093020 The Daily Beacon

Volume 139, Issue 6 Wednesday, September 30, 2020

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‘Lamar is a Liar’ protestors gather outside Sen. Alexander’s office following Supreme Court vote DANIEL DASSOW Staff Writer

Just five days after the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a crowd of grassroots organizers and concerned locals gathered outside of Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander’s downtown office Wednesday night to protest his support for filling the late justice’s seat before the election in November.

In a statement released on Sept. 20, Alexander, who is not seeking re-election in November, said that moving to fill Ginsburg’s seat on the court before the election is “only doing what Democrat leaders have said they would do if the shoe was on the other foot,” and that voters who elected Republican Senators “expect them to do it.”

But his statement of support for a preelection confirmation, along with others made by his Republican colleagues, was met with sharp criticism in light of the Republican-controlled Senate’s refusal to confirm then President Barack Obama’s nominee to the Supreme Court in 2016.

Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell blocked a vote to confirm Merrick Garland to the court in 2016, arguing that the late Justice Antonin Scalia’s seat should not be filled in an election year. The seat was left empty for over a year, until the confirmation of Justice Neil Gorsuch in April 2017.

Now, McConnell and his fellow Republican Senators want to fill Ginsburg’s seat in only seven weeks, and the protestors outside Sen. Alexander’s office Wednesday night showed up to speak out against his support for the vote.

Leading the “Lamar is a Liar” protest was Kim Spoon, an organizer for Indivisible East Tennessee, a chapter of a nationwide progressive activism group dedicated to

fighting President Trump’s legislative agenda through local politics. Clad in a shirt that read “Register & Phonebank & Canvass & Vote & Win” and holding a megaphone, Spoon expressed the resentment that the small crowd felt.

“Mitch McConnell held a Supreme Court open for over a year. Is this what kills you, the hypocrisy of it all? He held that seat for over a year to prevent Barack Obama from filling it,” Spoon said. “The voters who elected [Alexander] expect [a vote], but when we elected Obama we didn’t expect it? For a whole last year of his term? The hypocrisy is astounding.”

In her speech before the crowd, Spoon made it clear that more is on the line than a simple seat on the court. According to her and her fellow activists, Ginsburg’s legacy of being a champion for women and minorities is in jeopardy.

“We cannot let Donald Trump destroy [Ginsburg’s] legacy by replacing her with a justice from his short list of extremists,” Spoon said. “Anybody he picks to replace RBG would no doubt undo all the progressive change she fought for her whole life. We’re not even getting time to grieve over her before we all have to jump into action.”

Spoon was a progressive one-line generator Wednesday night, throwing out such quips as, “I’m tired of being represented by morons,” and, “Therapy works great, but screaming is faster and quicker.”

Is this what kills you, the hypocrisy of it all?

KIM SPOON ORGANIZER FOR INDIVISIBLE EAST TN

But undergirding her message was a solemn call to action from the twenty or so people standing before her. She and her fellow Indivisible organizers throughout the country are gathering outside of Republican senator’s offices to protest the pre-election confirmation vote, she says.

She also ran through a long list of Democratic candidates, from Renee Hoyos for Tennessee congressional District 2 to Virginia Couch for state house District 18,

Two protestors stand outside of Lamar Alexander’s downtown o�ce holding a sign calling for delay on SCOTUS vote on Sept. 23, 2020. Daniel Dassow / The Daily Beacon and the incumbent Republicans they are up against, encouraging the crowd to volunteer and vote to flip the legislatures.

“We have to block everything Republicans try to do to get this nomination confirmed. We have to fight like hell to take the Senate back, and the White House of course. We have got to get everybody we know to tweet, to call, to email, to Resistbot,” Spoon said, referencing the digital service that allows constituents to rapidly send letters to elected officials.

Nathan Higdon, another organizer with Indivisible East Tennessee, says that voters who don’t do their research about candidates could be helping to undo 50 years of progressive legislation.

“If we don’t have a Senator in place from Tennessee who believes in the humanity of Tennesseeans, then we’ll have someone who will just rubber stamp someone who is there to take away rights that we say we believe in,” Higdon said. “If voters aren’t asking...where those people stand on women’s reproductive rights and LGBTQ+ rights, then we’re also making this incredibly easy to just get rid of these things.”

Higdon emphasized the importance of examining officials’ voting records, rather than simply looking at their local constituent services. He believes that UT students in

particular ought to be invested in research of voting records, since votes cast in the state legislature may directly affect the university.

“As a publicly-funded institution, being engaged in the legislature helps to ensure that you’re getting high-quality education, because it is a state university,” Higdon said.

Both Spoon and Higdon were adamant that the crowd register to vote and encourage everyone they know to do the same. Spoon referenced Tennessee’s record of low voter turnout, which is the third lowest in the nation.

“People call Tennessee a red state. It’s not a red state. It’s a non-voting state,” Spoon said.

The message of the protest was ultimately about much more than a vacancy on the Supreme Court. It was about the potential threat to the progressive legislative agenda posed since the election of President Trump by officials like Lamar Alexander, who activists believe could dismantle years of social progress with one of his last votes as a senator.

“Our lives are depending on this now,” Spoon said. “It was all fun and racist games in the beginning, wasn’t it? Now it’s your life.

It’s your life.”

2

CAMPUS NEWS

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, September 30, 2020

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Student billed $300 by insurance for COVID-19 test on campus DANIEL DASSOW Staff Writer

After Rachel Yates was exposed to COVID-19 through her roommate, she decided to get tested before going home to wait things out in quarantine.

Yates, a sophomore studying nursing, headed to the Student Health Center on Aug. 24 to get a no-charge COVID-19 test. Like every other student who has gotten tested at the SHC, she gave her insurance information so that the Center could forward the information to the lab running the test and the lab could in turn bill her insurance.

Operating under correct assumptions, Yates left the SHC expecting the test to be completely covered by her insurance. Then, on Sept. 18, her private insurance company notified her of a $300 charge for laboratory services related to her COVID-19 test.

Looking back at her August test at the SHC, Yates says that it was a positive experience, but that she was not informed of any potential charge from her insurance.

“I never asked about the charge, which I guess I should’ve done,” Yates said. “They did ask for my insurance card … so I gave them that. But [the Center] still never said anything about how much the charge would be or to warn me that my insurance didn’t cover any of it. Which normally I have no problem with my insurance, so that was just strange to me.”

There is a simple reason that the SHC did not inform Yates of any potential charge: she should not have gotten a bill from her insurance at all.

According to the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, passed by Congress back in March, all COVID-19 testing should be completely covered by both private and public health insurance plans. The bill also includes testing coverage for those without insurance.

The SHC also does not charge for COVID-19 tests or bill insurance for any other services besides COVID-19 tests, since the Student Services and Programs Fees paid by students each year include a health care fee that funds most walk-in services at the Center.

Normally, for additional SHC services like lab work or x-rays, the Center will bill students directly and then provide an itemized services statement that they may submit to their insurance company for reimbursement.

But Yates’ charge did not come from the SHC. It came instead from a private health care company billed by the lab that processed her test, a transaction of which the SHC had no knowledge or control.

And if there is one thing to know about the American healthcare system, it is that it is a labyrinthine landscape filled with loopholes

The Student Health Center, 1800 Volunteer Blvd, has many resources for students on UT’s campus including counseling, primary care services, a pharmacy and more. File / The Daily Beacon and surprise charges.

As NPR reported in June, some insurance companies have taken advantage of the gray area of “medically necessary” or “medically appropriate” tests to charge asymptomatic patients who get tested or patients who get tested without a referral from a physician.

It is also important to note that while screenings and testing appointments may be covered, lab bills are not covered under every insurance plan. This was the problem that Yates ran into when her insurance company was billed hundreds of dollars by the lab that processed her test.

Another aspect of Yates’ charge highlights an additional complexity of the issue of COVID-19 testing costs. When she got tested weeks later at a CVS, Yates was charged a quarter of the price that she was charged from her test at the SHC. “It still was a lot cheaper, but that one was covered,” Yates said. “So I know that they covered that. I’m not sure really why they did that one and not the UT one.”

According to staff members at the SHC, the relationships between individual health care clinics and laboratories may affect the bill, which might explain the varied charge between Yates’ test at the SHC and at CVS. Students can check in with their provider before getting tested to ensure that there will be no charge at a certain testing location.

In an email statement, Dr. Spencer D. Gregg, director of Student Health Center, affirmed the Center’s commitment to providing free testing for students. He says that students should be in contact with their health insurance company and with the labs that processed their test if

they are concerned by a surprise bill.

“Should a student receive a bill for COVID-19 testing from their private health insurance company, we encourage them to address that bill with their insurer. Should a student receive a bill for COVID-19 testing from the reference lab, we encourage them to address that bill with the reference lab,” Gregg said.

“Alternatively, they may contact the SHC and we can assist them with contacting the appropriate entity to have the bill addressed.”

Gregg says that the SHC has made arrangements with local labs and the Tennessee Department of Health to make certain that students have access to free testing through their insurance. He believes that charges like those resulting from Yates’s test are anomalies and should be appealed on an individual basis.

“We do not want the cost of a COVID-19 test to be an impediment to students being tested.

That is why we have taken these extraordinary steps to ensure that they are not billed for a COVID-19 test,” Gregg said.

“If a student is concerned that they may be billed for the cost of the test, they may first contact their health insurance customer service line for additional information.

The health insurer’s customer service line telephone number is typically listed on the back of their health insurance card. If a student is uninsured, they may contact the SHC and we would be happy to discuss their concerns further.”

Students can visit the SHC website for more information on how billing works at the Center and how to avoid a surprise charge.

SPORTS

Wednesday, September 30, 2020 • The Daily Beacon

3

Tennessee makes just enough plays to get past Gamecocks RYAN SCHUMPERT Co-Sports Editor

Columbia, S.C.- It’s been a 2020 full of unknowns but on Saturday night Tennessee’s 2020 campaign started the way 2019 ended: a game full of mistakes with the Vols making enough plays to win. Tennessee needed every one of those plays Saturday as they held off South Carolina, 31-27.

“I’m tickled that they found a way,” Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt said of his team.

“There’s lots of things we can work on and improve, I’m sure. There’s probably lots of things that we did well, but the bottom line is we’re leaving Columbia with a ‘W’ and that’s what we came here for.”

South Carolina’s offense got to work on its opening drive, using a balanced offensive attack to go 75 yards in 11 plays and 5:05, capped off by a 3-yard Kevin Harris touchdown run. The Gamecocks stayed ahead of the sticks on the drive, facing just one third down.

Tennessee’s offense would respond on its second drive of the night thanks to a pair of Jarrett Guarantano completions. First, Brandon Johnson made a spectacular, 30-yard, one handed catch on third down.

The second came at the Gamecock’s 32-yard line. Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney dialed up a flea flicker. South Carolina had everyone guarded but forgot about the running back. Guarantano found Eric Gray on the check down and Gray would take it to the one-yard line before Guarantano would cap the drive with a quarterback sneak for the score.

Tennessee’s defense would generate the game’s next points. On third-and-long, Hill tried an underneath rout to Shi Smith. The ball bounced off Smith’s arm and into the hands of linebacker Henry To’o To’o who pushed Smith aside and ran it back 32 yards for the touchdown.

“We dropped zone because it was third-andlong,” To’o To’o said. “I broke on the ball. [Smith] missed it and tipped it. The rest was from my running back days.”

The Vols’ defense made adjustments after the Gamecock’s opening drive. South Carolina’s offense mustered just 50 yards and four first downs the rest of the half.

Tennessee’s offense sputtered the rest of the half, failing to convert good field position into points.

Both teams’ offense found life in the second half. Tennessee established the run on the opening drive of the half, keeping the ball on the ground on seven of the eight plays, capped off by a 12-yard Gray touchdown run.

“The offensive line on those drives really set the tempo,” Guarantano said. “We were able to run the ball very efficiently on that drive and when we’re going at that fast pace it opens some running lanes for myself and it opens some things on the back end.”

South Carolina offensive coordinator Mike Bobo had the Gamecock’s offense rolling to open the second half. South Carolina would score on its first two drives of the half- going 75 and 71 yards respectively.

“South Carolina did a great job of mixing formations,” To’o To’o said. “We knew what they were going to run and the looks they had, but they did a great job of shifting formations from formations to the boundary to formations to the field.

They were executing pretty good, really good actually.”

Tennessee and South Carolina traded field goals in the third quarter, with South Carolina’s Parker White tying the game at 24 late in the quarter after a Deandre Johnson sack got the Gamecock’s offense off the field.

It was a career game for the senior outside linebacker. Tennessee had question marks at outside linebacker entering Saturday’s matchup, but the unit played well, led by Johnson’s 2.5 sacks.

“This is his third year in the system,” Pruitt said of Johnson. “He knows what to do. He’s a smart guy. He’s a competitor. He’s playing with

confidence. I don’t know what types of numbers he had tonight, but it seemed like he was in on a lot of plays.”

South Carolina had all the momentum and the 15,109 fans inside Williams-Brice Stadium were making their presence felt. Tennessee responded with its best drive of the game.

Ty Chandler opened the drive with carries of eight and two yards before offensive coordinator Jim Chaney dialed up a beautiful 33-yard completion to Brandon Johnson. The next play Tennessee went for the hammer as a perfectly placed Guarantano deep ball found Josh Palmer right in stride for a 32-yard score.

South Carolina would get the ball, backed up, with 7:32 left, trailing by a touchdown. The Gamecocks would get inside Tennessee’s 30-yard line before the Vols’ defense buckled down, forcing White on the field for a field goal.

With 1:29 left Tennessee would punt it back to South Carolina and it looked like the Gamecocks would have a chance to put together a game winning drive. Instead, Paxton Brooks punt hit a South Carolina player in the leg and the Vols fell on the loose ball, securing the win.

The win gives Tennessee its first 1-0 start since 2017 and the first of the Pruitt era.

Tennessee will return to action next week when they host Missouri at Neyland Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon ET and will be broadcast on SEC Net-

Notebook: Overthrows, deep defense & the comeback that wasn’t RYAN CREWS Co-Sports Editor

inconsistent,” head coach Jeremy Pruitt said. “[Guarantano’s] decision making was good … a couple times, maybe he was confused … he was a little high on some throws …”

Columbia, S.C.- Saturday, the Tennessee Vols started off their 2020 campaign with a trip to Columbia, South Carolina to face the South Carolina Gamecocks.

Here are the highlights.

Diversified defensive performance The success of Tennessee’s defensive unit came due the contributions of a wide-ranging group of Vols players. In addition to Henry To’o To’o, who had a pick-six, Tennessee had 19 players who combined for 62 tackles as a unit. Notable among them was Deandre Johnson who has 2.5 sacks and Jaylen McCollough who had four solo tackles.

As a unit, the defense, despite allowing 379 total yards, were able to force two turnovers including an interception and a fumble. They were also able to hold the Gamecocks to only 2.5 yards per carry on the ground and only allowed South Carolina to convert on six out of 15 third downs.

Passing game out of sync The Vols struggled in obvious passing situations.

It appeared that Jarrett Guarantano struggled with overthrows through out the contest, the most notable of these being two overthrows to close the third quarter and to open the fourth quarter.

Guarantano appeared to breakthrough multiple times including a drive during which on two separate plays he found Brandon Johnson and Josh Palmer for big chunk plays.

However, the passing game finished as a struggle for the Vols as the overthrows continued as a problem throughout the night. Whenever South Carolina brought pressure, Guarantano seemed to dance around in the pocket and could not seem to get his feet set in place to deliver an accurate pass. As a result, Tennessee’s offense finished with an atrocious third down conversion rate of 1 out of 11, which put an end to many of the Vols’ drives.

“There was a lot of good, we were just very

Gamecocks comeback … almost South Carolina opened up the scoring in this game in just over five minutes into the game.

However, Tennessee would seemingly run away with the game, scoring 14 points to finish the half.

The Vols would even go on to open the second with a dominant drive down the field.

However, after falling behind by 14 points, the Gamecocks came storming back, scoring 14 straight points to tie the game at 21. The two teams traded field goals, before a Josh Palmer touchdown gave Tennessee a winning edge.

COLUMBIA, SC - SEPTEMBER 26, 2020 - Quarterback Jarrett Guarantano #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Tennessee Volunteers at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, SC. Andrew Ferguson / Tennessee Athletics “South Carolina did a great job of mixing formations,” To’o To’o said “They gave us looks.

We knew what they were going to run. We knew the looks we had but they did a great job of shifting formations form boundary to putting it to the field. They were executing it really good … We just had to adjust. We had to go to the basic calls we have and just execute.”

Up next With the win, the Vols improve to 1-0.

Tennessee is next in action this Saturday when the Missouri Tigers come to Neyland for SEC week two.

4

SPORTS

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Wrenne French, Lady Vols optimistic ahead of strange season TOMMY JANKOWSKI Contributor

In a year filled with uncertainty amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, senior Center Back Wrenne French left no doubt that she and the Lady Vols were ready to attack this year’s conference only schedule.

“Everyone is eager to try and prove themselves,” French said. “It’s made practice more intense and fun and we’re excited to get going.”

French added that she and the team have encountered their fair share of obstacles, but is proud of the way her team has handled it.

French said the biggest obstacle for her was trying to heal from a torn ACL she suffered in the middle of SEC play last season.

“As soon as my rehab started to turn a corner, COVID hit, and the school had to basically shut down and everyone had to go home which halted my rehab,” French said. “It was very difficult on me for a couple months and extended my rehab a little bit longer than I think it should’ve.”

But the Franklin, Tennessee native was not

discouraged citing her immense passion for soccer and her teammates as her motivation for returning to playing.

Growing up it took time for her passion for soccer to develop. French said she hated soccer in kindergarten, but by third grade she started to enjoy her time on the pitch, and by middle school she was in love. French attended Battle Ground Academy in Franklin for high school where she said she was fortunate enough to play on some very good teams and won a state championship as a sophomore.

Wrenne French for the Tennessee Volunteers playing against SE Louisiana at Regal Stadium on Thursday, September 5.

Connor Morss / The Daily Beacon

Daily Beacon Poll Results (%) 9/21: Do you feel satisfied with the

level of social interaction available on campus?

“Every single year we made it far in our state tournament,” French said. “It was always such a fun experience and I loved playing high school soccer.”

While at Battle Ground, French earned AllDistrict and All-Region honors three times, and earned All-State honors twice making her a coveted recruit in high school.

“I looked at a couple other SEC schools, but ultimately decided on UT because I just loved everything about it. The campus, the facilities, the team, the coaches and the athletic culture that surrounds the school is so unique and unlike any other school I visited,” French said.

After arriving at UT, French did not waste any time before making an impact for the Lady Vols. Her freshman year she started 11 games for the Lady Vols and was a part of a defensive unit that recorded 10 shutouts. French and the defense were able to build off a strong 2017 season her freshman year, having an even better, record breaking sophomore campaign with the defense in 2018. Appearing in 20 games at right back, French was a part of a defense that allowed just 15 goals and recorded 12 shutouts, which are both program records.

As a junior, French anchored the defense at center back and appeared in 11 games before

DB Online

DB Instagram Yes

Yes

Yes

36%

DB Twitter

suffering her ACL injury.

As a senior French has welcomed a leadership role, both on and off the field and added that leading in these trying times was “challenging but extremely fun” and was made a lot easier because of her teammates.

“I’ve been really proud of the way that everyone, including the staff, has handled the pandemic so far,” French said. “I’m just lucky enough to have the opportunity to lead such great people, they make leading easier.”

Off the field, French has been nothing short of an exemplary figure for her younger teammates to look up to. She has made the SEC Academic Honor Roll all three years at UT, served as a member of the 2019-20 VOLeaders Academy, and served as one of the team’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee reps during the 2019-2020 academic year, representing her team at a campus, conference and national level.

With the postseason still up in the air, French said her main expectation for this team is to go out and compete in every game like their hair is on fire. She remains optimistic for the possibility of an SEC or NCAA tournament but ultimately is focused on the games in front of the team now.

20%

30.6% No

No

64%

69.4%

No

80%

9/24: Do you wear your mask when

No

you are walking around outdoors on campus?

Yes

No 36.1%

63.9%

This Week’s Questions: 9/28: If you utilize on-campus dining, have you been satisfied with dining procedures this semester?

10/1: Students: did one or more of your professors grant you the option to have class online or in-person?

10%

No

32.1% Yes

67.9%

Yes

90%

CAMPUS NEWS // SPORTS

Wednesday, September 30, 2020 • The Daily Beacon

5

UT Cycling Club encourages outdoor activities, community service BEN WINIGER Staff Writer

Though the U.S. Cycling Challenge has ended, that does not mean you cannot still enjoy a nice bike ride. If you have no one to bike with and are looking for a community of individuals with similar interests, UT’s Cycling Club has you covered.

Sierra Sims, the club’s president and an exercise physiology grad student, and Bruce Boles, the club’s vice president and a civil engineering fifth year, discussed the Cycling Club and what it entails.

The club’s biggest draws are mountain bike racing, community service and group bike rides. While large races aren’t happening due to COVID-19, smaller, socially distanced races still occur. While fun in their own right, races are also a way to reach out to the community and encourage more outdoors activities.

“We’re supposed to have a race season for the United States Cycling organization, but they cancelled that. That would bring in lots of students together, which is not a good idea,” Boles said.

According to Boles, it’s also a great way to

meet likeminded people from across the south.

“I enjoy racing. Because we’re a school club, we can race other schools around the country. We have our community here … then your community gets a little bigger when you go to races,” Boles said. “You meet a lot more likeminded people. You get to make friends from around the southeast.”

There’s a big boom in outdoor activity, and this falls into that category.

SIERRA SIMS UT CYCLING PRESIDENT

Though the pandemic continues, the club’s leaders say UT Cycling is going strong. The club doesn’t currently have any in-person meetings or practices. However, the main goal was to connect like-minded people and let them cycle together. The option to cycle together still exists, though it’s up to individual members whether or not they participate.

Candace Parker wins WNBA Defensive Player of the Year BRYSON WRIGHT Contributor Los Angeles Sparks power forward/center Candace Parker, who led the Lady Vols to two national championships in 2007 and 2008, was named the WNBA defensive player of the year on Thursday.

The announcement comes after the 13year veteran led the WNBA in rebounds (9.7).

Parker also ranked eighth in blocks (1.23 per game) and helped anchor a Sparks defense that ranked third in defensive rating and held opponents to 31.3 points per game in the paint, the second fewest in the league.

Parker said that this award meant a lot to her because it reminded her of the late, iconic coach Pat Summit who always preached defensive intensity, effort and rebounding as the most important parts of the game.

“We all know the first thing that popped to my mind was Coach Summitt.” Parker told ESPN’s Michelle Voepel. “Her phrase still rings in my head: ‘Offense sells tickets, defense wins games, rebounding wins championships ... She definitely was heavy on my mind when I heard that I won this award.”

This defensive player of the Year award just adds to the laundry list of accomplishments for Parker. She has won a WNBA championship (2016), two WNBA Most Valuable Player Awards (2008, 2013), WNBA Finals MVP Award (2016), WNBA All-Star Game MVP (2013), two Olympic gold medals (2008, 2012) and the

WNBA Rookie of the Year Award (2008). Parker has also been selected to six all-WNBA teams and five all-star teams during her incredible career.

Parker led the Sparks to a 15-7 record and the third seed in the WNBA playoffs before their loss to the Sun in the second round. Despite the playoff loss, Parker had a great 13th season averaging 14.7 points, a league-best 9.7 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks per game.

“Obviously I’m disappointed that we didn’t go a little farther this season,” Parker said.

“But I think regular-season wise, just to be able to rebound and play the type of defense that we played was amazing.”

This season was a great bounce back for Parker after missing 24 of the 34 regular season games last season. At 33 years old going into her 13th season, it was not clear how Parker would look when she returned from injury. Coming into the season, Parker wanted to prove she was still at the top of her game.

“I do believe people had written me off after last year,” Parker said. “After being injured last year at 33 ... I just wanted to prove that I had a little bit more left in the tank. I wanted to really do a better job this year, coming in ready to go, staying in shape, making sure that my body is doing good.”

Parker’s focus on being in shape and making sure her body was ready to go paid off this season as Parker proved herself again to be a top player in the WNBA.

“We have this GroupMe. You can make the decision if you want to ride with people or not.

We’re not planning any group rides because we want to adhere to university rules,” Sims said.

“They can make their own decision to ride in groups of two or three. We’ll provide them the outlet to make those connections. We don’t want all this pressure to work out with us; we’re trying to give you some connections.”

In fact, the pandemic appears to have helped with recruitment and retention. Sims reports no dramatic downturn in members recruited and believes that the pandemic has pushed A bike sits at a bike rack while a student atmore people to try outdoor activities. tends classes. File / The Daily Beacon “I think they’re trying to meet more people.

[Recruitment] maybe even increased. There’s a big boom in outdoor activity, and this falls into forms community service. Members can help that category,” Sims said. the Appalachian Mountain Bike Club with trail Boles concurs, saying that they’ve had some upkeep and event organization. While group of their most attended meetings after the panevents aren’t happening, individuals can still demic started, even though they are virtual. help.

“We had a Zoom meeting at the start of the “Right now, I don’t believe AMBC is doing semester, to gauge people’s interest. Every seany group trail work,” Boles said. “Mountain mester, we’ve had a meeting to lay out a plan bike races are also socially distanced. If you’re for our semester. I think this meeting we had out on the trail, you don’t wear a mask. But over Zoom was the largest meeting we’ve had you’re also not around anyone.” in the past three years,” Boles said.

Those interested in joining the club can For those who also want to help the greater check out their page on VolLink. cycling community in Knoxville, the club per-

Celebrate College Radio Day by supporting WUTK this Friday, October 2.

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6

CITY NEWS

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Dogwood Arts giving back to local, regional artists in new ‘Mask-Produced’ art exhibition ASHLEY JACKSON Staff Writer

Dogwood Arts has been in East Tennessee for 65-years, advocating art through history and environmental stewardship. They produce 20 events year-round to try and make Knoxville a memorable weekend getaway and place to live in Tennessee.

Although COVID-19 has changed the way most are living life today, the group has made sure events are still enjoyable through a virtual platform.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Dogwood Arts has pivoted its programming through hosting public events. Their Chalk Walk and the Dogwood Arts festival are just two of many events they have that promote and celebrate the art, culture and natural beauty of East Tennessee in new ways.

Dogwood Arts has recently launched new initiatives, one being the Art Kits for Kids program, whose success provided over 3,000 art kits to kids in need since April. Dogwood Arts has since expanded its Art in Public

Places program to fulfill the needs of the UT community. This expansion provides funding for artists to create large scale murals in Downtown Knoxville.

Dogwood Arts most recent event is was its “Mask-Produced” competition and exhibition. This virtual event, which allowed artists to enter a mask design in competition, was put in place to shed a positive light on the mask-related artwork of local and regional artists.

Shannon Herron, a member of the marketing and creative team for Dogwood Arts, is just one of many employees excited about the potential of the exhibit.

“Mask-Produced is all about artists helping artists,” Herron said. “It’s been really encouraging to see so many local artists donate their time, energy and talents to help their community.”

One of Dogwood Arts’ main components is to promote local and regional artists. Mike Berry, local artist and co-chair of the Dogwood Arts Festival 2020-2021, is just one of the artists featured in “Mask-Produced.”

“Kate Creason invited me to create a ‘Mask’ for this exhibition and fundraiser and

told me that the sky was the limit and that I had complete artistic control,” Berry said.

“My work is primarily cityscapes and twodimensional. With the Tennessee Theater being a favorite subject of mine. I decided I would incorporate that subject into a 3-dimensional designed mask. So, with some paint, foam board and some hot glue I got busy in my studio.”

It’s been really encouraging to see so many local artists donate their time, energy and talents to help their community.

SHANNON HERRON DOGWOOD ARTS STAFF

The “Mask-Produced” exhibition also featured an art auction, part of a fundraiser for the Greater Knoxville GRACE Fund which offers a resource for many individual local arts and culture workers who are seeking financial

assistance.

The fund is managed and distributed by the Arts and Culture Alliance and has become increasingly important since the pandemic, since the arts and cultural sectors were hit tremendously hard.

“This event allows us to promote the participating artist and, at the same time, raise money for artists who may be struggling as a result of COVID-19. Many artists rely on festivals and outdoor markets, like the Dogwood Arts Festival, for a large portion of their annual incomes,” Herron said. “Since the pandemic began, we’ve focused our efforts on driving traffic to their individual websites and promoting them in alternative ways.”

Masks have become essential and a new norm across the globe. “Mask-Produced” has offered the creative space for artist and their innovative designs and ideas to bring another level of art to everyday face coverings.

Although many of the masks highlighted in the exhibition aren’t functional, their work of art serves as a documentation of the current period of history many are learning to thrive and create in.

‘Boys State’: Finding hope in politics from the next generation SETH CHAPMAN Contributor

2020 has been an exhausting year. Between the pandemic, a tanking economy and an especially tense election year, life has felt like a drag. It’s hard to find a sense of peace or hope during these tumultuous times, yet it can come from unlikely places. Hope for the political future can be found in “Boys State.”

“Boys State” is a documentary from filmmakers Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss as they document an annual weeklong exercise hosted by the American Legion where over 1000 Texan high school students must come together and form their own mock government. In particular, the documentary focuses on a few notable boys during a contentious election race for Governor.

While the film is hopeful, it is not a tale of how the younger generation is so much better at politics than our current leaders. These boys don’t come together and hold hands and sing Kumbaya. What this exercise demonstrates is how the upcoming generation can exhibit both the worst and best parts of politics. There is racism, tribalism, mud-flinging and cynicism rooted to the core. Yet there is also hope for bipartisanship, compromise and honesty displayed by the young men on both sides of the political spectrum.

“It’s all real... none of this was planned in

advance,” Moss said during an online Q&A session last Sunday. “What we hoped was this film provided a forum to talk about these questions.”

Both McBaine and Moss spoke of how they wanted “Boys State” to be not only a documentation of this odd experiment, but also open a conversation about the political divides in America.

I was faced with this tightrope where I want to win, but I also want to keep my values intact.

STEVEN GARZA GOVERNOR CANDIDATE

Joining the Q&A were some of the boys themselves who were the subject of the film.

Each of them shared their thoughts on the Boys State exercise and what they ultimately walked away with. Robert MacDougall was one of the gubernatorial candidates and was very forward about how he saw the experience as a game to win.

During Boys State, he decided to run based on the platform he felt would give him the best chance of winning, not one that necessarily aligned with his own beliefs.

“I went into the experience with … honestly cynical views,” MacDougall said. “I ran on the platform.”

However, as MacDougall was willing to point out, this way of thinking is false. MacDougall’s big takeaway from the Boys State experience was that compromise is essential. You can still run based on your honest core values and win so long as you demonstrate the willingness to compromise.

Another one of the Boys State attendees, Ben Feinstein, echoed those thoughts.

“People overestimate on how people vote on policy instead of personality,” Feinstein said.

“People vote on who they see as honest … I’d rather vote for someone I trust instead of based on policy.”

Another candidate for governor, Steven Garza, also shared similar thoughts on the struggle to hold on to your values during an election.

“I was faced with this tightrope where I want to win, but I also want to keep my values intact,” Garza said.

Each of these young men had to reckon in some way their own beliefs as well as the sacrifices that must be made for a democracy to function. While political divides can wear down on our minds, “Boys State” provides both an open space for conversation as well as a catharsis for those who hope we can find common footing on the politics that can divide us.

“Boys State” is an Apple Original Film and

Courtesy of A24 A24 release and is now available to stream on Apple TV+.

For those who are interested in voting, check out govotetn.com to find out if you are registered to vote in Tennessee as well as how to request absentee ballots.

Early voting begins Oct. 14.

CAMPUS NEWS

Wednesday, September 30, 2020 • The Daily Beacon

7

The Cost of Hate Symposium series aims to create a more inclusive campus environment LEXIE MARTIN Contributor

The Cost of Hate Symposium is a three-part series that is sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences as well as Provost John Zomchick.

The people that are helping bring this virtual event to life are Professor of Sociology Jon Shefner, who served as moderator, and six panel members.

These panel members are: Associate Professor of History Monica Black, Events Coordinator for the Provost Heather Cockrum, Knoxville City Councilwoman Amelia Parker, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies Larry Perry, Chair for the Africana Studies program and Professor of Political Science Shayla Nunnally and Associate Professor of History Brandon Winford.

Shefner opened up the webinar by stating that the idea for this series was envisioned a year ago. This was around the time that the

Rock had some messages of hate painted upon it.

Shefner said that this webinar would have been just as important then as it is now with everything that is going on in the United States presently. He said that he hoped that this series would help lead to a more understanding and inclusive campus environment.

“We need to understand, not just the value of diversity, but the cost of the human hate that has been expressed so openly,” Shefner said.

“Working toward a more fair, representative society that offers that, equitable access of all social goods to all people, means that we must confront those actions and that speech that would deny us that kind of society.”

Nunnally started off the panel’s portion of the webinar by talking about how there are policies, and even documents, on the value and meaning of people’s lives that are based on race.

This is something that has carried on through the years since the founding fathers

laid down the foundation for America. Even today, political parties will use race as a crutch or as some kind of advantage to win votes and elections.

Parker spoke on how the community as a whole needs to come together to promote diversity. She said that diverse voices need to come together in order to provide a safe space in the community.

Parker also spoke on her experience with being Knoxville’s first African American to be elected into a seat like hers and gave recognition to Tennessee nominee for the U.S. Senate Marquita Bradshaw.

“When I was elected to office, I was the first African American ever elected to a city-wide seat in the city of Knoxville, in the history of the city of Knoxville,” Parker said.

“It’s really sad to say that in 2019 we had a first like that, and now we have Marquita Bradshaw, who is running for Senate in Tennessee and is the first Black woman to ever be nominated in the state of Tennessee to a major party.”

Perry spoke on how we can work toward equality by taking it one step at a time and even quoted author and activist James Baldwin by saying “hope is something we create every day.”

The symposium, as stated, is meant to bring people together over one issue that many believe in: equal rights for all. The symposium allows for faculty, staff and students to ask their questions and get out any frustrations that they may have to a panel that is understanding and that is there to listen.

The second installment of the series is about anti-sexism, as well as heterosexism, and will be held via Zoom from 6 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 7.

The third installment is on anti-fascism and will also be held via Zoom from 6 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 27.

You can find information regarding the series on the College of Arts and Science’s website (https://artsci.utk.edu/events-2/), as well as links to register for the events.

UTK Free Store aims to address problem of ‘too much’ vs. ‘too little’ NATASHA MCKAMEY Staff Writer

The Free Store is a community resource brought to campus by the Office of Sustainability at UTK. To address the problem of “too much” versus “too little,” a community share-space was created so that UT students and community members can donate and shop items such as clothing, kitchenware, accessories and small appliances.

Pre-COVID-19, the Free Store would offer pop-ups across campus where students could equally have a chance at taking items at no cost to them.

The Free Store was opened in 2018 by Michaela Barnett, an AmeriCorps employee at the time working with the Office of Sustainability. In 2018, the Store was turned over to current Food Systems Coordinator/Grow Lab & Free Store Director Leah McCord.

This concept is not new. According to Maryn Miles, the current Free Store manager, free stores are quite common.

“Free Stores are actually a very common concept. Many universities and organizations have free stores as zero waste and public service initiatives. My hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, has a Free Store that is extremely successful in our community. I also have a distant relative who has started

one at the elementary school she works at,” Miles said.

Current Social Impact Coordinator Amber Heeke uses her role provided by AmeriCorps VISTA to “focus on the intersection of sustainability and social responsibility.”

“It’s a broad intersection, and the Free Store is a perfect example of how it can manifest. It deals with the issues of landfill diversion and student need simultaneously,” Heeke said.

With respect to the intersection of sustainability and social responsibility, the Free Store speaks to these causes directly: the issue of landfill diversion and the issue of students in need.

The production and consumption of new clothes requires the use of natural resources and produces greenhouse gases.

Therefore, in an effort to reduce waste and gas emissions, items may be reused through thrifting and initiatives such as the Free Store.

The Office of Sustainability hosted two Free Store pop-ups and a donation drive during the 2018-2019 school year. This year, the Free Store has served 128 students and 250 pounds of items were distributed.

Under pre-COVID-19 “normal” circumstances, the Free Store would offer several pop-ups to students; announcements of these events would be promoted via Twitter. However, with the ongoing pandemic and the “new normal,”

the store has moved to promoting this initiative online via Instagram at the handle @freestore_utk.

Some folks on campus have excess while others are dealing with deficits.

AMBER HEEKE SOCIAL IMPACT COORDINATOR

The store attempted a controlled event at the beginning of this school year, but has since continued to distribute items using Instagram.

“We offer contactless delivery or pickup from our warehouse location, 2121 Stephenson Drive. We are currently not taking any donations since we do not have a way to get rid of items efficiently and because of safety precautions with COVID-19,” Miles said.

“All of our items have been in storage since last year, and we have too much to even know what to do with currently.”

Items may be picked up at the Public Recycling Drop Off or by delivery, which is available for students living in dorms on campus.

The Free Store aims to help students and the UT community reduce their environmental impact and save money in the process.

“Some folks on campus have excess while others are dealing with deficits. We want to fill the needful gaps and encourage reuse of good quality items for a healthy community and environment,” Heeke said.

Something additional to be on the lookout for is a petition to get the Free Store a permanent space on campus. They are currently given a space on campus on an eventby-event basis and hope to secure a location by the end of the year.

More information regarding the Free Store may be found on its Instagram and Twitter pages, as well as on the Office of Sustainability’s website.

Clothes rack at the UTK Free Store on Sept 17th, 2020.

Lewis Walton / Contributor

8

OPINIONS

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Worship Directory

Baby Steps: Political Giants BEN GOLDBERGER Columnist

SUNDAY BIBLE STUDY & WORSHIP TUESDAY DISCIPLESHIP Scan for more information about virtual and in-person gatherings!

Our ministry is a community of faith for college students dedicated to living life alongside one another and offering love and support through all situations.

If you would like to have your church or Religious organization in the worship directory, contact us at admanager@utk.edu

Deep down, everyone knew that this day was going to come soon, but you can never truly be prepared for the loss of such a legend. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was more than just a Supreme Court Justice, she was a pioneer, an inspiration and an icon. For many women, she served as motivation to accomplish even their most far fetched dreams and goals, especially in male-dominated fields.

The magnitude of her death is amplified by the timing, coming 45 days before, arguably, the most important presidential election is this nation’s history.

Donald Trump has already put two new justices on the court during his four year term, and many fear that with another empty seat, he will get to appoint yet another justice. This would put the court at a 6-3 majority for republicans, as important issues like reproductive freedom and LGBT rights are on deck for when the court is back in session.

With Congressman John Lewis, a legendary civil rights activist and overall political hero, also passing away earlier this past summer, there are some gaping holes in the group of political heavyweights that leaves many people concerned for the future.

When someone larger than life itself dies, their absence often leaves us devastated and discouraged, losing motivation to continue fighting. However, it also reminds us that just like you and me, they’re only human.

These moments remind us that we are the same as the heroes we idolize, and we have the power and responsibility to follow in their seemingly enormous footsteps.

This daunting task has some surprisingly easy solutions, the most important being something so simple that you can do it without even leaving your room. You can vote from your bed by applying for an absentee ballot on your state’s website. You can also find the link to register to vote on Instagram, Snapchat, Spotify and many other apps and platforms that you use everyday. It only takes 5-10 minutes to register to vote and request an absentee ballot, meaning you can easily do it in between classes.

You could also go vote in person as early as Oct. 14 if you’d rather not put your trust in the

postal service that has been experiencing delays and inaccuracies regarding electoral votes.

To find where you go to vote in-person, go to the Tennessee State website or download the GoVoteTN app.

One vote may feel like it will not make a difference, only a small speck in the hundreds of thousands of votes in each election. In reality, voting is the best way for you to have your voice heard and to participate in the largest exercise of democracy in this country. America was founded on the belief that citizens should have a say in how their nation is run, and that philosophy has been held true to this day through democratic elections.

Aside from the purely political issues at hand, this generation is the one who has to live with the decisions being made by the people who win this election. We are the ones who have to live on the Earth that is being pushed to its inevitable doom by the current administration, as they ignorantly shove aside scientific solutions necessary to keep the planet alive.

We are the generation that will be affected by the economy crashing, gas prices rising, social security benefits thinning and an extremely unfair criminal justice system that leads to unnecessarily long sentences. We are told we are the home of the free, but everyday citizens’ freedoms are being stripped away from them.

We have to vote because we deserve to decide what our lives will look like in the future. We deserve to mold the world to fit our lifestyles and needs, and older generations shouldn’t get to decide that for us anymore.

37% of eligible voters will be 18 to 30 years old during this presidential election (Pew Research Center). I believe it is time for us to actually show up and take control of what we want this country to look like for the rest of our college careers, our jobs, our families and the future generations to come.

When the people that we look to for guidance can no longer lead, we often feel discouraged.

We feel small. We feel lost. However in truth, we are strong. We are powerful. We are mighty.

Together, we will honor the lives of John Lewis and Ruth Bader Ginsburg by continuing to “make good trouble” (Lewis) and “fight for the things that [we] care about, but in a way that will lead others to join [us]” (Ginsburg).

We will vote for a better future in this election because we have to, and we will continue to follow in the footsteps of our political heroes that paved the way for us.

Ben Goldberger is a sophomore at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

He can be reached at bgoldbe3@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.

PUZZLES & GAMES

Wednesday, September 30, 2020 • The Daily Beacon

9

the daily beacon

crossword & sudoku

your morning coffee’s best friend.

Daily Egyptian 9/14 Crossword 7

LOS ANGELES TIMES CROSSWORD • Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

STR8TS No. 508

Medium

3 7

Previous solution - Tough

3 8 9 7 6 8 7 3 2 5 1 4 2 1

6 2 3 9 1 4

8 5

9

7 7 2 7 9 5 1

© 2020 Syndicated Puzzles

1

You can find more help, tips and hints at www.str8ts.com

9 8 5 4 5 6 4 3 3 2 1 2 7

5 6 3 3 4 2 5 4 2 1 6 8 9 7 8 9

Across

4 1 5 4 2 2 1 6 3 9 7 9 8 8 7 9 7 8 6 5 5 6

1 6 10 14 15 16 17 19

How to beat Str8ts – Like Sudoku, no single number can repeat in any row or column. But... rows and columns are divided by black squares into compartments. These need to be filled in with numbers that complete a ‘straight’. A straight is a set of numbers with no gaps but can be in any order, eg [4,2,3,5]. Clues in black cells remove that number as an option in that row and column, and are not part of any straight. Glance at the solution to see how ‘straights’ are formed.

SUDOKU No. 508

Medium

4 6 8 8 5 7 5 3 9 1 3 2

1

3

Previous solution - Easy

2

1

9 1 6 4 5 7 8 2 3

6 5 6

5 6 4 7 1 4 9

The solutions will be published here in the next issue.

8

3 2 7 8 1 9 5 6 4

5 8 4 2 6 3 7 1 9

2 5 8 6 3 4 1 9 7

7 3 1 9 8 5 2 4 6

4 6 9 7 2 1 3 5 8

8 4 5 3 9 2 6 7 1

6 7 2 1 4 8 9 3 5

1 9 3 5 7 6 4 8 2

To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely. © 2020 Syndicated Puzzles

5

PuzzleJunction

For many strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org If you like Str8ts, Sudoku and other puzzles, check out our books, iPhone/iPad Apps and much more on our store at www.str8ts.com

20 21 22 24 26 27 30 32 35 36 37 38 39 41 42 43 44 45 46 48 49 51 53 55 56 59 60 64

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65 66 67 68

Horse color For the birds?

Hardy heroine Circular domed dwelling 69 Bit of Gothic architecture Down 1 Like some losers 2 Allege as fact 3 Cousin of a mandolin 4 Biblical judge 5 Mal de ___ 6 Curative 7 Opposite of hinder

8 9 10 11 12 13 18 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

Large amount Excited Washington, e.g.

Multi-colored ___ list Buck Sea bird Dog bowl bits Agitate Kind of welder Whittle Mild oaths Spooky Customers, collectively 31 Golf score 33 Zealous 34 In the know

puzzles Wednesday.

NewNew puzzles every every Monday and Thursday.

39 40 41 43 44 47 50 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 61 62 63

Necropolis Priests’ vestments Windmill part Mustachioed artist Honshu honorific Yield Runs in neutral Lady’s man Tête-à-tête Provoke Jewish month Baby holder Russian river Physics unit Bud’s buddy Groceries holder Señora Perón

THE DAILY BEACON

10

CITY NEWS

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, September 30, 2020

CVS introduces new COVID-19 testing sites statewide, locally ANNA KEMMER Contributor

CVS has announced the opening of 11 new testing sites for COVID-19 in Tennessee, including one in Knoxville.

These sites are all for drive-thru testing where people can self swab within their car for their own convenience and safety. A box is provided next to the window so the swab can be securely deposited with minimal contact with others.

Upon arrival at the test site, a photo ID — or proof of residency if the ID is out of state — and an insurance card must be presented. Patients should follow the signage outside the testing location and the instructions of staff onsite.

Testing procedures vary by location and patients may either be directed to a pharmacy drive-thru window, a parking space or a tent located in the parking lot. In very limited locations, patients may be asked to enter a CVS store. Instructions will be provided when pa-

tients receive their test kit and a CVS Pharmacy employee will observe the self-swab process.

There are 43 total COVID-19 testing site locations in Tennessee. CVS made the decision to open more locations all over the country due to the threat of a second wave of COVID-19 cases coming this fall. CVS currently manages the largest number of independently run COVID-19 test sites in the country. The company plans to have more than 4,000 in operation by mid-October.

“Since opening our first test site in March, we’ve been able to quickly adapt to the changing landscape in order to make it easier for people in the communities we serve to access testing,” Jon Roberts, chief operating officer of CVS Health and acting president of CVS Pharmacy, said. “We recognize the critical role testing plays in helping to manage the spread of the virus and are incredibly proud of how our teams have responded to this need while continuing to take care of our customers, clients and patients.”

Patients must register in advance at CVS. com to schedule an appointment for testing.

Minors ages 12 and older are now eligible for testing at select CVS Pharmacy locations, but must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. They must also complete the online registration for the minor.

Sydney Goodsell / The Daily Beacon The self-swab tests are of no cost to patients and available to patients that meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s criteria.

COVID-19 tests are at no cost to patients with insurance or through a program for uninsured patients funded by the U.S. Department of

Health and Human Services. Test results are typically available in two to three days.

The opening of CVS’ new testing location provides Knoxville residents with yet another place to get tested for COVID-19. Health officials in Knoxville have recently stressed the importance of getting tested for COVID-19, even if you are only experiencing one symptom. Dr. Spencer Gregg, director of UT’s student health center, recently spoke on the importance of being willing to be tested during UT Chancellor Donde Plowman’s COVID-19 update on Tuesday.

“The key to the success of testing will be community wide involvement,” Gregg said. “I hope everyone in Knoxville and on campus is willing to step up and participate.”

CVS Knoxville testing location is located at 4325 Asheville Highway. The opening of these 11 new COVID-19 testing locations will enable more people all over Tennessee to access testing, with hopes of slowing the spread by providing citizens with the resources needed to combat the virus.

Tennessee River Ripple Awards recognize regional river clean-up ASHLEY JACKSON Staff Writer

The Tennessee River Ripple Effect is hosting its second annual awards ceremony this year.

This awards ceremony will shed light on and recognize the many individuals, groups and organizations who work diligently to keep the Tennessee River watershed and tributaries clean and beautiful.

There is always constant talk about keeping the planet clean and going green, and this award show is a great way to highlight those on the front end making a difference.

The significance of the name “Tennessee River Ripple Effect” is to bring awareness and celebrate the good Samaritans who go out of their way to keep the river running with hopes of creating a ripple effect within the river communities to take a stand.

There will be many award show recipients in attendance. From Tennessee, Anthony Laurino and the Adopt a River Mile, the Standout Youth Cash ‘The Conservation Kid’ Daniels, representatives from Ijams Nature Center and many more will be present.

Those in attendance from Alabama will be the Adopt a River Mile from Pickwick Parrot Head Club, Keep America Alabama affiliate Keep the Shoals Beautiful, Marina and its Safe Harbor Aqua Yacht Marina and more.

In honor of this year’s Ripple Effect Awards, Gov. Bill Lee signed and put in place the proclamation that makes October. Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful Month.

recognition.”

This year, the award show is seeking applications that will recognize winners from nine different categories in three different regions. Kentucky, Georgia and Virginia are three of the nine that will have a chance at winning an award.

There are still many individuals, groups and projects that deserve praise.

COLEMAN NUMBERS STAFF WRITER

Courtesy of the Tennessee River Ripple Effect Awards In 2019, the first Annual Ripple Effect Awards brought together more than 70 volunteers to help remove 9,400 lbs. of trash from the Fort Loudoun Lake in Lenoir City and Knoxville.

Not only does this award show focus on the clean-up of the Tennessee rivers, but also the encompassing rivers of Alabama, Kentucky and Mississippi. For those that make it their duty to keep the Tennessee River clean, their biggest mission of them all is to create and leave a lasting impact for others to keep all rivers clean.

Kathleen Gibbs, executive director of ‘Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful’ noted that there are always new people to honor each year.

“Last year’s awards really showcased just how much residents along the Tennessee River love where they live and just how many different ways there are to contribute to our river community,” Gibi said. “There are still many individuals, groups and projects that deserve praise, and we’re thankful to Yamaha Rightwaters for continuing this important

The awards show will be sponsored by international watercraft company, the Yamaha Rightwaters. Martin Peters, Yamaha Marine Division manager, briefly shared how the company is trying to help fight against the pollution of rivers across the South.

“Yamaha Rightwaters is fighting to protect our most precious and essential natural water resource,” Peters said. “It embodies all of Yamaha’s conservation initiatives and becomes a platform for many plans the company has in store to improve our water resources.”

With the current times of living in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s awards will be held virtually to all participating recipients.

All nominations are due by Friday, Oct. 9.

CAMPUS NEWS

Wednesday, September 30, 2020 • The Daily Beacon

11

UT programs climb ranks in 2021 U.S. News and World Report ranking AURORA SILAVONG Contributor

Every year since 1983, the news publication U.S. News and World Report has published an annual ranking of American universities. The 2021 report, released on Sept. 14, placed the University of Tennessee at 112th nationally and 57th among all public universities.

This is a slight drop from last year’s rankings, which had put UT at 104th nationally and 44th among public universities.

The drop is attributed to a change in surveying methodology versus any negative factors, as the university has maintained or improved on a number of metrics, including reduced class sizes, student retention and sixyear graduation rates.

Although the university’s overall ranking decreased, some of its colleges rose in rankings. The Haslam College of Business’s undergraduate program rose from 50th place last year to 44th place. The supply chain management and accounting majors also ranked highly, placing at fifth and 52nd nationwide,

respectively.

The high rankings most likely stem from UT’s reputation for providing its students with a world-class business education.

“Our curriculum is cutting edge and ahead of most programs because we expose students to a wide variety of high-end technologies and in-demand skills that better prepare them to enter the profession,” Dr. Terry Neal, head of the Department of Accounting and Information Management, said.

The entire Volunteer community recognizes and honors the service these students have given...

AMBER WILLIAMS VICE PROVOST, STUDENT SUCCESS

The Tickle College of Engineering was another that placed higher than last year. It rose to 63rd nationally, three places up from the

2020 report. Its computer science program ranked 71st nationwide. Like the College of Business, the College of Engineering’s success stems from the opportunities and resources it provides to students. Among other resources, Tickle boasts over 100 state-of-the-art laboratories and seven nationally-renowned research centers, according to the college’s website.

The university’s undergraduate programs were not the only ones to score highly. Many of its graduate programs received acclaim, including law (70th), nursing (25th) and veterinary medicine (19th).

Another area in which UT saw high rankings was in the list of best colleges for veterans. It ranked 76th nationally and 48th in public schools. This can be credited to the work of the Veterans Resource Center, which assists student veterans in their academic journey.

“Our priority is creating and enhancing the programs and services our student veterans need to experience a robust and dynamic academic experience at UT,” Amber Williams, vice provost for Student Success, said.

“The entire Volunteer community recognizes and honors the service these students

have given and wants to support their transition from acceptance to the university through graduation and beyond.”

According to Jayetta Jones, director of the Veterans Resource Center, the number of students taking advantage of the VRC has increased since last year, including veterans, active service members and any military dependents who use their benefits.

On the national level, UT tied with Creighton University, Loyola University of Chicago, Rochester Institute of Technology, the University of Illinois-Chicago and the University of La Verne.

Among public universities, it tied with the University of Illinois, Chicago, and ranked above notable rival institutions such as the University of Kentucky (62nd) and Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge (71st).

The rankings can be accessed online. Note that there is a soft paywall blocking access to some of the rankings, but many departments across campus have their rankings displayed on their websites. U.S. News and World Report also keeps track of non-academic statistics, such as campus crime rates and resources available to students.

Political science professor discusses UT’s Middle Eastern Studies Program BEN WINIGER Staff Writer

As UT becomes a more diverse campus, more opportunities arise to learn diverse topics.

The Middle Eastern Studies major and minor offer some of these opportunities.

UT associate professor of political science Krista Wiegand hosted a question and answer session, giving students information about the program, hoping to draw more students in.

She described the program’s history. It is in its fourth year, having started in 2017. Though four years have passed, the program is still a newcomer in UT’s course work. As such, it’s had some trouble gathering new members.

Staff are continually promoting and seeking out to counter this.

“We had an initial group of students that were really enthusiastic and motivated, but they’ve all graduated. Right now, we have about 11 or 12 students. We’re always trying to promote the program,” Wiegand said. “Since it’s relatively new, it’s not a well-known program.”

As for content, she described the program as one of many disciplines. The program’s curriculum draws from multiple sources, including religious studies, history, language and political science.

“It’s an interdisciplinary program, made up of several departments. We have faculty from history, political science, modern foreign languages, literature and religious studies — and all of those faculty together teach courses that are about the Middle East which count towards a minor or major.”

The minor is 15 credit hours. Aside from a required religious studies course and history course (MEST 225) and one required history course (MEST 366, 369 or 370), participants can mix and match their course work to best suit their interests. Students may choose to focus more on Middle Eastern history, languages or politics. No matter what, the program is small enough to build working relationships in.

“If you’re interested in political science, you can take some of those courses. If you’re interested in religion, history or languages, you can take some of those. It’s a pretty simple minor,” Wiegand said. “Because it’s a relatively small program, everybody knows each other.

It’s a fun group of students.”

Andrea Stedman, a UT academic advisor, attended the Q&A. She gathered a lot of useful information for prospective students. She found the program’s language possibilities very useful for prospective students.

“I work with foreign language students and linguistics students, and they all love taking languages. I have some students who just want to take languages. I’m definitely going to highlight how they can take a bunch

Students portray what classrooms will look like while wearing a mask and social distancing as part of a setup photoshoot in the Humanities and Social Sciences Building on July 9.

Steven Bridges / The Daily Beacon of different languages at the same time while also taking cultural classes,” Stedman said.

The major requires three years of Arabic or modern Hebrew. While a serious commitment, Wiegand mentions its usefulness in certain career paths.

“If you’re interested in working in the State Department, the C.I.A., primary defense or the U.N., having those language skills and expertise in Middle Eastern history would be what the major’s for,” Wiegand.

In the end, Wiegand encouraged students to join the program for its customizability.

12

CITY NEWS

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Tall Man Toys and Comics brings family friendly fun to World’s Fair Park NATASHA MCKAMEY Contributor

Tall Man Toys and Comics has been a source of family-friendly shopping in Knoxville since 2016. They are also the largest distributor of Funko Pop in Knoxville.

Mike Hermann, founder of Tall Man and UTK alumnus, partnered with Carter Howard, the current assistant manager and Knoxville native, to create Tall Man Toys and Comics.

The pair met while working at Kroger. They found themselves selling items at various toy conventions, but they worked separate booths.

Though the pair have both been fans of toys and comics for decades, Howard’s experience came from his family.

“I have an uncle … that is an avid toy collector. So, from a young age, it’s something I’ve been around,” Howard said. “In the early 2000s, he would take me to comic cons and toy conventions. Though I never picked up on the collecting part as much, the atmosphere is so unique because you are bringing together people from all walks of life.”

Hermann’s experience in collecting began

early as well.

“I’m a big kid at heart. I’ve always collected toys from childhood,” Hermann said. “I got my degree from UT in Retail Consumer Science and got a job as a Kroger manager through that.

I dabbled in conventions on the side. Whatever I didn’t sell, I kept.”

Once the pair began working together at conventions, they were dubbed the “Tall Men,” a descriptor used by young children, since the pair both exceed 6 feet in height. After a number of years working only at conventions, the duo decided to open a brick and mortar store in Knoxville. Shortly after, Tall Man Toys and Comics was born.

Tall Man Toys and Comics was originally located on Gay Street, but is currently in the process of relocating to World’s Fair Park Drive.

Many businesses and people may not find themselves in this same position, considering the financial effects the pandemic has had on the world. However, this business was built on a foundation of online sales which has helped cushion the blow of such a crisis.

“We were the exception to the rule,” Hermann said of Tall Man, in regards to business during the pandemic.

Though they did experience a dip in sales,

their business model is equipped to handle this kind of situation.

Hermann prides himself on the atmosphere of the store as a place where everyone of all walks of life comes to enjoy the comics, toys and — dominantly — Funko Pop. When the store was still on Gay Street, people from Nashville, Chattanooga, Atlanta and even Illinois would travel to Tall Man. “[Tall Man] is a like family-oriented hang out place,” Howard said. “People come in and find this connection that takes them back to childhood maybe or some memory, and it gives that nostalgic connection.”

Funko Pop has been Tall Man’s most popular item over the years. Though the store has always had a large number of Funko products, Hermann noted that they now have nearly 10,000 in stock.

“I like Funko the most. They’re making all these properties that would not have merchandise and it makes those properties better,” Hermann said. “They had the Golden Girls POPs come out four or five years ago at $10 apiece, and the success of those things are so huge that now you see Golden Girls t-shirts, Golden Girls beach towels, Golden Girls action figures, board games … it’s revitalized.”

The store also partners with various charities such as the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, POPs for Patients, the Evan Richey Memorial and, recently, the Australia Zoo in hopes of distributing Steve Irwin POPs signed by the Irwin family.

“When Mike and I first met with the Kroger company, Mike was over community outreach and both of us clicked with doing that stuff, and that is what really brought us together,” Howard said. “We did a lot of work with Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill, Cystic Fibrosis, Muscular Dystrophy Association … so the give back to the community is the backbone of our business.”

Seeing as how Tall Man is currently deep into the relocation process, they are not accepting in-store patrons. However, patrons may make online purchases and stop by the new location for curbside pickup. Hermann and his associates work with clients via email to set up pickup times once an order has been received and picked.

More information may be found on their various social media sites including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @tallmantoys.

Knoxville Emporium to showcase local photographers, artists in October exhibitions NATASHA MCKAMEY Contributor

During the month of October, the Emporium Center in Knoxville will be presenting five new exhibitions brought to you by the Arts & Culture Alliance. There will be a free reception to kick off the new opening and it will be held on Friday, Oct. 2 from 5 to 8 p.m.

The Emporium’s main gallery will feature “The League of Scruffy Photographers: Observing Knoxville” where 30 local photographers will present their work. In particular, this exhibition aims to explore the current world around us during these “unprecedented times.”

[This] has been a series that I’ve wanted to create for some time.

KERRY REMP ARTIST

The balcony of the Emporium will feature “WTF” by Antuco Chicaiza. Chicaiza’s work is

representative of his own life, including but not limited to his family, friends, cultural identity and political beliefs. “‘WTF’ is a collection of past and newer work pertaining to the social and political issues that have been happening in our country: a chaotic collection which reflects the social climate of today,” Chicaiza said. “Enjoy the disorder and confusion, look around, reflect, ponder and think to yourself... WTF.” The North Wall will feature Kerry Remp’s “The Presidents: Layered Portraits in History.”

Remp is a retired NASA engineer currently residing in Seymour, Tennessee, who has experience with paper works, needlework, quilling, sculpture and portraiture. “[This] has been a series that I’ve wanted to create for some time,” Remp said. “For each President, I spend a few hours researching books, websites and podcasts so that I can incorporate some piece of their history into the portrait ... I rarely create a piece with a preconceived notion of its final state.”

The Emporium’s Atrium will feature the Tennessee Artists Association, which is composed of artists with a variety of experience levels. This exhibition will present the 46th Fall Juried Show and will feature work by members of TAA. The TAA has members of all artistic experience levels and meets the third Tuesday of each month at the Westminster Presbyterian Church. Guests and prospective members are welcome.

“Magic in Everyday Life” by Robert Felker and Allen Monsarrat at the Knoxville Emporium on Friday, September 4, 2020.

Alexandra Ashmore, Contributor / The Daily Beacon The Emporium’s display case will feature a selection of new works by Bryan Wilkerson, a native Tennessean, professor at Roane State Community College and creator and director of Artmobile – a traveling gallery and pop up space.

Wilkerson’s artistic experience tends to focus on ceramics and works for public viewing; however, he also works with design and draw-

ing. His display will include “clever, kooky and quirky” pottery and wall art.

The Emporium Center is located at 100 South Gay St. in downtown Knoxville. The center is currently asking visitors to wear masks and to maintain social distancing guidelines.

Most works of art are for sale but would need to be purchased after the close of their respective exhibitions.