Volume 137, Issue 30 Monday, April 29, 2019 utdailybeacon.com @utkdailybeacon
LEGACY & TRADITIONS
Courtesty of Student Media
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LEGACY & TRADITIONS
The Daily Beacon • Monday, April 29, 2019
DAILY BEACON STAFF AND POLICY INFORMATION
Letter from the Editor: Goodbye... KYLIE HUBBARD Editor-in-Chief
EDITORIAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Kylie Hubbard MANAGING EDITOR: Tyler Wombles COPY CHIEF: Paige Greene CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR: Gabriela Szymanowska CITY NEWS EDITOR: Val Lick SPORTS EDITOR: Blake Von Hagen ASST. SPORTS EDITOR: Will Backus ENGAGEMENT EDITOR: Jared Chadwick DIGITAL PRODUCER: Kelsey French ASST. DIGITAL PRODUCER: Elexis Houston OPINIONS EDITOR: Margot McClellan PHOTO EDITORS: Caitlyn Jordan, Roddrick Tooles DESIGN EDITORS: Elisa Razak, Grace Atter PRODUCTION ARTISTS: Meliya Evans, Catherine
Fei, Jeremiah Pham, Meg Kiestler, Leah Gardner
ADVERTISING/PRODUCTION ADVERTISING MANAGER: Zenobia Armstrong MEDIA SALES REPRESENTATIVES: Julency Myrtil ADVERTISING PRODUCTION ARTISTS: Kinsey
Johnston, Anna House, Elizabeth Ledoux
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editorinchief@utdailybeacon.com LETTERS POLICY: Letters to the Editor must be exclusive to The Daily Beacon and cannot have been submitted to or published by other media. Letters should not exceed 400 words and can be edited or shortened for space. Letters can also be edited for grammar and typographical errors, and Letters that contain excessive grammatical errors can be rejected for this reason. Anonymous Letters will not be published. Authors should include their full name, mailing address, city of residence, phone number and e-mail address for verification purposes. Letters submitted without this information will not be published. The preferred method to submit a Letter to the Editor is to email the Editor-in-Chief. CORRECTIONS POLICY:It is the Daily Beacon’s policy to quickly correct any factual errors and clarify any potentially misleading information. Errors brought to our attention by readers or staff members will be corrected and printed on page two of our publication. To report an error please send as much information as possible about where and when the error occurred to managingeditor@utdailybeacon.com, or call our newsroom at (865) 974-5206. The Daily Beacon is published by students at The University of Tennessee on Monday and Thursday during the fall and spring semesters. The offices are located at 1345 Circle Park Drive, 11 Communications Building, Knoxville, TN 379960314. The newspaper is free on campus and is available via mail subscription for $200/year or $100/semester. It is also available online at: www.utdailybeacon.com
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JK, GOT YA! You can’t get rid of me that easily, UT. I’ll be returning as Editor-in-Chief over the summer and in the fall, because Jerry Bush just loves me that much. He’s laughing now. But, what a GREAT year with a GREAT staff helping serve a GREAT community. It was GREAT. Can you tell? This time last year, Tyler Wombles and I had - quite literally - no idea what we were doing, partially because we didn’t even know which one of us was doing what job yet. We just knew we’d be ME and EIC and hoped we’d do a decent job. I’d say we accomplished that. On our first day on the job, I was visiting the zoo to get away from the chaos of finals and Wombles was in the drive thru line of Cook Out. I had just walked into the infamous (and slightly terrifying) bird exhibit, when I got a call from Tyler who said, “uhhh, I think they fired the chancellor.” Yeah, that’s how our first day went. Tyler and I rushed from our happy places to what became our happiest place - the Beacon office - to pull together a story on the removal of former Chancellor Beverly Davenport from her post. I am so thankful for Cat Trieu, who willingly volunteered to be thrown on the front lines of the protest that ensued after the announcement, and Stu Boyd, who John Kennedy made film the protest because he just happened to be the videographer in the office. It was the start of a pretty well-oiled machine that only broke down a few times. We’ve covered a bunch of stories this year, so many that I like to think everything that could have happened this year happened just to test me and Tyler: Asian scavenger hunts, blackface incidents, hate speech on the Rock, interim presidents and chancellors and deans, floods, mold, new coaches, election judicial hearings - and that just scratches the surface. Where this is going is I’m so thankful for a Managing Editor like Tyler Wombles. I’m not quite sure what I would have done without him and his terrible jokes. We definitely butted heads more than I have with my own family, but we had a successful year and I can’t thank him enough for this. Tyler, if you happen to read this, thank you. My thank you’s don’t stop there- and I wouldn’t want them to. This year, six seniors are graduating from the BeaconMatthew Underwood, Blake Von Hagen,
Rob Harvey, Kelsey French, Elexis Houston and Elisa Razak. Thank you, Matthew, for choosing the Beacon for your practicum and then staying to cover baseball. Not many practicum writers stay past their required semester, and I am glad you did. Thank you, Blake, for stepping into the shoes of sports editor, making me laugh, waiting for me when my chicken nuggets take too long at Chick-fil-a and being awesome at your job. That cardboard box won’t last long, because you’re extremely talented and they’ll be fighting to have you on staff.
To all my fellow Vols graduating, congratulations. I wish I was graduating, but then again, I’m glad I’m not because I get a little bit more time at the place I can’t imagine leaving. KYLIE HUBBARD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Thank you, Rob, for being so much more than a boss last year and becoming one of my closest friends. Too many m&ms, vines and classroom jokes later, I am happy we shared so many classes together and time at the Beacon because it was a waffle lot of fun. Thank you, Kelsey, for jumping into the
assistant digital producer role that turned into the digital producer role really fast. And for filming me eating cheese/laughing at me eating cheese/eating cheese with me. I’ll always remember that cheese - and your sweet soul. Thank you, Elexis, for shining this year and helping make the digital section a better place. And for standing on a table to get a shot of Vision celebrating, even though you definitely probably shouldn’t have stood on it. I appreciate your dedication, sweet angel. Beneath all of these seniors are our juniors, sophomores and freshies who have shined in their own rights. A word on the freshies: we have so many who have shined so bright. Jake Yoder is now our resident movie-reviewer. Bailey Fritz and Aly DeMarco will be editors to start their sophomore year. Braxton Z. has started a Busted phenomenon. Austin Orr has taken the digital team by storm (and will be returning as their producer next year). Coleman Numbers is in his second semester and is already a senior staff writer. Ben Winiger has excelled in his writing. Allie Justis has done nothing but make me smile. I could keep going, and if you’re still reading, you probably don’t want me to. I am so blessed, thankful, grateful for a year with these wonderful people. If anyone knew me this time last year, they knew I was WAY scared of what this year would bring, but I wish I could go back and tell myself it would be okay. To all my fellow Vols graduating, congratulations. I wish I was graduating, but then again, I’m glad I’m not because I get a little bit more time at the place I can’t imagine leaving. See you tomorrow, Beacon readers.
LEGACY & TRADITIONS
Monday, April 29, 2019 • The Daily Beacon
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Von Hagen: Thanks, farewell and goodbye, Daily Beacon readers BLAKE VON HAGEN Sports Editor
Is this really the end? I’m starting to understand the person who coined the colloquial phrase about time flying by. It feels like I was just driving to Charlotte for Tennessee’s football opener under Jeremy Pruitt. That was the first of many road trips. By the end of the year, driving to Nashville for the SEC Tournament felt like a five-minute voyage. That’s what trips to Texas A&M, Ole Miss, LSU and all the others will do to you, I guess. I loved every minute. Those minutes started when I covered the swim and dive team in 2017. I can’t say enough about how that experience taught me what journalism is all about. It also taught me why the Daily Beacon is important. Sure, articles about football and basketball are great. But a feature article about Colin Zeng—who has now won multiple NCAA National Titles as a diver at UT—stands out in my mind. Or a conversation with his coach, who always made sure to say “thanks for your coverage” as I left Allen Jones Aquatic Center.
Then I moved on to cover baseball last season, where I covered the Vols’ 10-1 win against James Madison on a Tuesday and came back to see Tennessee lose 21-2 the very next day. Head coach Tony Vitello was a dream-quote machine. I didn’t think I had a shot at landing the sports editor position last May, but Tyler Wombles and Damichael Cole took a flyer on me. I’m still all parts thankful, mystified and honored that they did so. It’s hard to describe the last year. There’s always been something happening, which meant there was no time to reflect. But as I have started to do that now, the only word that comes to mind is “gratifying.” Covering all 12 Tennessee football games from the press box was surreal. It wasn’t a season to remember for most people, but I know I will never forget it. I won’t forget driving back from South Carolina and trying to find a Waffle House that didn’t have a line out the door in the middle of the night. I won’t forget the crazy dude that ran— on foot—after us for no reason as we drove away from the Waffle House that didn’t have a line out the door. Now I know why it was empty. The men’s basketball season was less forgettable for Tennessee fans. It didn’t end with any spectacular hardware, but my car ended with
spectacular mileage. It also might have meant a few all-nighters after getting back to Knoxville from SEC road games a few hours before class started, but it was a dream. Covering the aforementioned SEC Tournament and NCAA Tournament is something I will never forget. I’ll also never forget the people I worked with this year. From co-workers at the Beacon to Knoxville media members and the fantastic
Tennessee media relations department, I was able to meet a lot of people who are smarter and funnier than I am. I’d be amiss to not say thank you to everyone who read my work this year. If you are still reading at this point, you’re the ones I really need to thank. The comments on articles and interactions on Twitter meant the world to me. There’s really nothing left to say. Thank you.
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LEGACY & TRADITIONS
The Daily Beacon • Monday, April 29, 2019
Volunteer bucket list: Six ways to celebrate UT’s traditions VAL LICK City News Editor
Exams are coming, the weather is warm, and the pool is busy; another year on Rocky Top is almost over. As we look back on the year, it’s also a good time to think about Rocky Top’s traditions – and what comes next. UT has a huge campus and hundreds of games, lectures and other activities. With all of the possibilities, it can be difficult to narrow down what you actually want to make time for. Even with the huge variety of activities, there are a few that stand out as true essential Volunteer experiences. This is your UT “bucket list” – six campus events or traditions that you absolutely need to check out during your time at UT.
Paint the Rock This one’s a classic. This nearly 100-ton hunk of dolomite has graced campus for over 50 years, according to a UT News article. Every day – or even several times a day – students paint the landmark.
Whether as part of a student org or just with friends, it is UT’s biggest tradition to paint the Rock before you graduate. It’s your chance to be part of a 50-year tradition – and create a layer of paint on the rock that will stay there for decades to come.
Go to a performance at the Clarence Brown Theatre There’s almost always a play running at UT’s three campus theatres: the Clarence Brown Theatre, the Carousel Theatre and the Lab Theatre. These plays feature students and graduate students as well as professional actors, and they are truly star-quality performances. UT students get amazing deals on tickets for UT’s theatrical performances; students can get preview tickets for free or standard tickets for $5. Through UT’s theatre department, students get the chance to enjoy professional-quality productions for free.
Checker Neyland Whether you’re a football fan or not, there’s an undeniable energy about cheering with thousands of other people. And there’s no better day to see a Volunteer football game than Checker Neyland – the one day a season when
Fans create the iconic orange and white checkerboard pattern during the game against Georgia at Neyland Stadium on Sept. 30, 2017. File / The Daily Beacon fans wear orange or white according to their seats, creating a stadium-wide checkerboard effect. It’s also a killer photo op.
Visit the UT Gardens The official garden of the state of Tennessee is located just a 15-minute walk from the main campus. The UT garden is home to thousands of different plants, from kitchen herbs to delicate flowers. The gardens are a beautiful, peaceful space to walk, jog, or even just relax at a bench. You can also check out
the space’s installations, which range from vegetation-covered antique cars to picturesque footbridges.
Go to Volapalooza The last week of classes is tough. That’s why UT’s Campus Events Board helps end the year with UT’s biggest student-led event: a onenight music festival. Volapalooza has featured artists from blackbear to COIN to X Ambassadors, as well as standard music-festival offerings like flower crowns and food vendors.
Headliner Andy Grammar performs live at Volapalooza on Friday, April 26, 2019. File / The Daily Beacon
GRAD ADS
Monday, April 29, 2019 • The Daily Beacon
2019 GRAD ADS Congratulations, UTK 2019 Graduates!
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The Daily Beacon • Monday, April 29, 2019
GRAD ADS
GRAD ADS
Monday, April 29, 2019 • The Daily Beacon
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LEGACY & TRADITIONS
The Daily Beacon • Monday, April 29, 2019
Harvey: Four years that will never be forgotten
ROB HARVEY Sports Columnist
I walked into the Daily Beacon office in the fall 2015 terrified, not knowing what to expect or anything about journalism. Four years later, I can for sure say that I learned one thing: John Kennedy loves his fourhour lunch breaks. This will be my 190th and final article for The Daily Beacon. I remember those first few articles and all the oxford commas and five sentence paragraphs that I tried to use. I can’t even look at those stories anymore. But, I also remember that feeling when I got a text from the sports editor in 2015, Jonathan Toye, telling me that a feature
story I did on one of the baseball players was going to be on the front page of the paper the next day. I couldn’t sleep I was so excited. I raced down to the newspaper rack inside Reese Hall the next morning, grabbed a paper and there was my story on the front page with the byline “Rob Harver, Contributor.” Thanks a lot, Toye. As much as I have learned about journalism in my four years at the Beacon, whether it was as Assistant Sports Editor, Managing Editor or even as a sports columnist which indeed was a position I made up myself, I can say that the thing I will never forget about this place is thefriendships. Despite his blunder on my story, I am thankful for the extensive knowledge that Toye gave me my first year. I wouldn’t have stood a chance at being a successful sports editor the next year had it not been for Toye’s guidance and help my freshman year. I am thankful for Kylie Hubbard who, instead of managing last year as managing editor, I convinced to try and find and eat every M&M flavor. We may not have gotten a lot done, but we sure did have fun watching every single vine compilation known to man. I will always take credit in molding you into the great Editor-in-Chief that you are now despite doing nothing but distract you from your work. I am NOT thankful for Tyler Wombles who I fired at least 80 times last year but didn’t get the hint and instead did an excellent job as sports editor and now managing editor. Tyler is one of the hardest workers
there is and our trip to the 2017 SEC Media Days where we had our “room with a view” that was really a view of an Outback Steakhouse will never be forgotten. Blake Von Hagen is a degenerate who only talks about sports betting and was the first person I met at the Beacon. Blake and I will be living in adjoining cardboard boxes after we graduate in two weeks as we attempt to find jobs. As Kylie said just a few weeks ago, I don’t think I can actually picture working in a different place as Blake so instead we are going to be sending out a joint resume. The list of sports staff members through the years that I am thankful for is quite extensive. I am thankful for Damichael Colewho is one of the few left standing in our original Beacon crew-Will Backus, Shane Switzer, Trenton Duffer, Cory Sanning and 75-year old Noah Taylor to name a few of those people. We may not have known what we were doing as leaders half the time last year, but Alex Holcomb and myself survived and I am thankful for that and the knowledge he bestowed upon me. Jerry Bush made me eat lunch at 10 in the morning and John Kennedy still hasn’t come back from lunch, but I am still thankful for the guidance and freedom that they gave me as a journalist. The list could go on and on of the people that I am thankful to have met over my four years at the Beacon. Will Boling, Ben McKee, David Cobb, Troy Provost-Heron, Austin Bornheim, Taylor White, Bradi Musil,
Jenna Butz, Hannah Moulton, Meagan Patterson, and Caroline Norris are just a few of the great media people that the Beacon has given me the opportunity to meet and be around. If I could leave young journalism students with some final advice, it would be this: Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and take a chance with the Beacon. I will be using the things that I learned at the Beacon for my entire life. I was a scared freshman once too who didn’t want to walk into a room full of strangers in the dungeon of the Communications Building. But, I thank God every day that he gave me a big push into that orange office that will forever be a home to me.
Farewell Column: This is goodbye… sort of
WILL BACKUS Asst. Sports Editor
Don’t you cry. You shouldn’t shed a tear because I won’t be one of the sports editors at the Daily Beacon next year. Sure, it’s sad, but it’s no reason to cry. The sports section will be in good hands. Besides, I’m not entirely leaving. I’ll be returning as a staff writer next year. I just have to do a farewell column because I failed to take another story for our final special issue. That’s pretty on-brand. I’m not one to be sentimental; just ask any of my peers. But in all seriousness, I could not be more thankful for all the Beacon has done for me. Not only have I gotten to live out my dream of watching sports for a living, I have met some awesome people that I hope to never lose touch with. Since starting as a wide-eyed, bushy-tailed contributor in the fall of 2017, I have learned so much about the field of journalism under the tutelage of some mentors that I’m happy to call friends. I went to a tennis match of my own volition
for the first time ever. I gained a new appreciation for soccer. I got to cover a Tennessee coaching search, which are always fun. I got to cover the first season of a new head football coach. For the past two years, I’ve had the ability to cover the Lady Vols. Travelling to the SEC Championships in Nashville and Greenville for that sport have been personal highlights. The Beacon has opened up new pathways for me. Plus, it’s taught me more about journalism than any class I have taken. It has afforded me so much. It truly feels like I’ve been living out a dream these past couple of years - and it isn’t over yet. Though I won’t be around the office as much anymore - some would argue I was never there much in the first place - and though I won’t assist in running the day-to-day operations anymore, I’ll still be around. This journey is far from over, and I couldn’t be more happy that I’ll be back. I get to continue doing what I love for a living, and I get to
The Beacon has opened up new pathways for me. Will Backus Asst. Sports Editor
continue forming those relationships with the awesome people I have met. So yes, this is a goodbye. I’m saying goodbye to an editorial post at the Beacon. But it’s also the start of something (not entirely) new. The master is becoming the apprentice once more. Therefore, don’t fretyou’re stuck with my byline in the Daily Beacon for at least another year. And all the people rejoiced. So, as my personal hero, the late, great Stan Lee would say, “Excelsior!”
PUZZLES & GAMES
Monday, April 29, 2019 • The Daily Beacon
LOS ANGELES TIMES CROSSWORD • Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis ACROSS 1 Crowds around 5 Geologic time 10 It·s the truth 14 BasHEDOO·s Felipe or his son Moises 15 Nabisco wafer brand 16 Serengeti feline 17 Barclays Center team 18 Strung along 19 Boatloads 20 1968 55-Across song 23 Axis foes 24 Spot for an AirPod 25 Tight spot 28 “__ whiz!” 29 SundancH·s sweetie __ Place 32 1976 55-Across album 34 Lofty principles 36 “Do __ others ... ” 37 1970 55-Across song 41 “The Walking Dead” survivor Grimes 42 Advertising lure 43 1969 55-Across album whose last song is 20-Across 46 Business review site 47 Influential D.C. group 50 Place in the woods 51 Forever and a day 53 “Watch and learn” 55 Singer/songwriter born 11/7/1943 58 Auburn rival, familiarly 61 0LJXHO·V “I love you” 62 Small Chevy model 63 Vacationing 64 Harsh-smelling 65 Sharp-edged 66 Tach reading 67 Annoy 68 Car trip game DOWN 1 Metrosexual tote 2 Repetitive refrain in the song “Hot Hot Hot”
By Michael Ray Jacobson and Patti Varol
3 Perfume holder 4 Fish dish served with wasabi 5 Willing recruit 6 Like a noted piper 7 Quaint retail adjective 8 In the neighborhood 9 ESPN anchor __ Storm 10 It may be tragic 11 Not feel well 12 Whisper sweet nothings 13 Explosive letters 21 Far from swanky 22 Mined-over matter 25 “We just said the same thing at the same time!” 26 Basic drawing class 27 “Little Red Book” author 30 Powder puff stuff 31 Bronze or brass 33 San __, Puerto Rico 34 “House,” in Inuit 35 A few
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Tuesday’s Puzzle Solved
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37 Hayloft bundle 38 Wrinkle remover 39 Prosperous 40 __ sentence: essay opener 41 Included in an email, briefly 44 “Gloria in Excelsis __” 45 “In America” novelist Susan 47 Pet problems?
11/7/18
48 __ at the wheel 49 Ant-sy complex? 52 Female relative 54 Uniform cloth 55 Rogers Centre team, familiarly 56 K follower 57 “Look no further than me” 58 Trivia night site 59 Bedazzle 60 Big D hoopster
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LEGACY & TRADITIONS
The Daily Beacon • Monday, April 29, 2019
The Volunteer spirit lives on through UT community GABRIELA SZYMANOWSKA Campus News Editor
Stepping onto UT’s campus each fall, incoming freshman are greeted with an energy that flows into every nook and cranny. Many students caught their first glimpse of this radiating energy which seemed to bubble up from the ground during their orientation or their first visit. It’s an energy that sparks off of current students into the community. This energy that has been passed on from one generation to the next generation of Vols has been a tradition from the very beginning. That spark is the Volunteer spirit. “There’s a spirit here and it’s hard to describe,” Eric Haag, senior director of alumni programs and outreach and graduate from UT, said. “But when you’re a part of it, a part of the Big Orange family, you know exactly what it means and it’s mostly intangible, until you’re here and can feel it, can see it, and then it becomes really tangible.” The Volunteer spirit isn’t just about volunteering, but rather about working hard for something outside of yourself, using your passion, talent, leadership or even just your hardworking nature to help others in the community. For many, the Volunteer Spirit is reflected in the Torchbearer’s Creed: “One that beareth a torch shadoweth oneself to give light to others.” Veronica Webb, sophomore in marketing and Student Government Association’s Traditions Committee co-director, felt that the creed summed up the Volunteer Spirit. “I really think that that sets the tone for all Vols - past, present and future - on what the Vol spirit means to everyone,” Webb said. “So, in a sense, when I say I live by the creed I mean that you’re being
that light for other people as a Vol. You’re being a Volunteer by being a positive influence, by loving your school, loving your community and taking that light and radiating it on other people.” The Traditions Committee is one embodiment of the Volunteer Spirit as students from SGA keep UT traditions alive with each new generation of Vols. Some of the traditions that the committee puts on every year includes “Slap the Rock” where students paint The Rock with colorful handprints, All-Vol Tailgates before football games, homecoming, and celebrating icons of UT such as Smokey and the “Power T.” Although there are many aspects of the Volunteer Spirit, volunteering does play a major part, and the Clay and Debbie Jones’ Center for Leadership and Service is at the forefront of raising the spirit of helping the community through its many different programs. Some of the different programs include Ignite, which is extended orientation for first year students, with the four different branches serving around 800 or more students a year, and the 25-year-old Alternative Break program, which continues to grow each year by sending students and faculty out to a different community so that they can learn and serve the community within different themes like hunger and homelessness, animal welfare, and youth and education. Another program is the Leadership Knoxville Scholars program for juniors and seniors, which works with Leadership Knoxville and has four components: academics, mentorship, learning more about Knoxville and service by working with a non-profit in Knoxville. “All of our programs have some component of leadership and service in them, “Laura Ketola, assistant director of the JCLS, said. “So, to us, to be a good leader, you need to know how to serve people and
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The Torchbearer overlooks campus at Circle Park Drive. Gabriela Szymanowska / The Daily Beacon we believe that service is a form of leadership.” Ketola also said the Volunteer Spirit has really been woven into the fabric of the university including within the JCLS, other departments on campus, into the curriculum and within daily student, faculty and staff life. “I think that for me I see students learning that they can help other people and show the Volunteer Spirit in a variety of ways. It doesn’t just have to be, ‘I go and do service,’ it doesn’t have to be, ‘get a job and give money back to people,’” Ketola said. “I think people are using all of their experiences to help others, so it’s more fused into every part of the university life.” And the Volunteer Spirit doesn’t leave once students graduate. Haag said that he sees the Volunteer Spirit within the alumni he reaches out to every day, as well as in his own life as he interacts with students. “In summary, the Volunteer Spirit ... it’s not just for today, it’s not just a memory, people don’t just come to UT and then just
leave it,” Haag said. “It’s something that will be with you forever and ever.” Haag also said he sees it every year at the Volunteer Leadership Conference weekend, where alumni from the Young Alumni Council, chapter presidents and other alumni come to UT to see the changes, interact with the students and celebrate UT. Haag also said that there are a lot of contributing factors to the Volunteer Spirit including football games, clubs and organizations and through the students. However, it there are moments of doubt for students who don’t know if they belong at UT, Webb encouraged that the Volunteer Spirit endlessly shines within each person. “I feel like, never let the Volunteer Spirit die within you,” Webb said. “If there’s ever a time where you feel discouraged or that you don’t belong here, that there’s a reason why you’re here and that much like the Torchbearer, how it shines a light endlessly that that light also shines in you as a Vol.”
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LEGACY & TRADITIONS
Monday, April 29, 2019 • The Daily Beacon
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If you step on the Seal, or not, will you graduate? MARGOT MCCLELLAN Opinions Editor
The cautionary tale of the Seal is simple: Never step foot on it, lest you desire to graduate late, or at all! If you say this correctly, this is followed by a crack of thunder and a rendition of Rocky Top in G-minor. All joking aside, does it ring true? I have a confession to make - when I was a freshman, I stepped on the seal multiple times, just to prove a point. I was warned by everybody who knew me not to do it, but boy did I do it every time I walked past it on Ped Walkway. Some days it was full sole-to-seal contact. Other days it was a cheeky toe-touch. Nothing much happened, really. I had a strong start to my college career, and everything was going really great for a while. Then things slowly began to go downhill. I hadn’t touched the almighty seal since 2016, but maybe the karma of touching the seal came back to bite me. I struggled tremendously for at least a few semesters, despite having done everything in my power to stay afloat. So now, I have to take an extra one.
While this is strictly anecdotal evidence, and not really indicative of anything substantial, I think it points to the fact that a lot of different factors have to do with when you hypothetically graduate. General wellness, planning and keeping proper studying habits all factor into how smoothly things go in your life, and ultimately in your academic career. Even so, sometimes life just does not go your way. But let’s take a step back - is it really that important to graduate in four years? For financial reasons, yes, since scholarships tend to run out after eight semesters. However, most students have a hard time knowing just exactly what they want to do when they enter college straight from high school. Transferring schools or switching majors can alter your academic plan, and some credits may not transfer over. That being said, students don’t always take full advantage of their academic advisors. Even if you think you know best, a quick meeting with a faculty or academic advisor can solidify or adjust your academic plan to make sure you graduate as quickly as possible. However, there are other factors to take into account as well, such as internships and oncampus involvement. School comes first, but
Freshmen are told during orientation not to walk on the Presidential Seal during their years at UT, as it is told it brings bad luck. File / The Daily Beacon diversification of experiences can also help you stand out. Balancing it all can get difficult. Which leads into mental health—something incredibly vital to take into account as well. College is difficult, not just in an academic sense, but it takes a toll being on your own and experiencing many different things or the first time. Adjustment difficulties are common, and so is depression and anxiety among college students. Sometimes, being in college can feel overwhelming - meeting your own expectations and those of parents or family can place additional pressure on a student as well. With-
drawal for those reasons is not uncommon, either. So, regardless if you step on the seal or not, you are more likely than not to need an extra semester. However, rest assured that things tend to work out for the better in the end, as long as you are not afraid to seek help, and to set yourself up for success. Who knows - perhaps you’ll find that college isn’t even the right path for you. But that’s okay—you will likely find your calling elsewhere. All in all, go Vols, whether you step on the seal or not.
12
LEGACY & TRADITIONS
The Daily Beacon • Monday, April 29, 2019
Goodbye, UT: What faculty members have or plan to retire? TYLER WOMBLES Managing Editor
Every year, just as students graduate and move on from UT, key figures in the school’s faculty and administration decide to retire and continue on to the next stages of their lives. Many of these members have dedicated years of service to the university and are held in high-regard by their peers and students. Here are some UT administrators, faculty and staff members who have recently retired or plan to retire sometime in the near future, leaving behind a legacy to be proud of:
Masood Parang, Tickle College of Engineering associate dean The Tickle College of Engineering will say goodbye to a member of 41 years as Associate Dean of Academics and student affairs Masood Parang retires this year. Parang has served in the role since 2004, and first joined UT in 1977 from the University of Oklahoma. Along with his work as associate
dean, he has also engaged in research involving multiple fields, including aeronautical research and fluid dynamics. “Masood has served this college admirably, both as a faculty member in his department and as an administrator,” Mark Dean, interim dean, told UT News. “Without Masood’s leadership, experience, collaboration skills, and passion for the students, the college would not be where it is today. “We thank him for his service and hope he enjoys his well-earned retirement.”
Peter Gross, former School of Journalism and Electronic Media Gross retired in January after years of service to UT’s journalism school. He last worked as a professor, but served as the director of the school from 2006 to 2016. Before he started with UT, he traveled across the world, teaching about journalism. “I thank Peter for all of the contributions he made to the School of Journalism and Electronic Media during his time as school director,” current Director of the School of Journalism and Electronic Media Catherine Luther said.
“His international connections were especially helpful in setting up new exchange agreements with academic institutions in Europe. “Although he has retired, I am sure he will continue to generate valuable research and have an impact on our understanding of global media and politics.”
Wayne Davis, Interim Chancellor With UT recently announcing the hiring of Donde Plowman as the school’s new chancellor, Interim Chancellor Wayne Davis will soon see his tenure heading UT come to an end. And it will be a well-deserved retirement for Davis, who had announced his retirement as dean of the Tickle College of Engineering before signing on to lead UT after the dismissal of former chancellor Beverly Davenport. Whenever Davis does leave UT for the final time, he will be able to look back on a UT career that has spanned over 40 years, working at a university that he not-so-quietly loves. “I want you all to enjoy your time here on Rocky Top,” Davis said in a letter to students during the fall semester. “I want you to fully experience what this special place has to offer
so that when the time comes for you to graduate, you will leave here with strong friendships, a love of learning, and the skills and education to succeed wherever you go next.”
Jeff Chapman, McClung Museum If you are walking on campus and come face-to-face with a dinosaur statue, you have found the McClung Museum. The museum has been on UT’s campus since 1963, providing multiple artifacts and knowledge for students and visitors to engage themselves with, and Jeff Chapman has led it for 29 years. He was given the 2018 Chancellor’s Extraordinary Service to the University award for his contributions to the museum and to UT. “Jeff (Chapman) has transformed the McClung Museum into a space for engagement and learning for the entire campus community,” Interim Chancellor Wayne Davis told UT News. “The university is very appreciative of his commitment throughout the years and will continue to build upon the solid foundation he set.”
Donde Plowman selected for UT Knoxville Chancellor position GABRIELA SZYMANOWSKA Campus News Editor
Donde Plowman has been selected as the ninth chancellor of UT Knoxville following an extensive search nationwide by the University of Tennessee System. Plowman, who is currently executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, will take the seat of chancellor after she is recommended to the Board of Trustees during a special meeting on Friday, May 3 in the Executive Dining Room of the Student Union at 9 a.m. If the board approves, Plowman will begin her first day on July 1. “The most important responsibility I have as the UT System interim president is to hire an outstanding person to lead our flagship campus in Knoxville. Under Donde’s leadership, I am looking forward to an exciting, successful and transformational future,” UT Interim President Randy Boyd said. “Her student-first approach, her reputation as a dynamic leader and collaborator and her great love for the UT Knoxville will be great assets as we work together to advance the university and the state of Tennessee for many years to come.” Previously, Plowman had been a faculty member at UTK in the Haslam College of Business where she led the management department from 2007 to 2010, serving as department head for two years. The chancellor of UT reports to the president
and is responsible for the administration and management of campus, while also promoting continued development in academia, research productivity and the national reputation of the university. “I could not be more thrilled to return to this great university, which is so important to the vitality of the state of Tennessee,” Plowman said. “To lead this campus, and help the students, faculty and staff realize their dreams for UT Knoxville, is the greatest honor of my life and I can’t wait to get started.” John Compton, UT board chair, said he was thrilled to present Plowman for the position, and he was thankful for both Boyd’s leadership and the search committee’s work. “After meeting with Dr. Plowman, I could not be more thrilled with the opportunity to present her candidacy as chancellor of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville to the full board of Trustees next week,” Compton said. “She brings a distinguished track record of professional success, has a contagious energy to challenge higher achievement and brings the servant leadership of the Volunteer spirit that we all desire.” At the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Plowman operates as the second administrative position for the campus and oversees academic affairs, student affairs, the Office of Research Economic Development and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. She served for more than six years as the James Jr. and Susan Stuart Dean of the College of Business Administration at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln before becoming executive
vice chancellor. During Plowman’s time at the university, the college increased enrollment by 35% in six years, added 70 new faculty and created new academic programs, including the College of Business Honors Academy, the Clifton Strengths Institute and other student services. Plowman was at the forefront of a fundraising campaign that raised nearly $150 million, including $84 million for a new building that opened in August 2017. Also during that time, the college moved rankings from No. 72 to No. 45 in the US News & World Report rankings of undergraduate business programs. She began at the University of Texas at San Antonio as an assistant professor of management before advancing to the position of professor and associate dean for graduate studies and research, where she was responsible for creating the doctorate degree in business. Plowman received her undergraduate degree in English from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. She holds a master’s in higher education administration from the University of North Texas and received her doctorate in strategic management from the University of Texas at Austin. The Lincoln Journal Star gave Plowman the “Inspire Woman of the Year Award,” in 2015. She was named twice as one of the 30 Most Influential Women in Lincoln and in 2016 received the Noddle Distinguished Development Service Award from the Nebraska University Board of Trustees in recognition of her fundraising efforts as dean of the College of Business. Plowman is married to Dennis Duchon, a
Donde Plowman was named UT chancellor on April 26, 2019. Courtesy of UT System Communications professor of management and department chair at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She has two sons Kevin Ashmos and Chijioke Onuoha, who reside in Austin, Texas. The search committee, chaired by Chancellor of UT Martin Keith Carver, launched the search in January and was conducted by a committee of faculty, staff, students and alumni community members. The committee invited four candidates to campus for open forums on April 15 to April 18. For details about the search process, visit the search website.