Issue 2, Volume 121
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Emily DeLanzo Managing Editor
College comes with a lot of challenges. Not everyone is ready for grueling study sessions or tricky time management skills. Certain students enter university with an entirely different mindset than your average, overly excited freshman. Some come to UT through the GI Bill. The GI Bill has aided several generations of soldiers in completing school. “My grandfather fought in World War II and was one of the first generations of soldiers eligible for the GI Bill benefits,” said Jack Bradshaw, senior in geography. Whether a sibling, a friend, or even a grandparent, most students know someone who was able to com-
plete his or her education through the assistance of the GI Bill. “The GI Bill helped (my grandfather) graduate from law school and start a predominant law firm in Missouri,” continued Bradshaw. “The GI Bill is definitely a great way to afford and attend school.” The GI Bill has continued from the 1940s to the present day and evolved to better fit the needs of modern veterans. Stephen Jones, senior in wildlife and fisheries science, served as an infrantry man in the Marines from 2005 to 2009. He was stationed in the nation's capitol and in California. Jones served one tour in Iraq back in 2008 and found himself here on campus pursuing his dream of being a fisheries biologist. Jones attends the university with assistance from the GI Bill and is one of many veterans on campus. See GI Bill on Page 5
UT involved in Mars mission See MARS ROVER on Page 3
Alex Cline • The Daily Beacon
Emily Franks, freshman in biology; Melissa Casey, freshman in anthropology; and Megan Gaust, freshman in English, play with dogs during "Bark in Circle Park" on Aug. 20.
File Photo • The Daily Beacon
Members of the UT Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Color Guard march in the Veterans Day Parade on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010.
Clubs begin recruiting Chris Elizer Staff Writer With a new class of students on campus, clubs and organizations set up tables to grab as many new members as possible outside the TRECS center Tuesday evening. This was part of Welcome Week, another way of trying to assimilate new students into the university. Hannah Ellis, freshman double-majoring in journalism electronic media and theatre, has enjoyed her time at UT so far. “It's been nonstop fun. Everyone has been so welcoming and there has always been something to do,” she said. When asked if any of the Welcome Week events stood out, she said the 'Night in Neyland' event was incredible. “I love Neyland Stadium. We got to run through the 'T' and the band played, so I got a good sense of the strong school spirit here,” Ellis said. Ryan Wagner, freshman in computer science, said he has enjoyed his introduction to campus. “The past few days have been great! I've had a lot of fun playing sports on the intramural field and racquetball. I also did Big Day Out, and we got to go rafting on the Ocoee River,” Wagner said. Almost every sport imaginable, and a variety of other hobbies, has a club that serves as an opportunity for beginning students to make new friends with common interests. One club that always has several new members is the wakeboarding club. Its
president, Cody Beyer, junior in theater with a business minor, said the turnout is usually pretty strong. “One reason kids are drawn to the club is the rail-jam and jump in the pool, which pulls wake boarders across the water so they can get up on the board and actually do a trick,” Beyer said. Another club that is quite popular is the tennis club. Shelley Knight, sophomore in accounting and vice president of the tennis club, thinks this might be one of their biggest years, saying, “Right now we've got so many people already signed up, and we have a lot of people who are returning, too.” Ryan Passmore, one of those returning members and a senior in kinesiology, understands why the club is so popular. “I think it's one of the sports that a lot people can go out and play without much experience,” Passmore said, “and it's a good sport to get outside and stay active.” One club that is lesser known is the fencing club. Riki Higgins, junior in special education and fencing club member, said the turnout for fencing has been good, better than expected. “A lot of people don't know about fencing and think they can't do it because it looks difficult, but really anybody can fence,” Higgins said. Carrie Trexler, the Sports Clubs & Marketing Coordinator for TRECS, helped set up the event. “Obviously they are excited just to be here and looking forward to representing the university, meeting people, making new friends, and checking out their dorms,” Trexler said. “I'm excited to see what the class of 2016 can do.”
First day brings fresh start Blair Kuykendall Editor-in-Chief
The streets are packed, lines in the UC run for miles, and the bookstore is utter mayhem. The fall semester has begun. Students and faculty spent Wednesday in a rush across campus to find their classrooms and settle in. Since most classes on the first day are for syllabus review, finding a good route to class is usually the biggest challenge. This endeavor is more challenging for some than for others. The Class of 2016 set out for their first classes this morning. UT’s sprawling campus can seem initially daunting. Students were out early, hoping to avoid unforeseen complications. “So far, so good,” Jessica White, freshmen with an interest in psychology, said. “My first class was at 9:05 am, and now I’m just trying to find Estabrook.” Navigating campus can be tricky enough on its own, and thousands of students rushing around at the same time complicates things. “The first day has been awesome, but it’s been very crowded,” Kristen Dobbins, freshmen with an interest in political science, said. “The UC was really full, and it took like thir-
ty minutes in line to get lunch.” Returning students had both positive and negative feedback about their first day of classes. Comments ranged from excitement over the new buildings on campus to concerns about the ongoing construction projects. “I have a class in the Min Kao building and it looks really nice,” McClain Reynolds, sophomore in computer science, said. “It seems like these construction projects are taking forever, though. That makes it difficult to get to my classes on the ‘Hill.’” Though classes started today, many freshmen have already begun familiarizing themselves with campus by enjoying the Welcome Week programming. “I’ve gone to most of the events,” Dobbins said. “My favorite was the Night in Neyland.” Other program offerings focused on the intellectual side of college life. “I went to the Life of the Mind speech,” White said. “I really enjoyed it.” Returning students were surprised by some unexpected improvements. “The Strip looks like it has been really cleaned up,” Reynolds said. Welcome Week events will end on Aug. 24, Tia Patron • The Daily Beacon as students become immersed in their daily Students enjoy the newly renovated HSS in between classes on Wednesday. routines.