Issue 24, Volume 121
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
UT to host ‘Today Show’ broadcast Monday Rebecca Butcher Contributor UT has won a contest to host a live broadcast with Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb for next Monday, October 1. After UT administration sent an e-mail last week about a chance to be on NBC’s “Today Show,” students got up early and displayed their Volunteer spirit in front of Ayers Hall. UT won “Today’s College Challenge” event, meaning that a live broadcast with Gifford and Kotb will take place on campus on the morning of Oct. 1. The competition was between the Ohio State University, University of South Florida, Syracuse University, Brandeis University, Creighton University and UT. Votes were cast for the most festive showing in the segment. Rocky Top won out of around 150,000 total votes. Dorm makeovers will be a subject featured on the show, but other topics in the segment remain to be determined. Elizabeth Oakley, junior in special education, hopes a segment about football is included and is impressed with the publicity opportunity the broadcast will bring. The “Today Show” has aired since 1952, acquiring loyal viewers and promoting familiar faces such as Al Roker. Nicole Miller, junior in kinesiology, believes the publicity will be a huge success for UT. “They should let students talk and discuss issues going on around campus,” she said.
She added that this will bring good publicity for the school, which is much needed after the Florida loss. Many colleges and universities benefit from TV and film. Favorites as film sets, such as UCLA, Harvard and Princeton enjoy the boost in advertising. “The Great Debaters” and “Legally Blonde” both featured Harvard as a setting. Jeff Mann, freshman in pre-pharmacy, sees benefits for UT coming from alumni as well. “If I was an alumni and saw my alma mater on TV, I’d be more inclined to fund the school,” Mann said. Although he did not participate in the rally, he heard the blaring of “Rocky Top” and witnessed cupcakes being handed out. With the publicity UT will surely glean from the “Today Show,” student recruiting may also receive a boost. Most graduating high school seniors look to attend universities they are familiar with, and being on a major morning show will take UT directly into living rooms across the nation. Last year’s new branding campaign, “Big Orange Big Ideas,” was undertaken to add a new spirit to campus and foster positive changes. Since its unveiling, UT has hosted two major television productions. “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” marched onto Phillip Fulmer Way last spring, and ESPN’s “College GameDay” broadcasted live from Circle Park just last week. The “Today Show” will be the third show to choose Rocky Top as its filming location since last year. The show will air from 10-11 a.m. on Monday.
Tia Patron • The Daily Beacon
“Today Show” correspondent Sarah Haines holds a young UT fan during the filming of “Kathie Lee and Hoda” show on Sept. 19.
Job fair offers employment David Cobb Assistant News Editor
Chris Elizer • The Daily Beacon
Students participate in the Logistics Job Fair on Monday. The Fall Job Fair is being held today in ThompsonBoling Arena from 2-6 p.m.
Presentation given on income inequality Owen Schumacher Contributor UT students and faculty got a chance on Saturday to learn that income inequality is a bigger problem than perhaps expected and is caused by a variety of reasons. At UT’s weekly Pregame Showcase, Nathan Kelly, associate professor of political science, spoke to the audience with his lecture, “The Politics of Income Inequality in the United S t a t e s . ” Kelly earned a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He continued his education through research and has been working at UT since 2005. Kelly has been working on the subject for 10 years and asked his audience to set aside their political biases and acknowledge (their) predispositions. “Anytime you’re talking about inequality,” he said, “it has a good chance to inflame passions on all sides of the debate.” The half hour presentation addressed the questions of whether or not income inequality is a problem, how it changes
and what can be done to lessen the gap between rich and poor. Since the 1980s, income inequality has been rising significantly. It is now as high as it was during the Great Depression era. In comparison to 28 other countries, Kelly said that the U.S. places 22nd in that regard. This year being an election year, passions were especially strong. This was evident during the question-and-answer portion of the showcase. Several audience members questioned the validity of Kelly’s explanations on the causation of income equality and the importance of some of his leading factors for the unequal distribution of wealth. Kelly defended his research and maintained his stance. During the lecture, Kelly presented bipartisan arguments. Some believe the high level of income inequality is due to the rich working more hours than the poor, and that that is necessary for economic growth. These arguments were countered by statistics proving that economic growth can be maintained without income inequality, and while higher income workers generally do work more hours than low income workers, inequality
does not significantly rise or fall when the rich work more or less hours. Kelly also addressed some of the consequences of continued income inequality, saying that political participation is decreased, economic growth is reduced and there is often social unrest. Tyler Latham, freshman in political science and student senate representative for Reese Hall, was among those in attendance for Kelly’s presentation Saturday. Latham stated that he, too, has concerns about the growing gap between the rich and the poor. “I am worried if these income trends continue, only the state’s wealthiest students will be able to attend the University of Tennessee,” Latham said. “And that group will become increasingly small.” Kelly offered hope however. “(Although) inequality is high and rising in the United States … we can affect this outcome through the political process. The policy choices that we make matter.” The next Pregame Showcase will be Oct. 20, when anthropology professor Dr. Dawnie Steadman discusses the role of science in locating and identifying crime victims and missing persons.
Former UT basketball star and current Milwaukee Bucks forward Tobias Harris used his performance on the floor of Thompson-Boling Arena in 2010-11 to land a full time job. You can do the same this afternoon. The NBA isn’t among the 185 companies registered to attend the Career Services Fall Job Fair from 2:00-6:00 at the arena today, but according to Career Services Assistant Director Mary Mahoney, employers will be seeking
the services of UT students. “It’s a chance for (students) to see all the variety of employers that they could possibly work for,” Mahoney said. “It’s a chance for them to practice their 30-second commercial or sound bite. They don’t say that to the company, but it’s a way for them to learn, ‘how do I walk up and introduce myself, and talk about some strengths and skills I have?’.” Mahoney encouraged students to dress professionally and bring resumes, even those that are not graduating. See JOB FAIR on Page 3
Around Rocky Top
Sarah O’Leary • The Daily Beacon
Jalynn Baker, sophomore in studio art, takes a closer look at “Scroll Relief” by Drew Shiflett in the Pencil Pushed exhibition at the Ewing Gallery on Sept. 18.