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‘Safe at UT’ makes emergency services easily accessible, prioritizes students’ well-being
ELIZA NOELL Contributor
Starting this academic school year, the University of Tennessee implemented a new mobile app that prioritizes campus safety and emergency resources.
The app is called “Safe at UT” and works to consolidate several student services into a singular, easily accessible interface. According to Tennessee’s Emergency Management report, Safe at UT serves as a hub for campus emergency resources and allows students to quickly access them “without having to search the internet for them.”
Additionally, the app contains a 911 speed dial, a link to the 60-day crime log, a live chat with the UT police department and an option to dispatch the UTPD to your location via Mobile BlueLight.
Ryan Moore, the public information officer for the UT Police Department and UT’s department of public safety, discussed the differences between the new app and previous methods of making campus safety features more accessible.
“The office of public safety at UT worked with the app developer to make it easier and more interactive for students,” Moore said. “The previous app, we were not able to customize it as much, and this one makes it a lot more user-friendly.”
The report, written by UT’s director of Emergency Management Brian Gard, also mentions the app’s Friend Walk feature, a live locationmonitoring system that allows the user to share their location with one of their contacts and alert that contact when the user has an emergency.
Safe at UT not only provides connections to emergency services for physical safety but also mental health services and crisis lines, providing links to the Student Health Center, the office of Title IX, the Student Counseling Center and more.
Colin Zimmer, a junior studying business management, psychology and social entrepreneurship and president of UT’s Sources of Strength program, noted that the app improved UT’s effective but widespread presentation of mental health resources.
“I think having something like this app is so, so important to making an effort to care about students’ well-being … especially on the mental side,” Zimmer said. “Because something this school has done in the past year (or) two years is they have given out a lot of mental health support. … But the issue that came up is (that) all of these resources use different websites, different apps. … It seems like they’ve done a really good job at consolidating all the information that they have into one.”
Moore emphasized the app’s ease in better
utilizing these resources.
“The app does not take away from these services. It merely gives an easier point of access to that entity’s information,” Moore said.
“Whether it be (the) Office of Title IX, Student Health Center, Mobile BlueLight, etc. ... aiming to make reaching their destination and services easier and at their fingertips. This allows them to make the informed decisions about the options and choices (that) they have.”
Zimmer also pointed out the app’s important inclusion of services outside of the UT campus.
“I think this is so crucial to taking the next step to mental health support. As a mental health advocate, it’s cool (that) they don’t just limit it to school resources. … There’s the 988 Suicide Crisis Line,” Zimmer said. ”Working with the executives for so long now, I really get to see the inside of what they do, how much training they have to do and how important 988 is to mental health in general.”
As the school year starts, UT is integrating Safe at UT in place of the former safety application Live Safe. Safe at UT is currently available to download, with hopes of encouraging a broader user base as the year progresses.
A guest version of the app is also available for
friends and family. Visitors can look into special campus events, report incidents and be alerted of emergency situations.
“So far, we are continuing to see new downloads every day and the reactions we see and hear are positive,” Moore said.
Every sector of UT’s public safety department has been working to help promote the new app. So far, they have received great feedback from students, faculty and parents.
The new Safe at UT app icon. Courtesy of Ryan Moore
The new Safe at UT app’s display makes all emergency services easily accessible for students and faculty. Courtesy of Ryan Moore
Student Wellness Advisory Council advocates for students’ mental health
SAMANTHA WHITLEY Staff Writer
The Student Wellness Advisory Council is offering students the opportunity to become wellness leaders for others on campus. This organization is interested in undergraduate and graduate students to join them on their journey to design a supportive environment for students.
To join this committee, students must complete an application by Sept. 4. To ensure fairness in the application process, several undergraduate and graduate representatives will assess the forms to create a diverse student body. Once submitted, the leadership team will notify the chosen students.
This council is based on the viewpoints of UT students and provides opportunities to collaborate with other schools and programs. More partnerships help members obtain a wider view of student well-being and achievement.
This organization also cooperates with the UT System Student Success team.
Jessi Gold, the chief wellness officer for the UT System, took advantage of this program and successfully developed her own platform. Gold is also an associate professor in the department of psychiatry, where she works with patients one-on-one. She became an expert on
Mental health professionals across the UT System collaborate during a working session at the 2024 UT System Mental Health Retreat.
Courtesy of Jason Moody, Assistant Director of Communications
student wellness after studying at the University of Pennsylvania, Yale School of Medicine and Stanford’s department of psychiatry.
As a chief wellness officer, Gold identifies opportunities by utilizing her broad perspective on the work across the system. Her goal is to dismantle barriers and promote collaboration. As a college student, Gold dealt with the challenges of mental health.
Instead of getting the help she needed, she said her mental health issues were ignored as she was told that she was not “sick enough.” Gold spoke on how this reaction from health experts inspired her.
“That statement basically lit a fire under me to do better, and I have been trying to be a soft landing for patients and a person who is focused on systems change ever since,” Gold said.
This new council goes beyond the monthly meetings for initiatives that students will participate in. Once admitted, members will have the chance to manage their social media, complete wellness projects and participate in the wellness summit.
The wellness summit takes place in the summertime, where affiliates of this organization can talk about their experiences.
“There will be room for everything from advising on systemwide wellness efforts and ideas to helping create health communications and outreach,” Gold said.
One of the council’s priorities is to strengthen the Vol community. When a student joins, they establish a sense of social unity that prioritizes them to thrive in a safe way. This ignites the idea that Vols take care of each other by increasing interaction.
“It can take a worry or challenge on your campus and directly lead to conversations that will hopefully promote change,” Gold said.
As Gold empowers the idea of student wellness, Leigh Morales, the director of student success for the UT System, spoke about what student success means to her.
“Student success is multi-faceted and factors in many areas of a student’s development — academic progress, social engagement, financial stability and wellness, to name a few of these key areas,” Morales said.
The core ideas of student wellness and success work coherently for this council. As students succeed academically, they also fulfill their wellness goals.
“As this council relates to student success, we believe that by students engaging in conversations about systemwide wellness, we will be better able to advocate for them, develop initiatives that support them and remove barriers to their overall success,” Morales said.
Resetting the mind: 6 peaceful study spots on campus
If a window in your room looks out into a busy hallway or crowded street, you can close the blinds to improve your focus.
Outdoor areas
As the fall semester progresses and midterms approach, students may face significant stress. To alleviate some of this anxiety, selecting an optimal study space can enhance students’ academic performance.
An individual’s surroundings can impact their mood, comfort level and overall wellbeing. It is crucial to identify the type of environment that can increase concentration and focus. Whether students prefer a secluded room inside or an open area outside, Knoxville offers many spots to choose from.
Study in the comfort of your own room
Your room can provide a lot of ease as it is the most familiar setting to you. This is an easy option for those unable to travel to another study location on campus.
A tip to make your living space less distracting is to avoid studying in your bed. Getting up to sit at a desk can motivate you to keep studying and decrease the temptation to sleep or feel tired.
Putting any distractions away on your desk or around your vicinity is also recommended.
College of Communication and Information Building
The deck attached to the main level of this building provides a scenic view of the stadium while you study. Depending on what time you go, this is a quieter area of campus that can help you concentrate while being outside. This area also provides long hallways that are secluded from the main entrances.
Student Union
Although the Student Union is a popular place for students to eat and socialize, there are many nooks and crannies within the building where you can diligently study. Most of these places are on the second floor, including the student lounge, meeting rooms and student suites. All of these sections have comfortable seating.
The combination of natural light and fresh air can enhance your studying experience. You can gain inspiration from the outdoors, which some students prefer rather than sitting in an enclosed room. This is a perfect time to study outside while Knoxville soon dips into that fall weather.
There are several locations to study outside that avoid the congested parts of campus. Depending on where you reside, some of the student apartments and dorms allow you to relax in a hammock.
For example, Massey Hall has built-in hammock structures in front of it, and University Park, located off campus, has hammocks between its buildings.
If hammocks are not your style, Circle Park provides lots of green space in front that includes benches. A picnic blanket or towel are good alternatives for studying outside in that area.
Empty classrooms
Many buildings on campus have classrooms that are not always occupied. Take
advantage of the free desk and classroom setting while no one is there. The Humanities and Social Sciences Building is known to have rooms that are not always in use.
Hodges Library
For those who need to eliminate every distraction, Hodges Library is always available. This library is easily accessible and convenient, as it is open 24 hours Monday to Thursday and located on campus. It also provides necessary studying equipment and ambiance.
One benefit of the libraries is that you can book your own enclosed study room for a certain amount of time. These rooms are helpful if you have group projects and need a private space to collaborate on ideas.
Another area to complete assignments is the study room behind Starbucks on the first floor. The atmosphere of a coffee shop creates a nice aesthetic to study in. Some individuals might find it easier to focus on their academic work with comforting food or their favorite Starbucks drink to boost their energy.
SAMANTHA WHITLEY Staff Writer
University of Tennessee celebrates 230th anniversary
SARAH PORTANKA Managing Editor, Engagement Editor
The University of Tennessee celebrated its 230th anniversary Tuesday, Sept. 10, with a Tacos and Traditions event, placing signage with interesting UT history facts around campus.
Founded in 1794, UT was originally named Blount College after Tennessee’s first governor William Blount. Since then, the university has gone by several names, including East Tennessee College and East Tennessee University. In 1879, the institution officially became the University of Tennessee.
In honor of the 230th year of UT, The Daily Beacon compiled a timeline highlighting the university’s rich history.
1794-1869
UT’s first president was Samuel Carrick, a Presbyterian minister who served as the college’s only faculty member and from whom Carrick Hall received its namesake.
In its earliest years, students met at Carrick’s personal home until 1799 when the school’s building was finished on Gay Street. When the college first opened, the tuition was only $8 per semester, and only one student graduated the first year.
In 1826-28, the college relocated to sit atop the Hill, where the 103-year-old Ayres Hall stands now.
The campus faced difficulties during the Civil War, suspending activity until 1865. Post Civil War, the school was chosen as one of Tennessee’s landgrant institutions. The same year UT became a land-grant institution, the Pride of the Southland Marching Band was founded as part of the school’s military department.
UT’s first football team was established in 1891, but the team would not be called “the Volunteers” until 1902. The name was given to honor and recognize the 1,500 Tennessean troops that volunteered to fight in the War of 1812. In 1899, J.A. Pierce became the football team’s first head coach, but he remained only for one season.
The first Torch Night took place in 1925, designed to symbolize the incorporation of the next class of fresh-
men into the student body. Sixty-nine years later, Torch Night: A Farewell To Thee became another yearly ceremony in which graduating seniors receive the symbolic “Torch of Service” and pledge to be loyal alumni.
UT’s beloved canine mascot, Smokey, joined the Volunteer team in 1953 when he was introduced at his first football game on a white carpet.
In 1962, former sports announcer George Mooney traveled to a football game via boat, unintentionally starting the Vol Navy — the group of people who boat to football games on the Tennessee River.
The Pat Summitt era began in 1974. In her 38 years with the program, Summit led Lady Vols basketball to eight national championships, including three consecutive national titles from 199698.
When Summit reached her 800th win with the program in 2003, the basketball floor of Food City Center, formerly known as Thompson-Boling Arena, was named “The Summitt.”
In her 35th season with the Lady Vols, Summit reached 1,000 victories,
becoming the winningest coach in all of college basketball. That record has since been passed, yet Summitt remains among the top as the fifth most winningest coach in college basketball today.
The tradition of painting the Rock, located next to Natalie L. Haslam Music Center, began in 1980, and soon after, a decision was made to allow anyone to paint the Rock without the university selectively painting over it.
1975Present day
The Vol Walk was first performed by former football head coach Johnny Majors in 1990, and the tradition continues to attract the Vol fan base before each home game.
While UT’s official colors became orange and white back in 1892, the Big Orange Friday tradition didn’t begin until 2013, when Vol supporters were first encouraged to wear orange on Fridays.
Embracing UT’s colors, the idea to checker Neyland Stadium first arose
from an X, formerly known as Twitter, image posted by Vol fan and graphic artist, Spencer Barnett. The image rapidly blew up and came into fruition at a game on Oct. 4, 2014, against Florida. To this day, one game a year is selected as a checkerboard-out.
In June 2023, UT achieved “everything school” status from fans and media outlets after Tennessee Athletics sent the football team to a New Year’s Six bowl game, the men’s and women’s basketball teams to a Sweet 16, and baseball and softball to a College World Series.
This year, Chancellor Donde Plowman posted on X in response to UT’s “Happy birthday, UT!” post.
“Five years ago just before Covid we celebrated our 225th birthday,” Plowman wrote. “These last five years have flown by yet when I think about all that we have accomplished, it must be more than 5 years. Let’s go! #everythingschool.”
EMMA LOVE,
Ayres Hall, located at the top of the “Hill,” is considered UT’s landmark building and plays the alma mater at 5 p.m. every day. Cole Moore / Contributor
Punk Rock Flea Market hosts annual event welcoming local nonprofit BreastStrokes
The annual Punk Rock Flea Market hosted by Ashley Caruso occurred Sept. 7 at The Mill and Mine. With over 150 vendors and 12 bands, locals were able to celebrate the creativity of their community while eating local food.
Caruso is originally from San Diego, California, and moved to Tennessee 15 years ago. When she moved to the city she had felt something missing from the previous destinations she lived in: the Punk Rock Flea Market.
Caruso had discussed the idea with locals, and in 2005 she held the first market here in town. She described why this event is special to the city.
“Punk rock isn’t just a genre of music,” Caruso said. “Punk rock is more about being the misfit or the odd one out.”
The purpose of this event is to allow people to be themselves in a comfortable, safe environment, and that is exactly what Caruso created.
The venue was filled with locals in unique outfits, but one thing everyone had in common was that they were enjoying themselves.
“I think the most punk rock thing somebody can be is just authentically themselves,” Caruso said. “I want people to express who they really are here, unapologetically.”
The entertainment, curated by Chris Rusk, ranged from local to regional. Each band had their own unique style of punk, catering to each person in the audience.
This year, the market hosted BreastStrokes, a nonprofit that has been raising money for 15 years for local women with cancer who are struggling to cover financials. The organization is fully volunteer-based and gives every penny to women in need.
Ammi Knight, co-founder for BreastStrokes, explains how far the organization has come since the start.
“At first we were able to hand a couple of our friends $300 to $400,” Knight said. “Now we give 10 to 15 recipients thousands.”
The organization partners with a local cancer clinic which refers women without insurance who then are able to apply to be a recipient.
Ami Davis, president of the board, joined the nonprofit 11 years ago when she moved to Knoxville. She discusses why she chose BreastStrokes opposed to
Attendees of the annual Punk Rock Flea Market enjoy live music. Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. Emma Caskill / The Daily Beacon
the other organizations in town.
“We don’t have any specifications on the funds that we allocate,” Davis said.
“We believe that women know what they need and so that is our mission — to gather money and give all of that money away.”
BreastStrokes held its fundraising upstairs in an enclosed area where women were able to volunteer to help other women in need.
“It is about the art but it’s not just about the art,” Davis said. “It’s also about having a super empowering event.”
The presence of acceptance was felt throughout the entire venue, whether you were there to enjoy the music, buy handmade crafts or meet new people.
In the future, Caruso hopes to create a larger destination for the market that will last overnight, allowing for the
people who come to be able to hang out with each other.
In the meantime, Caruso will continue to hold the annual flea market for locals to let loose. If you haven’t had the chance to attend the event, be sure to follow Punk Rock Flea Market on Instagram to get updates on the upcoming market.
EMMA CASKILL Arts and Culture Editor
‘Strange Darling’ review: J.T. Mollner’s film attempts to break gender stereotypes
stantly remind you that the film, despite its pre-show title crawl, is taking full, delightful advantage of its fictitious format.
Released in the United States Aug. 23, 2024, J.T. Mollner’s “Strange Darling” chronicles the encounter of “the lady” and “the demon,” in a deadly cat and mouse game between justice and violence, as the lines between the real identities of the two characters are slowly revealed.
The hyper-pigmented world of “Strange Darling” unveils its style in a flagrant, quick and heavy hand. A red car careens down an empty, rural road in a blurred, fiery streak, pursued by a large truck. The demon messily snorts cocaine off his knuckles as he drives. The interior of his truck is speckled with drugs and clouded with the smoke of a cigarette frantically dragged to ash. The lady, in bleached blonde hair and red scrubs, floors the gas on a vintage, cherry red car in the explicit communication of the film’s stylistic delivery. Like a jewel, the pops of violent saturation catch the eye in what will be the film’s least offensive delivery of an aesthetic, an incoming Pinterest board fueled on terror — a man is hunting a woman unlikely to outrun him — in a juicy juxtaposition of look and story.
It’s hard to identify how the film is supposed to be watched: through the very real horror of being on the wrong end of a chase, or through the dizzying flashiness that will con-
It works more often than it doesn’t, as “Strange Darling” certainly isn’t ugly, nor is its style wholly obtrusive. The film travels through a rich forest green with overgrowth, the old, creaky, cluttered maze of a farmhouse and the buzzing blue of a neon motel sign. Artificial sugary colors and rich production design brings a guilty glee to exploring the rural landscape.
The film is sectioned in a series of bold chapter cards inviting us into the story out of sequential order, beginning with chapter three out of six, jumping around between them in a promising display of what the story will say and, more importantly, what it will withhold. This method of storytelling, while not new, is welcomingly fresh, and alongside the anonymity of the lady and the demon, adds to the sparkly uncertainty.
But where “Strange Darling” falls short is in its obsession with itself. The film’s theme functions on fooling the audience with a simple, potentially effective twist in intentionally misplacing the threat. Not so subtly is the groundwork laid to generate preconceptions with the character’s names, or perhaps more egregious, the script. Our two characters adore telling each other exactly what they’re thinking.
The film’s decline is evident in the dialogue,
breaking the intrigue generated by the tense, bombastic opening, characterized by its wordless performances. Willa Fitzgerald’s presence as the lady is buzzing, energetic and commanding. Kyle Gallner brings a fun, almost giddy eeriness to his portrayal of the demon. Yet much of what the characters actually talk about is a cardboard, shoo-in recitation of the situations they’re in. Fitzgerald and Gallner’s lines, especially early on in the chronology, feel straight from a public service announcement, save from the onslaught of useless expletives in a sorry attempt at one-liners.
When every effort of the film is directed toward building up to the twist, every possible opportunity for characterization, for expanding the mainly two person cast past the identities of man and woman, is completely disregarded. The film tries to defy expectations by breaking stereotypes to prioritize the allure of having a woman be the “bad guy,” rather than taking advantage of its simplicity to dive deeper.
Crime thrillers are nail biting in their exciting invitation to unweave their convolution. Take away the large cast and sprawling mystery and you have the chance to really explore your characters with moments otherwise unfavorable to the fast pace of plot-heavy thrillers.
“Strange Darling,” however, disregards that opportunity. The characters and subsequently the story are left one note and underdeveloped. The simplified plot, left to rely on a singular twist, is a shallow attempt at being clever and ends up coming off as baiting. With the two main characters, there is a level of fun that can come from the subverted, intentional mislabelling of the threat. But that move is a tool best executed with well-developed char-
acters and complexities between them. When the film is so bold to essentially label the leads as “man” and “woman,” their lazy characterization ruins it all. Without personality and without depth, their roles lose their cheekiness.
This, unfortunately, spoils any point the film is trying to make. The demon ends up being no one but a man with a gun, his presence unremarkable outside of the direct contrast with his female counterpart.
The lady’s tactic of weaponizing her own victimhood is credited toward her ruthlessness. With a deeper character, we could possibly explore the lady’s view on the societal victimization of women that is unique to her character. But with someone whose only personality so far has been that she’s “the woman,” her actions communicate a gross message. They paint her as a brilliant mastermind for holding the very real pain of female victims of violence as an elaborate joke.
Worse, the lady’s actions don’t reflect the mindset of her specific character, but as a reflection of female ruthlessness, as if that is within the capacity of women instead of the lady independently.
“Strange Darling” tries to emulate the snappy, bright high of a compelling thriller that ultimately falls flat under the mishandling of the two central figures to its story. While stylish, fun and well-edited, it is ultimately uninterested in constructing a narrative focused on the clash of individualistic personalities, and more so with the cheap, gender-based fake out, upon which the entire plot hinges on. It has nothing to say, while accidentally saying a little more than it meant to, but looks and sounds quite pretty while doing so.
ELIZA NOELL
Contributor
Kyle Gallner, the demon, and Willa Fitzgerald, the lady, in Strange Darling. Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. Courtesy of IMDb
Unmasking our future: Revealing a commonality within us
JERIMIAH VECCHIONI Columnist
Masks. A simple word that can be triggering to some, especially with regard to a long-endured pandemic relative to our recent past. But what if I told you that many of us wear masks every day? I’m not talking about physical ones that you put on your face, but the theoretical ones that we, consciously or not, attach to ourselves. College is a time where we are encouraged to be authentic and expressive of who we are and what we believe. It can be difficult to live that out day to day. Many of us have professors who we feel we must impress. We may have peers, family members, friends and loved ones who we so earnestly try to maintain and nurture relationships with. Even the various campus organizations seem daunting at first, so we
Columnist Jeremiah Vecchioni says that masks are the only way for college students to be viewed highly in their day-to-day lives. Ansley Graves / The Daily Beacon
put our best foot forward, in hopes we can find and fit into a community of people. How do we ensure that we are viewed highly when displaying our lives in front of said audiences? We mask. We put on this facade and skew the reality of ourselves. All of this is an attempt to fit into certain places and spaces. I find this alarming. We should bring ourselves — in all of our imperfect glory — to new people, not who we think others want us to be. Are we living authentically? Or are we living amiably? Are we truly living for ourselves? Or are we living for others?
As a freshman, these thoughts and questions frequently linger in my mind. I’m sure many upperclassmen also feel this way, as the 2024-2025 academic year is fresh and new to us all.
Yet we don’t seem to take some time to acknowledge those feelings. If we did, we would realize that the masking — this “fake it until you make it” mindset — is not unique to just one student. Instead, it is a universal experience that should be capitalized upon. We should find comfort in knowing that we are surrounded by people who yearn for mutual respect.
It is true that one craves community in a place where they can be authentic, and where their sheer brilliance can thrive.
Yet most of us — myself included — only show up with watered-down versions of ourselves.
I am determined to start this year right, and I refuse to allow people to only know me as my diluted self. After all, this idea boils down to how others perceive us.
If we open up ourselves to this campus just a little more, I think we’d surprise ourselves at how well-received we’d be. Not only outside perception, but it is also important that we are comfortable with ourselves. So don’t confine you and your future experiences to a mask.
If you mask yourself, there are two things that would occur: one, it would be at the expense of your college experience, and two, you’d be costing this wonderful institution of a great person that they would have grown to love.
Are you willing to compromise greatness for comfort and mediocrity? The choice is yours.
Jeremiah Vecchioni is a freshman at UT this year studying secondary social studies education. He can be reached at jvecchio@vols.utk.edu.
Columns and letters of The Daily Beacon are the views of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Beacon or the Beacon’s editorial staff.
The Weekly CROSSWORD
by Margie E. Burke
Corrin or Stone
Oktoberfest duds
23 Take out a policy 25 Sidewalk stuff
26 More obese 28 "Now __ talking!"
29 Start of a list of examples 32 Cartoon art 36 1972 Eastwood flick, "___ Kidd"
37 Extremely cold
39 Do a yard chore
40 Like some films 65 Pollster's find
Period of work 41
Weekly Crossword by Margie E. Burke
East Tennessee Maverick: Our turbulent political summer
WALKER KINSLER Columnist
With the close of Labor Day last week, one of the most significant and turbulent summers in modern American political history came to an end.
In May, Donald Trump became the first president to be convicted of a felony. In June, a poor debate performance by President Joe Biden shook the confidence of his Democratic Party. In mid-July, an attempted assassination of Trump nearly caused the first death of a presidential candidate in decades. Just over a week later, following pressure from his allies, Joe Biden announced that he would be ending his bid for the presidency — launching Kamala Harris into the political spotlight.
With so many historic events, it would make sense if one would need to better remember one or more of these moments. Let’s unpack this summer.
On May 30, Donald Trump was convicted on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in order to cover up payments made to an adult film star during the 2016 presidential campaign. Immediately, he and his allies furiously attacked the conviction as political persecution by Biden and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
This is not a political witch hunt. Trump was convicted by a jury of his peers. This is justice and accountability based on evidence and the truth. Trump has been attempting his entire political career to be above the law and to present any criminal prosecutions against him as undemocratic. In fact, it is he who is undemocratically attacking our rule of law and justice system to avoid accountability. This is the behavior of an authoritarian who wants to put himself above the people. To vote for Trump would be to vote against our democracy.
On June 27, Biden and Trump faced off in a debate on CNN. It’s no secret that Biden performed very poorly, being slow and incoherent at times. What has been less talked about is the dangerous disinformation spewed by Trump the entire night. Trump portrayed Latino immigrants as evil, murderous invaders, and he refused to accept responsibility for causing the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Even though Trump has been saying these things in earnest since 2015, we cannot normalize his dehuman-
izing rhetoric and actions. Immigrants are not bad people, in fact, almost all of our ancestors immigrated to America. Migrants must not be portrayed as the “other” for political gain. That kind of hatred and distrust only breeds more hatred and the potential for violence like that of Jan. 6. In a recent study by the National Institute of Justice, an agency of the Department of Justice, it was actually found that “those who immigrate (legally or illegally) are not more likely, and may even be less likely to commit crime in the U.S.” Additionally, illegal border crossings are at the lowest level in around four years due to a new policy from Biden.
“Regardless, it is still paramount to point out that, no matter how much you politically disagree with someone, you settle disputes at the ballot box. Voting, not bullets, must be the only decider in our democracy.”
Walker Kinsler Columnist
On July 13, Trump was the target of an attempted assassination at a campaign rally near Butler, Pennsylvania. Despite my continuous rebukes of Trump and his actions throughout my entire time writing for The Daily Beacon, I will always denounce political violence of any kind. There is no place for it in our country.
As of writing, there is still no evidence of a particular political motivation. The shooter, looking up information on both Trump and Biden appearances, as well as the RNC and DNC, appears to have wanted to attack somewhere and gain an infamous legacy. Regardless, it is still paramount to point out that, no matter how much you politically disagree with
someone, you settle disputes at the ballot box. Voting, not bullets, must be the only decider in our democracy.
On July 21, Biden made the momentous decision to withdraw from the presidential race after facing a month of Democratic pressure. I have supported Biden’s legislative wins during his term — and there are many. From the American Rescue Plan Act to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and from the CHIPS and Science Act to the Inflation Reduction Act, Biden has accomplished more than many presidents of the past several decades. However, it was apparent from the debate and from his age that he should now be a bridge president to the next generation. Biden has served the American people very well in his 50 years of public service, and his stepping down was a true act of patriotism in putting country before self.
Now, enter Kamala Harris. On the same day as Biden’s withdrawal, Harris announced her new campaign with his endorsement. The Democratic Party, thrilled to have a younger female candidate, immediately and enthusiastically rallied around her. Generation Z expressed our ecstatic support through memes on social media about coconut trees and brat summer.
There have been many attacks from Republicans about Harris not being chosen by the people in her party. This is simply untrue. Biden chose to step
down willingly. His former DNC delegates could’ve chosen any Democrat they wished, but we have all seen Harris as the standard bearer for the next generation of leaders. Harris supports what college students support. Her campaign fights for reproductive rights, women’s health protections, student debt relief, assault weapons bans, universal background checks, combating the climate crisis and other issues younger voters believe in.
This summer’s legacy will be defined by who wins in November. We cannot support a man who attacks democratic institutions and the peaceful transfer of power. On Election Day, let’s elect the younger former prosecutor who brings a joyful vision of progress for America’s future. We are not going back.
Columnist Walker Kinsler, recounts the shift in the presidential race, referencing “brat summer” as a marketing tactic for the Harris-Walz campaign. Ansley Graves / The Daily Beacon
6 games to watch out for in Tennessee athletics this week
TYLER EDMANDS Contributor
It’s a busy week for Tennessee athletics, headlined by a night game in Neyland Stadium. Here’s a look at the schedule for Sept. 10-19.
Sept. 12: Woman’s soccer vs. Memphis — T-credit opportunity
Kicking off the week, the No. 7 Memphis Tigers (5-0) travel to Regal Stadium to take on the Lady Vols (4-1-1) in a Thursday night showdown. The unranked Lady Vols are trying to impress after tying with the No. 9 UCLA Bruins Sept. 5. Memphis will certainly pose a challenge to the Lady Vols, but if Tennessee wins, they will have swept every in-state opponent they’ve faced this season — Chattanooga, ETSU, Lipscomb and Memphis.
This event offers one “T-Credit” to students.
Sept. 14: Volleyball at Coastal Carolina
Tennessee (3-2) will hit the road and travel east to face Coastal Carolina (3-4) in a weekend series. The first match will be on Saturday afternoon, and the next will be on Sunday afternoon. After starting 0-2 and only win-
ning one set, the Lady Vols look to keep the momentum rolling since toppling UCLA and LIU in back-to-back matches.
Coastal Carolina won’t pose the Lady Vols much of a challenge as they’ve struggled to be consistent, but a weekend sweep will boost locker room morale.
Sept. 14: Football vs. Kent State
This weekend marks the second home game of the year for the Vols, and don’t expect a T-credit for your efforts if you land a ticket this week. The athletics department stated that T-credits will only be given for football games if the student tickets aren’t sold out, which may be more improbable than Kent St. winning this weekend.
The No. 7 ranked Vols head back home this week after dominating the Wolfpack in a 5110 win. Meanwhile, Kent State is coming off a narrow 23-17 loss to St. Francis last week. Tennessee is poised for another big game, as it has now outscored opponents 155-13 over quarterback Nico Iamaleava’s first three starts with the Vols.
Sept. 16: Volleyball at Wofford
The Lady Vols will continue their road trip, facing the Wofford Terriers in their first meeting in seven years. The Terriers have
struggled this season, and Tennessee will need to win this match to build its momentum. The Lady Vols will need to push through road fatigue to pull out a win, but life is easier since the Terriers have a back half of the previous week leading up to the matchup on a Monday.
This game marks Tennessee’s last road game for a while as the Lady Vols return to Knoxville to host their next three matchups, starting Sept. 19 with Western Michigan.
Sept. 19: Volleyball vs. West Michigan — T-credit opportunity
Volleyball returns to Food City Center, hosting its first match since Sept. 6 against LIU. The Broncos will be looking for a bounce back to their season, but don’t anticipate them providing the Lady Vols much of a threat. Tennessee will be looking for a big win at home to continue building on their success this season.
There is a T-credit opportunity with this match.
Sept. 19: Soccer vs. Ole Miss — T-credit opportunity
The last outing of the week, the women’s soccer team hosts the Rebels in Knoxville. An important SEC matchup in Regal Stadium will
be competitive with postseason implications already. The Lady Vols hope to keep the early season momentum rolling and try to pull out a win over the Rebels.
There is a T-credit opportunity with this matchup.
Sarah Bridenstine (6) prepares for a throwin during a match against UCLA at Regal Soccer Stadium. Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024.
Scouting report: Kent State players to watch against Tennessee
TYLER EDMANDS
Contributor
As Week 3 of college football rolls around, the No. 7 Tennessee Vols are riding high. Coming off a 51-10 win over the NC State Wolfpack, the Vols look to continue their winning ways.
Tennessee hosts the Kent State Golden Flashes under the Neyland lights before they travel to Arkansas and Oklahoma to open SEC play.
While Tennessee enters as heavy favorites, Kent State looks to take a page out of Northern Illinois’ playbook, a massive upset of a top-10 team at its stadium.
The Golden Flashes are in a slump, losing 11 straight games dating to last year. If they want any shot of challenging the Vols, they need to lean on their proven playmakers. Here are three players who could give Tennessee a fight this weekend.
Wide receiver Luke Floriea
One of the Golden Flashes go-to pieces is wide receiver Luke Floriea. Kent State’s second-leading receiver a season ago, Floriea made the third-team all-MAC and this year he hopes to find himself on the first team. He’s off to a great start to his campaign,
having recorded 196 receiving yards on 12 catches, including two touchdowns. This yardage total puts him almost halfway to his 2023 total of 400 yards.
Last week Floriea made his presence felt against Pitt. He pulled down six catches for 104 yards, including a 39-yard touchdown grab in the loss. This marks his second touchdown in as many games, continuing his early season streak.
Floriea’s ability to stretch the field will be important to the Golden Flashes staying competitive.
Wide receiver Chrishon McCray
Alongside Floriea is sophomore receiver Chrishon McCray. Another weapon is going to be crucial for the Golden Flashes to keep up with the Vols, and McCray gives them just what they need.
Being named first-team all-MAC as a true freshman proves McCray’s dominance in the passing game.
Although he hasn’t been as efficient as Floriea, McCray has still been effective, grabbing nine catches for 94 yards, along with a touchdown in both contests.
McCray’s ability to turn small receptions into big plays is going to be a key to breaking the game open for the Golden Flashes. If Tennessee doesn’t take good angles and tackle well, expect McCray to have a big game.
Defensive lineman Stephen Daley
Although the Golden Flashes have struggled defensively, letting up 39 points a game this season, defensive lineman Stephen Daley has been a bright spot. He’s been a force on the line, tallying 13 tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery.
Tennessee boasts one of the best rushing attacks in the SEC, so Daley’s performance is going to be critical for the Golden Flashes. The Vols’ offensive line is known for clearing massive holes for superstar Dylan Sampson to hit, and Daley is going to need to rally to close off the interior lanes in this game. While the odds are stacked against Kent State, Daley could be the driving force behind an unlikely upset.
Cole Moore / The Daily Beacon
The Tennessee offense huddles during the Duke’s Mayo Classic against North Carolina State at Bank of America Stadium. Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. Cole Moore / The Daily Beacon
Tennessee football dominates NC State in Duke’s Mayo Classic
Jamal Wallace (30) takes the field for the Duke’s Mayo Classic against North Carolina State at Bank of America Stadium. Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024.
Jakobe Thomas (9) celebrates a sack during the Duke’s Mayo Classic.
Tennessee takes the field for the Duke’s Mayo Classic against North Carolina State at Bank of America Stadium.
Nico Iamaleava (8) lowers his shoulder into a North Carolina State defender.
DeSean Bishop (18) warms-up prior to the Duke’s Mayo Classic.
Dylan Sampson (6) celebrates a touchdown with his team.
Dylan Sampson (6) celebrates a touchdown.
COLE MOORE STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Tennessee defense upholds standard in win over NC State
CALEB JARREAU
Sports Editor
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Tennessee football’s defense was having a ball.
Bank of America Stadium was blasting music and flashing its lights, igniting a party on the sideline from the Vols’ defense. Coaches and officials had to hold the line of players back from the field for the entirety of the TV timeout, trying to contain the rowdy group. It wasn’t the only celebrating the unit did on Saturday night.
Tennessee’s defense picked up 13 tackles-for-loss, three sacks and forced three turnovers to help orchestrate a 5110 beatdown of No. 24 NC State.
“Defensively, just an elite performance from really start to finish,” head coach Josh Heupel said. “ ... The standard at Tennessee is to be elite on defense. This is the home of Reggie White, Al Wilson, Eric Berry.”
By the night’s end, Tennessee (2-0) held NC State (1-1) to just 2.9 yards per play. Only two of the Wolfpack’s drives crossed midfield all night.
It didn’t look like dominance at kickoff, though. The Vols allowed NC State to convert three third downs on its first drive of the night, marching down the field before ultimately choosing to punt. The Wolfpack went 0-for-9 on third downs the rest of the night.
For a team known for elite offensive play, it was the defense that stole the show in a primetime neutral site showdown on national TV.
“I feel like we are a good defense,” defensive lineman Omari Thomas said. “I feel like we just come in every day just trying to get better. We don’t get complacent in our work and we just come in, want to grow every day, and we play with each other and just build the chemistry.”
Will Brooks runs back a pick six
Will Brooks could barely get a word in on Saturday night in the depths of Bank of America Stadium. He tried to field questions from the media, but teammates yelled out at him as they walked by.
The walk-on safety had a pick six that was the turning point in Tennessee’s defeat of NC State, and his teammates were making sure he felt the appreciation on their way out.
“It was obviously super exciting,” Brooks said. “We had a great play from
the box upstairs, and I was able to read my keys, and the ball just came to me.”
The score was 10-3 before Brooks returned the interception for a touchdown. The Wolfpack had life on offense too, picking up three first downs and moving the ball seemingly with ease. NC State quarterback Grayson McCall had just completed a game-high 28-yard pass.
Then, Brooks read McCall’s eyes and focused in on Justin Joly. Brooks got an assist from defensive lineman Joshua Josephs, who forced McCall to sail his throw right to Brooks.
Brooks took the throw 85 yards to pay dirt, changing the course of the game.
“The pick six and then all of a sudden things just started to kind of unravel and we just never got back into it,” NC State head coach Dave Doeren said.
“It was a part of the straw that broke the back of them,” Heupel said. “It started creating momentum for us.”
Defense not satisfied
Thomas didn’t want to answer if you could call Tennessee’s defense one of the nation’s most elite.
“We got to continue to grow every day,” he said.
He did think that Saturday’s win was one of the best defensive performances over the course of his five years at
Tennessee. Still, the defense is left wanting more.
Thomas thought the defensive line made mental errors, leaving more to be desired on the field despite the flashy stat sheet. It’s the little things that still need improvement.
The big picture, as evident on the field, is clearly trending in the right direction for the Vols.
“The growth of our players and who we have within the scheme that coach (Tim) Banks and our defensive staff have continued to develop these guys,” Heupel said. “They’ve been playing well, and I love the future of what we have over there.”
Will Brooks (35) celebrates a Tennessee fumble recovery during the Duke’s Mayo Classic against North Carolina State at Bank of America Stadium. Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. Cole Moore / The Daily Beacon
Notebook: Josh Heupel talks win over NC State, previews Kent State
TREVOR MCGEE
Assistant Sports Editor
Fresh off a ranked win over NC State, Tennessee football head coach Josh Heupel took to the podium on Monday to discuss the weekend festivities.
While the press conference is usually geared toward the next week, only one question was asked about Kent State, meaning Heupel recapped everything that happened in Charlotte for the media.
Here are some takeaways from the availability.
Laughable reputation on offense
Tennessee has outscored its first two opponents 120-13.
While the offense has been the centerpiece of scoring points, the defense has done its fair share of putting the offense on the field. In addition to the passing attack led by Nico Iamaleava, the running game has done the dirty work to ensure success. The play style has raised questions from outsiders of the program.
Heupel was asked about the general misconception that his team is built around an air raid offense.
“That’s kind of laughable to me, to be honest,” Heupel said. “You look at our ability to run the football since we’ve been here statistically, over the last close to a decade, we’ve always ran the ball really efficiently and effectively.”
Tennessee scored 44 points with 460 yards of offense. On the defensive side, the Vols added a touchdown while holding NC State to 27 yards in the second half.
Playing exciting football
Through two weeks, Tennessee’s defense has
yet to allow a touchdown. At this point in the season, the Vols are playing good football, but it can still serve as a chance to grow.
“As a competitor, you’re only as good as your next one,” Heupel said. “So Saturday night, that’s our next test. I do love how physical, how fast we’re playing. We got to continue to grow. Good teams, good defenses continue to get better. There’s plenty of opportunities for us to be better in what we’ve done up until this point.”
Within each position group is a sense of selflessness, allowing everybody to play freely.
“Guys being selfless, knowing that it’s important that you celebrate the guys around you and that you pour into them,” Heupel said. “ ... You see guys coaching up their teammates as much as you see coaches doing it. And it’s awesome to see the energy, camaraderie, chemistry, excitement that they have for the other guys in their position room.”
Kent State preview
In a game that highlights a far inferior opponent on paper, it can be hard to maintain focus of the opponent on hand.
“You can go back and look at the scores from across America each week, and there’s examples of guys that didn’t prepare, didn’t practice right, didn’t have the right competitive spirit to go take advantage of the next opportunity,” Heupel said.
“There’s a lot of work that goes into it. We started in mid-January. You better have the right mindset. There’s very few opportunities, this is our next one. Gotta be ready to go take advantage of it. Our players (and) our coaches this morning, were able to show them areas that we have to get better in, and you know, that started today for us.”
The Golden Flashes will be welcomed to Neyland Stadium Sept. 14 for a 7:45 p.m. ET kickoff.
2024 Football PICK ‘EM
TENNESSEE 62 VS. KENT STATE 7
ARIZONA AT KANSAS STATE
LSU AT SOUTH CAROLINA
BOSTON COLLEGE AT MISSOURI
OREGON AT OREGON STATE
TEXAS A&M AT FLORIDA
GEORGIA VS KENTUCKY
TENNESSEE 62 VS. KENT STATE 14
ARIZONA AT KANSAS STATE
LSU AT SOUTH CAROLINA
BOSTON COLLEGE AT MISSOURI
OREGON AT OREGON STATE
TEXAS A&M AT FLORIDA
GEORGIA VS KENTUCKY
TENNESSEE 56 VS. KENT STATE 7
ARIZONA AT KANSAS STATE
LSU AT SOUTH CAROLINA
BOSTON COLLEGE AT MISSOURI
OREGON AT OREGON STATE
TEXAS A&M AT FLORIDA
GEORGIA VS KENTUCKY
TENNESSEE 60 VS. KENT STATE 7
ARIZONA AT KANSAS STATE
LSU AT SOUTH CAROLINA
BOSTON COLLEGE AT MISSOURI
OREGON AT OREGON STATE
TEXAS A&M AT FLORIDA
GEORGIA VS KENTUCKY
TENNESSEE 56 VS. KENT STATE 7
ARIZONA AT KANSAS STATE
LSU AT SOUTH CAROLINA
BOSTON COLLEGE AT MISSOURI
OREGON AT OREGON STATE
TEXAS A&M AT FLORIDA
GEORGIA VS KENTUCKY
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TENNESSEE 55 VS. KENT STATE 7
AT KANSAS STATE
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Josh Heupel coaches his team during the Duke’s Mayo Classic against North Carolina State at Bank of America Stadium. Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. Cole Moore / The Daily Beacon