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Showers 30% chance of rain HIGH LOW 54 44

Issue 44

PUBLISHED SINCE 1906 http://utdailybeacon.com

Vol. 118

I N D E P E N D E N T

S T U D E N T

N E W S P A P E R

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T H E

U N I V E R S I T Y

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T E N N E S S E E

Fast-a-thon raises local hunger awareness Muslim Student Association partners with area businesses to fund Knoxville Love Kitchen Steele Gamble Staff Writer The Muslim Student Association (MSA) raised $2,120 with the help of local businesses by going hungry to feed the less fortunate in Knoxville Monday night at 6:30 p.m. in the U.C. Ballroom. The 11th annual Fast-a-thon encouraged students to “go hungry for a day so someone else doesn’t have to” by pledging to fast during the daylight hours. Local businesses donated $2 to the Knoxville Love Kitchen in what Ashraf El-Messidi, junior in mechanical engineering and MSA vice president, called the most successful year yet. “We got 1,045 students to pledge to fast for a day,” Ashraf said. “We broke our record. Our goal this year was 1,000 pledges.” Patrick Riggins, president of the Love Kitchen, appreciates the MSA for holding this fundraiser every year. “(It’s) just a fantastic donation, and it really goes a long way at the Love Kitchen because there’s no paid staff,” Riggins said. “Everyone’s a volunteer so every penny goes to helping these people.” The fundraiser, which began at UT in November 2001, has spread to 300 campuses around the world. Tarek El-Messidi, former student and co-founder of the Fast-athon, described how much it has grown since the first year. “We only had about 100 people who fasted, and in 10 years it’s multiplied by 10,” Tarek said. “We never expected it to get this big, and hopefully it will get even bigger.” He went on to explain its future goal of further expansion beyond college campus-

es. “We have built the Fast-a-thon foundation, and we hope to take it to the corporate level (and) to the level of civic organizations: churches, synagogues, temples,” Tarek said. “We hope it spreads even more beyond just students.” The event began the same semester as the 9/11 attacks to help those in need of food in Knoxville. “It was a time when Muslims were really villainized, and there was lots of stereotyping going on,” Tarek said. “We just wanted something where we show that we are part of this community, and that we can all work together interfaith: Muslims, Christians, Jews, anyone.” AbdelRahman Murphy, Knoxville Muslim youth director, said that Muslims fast to remember their blessings and be thankful for them. He also said that it was a reminder to make the right decisions. “When you’re fasting, your stomach is empty,” Murphy said. “You feel that hunger. You have the choice to make a right decision or a wrong decision in whatever facets of life may be.” El-Messidi described the purpose of the Fast-a-thon as an event to help the community and an opportunity to learn about Islam. “I hope most of all that they gain an appreciation for those who don’t have the basic necessities of life like food or water,” Tarek said. “And also that they get to meet a Muslim or Muslims and learn more about the faith as well and gain an appreciation for and a better understanding of Islam. The vast majority of Muslims are peace-loving that give back to the community just like everyone else.”

Matthew DeMaria • The Daily Beacon

Students gather for a meal at the culmination of the Fast-a-thon on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010. The Fast-a-thon, hosted by the Muslim Student Association, raised over $2,000 for the Love Kitchen as students went a day without food so those in need wouldn’t have to.

George Richardson • The Daily Beacon

UT swimmers complete laps during a practice session in the Allan Jones Aquatic Center on Wednesday, Sept. 21. The Vols open up the regular season against Indiana and Kentucky on Saturday, Oct. 22.

Popular website brings tolerance to campus Victoria Wright Staff Writer Using banter and quirky vocabulary, such as the term “biggigidity,” the founders of the popular website “Everyone is Gay” communicate tolerance towards their peers despite their differences. Started in 2006, “Everyone is Gay” is an advice website focused on tackling the emotional stresses of young people within the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) community. Founders Kristin Russo and Dannielle Owens-Reid also emphasized that the website is catered to young people outside of the LGBTQ community. Currently, the two are touring colleges advocating action against harassment and intolerance using the golden rule. “The confusions and the struggles and the problems that so many of us face are not different based on who we go to bed with,” Russo said during the event. About 75 people came to the Shiloh Room in the UC Friday evening for the event, held by Lambda Student Union, an organization that emphasizes issues within the LGBTQ community. Russo and Owens-Reid sat casually in front of the audience, then

suddenly hopped up and broke out into a synchronized dance routine. This opener set the tone for the entire event. Both Russo and Owens-Reid were fond of using comedy during their event and often use humorous language on their website. Among the numerous issues the two discussed, Russo and Owens-Reid shared some startling statistics concerning the LGBTQ community. According to the 2009 GLSEN National School Climate Survey, 72 percent of students heard derogative, homophobic remarks at school. Sixty-three percent of LGBTQ students were verbally harassed and 27 percent reported being physically harassed because of their gender or sexual expression. Despite the numbers, Russo and Owens-Reid said people can make a difference to change these statistics. Christopher Manning, Lambda Student Union executive member, agreed with the first rule of Russo and Owens-Reid’s “Six Things You Can Do to Change the World: Be Kind, Idiot!” “All we are really asking for at the end of the day is just to be loved and be respected,” Manning said. “The key thing is not to come out with hatred, (but) more to just be respectful.” Russo and Owens-Reid also advised students to become aware of their school policies concerning discrimination, refrain from

engaging in cyber bullying, vote and “volunteer like a boss.” “You don’t have to be transgendered, you don’t have to be gay, you don’t have to bisexual to get involved in this movement,” Russo said. “If you’re sitting here and you’re a human being, you should feel entirely comfortable participating in a movement for equal human rights.” Near the end of the discussion, Russo and Owens-Reid pulled anonymous questions from a fish bowl and also answered questions from audience members. Owens-Reid said that despite the sexual differences, heterosexual students face similar situations as LGBTQ students, such as wanting a romantic relationship with a friend. Chris Porter, junior in psychology, said that tackling the tendency for society to categorize individuals is the biggest issue. “It’s kind of what’s holding us back from accepting everyone,” Porter said. “If we take away categories, then it would make it a lot easier to accept everyone.” Russo and Owens-Reid hope to continue their tour in the future and to visit high schools where they say younger teens need these events the most. To support “Everyone is Gay” and discover ways to become involved, visit everyoneisgay.com.


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