Many creeks and streams that run through and around UT campus face high levels of pollution. Photo by Heidi Hill • The Daily Beacon
Local streams provide pollution challenge for student activists Connor Barnhill Contributor
While UT’s proximity to an urban area is great for a student’s social life, it may be quite another thing for the streams and creeks of Knoxville. For many of the creeks that run through or around UT campus, levels of pollution are
Volume 130 Issue 41
becoming a noticeable issue — the problem has attracted the attention of several Knox County and Knoxville government officials. But that hasn’t stopped UT students from tackling the issue themselves. Joanne Logan, an associate professor in biosystems engineering and soil science, is one of the researchers involved with analyzing the nearby creeks, including Third and Second. The creeks around the campus may be heavily polluted, but Logan, other professors
and grad students at UT are researching the rivers and are working to keep them clean and pollutant-free. “We’ve all done a bunch of stuff with the creeks,” Logan said of the efforts from the faculty and students at UT. “We’ve adopted a section of Third Creek that my students take data in every semester, and then we report our findings to the Tennessee Clean Water Network.” The Tennessee Clean Water Network is a non-profit organization that uses the data col-
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lected from places like UT to analyze certain streams — deeming them compliant with federal safety requirements. By enforcing standards set in articles like the Clean Water Act and the Tennessee Water Quality Control Act, the Tennessee Clean Water Network puts pressure on businesses and legislatures to follow practices that decrease pollution. See POLLUTION on Page 3
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
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INSHORT
The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Humans of Knoxville
DISPATCHES Jim Webb says goodbye to democratic nomination
Biden alters story of Bin Laden raid
Former Virginia senator Jim Webb announced Tuesday that he is quitting the Democratic presidential primary, becoming the first such potential candidate to do so since the Democratic presidential debates held earlier last week. Webb, who said he is considering running as an independent in the 2016 presidential elections, refused to answer reporters when asked if he planned to keep his campaign staffers on payroll in the coming weeks. With Webb gone, only four main democratic contenders remain: Hilary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Martin O’Malley and Lincoln Chafee. Webb, who only raised $700,000 in the third quarter of last year for his largely absent campaign run, maintained that he often disagrees with the “extremes” that make up much of the Democratic party.
At an event honoring former Vice President Walter Mondale, current Vice President Joe Biden offered a recount of the night Osama Bin Laden was killed by U.S. Special Forces that differed with accounts he has told in the past. “We walked out of the room and walked upstairs. I told him my opinion: I thought he should go, but to follow his own instincts,” Biden said Tuesday. This version of the story comes amidst specualtion that Biden may enter the presidential race as a potential democratic nominee. In the past, Biden claimed he advised the president not to order the strike that led to Osama Bin Laden’s demise, claiming “we have to do two more things to see if he’s there,” in a cabinet meeting preceding the decision.
What has been your biggest adjustment since coming to UT? “My biggest adjustment has probably been being here with so many people. There’s like 12,000+ students just walking around. I’m not a super big people person, so that’s sort of an adjustment. But I really enjoy my classes here.” - Adra Anderson, Freshman in English Alyssa White • The Daily Beacon
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New lawyer to represent Cosby in Los Angeles sex abuse case Associated Press LOS ANGELES — Bill Cosby has replaced his longtime lawyer in a pair of lawsuits filed by women claiming they were sexually abused by the comedian decades ago. Cosby’s new attorney, Christopher Tayback, filed a form on Friday reflecting that he was replacing Cosby’s longtime attorney, Martin Singer, in the case. Singer had been defending Cosby in a lawsuit filed by Judy Huth, a Riverside County woman who claims Cosby forced her to perform a sex act on him at the Playboy Mansion around 1974 when she was 15 years old. No reason for the change is stated in the court filing. Singer says his firm has also been replaced in a defamation lawsuit filed by model Janice Dickinson against Cosby, who she says drugged and raped her in Lake Tahoe, California, in 1982. “Our firm has substituted out of the cases and I’m not going to comment on that, however we’re happy to assist in the transition of the cases to the new attorneys,” Singer said
Tuesday. The development was first reported Tuesday by the Los Angeles Times. Cosby has suffered several legal setbacks in Huth’s case and a defamation lawsuit filed in Massachusetts by three women who claim they were sexually abused by the comedian. A judge refused to dismiss the Massachusetts case on Oct. 9, the same day the comedian was deposed in Huth’s lawsuit. Singer has represented Cosby for more than a decade, and he was sued for defamation in 2006 by Andrea Constand, a Temple University worker who accused Cosby of abusing her and reached a settlement before trial. Constand’s lawsuit focused on statements made by Singer denying Cosby drugged and abused her. The lawsuit revealed Singer had been involved in a deal with the National Enquirer that granted the magazine an exclusive interview with the comedian in exchange for killing a story about another woman accusing Cosby of abuse. The attorney has vehemently denied Huth and Dickinson’s claims. He says Huth’s former attorney attempted to extort Cosby for $250,000 before filing her lawsuit.
CAMPUSNEWS
Wednesday, October 21, 2015 • The Daily Beacon
POLLUTION continued from Page 1
Many creeks and streams that run through and around UT campus face high levels of pollution. Photo by Heidi Hill • The Daily Beacon
Brown university professor sheds light on plight of North African immigrants Connor Barnhill Contributor
With illegal immigration a hot topic of the political debates in the United States, many students may forget that other parts of the world experience the same phenomena. The seminar on Monday night entitled “Clandestine Boat Immigration From the Shores of Africa to Europe,” addressed the issue on a global scale. Réda Bensmaïa, professor emeritus of French Studies and comparative literature at Brown University, analyzed the difference between refugees, such as the Syrian immigrants fleeing their country for political or economic reasons and migrant “Harragas,” as he refers to them. Harragas comes from the Arabic word “harraga,” or “those who burn,” a reference to the immigration papers of North African immigrants who attempt illegally to immigrate to Europe. Therefore, the name, Bensmaïa said, stems from the practice of burning their immigration papers if they are about to be captured. “For some observers, the phenomenon resembles a sort of collective hypnosis that suddenly possesses a number of African men and women to migrate to periphery European nations,” Bensmaïa said. “But what is most striking to me is the lack of analysis beyond economic depravity or political oppression.” For Bensmaïa, this difference in motivation is what differentiates the harragas from the refugees. While refugees tend to flee the country for economic or political reasons, Bensmaïa
argues that Harragas are driven to immigration by an innate desire to return to the European country that colonized their home country. Bensmaïa cites the study of several sociologists to back up his claim that this desire is driven by the emergence of a global market. The westernization of higher education, Bensmaïa also claims, has great influence on the youth in African countries, driving them to professions in Western countries. “A representation of the country, which is presented by global media, is believed by these Harragas to be reality and thus compels them to leave their homes in search of the lifestyle they have been shown,” Bensmaïa said. The speaker also argued that many African youths take on the the dangers of illegal immigration because they become infatuated with the promises and overall idea of the West. “A certain view of the western world has supplanted their view of the rest of the world entirely,” Bensmaïa said. “This causes them to see their home country as deficient, unstable or backwards.” As the seminar shifted into a Q&A session, one attendant, a native of Africa, argued that this surge of immigration is a means of getting back at European nations for colonizing these African nations and then leaving them. Julia Scott, exploratory freshman, said she believes that perspective is an important thing to consider when tackling a subject as controversial as illegal immigration. “It’s important to realize the motives of people in those positions, and I don’t think anyone has a right to nullify someone else’s perspectives,” Scott said.
But while these regulations may decrease pollution, they also eliminate the ability for researchers like Logan to pinpoint exactly who or what is causing the pollution. Prior to the proliferation of such regulations, pollution could be traced back to businesses and shoddy methods of waste disposal. However, the new regulations create highly concentrated, small levels of pollution, which create difficulties for tracking causes of pollution to a particular source and finding a specific fix for the pollutants. True to its name, UT fortunately has plenty of volunteers willing to work on the issue. Logan Terheggen, senior in chemical engineering, is the president for Students Promoting Environmental Action in Knoxville, which has adopted a section of Third Creek and recently undertook a clean up initiative around the area. “Streams and creeks are like nature’s highways of waste,” Terheggen said. “You’ll notice that, especially close to campus, some streams have a lot of plastics and cigarette butts in them that some students may just leave lying around.” While the Students Promoting Environmental Action in Knoxville works to clean the river of these obvious pollutants, Logan says there are several other pollutants which may not be as obvious to spot. “It can be hard to identify exactly where the
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pollution is coming from, but several big contributors are agricultural waste, pollutants picked up by runoff water and the pollutants from the ongoing development around the campus and Knoxville,” she said. While students are keen to blame the plethora of campus construction, the pollution is not entirely due to new building. In fact, Logan explained the students themselves are largely responsible for pollution of local creeks, resulting in an issue that can lead to major problems if left unchecked. “While few people drink directly from these streams, all of these creeks are tributaries to the Tennessee River, which is of course where we get all our drinking water from,” Logan said. “So if they’re polluted, it could affect our own water supply.” Still, Logan suggests multiple habits and organization that can help halt pollution, such as washing the car in the front yard, allowing all suds and chemicals to be absorbed by the grass and preventing runoff into a storm drain. Students Promoting Environmental Action in Knoxville is also working on planting native species around the creeks and removing invasive species and, as Terheggen states, a stream conversion to an outdoor classroom behind Dougherty Engineering building and Min Kao Electrical Engineering and Computer Science building is also in the works. To learn more about the Students Promoting Environmental Action in Knoxville or upcoming events, visit their website.
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CAMPUSNEWS
The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, October 21, 2015
SGA Senate takes stance on privatization
Connor Barnhill Contributor
As the student body returned from fall break, the SGA student senate convened this Tuesday night in order to address the many issues surrounding the campus and its many enrollees. Privatization Tristan Smith, the SGA’s sergeant-at-arms and author of the resolution, touched on the fact that privatization didn’t work when UT tried it in the ‘90s, and also presented research showing that privatization did not work for other universities in Tennessee. “I think Governor Haslam has this idea that privatization is always the better option, but there’s tons of information out there that states the opposite,” Smith says. Samuel England, a junior in biological sciences and member of the SGA Senate, proposed greater funding towards “higherachieving students” if UT wishes to become academically consistent with other top 25 schools. SGA covered reasons students might wish to come to UT and why they might drop out or leave UT. The senate then went on to discuss what programs or organizations should be promoted and acknowledged for their utility on campus, and also discussed ways to improve UT. “We have to take a holistic approach at recruiting students who will not only benefit from programs here at the university but will also be assets to the university after they graduate,” England said. The curious position of UT Knoxville, being both a land-grant university and the state’s flagship university, could present hindrances when prioritizing the “higher-achieving” students, as they do not make up the entire student body of the university.
However, England doesn’t believe that any students should be neglected, but rather that all students should have better access to the resources they need to succeed both academically and professionally. “[UT] has an obligation to reach all students in the state and to offer the same education to honors students that they might receive at a top 25 school,” England said, maintaining that those two obligations are not contradictory. The senate also focused on smaller issues to improve upon, like the advising process. Beverly Banks, a sophomore in journalism and electronic media who oversaw the focus group portion of the meeting, was very interested in hearing feedback from SGA senate members on their advising experiences and their ideas for improvement. “I feel that advising is that first point at orientation where you decide what classes you need to take and whether or not you like your major,” Banks says. “So what we really need is an advisor who knows what they’re doing and can present all available options and opportunities so that students can be better prepared and connected when they leave.” The senate was also aware that many students’ view of advising sessions may contribute to the lack of help. “You hate to hear that so many students are going to advising just so they can get the check and sign up for next semester’s classes, because you should be getting so much more from it than that,” Banks said. The next half of the meeting consisted of officer reports and announcements and the proposal of a resolution against the privatization of UT’s facility workers. With both the SGA senate and the Faculty Senate proposing stances against privatization it is clear that the faculty, staff and student body of UT are concerned about the issue, and contrary to Haslam’s stance, don’t believe it to be beneficial for themselves.
Lecture to highlight online bullying Alahnah Ligon Staff Writer
Instead of eating a PB&J isolated at a Hodges computer desk, the University of Tennessee Libraries Diversity Committee is offering a better, more intellectual way to spend your lunch hour. As one of the longest-standing diversity committees on campus, The UT Libraries Diversity Committee has joined leagues with the Office for Diversity and Inclusion on campus in a two-year educational effort for UT students, faculty and staff. The partnership is hosting the second of four “Lunch and Learn” sessions to teach attendees how to navigate difficult conversations in an effective manner. While searching for topics of discussion, Lili’a Uili Neville, communications director for the Office for Diversity and Inclusion, said the groups conducted a survey on campus and found “folks were more interested in how to have the conversation than the actual conversation.” From this, the committee decided it was necessary to open the educational effort with a discussion on civility. In mid-September, Ernest Brothers, associate dean in the UT Graduate School, hosted the first of the four Lunch and Learn events, which “set a stage of foundational concepts of civility and diversity to give everybody the same vocabulary to have a productive conversation,” Neville said. Neville noted that attendees of the first “Lunch and Learn,” “were so engaged in conversation” that they continued the discussion during a fire drill that happened in the library where the event was held. Neville said she hopes the topic of the second “Lunch and Learn,” bullying in social media, will garner equal or greater participation because of its relevance. “I feel like this is a topic that should resonate with most students,” she said. “I think most of us have experienced something terrible on Facebook, Twitter or YikYak, certainly.” Regina Mays, assistant professor and assessment librarian for the Library Diversity Committee, said bullying in social media was decided upon after a survey revealed around 95 out of 120
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I feel like this is a topic that should resonate with most students. I think most of us have experinced something terrible on Facebook, Twitter, or YikYak, certainly.” Lili’a Uili Neville , Communications Director for the Office for Diversity and Inclusion
students, faculty and staff expressed interest in the topic. The committee’s chair Thura Mack cited campaigns on social media, such as the #BlackLivesMatter campaign, as evidence of the importance of social media today in having conversations. Mack invited Ferlin McGaskey ofthe Tennessee Teaching and Learning Center to facilitate the discussion at the second Lunch and Learn event. Mack said she hopes McGaskey will “help UT get a good understanding of (social media) issues and how they relate to civil unrest around UT campus. “We just want to have big conversations so that we can be more understanding and more welcoming as a university.” Two more “Lunch and Learn” discussions will be held next year with the topics “Religious Respect” and “He/ She, Him/Her: Concepts to Update Your Conversation Toolbox.” The “Lunch and Learn” conversation on “Bullying in Social Media” will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at noon in 605 Hodges Library.
ARTS&CULTURE
Wednesday, October 21, 2015 • The Daily Beacon
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Exotic treasures in Market Square Katherine Fuller Contributor
If you’ve been looking for a new item to spice up your home, a new shop in Market Square might have an ethnic find that catches your eye. Agora specializes in selling imported items mainly from Southeastern Asian countries that you won’t be able to find anywhere else in the square. Storeowner Marcus O’Brikis already has two other Agora locations in Florida, one in Tampa and one in Saint Petersburg, but he wanted a new location, which lead him on a search for a city with the right feel. After visiting cities like Chattanooga and Asheville, he settled on Knoxville after store manager Laurie Ruderman found the location in Market Square. “I was up here about two years ago; it’s the type of area he (O’Brikis) likes to get into,” Ruderman said. “Areas that are just starting to regrow, all the building going on downtown, with all the apartments and condos going up.” Ruderman gladly accepted when O’Brikis asked her to transplant from Florida to
Tennessee. She had a good feeling after visiting the area and currently has high expectations for Agora in Knoxville. According to Ruderman, the shop has been attracting all sorts of crowds since it’s opening three weeks ago. Weekends attract lots of locals from the farmers market as well as out of town Vol fans looking to shop before a home football game. Each of O’Brikis’s Agora stores tend to gain a group of locals who shop often for housewares and gifts. When asked to describe the store, Ruderman stated, “Really its eclectic, it covers everything. Its really hard to fit it in to a few words”. O’Brikis travels often and picks up many new merchandise ideas on his journeys. When he finds something he likes, he brings a small stock of the item back to the US and tries it out in his stores. If the new item does well and locals as well as tourists are pleased, then Agora will continue selling it. If there isn’t much positive feedback, O’Brikis simply finds something else on his next trip. He finds out what people are asking for and goes from there. As you walk in to the store, you are instantly greeted with the scent of incense, as the store
carries a variety of types from India and other eastern countries. Also from India are unique furniture pieces that are either originals or are rebuilt by O’Brikis. You can also find housewares such as tea sets from China and hand stamped bed covers. Ladies accessories from all over include beaded jewelry, scarves and handbags from Cambodia. There are also some interesting items for sale such as stationary and voodoo dolls that are handmade by artists in Florida. Some of Agora’s best sellers have been its smaller items such as journals and bowls, which are usually bought as gifts. There are lots of fun knickknacks such as Buddha statues, hand carved incense holders and oil burners, and animal coin banks. The store also has a variety of musical instruments such as drums and calimbas. With such a variety of goods, Agora appears on track to please its target of curious Knoxvillians who have an appetite for the more artistic items Market Square has to offer. While walking through the store, Tori Bishop, a junior in jornalism and electronic media, expressed her impression of the store. “I love all the fun little items they sell which
would make perfect gifts for friends,” Bishop said. “It’s also a fun place to just walk around when exploring downtown”. Agora opened next door to Soccer Taco at 7 Market Square. To find out more about what Agora offers, head downtown or check out their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ AgoraKnoxville.
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It’s also a fun place to just walk around when exploring downtown.” Tori Bishop, junior in journalism and electronic media
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The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, October 21, 2015
On breaks, James Bond and masculinity
Clint Graves If I’m Being Homest
Fall break, or as I like call it catch-up break, is nothing more than a slight reprieve in the onslaught of fall semester. It’s not like its attractive counter-part, spring break, at all. In the spring, you leave campus with decent weather and return to even better weather. In the fall, you leave campus with fantastic weather and return to a freezing tundra wasteland. In the spring, you get enough time to escape the town, have a fun go of things, nearly die of alcohol poisoning — you know, generally good times. In the fall, you have just enough time to breathe before being slung back into the wood chipper. I could go on to regale you with the many dangerous and amazing exploits I undertook on my fall break. But I won’t. Not only because it takes approximately three lines to say I did nothing of the sort, but mostly because I’ve got something more pressing to talk about. And that something is James Bond. The other day, I was discussing, in a formal setting, the literary merit of Ian Fleming’s novels. For those that don’t know, Ian Fleming wrote all of the James Bond novels that gave rise to the incredible movie franchise that’s about to add its 24th installment, “Spectre.” I shall be the first in line to see it. At some point. Now, before all of the English literature majors collectively scoff and turn up their noses in disgust, allow me to take up Bond’s defense. The Bond books were a commercial success. Millions of copies have been sold worldwide. The prose reads quickly. The plot lines have defined a genre. JFK even named “From Russia with Love” his favorite book of all time.
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James Bond, as written in the books, is racist, sexist, belligerent, alcoholic, homophobic, a touch paranoid and clearly addicted to sex.”
That said, James Bond, as written in the books, is racist, sexist, belligerent, alcoholic, homophobic, a touch paranoid and clearly addicted to sex. He smokes more than a freight train, gambles like a maniac and kills a lot of people. But, all of that is actually good. From a creative writer’s standpoint, all of that makes him a fantastically complex character. Furthermore, James Bond has done a lot in redefining masculinity. I like to think of him as somewhere in between traditional definitions of masculinity and the watered-down husks of men, who these days claim to be “secure in their manhood.” Bond operates in a sort of sensible masculine middle ground. For example: his liquor. Now at what point we, as a society, assigned gender to alcohol is unclear to me. How damaging to our society is it? I don’t know. Somewhere between not actually mattering and irreversible damnation, I’m sure. But I digress. Essentially, the stronger a drink, aka the more alcohol content, the manlier it is. The more pain it causes on the way down, the manlier it is. The more opaque a drink, the manlier. The less it is adorned by frilly nonsense, the manlier. So imagine John Wayne wandering into the local saloon and ordering something to drink. He’s a man’s man, so what does he order? Straight whiskey. Strong, painful and simple. And what does James Bond order? The Vesper. Yes, the Vesper is a martini. Yes, the Vesper is named after a woman. Yes, the Vesper uses clear alcohol. And yes, the Vesper is served with a frilly lemon peel. But be warned, mix one of these suckers and drink it down, and you will have difficulty mixing another one together. In fact, you’ll have difficulty standing up. Another example: Bond’s weapon. The rule for guns is the same as the rule for alcohol. The stronger, the manlier. So if Bond is a man’s man, what should he carry? A Desert Eagle? No. A Colt .45? Certainly not. A .44 Magnum? You’re joking. Bond carries a Walther PPK, chambered in .32 ACP. And if you don’t speak gun, which I don’t, just suffice it to say that Bond’s gun is positively tiny. That doesn’t stop him from assassinating people. And that’s the point. Bond proceeds in the method that suits him best, confident in his skill. So, before you dismiss Bond as some antiquated, commercialized drivel formulated in the ravings of a chain-smoking conservative British drunkard, consider how Bond may be a revision of traditional masculinity. That’s his claim for literary merit. Bond is his own man, unfettered by the chains of expectation. And by my count, the world could use a few more like him. Clint Graves is a junior in communication studies and English. He can be reached at bhr713@vols.utk. edu..
Columns 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.
VIEWPOINTS
It’s raining, you’re feeling gloomy and you’ve finally cleaned your favorite Nirvana t-shirt. You guessed it, it’s grunge time. “Touch Me I’m Sick” Mudhoney
“About a Girl” Nirvana
“I Stay Away” Alice in Chains
“Say Hello to Heaven” Temple of the Dog
“Heretic”
Soundgarden “Chloe Dancer/Crown of Thorns” Mother Love Bone
“Got Me Wrong” Alice in Chains
“Honey Bucket” Melvins
“Yellow Ledbetter” Pearl Jam
“River of Deceit” Mad Season
VIEWPOINTS
Wednesday, October 21, 2015 • The Daily Beacon
Improve your life with gratitude Elle Johnson I Learned Something Today
When someone holds the elevator door for you, do you say “thank you?” How about when someone picks up your pencil you dropped on the ground? Or, when someone compliments your clothing choice? Do you remove the buds from your ears and say “thank you,” or simply move on with whatever you were doing prior? Through my stray daily observations on campus, I’ve noticed that saying “thank you” for the little things to complete strangers is going out of style. Lost in the fast-paced world of iPhones and emails, we stay on top of formal gratitude but all too often lose value in the utterance of a simple “thank you” in return for random acts of kindness. Statistics back my observation. Research from Harvard Business School demonstrates that while 50 percent of people will say “thank you” to those who they have an immediate relationship with, only 15 percent will say it in a work- or school-based setting. Over the years, I’ve become fond of saying “thank you” whenever and wherever, to whomever I can — not only because it’s the right thing to do, but because it always makes me feel great afterwards. However, while we may not have all the answers, there’s a few scientifically proven ways that openly and actively showing gratitude can positively affect
our lives. 1. Gratitude opens doors to new relationships.On a campus with over 27,000 students, we have the opportunity to meet and make new friends everyday, but somehow we all tend to get trapped in our own little bubbles. Let’s change that. A 2014 study showed that thanking a new acquaintance makes it more likely for them to seek a further relationship. You never know, that stranger holding the door for you on a rainy day could end up being a lifelong friend. 2. Gratitude supports physical and psychological health. They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but so can saying “thank you.” In a 2012 study, grateful people experience less aches and pains throughout life and also report feeling generally healthier than other people. On the same note, multiple studies have been conducted on the link between gratitude and well-being, showing that saying “thank you” regularly can reduce several bad emotions, including envy, frustration, resentment and regret. 3. Gratitude improves self-esteem. College is always said to be the time in life that we truly “find ourselves,” but with that often comes harsh personal reflections on who we are in comparison to those who surround us. However, studies have
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shown that by showing gratitude, we can reduce the amount of social comparisons we experience in our lives and in turn, improve our own self-esteem. Regularly practicing open gratitude allows for us to more often appreciate others’ accomplishments, rather than becoming resentful. This lets us put greater focus on our own highpoints and successes, leading to higher levels of self-appreciation. As November steadily approaches, we edge closer to the season where everyone seems to become overwhelmingly more thankful than at any point in the other eleven months of the year. This year though, rather than resorting to the normative “26 Days of Thankfulness” Facebook posts, let’s put a bit more focus on a year-round effort starting now, continuing to appreciate the large blessings in our life, but also openly expressing our gratitude for the little things that better our days. Next time someone presents you with a random act of kindness, no matter how small, make the effort to remove your ear buds, give them a smile and say “thank you.” It’s two simple words in one breath that can not only brighten their days but yours as well. Elle Johnson is a sophomore in College Scholars. She can be reached at ejohn100@vols.utk.edu.
Enumerating the multiple facets of diversity Maria Smith Bleeding Orange, Being Different
I am terrified of police. If there is anything that will keep me from traveling a measly two hours to go visit my family in Nashville, it is the fear of being pulled over by a police officer and not knowing how the simple traffic stop might end. There have been so many cases of police brutality that, even if I’m minding my own business, I fear I will possibly be singled out and unprepared for what the situation might include. I’ve only been pulled over once in my driving history, and luckily, it was quick and easy, but not everyone is so fortunate. So the question now is, if I have yet to have a bad experience with those in authority, why am I scared? To be truthfully honest, I’m scared of the reality I’ve seen in the news happening to me because of my genetic makeup. In the worst case scenario, I could be taken advantage of because I am a girl or stereotyped because I’m black. This sounds bad because it is, but not every factor placed against a person is the same. For example, a person of the LGBTQ+ community could be in an even worse situation because of their sexual orientation. An exchange student could face charges for not being able to communicate. A handicapped person could be put into a harmful situation because they can’t respond to the request asked of them in the speed or format desired. The scenarios of why people get treated wrongly by those in positions of authority are endless because the ways of diversity can not be simplified.
Although every police officer isn’t stopping people out of cruel intent, it is important to note that things of this nature are happening in our communities beyond what is televised. And even though it is easy to say that the wrong treatment of civilians is only done by police, it happens in the corporate fields too, in a more discreet fashion. For instance, people could get turned down for interviews because of their names alone without credentials being checked. The wages of one person could be higher than another simply because of their gender. The hospitality of a certain service could vary depending on your sexual orientation or even your accent. Just like diversity, the ways of discrimination are endless and stream far beyond a black-andwhite scenario and issues with the police. There are organizations specifically made for people to identify with depending on the conflicts they face. For example, Black Lives Matter is an organization made to bring attention and change to the growing number of black people dying because of social issues like police brutality. The Equality Federation is a group centered around the education and awareness of the issues regarding the LGBTQ+ community. The National Council of La Raza is an organization based around Hispanic civil rights in the United States. There are so many more, but I’ve listed the few I have just to prove the point that every demographic has a different set of issues to deal with. It’s not that
everyone doesn’t matter; it’s that every situation requires different aspects of attention and needs to be acknowledged individually for a reason. I won’t have the same experience as a transgendered individual, period. Because of that, I will not try and over-rule an organization in support of its fair treatment with a phrase that generalizes the complexity of a situation that I know nothing about. I used the example of my emotions towards the ways of police brutality to draw attention to the very common generalization of issues because that is where it is seems to happen most. The way a black female feels about the police is going to be different from that of another demographic, but we cannot ignore it because we don’t relate to it. Instead, we have to acknowledge the situation, correct the wrong doings and strive for better outcomes so the next person, regardless of how they identify, won’t fear any possible misuse of power. As a university, we have to engage our surroundings into our learning curriculum so that tomorrow won’t be like yesterday and next year won’t be like last month. The ways of history tend to repeat themselves, so we must be well equipped with both knowledge and experience to make sure that what happened before won’t be nearly as drastic as what is to come. Maria Smith is a sophomore in journalism and electronic media. She can be reached at msmit304@ vols.utk.edu.
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ARTS&CULTURE
The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, October 21, 2015
New microcinema brings lesser known movies to Knoxville Sam Kennedy
Contributor
Knoxville’s theaters only screen about 15 percent of available feature films running in the country at any given time. Thanks to technology, anyone can access tons of feature films and documentaries that they would not be able to access years ago. However, only a select few of these films make it to commercial screening, and these are, for the most part, the only films the general public ends up watching. Sometimes, though, the movies that are not screened in Knoxville turn out to be some of the most critically-acclaimed films. This past January, a new theater brought a type of low budget, barely commercial cinema, known as a microcinema, arrived to introduce Knoxville to the art of film, beginning with its first screening on Feb. 8, 2015. The Public Cinema is a non-profit cinema in downtown Knoxville whose purpose is to provide Knoxville citizens with new experiences and a new outlook on the film industry as an art. Entry is free and movies are shown at a few venues: the Knoxville Museum of Art, Scruffy City Hall and the Pilot Light. One of the founders of the Public Cinema, Paul Harrill, is a professor and filmmaker himself and has had some of his works screened on different continents. His work has also been shown at festivals, on television and in museums. His most recent film, “Something, Anything,� was released commercially and was featured in the Critic’s Pick in *The New York Times*. The other founder, Darren Hughes, is a
communications professional and critic. He has programmed a lot of the films the Public Cinema will be screening this fall and just got back from the New York Film Festival, where he has been picking out films for next year’s viewings. “As idealistic as it sounds, Paul and I are motivated primarily by a simple desire to make it possible for Knoxvillians to see great and important films that wouldn’t screen here otherwise,� Hughes said. “In the process, we hope it will foster better-informed discussions about film by building some community among cinephiles, filmmakers and other supporters of local culture, including civic leaders, who don’t generally think of cinema as a public art.� The idea of having The Public Cinema in Knoxville was brought up late last year when Hughes created a list of the 250 most critically-acclaimed films from the last five years. Within that list, less than half of those films have ever screened in Knoxville. This fact is mainly what motivated Hughes and Harrill to create The Public Cinema. The films shown have no theme or categorical standard, ranging from American, foreign and experimental. However, the films all have an underlying thread; Harrill and Hughes think each production is worthwhile, and that none of the films would be screened here in Knoxville if it were not for their cinema. Most of the films that are screened are found at film festivals in places like New York, Toronto and Rotterdam. Both Harrill and Hughes try to attend these festivals, but they also read the reviews on the ones they cannot attend, including Cannes, Berlin, Sundance, South by
“
As idealistic as it sounds, Paul and I are motivated primarily by a simple desire to make it possible for Knoxvillians to see great and important films that wouldn’t screen here otherwise.� Darren Hughes , Co-Founder of the Public Cinema
Southwest and Locarno. If they find a film that particularly interests them, then Hughes reaches out to the distributors and filmmakers to request screenings. “We do a lot of reading of film festival reviews, and we approach filmmakers, distributors and other programmers. And then there’s the organizational aspects — everything from managing shipments of the movies to and from Knoxville, making payments, advertising and, of course, running the screenings. A lot of work goes on behind the scenes,� Harrill said. Due to The Public Cinema’s relatively quiet and recent entrance to the Knoxville art scene, not many people are aware of it. However, this fall, the cinema plans to have around 50 people for the screenings, which will already fill up some of their venues, like the Pilot Light. “We want big audiences, but it’s not just about generating crowds. If it was, we would just screen blockbusters,� Harrill said.
The company screens about three films a month: a foreign film at the Knoxville Museum of Art, an American independent at the Pilot Light and a program of experimental film at Scruffy City Hall. Although The Public Cinema in Knoxville is still new, microcinemas are becoming more and more popular around the world, and public cinemas are starting to emerge across the country. Knowing this, Harrill and Hughes are hopeful that their cinema will have a long and lasting impact on Knoxville and hope to one day have a stand-alone repertory and art-house theater here in Knoxville — similar to the Belcourt Theatre in Nashville. “We’re still very much in start-up mode, so our short-term goal is to find a sustainable economic model for our current level of programming. We already have ideas for expanding our offerings and, eventually, we’d love to support ambitious filmmakers in the region,� Hughes said.
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PUZZLES&GAMES
Wednesday, October 21, 2015 • The Daily Beacon
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Get Fuzzy • Darby Conley
NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD • Will Shortz
dadoodlydude• Adam Hatch
Cartoons 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.
ACROSS 1 Fancy wheels, familiarly 5 Speed-of-sound ratio 9 Commotion 14 Cornfield menace 15 Certain quatrain rhyme scheme 16 Hot winter quaff 17 Ladder climber 19 Archaeologist’s workplace 20 “Welcome to the mall! Make sure you don’t ___” 22 Letter that rhymes with 34-Across and 21-Down 24 Rocky road ingredient, for short 25 Some inkjets 26 “The food court offers much more than just your typical ___” 29 Young salamanders 33 Vagabond 34 See 22-Across 36 What’s a bit of a shock to a chemist? 37 Style of New York’s Chrysler Building
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The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, October 21, 2015
SPORTS
FOOTBALL
Vols prep for upcoming game at Tuscaloosa Taylor White
Assistant Sports Editor No. 8 Alabama scored 41 points in a win at Texas A&M on Saturday, but only 20 of those came from the offense. The Crimson Tide (6-1, 3-1 SEC) secondary picked off the Aggies quarterbacks four times during the game, with three of those being returned for touchdowns. The Alabama defense has forced 16 turnovers through seven games this season, meaning that taking care of the football is a top priority for Tennessee (3-3, 1-2) as it travels to Tuscaloosa, Alabama on Saturday for a matchup with the Crimson Tide. “Everything starts up front,” Tennessee offensive coordinator Mike DeBord said after Tuesday’s practice. “They’re big and strong, maybe the biggest and strongest we’ve faced. Their linebackers and secondary are athletic groups. They’re quick, fast and great athletes. That usually creates more turnovers.” Tennessee’s offense has struggled to put
points on the board at times this year, but one area that the Vols have excelled in is ball security. Tennessee has turned the ball over five times on the year, with three of those coming from fumbles. Quarterback Josh Dobbs has managed to take care of the ball this year, throwing just two interceptions in 169 pass attempts on the year. “I think for (Dobbs), but also really for anybody who has had the ball in their hands, it’s decision making,” DeBord said. “Obviously Josh has taken care of the football, and that’s where it starts. He touches the ball on every play, so that’s where it starts.” Defensive tackle depth: Shy Tuttle was playing as well as any defensive tackle on the Vols’ roster, before the highly touted freshman suffered a broken fibula after a cut block in Tennessee’s win over Georgia. While the Vols will miss Tuttle’s presence in the middle, and Tuttle will miss valuable reps while sitting out for the remainder of season, Tennessee is taking a next man up mentality. The next man in this scenario is Quay Picou. The freshman was originally thought to be a redshirt candidate, but with just four available bodies at defensive tackle now, it’s possible he will see the field earlier than expected. “The next guy in is going to be Quay Picou,” defensive line coach Steve Stripling said. “Quay ideally would’ve redshirted this year, but he’s been able to get some reps and we feel like he can go in and compete.” While Tennessee is down a player in the trenches, the overall depth at defensive tackle is still much better than recent years. The Vols have a four man rotation, and can rely on Picou in emergency situations. Tuttle isn’t the only freshman that was getting attention, though, as coach Butch Jones said Monday that Kahlil McKenzie played his best game of the season against Georgia. The Walnut Creek, California product recorded four tackles, two solo, and was able to consistently fill his gap and force the ball carrier outside of the tackles. Owen Williams has also come on in his senior season, as the second year junior college transfer has eight tackles and one and a half tackles for loss on the year. “I think Owen has learned to play hard and play with effort,” Stripling said. “I think the rotation has helped him. When he first got here, he took a lot more reps than he needed. I think right now he’s playing with a little more (Top) Sophomore running back Alvin Kamara prepares to run after receiving energy and confidence. He’s playing with great effort and having the ball from Josh Dobbs during the Arkansas game. (Bottom) Junior quarterback Josh Dobbs dashes with the ball during the some fun doing it.” Georgia game. See FOOTBALL on Page 11 All photo by Hayley Pennesi • The Daily Beacon
SPORTS
FOOTBALL continued from Page 10
Flu bug: One noticeable player was absent from the Vols’ practice as Jalen Hurd was forced to sit out on Tuesday. It’s the coaching staff’s policy not to discuss injuries to players, but DeBord was able to find a loophole in the rule. “Well, I’m not allowed to talk about injuries, and he doesn’t have an injury so I can tell you what he had,” DeBord said laughing. “He had the flu, so he’s battling that a little bit, but he’s going to be fine. He should be able to go tomorrow, but he’s just battling the flu bug. Homecoming for Kamara: Tennessee running back Alvin Kamara started his career with Alabama in 2013 where he redshirted before transferring to Hutchinson Community College in Kansas. If the redshirt sophomore has any extra emotion for his return back to Alabama’s BryantDenny Stadium, his coaches haven’t seen it. “He hasn’t said a word about it,” DeBord said. “He’s Alvin. He’s a leader for us, and he works hard in practice every day. He hasn’t said a word about it, at least to me or around the other coaches.” Stopping the run game: Tennessee defensive coordinator John Jancek didn’t say where Alabama’s running backs rank among the backfields of Vols previous opponents.
Wednesday, October 21, 2015 • The Daily Beacon He just said the Crimson Tide’s running backs are good. Tennessee has already faced Oklahoma running back Samaje Perine, Arkansas’ Alex Collins, and Georgia’s Sony Michel. On Saturday, Tennessee will try to contain Alabama running back Derrick Henry, who ranks No. 7 in total rushing yards (901) in the football bowl subdivision. Henry’s backup Kenyan Drake is no pushover either. “Derrick (Henry) obviously is a great back,” Jancek said. “He is big, he has got really good speed, when he gets in the open field, there are not many people catching him. Couple that with Drake, he is a different element. He has got the speed, the quickness, more of a slasher. “They are one of the top backfields for sure.” At 6-foot-3, 242 pounds, Henry isn’t your average running back, and that makes it hard to simulate his running style in practice. This forced the coaching staff to get creative with its roster. Tennessee took Neiko Creamer, and put him on the scout team. The 6-foot-3, 233-pound tight end is being used as a running back to give the defense a sense of what it’s like consistently tackling somebody of that size, even though Creamer isn’t quite as big as what Tennessee will see on Saturday. “We actually put Neiko Creamer back there at running back,” Jancek said. “We’re just trying to simulate some of their personnel the best we can during practice.”
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Freshman Kahlil McKenzie attempts to block the ball from a Gator during the Florida game. Photo by Hayley Pennesi • The Daily Beacon
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SPORTS
The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, October 21, 2015
VOLLEYBALL
Volleyball team enjoys significant turnaround David Bradford Contributor
Perhaps the best kept secret in Tennessee athletics is the seemingly overnight, turnaround success story of the Vols Volleyball team. After Sunday’s dramatic home comeback victory over the South Carolina Gamecocks, the Vols improved their record to 18-5 on the season, including a 4-4 record in conference play. This is a far cry from the last two seasons for Tennessee, where the Vols won just 17 matches combined, with only two of those victories against SEC opponents. “Two things were wrong. Number one, we didn’t have a lot of depth on our team, so we couldn’t make any adjustments or changes,” coach Rob Patrick states, “And also, we were very young.” With only two seniors and nine other players on the current squad either being a freshmen or a sophomore, the Vols have now struck the perfect balance between experienced leadership and young, talented players. From senior leader Lexi Dempsey to freshmen sensation Erica Treiber, the Vols also now have the depth and leadership that previous teams were lacking.
“Now we have players who are comfortable with being leaders,” Patrick said, “Lexi Dempsey has really stepped up as a leader this season… and that helps because our younger players see experienced players buy into our philosophy. The philosophy is simple and has not changed once for a Patrick-led team. Work hard. However, prior to the completion of the Joan Cronan Volleyball Center’s construction in October of 2014, the Vols did not have a guaranteed, consistent facility to practice in, which negatively affected the team’s inexperience and lack of depth over the last couple of seasons. With the new facility, Patrick knows the current players are putting in the necessary work in the weight room to stay in top, physical shape. “If you watch our games, you’ll see that we are able to stay the course longer,” Patrick said, commenting on his team’s ability to maintain endurance during long, grueling matches, “Last year, we eked out victories, but this year we have really taken control of matches.” It’s more than just being physical for the Vols though. While Patrick does acknowledge the time spent practicing in one place numerous times a week, as well as the player’s dedication to the weight room and gym, he also understands
the significance of mental toughness, a trait this team has developed and displayed all season. Whether in a tug-of-war fourth set with Alabama, or winning three straight sets after dropping the first set against a ranked Arkansas squad, or rallying from a 2-1 deficit to beat South Carolina, the Vols’ enhanced physical prowess has allowed their mental toughness to impact matches. Mental toughness begins at practice, where Patrick devises what he calls “18-20 drills,” which essentially is a drill where one team has 18 points while the opposing has 20, with the goal being for the team with 18 points to come back and win the match. “When we’re in a situation in a game, down 22-19 and I call a timeout, the players are in the huddle saying hey, we practice this all the time.” Patrick said. There has been no magic secret to the team’s success, although the season does feel like a potential Cinderella story. Rather, Patrick and the Vols have developed the team through patience and dedication to each other. “We have core values that we really adhere to at Tennessee and those will never change,” Patrick said, “Those core values are everything from how you act off the court and the
responsibilities you have on the court.” On the court, Patrick has developed a young nucleus that gives the Vols to be even better in the future. Sophomore Kendra Turner has come on strong lately, especially against Arkansas, where every time the Vols needed a play, she always stepped up to the challenge. There is also sophomore Kanisha Jimenez, who leads the team in kills and is extremely versatile. Freshmen Erica Treiber has played exceptional right from the start, with her best performance coming against South Carolina, where she finished with a career-high 16 kills. Off the court, Patrick has shown dedication to the players on a personal level. Whether it is weekly conferences to check up on student’s grades, or adapting to modern technology to communicate with players, Patrick doesn’t want to simply create a culture of success on the court, but a culture where players feel comfortable playing Tennessee Volunteer volleyball. “Coaching is really the relationships you build with players,” Patrick said, “We want our players to know that we care. “I’m excited about the future as we get older … we have a great core of young players who down the road will make us an even better team than we are today.”