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Students, faculty celebrate UT’s birthday >> pg. 3

McClung Museum introduces pottery exhibit >> pg.5

Lady Vols welcome freshmen into the fold >> pg.6

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Issue 15, Volume 124

Cheek: ‘We can make it by 2020’ UT drops to No. 47 in rankings Emilee Lamb Assistant News Editor

So close, yet so far. On the race to Top 25 status, UT has hit a speed bump. Today, UT was named 47th in the U.S. News and World Report’s 2014 public university rankings, one spot down from last year. Despite this setback, Chancellor Jimmy Cheek remains optimistic about UT’s future. “We did go from 46 to 47, but that’s a very slight move,” Cheek said. “Our trajectory is very positive at the university, and I think that’s the real message.” Using a set of metrics determined by U.S. News and World Reports, top administrators from each university place institutions into the appropriate order. Both Cheek and Margie Nichols, vice chancellor of communications, defended UT’s ranking. “There are three people who vote on it: the president or chancellor of the universi-

ty, the provost and the admissions director,” Nichols said. “There are a lot of universities in there that you may not know anything about, and you’re supposed to vote on them.” Whereas Nichols questioned the ranking process itself, Cheek emphasized how ambitious the Top 25 goal really is, pitting UT against tough competitors. “The reason we chose the Top 25 is that it’s a pretty good consensus that those are about the best universities in the country. If you benchmark yourself against them, that’s a pretty high benchmark,” Cheek said. “It would have been much easier for us to say, ‘Let’s take the universities in the South and benchmark ourselves against them.’” The 2014 rankings heavily considered each school’s graduation and retention rates, possibly lowering UT’s score. Yet, the university has recently undergone small improvements in both statistics. “Today, our students are in the Top 25,” Cheek said. “The two things that we measure at the undergraduate level – graduation rate and retention rate – aren’t there. What does that say? (There is) something we’re not doing right here. Our

goal is to get to at least 75 percent.” Because of the criteria’s limited scope, Cheek feels that the number given is not necessarily indicative of an institution’s overall quality. “When we put together the Top 25, we said we want to be a Top 25 public research university. That means that we’re not only concerned with undergraduates, but we’re concerned about graduate students,” Cheek said. “So, we’re competing on a whole variety of fronts. U.S. News and World Report only focuses on undergraduate education” Still, Cheek expressed his confidence in reaching the coveted Top 25 slot. “If we can move student retention and graduation rates at the rate we’ve been moving, we can make it by 2020,” he said. “But we have to continue to put pressure on moving those two statistics every year.” Student Government Association president Jake Baker also feels that UT is making meaningful progress toward this goal, however distant it may seem now. “I think the important thing to realize is that we are not the only school with a Top 25 initiative,” Baker said. “This drop does not mean that UT has gotten worse, it

Bradi Musil Contributor

ers at 5-foot-11, Wilkinson is the ideal center forward, possessing the kind of power and speed that make her an opponent’s worst nightmare. Thestrup, on the other hand, was a budding creative force with the Denmark under-19 women’s team, a squad she helped lead to this past summer’s U-19 European championship after scoring three times in the preceding qualifiers.

Whether during the Crusades or the ongoing Syrian conflict, religion has been used for centuries as justification for war. UT is welcoming back its Distinguished Lecture Series – which had copious amounts of success last year – and kicked off the series, titled “The Sacred and the Secular: Conflict and the Creation of a Moral World,” with Philippe Buc, Ph.D, on Sept. 9. Jay Rubenstein, Ph.D, and associate professor of history with a focus on the first crusades, sought out Buc to visit UT as the year’s first guest speaker. Buc, a distinguished religious historian and author of books concerning religious impact on past and present violence, spoke to students in an effort to shed light on the typically touchy topic. Buc, who received his education in France as well as the U.S., was a professor of medieval European history at Stanford from 1990-2011, and is now universität-professor at the University of Vienna. With a growing population of people who question the logic behind world wars, Buc’s lecture, “Wars to End All War: Apocalypse and Conflict in Medieval Europe and Beyond,” focused on the history of religious tensions as the origin of mass slaughtering. “The scope of his ideas is pretty incredible,” said Nathan Reeves, a first year masters student in the musicology program. “He’s connecting thousands and thousands of years of Christian history and the method by which he does it is pretty convincing. I really liked his idea of how this one exegesis, this one interpretation of the Bible, has led to countless religious wars. I think that I’m definitely going to have to read his whole book when it comes out.” By citing and referencing areas of scripture – along with other scholars’ and historians’ research – Buc’s ultimate goal was to rationalize beliefs, which help to justify extreme violence or hatred for a group of people in the name of Christianity. “You have to be an amazing scholar to handle what he’s handling and to put it into a meaningful synthesis,” Erin Darby, Ph.D, and assistant professor in religious studies, said. “We are very lucky to have someone like (Rubenstein) who can bring in speakers like this.” Although certain regions are well-known for extreme religious demonstrations, Buc said that a history of religious vengeance exists worldwide. “There is something strange about the imaginary universal scope of struggles fought against small groups of pagans by small groups of Christians,” Buc said. “Yet, it is still in our imagination. We wage world wars with world-historical meaning.”

See SOCCER on Page 6

See SACRED & SECULAR on Page 3

Hannah Cather • The Daily Beacon

Chancellor Cheek prepares to field questions from reporters during Tuesday’s press conference addressing the recent U.S. News and World Report rankings, in which UT fell one spot from last year to 47th.

just means that other schools are getting better at a quicker rate.” Although UT as an institution fell in the rankings, individual academic programs were given high marks.

According to the report, UT’s undergraduate program was placed 27th among public universities. The supply chain management and logistics specialty ranked sixth in the nation.

Humility key for Lady Vol forwards Brian Canever Contributor

Hannah Cather • The Daily Beacon

Students stretch before tryouts for the VOLstars, an on-campus recreational cheerleading organization, on Sept. 10 in the University Center.

VOLStars offers cheerleaders second chance Hannah Moulton Contributor For many, cheering at the collegiate level is out of the question. Is graduating high school the end of the road for those who eat, sleep and breathe cheerleading? The answer is no, thanks to VOLStars. VOLStars is an on-campus recreational cheerleading organization that helps students continue pursuing their passion for cheerleading. Alexandria Calhoun, founder of the organization, stresses the importance of giving students a channel for expressing their cheerleading abilities. “I wanted to provide another outlet for girls and/or guys, if they want to, to be able to continue to do what they love,

if they couldn’t do it for the school team,” said Calhoun, senior in supply chain management. “It’s one of my passions, and I knew I wasn’t going to be able to cheer here in college.” Calhoun is currently president, founder, coach and choreographer. She founded the group her sophomore year. Betsy Cherian, junior in electrical engineering, also assists with the squad. “We give people the opportunity to still express their love for cheerleading without it being as strenuous,” Cherian said. Calhoun formed VOLStars to make an impact on campus, and to leave behind an organization as a legacy that would let students continue to partake in the sport that they love.

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“How can I provide a way for me to still do what I love and to leave a legacy on this campus, to change or to enhance this campus, to bring something different to this campus?” Calhoun asked. “Because I know there are different organizations, but there hasn’t been anything related to cheerleading other than the cheerleading team.” VOLStars stands out among typical cheerleading organizations, Calhoun explained. These cheerleaders do not do the usual sideline type cheering. They perform routines more akin to competitive cheerleading. “We don’t actually cheer like ‘go team go,’” Calhoun said. “We do all-star style routines, which include a dance, stunting and tumbling.” See VOL STARS on Page 5

Students at the University of Tennessee come from far and wide, across cities and states throughout the country. But, for two players on the Lady Vols’ soccer team, out-of-state does not begin to explain the distance they have traveled. Forwards Hannah Wilkinson and Amalie Thestrup are two of the shining stars on head coach Brian Pensky’s vibrant Lady Vols roster. The 21-year-old Wilkinson, a junior forward from New Zealand, is one of the most accomplished soccer players that has played at UT’s Regal Soccer Stadium. On the international stage, she has amassed over 20 appearances, including appearances in the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup and 2012 London Olympics. After leading the Lady Vols in scoring during her debut season in 2012, Wilkinson has already been a crucial part of this season’s success, racking up five goals and three assists in six starts. Towering over most defend-

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French author discusses link between war, world religions

The Daily Beacon

Hudson Forrister • The Daily Beacon

Forward Amalie Thestrup, a Denmark native, dribbles past a defender in a match against James Madison at Regal Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 1.

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2 • THE DAILY BEACON

Wednesday, September 11, 2013 Editor-in-Chief R.J. Vogt

IN SHORT

rvogt@utk.edu

Managing Editor Melodi Erdogan merdogan@utk.edu

Around Rocky Top

Hannah Cather • The Daily Beacon

Cruz Farm, a local dairy farm, serves its ice cream at the Neuro Club Social on Sept. 4 in the Melrose Courtyard.

Humanities Center plans to host distinguished philosopher at UC Sage Speaks Contributor Society and religion will take center stage this year in the form of distinguished American philosopher, Martha Nussbaum, Ph.D. As the principal speaker of the 2nd annual Distinguished Lecture Series, hosted by the Humanities Center and directed by Thomas Heffernan, Ph.D, Nussbaum will examine religious intolerance in the modern world. Yet, this will be not be Nussbaum’s first time on campus. Twenty years ago, Nussbaum was invited just after finishing her first book, still at the beginning of her career. Next Monday, she return to UT with a more contemporary view of philosophy. During her time at UT, Nussbaum will give three different presentations. The first will

be a seminar to a faculty group that has been reading her work for the past six to eight weeks. The second will be a public lecture on religious intolerance occurring on Sept. 16 at 3:30 p.m. in the UC. The third will be a Q-and-A format meeting for students on Sept. 17 in the Black Cultural Center. “Dr. Nussbaum’s visit is a going to be a great opportunity for the students to meet with this very distinguished public intellectual person up front and close to ask questions,” Heffernan said. The lectures will address current examples of religious intolerance, the origin of prejudice and, more specifically, intolerance in America post-9/11. “Religious intolerance is a bigotry emerging from ignorance and fear and a need to protect our group,” Heffernan said. Also involved with interna-

tional economic development, Nussbaum is well known for her defense of the “capabilities” approach. “This approach focuses policies on the development of basic human capabilities to function in ways essential to a dignified human life, rather than on, say, the increase of per capita GDP, (and) has been quite influential,” said David Reidy, Ph.D., head of the Department of Philosophy. Reidy, a fan of Nussbaum’s work, is excited for student’s to be exposed to her theologies. “She is an outstanding, multidisciplinary scholar whose career and work exemplifies the tremendous importance of serious scholarship both across the humanities and in conversation with sciences, both social and natural,” Reidy said. “It’s both terrific and fitting that she’s delivering a Humanities Center lecture.”

THIS DAY IN 2001: Attack on America At 8:45 a.m. on a clear Tuesday morning, an American Airlines Boeing 767 loaded with 20,000 gallons of jet fuel crashes into the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. The impact left a gaping, burning hole near the 80th floor of the 110-story skyscraper, instantly killing hundreds of people and trapping hundreds more in higher floors. As the evacuation of the tower and its twin got underway, television cameras broadcasted live images of what initially appeared to be a freak accident. Then, 18 minutes after the first plane hit, a second Boeing 767--United Airlines Flight 175--appeared out of the sky, turned sharply toward the World Trade Center, and sliced into the south tower at about the 60th floor. The collision caused a massive explosion that showered burning debris over surrounding buildings and the streets below. America was under attack. The attackers were Islamic terrorists from Saudi Arabia and several other Arab nations. Reportedly financed by Saudi fugitive Osama bin Laden’s al Qaeda terrorist organization, they were allegedly acting in retaliation for America’s support of Israel, its involvement in the Persian Gulf War, and its continued military presence in the Middle East. Some of the terrorists had lived in the United States for more than a year and had taken flying lessons at American commercial flight schools. Others had slipped into the U.S. in the months before September 11

HISTORY

and acted as the “muscle” in the operation. The 19 terrorists easily smuggled boxcutters and knives through security at three East Coast airports and boarded four flights bound for California, chosen because the planes were loaded with fuel for the long transcontinental journey. Soon after takeoff, the terrorists commandeered the four planes and took the controls, transforming the ordinary commuter jets into guided missiles. As millions watched in horror the events unfolding in New York, American Airlines Flight 77 circled over downtown Washington and slammed into the west side of the Pentagon military headquarters at 9:45 a.m. Jet fuel from the Boeing 757 caused a devastating inferno that led to a structural collapse of a portion of the giant concrete building. All told, 125 military personnel and civilians were killed in the Pentagon along with all 64 people aboard the airliner. Less than 15 minutes after the terrorists struck the nerve center of the U.S. military, the horror in New York took a catastrophic turn for the worse when the south tower of the World Trade Center collapsed in a massive cloud of dust and smoke. The structural steel of the skyscraper, built to withstand winds in excess of 200 mph and a large conventional fire, could not withstand the tremendous heat generated by the burning jet fuel. At 10:30 a.m., the other Trade Center tower collapsed. Close to 3,000 people died in the World Trade Center and its vicinity, including a staggering 343 firefighters and

paramedics, 23 New York City police officers, and 37 Port Authority police officers who were struggling to complete an evacuation of the buildings and save the office workers trapped on higher floors. Only six people in the World Trade Center towers at the time of their collapse survived. Almost 10,000 other people were treated for injuries, many severe. Meanwhile, a fourth California-bound plane--United Flight 93--was hijacked about 40 minutes after leaving Newark International Airport in New Jersey. Because the plane had been delayed in taking off, passengers on board learned of events in New York and Washington via cell phone and Airfone calls to the ground. Knowing that the aircraft was not returning to an airport as the hijackers claimed, a group of passengers and flight attendants planned an insurrection. One of the passengers, Thomas Burnett, Jr., told his wife over the phone that “I know we’re all going to die. There’s three of us who are going to do something about it. I love you, honey.” Another passenger--Todd Beamer--was heard saying “Are you guys ready? Let’s roll” over an open line. Sandy Bradshaw, a flight attendant, called her husband and explained that she had slipped into a galley and was filling pitchers with boiling water. Her last words to him were “Everyone’s running to first class. I’ve got to go. Bye.” This day in history is courtesy of History.com.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

THE DAILY BEACON • 3 News Editor Hanna Lustig

CAMPUS NEWS

hlustig@utk.edu

Assistant News Editor Emilee Lamb elamb1@utk.edu

UT celebrates 219th anniversary Destinee Dowdy Contributor Some things really do get better with age. Celebrating its 219th birthday, the University of Tennessee is no exception. On Pedestrian Walkway Tuesday, New Student and Family Programs, SGA, The Dean of Students Office and Volunteer Dining celebrated the founding of UT’s 1794 founding. Jamil Price, assistant director of New Student and Family Programs, helped plan and facilitate the event. “We thought this would

be a great opportunity to bring the campus community together,” Price said. “To get out here and to have some free food and water as people are heading to class and celebrate UT’s birthday.” Officially titled UT Founder’s Day, the event featured free cupcakes, drinks and a prize wheel. In addition, passersby received push cards filled with UT facts. “UT very much prides itself on tradition,” Paige Atchley, vice president of SGA and senior in marketing, said. “It’s great that they (the students) just know that we are a school that values that. So just to read some of the facts on our

push cards and to see all the things that we do as a university to celebrate our history is a key component of what we do and who we are.” Price was excited to see Founder’s Day become a reality almost a year after planning began. “This was spun as one of the big orange ideas to get the campus together to celebrate the university’s birthday,” Price said. “Think about it, that’s 219 years. “It’s one of the oldest SEC schools and one of the oldest in the nation before Tennessee was even a state.” First opening as Blount College in what is now down-

town Knoxville, the state’s flagship public university has come a long way in the last two centuries. Emily Parker, director of NSFP, relished the opportunity to spotlight both UT’s humble beginnings and impressive progress. “I hope students take away an appreciation for the rich history and traditions of the University of Tennessee,” Parker said. “To really think about the fact that UT has been here for over 200 years and what legacy are they going to leave behind so UT is here flourishing for more students in another 200 years.”

Matt Cikovic • The Daily Beacon

Philipe Buc, Austrian historian and author, discusses the history of religious tensions that caused mass slaughterings with students in Hodges Library’s Lindsay Young Auditorium on Sept. 10 for UT’s 2nd annual Distinguished Lecture Series.

SACRED & SECULAR continued from Page 1 Buc also stated that through interpretation, certain religious groups believe mercy will disappear in an apocalyptic setting. The belief that the world will end in violence, Buc said, has given way to extremely violent patterns of behavior. “Mass cleansing was the order of the day in moments believed to be apocalyptic,” he said. Buc’s lecture left some students questioning what the future holds in regards to the

issue. “Where does the hate end?” Reeves asked. “Does America have to go through all the steps that Western Europe went through already just to get where it is now? Are we going to eventually become an agnostic society like they are? I suppose it’s just funny what people choose to see.” The next lecture of the series will take place Monday, Sept. 16, at 3:30 p.m. in the UC Auditorium in room 329. For more information about this series visit http:// Thomas Carpenter • The Daily Beacon uthumanitiesctr.utk.edu/this_ New Student and Family Programs serves refreshments to students on Pedestrian Walkway on Sept. 10 to years_visiting_scholars. celebrate Founder’s Day. The University of Tennessee was charted as Blount College on Sept. 10, 1794.

4 • THE DAILY BEACON

Wednesday, September 11, 2013 Editor-in-Chief R.J. Vogt

OPINIONS

rvogt@utk.edu

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Between ‘yes’ and ‘no’ Crossing Cues by

Melissa Lee

MAYBE I smiled too much.

That, I am ashamed to say, was what went through my mind as I pulled my head back and stilled my lips. A man who I had not danced with specifically, whose drink offers I had refused, and whose name I did not know stood directly in front of me, placed his hands on either side of my body, and put his mouth on mine. My friend had run elsewhere to get something. It was dark. We were alone. At five feet two inches tall and an undisclosed but relatively low number of pounds, I was much smaller than him and, sitting on a wall, my feet did not touch the ground. He was much older. Behind me was a fall to a concrete ground. He was on every other side. We were both drunk. I did not want him. When he put his mouth on mine and kept going despite my withdrawn head and unmoving lips, I could have pushed him away, but it seemed, perhaps, an overreaction, and I didn’t want to make him mad or cause any trouble and, besides, maybe I had in fact smiled too much. I acquiesced. Here’s the thing — I don’t think he knew that I was uncomfortable. I don’t think he meant to surround me so that I couldn’t get away without force. I don’t think he noticed the disparity between our respective sizes and strengths. I think he just wanted to get laid. Women are taught from the time we are young that we must always be on the defensive, that we can trust no man, and that prevention of sexual assault is our responsibility. At the same time, we are taught that it ought to be our mission to please and that we really shouldn’t make so much noise. Men are taught to go get some, that sometimes women play hard to get, and that it’s all just a matter of convincing. This all coalesces into a gray area that goes beyond the simplicity of “no means no” and even “only yes means yes,” because sometimes “yes” just seems like the safest option. After all, you can’t rape the willing. Women operate with the potential of rape nearly always in the backs of our minds. We shouldn’t drink too much. We shouldn’t wear revealing clothes. We shouldn’t leave our drinks alone. We shouldn’t ever be alone. And, sadly, we are taught to think like this for good reason. Gentlemen, if you would like to understand this mindset, imagine for a second how defensive you would feel going to prison, because here’s a fun fact: as a woman in the U.S. social system, you are twice as likely to be raped than a person in the U.S. penitentiary system. That night, I had made some prevention mistakes: I had consumed alcohol; I had gone out late at night; I had allowed myself to get into a situation where I was alone with someone I did not know. However, he, too, was drunk, out late at night and alone with a stranger. Yet only one of us was thinking about preventing sexual assault, and when the night was over, only one of us went home feeling like a piece of shit. That’s privilege. I should have said no. I should have pushed him away. I should have made myself clear and not confused the situation. All of that is true. But it is also true that he should have been thinking about it, too. I was lucky that a car came by and interrupted us not long after, giving me the opportunity to break away and find my friend. Yet he took the kisses as encouragement, and even after I had given a more solid no, I still found myself walking home across the streets of a city I did not know at 5 a.m. in order to avoid anything more. I thought about the potential consequences of leaving by myself, and I left anyway, because it seemed, at the moment, the safer option. And as the men I passed on the street offered high fives or made comments in a language still foreign to me, I pointed my eyes to the ground and quickened my step, alone. Melissa Lee is a senior in College Scholars. She can be reached at mlee48@utk.edu.

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

Americans need to become active bystanders of Syria In Rare Forum by

Julie Mrozinski My heart hurts for Syria. When I wonder how evil on such a large scale is possible, I cannot help but feel ashamed of being human. I end up disgusted at myself, because after reading an article, watching a news clip or hearing a story about Syria, I continue throughout my day, making no attempts to help alter the damages being done. How did this situation happen? What were Syria’s neighbors up to while an entire nation transformed into one of large-scale violence? Why did they not cry out for help? Such lack of action is what Ervin Staub, most known for his psychology on mass violence and genocide, considers being a passive bystander. Passive bystanders carry on with their days without making any attempts to help a victim on the street or a neighboring country attempting genocide. In October 2011, a white van struck Wang Yue, a 2-year-old Chinese girl. Shortly thereafter, a truck ran over the young girl’s body. Eighteen bystanders ignored her, some even stepped over her blood. It took a total of seven minutes before a “good

Editor-in-Chief: R.J. Vogt Managing Editor: Melodi Erdogan Chief Copy Editor: Gage Arnold News Editor: Hanna Lustig Asst. News Editor: Emilee Lamb Sports Editor: David Cobb Asst. Sports Editor: Troy Provost-Heron Arts & Culture Editor: Claire Dodson Asst. Arts & Culture Editor: Cortney Roark Online Editor: Samantha Smoak

I feel like I just became a bystander. Apparently this type of terrorism only reaches the news when our nation, the “good samaritan,” decides there is too much blood to walk past. Now that I consider myself an official bystander, I believe action must be taken. I can agree things have gone too far, and intervention is imperative. This does not mean I advocate war – on the contrary – but with so many bystanders in this world, I am at least proud of America for considering taking responsibility. Let us as citizens not continue to be passive bystanders, waiting on the “good samaritan” of our nation’s government to act. Even you weakly-militarized UT students and faculty can become active bystanders. According to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, 1.5 million refugees and counting have fled Syria, leaving their homes and families and uprooting their entire lives. The UNHCR is providing each refugee with clothes, food and life-saving shelter. I know it is not much, but you can donate online in less than five minutes. I did. A few simple clicks at donate.unrefugees.org can provide medicine and equipment to literally save lives. Take on the position of active bystander, and if you know of anything more I can do, please email me. Julie Mrozinski is a junior in English. She can be reached at jmrozins@utk.edu.

Rodman visits provide peculiar blueprint for diplomacy What the World by

Rebecca Butcher There are a few lessons we can all take from an eccentric NBA Hall of Famer. I am referring to the former Chicago Bull star Dennis Rodman. He brings to mind a few characteristics. Ever-changing hairstyles, numerous piercings and tattoos are his signatures, but now, he is becoming an unofficial diplomat. Rodman recently returned from his second trip this year to North Korea. Yes, the one that is communist and isolated from other nations across the world. While abroad, the former player met with the nation’s leader Kim Jongun. Rodman told BBC that the Korean dictator is “a very good guy.” Such a description opposes a nation’s leader that has spent much of 2013 threatening to strike the United States and running nuclear tests. Reports on child malnutrition and human rights abuse by the secretive government are hard to correlate with such praise of its dictator. Rodman’s visits do not reflect political talks, but rather emit a friendlier tone. The Wall Street Journal reports that he plans to

train the North Korean basketball team in preparation for the 2016 Olympics. He even calls on journalists to visit North Korea. “You write what you hear, but you don’t see what you write,” Rodman said. It would be reckless to forget about Kenneth Bae, an American prisoner who has been sentenced to 15 years in North Korean labor camp. Though traveling to the country is not realistic for mediating safety issues, perhaps Rodman’s visits will open communication further down the road. If this is successful, it could open up discussion with the closed-off society. This could very well be the beginning of a new era with North Korea. Perhaps Rodman’s optimistic attitudes toward the dictator are over the top, but they are not unfounded. His relations with Jong-un are something that no other American has come close to achieving. Rodman even reported in a Guardian interview that he had the opportunity to hold the leader’s newborn girl and spend a “relaxing” time by the water with the family. Though strange, this is not the first time that sports have eased political tensions. Back in the ‘70s “ping-pong diplomacy” led to restored Chinese-U.S. relations, eventually opening up trade. Reflecting on the success that has accompanied sport-politics, Rodman’s basketball talks with North Korea appear plausible. Just earlier this year, Sen. Bill Richardson spoke at the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center

for Public Policy. He said it has not always been diplomats who have broken through on foreign diplomacy. The former ambassador to the United Nations encouraged what he called “out of the box” diplomacy. While this opens only a small channel of contact between the U.S. and North Korea, it is one that did not exist previously. Dennis Rodman is the rare type of man who gives little regard to public opinion. He usually does what he wants to do how he wants to do it. Although you don’t have to dye your hair green or even converse with totalitarian diplomats to change the world, make sure you’re putting forth the effort to affect it. After all, affecting the world is exactly the goal of the college degree – the education most of us struggle to fund. Aside from the degree and money, don’t we want to change the world? As a famous individualist even in American eyes, Rodman is accustomed to being the odd man out, both on and off the court. It may require taking the unusual route to achieve what we wish to influence. Just as it could take a nonconformist to open the eyes of a conformist leader, it is sometimes the most unlikely ideas that spark the largest changes. Rebecca Butcher is a junior in journalism and electronic media. She can be reached at rbutcher@utk.edu.

Get Fuzzy • Darby Conley

Non Sequitur • Wiley

EDITORIAL

samaritan” called for help. She died within eight days. This socio-psychological phenomenon occurs when the presence of others impedes someone from helping a victim. The probability of someone helping the victim is inversely connected to the number of people in the vicinity. The more people, the less likely anyone is to help. This human phenomenon was first scrutinized in 1968 when John Darley and Bibb Latané staged emergency-type situations and waited to see how long and how many individuals took action to help a staged victim. Only 40 percent of people offered to help a woman left in distress woman. If everyone was watching someone suicidal jump off a bridge – would you watch too? Apparently, the majority feels comfortable doing so. This idea, unfortunately, can be applied to nations. This is how mass genocide happens in Syria. The bystander effect is showing off its lazy, lousy effects on a large-scale. As stated before, the number of people present inversely relates to possibility of an individual helping. Ignoring a nation’s distress becomes even easier when we think, “the American government will help” or “the United Nations will get involved.” As a busy college student who walks around with her head in the clouds, I was on the other side of the street. During these past few weeks, however,

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Wednesday, September 11, 2013

THE DAILY BEACON • 5 Arts & Culture Editor Claire Dodson

ARTS & CULTURE Knoxville production explores family impacts of dementia

• Photo courtesy of Ed Dumas

“The Outgoing Tide,� a play discussing the hardships of Alzheimer’s disease, runs from Sept. 6-22 at Theatre Knoxville Downtown.

Liv McConnell Staff Writer “The Outgoing Tide,� a play that addresses the struggle of Alzheimer’s, is appearing at Theatre Knoxville Downtown until Sept. 22. Full of dark humor, socially relevant questions and powerful emotions, the play centers around a man afflicted with worsening dementia and his family. “I find ‘The Outgoing Tide’ to be a very moving story,� said Windie Wilson, director of the production. “The play’s characters grapple with life’s challenges – aging and illness, child rearing, marital struggles and the general complexity of family relationships. I think everyone can find something of themselves or someone they know in the story.� Those who have had a loved one stricken with Alzheimer’s will find scenes that are all too familiar acted out upon the stage, actress Bonny Pendleton said. “It’s a personal play for me,� said Pendleton, who plays Peg, wife of the protagonist, Gunner. “Alzheimer’s has been in my family. The subject matter is so current. Almost everyone has faced this in some size or shape.� Written by the Philadelphia playwright Bruce Graham, Theatre Knoxville’s production is the first time “The Outgoing Tide� has been performed in the southeast. The play raises a bevy of ethical questions as it explores an illness often ignored

by the artistic world. “It brings up questions about whether people should have the right to do themselves in when suffering from an incurable disease like this,� Pendleton said. “‘The Outgoing Tide’ is about Gunner planning to have control over leaving life.� Although the content is emotionally heavy, Pendleton said the play has its lighter moments. “A lot of people consider it dark, but actually there’s a lot of laughing and jokes,� she said. “Basically the characters are trying to laugh instead of cry.� Wilson, who also serves on the board of directors for Theatre Knoxville as treasurer, believes one of the challenges – as well as one of the more interesting stylistic aspects – of the production is its interplay between time periods. “The story moves back and forth between the present and the past,� Wilson said. “I found it challenging to create transitions that effectively portrayed these varied time frames and settings in a confined space. Theatre Knoxville Downtown is an intimate venue. However, our lighting designer was very helpful in this effort and I think we were successful.� Located on Gay Street, Theatre Knoxville opened in March of 1976 and operates as a community theater on a completely volunteer, nonprofit basis. “The actors aren’t paid and neither is the board,� Pendleton said. “We all build sets, clean

toilets and vacuum. We’re doing this for the love of theater.� Pendleton is consistently shocked that, although the theater is in its 36th year, many people still do not know of its existence. “It always surprises me,� she said. “We’re located right there on Gay Street and so many people still don’t realize it. The art in Knoxville can’t exist unless we have patrons who support it. Grants have dried up. Funding for the arts is always the first thing to go. We have to reach a certain number of patrons per year to rent.� Theatre Knoxville is always looking for new members of their acting troupe and volunteers in a variety of other areas. “TKD uses volunteers in all sorts of capacities – as actors, stage managers, tech assistants and backstage crew, building sets and props, distributing promotional materials and staffing the box office,� Wilson said. “People can sign up on our website to get information about volunteer opportunities and to learn about auditions for upcoming productions.� “The Outgoing Tide� will be performed at 8 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and at 3 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets range from $10-$15. “Art enriches people’s lives,� Wilson said. “Locally produced art provides a means for people to connect with and preserve the culture of their community.�

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pdodson@utk.edu

Assistant Arts & Culture Editor Cortney Roark

croark4@utk.edu

VOL STARS continued from Page 1 They also do not perform at typical cheerleading events, instead performing at events held by other organizations on campus. They have performed at an intermission during Kappa Alpha Psi’s annual Miss Krimson and Kreme pageant. The squad has also participated in Showtime, the annual showcase that is part of the JUMP overnight visit program held by Minority Enhancement for the University

Over 60 pieces of authentic Pueblo Indian pottery ranging from the late 19th to early 20th century are now on display at the newly-added exhibit, Pueblo to Pueblo: the Legacy of Southwest Indian Pottery, in the McClung Museum. The exhibit offers examples of varying styles from tribes all over the Pueblo nation. From the skillfully painted symmetry of the Acoma tribes to the polished shinning black pottery shaped by the Santa Clara, Pueblo to Pueblo is a visual encyclopedia of an ancient civilization’s traditions. Viewers of the exhibit can find pieces dating back to 1870 and styles as old as 2000 years. The pieces were collected by the Kansas City Museum and Union Station Kansas City Inc. Assistant curator Catherine Shteynberg weighed in on the importance of the painstaking process by which the pieces went through to be created. “These artists essentially go through a 30 hour process for one cubic foot of clay,� Shteynberg said. “Additionally, the Acoma Pueblos often would chew yucco leaves for extended bouts just to receive a few perfect fibers used in painting.� While viewing the unique figurines created by the Tesuque tribes, Anders Vaughn, sopho-

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pioneered. A film dedicated to Martinez’s life entitled “Hand of Maria� can be additionally requested. Hopi sculptor Nampeyo also has her story on display along with one of her actual pieces dating back to 1890 in the Hopi section. While Nampeyo and the Hopi used some of the oldest techniques and patterns, the most contemporary and recent pieces on display come from Hopi artists. Yellow and orange clay pots coming from the ‘60s and ‘70s can be found along side Nampeyo’s 1890 example. These pieces are made unique by intentional burn marks the tribeswomen included while firing the clay. Shteynberg hopes the exhibit will appeal to a wide variety of visitors given its significant archaeological, historical, artistic and anthropological context. Vaughn also wants students to appreciate the significance of each piece. “Its worth a look to find just how relevant these pieces can be to my own interests,� Vaughn said. “It has me wondering about clays and soil types being used, and that’s just a small part of the whole exhibit.� The exhibit premiered Saturday, Sept. 7, with an attendance of 85 museum attendees. The exhibit will remain in McClung Museum until Jan. 5, 2014.

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more in geography, appreciated the consciousness of time shown by the exhibit. “These pieces are particularly neat,� Vaughn said. “It shows an admirable awareness of changing times within a culture.� The Tesuque created figurines as well as pottery to sell to white tourists new to the region. Those interested in the artistry of the pottery can observe the varying use of literal and abstract imagery in the clay as well as the details of the clay-forming process. Shteynberg revealed that her passion and true appreciation for the pieces stemmed from the spirituality and religious significance of the pottery design as well as the strenuous efforts it took to create the pottery. “You can see subtleties as specific as small breaks in patterns meant to allow the spirit of the pot to be released,� Shteynberg said. “They all exist in a functioning form as well as a spiritual form. Sometimes it’s just nice to have nicely painted objects in your home that hold religious or spiritual significance.� However, the exhibit displays more than just pottery. Each section holds images and further insight into the people responsible for the pieces. Maria Martinez of the San Ildefonso tribe has her image and story on display with the unique style of black polished pottery she

Jake Watkins Contributor

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“Sometimes the stresses of school are so overwhelming, but when I go to practice, it makes me completely forget about it.� There are currently 10 girls on the squad, but Calhoun said she hopes to bring their numbers up to 16 after the upcoming tryouts. “I’m always looking for new girls,� Calhoun said. “I do impromptu tryouts during the school year if it’s enough time before performances.� There are no specific requirements to try out for VOLStars. Tryouts will be held Wednesday and Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the University Center’s Crest Room.

Pueblo pottery showcase offers glimpse of history

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of Tennessee. Calhoun said VOLStars tries to do an event a semester, so the team is not overwhelmed. “More than one would be a lot, and I know school comes first,� Calhoun said. Destiny Sirivong, junior in marketing, said that becoming part of VOLStars has worked as an escape from the stress of college and given her an opportunity to establish a sense of belonging. “What I’ve enjoyed about VOLstars is the friendships that I’ve made within the team, and I love how I can use VOLStars as my stress reliever,� Sirivong said.

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6 • THE DAILY BEACON

Wednesday, September 11, 2013 Sports Editor David Cobb

SPORTS

dcobb3@utk.edu

Assistant Sports Editor Troy Provost-Heron tprovost@utk.edu

SOCCER continued from Page 1

Oregon game filled with potential

Troy Provost-Heron Assistant Sports Editor Watching Saturday’s first quarter, I was speechless. Four days later, I still don’t think there are many words that come to mind when I think of what 86,783 Volunteer fans and I witnessed between the 4:24 and 0:31 minute marks in the first quarter of play. I plan on watching a lot of football games in the rest of what I hope is a long, healthy life, but I honestly don’t think I will ever see the likes of five turnovers in six plays again. But it’s time to put all this UT-WKU talk to bed. There are more pressing issues in Tennessee football that need discussing and all of those conversations include two words. Oregon. Ducks. It goes without saying that the Vols – even with the one vote the team received in this week’s AP Poll – will be heavy underdogs when they travel to Eugene, Ore. to face the No. 2 team in the nation, a team that is 31-3 in the last five years inside Autzen Stadium. With that said, this game might not be important to the Vols from a winning aspect, because, to be honest, they stand very little chance against a team that could be the best in the

country. Its importance from a confidence standpoint, however, cannot be underestimated. This is a young team with a bright future under Butch Jones, but getting blown out early against the Ducks could risk this team’s psyche for the rest of the season. An explosive offense that is currently averaging 425 yards on the ground and 62.5 points per game pitted against a Volunteer defense that has shown improvements from last year’s debacle but has yet to face a high-caliber opponent to date this season may not be something that anybody wants to watch. Add in a UT offense that looked mediocre at best on Saturday against WKU, and you don’t have the best recipe for keeping this game close. Then again, somebody probably said the same thing in 2010 when then-No. 7 Oregon came to play at Neyland Stadium. A repeat of 2010 for this team could be just what the doctor ordered. Sure, the Vols lost that game 48-13, but they went into halftime tied 13-13 and were actually leading 6-3 after the first quarter. It wasn’t until the Vols forgot how to tackle and LaMichael James broke out a 72-yard run that the game got out of hand. Can you imagine this Volunteer team – which has played 18 freshman in two games – going into halftime tied with Oregon at Autzen? I know I’m getting ahead of myself, but you get the point. The Vols just have to do enough to keep feeling good about themselves after they are handed their first loss in the Butch Jones era. The Jones era has had a near perfect start so far, and if there

is any coach that could get his guys to rise to the occasion and keep this one close, it’s the man who has utilized his keen motivational skills all offseason. One thing is for sure, it will definitely be a shootout come 3:30 p.m. EST on Saturday. We will just have to see if it will be one-sided or not. Upset of the Week Last week’s prediction: Miami over No. 12 Florida This week’s prediction: No. 6 Texas A&M over No. 1 Alabama, 24-14 We’ll call last week’s prediction beginner’s luck, but hopefully we can keep this train rolling. Now, I know No. 6 over No. 1 isn’t what you would call a bold upset, but when No. 1 happens to be the back-to-back national champions, it’s a big upset regardless of who they lose to. The Crimson Tide did not look strong in their season opener against Virginia Tech, recording only 206 yards, which was six yards less than the Hokies, whose QB went 5 for 26. The Bama offense misses the likes of Chance Warmack, Barrett Jones, D.J. Fluker and Eddie Lacy this year, and I cannot see it getting any better in a hostile environment like College Station. Oh, and no matter what you think about Johnny Manziel off the field, the kid can play. He has beaten the Tide once already and I think he will do it again.

Still only 18 years old, the freshman’s strength is her versatility as she can play a number of positions in midfield and along the forward line. Without the height and speed of her Kiwi teammate, the Dane relies on her crafty footwork and a resolve typical of a Pensky-coached player. Despite their different tongues, styles and ages, “the foreigners” – as Thestrup said she and Wilkinson have been dubbed by their teammates – have quickly formed a friendship and partnership on the team. “A great team off the field makes a great team on the field,” Thestrup said, referring to the way they are settling as fellow internationals in Knoxville. Even though Thestrup is still far from becoming a consistent starter for the Lady Vols, she is willing to do whatever it takes to prove herself.

“I knew from the moment that I came to the University of Tennessee that this is where I wanted to be,” Thestrup said. “Wherever I can help out on the field I will do my very best every single time. I’ll play any position that will help the team.” The duo is grounded, exuding humility despite their accomplishments on the international stage. Both Thestrup and Wilkinson prefer to discuss what is best for the Lady Vols prior to their own career ambitions. “First of all, my ambition for the team is to win the SEC and to at least make a placing in the NCAA tournament,” Wilkinson said, adding that she would also like to achieve first team All-American honors. “I think I’m very lucky. It’s a fantastic life honestly,” Wilkinson said when asked about the opportunity to feature for both New Zealand and the Lady Vols. “I’m very proud to play for my country and for my new family here. They are fantastic.”

Though Wilkinson and Thestrup are serious about academics, they also hope that success on the team and with their respective nations will lead them to future professional careers, possibly in the National Women’s Soccer League in the U.S. “Dream big or you won’t accomplish what you go for,” Thestrup said. She also mentioned that former Denmark forward Michael Laudrup and current women’s national team forward Pernille Harder are two of her inspirations as a player. Wilkinson cited U.S. national team center forward Abby Wambach as her role model. “She keeps calm when the pressure is on,” Wilkinson said. A quality the Lady Vol forward also possesses, as she showed when scoring for New Zealand against Wambach and the U.S. in a friendly in February 2012. “That goal was a milestone for me,” Wilkinson said, “and the benchmark I’ve set for myself.”

Touted freshmen join Lady Vols Patrick MacCoon Staff Writer

With Tennessee women’s basketball coach Holly Warlick and her team focused on the “Grind For 9” initiative to capture the program’s ninth national championship this season, the group will to look to a crew of experienced players to lead the way. However, a pair of talented true freshmen may find their way into the rotation from the get-go. While the Lady Vols lost out to Georgia Tech on the nation’s No. 2 recruit, Kaela Davis, and had another top commitment drop due to personal reasons this summer, the team expects big things out of freshmen cenTroy Provost-Heron is a sopho- ter Mercedes Russell and point more in journalism and elec- guard Jordan Reynolds. Russell and Reynolds, both tronic media. He can be reached at tprovost@utk.edu, and fol- hailing from Oregon, played lowed on Twitter at @TPro_ together on the same AAU club team in high school. UTDB.

Since the two arrived on campus, they have impressed their coaches and fit in right from the start with their new teammates. “Coming in, both freshmen are extremely talented, and I think they’re going to help us out tremendously,” said Kyra Elzy, Lady Vols assistant coach, in a recent UT release. “We just have to keep in mind that they’re freshmen.” The 6-foot-6 Russell will look to help out a team already deep in the front court and returning two of the top ten rebounders in the SEC from last season. Ranked as the No. 1 recruit in her class according to ESPNU, Russell is the highest ranked player to sign with Tennessee since Candace Parker in 2004. In her high school career she led Springfield (Ore.) to two state championships and was named the MVP of the McDonald’s All-American

game in Chicago on April 3, totaling 16 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots. Reynolds’ arrival will provide depth for the Lady Vols at point guard alongside Ariel Massengale and Andraya Carter. The 5-11 guard averaged 18.5 points per game and over five assists per game as a senior at Central Catholic H.S. She comes in as the No. 10 ranked guard in her class. Both freshmen this season will bring their own unique attributes and personality to the team – Reynolds being the more vocal of the pair. “Jordan is an energizer bunny, always talking and laughing,” senior guard Meighan Simmons said. “She came in early and she did communicate with us because she knew she’s going to have to be in a leadership role. She’s going to need to be vocal and I think she’s taking advantage of that.”

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