Wednesday, October 4, 2023

What’s inside: The legacy of Joseph E. Johnson, Rachael Denhollander’s campus visit, dealing with doom scrolling, the future of UT football and more

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Former UT system president Joseph E. Johnson dies

CALEB JARREAU Sports Editor

Former UT system president Joseph E. “Joe” Johnson died at the age of 90 on Friday, the university announced.

Johnson served as UT system president from 1990-99 and returned to the post as interim president from 2003-04. After his retirement in 1999, he served as president emeritus and remained active around the university.

Johnson worked for more than 50 years at the University of Tennessee and was popular with the UT Alumni Association. His acumen for fundraising and his advocating for the university added to his reputation.

“Dr. Johnson was the embodiment of the University of Tennessee,” said UT System President Randy Boyd. “UT would not be the great institution it is today without the leadership, vision and compassion for people that Dr. Johnson so eloquently had. This is a tremendous loss for our university system, but an even greater loss to the state of Tennessee.”

Johnson is considered one of the architects for the UT system structure, which was created in 1968. He was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014 from the UT Board of Trustees.

As president, Johnson worked closely with then Lady Vols head coach Pat Summitt to promote women’s athletics at Tennessee. The two shared a friendship and mutual respect.

Johnson was also the creator of the university’s decades-long partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

“Dr. Johnson committed his life to the University of Tennessee and made this great University a better place for all of us,” said UT President Emeritus Joe DiPietro. “I consulted with him frequently, and he remained very involved out front and behind the scenes. I valued his counsel and have always felt he left big shoes to fill in the president’s office. The entire University will miss his leadership and dedication, and I know those of us who knew him well will miss his quick wit and straight talk.”

Johnson began his career as an instructor and a research associate of political science at UTK in 1958. He left the position after one year to work in state government.

After working with the state government, Johnson returned to UT in 1963 as executive assistant to then president Andy Holt. Johnson later served as vice president for development from 1969-73.

He moved to Memphis to be chancel-

lor of the UT Health Science Center from 1970-73. He returned to Knoxville and continued to serve as vice president for development and executive vice president until the UT board selected him as statewide system president in 1991.

Holt and fellow former UT president Edward Boling helped groom Johnson for the position of president.

“It’s important to be yourself and have a sense of values. It doesn’t take people very long to see if you’re real. You must walk the talk,” Johnson said in an interview with Tennessee Alumnus (now Our Tennessee) magazine upon his retirement. “In the University, faculty and students are the most important. The real strength of the University is what goes on in classrooms and labs.”

Johnson helped calm the waters during

a rocky time for Tennessee during 19992004. Since that time, he served as president emeritus and held several other roles around the UT system.

Johnson is a native of Alabama and attended Birmingham-Southern College for his undergrad in 1955. He received a master’s degree in 1960 and his Ed.D. in higher education and industrial management in 1968 from UTK.

“I agree with what Andy Holt said about leadership: surround yourself with people who know more than you do, encourage them and turn them loose. Occasionally correct them. Praise them often,” Johnson once said. “Leadership can be fun. You work with outstanding, devoted people and get to see them grow. Leadership can be lonely. You’re expected to make that tough decision.”

Former University of Tennessee President Joe Johnson (left) with his wife, Pat Johnson, and former Knoxville mayor Victor Ashe during a ceremony in 2003. Johnson was honored with the dedication of Joe Johnson Drive, replacing Center Drive on the UT campus. File / The Daily Beacon

Rachael Denhollander speaks on justice for sexual abuse survivors

ANDI JONES Contributor

resources for sexual abuse survivors including Title IX and the Student Counseling Center.

This article contains mentions of sexual assault. Please be advised.

Rachael Denhollander, current lawyer and former gymnast, came to UT to speak about her experience as the first woman to pursue criminal charges against USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar in 2016.

Denhollander spoke at UT on Sept. 28 for a Veritas Forum including an interview and Q&A session. Veritas Forum is a non-profit organization working with Christian students on college campuses to host forums revolving around truth in multiple disciplines.

Leading the interview was Claire Temple, a third-year law student at UT and president of the Christian Law Society.

“As a result of Denhollander’s activism, over 300 women, including numerous Olympic medalists, came forward as survivors of Nassar’s abuse,” Temple said.

Nassar was sentenced to life in prison. Further, Denhollander’s advocacy led to the criminal charges of USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University executives and officials who were charged due to complicity in covering up Nassar’s abuse.

Denhollander is now a Kentucky resident. She holds a juris doctorate from Oak Brook College of Law and an honorary degree from the American University of Paris.

To start off, Denhollander discussed the misconception, particularly common in Christianity, that justice and forgiveness are in opposition.

“When justice is pursued, it gives me the ability to forgive,” Denhollander said.

Denhollander touched on the potential of an institution to create harm based on the priorities and the values of individuals. Within the Nassar case, Denhollander explained there were issues with communication, structure, power dynamics and culture within the institutions.

“In an organization, we have structure, we have policies and then we have culture,” Denhollander said. “Even the best policies will not be followed when the internal values do not create an ethical culture.”

On UT’s campus, there are numerous

Denhollander agreed with Temple that the issues within religious institutions cause additional harm at a moral level. She believes the best way to approach a Christian institution with skewed ethics is to fall back on the doctrines of justice and morality within the Bible.

“The most important thing we can do is to be true to what we teach,” Denhollander said.

Even at 17 years old, Denhollander knew reporting to the police the abuse she suffered would not be enough. She waited 16 years until she saw her opportunity through an article with the IndyStar.

“Most years, out of 300 cases of rape reported to the police, only five to nine will end in jail time,” Denhollander said.

Denhollander expressed how she leans on her faith for hope and validation. Even throughout the court case, she struggled to put her faith in 12 jurors to validate her pain.

“One of the things I wrestled with was validation: Does it matter? Did what happen to me matter?” Denhollander said.

Denhollander explained that she knew in her heart that validation did not come from society or from the conviction of Nassar but from a deeper understanding of truth.

Denhollander sees many issues with the current criminal justice system. She believes there is not enough autonomy and voice of victims in the decisions made about their lives and the lives of their abusers. Victims do not have any control of choosing their attorney and from there the decision to take a plea deal or to drop the charges is up to the attorney, not the survivor.

“You might wake up one day with your face in the newspaper with a headline saying your abuser has gone free,” Denhollander said.

When helping and consoling a survivor of sexual abuse, both on an individual and institutional level, Denhollander explained the importance of being the inverse of abuse. She described how abuse strips away power and voice. The best way to support a survivor is to validate their experience and help their voice be heard if they are ready to speak up.

Denhollander has found the importance of both looking for the good and acknowledging the darkness in the world without minimizing it.

Rachael Denhollander answers questions on her experiences of speaking up about sexual assault. Andi Jones / Contributor

Lifelong Learning Book Club discusses mental health, success

ALLISON MURPHY Staff Writer

The Lifelong Learning Book Club held its first meeting of the semester on the morning of Sept. 28 over Zoom, discussing the book “Improving Learning and Mental Health in the College Classroom” by Robert Eaton, Steven V. Hunsaker and Bonnie Moon. Participants shared their experiences and memories brought up by the first three chapters of the book, which cover how anxiety and depression affect learning, how teachers can get to know students’ backgrounds and mentor in the moment and how courses can be designed differently.

Bob DuBois, a psychology lecturer and the associate director for undergraduate studies, facilitated the meeting. He noted that college students were at a vulnerable time in their lives and also a vulnerable time in history. On top of that, instructors are asking them to focus 100% on learning. DuBois said that sometimes there is not time to deliberate over curriculum.

Phyllis Thompson, a participant in the book club and a clinical associate professor of social work, referred to a lecture she did not finish because students began talking about what they were processing. She hesitated to bring the conversation back to classwork and thought students were less able to focus overall. Thompson wondered how other professors were handling the situation since people were still talking about COVID-19’s effect on their families, living situations and relationships.

DuBois had already had a conversation this semester about a school shooting. Thompson mentioned that students are already debating the 2024 election, and everyone in the group seemed to feel that next year is going to be difficult.

Ferlin McGaskey, executive director of Teaching and Learning for Teaching and Learning Innovation (TLI), added that people were also navigating state laws. He said deeper talks about fostering well-being needed to happen.

“The conversation can’t be, ‘Oh, just take a walk in the middle of the day,’” McGaskey said.

McGaskey noted that faculty did come to the book club with questions regarding their field or other issues. He later said he didn’t want any of his colleagues doing their job “just because.”

“Maybe someone has a larger class. Maybe they have a smaller class. Maybe it’s a lab. Maybe it’s a class with graduate students or older students… how can you make it most relevant and align with who you are and what you bring to the classroom,” McGaskey said.

DuBois floated the idea that when the pandemic disrupted community, people replaced it with productivity and are now trying to get it back. He also said he was a first-generation student and could relate to others thinking about changing their circumstances because they were not starting off with the same resources as others.

UT librarian Brianne Dosch commented that higher education had not fully dealt with the pandemic and that comparing productivity was not a fair thing to do. She did not like the “better than ever narrative” and thought that society had not grieved the situation. Thompson added that when she heard about improvements, she wondered about the people who have left UT in the past year.

“What about the great stuff they did? That’s where I’m left hanging. Where are the people who helped grow those roots?” Thompson said.

McGaskey said good and bad things create learning and progress in life, but the lessons he thought COVID-19, the economy and politics were trying to teach had disappeared.

“What were the lessons we were supposed to learn about ourselves and society?” McGaskey said. “... What really matters, what at the end of the day matters to me?”

Dosch noted that personalizing the ideas in the book was important.

“The last thing we want is for this book club to be prescriptive,” Dosch said. “Take what resonates with you and make it work

for you and your students.”

The Lifelong Learning Book Club is for anyone on campus. DuBois began the group at Waukesha County Technical College in Wisconsin for faculty but decided to invite students as well when he started the UT club.

“We really like to listen to students and what they have to say about how we can better facilitate learning and help them be successful,” DuBois said.

Dosch said the library likes to partner with organizations even if they’re not bookrelated. She emphasized that even though book clubs sound boring, they are not. A list of the titles the club has read since it began in 2019 are available on the library’s website, and all are free, unlimited ebooks from 2015 or later. The group takes suggestions for what to read next.

“Usually what we do is try to figure out what’s really in the news right now, what’s really of concern,” DuBois said. “And so we usually choose books that are relevant to what’s going on.”

The group also reaches out to the authors to join in discussions. The next meeting is on Oct. 26, and DuBois is still working on bringing one author to the last meeting. On Nov. 30, which will be in person in the Mary Greer Room of Hodges Library. Dosch is hoping to have representatives from mental health groups across campus there as well as food.

“There are groups of us that really care, and mean to make (college) a lifelong learn-

ing experience,” Dosch said. “A community of people that want to engage in topics like this future.”

DuBois echoed that it helps to engage in dialogue with other people and said some themes come up over and over.

“One of the things that we’ve had many books on is how we can take that enthusiasm that students have to work hard and help them work wisely,” DuBois said. “And so a lot of that is books that share how you go about learning successfully.”

McGaskey also thought that some topics would be around for a long time: artificial intelligence, divisive concepts and wellbeing.

The group will be reading the book “The New College Classroom” by Cathy N. Davidson and Christina Katopodis in the spring, and McGaskey confirmed Katopodis will be the keynote speaker at the TLI conference in March. According to McGaskey, the book club informs TLI’s programming and gives the department an opportunity to complement what faculty are learning. This was a way to make the ideas accessible and for professors to even implement them the same day.

McGaskey said UT Martin is planning their TLI unit and that he has already brought up the club with Dosch, hoping they can collaborate on and build a similar one with UTM librarians. He sees the club as something that has the potential to serve the whole UT system.

UT librarian Brianne Dosch encouraged attendees of the Lifelong Learning Book Club to personalize ideas from the book “Improving Learning and Mental Health in the College Classroom.” File / The Daily Beacon

Vols ACT Day teaches students how to utilize resources on campus

ABBIE SMITH Staff Writer

As a part of the Wellness Wednesday series, the Center for Health Education and Wellness hosted Vols ACT Day on Sept. 27. The purpose of the event was to teach students how to be active bystanders by acknowledging the situation, considering the options and taking action.

Several different departments attended the event, each bringing their own strengths and knowledge to the event. The organizations explained different ways that students can be active bystanders and help those around them.

The departments and teams that facilitated this event were the Center for Health Education and Wellness, the Center for Care and Resilience (974-HELP), Student Conduct and Community Standards, the Student Counseling Center, the Hazing Prevention Team, UT Police Department, the Office of Title IX, and the Office of the Dean of Students

Many of these departments are involved with connecting students with resources. For example, 974-HELP provides support to students going through a time of distress, and the Office of the Dean of Students can help advocate for students who are facing a crisis in their lives, especially involving their basic needs.

Though these resources are often used in personal situations, the organizations here provided information about reporting for others as well. In addition, each organization tried to present options for action through the three Ds: direct, distract and delegate.

Each of these options for action has a different application for each situation. Todd Cox, a program director in the Office of the Dean of Students presented one situation that could be solved following the three Ds: overhearing a friend say a slur to describe a group of people and deciding how to approach them.

Following the three Ds, one could directly address the situation, distract from the situation and shift the focus of conversation or delegate and ask someone to help talk to the friend about why the slur was not appropriate.

“In that situation, we’re calling it out, right?” Cox said. “But you could also delegate to us, to 974-HELP, the Counseling Center … we’re always here to provide help.”

Other resources highlighted at this event include the amnesty policy through the Office of Student Conduct. This is a policy that states if a student is in need

of medical assistance because they were consuming alcohol, they will receive no formal discipline even if they are under the age of 21.

With this, the Office of Title IX and UTPD presented information to students about how to seek help and support regarding sexual misconduct or similar situations. Tony Dillard, the officer representing UTPD at Vols ACT Day, highlighted the LiveSafe app and how, if a person is in a situation where they are unable to talk on the phone with officers, they can text them instead.

It is easy to fall victim to the bystander effect — where a person assumes they do not need to act in a situation because

someone else will — but Vols Act Day was organized to encourage students to be the ones to say something. These organizations provided information on how students can speak up and who they can reach out to.

Kaylynn Hunt was the representative from the Office of Title IX at this event. She is a graduate assistant who mostly helps advocate for students and redirect them to the resources that will most benefit them in their situation.

“The whole point of this is to act,” Hunt said. “If you’re in any scenario, I would just say do that.”

The Center for Health Education and Wellness offered free pizza and T-shirts

at this event, as long as students went to most of the tables to get more information. Each organization brought its own pamphlets and information, as well as free items like pens, buttons, stickers and even a nail file from the Counseling Center.

Wellness Wednesdays happen every week, and they will continue to teach students how to take care of themselves and others. Usually, the Center for Health Education and Wellness will have free items for those who attend, just like at this event. Additionally, the websites for these organizations contain more information about ways to connect with them and how to take action.

Students line up at the Counseling Center’s table to learn more information at Vols ACT Day. Courtesy of Grace Olen

Partial Coffee & Wine provides a fresh mix of beverages, cultures

ADAM DELAHOUSSAYE Staff Writer

On the corner of the 4th & Gill neighborhood, there’s a new spot opening up for coffee lovers and wine connoisseurs to let their taste buds run free. Well, open partially, that is.

Partial Coffee & Wine is a new coffee shop and wine bar combination open in north Knoxville. The owner, Shay Gregory, is an alumnus of the College of Charleston and a former barista and manager at Honeybee Coffee. His time at Honeybee no doubt contributed to his knowledge of the coffee world and his know-how in the world of customer relations.

“At Honeybee, the owner Norris Hill definitely led a system that placed a lot of trust in us managers,” Gregory said. “So I had a lot more freedom to essentially run the shop on my own. I had already felt like I had done it before. The one thing I lost was engagement with customers, which was a big push to open (Partial).”

The store itself features an eclectic blend of brews. Ethiopia, Mexico and even Asheville, North Carolina, are all highlighted on the Partial menu.

After their grand opening back on Aug. 4, they’re about to celebrate two months of business. Gregory seems to be adjusting to the new business well with the help of some familiar faces.

“I got to know a lot of downtown folks before this,” Gregory said. “So the idea became ‘people know Shay and the coffee he likes to serve and how he engages with customers,’ which seems to be working. A lot of our regulars are regulars at places like Remedy and Jacks, too. Everyone likes to switch it up.”

Soon, Gregory and the folks at Partial will begin their next beverage venture into wine. Another drink notoriously labored over, the combination of the two came as a no-brainer. Whether you’re a coffee house regular or someone just looking to try something new, Gregory’s favorite part of his job is walking you through the tasting process.

“Seeing the similarities in wine and coffee, as both agricultural products that require a great deal of human labor and effort,” Gregory said. “Not only does a coffee plant take time to grow and mature, so does wine. Even the methods of farming and processing, there’s a lot of the same steps in the supply chain before it even gets to a roaster in the States.”

While wine may have an air of elegance surrounding itself, Gregory prefers not to think of it with such pomp and circumstance. You don’t need to be an ex-

pert taster out of Napa Valley to enjoy his samples – just a regular person with regular taste buds.

“I think people think of wine as this elevated and aloof beverage,” Gregory said. “Like, ‘Oh, let’s break out the cheese board. This is a luxury.’ Contrasted with coffee, which is much more utilitarian here. So I wanted the same sentiment for both, to make it fun and accessible. You don’t need to be a sommelier, you know?”

One of the most important similarities Gregory’s coffees and wines share, he hopes, is in processing. For Partial, knowing that what’s on the table was sourced naturally and with minimal impact on its environment is crucial. For Gregory, it seems to make the beverages more personal as well.

“It’s all about sourcing and transparency,” Gregory said. “Providing natural wine … which is vague, but essentially means thoughtfully made wine with minimal impact on its environment, or

minimal additives. It’s the same with coffee, which is way less regulated. But even still, we have trust in our roasters and our farmers that what we’re getting is good, high-quality stuff.”

If you couldn’t already tell, Gregory is something of a coffee nerd. His menu reflects this aptly, which sees your traditional European blends mixed in with some of the favorites of Americans.

“We just released our seasonal drinks,” Gregory said.“We just premiered our pumpkin spice. I mean, we had to. I messed around with a sauce rather than a syrup so it’s a lot thicker. Oat milk, so it’s vegan too.”

While Gregory and Partial are still both relatively new to the area, the impact they’re already leaving on their corner of Knoxville doesn’t go unnoticed. Smiling faces, an enthusiasm for ingredients and process, and a fresh take on old staples all make Partial a wonderful addition to Knoxville’s ever-growing coffee house

market.

Heather Mount is a regular at Partial.

“When Partial opened in our neighborhood, I thought it was too good to be true,” Mount said. “A coffee shop with a rotation of incredible, unique roasters, cozy but well-designed aesthetic and that would eventually serve wine? A literal dream. Add to that Shay’s (and his team’s) kindness and warmth, and it was immediately my favorite place to be. I love their pour-over, but I could truly drink nothing but the wildflower oat latte again and die a happy human. It’s impossible to not order it, as much as I aim to explore the whole menu.”

Partial plans on unveiling their wine list in the coming weeks. Their current hours are 7:30 a.m. - 2 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. Whether you’re in need of a pick-me-up for exams or a relaxer after a grueling school week, Gregory and the rest of the folks of Partial have got you covered.

New to the 4th & Gill neighborhood, Partial Wine & Coffee serves an eclectic blend of coffee brews and will soon offer wine. Madelyn Stone / The Daily Beacon

Week of 10/2/23 - 10/8/23

Grannies Club knits students together

SHELBY WRIGHT Staff Writer

There is a new club on campus this semester called the Grannies Club – an arts and crafts club centered around the stereotypical “granny” activities of crocheting, sewing, knitting and embroidery.

Grannies Club was founded by Sky Vilay, a sophomore studying supply chain management, Nora Kuhn, a sophomore studying biological sciences and Helia Esfandiari, also a sophomore studying biological sciences.

These three friends founded this club to create an environment centered around hobbies and passions outside of the academic sphere.

“While being a part of academic student organizations is important, also taking time for hobbies or learning new hobbies is equally as important,” Kuhn said. “Not only does this organization, or any other non-academic organization, on a resume show a wide variety as a ‘resume booster,’ but it’s a safe place for anyone and everyone to be able to relax, not think about school every week and just have some fun.”

Currently, Grannies Club has around 50 official members, but it has almost 170 members in its GroupMe. They hold meetings every Monday from 7-8 p.m. in HSS 205, and all people, even those who do not know how to crochet or sew, are welcome.

“My favorite part about being in Grannies Club is seeing the progress everyone’s making,” Vilay said. “I’m so happy to see even people who have never picked up a crochet hook or sewing needle so eager to try and learn these new skills.”

Although their meetings are only officially an hour long, some members choose to stay half an hour to an hour later because they are

having so much fun.

“Our club, though we have only had three official meetings so far, fosters a real sense of community,” Vilay said. “By the second meeting, there were already groups of new friendships forming.”

Looking forward, Grannies Club has plans to expand its horizons by partnering with local retirement facilities and nursing homes to learn skills from “the experts themselves,” as Kuhn said.

Through these partnerships, Grannies Club hopes not only to learn how to better their skills from actual grannies but to also provide volunteer opportunities for UT students and offer a source of companionship to the older generation of Knoxville.

“We’re hoping to be able to implement this next semester or, at the latest, next year,” Kuhn said.

Grannies Club is a very diverse organization as well. It has many members from all different backgrounds and majors and helps connect those who would not typically interact with one another through a shared love for arts and crafts.

“Given that we are one of the only student organizations, if not the only student organization, that has such a wide focus on a variety of crafts, it gives our members the opportunity to explore different things and pursue activities that they’re passionate in,” Kuhn said.

Some students may not like to crochet but love sewing and embroidery, or vice versa. So, to encourage learning new skills and trying things out, Grannies Club structures its meetings to provide as much variety as possible.

If you are interested in joining the Grannies Club, you can follow their Instagram @granniesclub.utk or join their GroupMe to stay updated on events and meetings. To become an official member or so-called “grandkid,” semester dues are only $15.

The Weekly Crossword by

Margie E. Burke

Members of the Grannies Club follow along with a crochet tutorial at one of their meetings. Courtesy of Grannies Club

East Tennessee Maverick: How to deal with constant political issues

A lot of us feel overwhelmed when we think about politics. It’s not hard to see why.

Oftentimes, it is as though we can barely keep our heads above water. There are so many issues that it might be hard to even keep track. Right now, our country faces critical questions on climate change, gun reform, reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights, the economy, our very democracy and more. It’s tempting to think that it’s all insurmountable, especially as college students with wide unknown futures ahead of us.

But it is not insurmountable. You are able to look past the apparent doom and gloom. You have more influence in this world than you realize - even if many of our leaders are much, much older than us. In fact, there are many ways to handle what seems to be a crazy world.

One of the most important steps you can take is to stay regularly well informed. A lot of unneeded stress comes from worrying about unnecessary things. You might be scrolling on social media and see an alarming news headline on a post or video. Most likely, that headline is lacking in context and information. Sometimes, thanks to misinformation, it may not even be true or is just clickbait.

The best way to avoid this stress is to thoroughly read your news. A full article is able to go into much more detail than a headline or a few sentences can on social media. Doing this will help calm worries when you are able to view the fuller picture. Sites like the Associated Press News have very informative articles for free. Obviously, one should avoid biased sites, even if they have very long written articles. Thoroughness does not always equate to accuracy.

The second step to sorting through the many issues of politics is to separate each one, research it and see where you stand. You may be worried about many topics, but while doing so, all the issues have jumbled into one big stress ball. Take one, like climate change, and look into it. See what the problem is, the proposed solutions, the political stances and the current events surrounding it. Once you know more about the issue, your uncertainty surrounding it is likely to fade away.

Individually breaking down these is-

sues will allow you to form your own opinions. Seeing that there are steps towards a solution and that it’s not all doom and gloom allows us to seek progress. You can decide which solutions are the best ways to approach the issue. Do this for every political topic you believe is important.

This leads to the third step: getting involved! Being politically active shouldn’t be taboo. Working with others to find solutions to improve the world around you is healthy. Using social media to stoke your negative emotions –also called doomscrolling – is what you want to avoid. Being informed and then doing nothing can easily increase anger and anxiety.

Instead, you must be what Theodore Roosevelt called the “man in the arena.” Being a critical cynic from afar or worrying from the outside is counterproductive. Contributing solely in token ways,

such as changing the color of your profile picture, is not enough. Entering the arena of hard work not only improves you as a person but also makes you a better citizen.

The most obvious benefit to being politically involved is making it easier to handle the issues facing our generation. This can range anywhere from working with a candidate whose ideas you agree with to joining an advocacy group lobbying for change. You can always make a difference.

You may ask, what if there are too many issues for me alone? Luckily, there are diverse people who are good at certain issues you may be unable to do. Working with others allows you to spread out the load and pool expertise together.

There is a popular saying that advocacy is a marathon, not a sprint. You must not be dissuaded or discouraged by

political work because of long processes. The most stable and secure solutions are created and won over time, not in a day or a week. You will find the truest victories when you give the best effort. Hopefully, this will have created a pathway for you to handle a world with so many different political issues. While it may feel uncomfortable to deal with them, the most important thing you can do is try.

WALKER KINSLER Columnist

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.

Walker Kinsler is a junior at UT this year studying political science and history. He can be reached at wkinsler@ vols.utk.edu.

Walker Kinsler advises students to avoid doom scrolling and to read trusted sources in order to deal with the constant onslaught of political news. Chloe Black / The Daily Beacon

Opinion: Walking with Richard Bachman, aka Stephen King

In the autumn of 1966, Stephen King — later publishing this book under the pseudonym Richard Bachman — began a novel filled with tyrannical cynicism that would change the pace of his writing career. Thirteen years passed, and the book remained untouched until King was a few books into his prolific career. The novel remained tucked away until an inkling thrust through his mind to publish it but under a fake name.

For some miraculous reason, the broad public was against the idea of publishing more than one book a year that they would trash that writer as a whole, making them feel less confident about anything moving forward. So Steve-O sat down one afternoon with his publisher, and they drafted an idea together: King would publish another book under a pseudonym.

It was a powerful — and almost humorous — secret for six years. When trying to come up with a name on the fly, King scanned his publisher’s office for clues or signs. He saw a paperback novel by Richard Stark — ironic since that was also a pseudonym by author Donald Westlake — and a Johann Sebastian Bach record, so Richard Bachman came to be on that date in 1979.

King even went so far as to hire and pay a man to pose for Bachman’s author portrait on the back of the dust jackets. The first Bachman novel and, quite honestly the best in my opinion, was “The Long Walk.”

“The Long Walk” enhances the reader and illuminates the prevalence of an unjust society but makes the hysterical suspense humorous and intriguingly serious. The plot follows 16-year-old Ray Garraty, one of 100 boys who entered the walk.

The walk is a survival of the fittest walking competition, and the winner gets “whatever he wants for the rest of his life.” The prize is as vague and mystifying as the book’s edgy plotline, but the simplicity marks it as confusing and in-depth as King’s “It.”

A small sadistic detail about the walking competition is missing in the novel’s beginning. If the competition leader — nicknamed “the Major” — thinks you are going too slow, you “buy your ticket,” which is another way to say you get shot on the spot.

Ray shrugs his shoulders nonchalantly at this and wonders if it will be as hard as he thinks it looks. The only in-person memory Ray has of the Long Walk was when he watched it at age 10. Now, he was in it to

win it, trying his best to stay focused and not stop or hesitate for too long.

I think this book speaks for a society strictly ridden with people chasing after perfection. The competition is slim, and the prize is just as vague and — dare I say, unexciting — not intriguing enough for me. Throughout the novel, Ray befriends a small group of boys from all over the country, telling their life stories, trying not to evoke sympathy or care too much for each other if they were to be killed.

They know from their rule book that the boys are better off sticking to themselves rather than befriending soon-to-be-dead people. The walk is excruciatingly painful and entails rain, hot weather and numbness from mile eight past mile 100. One by one, the boys fall and are shot down on the shoulders of the road.

King went on to write a few more novels under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, but none would meet the same passionate magnitude as “The Long Walk.” To be honest, if I were to read the book not knowing it was King, I would question if the author plagiarized him.

“The Long Walk” is a novel from King’s early career, but it set the standard high and mighty for the next 40 years of novels and short stories. In some ways, I think this might be the first King book to really spark something creative in me. I feel like I am a naturally creative person, but this book

opened my mind to new horizons, dialogue and emotions.

When reading something dystopian, the plot emanates from reality into a new, fresh idea that creates the dystopian feel in the first place. The sheer mysterious aspect of the environment and the Long Walk transports me into another world. It’s an interesting approach to almost assume that we, the audience, should know why the Long Walk happens and that this is just another year of the competition.

Writing like Bachman, King takes a different approach to how he writes and what goes on between page one and page 391. Mentally, Stephen King’s writing as Bachman has a new vibe altogether. Rather than the vulgar, dense graphic violence and language, a mysterious, realistic sensation ripples through the pages. The characters venture into life with brighter anticipation, and the dialogue enhances the plot.

Since life is unplanned, King writes emotions into Ray, and he unfortunately befriends Peter “Pete” McVries during the walk. During the next few days, they become as close as friends can be when death is on the line. King lined up the plot nicely when, ultimately, the whole novel is about choices — choices that affect life and death.

Do I give this guy food so he can keep going strong? Should I help this guy up so he doesn’t get a warning and his ticket?

It comes down to the wire right at the end

when Pete is lying on the ground, not wanting to continue, and Ray is left with one of the hardest choices in his life: to save or not to save.

In the end, King emanates from the traditional closure spot and creates the mystifying end sequence that opens the book. This book — from cover to cover — makes you ask questions, answer some questions and have an excuse to ask even more.

Every time this book is brought into discussions for an adaptation on the big screen, it is shot down. After reading the book a few times, I now realize that this book is something that should only be in word form.

This book remains on my shelf, and I like to glance at it from time to time. “The Long Walk” is a masterful work that made me look at choice-making from a unique perspective. I often think about the walk prize and what I would do with it or if the rumor in the book was true and the winners really get nothing.

DRAKE DYER Columnist

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.

Drake Dyer is a freshman at UT this year studying finance. He can be reached at ddyer10@vols.utk.edu.

Columnist Drake Dyer writes that Stephen King’s book “The Long Walk” speaks to a society full of people chasing perfection. Calie Wrona / The Daily Beacon

Where Tennessee football will lean after Bru McCoy’s injury

ERIC WOODS Assistant Sports Editor

Bru McCoy beat Marcellas Dial on a slant, and Joe Milton III found him for a 17-yard gain and the first down. The crowd chanted his name as it does with every single one of his catches.

The chants slowly died down as McCoy lay in serious pain. With Dial in pursuit, he awkwardly brought McCoy down as his leg went under him. It was evident right away that it was a significant injury that will likely sideline him for the rest of the season.

The Neyland Stadium crowd of almost 102,000 fans fell silent as McCoy was carted off the field. Players from both sides approached him to give their support. One last chant filled the stadium as the star wide receiver exited the field.

“I truly, honestly didn’t want to go back out there no more,” Milton said. “Just because I know how hard he works, and I know how hard — it is a loss of words pretty much.”

McCoy entered Saturday night with the second-most receiving yards for Tennessee football with 196. He is arguably the most consistent and complete receiver on the roster. If the Vols need a catch, McCoy is their guy. It showed last year as he made the catch that set up Tennessee’s game-winning field goal over Alabama.

His presence goes deeper then as a pass catcher. McCoy is a stout run-blocker and, ultimately, a leader.

“There’s nobody better than him,” Heupel said. “Great teammate, great leader, tough as they come. Works extremely hard to be his best and make sure his teammates do that too.”

His production will not be replaced as easily as it was with Cedric Tillman’s injury in 2022. There is no Jalin Hyatt to fill the void.

It is going to take a significant step up across

the rotation to account for the loss of McCoy. Right now, the three obvious names that come to mind will be Squirrel White, Ramel Keyton and Dont’e Thornton Jr.

White was up to the task against the Gamecocks, racking up his first 100-yard receiving game of the year and hauling in all nine of his targets. Keyton hauled in both of his targets, and Thornton was inactive.

Though each of the three are capable in their own way, it is going to take a committee to fill the void. White is a natural slot receiver, standing at 5-foot-10, 165 pounds. Consistency is Keyton’s best weapon.

Though it is clear what White and Keyton bring to the table, Thornton is the key to unlocking the offense without McCoy. The Oregon transfer received an enormous amount of praise and hype in the offseason as a 6-foot-5 receiver with track speed, but he hasn’t quite broken out during the season.

Thornton is expected to be back soon, but his opportunities have waned as he has struggled with drops and the pace of the offense. If there was ever a time for him to break out, it is now.

A deep wide receiver room is slowly thinning out as the year progresses. Even when Thornton returns, the room is constantly getting banged up.

Outside of the trio of White, Keyton and Thornton, Heupel said that redshirt freshmen Kaleb Webb and Chas Nimrod are “going to have to play at a really high level.” Freshman Nathan Leacock was thrown into the mix as well.

Football is a cruel game, and injuries are the unfortunate price a team has to pay. However, the silver lining is that injuries provide opportunity.

“We got a bunch of guys that gotta fill the roles, and that’s the nature of this game,” Heupel said. “It inevitably happens. Next man up. They gotta be ready for their opportunity. They gotta go take advantage of it.”

Bru McCoy (15) warms up before a game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Neyland Stadium. Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023. Cole Moore / Contributor

Wide Receiver Bru McCoy No. 15 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Florida Gators and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium. Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022. File / The Daily Beacon

Jenaisya Moore reaches 1,000 career kills as Lady Vols sweep Ole Miss

MADELINE MCNEELY Staff Writer

The Lady Vols continued their SEC winning streak by sweeping Ole Miss in three sets (2520, 25-20, 25-16). Tennessee volleyball (13-1, 4-0 SEC) is currently ranked No. 12 in the nation.

After giving the third set to Mississippi State in their last match on Friday, the Lady Vols put in the work to stay polished and disciplined against Ole Miss. Tennessee still sits No. 2 in hitting percentage and kills per set for NCAA volleyball.

“I think whether it had anything to do with Friday night’s third set or not, the team came in really focused after that second set,” head coach Eve Rackham Watt said. “I thought we kind of looked determined to play well in that third set, and I thought we did. Sometimes when you’re up 2-0, you can pump the brakes a little bit, and I thought we didn’t. We just kind of continued to play the way we had been playing and even stepped it up a little bit offensively.”

As a team, Tennessee stepped on the gas pedal when it came to hitting. Morgahn Fingall and Jenaisya Moore led the match in kills, with Fingall tallying up 12 kills with a .375 hitting percentage and Moore having 11 with a .250 hit-

ting percentage.

The game proved to be a special one for Moore as she tallied up her 1,000th career kill.

Moore played four seasons with Ohio State where she had 841 career kills, averaging 2.98 kills per set. She has been one of the biggest highlights of the transfer class for the Lady Vols

as she has excelled in hitting stats and being a point leader for the team.

Moore averages 3.60 kills per set for Tennessee.

“Congratulations to Jenaisya for her 1,000th kill. We’re really excited for her,” Rackham Watt said. “I thought Morgahn had a great match. I

really liked the way she picked her shots, and then I thought that was as good a match as Erykah Lovett played. It was kind of a quiet .350, but she really just was so efficient in the swings that she had. I also thought her and (Yelianiz) Torres passed the ball really, really well.”

Erykah Lovett and Klaudia Pawlik also had great offensive plays for the Lady Vols. Pawlik was a force in the middle with a .538 hitting percentage.

The Lady Vols put pressure on Ole Miss’s serve receive, serving up nine aces. Caroline Kerr led the match in assists with 39. Kerr has been a weapon for Tennessee and is currently ranked No. 4 in the nation in assists per set.

“I thought we did a nice job from the service line,” Rackham Watt said. “Which I also thought we did on Friday, but I felt like today we did a little bit better job of stopping their offense. So in general, I’m pleased with the performance and the emotional response.”

Yelianiz Torres led the match with 15 digs, Ashllyn King had five and Lovett contributed four. Tennessee had six blocks, four of which were from Pawlik, who has exhibited growth from the middle.

“I thought it was a great response to Friday’s performance,” Rackham Watt said. “I thought we were really, really clean. Obviously hitting .312, much cleaner from the offensive standpoint.”

Roster turnover helps, hurts Tennessee softball entering fall practice

averaged .230 with three home runs.

going to be a great hitter.”

in 2024.

Tennessee softball is looking to repeat as SEC champions in the 2024 season and to return to the Women’s College World Series for the ninth time.

However, the Lady Vols will need to make use of its new players and replace those who graduated and transferred to other schools.

Tennessee added two players in the transfer portal. One was MTSU infielder Laura Mealer, who was named to Conference USA’s all-conference team last season.

Mealer averaged .388 and hit 12 home runs for the Blue Raiders last year, starting all 62 games. She also stole 30 bases — which will be effective with Tennessee, who is aggressive on the basepaths.

Former Oklahoma catcher Sophia Nugent also joined the Lady Vols for the 2024 season. The two-time national champion played in 50 games for the Sooners last year, averaging .274.

With Nugent providing a strong option at catcher, the Lady Vols can now put Giulia Koutsoyanopulos at many different positions.

Koutsoyanopulos played in 59 games for Tennessee last year — all behind the plate. She

“Giulia is a defensive wizard,” head coach Karen Weekly said. “We want to play her anywhere we can. She’s really good in the outfield, she’s really good at first base and she’s really good at catcher. She’s seen a lot of time at all three in fall ball, and she’ll continue to see a lot of time.”

Koutsoyanopulos played for the Italian national team at the Softball World Cup this summer, going 5-for-16 in six games at center field with one home run. With power hitter Lair Beautae transferring to Houston, the offense production from Koutsoyanopulos becomes more important for the Lady Vols.

Bella Faw is one of the three incoming freshmen for the Lady Vols in the 2024 season. As is the case with many Tennessee players, Weekly is impressed by Faw’s awareness when she plays.

“She knows where to go with the ball,” Weekly said. “She’s got a really high softball IQ.”

Faw’s strength came in her defensive ability. Her strong arm and ability to read hops will provide value to Tennessee’s infield. At the plate, Weekly believes Faw will improve under her coaching staff.

“She’s really coming on as a hitter,” Weekly said. “She was a good hitter in high school. I think under Chris (Malveaux), she’s

Although the Lady Vols had an explosive offense a season ago with Kiki Milloy, Zaida Puni and McKenna Gibson all hitting more than 10 home runs, the offense was at times inconsistent. Tennessee often had the ability to rely on its strong pitching staff to win lowscoring games.

However, with Ashley Rogers now playing professionally for the SIS Vipers and Nicola Simpson transferring to Seattle, the remaining members of the Tennessee pitching staff will need to handle more innings in the 2024 season and maintain a high level of performance.

Graduate student Payton Gottshall has thrown over 200 innings in two seasons in her career, with both happening at Bowling Green. She finished the 2023 season with an ERA of 1.65 in 110 innings of work. She has proven she has the ability to pitch a lot over the course of the season while performing well.

Sophomores Karlyn Pickens and Charli Orsini will also take on more innings in the 2024 season. Pickens pitched 87.1 innings as she won the SEC Freshman of the Year award a season ago, but she will be asked to pitch more this season. Orsini only threw 14.2 innings in her freshman campaign and will likely be put into more important situations

In a scrimmage against Tusculum on Sunday, Tennessee’s pitchers combined to pitch 10 scoreless innings. The Lady Vols scored 14 runs in the game, with seven of their innings coming against former Connecticut pitcher Emily Sappington.

“We knew that (Sappington) was going to have some pretty good stuff, and she did,” Weekly said. “She really kept us off balance.”

Jenaisya Moore (18) before a match against Texas State University at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center Aug. 25, 2023. Cole Moore / The Daily Beacon

JACK CHURCH Staff Writer

Mackenzie Donihoo (12) and Giulia Koutsoyanopulos (27) head back to the dugout at the end of the inning at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023. Edward Cruz / The Daily Beacon

Tennessee baseball looking to mesh early, grow chemistry in fall camp

Tony Vitello mentioned Kavares Tears by name in his fall press conference. The outfielder is a different person than he was when he first arrived on campus. The growth of players from when they first arrive at Tennessee to when they leave is “fun” to see for Vitello and his staff.

Tears told Vitello during one of their recent conversations that he feels the team is currently at the point they were at, at the end of last fall. The bonding the ground will go through during fall camp will play a pivotal role by the time the season comes around.

“It’s been a quick turn, and the freshmen have been a part of that, too,” Vitello said. “Sometimes they’re on the outside looking in and it takes a while for them to be a part of this group, but you can’t pick and choose when it’s gonna happen. There are some things that can help speed it up and you can be proactive about it, but ultimately it’s about the people. I feel like we have good people over there at our stadium.”

Team chemistry and meshing as a team was an issue for the Vols early in the 2022 season. That issue compiled into a lackluster start that they do not want to replicate.

The team did mesh, though, and they ended the season in Omaha. Several returners from last season made it goal number one to grow team chemistry during the fall to avoid a repeat of the beginning of last season.

“I think, for the older guys this year, we made it a priority to bring the chemistry. That’s priority number one,” outfielder Hunter Ensley said. “For the new guys that come in in the summer, and then obviously throughout the fall, you’re going to build it scrimmaging and playing together. Talking to some of the other guys, we wanted to make that process a little bit faster than it was last year.”

Lots of conditioning and long team meetings finally resulted in the team’s identity last spring. The returners are making sure that isn’t the case this year. As players have trickled in ahead of the start of the official fall camp on Sept. 28, Ensley could tell that the chemistry was better.

“I think it’s a good thing to figure out in the fall, obviously. It’s going to bleed over into the spring,” Ensley said. “We’re not playing anybody besides ourselves. Springtime, it’ll really come

together. I think it’s huge to know your teammates, know who you’re playing for next to you, and those are the guys you want to come to the field and work with every day.”

Vitello and his staff brought in several transfers over the offseason that are expected to have an impact in the spring. Pitchers Nate Snead, AJ Causey and Chris Stamos all add depth to a staff that lost several big names and top contributors.

The pitchers maintain a trend of the rest of the transfers. They make the ballpark enjoyable for Vitello and the staff.

“Those three guys, maybe it’s because we haven’t inner-squaded yet, but the three best things or the best things that

those three guys bring to the table every day is just their vibe and their attitude,” Vitello said. “They’re good kids. They’re willing to learn, and they certainly are fun to be around.”

Highly touted defensive transfers Billy Amick and Dalton Bargo, as well as junior college signee Marcus Phillip, add to the transfer group.

It’s a group that will continue to mesh with the returners, and it’s a group that Vitello enjoys being around.

“When you come to work every day and you’re a baseball coach, you probably don’t label it work because it’s fun,” Vitello said. “You get to wear athletic clothing and bounce around on the field with the guys. So, when you are changing in the locker room and you get out of

your car, you want to come to the field with guys that you’re excited about not just working with, but being around.”

CALEB JARREAU

Sports Editor

After a series of errors which allows LSU to score, head coach Tony Vitello contacts the bullpen at Charles Schwab Field. Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Edward Cruz / The Daily Beacon