with a minimum deposit of $1.

DraftKings offers up to a $1,000 bonus when new customers sign up. There are more than 18 sports available for customers to bet on. Customers can expect easy withdrawals of their winnings on this gambling site.

Caesars Sportsbook This platform offers up to $1,000 and $100 insurance on a user’s first bet. Users can bet

Fans in Neyland Stadium as the Vols play the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021. Alexandra Ashmore / The Daily Beacon up to this amount on their first bet and even if they lose, they receive a refund in the form of a free bet. The minimum bet that can be placed on this app is $10. On Caesars Sportsbook, customers can expect Caesars Rewards with wins and even losses.

Underdog Fantasy With a minimum bet of $1, users can enjoy this sports gambling platform with up to $100 back if they are dissatisfied with the service.

Underdog Fantasy extends many different offers to intrigue customers, such as matching a user’s first deposit up to $100 and 20 times their money back if they get five picks correct.

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HARD KNOX LIFE

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Stalking: How to spot the signs, what to do if it happens to you KYRA BOGDAN Copy Chief

Stalking is a very serious issue that affects approximately 7.5 million people each year in the United States, according to the Stalking Resource Center. College students are at the highest risk of stalking and are overall underinformed about what stalking is and how often it actually happens. An estimated 15% of women and 6% of men have been victims of stalking during their lifetimes.

On the Center for Health, Education and Wellness (CHEW) website, there is a section for statistics on stalking, domestic violence and dating violence. Since there is some ambiguity surrounding the definition of stalking, CHEW provided one for the university: “Stalking is a pattern of behavior that makes you feel afraid, nervous, harassed or in danger.”

Some “red flags” also located on the website include waiting for the victim, leaving unwanted gifts, following or spying, knowing the schedule of the victim, showing up at places the victim goes and calling or texting repeatedly.

In order to spot stalking and prevent it, it is important to understand when stalking occurs.

While movies or TV shows sometimes depict stalkers to be strangers to their victims, such as in the popular Netflix drama “You,” stalkers are actually often past romantic partners or people once considered a friend who ultimately engage in stalking behavior. According to CHEW, “66% of female victims and 41% of male victims of stalking are stalked by a current or former intimate partner.”

... stalkers are often past romantic partners or people once considered a friend ...

KYRA BOGDAN COPY CHIEF

A current student provided their thoughts and experiences with stalking on UT’s campus.

They provided insight into their previous relationship with their stalker.

The student requested to remain anonymous in order to protect themselves out of fear for their safety on campus. In order to satisfy this request of anonymity, this student will be referred to as Anonymous.

“The person stalking me was actually someone I went to high school with,” Anonymous said. “We had some of the same friends so sometimes we would hang out, but we weren’t particularly close. ... It started with unwanted gifts and progressed into other uncomfortable

Another option is the Stalking Resource Center, which can be reached at 855-4842846. If you need immediate assistance, the Victim Connect Helpline, provided above, can give you information and referrals for victims of all crime.

The last option on this list is the UTK Student Counseling Center. They can be contacted at 865-974-2196 Monday through Friday and 865-974-HELP on weekends and holidays.

The Student Counseling Center is the “university’s primary facility for personal counseling, psychotherapy and mental health outreach and consultation services.” They are a good way to receive help and counseling for any and all events regarding stalking incidents or otherwise.

Non-confidential contacts

Graphic courtesy of the Office of Title IX situations.”

According to Title IX, a “red flag” is a warning sign. These are behaviors that cross boundaries. It may even start as something that feels like a compliment but may quickly escalate.

This can often happen with people you know well, and if the signs are there, it is unsafe to ignore them.

When asked if they realized the behavior was stalking, Anonymous said, “I had a feeling it was stalking. I even talked to our mutual friend about his behavior. He even said it was stalking until I told him who was doing it. Then he changed his mind, and said it wasn’t.”

Anonymous also spoke on the awareness of stalking and what they think the university could do to help students become more conscious of this issue in order to better prevent it from escalating.

“I think (being more aware of stalking) would’ve helped. I never really considered it when it was happening until it had progressed to a point of being incredibly uncomfortable and anxious on campus. I feel UT could maybe put out some warning signs of stalking or behaviors that kinda make it more known.”

When asked about what they would say to someone experiencing stalking behavior, Anonymous said, “I would tell them if the behavior is ongoing and makes you uncomfortable to be on campus, and you’re scared they’ll be around the corner, talk to someone — tell UTPD. It’s not easy to prevent stalking, but definitely draw hard boundaries and don’t be afraid to not back down on those boundaries.”

There are a number of resources to help if you are concerned that you or a friend may be experiencing stalking. If there are any immediate safety concerns, the first call should be

to contact the police. Other than that, though, UT’s Title IX Coordinator Ashley Blamey has provided a multitude of numbers to contact for confidential and non-confidential support.

Confidential contacts The Family Justice Center (FJC) can be reached at 865-521-6336. Their mission is to “facilitate a coordinated and comprehensive approach to ending family violence through collaboration, education and advocacy.” FJC can assist with Orders of Protection and safety planning.

The non-confidential numbers are the UT Police, which can be contacted at 865-9743111 and the Office of Title IX, which can be contacted at 865-974-9600.

If you or a friend reach out to Title IX, there are a variety of ways they can support you. Just a few examples of how they can help are providing medical care, counseling and other support from the university — which are available even if the incident was not reported to law enforcement.

Another way they can provide support is by issuing a mutual no-contact directive between the complainant and respondent, which prohibits both parties from having verbal, physical or written contact with each other for a definite or indefinite period of time. These are just a few examples of how Title IX can help, and they encourage any student seeking guidance after an incident to reach out. If you want to know more, check out their website at titleix.utk.edu.

The University of Tennessee sign on the Ped Walkway bridge. File / The Daily Beacon

HARD KNOX LIFE

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, April 20, 2022

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4 date rape drug warning signs that could save a life AUTUMN HALL Staff Writer

the hospital to receive medical attention.

Feeling more drunk than usual

Socializing as a college student can be a great way to relax and meet others. However, it can sometimes be difficult to navigate the collegeparty atmosphere safely. 11% of women and 6% of men have fallen victim to drink spiking, and this number continues to grow each year.

Because of their lack of odor and color, date rape drugs often go unnoticed by their victims.

Products such as reusable drink covers and drug detection tablets can help to provide an extra level of protection against these harmful substances.

This level of protection is not always flawless, nor is it openly available to everyone, so it is also important to keep track of potential warning signs in order to ensure the safety of yourself and others.

Dizziness When drinking alcohol, it can be difficult to differentiate between normal and irregular dizziness. If you suddenly feel extremely dizzy or lightheaded after drinking, notify a friend and try to leave the social event if possible. If symptoms progress, do not hesitate to go to

If you are drinking and you feel unusually heightened effects such as slurred speech, sweating or blurred vision, it is important to tell someone you trust immediately.

Many spikers find this the easiest way to get away with spiking a drink because the symptoms are almost parallel to alcohol intake symptoms. By the time an individual notices, it is often too late to take action, so it is a good idea to keep these red flags on your radar.

Hallucinations After being spiked, many individuals have reported seeing or feeling things that are not actually there.

Hallucinations are uncharacteristic of alcohol consumption, so if you find yourself hallucinating after only drinking alcohol, this is a strong sign that your drink has been spiked, and you should seek professional help immediately.

Confusion If you feel confused or are unable to remember anything after a night of light to moderate

Two red solo cups and a Four Loko, an alcoholic beverage. File / The Daily Beacon drinking, this may be a sign that your drink was spiked.

Although many individuals experience blackouts or memory lapses while drinking alcohol in large quantities, this level of forgetfulness should not occur if you are drinking in moderation. If you believe that you have been drugged and do not find out until after the fact, medical professionals can check for trace

amounts of the drug or perform forensic examinations.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, with or without the use of date rape drugs, there are resources that can help.

The University of Tennessee Office of Title IX can be reached at 865-974-9600 or titleix@ utk.edu, and the National Sexual Assault Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-656-4673.

UT Amnesty Policy: Be the Vol, good samaritan and the impaired student CALEIGH ROZMENOSKI Managing Editor

er emergency medical assistance is required for a student that is suffering effects of substance abuse. Alcohol poisoning can be fatal, and it is necessary to act quickly. UT’s Center for Health Education and Wellness teaches the acronym CUPS – meaning cold skin, unresponsive, puking and slow breathing – as a way to recognize these symptoms.

Depending on who you ask, many people might say that the university is considered a party school, whether it’s our location, our size, our status as an SEC school or for some other reason.

Unfortunately, this carries with it the issues of underage drinking, alcohol abuse and other illicit activities. However, UT has various programs and policies in place to combat this, including its Amnesty Policy.

Why? Again, instances of alcohol and substance abuse can be fatal. The Amnesty Policy exists to prevent any formal disciplinary action. If one chooses to do nothing, they are no longer protected from the policy and can face whatever disciplinary action the university sees fit – which could potentially be expulsion.

What?

UT, through the Division of Student Life, has in place an Amnesty Policy. This policy protects both the “good samaritan” and “impaired student” from formal disciplinary punishment when they find themselves in a situation involving the abuse of alcohol or other drugs.

In the 2021 Student Code of Conduct under section 12.1, the Amnesty Policy is expounded on: “The University of Tennessee holds paramount the health, safety and welfare of students. Accordingly, all University students are expected to alert appropriate officials in the event of a health, safety, or welfare emergency

How?

Courtesy of the UT Division of Student Life including, without limitation, a situation involving the abuse of alcohol or other drugs.”

According to UT, a good samaritan is a student that seeks out help for the impaired student. Likewise, an impaired student is any student in need of emergency assistance because

of alcohol or other substance abuse. This policy also applies to student organizations.

When?

It is important to utilize this policy whenev-

The actual process for utilizing the Amnesty Policy is fairly similar and has been broken down into four steps. These steps have been created from the standpoint that you are the good samaritan aiding the impaired student.

To view the full Student Code of Conduct, you can visit studentconduct.utk.edu.

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HARD KNOX LIFE

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, April 20, 2022

New state law targets ‘divisive concepts’ in higher education DANIEL DASSOW Campus News Editor

On April 8, Gov. Bill Lee signed into law a bill meant to protect students and employees of public institutions of higher education from being penalized for “refusal to support, believe, endorse, embrace, confess, act upon or otherwise assent to one or more divisive concepts,” according to the languageof the bill.

The legislation lays out a list of 16 “divisive concepts,” which include race or sex-based privilege, scapegoating or stereotyping, as well as the notion that Tennessee or the United States is fundamentally racist or sexist. State legislators say the law is meant to correct a trend towards race and sex-based division and discrimination in higher education.

Many of the concepts mirror those included in legislation from last summer prohibiting public K-12 schools from including or promoting certain concepts surrounding race and sex in the classroom.

While the new law does not place a restriction on what can be taught in college classrooms, a restriction widely viewed as unconstitutional, it falls into place alongside a spate of bills targeting critical race theory in education.

One divisive concept enumerated in the bill which appears to imitate the language of certain critical race theorists states that “the rule of law does not exist, but instead is a series of power relationships and struggles among racial or other groups.”

The new law provides a path for students and employees of UT to take legal action against the university or against instructors if they feel they have been penalized, received adverse treatment, been denied promotion or graduation or have been turned down for a job for not endorsing divisive concepts.

Much of the criticism of the bill has centered on the fragility of a set-up where students can pursue legal action against an instructor or report an instructor based on their feelings in a classroom setting.

I just think legislating feelings is a scary place to go.

GLORIA JOHNSON HOUSE FLOOR REPRESENTATIVE

Members of UTK College Democrats pictured with Tennessee State House Representative Gloria Johnson at her home in 2019. Courtesy of Amanda Taylor During a time of questioning on the House floor, Rep. Gloria Johnson, Democrat representing the 13th District in Knox County, was joined by other representatives in questioning the effects of the legislation over free speech and freedom of instruction in the classroom.

Johnson, an alumna of UT, expressed concern that the law could easily be abused by students who hold a grievance against an instructor.

“I remember in my philosophy class in college, feeling incredibly uncomfortable and even some anguish at some of the topics we were discussing related to women, related to race. But we were doing it in order to understand the different types of philosophies and it ended up being one of my favorite courses,” Johnson said. “I just think legislating feelings is a scary place to go.”

The law prohibits mandatory diversity trainings for students or employees that promote any of the divisive concepts included in the legislation. It also seeks to broaden the conception of diversity in higher education by requiring that all employees whose primary duties include promoting diversity work towards strengthening intellectual diversity.

Many faculty members spoke out with concerns that the new law was designed to weaken instruction on issues of race and sex and that it could harm especially non-tenure-track faculty whose jobs are more vulnerable to review.

To address these concerns, the Office of the Provost set up an online resource page that reaffirms the university’s commitment to academic freedom and details UT’s response to the law.

Chancellor Donde Plowman and Provost

John Zomchick wrote a joint statement for the page that stops short of openly criticizing the legislation, yet acknowledged that many faculty worry about a “chilling effect” on their academic freedom.

Echoing critics of the bill, the statement suggested that the indoctrination the legislation targets is not a problem at UT. “As a university that values free speech, challenging debate and the free expression of ideas, we do not indoctrinate. We discuss. We research. We listen. We educate,” the statement said.

“We want you to hear from us that your work is important and that we are here to support you. Teaching about challenging topics, including race and racism, is important to our university and to our society. The language of the new law specifically outlines protections for academic freedom and free speech — two things we will always vigorously work to protect.”

The resource page states that UT will begin conducting surveys to comply with a requirement in the law that public universities survey students’ and employees’ “comfort level in speaking freely on campus, regardless of political affiliation or ideology.”

While the page says that UT does not have many mandatory trainings, the university is assessing any such training to see if it includes any of the divisive concepts described in the bill.

Grace Nystrom, a sophomore studying cultural anthropology and political science and president of UTK College Democrats, said the new law could dampen free speech on divisive

concepts on campus.

“As a student in higher education it is disheartening to see this law that apparently disrupts diverse beliefs and perspectives. Higher education is a place for learning complex issues and part of that is discussing ‘divisive concepts,’” Nystrom said.

Much of the faculty and administrative response to the bill has criticized it as a solution to a problem that does not exist. Caesar Schanzenbach, junior studying political science and chairman of the UTK Conservative Coalition, said that UT President Randy Boyd suggested the law will have a small practical impact at UT when Boyd visited one of his classes.

“I personally believe that the new law is a non-issue both with respect to its exigence and content,” Schanzenbach said. “It should not be the case that any educational institution — primary, secondary or higher — should actively promote or require conceptual learning that seeks to put people down based on aspects of their very being, especially those which receive taxpayer funds, like our university.”

Though Schanzenbach said that critical race theory is not as present in higher education as this form of legislation suggests, he believes the law is “an insurance policy for civics-based public education.”

The new law exists within a broader context of educational reforms in the state government. In an effort to combat what he termed “anti-American thought” at colleges and universities, Gov. Bill Lee announced in January the creation of a $6 million “Institute of American Civics” at the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy on campus which will promote a civics education based on American exceptionalism and liberty.

I urge people who question the reach of the act to actually read its text.

CAESAR SCHANZENBACH CHAIRMAN OF UTK CONSERVATIVE COALITIAN

While critics of the new law believe it is an academically dangerous reaction to a nonexistent problem, its field of supporters say the reaction has been unnecessarily strong for a bill they believe is unlikely to have a strong effect on campus.

“I urge people who question the reach of the act to actually read its text,” Schanzenbach said. “Conservatives at UTK stand fully behind the banner of academic diversity and stand wholly against the racism and civic discord that the law helps to keep out of Tennessee classrooms.”

HARD KNOX LIFE

Wednesday, April 20, 2022 • The Daily Beacon

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OPINION: A Glance into the Highest Court: Crime in the Court

ANNA DOZIER Columnist

This column is normally about Supreme Court Justices’ opinions. However, this week I am taking a different approach. We are going to be diving into criminal or concerning accusations against the United States Supreme Court Justices.

All claims are previous or current accusations against standing Supreme Court Justices that have cause for major concern. Topics such as this can be belittled or covered up because of the judges high standings, but this is

something I believe should be brought to more people’s attention. These reach from the far right to the far left ranging from sexual assault to, what some people would call, unlawful leniency.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh, during his senate confirmation hearing, was accused of sexual harassment at different parties in the 1980s.

Deborah Ramirez came forward stating that Kavanaugh was very inappropriate and conducting unwanted actions towards her. Christine Blasey accused him of attempted rape at a party that brought many other women to come forward about their own sexual assault experiences. These events were allegedly witnessed and reported to the F.B.I, but nothing was investigated at the time.

It’s reported that the “republican-controlled senate had imposed strict limits on the investigation” and that they could not go forward with the investigation. Kavanaugh has since stood firm in his denial of any such conduct along with former President Donald Trump backing his story. Even since the 2020 elections, the democratic party has been outspoken on getting the truth out of Justice Kavanaugh.

The newest senate-confirmed justice, Ketanji Brown Jackson, faced some concerning accusations during her senate hearings. The main accusation was towards her previous sentences on child pornography. She is said to

have gone past the point of leniency as a judge deciding on sentences for people convicted of possessing pornography or attempted sexual abuse of a minor — which are two extreme criminal acts.

The Republican Party has concerns that she will not uphold the office correctly as she has a past of “letting people off the hook.” This is not a criminal accusation, but could still be very worrisome as she is now one of the highest decision makers in this country. Justice Jackson defended herself well and many have come to her defense. Only time will tell if she will represent her title without having leniency in extreme cases such as these.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett is involved with a faith-based organization, the People of Praise, that have numerous allegations against them involving emotional trauma and sexual assault. The victims of this group reached out to say “I can’t even explain how unfathomable it is that you would have a Supreme Court Justice who is a card-carrying member of this community.”

Since then, the organization has hired lawyers to protect themselves and more allegations have been rolling in. Justice Barrett claims her beliefs will not get in the way of her impartiality. But, her beliefs are what guide her to lean far right. It is cause for concern to see a community that her beliefs stem from be so heavily accused of criminal acts.

Justice Clarence Thomas also has sexual harassment claims against him. Anita Hill, who once worked as Thomas’ advisor, claims that he sexually harassed her during this time. After she came forward, she has received death threats and the utmost backlash, but she has never fallen back on her claims.

Justice Thomas has always denied such claims, but it is important to notice how quickly and harshly people are shut down when speaking out against people like Justice Thomas and other Supreme Court Justices, especially the ones mentioned in this article.

These are the people that decide the future of our country. These are the people that we depend on to impartially decide on the highest cases of our country. Whether these claims and allegations are true or not, they deserve to be investigated more than what has been done.

Our country deserves people who will represent the office of Supreme Court Justice to the highest and most honest extent.

Anna Dozier is a junior at UT this year studying political science and philosophy. She can be reached at adozier4@vols.utk.edu.

Columns and letters of The Daily Beacon are the views of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Beacon or the Beacon’s editorial staff.

Common crimes in Knoxville, at UT and how to stay informed MADELYN MUSCHEK City News Editor

According to alarms.org, Knoxville is one of the 10 least safe cities in Tennessee, with crime rates comparable to Chattanooga and Kingsport.

In an effort to keep citizens informed and aware, UTPD and the Knoxville Police Department (KPD) have established resources to promote transparency and awareness.

The UTK crime log is a tool for staying informed about crimes on the UT campus in the past 60 days and is organized in different categories: a description and date of the incident description, the date and time it was reported to UTPD, the incident number, the location of the incident — these can even be residence halls on campus — the name and addresses of those arrested (though this is not always listed) and the disposition, including an update column.

Signed in 1990, the Clery Act requires universities to disclose crimes that are committed on campus, including crimes of sexual violence. This act provides students and those involved with universities to have more transparency around the crimes happening on and

near campus, according to the Rape Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) website. This is what requires UT to have an up-to-date and transparent crime log.

The most common crimes on the 60-day UTK crime log are sexual crimes, like harassment, and drug and alcohol charges, such as liquor law violations and underage consumption. However, other common crimes include assault, vandalism and theft.

Here are some statistics for the month of April, as of April 18: There were 46 incidents reported so far this month. Of those, 18 were related to theft or burglary and nine were related to assault. The rest were scattered amongst categories including alcohol and drug charges, vandalism and weapons laws violations.

For example, the most recent crime reported to the UTK crime log occurred on Sunday, April 17, near Cumberland Avenue. According to the incident report, a man was arrested for DUI first offense, violation of implied consent, simple possession casual exchange and confiscation.

KPD deals with crimes that happen in Knoxville and the surrounding areas, which sometimes includes UT. It’s rare, but KPD will become involved in serious cases and crimes at UT, as well as in Fort Sanders.

The best ways to stay updated with KPD and

Photo of a UTPD car on campus. Edward Cruz/ The Daily Beacon active crimes, as well as missing persons, is to look at KPD’s Twitter, @Knoxville_PD. However, there are two other resources that are exceedingly helpful to stay informed, the Community Crime Map. The Community Crime Map is an interactive map that users can search by date and area to see what crimes have been committed around Knoxville and when. The map can also be set to different dates and times, which will show crimes in a specific year, and also by type of crime.

Crime Insight is a database that lists crimes committed in the state of Tennessee. There are options to filter by both city and county, as well as region — East, Middle, West. Here, users can see all crimes committed by category, and the categories given are a wide variety. There’s even a category just covering heroin and fentanyl.

Whether living on campus or in a Knoxville neighborhood, it’s important to stay informed, stay aware and above all, stay safe.

8

HARD KNOX LIFE

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Office of Title IX at UT offers safe space to report sex-based offenses SARAH RAINEY Editor-in-Chief

Fifty years ago, President Richard Nixon signed Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 into effect. According to the United States Department of Justice, the purpose of Title IX reads as follows: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation, in be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

On many college campuses across the country, there have been Offices of Title IX created for students to access the necessary resources and assistance regarding sex-based offenses.

In Aug. 2017, a Title IX office was created at the University of Tennessee, and it has been providing support, resources and training to the UT community ever since.

Ashley Blamey, UT’s Title IX coordinator, discussed what the office’s purpose is on UT’s campus. “... the university established the Office of Title IX to provide a comprehensive community approach to our Title IX responsibility,” Blamey said. “Each year the Office of Title IX publishes an Annual Report. Since the establishment of the office, our goals are to support transparency, increase awareness, highlight the work of our campus and community partners and ensure ongoing accountability. Our responsibility to the community is to show our work.”

As Blamey mentioned, the Office of Title IX’s Sexual Misconduct, Relationship Violence, Stalking and Retaliation Annual Report can be accessed by anyone. This title of the report gives more insight into the purpose of the office, and what exactly they have to offer.

With descriptions available on their website, Blamey said that UT’s Office of Title IX Commitment is “grounded in the social ecological model … (and) emphasizes five key areas.”

These areas include Policy, Prevention and Education, Supportive Measures, Investigation and Resolution and Patterns and Trends.

“Our goal is to prevent Sexual Harassment — including Sexual Assault, Dating Violence, Domestic Violence and Stalking — Sexual Exploitation and Retaliation before they happen,” Blamey said regarding the commitment of Prevention and Education.

Meanwhile, Blamey explained the office’s thought process behind the key area of Investigation and Resolution.

“Our commitments to due process, campus safety and encouraging reporting guide how we investigate and resolve reports,” Blamey said.

When it comes to reporting incidents to the Office of Title IX, the process is actually quite simple, and the staff can help students every step of the way.

Students need only contact the office either by phone, at 865-974-9600, or by email, at titleix@utk.edu. Whether something has happened to the student themselves or to a friend, they can contact the office “even if (they) are not sure of what next steps (they) might want to take,” according to Blamey.

“We can talk through the options generally or specific to the situation. Students who contact us decide how much information to share,” Blamey said. “Our goal is to make sure you know your rights, reporting options and supportive resources. If you decide to file a formal complaint, we will walk through the process and assist you in completing a formal complaint.”

Sometimes things may not always be cut and dry when it comes to reporting an incident, though. There can be confusion about which incidents to report, and whether to report them to the police, to the Office of Title IX or elsewhere. Blamey said that students should not be worried when it comes to reporting an incident — they need only take the first step and report it to someone.

“I always say — there is no wrong door. If you need help and aren’t sure where to go, we can talk through it. If it is not something we can address, we will find the right place. Generally speaking we address sex-based discrimination, needs for pregnant students and sexbased violence — sexual assault, domestic and dating violence and stalking,” Blamey said.

Graphic of the meaning behind VOLS A.C.T. Courtesy of the O�ce of Title IX

Ashley Blamey, coordinator of the O�ce of Title IX, sits by a collection of resources for students at an o�ce hours event on April 1, 2022. Ericksen Gomez-Villeda / The Daily Beacon

It can be frightening reporting an incident.

While all it takes is that step of telling someone, this can be a terribly daunting step to take.

Title IX Coordinator for Support Sarah Thomas offered reassurance for those looking to take this step.

“I want every student to know that talking with us does not predetermine next steps. Your involvement is always your choice,” Thomas said.

“Our job is to ensure you know what is available to you. Some students choose to receive supportive measures only. Some students prefer to connect with a community resource like the Sexual Assault Center of East Tennessee.

Some students want to file a complaint with the university and others want to report it to the police. All of those options are available and we are here to help.”

Along with being a safe space to report sexbased offenses, the Office of Title IX has several programs and training opportunities for anyone interested.

Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Prevention, Training and Evaluation Laura Bryant discussed these offerings at UT. “Both Title IX and the Center for Health Education and Wellness (CHEW) provide programming and training across these issues.

The three most requested training by the Office of Title IX are mandatory reporter training for employees, VOLS A.C.T. active bystander training for faculty, staff and graduate students and sexual harassment prevention training,” Bryant said. “The (CHEW) provides programs focused on consent, healthy relationships and active bystander for students.”

As for what these training sessions might entail, they are each based on the needs of the group who requested them and the group’s specific role(s) at the university, according to Bryant. For the highly requested VOLS A.C.T. active bystander training, this stands for,

“VOLS Acknowledge the situation, Consider their options and Take action.”

“The one-hour training prepares students, faculty and staff to respond if they see a concern. Our biggest resource in creating a safe community is our people,” Bryant said. “We need active bystanders in all of the places and spaces on campus and in our community.”

To schedule a VOLS A.C.T. training, check it out on the CHEW’s website under the “Request Programs & Materials” tab. Other training, discussing topics such as consent and alcohol education, can also be found here.

I always say, there is no wrong door. If you need help and aren’t sure where to go, we can talk through it.

ASHLEY BLAMEY O�ce of Title IX Coordinator

For those looking for a complete list of training sessions offered by the Office of Title IX, this can be found under the “Training” tab of UT’s Title IX website. People can also reach out to Bryant herself via email for specific training or programming requests at lbryant7@utk. edu.

Thomas also mentioned the support resources available to students through the office, which can be accessed even if someone decides not to report the incident to law enforcement or to file a formal complaint through the university.

STORY CONTINUED ONLINE Read more at utdailybeacon.com

HARD KNOX LIFE

Wednesday, April 20, 2022 • The Daily Beacon

9

UT Alert System quickly provides emergency awareness KAITLYN PILCHER Staff Writer

The University of Tennessee has various means to communicate with the campus community regarding dangerous situations and interruptions with daily operations. UT Alert is known as the emergency notification system used on campus to announce situations that may occur.

This system can be heard by outdoor voice messages on campus, emergency blue phones and Neyland speakers. Additionally, information is sent through text messages, emails, the campus homepage and posted on various social media websites. Furthermore, UT Alert text messages will take over any active computer monitor that has the Alertus client software downloaded, and it can also be sent to campus cable TV when appropriate.

Additionally, the campus is implementing the Integrated Public Warning System to send Wireless Emergency Alerts, which allows the campus to send alerts to all individuals within a geofenced area on campus. This allows for the campus to alert a specific area instead of the entire campus community and can also alert visitors who are not signed up in UT Alert.

When the situation that caused the alert has been sustained, an “all clear” notification will

be sent to the campus community. Additionally, “I’m Okay Polling” is an added feature that provides the ability for the campus to get accountability after an emergency.

A few examples of emergencies that would cause the use of the UT Alert are campus closures, fires, evacuations and criminal activity.

This alert system is mostly used to announce general information about an immediate situation that requires individual action.

UT freshman Sophia Hodges spoke on the safety alert system and how to use it to your advantage.

“The UT Alert is very useful for these types of events. Safety is important and it is mostly common sense. Always trust your instincts and do your research about being prepared. These things can happen to any of us,” Hodges said.

There are also other resources available that accompany the alert system.

For example, the LiveSafe app that is available for students and their families can be used to reach UT police, report incidents, virtually “walk” and “ride with” your contacts to their destinations and access important resources.

This app currently has 9,738 UT-affiliated registered users and has received positive feedback from those who have taken the initiative to become familiar with the app.

Additionally, one can visit UT’s emergency preparedness website to find important information on what actions to take during differ-

ent types of emergencies. You can also enroll in an Emergency Preparedness Training that is available in Canvas or view the different signages throughout buildings on campus that contain emergency information.

When asked about the benefits of the alert system and its other components, Brian Gard, the director of emergency management, provided his thoughts on the system.

“Mass notification provides awareness of an emergency early so that community members can take appropriate action. The size and variety of activities on a major campus like ours means that there is generally not one action that is right for everyone when an emergency occurs. UT Alert allows people to know of a potentially dangerous situation and apply that knowledge to their circumstances to make the best decision for their safety,” Gard said.

Safety is every individual’s personal responsibility and some emergency situations can be unavoidable. The alert system is used to let you know when such situations exist. However, it is up to you to decide how to react to information that is provided.

Gard provided some safety tips and awareness for students at the university that can help to prepare yourself and make sure you know what to do in an emergency.

“All adults need to be responsible for basic emergency preparedness in their life and need to know when and where to shelter, when to

UT alert texts can be sent to students’ phones informing them of emergencies on and near campus.

File / The Daily Beacon

evacuate and where the routes and exits are and how to respond to an active shooter.”

If you aren’t comfortable with your knowledge of these three things applied to your normal activities both on and off campus, spend a half hour reviewing and during the first week of each semester mentally rehearse each in places you frequent. College is a far less structured environment than your previous academic experiences and students need to be prepared to take appropriate action in an emergency,” Gard said.

Knoxville’s Planned Parenthood fire: What happened, the aftermath, how locals can help LEXIE MARTIN Staff Writer

On Dec. 31, 2021, the local Knoxville Planned Parenthood suffered major damages after a confirmed arsonist attack. They had just gone through some new renovations at the time of the attack.

On Jan. 22, there was another attack on the health center. Someone fired a shotgun through their front doors. This fell on the 48th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, a historic Supreme Court Case that legalized abortion in the U.S. There haven’t been any leads in the case, but it has been made clear that it was a planned attack and not accidental.

Alexis McGill, the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said in a statement on the Planned Parenthood website that the attacks aren’t just attacks on a building but attacks on the people that use their services.

“It must be made clear that these hateful acts go much further than property damage — they harm the patients who depend on safe Planned Parenthood health centers, staff and providers to receive trusted, essential health care services,” McGill said.

“While we are horrified by this heinous act

The fire at the Knoxville Planned Parenthood was put out on Jan. 6, 2022. It was an act of arson.

Courtesy of the o�cial Twitter of WBIR investigative news reporter, Cole Sullivan, @cole_sull

of violence, we remain encouraged by the fire department and ATF’s resolve to investigate, and grateful to those who have continued to stand with the Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi community as they work to restore access to care and rebuild.”

As of March 2, the Knoxville Fire Department (KFD) was still going through evidence. It was a lot harder for them to go through what they found due to the amount of debris.

The fire was bigger than most that they dealt with within the year, and there were many de-

lays due to the weather as it had snowed.

KFD Assistant Chief Mark Wilbanks said in a statement that the size of the fire made it more difficult for them to go through evidence and that it took longer than usual to determine the cause.

“Sometimes fires are very easy to determine the cause, and if someone set it, it’s very easy to determine how it was set and who set it, but in this case, it’s just taking a little bit more time,” Wilbanks said.

They were able to determine that it was

arson due to evidence that they have yet to release.

As of now, officials at Planned Parenthood are working toward rebuilding so that they can still provide their services to their patients.

A new build could cost up to $3.5 million, but they have received donations and are almost at $1 million.

For now, they are looking for a temporary location so that patients don’t have to travel far to receive help. They hope to have this space by September of this year. They are currently offering Telehealth appointments and referrals where and when they can.

For anyone who seeks their services, you can contact other Planned Parenthoods in Tennessee. You can also look at their websitefor more about them and what they offer to their patients.

Additionally, there is the Knoxville Center for Reproductive Health that is located on Clinch Avenue, if traveling to a Planned Parenthood location is not an option or if you need something closer.

There is also currently an award of $10,000 for anyone who knows anything about who might have started the fire at the Knoxville Planned Parenthood location. If you know anything, you can call 1-800-762-3017 or email KFDArson@knoxvilletn.gov.

10

HARD KNOX LIFE

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, April 20, 2022

‘Ridiculously easy to use:’ Fake ID use difficult to monitor near campus ABBY ANN RAMSEY Staff Writer

In 2019, UT began allowing alcohol sales in Neyland Stadium. This past fall, they announced that student events can allow alcohol after undergoing an approval process. Still though, the campus remains mostly “dry” as alcohol is srictly prohibited in residence halls.

Frank Cuevas, the Vice Chancellor for Student Life explained UT’s alcohol policy in a statement to The Daily Beacon.

“The University of Tennessee, Knoxville allows lawful, responsible service, possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages in compliance with federal, state and local law, and in compliance with university policies, including our Alcohol on Campus policy,” Cuevas said. “Students or student organizations that violate the Code of Conduct or the Alcohol on Campus policy are subject to disciplinary action.”

The campus itself might be alcohol-free, but anyone who has seen the Strip on the weekend knows that quite a bit of drinking takes place just a few steps from campus.

While it’s hard to gauge exactly how many students are drinking alcohol, the UTPD crime log has numerous incidents of students being cited for liquor law violations, public intoxication and driving under the influence. It is not rare for those citations to also go hand in hand with underage drinking.

Sergeant (Sgt.) John Coward, inspections unit supervisor for the Knoxville Police Department (KPD), believes underage drinking is not necessarily a new problem around campus.

“It’s been like that ever since I was there 30 years ago,” Coward said. “Some things never change.”

To purchase alcohol, you must be at least 21 years of age. What that law also means to some people though, is that you just need an ID that says you’re 21 years of age.

A quick look through Google reviews for Uptown Bar and Grill, which recently rebranded to become “Yesterdays,” reveals that people think underage drinking was popular there.

A user named Regina Smith wrote a review saying, “... saw a lot of fresh out of high school kids in here getting hammered.” Another review by Tyler Findley said, “If you’re an attractive girl under 21 you can probably still get in here if you want to drink.”

But how does this actually work? If you have one, maybe you’ve been amazed by the ease with which you’ve used it to purchase alcohol.

If you don’t, maybe you’re curious as to how students get away with it so frequently. After all, many bars have bouncers and several scan IDs to confirm authenticity.

A sophomore supply chain management major (Anonymous 1) who preferred to stay anonymous for the purpose of this article, stated that they first began using a fake ID they

Popular bar on Cumberland ‘Uptown’ rebrands its name to ‘Yesterdays’ during the 2022 spring semester. Sunday April 17, 2022. Alana Adams / The Daily Beacon got from a friend with a picture that did not look like them. They were shocked by how easily it worked. Once they got a fake ID with their own picture on it, they were less shocked but still kind of surprised.

“It’s ridiculously easy to use and even has the scan functionality, which I have no idea how,” Anonymous 1 said.

“The thing is there are some places that you can buy fake IDs online that they are so good that they’ll actually scan,” Coward said.

Sgt. Coward explained that a vast majority of them essentially just calculate a birthday based on what’s on the card, even if it’s fake.

For the extremely well-made fake IDs, making it through those machines is not necessarily a difficult task.

“The only way for someone to definitively run a license and figure out if it’s real or fake would be us running it through our NCIC (National Crime Information Center) database and checking with whatever state the license was issued from to see if it was a real license or not.

Of course the only people that’s going to have access to that is law enforcement,” Coward said.

KPD conducts random compliance checks with the help of the TN Alcoholic Beverage Commission (ABC). Aaron Rummage, the director of legislation, policy and communication for ABC explained that the organization does randomly see how bars and restaurants are following alcohol regulations and if the establishment is popular with fake ID users.

“If we go to a restaurant and there are a lot of fake IDs, we will recheck that and work with the restaurant to require a better security plan so that fake IDs aren’t being used,” Rummage said.

With how well these IDs work and how real they look, Coward said that many times, they just want to ensure that bars are at least trying to check age.

“My office we’re not going to issue a merchant or business owner a ticket for something like that if they’re trying to do the right thing

and all that,” Coward said. “These freaking fake IDs, some of them are just crazy good, and I understand the concern that a lot of business owners and managers have.”

“We tell them, ‘hey, do all that you can,’ but we understand that there is a limitation on what they can do.”

A junior economics major who has experience using a fake ID also wished to remain anonymous. They will be referred to as Anonymous 2.

Anonymous 2 described one time when they ordered two beers at a bar and the bartender opened them and set them on the bar even before checking their ID. They think these businesses really do just have to at least look at the ID and check the birthday to be in the clear in terms of legal repercussions.

“If they check IDs and it’s a fake, that puts the blame on me or the user of the ID because they checked it and I was using a fraudulent ID,” Anonymous 2 said. “I think that’s kinda why they do it cause I know ABC has been known to bust restaurants and a lot of the Strip bars, so they’ll just be checking them but I think they’re pretty lax. I think they’re just checking age to cover their butts.”

Anonymous 1 emphasized the financial side they think comes into play when businesses are looking for customers.

“As a business owner, it would be stupid to be super hard on these IDs and denying people because the fact of the matter is that these businesses are here to make money and capitalize off of our entire student body,” Anonymous 1 said. “If they rejected everyone and actually implemented measures that showed they cared about who was in and out of the bars, frankly they would shut down or barely break even.”

It’s important to note that according to Rummage, the penalty for using false identification is a class A misdemeanor with a punishment of “either a fine between $50 and $200 or a jail sentence between five and 30 days,” along with denial of driving privileges.

For merchants selling alcohol, sales to minors is also a class A misdemeanor with a punishment of almost 12 months in prison and/or a fine of $2,500.

Although underage drinking specifically with fake IDs takes place mostly off-campus, the UT’s Center for Health Education and Wellness (CHEW) is committed to focusing on risk reduction strategies to improve student wellness.

Sarah McCall, the alcohol & other drug coordinator at the center, recognizes the problem within the student body and prioritizes ensuring that students have access to knowledge and strategies so they can make informed decisions.

“I think the reality is, regardless of the number of policies in place, there are just often ways for students to access alcohol as underage young adults, so that’s something I keep in mind when thinking about the complexity of the issue,” McCall said.

Currently, to address alcohol use, CHEW has a pre-orientation module for incoming freshmen to complete, workshop options for organizations to host, self-assessment tools and one-on-one conversations about next steps.

McCall said if students are struggling with what they think could be alcohol use disorder, they are encouraged to use CHEW resources to evaluate their risks and connect them with other resources like counseling or community treatment centers.

“I think we don’t want our response to be punitive when students are coming to us with real concerns,” McCall said. “In my mind, it’s very important to respond in these cases with compassion and genuine support of services and next steps.”

Regardless of the number of policies in place, there are just often ways for students to access alcohol as underage young adults.

SARAH MCCALL Alcohol & Drug Coordinator for CHEW

Ultimately, despite the legal repercussions and other risks, users of fake IDs tend to rely on the ease with which these IDs work. With the state, city and university attempting to reign in the issue, it seems that depending on the establishment, it’s simply not as hard as it may look.

“When you shove all these opportunities in our faces with liquor stores and the shops and gas stations giving practically the easiest access imaginable, you’re almost tempted to take advantage and the businesses will gladly let you do it,” Anonymous 1 said.

“Students want their parties, their nicotine, their alcohol, whatever the case is and can get it without ever lifting a finger.”

HARD KNOX LIFE

Wednesday, April 20, 2022 • The Daily Beacon

11 11

As calls for Tennessee cannabis decriminalization continue to increase, local opinions vary AUTUMN HALL Staff Writer

In 1973, the state of Oregon decriminalized cannabis — also known as marijuana — signifying the beginning of a fight for total legalization throughout the United States. Many states, following this action, began to decriminalize marijuana, and this has ultimately led to its legalization in many U.S. states and territories.

Currently, 37 states have legalized the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes, 18 states have legalized the recreational use of cannabis and 27 have decriminalized the use of cannabis completely.

The topic has grown increasingly popular within community conversations and legislative hearings, especially concerning its effects on college campuses such as UT. Several legalization and decriminalization bills have been voted on in Tennessee, but none have been passed.

Tennessee remains as one of the 19 states that can inflict jail time upon those who are charged with simple possession of cannabis. In a Gallup survey performed in February, nearly 68% of U.S. voters were in favor of legalizing cannabis.

Tennessee’s legislative bodies have not

acted in favor of decriminalizing or legalizing marijuana, however, low-concentration THC products containing less than 0.3% Delta9-Tetrahydrocannabinol content were legalized by the 2018 Farm Bill.

UT Police Department (UTPD) Chief Troy Lane explained the current extent of cannabis use on campus, despite its illegality.

“I would venture a conservative guess that well over three-fourths of our drug cases involve marijuana, even if we also confiscate other drugs. If I think back, not just at my time at UT, but going back the 33 years I’ve been in law enforcement, I would say that marijuana has been the constant and steadily increasing over the years as it is much easier to get, and — even though illegal — has seemed to become more socially acceptable,” Lane said.

In the past five years, UTPD has handled 423 total drug related offenses, with 47 of these offenses involving firearms.

Lane would not hesitate to say that legalizing cannabis would likely decrease crime and incarceration rates, as well as aid in improving health related to its alternative drug treatments and tax revenue.

Lane described the crime risks that have occurred in states that have legalized cannabis use.

“Studies of other states that have legalized marijuana show other concerning issues that can arise. For instance, even in states that have

legalized marijuana, it becomes a cash heavy business, as most or all financial institutions are forbidden from accepting cash deposits known to come from drug trade,” Lane said.

“This is because at least for now, marijuana is still classified as a drug at the federal level.

Since most financial institutions … are federally insured, they cannot knowingly accept proceeds linked to drug activity. This results in large amounts of cash being stored, carried or laundered through other businesses and makes the whole process ripe for robberies and other related crimes.”

In addition to this potential effect, Lane believes that some of the most common negative impacts surrounding the legalization of cannabis to be on cognitive development of youth, increased rates of use and traffic safety.

Emilio Looper, a graduate student at UT studying political science and sociology, explained the effect that legalization would have on the court system and the greater Knoxville community.

“If you look at the data for marijuana charges, especially in the Southeastern states, you’ll see that the people who are mass incarcerated are disproportionately people of color. These neighborhoods are over-policed and these people are treated unjustly, when white people do similar things all the time and face very minor charges or no charges at all. The decriminalization specifically would help to prevent

THC available at Smoke Rings on the Strip.

Edward Cruz / The Daily Beacon

injustice from happening,” Looper said.

In 2021, African Americans were arrested at an average rate of approximately 3.73 times more than white individuals, despite their average rate of marijuana consumption remaining the same.

Looper believes that many people’s lives have been negatively impacted because of the marijuana charges that they have faced, and that alcohol is much more harmful than marijuana in terms of health. He calls for action among legislators and hopes that legal repercussions can be revoked in the future.

Car burglaries, thefts on the rise in UT, Knoxville communities EMILY HOLT Staff Writer

UT’s campus, as well as the surrounding area, has suffered an onslaught of car burglaries, vehicle thefts and theft of vehicle parts this past semester. According to multiple UTPD 60 day crime log reports, there have been 26 incidents of burglary or theft involving a vehicle between Feb. 2 and April 14 of this year.

While Fort Sanders has long had the reputation of being an unsafe part of town, no part of the student populated area seems to be exempt from these crimes. Incidents have been found both in Fort Sanders and on campus within the crime log.

UT senior Hallie Edwards is a resident of Fort Sanders, and one of the individuals who had her vehicle stolen in January of this semester.

“My first reaction was that it was a joke since I found out through text. When I actually went out there and saw my car gone, I was very panicked and angry,” Edwards said.

Edwards quickly called the police department as well as the Knox Management System to file a report and inquire about any surveillance footage. However, she was met with some unpleasant news.

“When I called the Knox management system, they began going through the video foot-

Laurel Residence Hall is located in Fort Sanders in Knoxville. File / The Daily Beacon age, and it just so happened that when it was taken, the cameras in the garage were down, so there wasn’t any evidence of my car being taken,” Edwards said.

Edwards’ vehicle was finally found several miles away from campus, being driven by an unlikely suspect who, despite an escape attempt, was finally caught by the authorities.

“About three days later my car was found driving near the Farragut area. It was being driven by a young boy who tried running from the police,” Edwards said.

Edwards’ car was eventually recovered, however, the vehicle was totaled and required a

replacement due to the extensive damage.

“When I finally got my car back, multiple things had been stolen, the seats were ripped and there was tons of exterior damage,” Edwards said.

Many students like Edwards have a desire for more extensive protection for their cars.

Limited parking on campus as well as the high crime rate of Fort Sanders creates a dangerous concoction, forcing students to leave their cars in unsafe areas further from their personal residences and school buildings.

“Many people are parking on the street because there is not enough parking for those

who actually live on campus. In the Fort, there is only street parking unless you live in an apartment complex, and even then it’s still limited,” Edwards said.

Mac Griffin, a UT sophomore, shared his concerns regarding the safety of his vehicle during his previous time living on campus and his current residence in the Fort.

“I just get worried because it seems like anyone’s car could be broken (into), whether it’s in a garage or in a driveway right next to someone’s house. It just sort of feels like there really isn’t much anyone can do to stop it,” Griffin said.

Despite the frequent thefts, there are some steps that can be taken to further ensure the safety of your vehicle. The UT police offered tips on March 22 of this year in an email statement to students, staff and faculty regarding the frequent catalytic converters being stolen from cars on and around campus.

Some of the tips included parking in well-lit areas or lots, parking in a garage if possible and parking close to a building entrance, sidewalks or roadways where your vehicle is more visible to the public.

While the converter thefts are believed by the UTPD to be caused by the rising price of metal materials palladium and platinum, these tips can be used by anyone wishing to keep their car safe.

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HARD KNOX LIFE

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Best movies to watch about detectives, criminals and more KEENAN THOMAS Senior Staff Writer

watch.

From Josh and Benny Safdie, “Good Time” twists a tale of New York City’s criminal underbelly as Connie Nikas tries to bail his brother out of jail after a failed robbery.

After their breakout film “Heaven Knows What,” the Safdie brothers truly made a name for themselves while helping rejuvenate Robert Pattinson’s career in the public eye with this film. It’s suspenseful, intense and overall uncomfortable in all the right ways. It also helped them to make, arguably, their masterpiece “Uncut Gems.”

For some similar films about criminals who will do anything to get out, Quentin Tarantino’s debut “Reservoir Dogs” is great, as well as Carlos López Estrada’s “Blindspotting” for a film depicting the judicial system and its bias through the lens of those affected by it.

Crime and investigative movies have a surprisingly large presence within film.

These types of movies continue to be successful and draw audiences towards them. So far, one of the biggest box office hits of the year has been “The Batman,” which is filled with corrupt cops, meticulous serial killers and a vigilante bent on bringing justice to Gotham City.

These films can be fun to watch as you try to figure out the investigation at hand or just get lost in the world created in the film. They have the ability to captivate and thrill audiences as they guide them through the detective or the criminal’s journey.

These are only a smattering of films that encompass the world of crime. However, they’re all great films that are worth watching.

Zodiac A little similar to “Memories of Murder,” this is another crime film based in reality.

However, David Fincher’s “Zodiac” focuses more on investigative journalism instead of the typical detectives.

The film follows journalist Robert Graysmith as he conducts his own investigation into who the infamous Zodiac killer was. It’s a sprawling film depicting 15 years over the course of nearly three hours.

This is another excellent thriller about one of the most famous serial killers in the United States. It’s gripping and pulse-pounding throughout its runtime. If you’re looking for some similar films, David Fincher’s filmography boasts several incredible investigative thrillers, including “Se7en” and “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.”

Memories of Murder After the success of “Parasite,” Bong Joonho’s 2003 crime thriller “Memories of Murder” began to crop into more conversations. It has since received wider availability, especially within the United States. It’s available to watch on Hulu.

The film is a retelling of one of the first recorded serial killers in South Korea. It takes place in a rural town, with the main detective on the case stumbling through it trying to find an easy suspect. But when a detective from Seoul joins the investigation, they realize that it’s much more complicated than they initially thought.

“Memories of Murder” is a phenomenal film and one of the best detective films ever made. It contains an interesting mystery with twists and turns that will keep viewers on their toes. It’s an excellent example of South Korean cinema and worth watching, especially for those who love “Parasite.”

Ghost in the Shell For something a little different, this cyberpunk anime from the ‘90s is a game changer.

“Ghost in the Shell” directed by Mamoru Oshii based on the manga of the same name follows cyborg Major Kusanagi as she tracks down the powerful hacker the Puppet Master. It discusses themes of what it means to be human, as well as the prevailing advances in technology.

This is one of the most influential anime

One more thing ...

Movie posters courtesy of IMDb | “Ghost in the Shell” courtesy of Google Images films ever made, with films like “The Matrix” citing it as an influence. It’s also a great film about law enforcement and how that changes over time. For some similar films, the “Blade Runner” films include similar themes and aesthetics while presenting a detective narrative.

There’s also “Robocop” if you’re looking for crazy violence and heavy critiques on American culture.

Heat An undeniable classic within the sub-genre, despite its nearly three hour runtime — Michael Mann’s “Heat” is one of the best crime

films ever made. It follows seasoned robber Neil McCauley and his team as they try to pull off one of their biggest heists, all while Lieutenant Vincent Hanna and his cops try and finally catch them.

This is a grounded film depicting both cops and robbers. It’s captivating with some excellent performances, especially from Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. It also has one of the best shootouts put to film.

Good Time For a more recent film, this is one of the most tense and claustrophobic films you could

This is primarily a list about films depicting crime, but in honor of the day this is being published — April 20 — here are a couple of “stoner films” to watch.

There are the classics like “Friday,” “Half Baked” and “Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle” that are sure to leave everyone laughing. You also can’t go wrong with “The Big Lebowski” or “Dazed and Confused” for a more chill vibe. As for a more recent comedy, “Pineapple Express” is slowly making its way as a player.