Wednesday, September 27, 2023

BLOCKING OUT THE NOISE BLOCKING OUT THE NOISE

South Carolina marks a make or break moment for Joe Milton and the 2023 Vols.

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ABOUT THE COVER: Joe Milton III (7) stiff arms a UTSA defender in Neyland Stadium. Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023.

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UTHSC receives $3.25M grant to strengthen health care

JOSH JOHNSON Staff Writer

The College of Health Professions at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) has been awarded a record-breaking $3.25 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration. The grant is meant to support a Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP) and is being called Reimagining Education for Advance Careers in Healthcare, or REACH. It’s aimed at addressing the lack of skilled and diverse health care workers in West Tennessee.

UTHSC is the largest educator of health care professionals in the state with 3,100 students across its four campuses. UTHSC’s main campus is located in Memphis, with the others in Chattanooga, Knoxville and Nashville. This new grant will largely focus on the Memphis campus, but a strengthened health care workforce will impact communities all across the state.

The university hopes to use it to increase recruitment, retention and graduation rates for underserved students who hope to pursue health care careers.

The REACH project is made up of three distinct programs, each focusing on a different

stage of a student’s academic career. Assistant Dean of Finance and Operations in the College of Health Professions Chermale Casem is the project director for the REACH campaign and laid out what each program is about.

“The first program is the HCOP Saturday Academy, geared towards juniors and seniors in high school from underserved communities, providing them with exposure to health professions through academic enrichment activities, career exploration, mentoring, tutorial support, and SAT/ACT preparation,” Casem said.

The new HCOP Pre-Matriculation Academy makes up the second program. This program is meant to target undergraduate students in their junior and senior years.

The third and final program is the HCOP National Ambassadors Program. This is meant for current graduate students at UTHSC, looking to give them an opportunity to do community-based advanced training.

All three academies in the project will use innovative technologies and teaching methods to help students take the next step in their education. The grant will also allow students to receive more financial assistance than ever with new stipends and scholarships, and it will allow the university to provide more academic assistance.

The dean of the College of Health Profes-

sions, Stephen Alway, is thrilled about the grant and its coming impact.

“We are excited about both the size and the impact that this award will have for our college and the state of Tennessee,” Alway said. “This grant provides the potential to reach students from underserved communities who might not have had access to information or training related to health professions.

New Baker School emphasizes research, student success

KENDALL WILLIAMS Contributor

The Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy officially became the Howard H. Baker Jr. School of Public Policy and Public Affairs on July 1, 2023. This is one of three new schools being added to the University of Tennessee, including the College of Music and the College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies.

The Baker Center has had many speakers, programs and learning opportunities available for students throughout the years and will continue them in this new transition. Some of these opportunities include graduate studies programs, a policy and analytics minor, the Baker Scholars program and various internships.

Katie Cahill, the senior director of strategic initiatives, has been with the University of Tennessee and the Baker Center since 2017. She was an advisor on the task force that worked on the transition.

“I really see that this is the natural evolution of the center’s future,” Cahill said.

The school has continuously grown over the years to become what it is today. The new Baker School is focused on the student experience and on connecting students with opportunities while also training them for the professional world.

“I think what the students get here is a lot of excitement, a lot of energy, a lot of commitment to the student experience,” Cahill said. “We are very proud of the things our students have accomplished, even without having been an academic unit.”

Jon Ring, the director of undergraduate studies, mentors undergraduate research through different programs. He is currently working on the college’s transition, which will support more students.

“Some of the things we do best are give students a lot of attention,” Ring said.

The Baker School is hoping to continue everything they are doing currently and also to allow students and their educational paths to be supported on a bigger scale.

Xuhong Su, the director of graduate studies, works to grow the graduate program within the school. They are transitioning the Masters of Public Policy and Administration program from the Political Science Department into the Baker School. She shared that the transition from the Baker Center to the Baker School will forge a deeper connection between academics and research.

“The new Baker School is going to strike a new balance on teaching and research,” Su said.

When the center was first established, it was focused on public engagement and honoring Senator Howard H. Baker’s legacy. Baker left a legacy of civility, integrity and public service for future generations to follow.

Some of the plans for the new school are still in the works pending approvals, and new faculty are being hired to help support and grow the Baker School. More information can be found on their website.

Exterior of the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy on Tuesday Sept. 28, 2021, National Voter Registration Day. File / The Daily Beacon

Chermale Casem is the project director for REACH, a program aimed to address the lack of skilled and diverse health care workers in West Tennesse. Courtesy of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center

UT hosts off-campus housing fair in wake of housing crisis

SHELBY WRIGHT Staff Writer

On Friday, Sept. 22, the Center for Student Engagement hosted an off-campus housing fair on PED Walkway. The fair was packed with students cramming into each booth as they listened intently to every detail, trying to decide which apartment complex would best fit their needs in the short amount of time they have to decide before lease signings for the next school year are due.

Despite UT’s attempts to provide students with access to affordable housing close to campus, many students are still disgruntled about Knoxville’s housing crisis and blame the university, like Juliana Stephan, a freshman studying neuroscience.

“Knowing that you have to have a lease signed by October for something that doesn’t start until August is stressful because if you don’t do it sooner than later, you’re kind of screwed over,” Stephan said.

UT is an old and landlocked campus with an exponentially growing population of students and Knoxville residents. This makes expansion and housing all the more difficult and expensive. Olivia Squires, a freshman studying music, believes that the rent prices for many apartments are too high for the quality of the complex itself.

“I feel like a lot of what’s going on in Knoxville, regardless of student housing, but kind of the housing market generally, is very predatory to young people,” Squires said. “And I’m not willing to pay for something that I know isn’t worth my money.”

A recent panel hosted by the Baker School of Public Policy and Affairs discussed the current housing crisis in Knoxville and pointed out that there has been a nearly 50% increase in rent costs over the past several years due to high demand for housing.

Despite this, there are some off-campus housing properties that are trying to make their complexes affordable and accessible to students.

Properties like The Heights offer a price tier system, which means that their complexes start from a lower rate, and then once a certain number of people sign in that tier, they close it and move to a different tier with higher rates.

This system can create a scramble, which is why they recommend signing leases as soon as possible.

Last year, many students worried so

much about not finding a lease for the next school year that they camped overnight outside apartment complexes to ensure they would be able to sign a lease on launch day. To prevent this, many properties are moving their lease launches online.

Kayla Clabough, the community manager for The Standard, explains this new online process.

“This year, we are offering a VIP list, which will send out automatic communications up until our lease-launch date,” Clabough said. “That just tells people how they can apply and the easiest process to go about what the entire leasing process is going to look like.”

The recent housing panel at the Baker Center also pointed out potential solutions to the housing crisis such as the return of missing middle housing, which changes in zoning regulations have made difficult to build.

While students are worried about the housing crisis, they see the increased number of students at UT as one of the main problems and say decreasing the student population could help lower housing demand.

“The problem is just going to keep getting worse the more people they over-accept,” Squires said. “And they’re probably going to need to have a smaller class to have better resources for current students.”

UT’s acceptance rate plummeted nearly 30% for the 2023 admissions cycle going from an in-state acceptance rate of 71.2% in 2022 to 59.4% in 2023. The out-ofstate acceptance rate dropped from 67.2% to 33.3%. The UT Admissions Board reported that they received 49,790 firstyear applications as of Feb. 14, 2023. This is a 40.5% increase compared to the year prior.

Despite the statistical drop in acceptance at UT, the total enrollment for students for the fall 2023 semester is more than 35,000 — the largest class in UT’s history.

Many students argue that UT needs to lower the acceptance rate even more to help aid not only the housing crisis but also the parking crisis. This will help improve students’ overall experience.

Overall, this semester’s off-campus housing fair sought to provide general aid to UT students finding housing. The oneon-one interaction with property managers and students provided both parties with feedback and information.

If you missed the fair or are looking for more information about off-campus housing, visit the Center for Student Engagement’s off-campus housing website.

Students line up to hear information about off-campus leasing opportunities at the Commons. Friday, Sept. 22, 2023. Madelyn Stone / The Daily Beacon

New Service Dog Club at UT shares goals during National Service Dog Month

September marks National Service Dog Month. For the newly established Service Dog Club at the University of Tennessee, along with Student Disability Services, the month creates a crucial opportunity to showcase their organization and goals to educate and advocate on campus. The idea for the club had been discussed years prior, but it wasn’t until July 6, 2023, that the club became officially recognized.

The Service Dog Club at UT aims to create an inclusive and supportive environment for individuals with disabilities who rely on service animals to navigate their daily lives. The club is open to students, staff members and faculty and is not just exclusive to handlers. The club offers education and awareness about service animals, the rights and responsibilities of their handlers, service animal training resources, a support network via regular meetings and social events, campus advocacy and outreach programs.

Sofie Janssen, junior architecture student and club president, got the idea to start the club along with a fellow student in her first year, who dropped out of UT specifically because she could not physically make it around campus even with a service dog. It was not until she met Amber Carmody, a grad student and the club vice president, that the two pushed to get the club going.

For the club leaders, a multitude of negative experiences influenced them to start the club so that people on campus could become more aware and respectful of service dogs and their handlers.

“I started it after I went to a football game and a guy threw a beer bottle at my dog,” Janssen said. “I walk across the street, and I hear a bunch of guys barking at my dog. I’ll be passed out in front of anywhere, and there will be people petting my dog while he’s on top of me.”

Many service dogs are trained in a multitude of skills and tasks necessary to help their owners navigate day-to-day life. Some skills in the case of Carmody’s service dog, Brady, are medical alert, medical response and guide. A task in the case of Janssen’s service dog, Oakley, is deep pressure therapy, which involves the dog laying on top of their owner if they are passed out.

“The stadium accessibility bill was proposed by my best friend after she attended a game with me and saw the treatment: people grabbing Brady, people pouring beer on him, people grabbing him and pulling him and stepping on him,” Carmody said.

Mistreatment of service dogs and their owners extended beyond fellow students to faculty as well. Carmody expressed having her access on campus limited by many professors and students.

Speaking out about negative experiences as

leaders and encouraging members to do the same demonstrated a need to address these issues on a greater scale.

“These are just a very minimal amount of things that occurred to me just being a student here in my first year,” Janssen said. “These things do still happen ... a lot of our members now who have talked to us about it (said) they have also experienced it as well. We wanted to make sure we could somewhat be a group to talk about that and be a way to address it and not ‘fix’ it, because there’s no real way to fix it, but to just make it more known.”

The Service Dog Club works closely with SDS to effectively communicate and better accommodate resources on campus to students with disabilities. Much of the communication is a simple feedback system such as making SDS aware of negative experiences on campus or as simple as notifying SDS when accessibility buttons do not work.

“They’ve been great about asking for our feedback, input and ideas on how to fix these problems,” Carmody said.

As more students with service dogs came to campus and questions for their handlers arose, SDS pushed for the start of the club.

“It’s one of the most fulfilling partnerships that I’ve been able to be part of where we’re both wanting the same goals,” Carmody said.

Refuting misconceptions is also a key goal for the club as part of educating the campus community. Many students experienced not feeling

heard because they did not fit the stereotypical image of a “disabled person.”

“Unfortunately, with invisible disabilities, we are less likely to be believed and listened to about our accommodations,” Carmody said.

Some of these misconceptions are also held by faculty members, hindering their ability to accommodate for their students.

“I was told by professors that I wasn’t disabled,” Janssen said.

Breaking the stigma around these misconceptions allows the public to be better informed about disabilities and thereby allows for the campus to be better adapted to accommodate for these circumstances.

Throughout the past months, the club has focused on attracting new members and creating more opportunities to educate and advocate.

The club tabled at the Student Engagement Fair for the first time on Aug. 24 where 83 people showed interest in the club. Following this, the club hosted its first meeting on Sept. 11.

While some events planned for the month were not able to happen, the club was able to establish many connections for future events and focus on the organization’s longevity.

On Oct. 12 the club will be hosting a service dog panel that will be open to students, staff, faculty and the public to ask questions about service dogs and how to be more inclusive and accessible.

The club will also be hosting a “Dogs for Dogs” tailgate before football games serving hot

dogs while offering activities for handlers and educating people about service dogs and some of the club’s advocacy efforts.

Additionally, the club is in the early stages of planning events with housing. Some housing event coordinators at Hess Hall asked if the club would be willing to collaborate for an educational event to learn about service dogs.

Finally, the club looks forward to a huge opportunity on Nov. 4 to bring 10 handlers to the Dollywood theme park for dogs to get trained. This day marks the beginning of the Christmas Festival and the busiest day of the year at the park, making it an ample opportunity for training and education.

“(Service dogs) have to be trained to be able to participate in any situation and be very desensitized. And so that space with that many people and that many loud noises and different types of people and different types of situations is always a good training opportunity,” Carmody said.

The handlers will be meeting with some of the disability services at the park to discuss how they can further improve upon accessibility at their park. After the initial contact, the services at the park made it clear that they would value feedback from the club.

Throughout all their efforts, the club aims to contribute to a more inclusive campus environment and make a difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities and their service animals.

SARAH PORTANKA Contributor

UT’s Service Dog Club tables at the Student Engagement Fair. Aug. 24, 2023 . Courtesy of Amber Carmody

Pygmy Harbor Farm hosts goat yoga sessions through October

Pygmy Harbor Farm is a charming little countryside getaway located here in Knoxville. Goat yoga sessions are being hosted through October as a fun-filled outdoor activity for people of all ages.

Bonnie Panettieri and Robert Deacon are the owners of the farm and welcome everyone to join in on the fun.

This class is ideal for anyone who enjoys being outside in the country, simple exercise and being around animals in nature. Participants should wear comfortable clothes that they won’t mind getting dirty, as the goats may or may not jump on top of you whilst you’re doing yoga. Excited and friendly goats get to roam around during the class and play with the participants.

Pygmy goats, originally called Cameroon Dwarf Goats, are a small and friendly breed of goat that is guaranteed to brighten up a typical yoga session. Averaging at about 15 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder, they are fun-sized and not too big to be around children who join in on the activities.

Absolutely anyone is welcome at the farm, including beginners in yoga. Panettieri spoke about the people they see at their goat yoga sessions.

“It’s amazing the variety of people we get. From little young children to big burly men,” Panettieri said.

Co-owner Deacon agreed.

“And to the grandmothers and grandfathers, they come, and they’ll sit in chairs, and they watch it,” Deacon said. “So it’s good for them, too.”

The goat yoga class moves at an easy pace, and being flexible is not a requirement.

“It’s basically … a very relaxing yoga class – it’s not strenuous yoga,” Panettieri said. “And then, of course, the yoga is not always mandatory. We give people time to play with the goats or take pictures ... or if they wanna put one on their back.”

Pygmy Harbor Farm is located at 2222 Robin Ben Lane. They are welcoming newcomers to try out their yoga sessions, make friends, enjoy the scenery and meet the animals.

The class itself will last about one hour long and is led by certified, experienced instructors. Participants are encouraged to pet the goats, play with them and take pictures of them. There are plenty of opportunities to do so before or after class.

Right after class ends, people are able

to shop the farm’s handmade goat milk soap, skincare products and lotions. So after people get done playing with the goats outside, they can go home and wash up using decadent skincare products made from those goats’ milk.

Panettieri and Deacon have been at the farm for eight years but have only been doing goat yoga for four years. Deacon shared the story of how these sessions of goat yoga initially started at Pygmy Harbor Farm.

“We make goat milk soap, lotions and skincare products,” Deacon said.

“We sell them at farmers’ markets to support the goats, and the pandemic hit … which made them shut down the farmers’ markets. We took an awful hit money-wise because we couldn’t feed our animals. So we didn’t know what

to do. We were sitting on the couch one night … we thought of goat yoga.”

The goal of these goat yoga sessions is to give people an activity that will make them laugh, smile and get some fresh air. Yoga itself is a great way to stretch your body and release stress.

Adding goats to this activity puts these benefits on another level. The goats will make you laugh, creating a distraction and testing your focus. Deacon spoke about how the goats’ interactions with the participants put a spin on yoga.

“They’re very distracting,” Deacon said. “So if someone’s doing a pose and a goat comes over and stands on their back, they can pick them up and cuddle them. It’s not as disciplined as a normal yoga class would be.”

Deacon added that goat yoga is like

therapy for people.

Participants are expected to bring a yoga mat, outdoor clothes, drinking water and a sense of adventure. However, yoga mats will be provided for those who don’t already have one.

In case of rain, tickets will be transferred to an alternate date so participants can still enjoy the class. If participants can’t make another date, then their ticket will be refunded. Prices start at $30 per person, and dates available can be found on their website.

There are no refunds offered for people who don’t show up to their event or people who cancel within less than 24 hours, so be certain that you will be able to attend and enjoy your session to the fullest before booking.

KAYLA RUDD Contributer

A pygmy goat comes up to a participant during a goat yoga session at Pygmy Harbor Farm. Courtesy of Pygmy Harbor Farm

T-shirt Tuesdays raise awareness for ‘Consent Is’ campaign

The Center for Health Education & Wellness (CHEW) has been giving out T-shirts for years, but this is only the second round for their “Consent Is” sexual assault awareness campaign.

On the first Tuesday of each month, T-shirt Tuesday, staffers set up a table on campus to answer questions about consent and hand out the brightly colored, message-bearing shirts.

UT’s Title IX policy prohibits sexual harassment. This year CHEW added two new phrases: “Consent is specific” and “Consent is ongoing.”

A previous version of the campaign began as part of a 2015 series called Red Zone pop-ups. The Red Zone refers to the span between the beginning of fall semester and Thanksgiving break, when most incidents happen. In those years, the center gave out “Does Not Mean Yes” T-shirts.

“So the phrases were designed to describe what consent is not,” Kayley McMahan, the wellness coordinator for relationship and sexual violence prevention, said. “... Things like ‘DMs do not mean yes or Netflix and Chill does not mean yes’ … ‘dating does not mean yes, alone with you’ does not mean yes, all kinds of different phrases like that.”

The center revised the shirts in the spring of last year to shift to talking about what consent is, surveying students to come up with the phrases. They began giving them out last August.

“There are seven different shirts that a person could get,” McMahan said.

The other five shirts say that consent is required, revocable, mutual, clear and informed.

McMahan loves it when people wear their shirts any day of the week. But she especially encourages everyone to wear them on Tuesdays, sticking with the theme.

“I think it kind of makes a big statement … ‘Look at all of these hundreds of people,’” she said. “Just like we all wear orange on Fridays because we support UT, I think wearing our consent shirts on Tuesdays says, ‘Okay, we support consent, and we support consent education, and we support sexual assault prevention.’”

McMahan said many students who show up for the shirts thank them and say they appreciate the work the center is doing.

“A poster can be put up by anybody,” McMahan said, adding that those were important. “But when you see a live person representing the message, I think it shows folks that this is an important message for our community.”

Kristen Ravi, an assistant professor in the College of Social Work, said awareness of relationship red flags and green flags and where to seek help are important.

“College involves a unique transition that often includes pursuing dating relationships,” Ravi said. “However, it is also a time when young adults experience high levels of educa-

tional and adjustment stress.”

Her examples of red flags were limiting or controlling your time with family and friends, not respecting boundaries and communicating in a hurtful or threatening way, while green flags would be giving emotional support, communicating openly, respecting your boundaries and being a person you feel like you can be yourself around.

Since the beginning of August, 14 reports of unwanted sexual contact have been reported to either the UT Police Department or another campus security authority. A 2019 University of Virginia report that surveyed over 180,000 students found that one in four female undergraduates, and almost one in 14 male undergraduates experienced sexual violence.

According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, the vast majority of sexual assaults are committed by someone that the survivor knows. Studies show 62% of all college students have dealt with intimate partner violence, or IPV, in comparison to 41% of women and 26% of men in general.

Ravi said IPV tends to be associated with higher levels of stress, so it is important to address student stress and emotional regulation strategies. She also noted the documented association between higher alcohol consumption and IPV among college students.

A lesser known related scenario is “school sabotage,” when an abusive partner prevents a survivor’s education – holding up financial aid, attacking or stalking them at school, disrupting child care so the survivor cannot attend classes and keeping the survivor from campus or campus resources.

IPV is associated with a higher risk for depression, anxiety, PTSD and poor physical health. Studies have also shown IPV in college is related to a lower GPA and a higher risk of dropping out.

“This is important because adverse academic outcomes may have economic consequences such as economic instability, unemployment or underemployment, and lower lifetime earnings,” Ravi said.

So, every first Tuesday, CHEW staffers give out two of the seven different shirts, rotating them each month.

For September, they gave away the pink “Consent is mutual” shirts and the orange “Consent is specific” shirts. In October, one shirt will be “Consent is revocable” in the color purple for Domestic Violence Awareness Month, McMahan said.

That giveaway will be a special T-shirt Tuesday with campus and community partner tables and education about dating and domestic violence. The event is Oct. 3 from 12-2 p.m. at the

Student Union Plaza.

McMahan expressed that there were many ways to measure success.

“Have they learned something, are they understanding consent? Are they practicing it in their daily lives?” McMahan said.

McMahan added that the center keeps track of how many people seek out resources, request training or schedule presentations.

“I think part of it though, at the basic, at the very minimum, is that the work is being done, that we’re out, we’re doing the work. We are showing up for students and showing them that this is important to us,” McMahan said. “That consent education and sexual assault prevention is important to us. And if students know that and see that and are aware of that, then I think that that is a success.”

T-shirt Tuesdays will also take place on Nov. 7 and Dec. 5. Future times and locations will be listed on the events page for the center as well as the university calendar.

Although McMahan said handing off the shirts is a fast-paced activity, when it slows down, they do have a good opportunity to talk with students.

“We like to say both the ask for sexual activity and the answer should be clear,” McMahan said. “Clear consent is everyone’s responsibility.”

ALLISON MURPHY Staff Writer

Kayley McMahan, a CHEW wellness coordinator, scans a student’s event pass in order to give her a ‘consent is mutual’ t-shirt on Sept. 5, 2023. Audrey Nash / The Daily Beacon

Vol Night Long brings state fair feel to campus

AALIYAH HAMMONTREE Staff Writer

On Wednesday, Sept. 20, the Center for Student Engagement hosted Vol Night Long: Big Orange State Fair. The event was the university’s version of a state fair, complete with inflatables, food and live music. It also marked the return of The Local concert series.

Brooke Heidebrecht, the president of entertainment for Campus Events Board and junior management major, talked about CEB’s goals with their events.

“We plan events essentially for students for a breather from school, trying to do something fun and an opportunity that’s free and on campus,” Heidebrecht said. “Our goal is just to get students involved, engaged, to meet friends, have fun, all free of cost.”

This installment of Vol Night Long aimed to bring the state fair feel to campus.

“Our event with The Big Orange State Fair is kinda like your typical fair,” Heidebrecht said. “We went into it booking fair food. We have funnel cakes. We have fried oreos, your typical food like that, as well as so many inflatables like axe throwing and whatnot.”

The Big Orange State Fair had no shortage of ways to take a break from the stress of schoolwork. The Student Union Plaza was filled with inflatable games and obstacle courses. There was free food from Penne for Your Thoughts and Chuck’s Concessions. Students could stuff their own stuffed animals. There was even live music from Knoxville’s own Solstice Band.

Plenty of students were in attendance and hanging out with old friends or making new ones. The lines to stuff your own plushie or get fair food stretched throughout the Student Union Plaza. Students were almost always lined up to

do the obstacle course or take photos in the photo booth. The event was a welcome break from the stress of school life.

Helena Fuchs is an exchange student in her third year with an undeclared major. She attended Vol Night Long with graduate exchange student Victoria Kotlyarenko.

“I just wanted to come out after homework,” Fuchs said. “I thought it would be really fun to just hang out in the evening with friends for just an hour, and it’s been really fun so far.”

The stuff your own plushie station was a hit among the students. Until the plushies ran out, the line was always the longest — even longer than the food options — and almost every student could be spotted with a plushie in their hands or poking out a pocket or backpack.

“I think it’s really, really nice, especially all the activities here,” Kotlyarenko said. “I really liked stuffing the animals. It was really, really cool.”

Many students stayed at the event for nearly its entire duration. Solstice Band played their set consisting of a mix of covers and original songs well into the night and many students gathered around to watch.

Solstice Band has played sets for other CSE events, like last semester’s Party in the Park, so it’s fitting that they were there to kick off the return of The Local concert series. The Local was last held in 2021 and features performances from artists and bands from the Knoxville area.

Currently, there is not any information on when the next concert in the series will be held, but in the past CSE has released that information closer to the date of the concert.

CSE will be hosting many more events throughout the semester, such as the Fall Family Craft Hour on Sept. 22 from 5-7 p.m. For more information on that event and other future events, check out their Instagram for events that will be coming up soon or their website for a full schedule of events.

Week of 9/25/23 - 10/1/23

The Weekly Crossword

by Margie E. Burke

Students at the Vol Night Long event line up to stuff their own plushies at the Student Union Plaza. Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. Edward Cruz / Daily Beacon

On the Brain: September is Suicide Prevention Month. Let’s talk about it.

ALAYNA HEIFNER Columnist

This column talks about heavier topics such as self-harm and suicide. Please be advised.

What is Suicide Prevention Month?

September is National Suicide Prevention Month – a dedicated time for raising awareness about suicide. The number one way to prevent suicide involves educating oneself to identify signs and learning how to ask for help.

Suicide is a serious public health crisis, particularly for college students. While the term “suicide” often carries a stigma, it is essential to destigmatize it. Conversations about suicide can help others realize they are not alone and encourage those struggling with these thoughts to seek help.

I hope that this column will aid you in how to support yourself and others in times of crisis.

My experience with suicide prevention

I grew up in a very mental health-conscious household, with both of my parents being LPCMHSPs (Licensed Professional CounselorsMental Health Service Providers). I am not afraid to say that I have experienced and overcome suicidal thoughts. Education and access to the right resources prevented my thoughts from turning into actions.

“If you are thinking about harming yourself, it is very important that you put time and space between the suicidal thoughts that you’re having,” Leah Heifner, a LPC-MHSP and my mother, states.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs states that 47% of suicide attempt survivors said it took less than one hour between their decision to attempt suicide and their actual attempt. Twenty-four percent said it took less than five minutes for them to act. Since suicidal acts are typically performed as an act of impulsivity, they could potentially be prevented by putting time and space between the impulse to act and the means to harm oneself

Why is this relevant to you?

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. According to Jackie Burrell, a writer for Verywell Mind, suicide is the second most common cause of death among college students.

This may be because of the overwhelming life transition we are all going through, being away from family, feeling intense academic pressure and overall having our life patterns disrupted. More often than not, mental health issues like depression will worsen during college if you have never accessed treatment before.

Suicide prevention is vitally important for everyone in college to know about. If you have

never had suicidal thoughts, someone you know likely has. Many people experience suicidal thoughts, and the key to preventing them from turning into actions is learning about risk factors and prevention methods.

Lethal means and suicide prevention

All suicides have something in common: a lethal means was used to commit the act, whether it be medication, firearms or anything in between. In someone who has risk factors for suicide, reducing access to these lethal means is one of the most effective ways to prevent suicide.

A short-term crisis can lead to the permanent decision of suicide because someone in a crisis can become blind to solutions and hope for the future. Think of someone having suicidal thoughts as someone driving while there is a torrential downpour at night.

It is so dark and stormy that they cannot see any semblance of light, and they feel as if they could crash at any moment. So while someone sheltered by a building can see that the person driving the car is almost out of the storm, the person driving the car does not see things the same way.

In the same way, an outward observer may be confused as to why someone is feeling suicidal. They see potential opportunities and happiness for that person in the future, but the suicidal person is unable to see things the same way in their current storm.

If someone has risk factors for suicide or has previously or is currently expressing suicidal thoughts, limiting access to lethal means can save their life. It’s important to check up on those you love and create a relationship of honesty so that you can take steps to help them if they are experiencing suicidal thoughts or ideations.

Risk factors

Social, economic, genetic and environmental components of someone’s life can increase or decrease their risk factor for suicide. Examples of these factors include social isolation, unemployment, gender and race.

Individuals with a genetic predisposition to mental illness, a family history of suicide or those living with mentally ill family members face an increased risk of suicide. While suicide itself doesn’t run in families, certain mental illnesses have a hereditary component.

No one of these risk factors means that someone will commit suicide, but when combined with mental illnesses, these factors can cause suicidal thoughts or actions. Remember to watch out for your friends who may have some of these risk factors and ensure they have access to the necessary resources and support.

Warning signs

Warning signs of suicide are behaviors and actions that may indicate someone is considering suicide. Some of these signs may include

talking about wanting to die or being a burden to others.

If someone feels hopeless, trapped or tired of living, they could be signs they are considering suicide.

Warning signs also include acting sadder than usual, more anxious or very agitated. If someone begins to change their behavior and you notice that they are thinking about death, taking dangerous risks, eating or sleeping more or less than usual or using drugs or alcohol more often, speak to them and try to help them get help as soon as possible.

What to do if you are feeling suicidal

First off, don’t feel ashamed if you have had or are having suicidal thoughts. It’s okay to ask for help, and getting help can mean a world of difference. If you are looking for a more regular source of support, UT has a counseling and psychiatry center.

According to the counseling center’s website, you can access services such as crisis intervention, psychiatry and individual, couples and group therapy. You can book an appointment with them through UT’s counseling center’s website.

To find help if you are in distress and need immediate assistance, UT offers a care team that you can reach by calling 974-HELP or visiting their website. You can also reach the Suicide Crisis Hotline by calling 988, and you will be connected with a crisis counselor who can talk to you and provide you with help and resources.

If you cannot or do not feel comfortable talking to someone on the phone, you can text HOME to 741741 to be connected with a crisis counselor you can text with.

If you are a member of the LGBTQ+ community, you can connect with a crisis counselor through the Trevor Project by texting START to 678-678 or by calling 1-866-488-7386.

All of these resources are completely confidential, cost-free, and offer 24/7 availability. If you are having suicidal thoughts and feel as if you are in immediate danger, please do not hesitate to call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. UT Medical Center is a convenient 10-minute drive from campus.

My closing message to you would be that you should not be afraid to utilize these resources if you are in need. Share these resources with your family and friends so that they can also access them in times of crisis. It’s okay to ask for help, and suicide should never be an option. You are worthy and beautiful, and things will get better.

The Student Counseling Center, located across from the Rock, offers services such as group, individual and couples therapy, as well as psychiatric evaluations. Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022. Edward Cruz / Daily Beacon

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.

Alayna Heifner is a freshman at UT this year studying philosophy. She can be reached at aheifne1@vols.utk.edu.

Freshman Files: The freshman dorm experience

MADISON ELLIS Columnist

Ah, freshman year. I’ve just transitioned from being at the top of the food chain to landing squarely at the bottom. Stepping foot onto campus, freedom and spirit permeate the air. A whole new chapter filled with new friends and adventures awaited me as I crossed the threshold of Massey Hall.

My high school years were spent at a boarding school where I attended classes during the day and retreated to my cozy dorm room with a total of 36 girls. I had assumed that dorm life in high school would resemble that of college.

Boy, was I mistaken.

As I approached Massey Hall on move-in day, I felt overwhelmed by its seven-story height. I remember thinking, “This place resembles Alcatraz.” The entire moving process required only one cart and four people.

Now, after a few weeks, I’ve gained a good understanding of the freshman dorm experience: blaring music, random boys wandering the halls and occasional 3 a.m. outbursts. While slightly annoying, it injects a sense of excitement into my life.

One of my fellow Massey residents shared that one night, “a group of guys were loudly running up and down the stairs.” How could you not be amused?

My favorite aspect of dorm life so far has to be the surprise fire alarms. Who is playing this devious prank? I must have appeared like a maniac sprinting down seven flights of stairs, as I take emergencies very seriously. To my chagrin, it turned out to be just a drill.

The one component I’ve missed out on, however, is having a roommate. Half of my

room is adorned with beautiful pink decorations and flower-filled posters, while the other half remains cold and empty. A few days before moving in, my would-be roommate decided to drop out, leaving me with a room all to myself.

While it’s nice not having to adjust the TV volume during a “Gilmore Girls” binge or ask permission before inviting anyone over, I can’t help but feel that I’m missing out.

To fill this void of not having a roommate, I’ve found wonderful Massey sisters to hang out with.

I’ve had the pleasure of touring the charming Hess Hall. With its ceiling tiles punched out and odd polls written on whiteboards, I got to witness a different side of dorm life: the co-ed dorm.

At night, I see entertaining Snapchat story posts of freshmen guys cramming over 30 people into their room or organizing random midnight walks that attract numerous freshmen who parade around campus.

As annoying as it may appear to upperclassmen, it brings a smile to my face.

It brings a smile because a community is forming. Dorm life brings people together. There is a sense of camaraderie that comes with living alongside your classmates and sharing the experience together.

So, even though the communal bathrooms may seem unsavory or the late-night, noisy antics may be a bit much, remember that it doesn’t last forever, so you might as well love thy neighbor!

A look inside Madison Ellis’s dorm room located in Massey Hall. Sept. 21, 2023. Courtesy of Madison Ellis.

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.

Madison Ellis is a freshman at UT this year studying Neuroscience. She can be reached at mellis53@vols.utk.edu.

How Joe Milton used Cam Newton highlights to set a career-high in rushing yards

Offensive analyst Mitch Militello gave quarterback Joe Milton III an assignment ahead of Tennessee football’s matchup with UTSA. Militello wanted Milton to go home and watch highlights of quarterbacks running the ball.

Milton turned to former Auburn quarterback and Heisman winner Cam Newton. This week wasn’t the first time, though. Milton said he watches Newton’s highlights “pretty much every two days.”

Newton, at 6-foot-6, 250 pounds, compares to Milton in his size. Newton, however, had a higher tendency to run the ball than Milton does.

The plan for Tennessee’s quarterback on Saturday was to get his legs involved. Milton opened the game with an 81-yard rushing touchdown. The rush is the longest by a true quarterback in Tennessee history.

“On that run that I had, the long one, I was about to pull one of (Newton’s) moves and jump from the five,” Milton said. “But in my head, I heard coach Heup say ‘Don’t do it.’”

Milton’s long run started a 45-14 rout of the Roadrunners in Neyland Stadium.

It also started a career day for Milton on the ground. He finished with a career-high 89 rushing yards.

Utilizing his feet, and implementing parts of Newton’s game into his, are priorities for Milton moving forward.

“Going to have to use his feet,” Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel said. “You saw it tonight in the run game. As we go into our drop-back pass game he’s going to have to work the pocket, climb the pocket and escape and make plays with

his feet. Extend and make plays with his arm.”

Through the air, Milton finished Saturday 18of-31 passing 209 yards and two touchdowns. Aside from eight straight incompletions during a lull that stretched from the end of the second quarter to the beginning of the third, Milton was efficient.

The playbook still isn’t open for the quarter-

back. Heupel and the Vols used a heavy dose of receiver screens to get the pass game working. It isn’t the offense that fans are used to seeing under Heupel, but it was good enough to defeat UTSA. The Vols tallied 512 yards of total offense. The passing game contributed to 209 of those yards.

“Need him to take great care of the football,” Heupel said. “There’s still a level of efficiency that we can get to in our passing game. I’m saying that to Joe. It’s our wideouts. It’s our tight ends. It’s all that together that we can take another jump.”

Dating back to the Orange Bowl, Milton has multiple touchdown passes in five consecutive games. That number jumps to eight straight when you consider games with just one touchdown pass.

There’s still a level the Vols need the offense to get to so they can compete at the highest level in the SEC. Heupel attributes that to more than just Milton.

Milton can help, though. And he will have to help.

“I give my all for Tennessee no matter what game it is,” Milton said. “The whole purpose of connecting in the pass game, just being able to connect. I feel like there’s still more out there for us to do, but that’s why we practice every day. We go back and watch film and learn from it and understand what we’re doing as an offense.”

Dylan Sampson was the hot hand in Vols’ recent win over UTSA

ERIC WOODS Assistant Sports Editor

Dylan Sampson did not appear in Tennessee football’s loss at Florida. He received just four total touches against Austin Peay.

Despite a four-touchdown performance in the Vols’ season-opening win over Virginia, the most by a Tennessee running back since Alvin Kamara, Sampson was still seen as the No. 3 back in a loaded room.

However, Sampson knew that he was in a crowded backfield. Running backs coach Jerry Mack said in fall camp that he was going to ride the hot hand. So he waited his turn to be that hot hand and became just that in Saturday’s 45-14 win over UTSA after Jaylen Wright was banged up early.

The sophomore ran for a team-high and career-high 139 yards on just 11 carries to go with two scores. His fifth touchdown of the season came on just his 19th touch. When Sampson has been needed, he’s been ready.

“Dylan’s been the same guy on the practice field. He’s been a good leader in the locker room,” head coach Josh Heupel said. “Competitive, willing to do whatever to help the team. When he has the ball in his

hands, he’s done a good job of reading it, delivering blocks. He made the back-door cut tonight as flow over the top happens. Been really efficient in what he’s done, so we’re going to need him as we continue to go, too.”

As the youngest and least experienced of the three-headed monster with Wright and Jabari Small, Sampson has naturally had to take the backseat at times. That doesn’t mean that he’s been hidden.

While Wright and Small combined for 218 yards on the ground against Austin Peay, Sampson got just three carries but stayed the same. While the run game was completely shut down against Florida, Sampson stayed the same. He is a natural-born leader, and he carries himself as such.

“I wasn’t frustrated. I understood the situation and how the game went,” Sampson said. “It’s just my competitive spirit. I understand that we are deep in the running back room. My mindset every time is that I never know how many touches I’m gonna get but I am willing to do whatever I need to do to help this team. My mindset is to make the most of what I can with my touches.”

Sampson certainly made the most of his touches against UTSA. His first touch was a 10-yard touchdown, and his third was a 44-yard rush.

As the Vols were slumping in the third quarter, it was Sampson who brought them back. He picked up a pair of third-down conversions, including taking a shovel pass 20-yards on third-and-six.

On the following drive, it took Sampson just two plays to go 70 yards for his second touchdown of the day.

“It’s just the will to compete,” Sampson said. “It’s the difference between hardworking and competing. I think it’s just the intention I take. The mindset when I have the ball in my hands is that I want to be the best.”

It is unclear whether Sampson will continue to reach the same production moving forward in such a loaded backfield, but there is no doubting his talent. What is clear is that he is an asset whenever he touches the ball.

In 13 appearances as a Vol, Sampson has found the end zone 12 times on just 91 touches.

“I want to be a playmaker,” Sampson said. “That comes with preparation and hard work into the week, but it’s something different that your mindset just has to click on Saturdays — a whole other level of competitiveness. I don’t want to be tackled — not by the first person, by the second person. I want to score.”

Dylan Sampson (6) celebrates a touchdown against UTSA in Neyland Stadium. Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. Parker Phegley / Contributor

CALEB JARREAU Sports Editor

Joe Milton III (7) scores a touchdown on his first run of the game against UTSA in Neyland Stadium. Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. Cambree Gliessner / Contributor

South Carolina ‘is the biggest game because it’s the next game’ for Tennessee

Sports Editor

The South Carolina game marked a change of course for Tennessee football in 2022.

The Vols rolled into Columbia with a 9-1 record and ranked fifth in the nation. Quarterback Hendon Hooker was well on his way to earning an invite to New York City for the Heisman ceremony.

A win against the Gamecocks would have put Tennessee into the College Football Playoff conversation. But that is not how it turned out.

Instead, Tennessee headed back to Knoxville with a 62-38 loss to the Gamecocks. Perhaps worse for the Vols, Hooker had his season end with a torn ACL.

Fast forward to 2023 — South Carolina travels to Neyland Stadium on Saturday. The situation is a lot different for each team.

“It’s a new week every week. It is a new year too,” Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel said. “Last year, they were more physical than us. They competed harder than we did on that night. We didn’t handle the environment the right way. Those were lessons that (we had to learn) to continue to move forward with as a program.”

The message from the Vols was clear that there is no revenge factor. There is no extra motivation going into this game, or at least that’s what they said.

That doesn’t mean they forgot about what happened in Columbia more than 300 days ago. Even tight end McCallan Castles, who wasn’t on the team in 2022, realizes the magnitude of the loss to the Gamecocks last season.

“Obviously it didn’t go the way they wanted it to last year,” Castles said. “That’s last year. This year, our whole goal is to be the best team on the field on Saturday, no matter who we’re playing and obviously, they’re going to be a solid SEC team, so it’s just trying to be better than they are on Saturday.”

South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler threw for 438 yards and six touchdowns in the game last season. But Tennessee isn’t worried about last year.

This season, Rattler has completed 95of-128 passes in four games played. He averages over 300 yards a game, and he has thrown seven touchdowns to just two interceptions.

Defensive lineman Bryson Eason was on the team that got picked apart by Rattler in Columbia. There isn’t any revenge factor in his mind.

“It doesn’t mean anything extra,” Eason said. “Like we’ve been saying for the

last four weeks, it’s the biggest game because it’s the next game. That’s how we approach it. We’re just ready to be the best team on the field on Saturday.”

Whether Eason has extra motivation or not against the Gamecocks, the defensive line play on Saturday night will be important for Tennessee.

Tennessee has racked up 33 tackles for loss and 16 sacks—both numbers that rank among the top in college football. Several of those came against every opponent not named Florida.

The Vols pass defense thus far seems much improved from a season ago. Sitting at fourth in the conference, Tennessee allows 190.8 passing yards per game.

That pass defense will be crucial in Neyland Stadium. A strong performance from the defensive line in the pass rush

wouldn’t hurt, either.

“Just make sure that we keep him contained, and just stay disciplined and do our job,” Eason said. “Just do what we do, and just try to be disruptive and go out there and have fun with my guys. That’s really what it’s all about, just like to go out there and have fun but do our job, of course.”

That job on Saturday will be containing the Gamecock offense to give Vols quarterback Joe Milton III and the offense a chance to succeed.

As much as fans will remember last year and want revenge for what happened in Columbia, Heupel’s group is taking a different approach: looking for success on eplay at a time.

“Last year has nothing to do with this week,” Heupel said. “Last week has nothing to do with this week. Your previous

play has nothing to do with the next game. We gotta focus on preparation and be ready to have a great competitive spirit for four quarters.”

CALEB JARREAU

Vols celebrate after a successful first half against UTSA at Neyland Stadium. Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. Cambree Gliessner / Contributor

Football PICK ‘EM

South Carolina 45 vs. Tennessee 38

Utah vs. Oregon State

LSU vs. Ole Miss

Florida vs. Kentucky

Notre Dame vs. Duke

Georgia vs. Auburn

USC vs. Colorado

Tennessee volleyball reaching new heights under Eve Rackham Watt

TANNER JOHNSON Staff Writer

The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) released its latest top 25 poll of the 2023 season on Monday. Tennessee was ranked No. 12, which is its highest ranking since the 2006 season.

A lot has happened in Tennessee sports since 2006. The football program has had six different head coaches, and the men’s basketball program has had four. Tennessee volleyball has not had to undergo the same level of turnover in its staff.

Head coach Eve Rackham Watt has held her position since the 2018 season, after replacing Rob Patrick — who coached at Tennessee for 21 seasons. Rackham Watt is currently having her most successful season since her debut in 2018, when her team went 26-6.

“When your team has success, you expect there to be more eyes on you,” Rackham Watt said. “It has not changed the way we do anything from a practice or culture standpoint, but the fact that we are getting recognized nationally is a good thing.”

The Lady Vols record currently sits at 11-1 after their victory over rival Kentucky in Rupp Arena. It was the first time Tennessee had beaten the Wildcats since 2016 and the first time they had won in Lexington since 2010.

“I think it was nice for this group to beat Kentucky, especially on the road,” Rackham Watt said. “Some of our players, like Morgahn Fingall, have been on the team for five seasons and it had not happened. It was a first for her and for our staff as well, so it was

nice to get over the hump.”

After only losing one game at No. 1 Wisconsin in a tough non-conference slate, Tennessee swept Missouri at home to open SEC play. However, all eyes were fixed on Lexington, Kentucky, to see if the Lady Vols could finally beat their archrivals for the first time in seven years.

“Everybody on our team knew we were good enough to win and have success in the match,” Rackham Watt said. “But the way we were able to sweep them I thought was most impressive.”

The win adds legitimacy to the Lady Vols’ rivalry with Kentucky. The Wildcats have enjoyed immense success in recent years and have won six straight SEC titles. For Tennessee to take the next step into the upper echelon of SEC programs, they had to show they could beat Kentucky, and now they have.

“This win did not necessarily prove anything about our team that we did not already know,” Rackham Watt said. “There has been a lot of confidence among this group from day one in what we can accomplish.”

Now that the Lady Vols have beaten the Wildcats, the national conversation will start to change surrounding the SEC and who the best teams are in the conference. Rackham Watt knows that a part of her job will be to ensure her team does not lose focus on this important part of the schedule.

“We continue to talk about practice and matches day by day,” Rackham Watt said.

“We do not pay a lot of attention to external things like rankings or other people’s expectations for the program. It’s about the group of 21 players we have and our staff. We are always focused on how we can get better every day.”

South Carolina 31 vs. Tennessee 34

Utah vs. Oregon State

LSU vs. Ole Miss

Florida vs. Kentucky

Notre Dame vs. Duke

Georgia vs. Auburn

USC vs. Colorado

South Carolina 20 vs. Tennessee 27

Utah vs. Oregon State

LSU vs. Ole Miss

Florida vs. Kentucky

Notre Dame vs. Duke

Georgia vs. Auburn

USC vs. Colorado

South Carolina 21 vs. Tennessee 42

Utah vs. Oregon State

LSU vs. Ole Miss

Florida vs. Kentucky

Notre Dame vs. Duke

Georgia vs. Auburn

USC vs. Colorado

South Carolina 20 vs. Tennessee 31

Utah vs. Oregon State

LSU vs. Ole Miss

Florida vs. Kentucky

Notre Dame vs. Duke

Georgia vs. Auburn

USC vs. Colorado

South Carolina 28 vs. Tennessee 24

Utah vs. Oregon State

LSU vs. Ole Miss

Florida vs. Kentucky

Notre Dame vs. Duke

Georgia vs. Auburn

USC vs. Colorado

Caleb Jarreau Sports Editor (21-7)

Tanner Johnson Staff Writer (17-11)

Jack Church Staff Writer (17-11)

Eric Woods AssT. Sports Editor (19-9)

Bella Hughes Managing Editor (15-13)

Madeline McNeely Contributor (17-11)

Coach Eve Rackham Watt (center) is congratulated by the team and fans on her 100th win as the Lady Vols volleyball coach. Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. Sam Barbour / Contributor