Wednesday, September 25 by UT Office of Student Media

‘THIS GAME WAS NEVER ABOUT ME’

Heupel made his rounds back to his former stomping grounds, coming out with a 25-15 win as the head coach of the Vols.

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Vols face Gators in different kind of competition, motivating students to register to vote

JENNA TRIPLETT Contributor

Since 2015, the University of Tennessee and the University of Florida have taken their infamous rivalry off the football field and into the political arena. UT’s voter registration initiative, also known as the #VolsVote campaign, allows students to check their registration status, register to vote and sign up for election reminders, all while participating in a friendly competition.

“They tend to ignore you if you don’t vote, so you need to have the voting numbers up,” said Troy Goodale, a professor at the Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs who specializes in American government, politics and elections.

With the election in less than 55 days, UT is doing its part to ensure that every student has the necessary resources to cast their ballot.

“There’s so much information to help you feel comfortable about registering to vote and everything surrounding going to cast a vote,” Goodale said. “There’s a lot of good information there and having that in one repository, one website, is good stuff.”

Students who complete all three steps qualify as participants in the voter engagement competition between the two universities.

“I think it’s important to voice your opinion,” UT student Ellie Arnold said. “It’s a good idea for everyone to vote, and I don’t think there’s enough people that are our age (who) do.”

The competition is a result of hard work on behalf of UT’s Student Government Association, the Institute of American Civics and the Vols Vote Coalition.

“I have too strong of an opinion to not use my vote,” sophomore Gavin Gajjar said.

The VolsVote initiative aims to remove barriers for students like Gajjar who come to Knoxville from other states, but still desire to have their voice heard.

“A lot of the more local offices don’t tend to matter as much to students until they get into life situations and experiences,” Goodale said. “I’m trying to help on the front end, saying, ‘Look, these things are really important.’”

The voter registration initiative and the support of professors across campus are working together to increase voter turnout among UT students.

The voter registration deadline in Tennessee is Oct. 7 File / The Daily Beacon

“By participating, you’re not only supporting UT in this challenge but also contributing to a larger movement towards increased voter participation and civic responsibility,” SGA Student Body President Dante Grayson said in an interview with WVLT.

magazine focused on covering politics and government in the U.S. However, UT was recognized by Secretary of State Tre Hargett for its participation in the Tennessee College Voter Registration Competition.

UT accepted the award for Most Creative Voter Registration Campaign in January of 2023.

“I have too strong of an opinion to not use my vote.”

Gavin

Gajjar

Sophomore

Students are not the only ones eligible to participate. Any member of Vol Nation, including faculty, staff and alumni are welcome to complete the necessary steps to get UT one step closer to victory. The winner of the competition is expected to be announced ahead of the Tennessee vs. Florida game Oct. 12.

This article was produced in conjunction with Melanie Faizer’s JMED 230 : Multimedia Reporting.

The competition began Aug. 26 and runs through Oct. 7.

Weekly updates can be found on the Vols Vote portion of the University of Tennessee’s website, complete with a leaderboard and a countdown clock.

Vol Nation is up against some stiff competition with UF being named among America’s best colleges for student voting by the Washington Monthly, a nonprofit

Supreme Court in focus: The first of a 3-part lecture series hosted by the Howard Baker School of Public Policy

to evolve and change and be adapted over time,” Whittington said.

The court has evolved, changed and adapted to American society, and history has shown that to be true.

On Tuesday, Sept. 17, the Howard H. Baker School of Public Policy and Affairs began its Election 2024 lecture series, starting the first event with a discussion on the Supreme Court in focus.

This discussion was also the tip of the hat falling on Constitution Day, which honored the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution in Philadelphia in 1787, some 237 years ago.

“The fall lecture series aims at exploring important topics that will be impacted by the Nov. 5 presidential election,” said Josh Dunn, the executive director of American Civics at the Baker School.

This is the first election, and even more, a presidential election, that the Baker School will be on campus for as it was established in July of 2023.

It transitioned from the Public Policy Center, which had a role in helping shape politics and policy. However, the school now has a much larger and more involved role here on campus, with its first inaugurated class starting this year.

The Baker School has already engaged UT students and the greater Knoxville area in organized speakers, discussions and student events emphasizing politics and policy in this election cycle. This lecture series is another part of building their presence here on campus.

About the lecturer

Guest lecturer Keith Whittington is a current Yale Law School professor and a former visiting professor of Georgetown Law Center, Harvard Law and the University of Texas School of Law.

Whittington was invited to speak on the Supreme Court with his extensive background and knowledge in American constitutional theory, political and judicial history as well as judicial precedent.

Whittington opened his remarks by outlining his topics of discussion.

“Tonight we’ll be discussing the questions of how the constitution works, how we ought to go about interpreting the constitution and what the future of the Supreme Court’s constitutional interpretation might mean,” Whittington said.

His lecture followed a somewhat historical path, highlighting the creation of the Constitution and how “it’s going

For example, under the Burger and Warren Courts in the mid to late 20th century, Americans saw a somewhat political or progressive court that carried out cases as big as Brown v. Board of Education, which struck down the notion of “separate but equal,” to other cases such as Roe v. Wade which said that the constitution guaranteed the right to an abortion.

However, Whittington compared those political courts that pushed society beyond their comfort level or normalities of that era to the current court, Chief Justice Robert’s Court.

“The real argument is not over whether judges should stick to interpreting, but over what they should interpret and what interpretive attitudes they should adopt,” Whittington said.

Here he’s referring to the interpretation of originalism vs. living — a strict, rulefollowing view compared to a more loose and liberal analysis. Originalism is an interpretation of the Constitution as it was written, meaning the document is somewhat subjective and never-changing. The living interpretation can be defined as more progressive — it can change when society’s values change and echo through the court’s progressive decisions.

The Roberts Court is said to be originalist — a court that points to a strict textual interpretation of the Constitution.

However, an originalist interpretation can be just one tool in a judge or justice’s decision-making belt. It can be helpful as it keeps society grounded and doesn’t shift when the wind blows in one direction.

However, it may also keep society from pushing toward a more progressive society. It all depends on which viewpoint one prefers.

Even though the Roberts Court is viewed as an originalist court, Whittington believes that only two justices feel that originalism is central — Justice Clarence Thomas and Justice Amy Coney Barrett.

Justice Thomas dissents regularly on decisions and uses his dissent opinion to “develop a historical argument as to how we ought to understand the Constitution,” Whittington said. However, Justice Barrett emphasizes the reconciliation of judicial precedence with a commitment to originalism.

Now, why does any of this matter?

Keith Whittington, an experienced law professor and judicial expert, spoke Tuesday evening on the history of the Supreme Court and its place in today’s modern political setting, emphasizing the upcoming election in focus. Courtesy of Amy Smotherman Burgess

Why does it matter that two justices’ philosophies are what they are, and why does it matter whether or not, in one court case, three other justices join them in their opinion and viewpoint?

It’s because their decisions make a difference. Going back to earlier in this article, where the Burger Court stamped the approval on abortion access, it can be taken away with new cases.

In Dobbs v. Jackson, the Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution does not guarantee a right to abortion access and instead sent the decision down to the state legislatures, leading to both public uproar as well as praise.

In Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard College, the Roberts Court ruled 5-4 against using affirmative action in college admissions. These are just a few prominent cases that upset years of precedence.

All of these cases impacted students across the country and here on UT’s campus. With this court, some could say they have been political, just not in a progressive way.

This court has taken a direction to pull back a more progressive ruling in favor of a strict and originalist viewpoint. Once again,

this could be a good thing for one and an upset for another. It depends on beliefs and attitudes toward different policies.

Whittington ended his lecture with a look to the future.

“There’s not much space on the current court to embrace that kind of notion — referring to judges who adapt and modify the constitutional system to move forward — about the constitution, but there remains waiting in the wings as a prominent alternative to the originalism,” Whittington said.

Future lectures to come

The next lecture in the three-part series, Election 2024, occurs next Wednesday, Sept. 25, at the Toyota Auditorium in the Baker School.

This second event will focus on the economy — specifically, can presidential candidates deliver?

Attendees will hear from Michael Strain from the American Enterprise Institute and Matt Yglesias, an independent columnist and co-founder of Vox. Monica Langley, former longtime Wall Street Journal writer and tech giant, will moderate the discussion.

LOUIE PERRY Contributor

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HoLa Festival brings culture to locals

JED BASO Contributor

On Saturday, Sept. 22, the Hispanic community came together for the 24th annual HoLa Festival to celebrate the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month.

The festival was organized by HoLa Hora Latina, a local nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote unity in the community by creating art, cultural and communication bridges between the greater Knoxville and Latino communities.

Angela Masini, the former president of HoLa, attended the festival to sell her family’s Puerto Rican coffee.

“Most Americans don’t know Puerto Rican coffee is good, so I wanted to bring it here for them to try,” Masini said.

According to Masini, her family immigrated from the Mediterranean island of Corsica to the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico almost 200 years ago when Spain began giving land grants to Europeans who settled in the island. Her great uncle answered the call and in 1850 established a farm there. That farm was passed down to Masini’s grandfather, then father, and now to herself and her son.

They continue to run the farm where they grow and process Hacienda Masini coffee. Masini’s coffee prides itself on its lack of industrial processing. It’s naturally sun-dried, skillfully processed and carefully roasted in small batches on the family farm.

America Cerone also attended the festival with her family to sell jewelry and other objects like crucifixes, water fountains and paintings. The family business started in Morristown around five years ago.

“The Morristown (Latino) community is like a little town, and we all know each other. And it’s growing,” Cerone said. “People kept asking for jewelry and I guess what people say, we’ll sell it.

“This is the second year we came, and we like it. It’s good to come and see different cultures,” Cerone said. “There’s a lot in the Hispanic community, and there’s a lot of culture that we don’t know about but want to learn more about.”

The HoLa Festival attracted Hispanic people from different Latin American countries from Cuba to Puerto Rico. Food vendors from Brazil, Colombia and Mexico were all present to serve their authentic dishes to the people of Knoxville.

The festival also attracted more than just people within the Latino community. Thousands of people from the greater Knoxville community attended the festival as well.

Patrick Riggen and Delena Feliciano, a young Knoxville couple who attended the festival, talked about what the festival brings to the community.

“(The festival) brings together different communities to build one community and allows us to share our culture with the Knoxville community as well,” Feliciano said.

Riggen explained that about a month ago, the two went to the local Irish festival and got to celebrate his Irish background. Now it was Feliciano’s turn to connect to her Puerto Rican roots. To Riggen, the HoLa festival made it possible for him to see other cultures he has yet to experience.

Events like the HoLa Festival not only connect people of the same background but also build bridges between different communities. It allows people to celebrate the things that make them who they are and share that with the world.

In the words of the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, “To celebrate life is to celebrate the diversity that makes it beautiful.”

Finding identity through fashion: The journey of personal style at UT

the thrill is in the discovery.

Fashion is more than just clothing. It can be an extension of one’s identity — an artful expression of self. Although establishing a personal style can be challenging, it also presents a valuable opportunity for self-discovery.

For executive board members of UT’s Fashion Society Kousei Takeda-Mays, a junior majoring in language and world business with a concentration in Japanese and international business, and Connor Chockley, a senior majoring in retail and merchandising management, this journey of personal style has been both intentional and rewarding.

Takeda-Mays’ style began to flourish in high school, where he discovered how online fashion marketplaces could offer clothes that resonated with him.

“I bought clothes that resonated with my inherent identity,” Takeda-Mays said. “Stuff that I saw and stuff that I always thought and felt that resonated with me. I just continued with that and over time I built a cohesive closet, which is kind of a term for a closet that — you can have a lot of pieces in there, but they emulsify into one kind of theme or that goes well together.”

For Chockley, his style “found him” through exposure to fashion on social media, especially Instagram.

“In a way, it kinda found me,” Chockley said. “There’s a lot that goes into it, but for me, as far as perpetuating my style, there are a few pages I look at on Instagram pretty regularly, and it’s not necessarily for outfit inspiration. Maybe I’ll see a single piece that I like on somebody, a piece of jewelry that’s like, ‘Oh, I need something like that.’”

Takeda-Mays emphasized that discovering personal style begins with self-reflection. Both Takeda-Mays and Chockley suggest that one way to begin this process is by using social media to explore personal preferences. Platforms that allow for creating “mood boards” or finding outfit inspiration can serve as a valuable tool in uncovering and shaping one’s individual style.

“For other students, it does help to have social media and be looking on social media,” Chockley said. “Don’t be afraid to try something that’s not perfectly you, cause maybe it will become something that’s more you.”

Chockley and Takeda-Mays have found that shopping at thrift stores is more than just a sustainable way to buy clothing — it is a gold mine for unique, personal clothing.

“Don’t be afraid to try something that’s not perfectly you, cause maybe it will become something that’s more you.”

Connor Chockley

The Fashion Society executive board member

Thrifting encourages people to take risks by wearing pieces from different decades, offering the chance to breathe new life into once-worn items and enhance their individuality. These clothes can be one-of-akind, just like people.

“One of the things that I dislike a lot in the world is wearing something that I know probably 20 other people within a 5-mile radius have access to and could be wearing,” Chockley said. “For me that just is not who I want to be. I want to be unique. I feel like that’s who I am personality-wise. I don’t want my style to match theirs.”

Fashion is subjective — there is no inherent right or wrong. Taking risks is part of the journey to finding personal style.

“Take a few risks in thrifting,” Chockley said. “When I first started buying old women’s jackets, I was like, ‘Hmm, it looks good. I’ve never really seen that vibe on me.’ I tried it out, and it’s become something I really like. So just take some risks, look for things that also have good patterning. I think that the easiest way to find something that’s cool at the thrift is to look for pattern.”

Taking risks can be uncomfortable, so for those who are not fully ready to step outside their comfort zone, there is always the option to find balance.

For those who feel lost and struggle to find their personal style, following trends is an alternative option. Whether it may be moving from Nike Air Forces to Adidas Sambas to the next new “trendy” sneaker each year, trends offer a quick inspiration.

“As far as trends go, they’re not something that I feel like should be done away with,” Chockley said. “I support trends. I think it’s nice to have something that helps someone who’s maybe not as self-expressive as me. It helps them to feel like they’re doing something that looks good because they see other people and it’s working for them. I think it’s a good thing.”

However, Chockley and Takeda-Mays tend to stray away from trends. For Takeda-Mays, fashion conformity often conflicts with his goal of creating an individual style.

“I advise you to not really adhere your style that much to trends,” Takeda-Mays said. “Just kind of go with the flow, and that flow being what you like.”

College is a time for self-discovery, and for students like Takeda-Mays and Chockley, personal style has been a crucial part of their journey. The Fashion Society has been a support system in allowing them to embrace their self expression through fashion.

“I like thrifting,” Takeda-Mays said. “I think a unique aspect about it is that you’ll never know what you find and that kind of element of thrill. There’s always something unique out there.”

Takeda-Mays described his favorite style of thrifting as a “mystery box” — he may or may not wear the piece, but part of

“You have to find your balance of playing it safe and taking some risks,” Chockley said. “Because playing it safe, you don’t want to look like you’re coming to school in a middle school uniform every day, but you also don’t want to buy something that you’re never going to touch ever again.”

The Fashion Society is more than a club that offers discussion on all things fashion. For Takeda-Mays, the Fashion Society is a place where fashion and individuality is “celebrated” and friendship comes naturally. Chockley, on the other hand, has discovered his passion for social interaction through the opportunities offered by the Fashion Society.

“We do stuff on Ped Walkway where I am able to say, ‘Hey, I love your outfit. Do you want to come interact with our club in some way?’” Chockley said. “And I really enjoy that. I like comforting people. I love to see people smile, spread joy. I think this is a really good way for me to do that. So I’m really enjoying it.”

For those who would like to learn more about fashion, make some self-discoveries that can lead to establishing personal style and have fun with a community of supportive fashionistas, The Fashion Society is a great place to start.

“What I want for other people who want to join, is that rather than spectating what others are wearing and taking themes from that, I think that you should see that everyone in Fashion Society really has their own individual style,” Takeda-Mays said. “Come with the mindset of, ‘Oh man, everyone’s so cool in the way that they are constantly expressing themselves with no boundaries or no limits, and I also want to have that same confidence in myself that they do as well.’”

MADELINE MCNEELY Contributor

Connor Chockley leads a general body meeting Sept. 9, 2024. Erin Tudryn / Contributor

Displaying style: UT invites students to showcase their craft

SAMANTHA WHITLEY Staff Writer

On Sept. 18, the Center for Student Engagement and Campus Event Board hosted Artist’s Alley in the Student Union.

The CSE and the CEB collaborate to foster a sense of community among students, creating pathways for personal growth and development.

The Artist’s Alley saw an impressive turnout with over 30 students highlighting their unique creations. Each vendor had the opportunity to personalize their tables, allowing them to embrace their individuality.

The event featured a diverse range of offerings, including jewelry, paintings, posters, clothing and crochet items.

Sarah Redding, a junior at UT, displayed handcrafted paintings on her table. Other items she had that grabbed students’ attention were pottery, bookmarks and free candy.

To reach her current position, Redding explored various classes to discover her passions. Before settling on a major in studio art she tried pottery classes, but she found that it was not the right fit for her.

It was in her art classes that she discovered her love for painting. She is a fan of The Muppets which often feature as characters in her work. Additionally, she excels at painting dramatic, detailed skies.

“I would say my style is playful, colorful, and I try to bring a character out of each of my pieces whether that is like through an actual figure or just like the style choices,” Redding said.

Redding went through another change in direction as she was inspired by her studies as an art major.

“The longer I have been in these classes, the more I am like — this is it,” Redding said.

Considering that art supplies are expensive, this event created an opportunity for these vendors to earn some money for their products.

Redding spoke on her process for deciding the prices for her pieces.

“I paid for the supplies, and I should have thought more about that, but me personally, I’m a very cheap person,” Redding said. “I’m not going to pay $50 for something unless I really love it.”

Students majoring in art often miss the chance to see the creations of their peers in other art classes. Redding spoke on one of the benefits of what this event brings to her.

“I have seen a lot of people (who) I haven’t met before, and so they are not only discovering my art but everyone else’s,” Redding said. “I just think that is so cool.”

Emmy Sinclair, a super senior studying forensic anthropology, spoke on why this event is helpful for students.

“I just think it’s really cool giving students an opportunity to do something like this for free, whereas most markets are pretty expensive to attend, and also it being outside of the Student Union lets more people just get involved,” Sinclair said.

Sinclair sold beaded jewelry from their brand Beaded Pride. Their products are solely based on the idea of embracing one’s authentic self. Some of their prod-

ucts included earrings that represented pride flags.

“My brand Beaded Pride is handmade for all,” Sinclair said. “I kind of want to make everyone feel included.”

This idea to sell and design jewelry derived from one of their family members.

“She taught me how to make it, so I’ve just kind of started picking it up again,” Sinclair said. “It is kind of a family tradition.”

The plaza just outside of the Student Union created a lively environment that was well-suited for this event. With live music playing in the background, students mingled and enjoyed the atmosphere.

There were also a few furry friends including Smokey, UT’s mascot. This vi-

“I have seen a lot of people (who) I haven’t met before, and so they are not only discovering my art but everyone else’s.”

SARAH REDDING Junior

Students support student businesses at Artist Alley. Sept. 18, 2024. Audrey Nash / Contributor

CORE Knoxville, a local LGBTQ bar. Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. Piper McCarty / Contributor

CORE Knoxville to host drag show, invite special guests

PIPER MCCARTY

Contributor

During World War II, many soldiers would lay down their rifles and boots to replace them with high heels and feather boas to entertain the troops.

During the Harlem Renaissance, huge drag parties would be held. Some of the most prolific names of the era — from famed writer Langston Hughes, to blues singer Bessie Smith — were in attendance. These shows drew a wide range of patrons from all backgrounds.

The tradition is continued at one of Knoxville’s gay bars Sept. 28. CORE Knoxville is hosting a drag show directed by Morphine Drip. Special guest from RuPaul’s Drag Race, contestant Dawn, will be making an appearance at the show alongside local performers.

CORE will be closed to the public for this event. Only people with a valid, 21 or over ticket will be allowed to enter the event. Tickets, which can be purchased online for $30, include a meet and greet and other online purchasing perks. All proceeds from this event go to SoKno Pride.

Morphine Drip, the director of SoKno Pride, explains the organization’s genesis and mission.

“SoKno Pride was created four years ago when Knox Pride stopped having summer festivals,” Drip said. “SoKno Pride has grown exponentially, and the celebration every year is huge and benefits tons of local businesses.”

Drip highlights what makes them different from Knox Pride.

“Knox Pride does a lot more community work, as they’re more established and have grants,” Drip said. “But SoKno is working towards that as well and partners with Knox Pride on a lot of things.”

The cost of admission directly benefits SoKno Pride and its efforts to uplift local businesses and the LGBTQ community in Knoxville.

Morphine Drip discussed safety and precautions taken at drag events.

“In the 4 plus years that I have been hosting drag shows, I have never had an issue with customers or protestors harassing my events,” Drip said.

Drip also mentioned that security will be in-

side the event, and the bar will be closed unless you have a valid ticket to enter.

“CORE is a gay bar, so there are bag checks at the door,” Drip said. “... When we have big events like this, they often have multiple staff members checking people.”

Megan Hayes, a frequent audience member of local drag shows, discussed her own experience with safety at the events.

“... The ones (who) run the places try their best to keep the place safe,” Hayes said.

Megan went on to talk about her love for drag shows because of the energy of the performers. The performers put everything into their performances because that’s what they love doing. It’s an experience that should not be missed.

Hayes advised first timers planning to attend the upcoming event.

“It’s so much fun. Make sure to bring dollar bills to tip the queens, and just have a positive attitude,” Hayes said. “It always makes my night when I go to a drag show and see my family.”

CORE is split into two sides: one bar and one club. The show will be on the club side, with the meet and greet happening at the bar between shows.

Be sure to check other gay bars and LGBTQ spaces for other events and drag shows in the future. If you are looking for more events or are interested in performing, follow Morphine Drip on social media.

Visit CORE and experience the good old American tradition of drag in all of its glory.

Media literacy in the digital age: Understanding information consumption

JEREMIAH VECCHIONI Columnist

If you’re anything like me, then you will understand how valuable receiving information can be. I mean, we’re students at a public university, so most of us come here with that desire already. For me, this love of archiving information is not a new development.

Ever since I was a child, I would scroll on Wikipedia leisurely or watch informative shows on PBS, rather than indulging in more lighthearted media like my 6-year-old friends were doing. I would watch TV and declare that as truth.

If you were like me, after watching “Sid The Science Kid,” you’d happily share your newfound knowledge of how the world works with your friends and family, without even questioning the validity of the information you just received. You trusted this source to be true. I don’t blame us because we were innocent and naive children.

However, I’ve recently learned that there hasn’t been much change in how many of us receive information now versus when we were younger.

We are at a point in our lives where we cannot be innocent or naive when it comes to what information we receive and believe.

Sure, we are literate and can read, but are we literate in what we read?

There’s a difference, and it is important that we know and can pinpoint that difference. The phrase for this, which is not said nearly enough, is media literacy.

As we’ve grown older, we often make fun of previous generations. We laugh at our parents or grandparents for doing similar things we did as kids, with outlets such as Facebook.

However, what if I told you that we do the same thing?

Sure, you might think to yourself, “No way! I’m too smart for that, and I know not to believe everything I see on Facebook.”

Yet we do the same thing as our parents and grandparents, but with different sources. Most notably, we do this with social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

From my own observations, I’ve seen how illiterate and quick to judge we can be.

For example, to touch on a recent is-

sue, a content creator on TikTok took clips from the presidential debate and isolated them in an effort to skew the context of which the remarks were initially intended.

This caused a stir of frustration for all viewers, regardless of political party affiliation, for either one of two reasons:

1. The statement(s) in question infuriate the opposite party since what was said does not align with their views and beliefs.

“I see daily where people get very worked up about things that may or may not even be true, especially as highlighted in the comment sections. This proves as a shining example that people will believe almost anything they see on the internet.”

JEREMIAH VECCHIONI Columnist

Columnist Jeremiah Vecchioni talks about his personal experience with media literacy and challenges others to fact check in today’s generation to avoid misinformation. Ansley Graves / The Daily Beacon

2. They frustrate the party that is stating such remarks, because due to its being taken out of context, it distorts the truth of the speech in its entirety, causing misinformation to be spread regarding the party.

I see daily where people get very worked up about things that may or may not even be true, especially as highlighted in the comment sections. This proves as a shining example that people will believe almost anything they see on the internet.

I know it is easy to understand how silly that may sound, as I’m sure we’ve been told that many times throughout our life. Yet it is also just as silly to continue to identify things as true without inquiring on their validity.

Even certain news channels that we

receive information from can impact what knowledge we obtain. Bias is everywhere, even in trusted news sectors.

Be careful and more mindful of this, especially in a time of our lives where an election season is upon us. We must be thoroughly educated and informed voters. But don’t be deceived, as this also applies beyond November.

News is just as important in its interpretation as it is in its information.

So next time someone tells you that “So and so said this,” go and see for yourself. Determine whether or not that was a direct quote or a lousy paraphrase.

I challenge you to apply this for yourself. Go back over the presidential debate and see what both candidates stated. Review the policies mentioned in the speeches for yourself and judge whether or not they were entirely truthful.

As we emerge to be the next generation of adults in this world, it is our per-

sonal responsibility to act on truth, not facts. Facts can change, but the truth never will.

So ask yourself, “Am I consuming facts, or am I consuming the truth?”

A true literate reader will know the difference.

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.

Greener shade of orange: Review of Zero Waste Game Day

AUDREY NASH Columnist

The planes fly over, fireworks go off, the crowd sings “Rocky Top” and you are volunteering to pick up trash. It may not be how everyone pictures their Tennessee game day, but it’s important nonetheless.

Zero Waste Game Day is an initiative by the sustainability department here on campus. The goal is to reduce waste during game days by making sure discarded items are recycled or composted. Zero Waste Game Day operates multiple shifts during every home game, usually one before and during the game.

Like most students, I’m required to complete a certain number of service hours this semester. Since I didn’t get a football ticket to the Kent State game last Saturday, Zero Waste Game Day seemed like the perfect opportunity. Who wouldn’t want to experience the electric atmosphere of a game in Neyland while also getting some service hours?

However, the experience was not what I thought it would be.

“If you are looking for a place to volunteer and are thinking about Zero Waste Game Day, just know that it is physically tiring work, but also incredibly rewarding to know that you made an impact on the campus.”

cally tiring work, but also incredibly rewarding to know that you made an impact on the campus.”

I was expecting to sort through recycling and walk around Neyland, making sure it was kept clean. Instead, I found myself pushing a large trash bin for most of the night. Instead of sorting through recycling, the other volunteers and I struggled to keep up with the hefty amount of trash around the stadium. Waste, regardless of whether it could be recycled, ended up in the bin.

We walked around the base of Neyland collecting large amounts of trash from every entry point to the stadium. I was not prepared for the amount of physicality required to clear trash on game day. I found myself having to carry a 40 pound bag of trash leaking a mysterious fluid up a flight of stairs. I ended up covered in what I hoped was stale beer. In another section of the stadium, so much trash was on the ground that it took us the better part of an hour and multiple bins to clear it. The icing on the cake was fans continuing to throw trash on the ground as they watched us pick it up.

There were a few fans that seemed

grateful for the hard work of the Zero Waste Game Day crew, but they were the unfortunate minority.

When we made it to the Torchbearer, the statue was covered in discarded food, beer cans and other filth. It was shocking to see that even a beloved symbol of our campus was not immune to the disrespect from littering Volunteer fans.

Overall, the experience made me disappointed. I was disappointed that people were littering in such an extreme way. I was disappointed that we weren’t able to sort through the waste. I was disappointed that I couldn’t do more to help. I would have stayed for hours picking everything up because it felt good to give something back to the school. I felt proud that I could help make game day cleaner.

AUDREY NASH Columnist Columnist Audrey Nash says, “If you are looking for a place to volunteer and are thinking about

If you are looking for a place to volunteer and are thinking about Zero Waste Game Day, just know that it is physically tiring work, but also incredibly rewarding to know that you made an impact on the campus.

For other students and football game

goers, leave Neyland the way you found it, or even better. Think about how you are representing the Volunteers every time you choose to throw a piece of trash on the ground. Wouldn’t it be better to take it to a bin and pick up any litter you see on the way? That seems more like the Volunteer spirit to me.

It also wouldn’t hurt to thank the Zero Waste Game Day volunteers if you see them.

Columns and letters of The Daily

are the views of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Beacon or the Beacon’s editorial staff.

Beacon

Audrey Nash is a sophomore at UT this year studying sustainability. She can be reached at anash13@vols.utk.edu.

Zero Waste Game Day, just know that it is physi-

Ansley Graves / The Daily Beacon

5 key moments from Tennessee football’s win over Oklahoma

Nico Iamaleava finds Dont’e Thornton Jr.

turned into 10 points, helping tamp down a hostile environment.

NORMAN, Okla. — Tennessee football is 4-0 for the second time under Josh Heupel after Saturday night’s win over Oklahoma.

The No. 6 Vols picked up a 25-15 win over the No. 15 Sooners behind a dominant defensive performance. It was a win that meant a little more to Heupel specifically, as he returned home to his alma mater.

“This game was never about me coming back here,” Heupel said. “Not for this football team. And I say all that, they also understood that this one was a little bit different for me personally. ... But that’s not what it was about. But I do appreciate their recognition of that and wanting that for me.”

Here are the five key moments from Tennessee’s first road win over a top 15 team in 18 years.

Nico Iamaleava and the Tennessee offense had been stuck in a rut. The game was going back and forth but one field goal was all that either team could muster.

Oklahoma’s field goal came with 42 seconds left in the first quarter. Just 39 second later, Iamaleava ripped a 66yard touchdown to Dont’e Thornton Jr. over the middle of the field.

The touchdown, in a game that became dominated by Tennessee’s defense, ended up proving crucial in the result.

Tennessee’s defense stands strong Movement across the offensive line put Iamaleava as the victim to a free rusher from his backside. It resulted in a fumble that the Sooners recovered.

It set up Oklahoma on the Tennessee 6-yard line early in the second quarter, but it didn’t score.

Joshua Josephs forced a fumble of his own, recovering it to stop the Sooner threat. The Vols forced three turnovers in that first half. Those three turnovers

Jackson Arnold is benched Tennessee’s defense didn’t give Oklahoma starter Jackson Arnold a break. He threw a backwards pass that Tennessee recovered, dealing with the pressure.

The Vols’ defensive line ended with three sacks and 11 tackles for loss. The line of scrimmage was won by Tennessee, and Arnold had no answers.

So, Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables opted to go with backup quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. to start the second half. Hawkins was met with loud cheers, and Arnold was met with boos when he headed back onto the field.

Play-calling shifts in the second half

This is another cheat answers looking at the entire second half, but it was a different Tennessee offense in the second half.

The Vols and Heupel opted to chew clock against Oklahoma instead of the usual hurry-up attack. The defense couldn’t be stopped and Heupel knew that. He let the defense play, and it

worked out in the end.

Tennessee ran the ball 52 times compared to just 21 attempts through the air.

Iamaleava hands Heupel the game ball

Heupel did his best to hide his emotion on Saturday night. It was his return home that featured a lot of firsts.

It was also a game that Heupel’s mother, Cindy, was looking forward to. She passed away over the offseason.

“She was looking forward to this game,” Heupel said. “She’s got a lot of friends across the state that know that she was looking forward to it. So it was a unique game to come back and have to be a road game for me and this football team, but a home game for a lot of my family.”

The head coach made sure to not make the week about him, to his best ability. The outside storylines persisted, and the emotions came out in the locker room.

Heupel’s favorite part of the night was football-related, even with all of the outside storylines.

“Walking off that field with the win felt pretty good,” Heupel said.

CALEB JARREAU Sports Editor

Nico Iamaleava (8) looks to pass during a game against Oklahoma at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman. Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. Caleb Jarreau / The Daily Beacon

Tennessee football takes down Oklahoma in Josh Heupel’s return

TREVOR MCGEE

Assistant Sports Editor

NORMAN, Okla. — Nico Iamaleava walked over to head coach Josh Heupel with a ball tucked beneath his arm.

After the game, Iamaleava handed Heupel the game ball from Tennessee’s 25-15 win over Oklahoma.

[In a defensive bout with struggling offenses,] the Vols handed Oklahoma its first loss as a member of the SEC on its home turf.

Heupel’s connections to the Sooners tie back to when he played quarterback for the 2000 BCS National Championship team. Saturday’s contest was Heupel’s first time back to Norman since he was relieved of his offensive coordinator duties in 2014.

“This game was never about me coming back here,” Heupel said. “Not for this football team. And I say all that, they also understood that this one was a little bit different for me personally too. But that’s not what it was about. But I do appreciate their recognition of that and wanting that for me.”

Throughout the week, Heupel made it a point to focus on the game rather than the storylines. It was a “faceless opponent” to Heupel and nothing more than another game on the schedule that his team needed to compete in — despite the national storylines surrounding the game. Once it concluded, Heupel continued to put the stories to rest.

“It meant something to be here and to play and to win,” Heupel said. “Yes, but that’s just not what it was about in coming back here.”

Instead, it was about meeting expectations.

“We got a good football team, got high

expectations,” Heupel said. “They continue to compete extremely hard every day to grow to become better. This was our first road test in the league. Tonight was about this ’24 football team and really proud of how they performed.”

Once the game was over, Heupel could put all the memories in the past. There was just one memorable thing that stood out to his homecoming.

“Walking off that field with the win felt pretty good,” Heupel said.

First time back without his mother

Heupel’s mother, Cindy, passed away in May at the age of 69. This game was one that she had circled on her calendar, but not one she could attend in person.

Before Heupel left Saturday’s press conference, he made sure to include his gratitude for the return. After the questions ended, Heupel thanked everybody who reached out to him this week as well as those that made an impact on his family.

“I want to say thank you to all you guys that reached out to me,” Heupel said. “... You guys have changed my life and my family’s life forever and I am eternally grateful for all of you.”

The appreciation was extended to those who knew his mother, Cindy.

“I’ve gotten the chance to meet a lot of people that had an impact on my mom while she was here,” Heupel said. “There’s a bunch that I haven’t but I just want to say thank you for the relationships, what you meant to her.”

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel is welcomed home before a game against Oklahoma at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman. Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. Caleb Jarreau / The Daily Beacon

Josh Heupel and Willie Martinez argue with the referees during a game against Oklahoma at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman. Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024.

Caleb Jarreau / The Daily Beacon

Josh Heupel high-fives players after a touchdown during a game against Oklahoma at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman. Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024.

Caleb Jarreau / The Daily Beacon

Games to watch in Tennessee athletics

TYLER EDMANDS Contributor

Tennessee’s athletic schedule is headlined by key matchups this week from the Lady Vols. Students will also have multiple opportunities to earn “T-Credits” while supporting their teams.

Sept. 25: Softball vs. Carson-Newman

The Lady Vols will open their fall slate on Wednesday, hosting Carson-Newman at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium as head coach Karen Weekly prepares for her 23rd season leading Tennessee. Last year, the Lady Vols took home the SEC regular-season title and made it to the NCAA Super Regional before being eliminated by Alabama. The fall exhibition will offer a chance for the Lady Vols’ youth roster to develop ahead of the spring.

Sept.

25:

Volleyball vs. Alabama –

“T-Credit”

opportunity

The Lady Vols are once again on the upswing. Taking home two victories over Western Michigan in two days was a sure-fire momentum builder, especially after an unpredictable loss to Wofford on the road.

Tennessee outside hitter Nina Cajic had herself a week, taking home SEC co-offensive player of the week honors. She most notably posed a 42kill match in four sets against the Broncos, shattering the Lady Vols’ previous record.

The Lady Vols open SEC play with Alabama. The Crimson Tide started the season strong but are in a slump, dropping their last two matches to fall to 8-3 this season. The Lady Vols will look to extend its winning streak over Alabama, winning 3-0 in 2022 and 2023.

Students can earn two “T-Credits” for attending this match.

Sept. 25: Men’s and Women’s Tennis at the ITA All-American Championships

Both the Men’s and Women’s teams will continue to compete at the ITA All-American Championships that started last week. This qualifier for the NCAA DI Individuals Championships has been good for the Lady Vols with Catherine Aulia and Elza Tomase both picking up a singles and doubles win. Both are undefeated as they each inch closer to securing a berth in the DI Championship.

Both teams will hope to compete in this prestigious championship until they lose or the final round is finished on Sunday, Sept. 29.

Sept. 26 Soccer at Florida

The Lady Vols have cooled off since SEC play kicked off, allowing three goals in their last two games after only conceding one through the first seven games. It hasn’t been a backbreaker for Tennessee as it’s now 1-0-1 in the conference and 6-1-2 overall.

The Lady Vols will play this third conference game on the road, and this will be the last stop

on their road trip before returning home to Regal Stadium. This game should go Tennessee’s way as the Gators are 3-2-5 this season. The Lady Vols must stay focused to extend their winning streak over Florida to eight games in a row.

Sept. 27: Softball

vs. Walters State

The Lady Vols will continue their fall schedule, hosting Walters State at home for their second fall game. The contest will start at 5 p.m. ET on Friday and the Lady Vols will look to continue to knock off the rust.

Sept. 28: Softball vs. Georgia Tech and Lipscomb

The Lady Vols aren’t quite done for the week as they host Georgia Tech at 11 a.m., followed by Lipscomb at 4 p.m. Georgia Tech will be Tennessee’s toughest competition thus far, finishing 32-23 last year. This will be the Lady Vols’ last game until Oct. 5, when they host the Kentucky Wildcats.

Sept.

29: Volleyball at Oklahoma

Tennessee will make another trek out to Norman, this time in volleyball. This will be the Lady Vols’ second SEC game of the year after they face Alabama the week prior. The Sooners will likely want to get even with Tennessee, so the Lady Vols need to find a way to deal with the hostile environment.

Sept. 29: Soccer vs. Vanderbilt“T-Credit” opportunity

This will be Tennessee’s last athletic event until Friday, Oct. 4, and the soccer team will surely leave fans with a good game.

The Lady Vols will host the Vanderbilt Commodores at Regal Stadium, marking the end of their road trip. Tennessee will be looking for another crucial SEC win over Vanderbilt.

Students can earn one “T-Credit” for attending this match.

2024 Football PICK ‘EM

oklahoma STATE at kansas state wisconsin at usc colorado at ucf louisville at notre dame georgia at alabama illinois at penn state middle tennessee state at memphis

oklahoma STATE at kansas state wisconsin at usc colorado at ucf

louisville at notre dame

georgia at alabama

illinois at penn state