Wednesday, October 13, 2021 - LGBTQ History Month Special Edition

Volume 140, Issue 8 Wednesday, October 13, 2021

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LGBTQ HISTORY MONTH SPECIAL EDITION

28 years ago...

On April 25, 1993, Daily Beacon reporter Charlie Cates attended the March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation.

In this photo, participants in the march walk around sections of the AIDS Memorial Quilt in the Washington Mall. The quilt, created for the 1987 gay rights march, was too large to be displayed in its entirety.

Charlie Cates 1993 / The Daily Beacon

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LGBTQ HISTORY

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, October 13, 2021

DAILY BEACON STAFF AND POLICY INFORMATION

Letter from the Editor: UT must do better for the LGBTQ community

EDITORIAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Sarah Rainey COPY CHIEF: Caleigh Rozmenoski CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR: Daniel Dassow CITY NEWS EDITOR: Madelyn Muschek SPORTS EDITOR: Josh Lane ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR: Ethan Stone DIGITAL PRODUCER: Kailee Harris OPINIONS EDITOR: Ben Goldberger PHOTO EDITOR: Alexandra Ashmore DESIGN EDITOR: Bella Hughes SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER: Kimberly Lalas PAGE DESIGNER: Riley Woody COVER DESIGN: Bella Hughes

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Bishop

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Wheelock

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SARAH RAINEY Editor-in-Chief

Happy LGBTQ History Month, everyone!

I am so thrilled that we were able to do this special edition of the Beacon. For those of you who didn’t know, October is LGBTQ History Month in the United States. While Pride Month takes place in June, October is dedicated to celebrating the history of the LGBTQ community.

It is well known that the University of Tennessee has not been the most welcoming place for those in the LGBTQ community. Last year, UT was ranked the number two most unfriendly university in the U.S. for the LGBTQ community by the Princeton Review. While their ranking method has been debated, this is still not something to be proud of, and it is shameful that the university is known for its unfriendliness to this community.

Although there are LGBTQ resources at UT

— mainly through the Pride Center — with programs such as mentorships, reading groups and Safe Zone trainings, the university still ranked this highly on LGBTQ unfriendliness. With a ranking like this, this does not make LGBTQ students want to attend the university. Even for LGBTQ allies, this does not constitute a welcoming atmosphere or an accepting community.

UT has to do better. While we have the slogan “Vol Means All,” it does not always feel as if this is the case. All students should feel accepted at their university and should not feel uncomfortable or unwelcome. Everyone has a right to higher education, and no one should feel like they cannot properly receive their education due to discrimination for sexual orientation — or any other reason, for that matter.

Being a university located in the southeastern United States, some may expect this behavior.

However, that does not make it right. With the strong influence of Christianity in the south, some say that this is the reason for their disapproval of the LGBTQ community. However, Jesus, the central figure of Christianity, loved all people, and you are following in this example if you are accepting and welcoming to everyone. You are not following in this example if you are spreading hatred.

My goal as Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Beacon is to make our office, and eventually the university as a whole, a space where everyone feels welcome. We do our very best to bring the

news to light at this university, and we try to be representative of all students. I want you to know that you are welcome here and that we will always try to make sure everyone’s stories are told and everyone’s voices are heard.

UT’s reputation for being LGBTQ-unfriendly is unacceptable. Things have to change, and that starts with everyone altering their mindsets from hatred to love, from discrimination to acceptance and from meanness to kindness.

Sarah Rainey

Editor-in-Chief

Sarah Rainey is a senior at UT this year studying English and language and world business. She can be reached at srainey3@ vols.utk.edu.

Columns and letters of The Daily Beacon are the views of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Beacon or the Beacon’s editorial staff.

History of UT’s efforts toward LGBTQ-inclusivity CALEIGH ROZMENOSKI Copy Chief Actions have a tendency to speak louder than words, and the university’s words on certain topics may feel hollow or “just for show.” However, concrete policy changes and additions demonstrate an institute’s true intent.

Discrimination has long been directed toward the LGBTQ community. In order to protect the community members and hold perpetrators of violence — whether it be physical, emotional, etc. — accountable, the University of Tennessee has had and continues to have a duty to enact appropriate reactionary and precautionary measures.

Here is a look at proposed, passed and rejected policies that relate to the LGBTQ community.

Sept. 1996 - A discussion was held in a Faculty Senate Executive Committee meeting on whether “‘sexual orientation’ should be added to (the) nondiscrimination policy,” as well as the possibility of extending certain employee benefits to “‘life partners’ of UT Martin employees.”

No conclusion was reached, and the committee voted to privately discuss the matter in a letter addressed to the concerned party.

Feb. 1997 - The Graduate Student Association signed and passed a bill to include the words “sexual orientation” in the university’s anti-discrimination clause.

The bill was then sent to the Student Govern-

ment Association (SGA) and approved in March of the same year.

May 1997 - Chancellor Bill Snyder vetoed the legislation, affirming that discrimination based on sexual orientation will not be tolerated but does not warrant an official policy.

Sept. 1997 - Chancellor Snyder made a compromise with students to include sexual orientation in his personal statement regarding diversity.

Oct. 1999 - Chancellor Snyder voiced his personal support of including sexual orientation in the university’s Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policy. However, it was made clear that this was not an option and would not happen.

Oct. 2003 - The Faculty Senate approved a resolution to encourage Chancellor Loren Crabtree to work toward including “sexual orientation” in UT’s non-discrimination policy.

Dec. 2005 - “Sexual orientation” was included in the university’s Welcoming Statement used for job applications and advertisements.

Jan. 2006 - “Sexual orientation” was added to the Equal Employment Opportunity/ Affirmative Action (EEO/AA) statement used for applications, advertisements, contracts, newsletters, publications, etc.

Feb. 2007 - The SGA and the Graduate Student Senate passed a bill, giving the university one year to include both “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” in UT’s non-discrimination policy.

Aug. 2007 - The University of Tennessee officially added “sexual orientation” to its EEO/AA and

non-discrimination statements.

Nov. 2007 - The Faculty Senate passed a resolution to provide LGBTQ safe zone on UT’s campus.

Chancellor Crabtree expressed his support and began developing a task force to oversee the implementation of these safe zones.

Jan. 2008 - “Gender identity” was added to the EEO/AA and non-discrimination statements.

Aug. 2008 - More inclusive language regarding gender identity and marital status is suggested for new hire forms.

Changes include a discussion on the identification of sex and gender, as only male and female are options. As well as an addition of “domestic partner” for those in committed relationships that are unable to legally marry.

Feb. 2010 - The OUTreach: LGBT & Ally Resource Center, referred to as the Pride Center, opened as an LGBTQ safe zone on campus.

May 2016 - The Office of Diversity and Inclusion was shut down as a result of defunding, endangering the sanctity of the Pride Center as well.

Aug. 2016 - The Pride Center reopened after receiving support from alumni.

STORY CONTINUED ONLINE Read more at utdailybeacon.com

LGBTQ HISTORY

Wednesday, October 13, 2021 • The Daily Beacon

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Students revisit UT’s ranking as second most LGBTQ-unfriendly college DANIEL DASSOW Campus News Editor

When the Princeton Review named UT the second most LGBTQ-unfriendly college and the most LGBTQ-unfriendly public college in the nation last fall, the ranking cemented a years-long stain on the university’s reputation.

One year later, the highest ranking in UT’s history on the list has become a byword for the ways that LGBTQ students, staff and faculty feel unwelcome or undervalued.

Yet even as the ranking has become akin to fact for many prospective and current students, the methodology behind it has been criticized.

According to the Princeton Review website, the ranking is based on surveys that ask how strongly students agree or disagree with the statement, “Students treat all persons equally, regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity/expression.”

Student leaders, however, pin UT’s issues with LGBTQ support on university and state leadership more than on student culture.

According to Will Martinez, a graduate research assistant and president of OUTgrads, an organization for graduate students in the LGBTQ community, students were not surprised by the ranking because of where UT is positioned.

“I believe there are more to the rankings than meets the eye,” Martinez said. “I do think that being in the South, in a state that historically has not been the best with LGBTQ+ issues, and at a university closely linked to state politics, UTK has experienced some very rough times when it comes to the LGBTQ+ community.”

Martinez sees room for acknowledging both the failures on the part of university leaders to make students feel welcomed and also the work of hundreds of people to make UT a more LGBTQ-friendly campus.

“There are some students who would agree that UTK is an LGBTQ+ unfriendly campus and would agree there are a lot of good people doing good work,” Martinez said. “It’s hard to put an accurate ranking together without getting the full context.”

There are spaces on campus that are devoted to supporting LGBTQ students, most notably the Pride Center and groups specific to colleges and majors, like the Rainbow Collective in the College of Social Work or Out in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (oSTEM).

There are also spaces where LGBTQ students routinely report feeling unwelcome, like the Haslam College of Business.

Avery Vantrease, a senior supply chain management major, is the president of the new _LGBTQ+ Association of Business Scholars (LABS). In a college heavily focused on career development, Vantrease recalled meeting with a prospective employer who questioned her position as a woman in business and explicitly stated their support of “traditional views of marriage.”

She said that LABS is hoping to correct an environment both within the college and in the business world that is skeptical and exclusionary of women and LGBTQ students.

“Haslam has a very polished and particular presence when it comes to representing their idea of diversity for students, and while I know plenty of incredible people in their offices and on faculty, I think there’s a reason this organization hasn’t existed before this year,” Vantrease said.

Vantrease also linked UT’s status as an LGBTQ-unfriendly public campus to a powerful state legislature that has attempted to erase LGBTQ people and issues from public curriculum and limit rights for transgender individuals, among other anti-LGBTQ laws.

“While there are plenty of amazing students, faculty and staff I have found here, it’s impossible to ignore that UTK is controlled and arguably bound by the interests of the state legislature, a motif we have seen time and time again regarding different issues on campus in recent years,” Vantrease said.

A recent example of the relationship between university leadership and the state legislature concerned many students. UT System President Randy Boyd was revealed to be supporting a fundraiser for state senator Mark Pody, a conservative politician who publicly opposes LGBTQ rights.

Boyd has since backed out of the fundraiser after faculty pushback, but many students heard a strong message. Seniors Amanda Knopps and Gregory Whited are co-chairs of Sexual Empowerment and Awareness at Tennessee (SEAT), the organization that produces the famously Sex Week event.

In a joint statement to the Daily Beacon, Knopps and Whited said that the efforts on behalf of university leaders to support the LGBTQ campus community are hollow in light of their deeper commitments.

“UT is more focused on putting a bandaid over their issues than actually addressing them completely and unabashedly,” Knopps and Whited said. “Playing into respectability politics for LGBTQ+ and sex-positive organizations while allowing higher-ups to publicly support homophobes, transphobes,

etc., feels like a slap in the face to LGBTQ+ students and the organizations committed

UT is more focused on putting a bandaid over their issues than actually addressing them completely and unabashedly.

AMANDA KNOPPS ANDGREGORY WHITED Co-chairs of SEAT

to supporting them.”

“Perhaps actively listening to LGBTQ+ students and responding to their concerns instead of pretending there isn’t a problem would be a good first step.”

When it comes to the path beyond the ranking, student leaders seem focused on holding university leadership responsible for creating a more LGBTQ-friendly environment.

SGA Student Body President Claire Donelan said students were not surprised by last year’s ranking because there are still support and resources lacking at the university level, including in the areas of housing

and career development.

“In order for UT to become a more welcoming place to queer students, there needs to be a serious commitment from the university to actively listen to queer students and then create action from those conversations,” Donelan said. “This year I hope that SGA can be an influential part in creating that welcoming environment for all students. This means consistently advocating for the needs that we know exist and holding the university accountable for their actions, or lack thereof.”

For all of the authentic support students are seeking at the level of university leadership, there are hundreds of students, staff and faculty on UT’s campus who are proud members of the LGBTQ community and who, like Will Martinez, are hoping for a more inclusive student culture as well.

Folks in the LGBTQ+ community are your professors, staff members, friends, family members and community members. We are everywhere, and we are just trying to live our most authentic lives,” Martinez said.

“Have those sometimes uncomfortable and challenging discussions about pronouns, listen to your LGBTQ+ friends and work to be as inclusive as possible.”

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The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, October 13, 2021

LGBTQ HISTORY

11 YEARS OF THE PRIDE CENTER 6 | About the Pride Center 8 | Support from community Re- 10 | Paige Braddock interview sources

Ana Hernandez / Contributor

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PRIDE CENTER

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, October 13, 2021

Happy National Coming Out Week: A note from Coordinator Bonnie Johnson BONNIE JOHNSON Pride Center Coordinator

This week is National Coming Out Week, a celebration of visibility, awareness, and pride in our gender identities and sexualities. Centered around National Coming Out Day (NCOD) on Oct. 11, the celebrations were started in 1988 by two gay activists, Jean O’Leary and Robert Eichberg, to help break the silence and stigma around living openly as an LGBTQ+ person. Eichberg said in 1993 about NCOD, “Most people think they don’t know anyone gay or lesbian, and in fact, everybody does. It is imperative that we come out and let people know who we are and disabuse them of their fears and stereotypes.”

Today, “coming out” varies from being no big deal to some people while being a potentially life-threatening decision for others. Even if you are not out yet or not able to be out in your current circumstances, NCOD is for you too. We see you and respect you.

For those who are out, or for allies of the LGBTQ+ community, it is also important to ask ourselves what we are doing to make our society a better place for those who cannot come out or face intense stigma for being their most authentic selves. I have devel-

oped some resources for you to get started in your allyship and advocacy journey. Together, we can work to make our campus a place where everyone matters and belongs.

It’s on us to make a difference: Vol is a Verb!

The first recommendation is to get educated and do your homework. I have learned that I can’t practice allyship effectively if I don’t know who and what I am advocating for! I encourage you to read books, articles, the latest news, social media posts and other primary sources about and by the LGBTQ+ community. You can check out books from our Pride Center’s lending library if you need a place to start. Finally, you can seek out trainings like Safe Zone at UT to help expand your terminology and advocacy skills.

The second recommendation is to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Whether that is speaking up in situations of injustice, engaging a well-meaning friend who may not know the best terminology to use or learning something new that may challenge your preconceptions, it’s important to learn to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. I understand that we all want to avoid making a mistake or hurting someone, and the reality is that we will inevitably do that no matter our intentions.

We create an inclusive environment when we keep our minds open to new information and understand that sometimes we may be

wrong or misinformed. The true growth happens in that discomfort. Lean into it!

Finally, when it comes to learning about difference, we never “arrive” at a place of knowing everything. Information and language that were commonly used five to 10 years ago may not be current today. As with any community where you identify as an ally, listening to understand helps us to remain curious and open to new ideas. Remember, if you ever get stuck and unsure where to go, consider the ideas shared in this letter.

I truly hope you enjoy this LGBTQ+ issue of The Daily Beacon. Don’t forget about the Pride Center and our new location in Student Union, suite 373 if you need additional support, resources or a new friend! Join us at our National Coming Out Week Tea Party this Friday, Oct. 15 from 1-5 p.m. at the Pride Center. We have plenty of other events going on this month and beyond. Check out pridecenter.utk.edu or the Pride Center on social media today!

With pride, Bonnie Johnson Coordinator, Pride Center

Students, staff talk Pride Center’s impact on students, future goals EMMA COFFEY Staff Writer

UT’s Pride Center has become a haven for many students over the years.

The Pride Center, which opened in 2010, is the resource center for LGBTQ students on campus. The purpose of the center is to create an inclusive campus community where students can feel welcome to open up about their sexuality and any struggles they may be facing.

The Pride Center hopes to impact the community with its three values: connection, education and empowerment. They have numerous resources available to students, which can be found on their website.

The Pride Center not only has many resources for students, but it also gives students a place to find their group of friends if they haven’t been able to find them in classes or residence halls.

The Center has faced challenges in the past, like being defunded by the university.

However, the Pride Center is now thriving and recently relocated to the Student Union.

It is easily accessible to students and has a

there,” Tate said.

“Our place on Melrose had more of a home feeling that I really loved, but I also fell in love with the more professional setting of the Student Union. We are able to reach and connect to people that we weren’t able to at the old location.”

Tate said that the university is taking slow, but much appreciated, steps toward making the students feel safe and seen.

Students hanging out in the Pride Center, located on the third floor of the Student Union on Monday Sept. 27, 2021. Ana Hernandez / Contributor gender-neutral bathroom right outside for all students to use. The Student Union is also at the center of campus and is one of the major social hubs of the university.

Sophomore Drew Bridges said that, because of the recent relocation of the Pride Center, he feels that there is change happening on campus.

“Both the Pride Center and SGA are working towards change at UT through LGBTQ

representation. This makes our community feel seen and heard,” Bridges said.

Junior Erika Tate shared her connection with the Pride Center and how she feels about its relocation.

“I consider the Pride Center my safe space. It’s a place where I can go and relax and do homework. Everyone is so nice and so friendly that it feels like I’ve known them for years, and I’m completely comfortable

I consider the Pride Center my safe space.

ERIKA TATE Junior at the University of Tennessee

STORY CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

PRIDE CENTER

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STORY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 noticeable spark missing, so I am happy we Sophomore Katie Creech feels similarly about the Center and the impact it has had on her experience as a UT student.

“For me, the Pride Center is a safe, inclusive space for LGBTQ+ students, including those who may still be questioning or closeted, to feel at home,” Creech said. “We have access to counselors and other mental health resources. The Center has made me feel accepted and seen at a place where people who are different are not always accepted in our heteronormative society.”

Bonnie Johnson is the coordinator who oversees the Pride Center. She explained her feelings about being in the new space.

“I am ecstatic to have our center in its new location in the Student Union. Between COVID and construction delays, it has certainly been a long time coming,” Johnson said. “It’s been so heartwarming to see students return to the center, make new connections and bond over their majors or favorite games and get plugged into initiatives like our peer mentoring program.”

“There are new amenities in the center such as the conference room and a larger main room, which are great for student organizations and study groups.”

“Without the students there has been a

have reclaimed it this semester,” Johnson said.

Johnson strongly encourages students to reach out or stop by the office if they are dealing with any struggles.

Johnson has many goals for the Pride Center’s future, such as expanding their connections with LGBTQ alumni and starting a scholarship program for students with strong passions for LGBTQ advocacy and education.

“I am looking forward to more crosscampus collaborations with other Student Life departments and academic colleges alike,” Johnson said.

One example of future engagement that the Center looks forward to is a Nov. 11 event with Paige Braddock, an alumna of the UT School of Art and The Daily Beacon who created the groundbreaking lesbian comic strip “Jane’s World.”

The Pride Center is also preparing to host blocks of the AIDS Memorial Quilt this November through December in numerous spots across campus. More information can be found through their social media.

The Pride Center hosts the Qloset Pop-Up Shop on Monday Sept. 27, 2021, in which students can choose from a selection of free casual clothing. The Pride Center is located in Student Union room 373.

Ana Hernandez / Contributor

PRIDE CENTER

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South Press Coffee celebrates one year in business, offers safe, sober, LGBTQ space KEENAN THOMAS Staff Writer

After one year, South Press Coffee has become a staple coffee shop and sober gathering place for the LGBTQ community in Knoxville and in the country.

Born in Newport, Tennessee, owner Joslynn Fish worked in the service industry for over 20 years. She opened South Press Coffee after becoming unemployed, using her savings from Cracker Barrel to open the shop. She’s upgraded twice, recently moving into a larger location at 3615 Chapman Highway in South Knoxville.

When she started South Press, Fish wanted to provide a place for people to gather. She wanted to open up in an area near her home, which has seen a rise in alcoholic spaces.

“There is a lot of alcohol-centered commerce that’s springing up in South Knoxville, and I’m not a stupid woman; I know that that’s good for our property value, that’s good for our city,” Fish said. “But as someone who doesn’t drink alcohol, there was a desert in terms of social space where we could get together with friends where alcohol wasn’t the center of the room.”

She stressed the importance of having a place for all people, young and old, in the LGBTQ community to gather.

“Queer people, generally, only get alcoholcentered spaces,” Fish said. “It is much more common to see a gay bar than it is to see a queer coffee shop. But there are people who needed this. What about the people who are in recovery?”

“What about the young people, who know that they’re different, but they can’t get into those spaces? They need to see adult queer people who are happy and healthy and welladjusted, properly loved and thriving. So where can they go to see that? Well, they can, they have a place now,” Fish said.

This was a pressing factor for barista Riley

Interior shot of South Press, an LGBTQ-friendly coffee shop, on Friday Oct. 1, 2021 located on 3615 Chapman Hwy. Local musicians are a frequent sight of South Press, adding to its comfy atmosphere. Jamar Coach / The Daily Beacon Paquette, with South Press building her faith in the community within Knoxville. “(As) someone who is sober, this is important to me, because I’ve never had a space where I can go and there’s not the expectation of drinking,” Paquette said. “We don’t have many spaces anymore, after The Edge closed down. Then it just left Club XYZ and then it was South Press, and that is highly important for me.”

Fish has crafted a business that draws people in. As a result, South Press has reached people from across the United States, bringing people in from all over. South Press also received recognition from the blog Queerency on their Instagram, among other prominent LGBTQ coffee shops in the United States.

Fish said that the people are what makes her business special, as she allows everyone to be themselves, to be comfortable and to be able to share their stories.

“I always say that if you find ‘out there’ to be a very scary place, then this should be a place where you can come and just feel safe for a time,” Fish said. “And I’ve met people from

13 states who have driven in just to see us and meet us and spend time in the space. I’ve had people come out in the space. I’ve had people deal with loss in the space.”

Barista James Owens gravitated to South Press for this sense of community. They started as a customer before getting promoted to barista. Owens talked about feeling comfortable to be themselves while working in an accepting environment.

“It’s pretty amazing,” Owens said. “I’ve never really been a very closeted person myself, so I bring the gay everywhere I go. But here, it’s nice to fit in and be able to be myself and wear what I want to wear to work, and just have fun with everything.”

They serve a variety of drinks at South Press outside of regular black coffee. Two favorites from Owens and Paquette are the Bi-Curious George cold brew and Dolly Breakfast Blend Tea. The shop also serves pastries and other baked goods from local bakeries, like bread from SoKno Sourdough.

Along with the drinks, Fish designed the shop around comfortability. She wants people to stay as long as they need to whenever they come into the business. She provides music, games and books for people, along with a friendly environment. She invites people from rural areas, like she grew up in, to come into town and feel welcomed.

Along with the LGBTQ community, Fish helps Knoxville as a whole. She has partnered with the Pride Center at UTK, feeds the homeless with their leftovers and works with small businesses in the area.

“In the little shop, we had eight single, family owned businesses that we supported in our day-to-day operations,” Fish said. “Now, we are up to 13.”

She said that nearly everything that is bought in the store is locally sourced, like the coffee beans that they get from Knoxville Coffee Company. Whenever someone spends money in the shop, it is being fed back into the local economy by supporting the businesses that South Press partners with.

“About 80% of our revenue that we create in the shop stays right here in the region,” Fish said.

Fish added that they don’t take a commission for the art or other items that they sell, as she wants to see everyone succeed with local pop-up shops that consistently sell out in her store.

But it hasn’t always been a smooth ride, as Fish has faced hardships along the way. Alongside growing as a business owner, Fish had to deal with bureaucracy when she grew her business location.

“There has never been a trans-woman serve so publicly and being unapologetically trans at the front of a business before. So bureaucrats have never even perhaps encountered a trans person. And it’s very easy when you’re in a position of power, and you also have prejudice, to flex that power over people that you deem lesser.”

However, this opportunity allowed the community to rise together, funding a successful GoFundMe campaign to meet the necessary requirements to get the store open.

Even with the community rallying behind the business, Fish and South Press have garnered some negative attention online, which Fish acquitted to having a large social media presence. However, Fish said that she’s gotten used to it as she keeps looking forward.

“You have to have thick skin,” Fish said.

“When you have a net that casts out to 70,000 people, which is how many followers we have on social media right now, yes, you get a lot of positive affirmation coming back, but I also get death threats three times a week.”

Despite every difficult situation, Fish works hard — harder than most — to keep her business open and safe for anyone to come in.

“The reason why I’m so grateful to be in service the way I do is because we serve grateful guests,” Fish said. “People will show up here on a Saturday morning, they will wait 40 minutes in line, and when they have gotten to the front of the line, they are just grateful to be served.”

South Press has grown tremendously since it first opened one year ago. Fish hopes that her shop doesn’t just become the exception, but the guideline by which other businesses will follow. It has served as a welcoming beacon to everyone, especially the LGBTQ community in and around Knoxville, as well as the nation.

PRIDE CENTER

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PRIDE CENTER

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, October 13, 2021

Famous cartoonist Paige Braddock discusses time at UT, professional career SARAH RAINEY Editor-in-Chief

In a question and answer session with Daily Beacon Editor-in-Chief Sarah Rainey, former Beacon employee and current professional cartoonist Paige Braddock spoke about who she is, her time at UT, important career moments and how being part of the LGBTQ community has changed her outlook on her work.

Paige Braddock will be having a virtual moderated conversation held by UT’s Pride Center on Nov. 2 at 6:30 p.m. More details can be found on UT’s Events Calendar website, and you can register online now.

Question 1: Who are you, and what is your current profession?

My name is Paige Braddock, and I am the Chief Creative Officer for Charles M. Schulz’s studio in northern California (Snoopy and Charlie Brown). The studio oversees the licensed products and animation based on the “Peanuts” comic strip.

Peanuts initially gained popularity in the United States, but now has a huge international fan base, especially in Japan.

Q2: When did you attend UT Knoxville, and how long were you at the Beacon? What position did you hold while you were here?

I was at UT from 1981 to 1985 where I earned a degree in Fine Art with a focus in illustration. I was at the Beacon during my entire time at UT. “Sadie” was a daily comic that I created for the Beacon’s comics page.

Q3: How has your experience at the Beacon helped in your professional career?

Doing a daily comic for the Beacon definitely helped me improve my writing and drawing skills. Getting published in the paper helped me build my portfolio for future jobs. Creating something that has a daily deadline and an ongoing storyline is a lot

of work. This was sort of the perfect training for the illustration job I eventually had working for a daily newspaper where every day you have multiple deadlines to meet.

Q4: Did you feel that you could express yourself in your work during your time at the Beacon? How do you feel times have changed since then?

I definitely felt like I could express myself. The editorial staff at the Beacon was very supportive. At the time when I was doing a comic for the Beacon, no one was really open about being gay and while I’m sure there were subtle threads of the lesbian experience in my work, I definitely wasn’t overt about it. I would hope that if an artist wanted to do a comic strip now with an LGBTQ+ lead character that they would be accepted and feel comfortable enough to be open in their storytelling.

Q5: What has been the most impactful or inspiring moment in your professional career?

Getting the chance to work with one of my cartoonist heroes, Charles M. Schulz.

After working in journalism for 12 years, I moved to California to work with Schulz.

The studio was a very inspiring place to work, and I think the quality of my comic work improved because of his influence and encouragement.

Q6: How has being a part of the LGBTQ community changed your outlook on your work?

I think being part of the LGBTQ+ community has made me cherish and appreciate diversity and authenticity in storytelling. It’s empowering to see yourself represented in stories.

Paige Braddock’s original ‘Sadie’ cartoons from 1984

Paige Braddock, class of 1985, spent the spring semester of 1984 drawing cartoons for The Daily Beacon. Her work was fequently published during the semester under the name “Sadie.” For a full collection of her collegiate cartoons, visit the UT Libraries archive.

PRIDE CENTER

Wednesday, October 13, 2021 • The Daily Beacon

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The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, October 13, 2021

PRIDE CENTER

LGBTQ HISTORY

Wednesday, October 13, 2021 • The Daily Beacon

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‘It just felt safe’: Gay men feel welcomed in UT’s fraternity life MADELYN MUSCHEK City News Editor

Last year, UT was ranked as the second least friendly college campuses towards members of the LGBTQ community by the Princeton Review. In looking at UT’s relationship with the gay community, it’s important to think about all aspects of the university to understand this ranking. So, we look to fraternity life.

Fraternity life has been a part of UT since at least the 1870s and has since been considered a pillar of masculinity and tradition. But in the 150 years since then, have those traditions changed at all or are the parameters of fraternities at UT still as traditional as they were? Is fraternity life at UT accessible and welcoming to the LGBTQ community? How are gay fraternity brothers treated at UT? Elijah Ramsey, a senior majoring in marketing, is a member of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity.

He also spent two years working as the organization’s social chair. Ramsey spoke about his experiences as an openly gay man in a fraternity.

Ramsey said that he was encouraged to rush by someone he had dated in high school, and though he felt anxious at first, meeting other gay people in fraternities made him feel more

comfortable.

Ramsey did acknowledge some homophobic sentiments by other fraternities, even those that wanted to diversify and include more LGBTQ-identifying people into their organization.

“While there were fraternities that were commending us and asking us how to do what we were doing, there were also fraternities that — I don’t know if I would call it animosity — but they definitely didn’t think well of us because of the fact that we had gay people,” Ramsey said.

However, Ramsey spoke positively about his experiences, saying that he felt safe and at home at Pi Kappa Phi and has felt mostly welcomed during his experience. He said that it made him feel more comfortable that some fraternities already had LGBTQ members.

“It was that level of comfort that I had, it just felt safe. And then once I had joined there weren’t many times that I felt like I shouldn’t be there,” Ramsey said.

When asked about any advice he has for any out, gay men wanting to join a fraternity, Ramsey said that the best thing to do is choose the fraternity where you feel most comfortable.

“You’d be holding yourself back if you don’t.

I didn’t have a lot of friends in high school that were guys that were straight, but I joined this fraternity and suddenly I realize that college is

a different place,” Ramsey said. “I would have had a completely different life here if I had not rushed.”

Brandon Meyers, a junior double majoring in finance and statistics, is a member of Phi Kappa Tau, and spoke about his experiences as an out, gay man in a fraternity at UT. “My personal experience in joining Greek life has been overwhelmingly positive. I think for organizations that have always been portrayed as very exclusive, I’m surprised how inclusive they actually are. I’ve met a lot of my best friends through Greek life,” Meyers said.

When asked if he felt any animosity or homophobia from members of Greek life, Meyers said that, like Ramsey, his experiences have been mostly positive.

“I feel like it’s a common misconception that Greek life is inherently homophobic. Yes, there have been some instances where I have felt unwelcome by certain members in Greek life but never by Greek life as a whole, or even an organization as a whole,” Meyers said. “My brothers have never treated me differently than one another and have always had my back in uncomfortable or unwelcoming situations.”

Meyers also gave advice to those that are looking to join a fraternity and spoke about the importance of being your true self during the rush process.

“If you are anything but yourself during

rush, you’ll feel anything except a sense of belonging after rush,” Meyers said.

In exploring how the gay community intersects with Greek life at UT, it’s clear that there is a space for gay men in fraternity life. As time continues to pass since the beginning of UT fraternities in the 1870s, it’s easy to see that Greek life is not the exclusive — or homophobic — place on campus it once was.

My brothers have never treated me differently than one another and have always had my back in uncomfortable or unwelcoming situations.

BRANDON MEYERS PHI KAPPA TAU

OPINION: Tennessee passing anti-transgender laws should concern you

BEN GOLDBERGER Opinions Editor

Tennessee has legislation that actively and openly discriminates against a group of people and nobody seems to care.

Back in March of this year, Governor Lee signed a bill that banned transgender athletes from playing in high school girls’ sports.

According to AP news, the bill says, “student athletes would be required to prove that their sex matches that listed on the student’s ‘original’ birth certificate in order to participate in public school sports in middle and high schools.”

In order to play sports with their peers, stu-

dents have to prove that they have matching genitals with their teammates and that they have always had those genitals since birth.

Not only is this an insane obstruction of personal privacy, but it also is one more thing telling transgender kids their being is not okay, which adds onto a society that already tells them that everyday. By telling students who already have gone through such discrimination from their peers, teachers and probably some family members that they are not eligible to play with their peers of the same gender because of their genitals — which they did not choose — Tennessee officials are practically letting transgender kids know they think of them as alien objects that don’t deserve the same rights as “normal” cisgender kids.

Along with this, the bill actively breaks several laws passed by the federal government, such as Title IX, various rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court, the 11th U.S. Circuit of Appeals and an executive order signed by President Biden that prohibits discrimination based on gender identity in schools (AP News). For a state that has a long history of discrimination against other groups of people because of a physical characteristic, this is unfortunately in line with how Tennessee legislation has been in the past.

The message this sends to its transgender youth is that the state does not care about you and your wellbeing, and you would be better off living in another state that doesn’t see you as a foreign

species that can’t be mixed with our kids.

This bill also revolves around the idea of male superiority and that men are inherently better than women at sports. The justification that legislators use for this bill is that it would be creating a more equal playing environment for the cisgender girls because the transgender girls would still have the male build and therefore would naturally dominate in every sport.

This is a giant “screw you” to womankind because they are pushing a rhetoric that women are inferior to men in athletics. After all the work that has been done to support girls in sports, this bill is a giant step back into misogynistic tendencies that we seemingly haven’t moved past yet.

Further, Governor Lee passed a law in May of this year that bans doctors from providing hormone treatment to prepubescent youth (PBS). A purposely vague determinator for what age you are allowed to provide hormone treatment to kids, this bill was created in order to limit the accessibility of resources to those who wish to transition to their correct gender.

Not only is Tennessee discriminating against current transgender students, but they are actively trying to stop them from actually existing in the first place.

These anti-transgender bills are actively worsening the lives of transgender kids in Tennessee, causing them to desert their state in hopes of moving to one that values them as human beings.

In an interview with AP News, Colin Goodbred, a 22-year-old transgender man who grew up in Nashville, explains how these bills are pushing him away from Tennessee.

“I think that these sorts of bills are part of what is pushing me away from identifying Tennessee as my own state, even though I spent the vast majority of my childhood, I grew up, in Tennessee,” Goodbred said.

“I don’t feel like I want to return there. I’m already going to college out of state. I’m wanting to work out of state. And they’ve made it abundantly clear that they do not want trans people in the state.”

STORY CONTINUED ONLINE Read more at utdailybeacon.com

Ben Goldberger is a junior at UT this year studying anthropology and political science. He can be reached at bgoldbe3@vols.utk.edu.

Columns and letters of The Daily Beacon are the views of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Beacon or the Beacon’s editorial staff.

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LGBTQ HISTORY

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, October 13, 2021

LGBTQ-affirming campus ministries seek to be an ‘unrelenting voice of welcome’ DANIEL DASSOW Campus News Editor

Behind the desk of Rev. Rachel Penmore at UKirk, the campus ministry of the Presbyterian Church (USA), hangs a print of the mural “Modern Last Supper” by Atlanta-based artist Ross Boone, better known as “Raw Spoon.”

The mural is a modern adaptation of Leonardo Da Vinci’s masterpiece “The Last Supper.” Jesus is depicted as a homeless man who eats at a fast food restaurant with a prostitute, a kid with a skull skateboard, a Black mother and her child and a man wearing a bra, among others. In the background, a preacher in a three-piece suit heads out of the restaurant, with a look of disgust on his face.

“I love that everybody’s represented and that the person you would stereotype as a Christian can’t handle it and he’s having a tough time and is checking out the door because it’s a little radical,” Penmore said.

Penmore is the campus minister at UKirk, a ministry known for its pretty house on Melrose Avenue, complete with a coffee shop called “UPerk” and a pride flag hanging prominently by the front door.

On a campus replete with religious organizations, UKirk finds itself in the small group of outwardly LGBTQ-affirming ministries, which also include the Wesley Foundation, Tyson House and Hillel at UTK. “Our job is to be an overwhelming and unrelenting voice of welcome,” Penmore said.

“As students are understanding their identities … this church will welcome them with open arms and remind them until they get it that God loves them, that they are known and loved by God and there is nothing they can do to separate themselves from that.”

Students may not be accustomed to seeing a pride flag displayed next to a cross, but the combination is intentional at UKirk. This semester, the ministry is focusing on the concept of welcome, and Penmore believes that including and affirming LGBTQ students in their identities is an integral part of cultivating a welcoming community.

“We can’t be the family of God unless everybody is welcomed, unless we invite everybody in,” Penmore said. “Jesus didn’t create tables and tell people they couldn’t be there. Jesus created tables and tried to find who wasn’t there and that’s part of what we’re called to do.”

UKirk and Tyson House, the Lutheran and Episcopal campus ministry, are marked by the prominent display of pride flags at their

houses. Penmore says such statements are in line with Jesus’ example.

“Jesus was political. Jesus’ whole mission was navigating the empire of the day.

So I don’t think we can be ministry and not pay attention to what’s going on in the world around us,” Penmore said. “I think it’s a disservice to the world if we’re not paying attention, if we’re not responding, if we’re not working for justice, whatever that looks like.”

RJ Powell, the co-chaplain of Tyson House who represents the ministry’s Episcopal side, recalled how the ministry was known as a “second Pride Center” when the Pride Center was crippled by defunding five years ago.

For him, being an LGBTQ-affirming ministry comes with the goal of reconciling students to a religious tradition that has harmed them.

“People bring their own trauma with them, and so they’re just like, can a place be truly affirming and still be a church space?”

Powell said. “I hope that this place is a place that can change hearts and minds around those things. There are other ways of being Christian than a lot of the maybe more conservative experiences that they grew up with.”

Tyson House sits on Melrose Avenue, also

known as “Church Row,” with UKirk and a handful of other ministries. Though it only began displaying a pride flag this semester, along with a UT flag and flags for each of its denominations, the ministry has been known for its overtly affirming stance on sexuality for years.

Part of Powell’s mission at Tyson House is to help students shed the sexual shame that more conservative, evangelical forms of Christianity often induce.

When he recites the Lord’s Prayer, he places emphasis on the phrase “on earth as it is in heaven.” He said most people mumble over the “on earth” part so they can get to heaven.

“We have another message. There’s another way of being Christian than going to heaven or going to hell,” Powell said. “Salvation is not all about escaping this world.

Salvation is about healing this world in this life, not in some afterlife.”

Put another way, there are many ways to be saved.

“You can’t be a whole healed person if you can’t be wholly yourself,” Powell said. “Salvation is absolutely expressing who you are and knowing yourself to be a beloved child of God in the fullest extent of who you were created to be.”

Gender and sexuality-focused classes offered at UT MADELYN MUSCHEK City News Editor

Sometimes, the best way to learn about something new is to take a class about it. If you’re interested in LGBTQ history and looking at different disciplines through the lens of sexuality, here is a list of some of the different courses on gender and sexuality across different disciplines offered at UT. Spoiler alert: Not all of them fall into the women, gender and sexuality major.

Psychology PSYC 435: Multicultural Psychology is a class that looks at different aspects of psychological research such as race, spirituality, ability level, ethnicity level, socioeconomic status and of course gender and sexual orientation by focusing on how these factors impact psychology.

But there’s an interesting perspective to this class. According to the course catalog, the focus of this course “will be on increasing personal self-awareness and knowledge of multicultural issues.”

Sociology SOCI 453: Gender and Crime is a course in which students examine how gender impacts criminal justice, especially in offending and victimization. In doing so, students look at the intersection of different gender experiences with crime in making sense of these differences. This class is also offered as WGS 453.

Cinema studies CNST 469: Sexuality and Cinema is a film class that looks at how sexuality is portrayed in cinema through feminist film criticism. This writing-emphasis course is also sometimes offered as WGS 469.

Women, gender and sexuality WGS 434: Psychology of Gender is a course that focuses on different factors that impact gender expression and identity. These include biological, psychological and social factors.

The class also focuses on the role of gender roles and gender stereotypes in shaping individual experiences. This is also offered as PSYC 434.

WGS 320: Gender, Sexuality and Religion

is at the intersection of many different disciplines, including history, religious studies, literature and the arts. This course focuses on the expression and construction of gender and sexuality in religion, spanning into the art and literature throughout history. It is also offered as REST 320.

WGS 412: Gender, Performance Art and the Avant Garde focuses on how performance art is used to express gender and sexuality. The class also thinks about social constructions of gender, and how the body is used to present these constructs in art. Also offered as MUCO 412, this course is expansive, looking at music, dance, drama, spoken word, film and visual art Students studying outside HSS. to explore these topics.

File / The Daily Beacon

Child and family studies CFS 240: Human Sexuality focuses on looking at human sexuality by thinking about cultural, social, familial and psychological factors.

CFS 385: Diversity Among Children and Families looks at various factors that can contribute to the opportunities given to different people based on their upbringings and family backgrounds. In addition to gender and sexuality, some other factors that this class looks at include social class, race, ethnicity, culture, disability and religion.

History HIUS 326: Gay American History spans from colonial to present day America to look at how the LGBTQ community in the United States has impacted history and changed through the years, while also examining behaviors and politics from this perspective.

LGBTQ HISTORY

Wednesday, October 13, 2021 • The Daily Beacon

5 LGBTQ-friendly spaces in Knoxville MACY ROBERTS Contributor While living in the south, it can be challenging to find safe spaces where all individuals are free to express themselves in a genuine and unapologetic manner. Given that the city of Knoxville is so large and diverse, there’s many places that openly welcome members of different backgrounds, including those who identify as LGBTQ. Here are five examples of places to consider visiting for those who identify as LBGTQ or want to support the greater community.

South Press Coffee South Press is a local coffee shop located off Chapman Highway, making it a quick and easily accessible getaway.

What distinguishes South Press from other local coffee shops is its particularly unique environment that aims to make each customer feel like the space is just as much theirs as anyone else’s.

The mix of ‘50s and ’90s aesthetics makes South Press a beautifully unique space unlike any other. Openly displayed pride flags and inclusive signs characterize the space as one that is especially welcoming of LGBTQ individuals.

South Press serves a large variety of coffees, teas and pastries, but even for Knoxville community members who aren’t looking for a place to eat, South Press is a chill environment great for studying or hanging out.

Given the shop was opened by Joslynn Fish, a member of the LGBTQ community herself, the story of South Press is especially inspiring and one that everyone is encouraged to be a part of.

Yassin’s Falafel House Yassin’s Falafel House was opened by Syrian refugee Yassin Terou with the intention to serve as a place that welcomes people of all identities and backgrounds. Yassin’s Falafel House has received critical acclaim from leading media organizations in the U.S. It even won the “Reader’s Digest” title of “Nicest Place in America” in 2018 and was featured on “Good Morning America” that same year.

Displayed on Yassin’s menu is a range of Mediterranean inspired dishes including sandwiches, salads and various sides. Customers can find the restaurant in Downtown Knoxville and the Cedar Bluff area.

Yassin’s entry sign perfectly captures the message the restaurant wishes to send to America, which is that it is a safe place that welcomes people of “all sizes, all colors, all ages, all sexes, all cultures, all religions and all beliefs.”

Knox Pride Center Knox Pride is primarily known for hosting the city’s annual Pride Festival, although they develop a variety of other events as well. According to their

website, these include a silent ArtOut auction, a fashion show and pride picnics.

As they recently signed a lease for a space off Chapman Highway, Knox Pride intends to open a physical outreach center this month. Opening the community and outreach center is the first step towards creating a brighter future where Knox Pride can provide services and resources for LGTBQ groups and individuals.

Knox Pride is not only a great place for LGBTQ members to gather and grow together, but it’s also a great organization to get involved with to give back to the community. To partner with Knox Pride, reach out to John Camp, president of the 2021 Executive Board. For more information, visit the Knox Pride web page.

Knox Box Karaoke Knox Box Karaoke is a nightlife destination open Tuesday through Sunday from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Those visiting Knox Box can take advantage of their food and drink menu and sing along to their extensive list of songs, but Knox Box also hosts other events.

For example, during Pride Month, Knox Box held a weekly Drag Show, and similar drag nights continue to be popular events hosted by Knox Box. Knox Box also hosts themed nights, and for more information regarding upcoming events, be sure to check out Knox Box’s social media pages.

Knox Box describes itself as a place where “everyone can sing,” so for Knoxville community members searching for an exciting nightlife experience, Knox Box Karaoke is a well-regarded, inclusive place worth looking into.

Knoxville Theatres Broadway at the Tennessee Theatre features different genres of shows throughout the year, including many that feature LGBTQ stars. For instance, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is being put on, on Oct. 23 with tickets priced at $12.

In November, the theatre will host “A Drag Queen Christmas,” and in February of 2022, “Rent” will be performed in celebration of its 25th anniversary tour. The Bijou and the Clarence Brown Theater on campus are also great sources for LGBTQ-focused entertainment — for instance, the Knoxville Gay Men’s Choir has performed at both of these locations.

The theatre world is one that typically exists as a safe haven for LGBTQ groups across the nation, and Knoxville’s theatre community is no exception.

Whether members of Knoxville’s LGBTQ society have an interest in participating as performers or merely spectators, Knoxville’s theaters serve as great spaces with a diverse range of entertainment allowing LGBTQ culture to thrive.

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LGBTQ HISTORY

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, October 13, 2021

History of a Tennessee trailblazer ETHAN STONE Assistant Sports Editor

Marshall Walker was present at the unveiling of four statues honoring historic Tennessee trailblazers in front of Neyland Stadium on Sept. 2, 2021.

Walker, a retired football coach, was speaking on behalf of his brother — one of the four being honored by the university.

“I want to first say that I’m honored to be able to represent the Walker family when Jackie’s statue gets unveiled,” Walker said.

“I believe Jackie would feel it’s a tremendous honor to have a statue on the University of Tennessee campus. None of us ever expected this. I’m ecstatic, proud and happy that (Tennessee athletic director Danny White) and the rest of the UT staff and coaches saw this as important and found a way to honor these historic University of Tennessee athletes.”

Jackie Walker was a linebacker for the Vols from 1969-1971. Walker redefined the linebacker position at Tennessee, posting 268 tackles and 6 forced fumbles in two seasons — excluding his 1969 season, where stats were unavailable. Walker had a hand in Tennessee’s first two bowl victories under revered head coach Bill Battle.

Walker serves as a role model in other ways, though. He was the first Black AllAmerican in SEC history, as well as the first Black captain in any sport for the conference.

Walker was also part of the LGBTQ community, in a time where persecution for one’s sexual preference was at an all-time high in the United States. Walker didn’t talk about his sexuality around his teammates.

Rumors spread around campus in his senior season and eventually Battle and other teammates were made aware. It was not a good time for Walker mentally. According to Marshall, he believed people would see him

as something different than what he was — a dominant, talented football player that just wanted to win.

Walker went to Fulton High School, only 10 minutes away from Neyland Stadium. He was small for a linebacker, standing at just 6 feet tall and less than 200 pounds.

In 1967, Walker posted the highlight of the season, stuffing an Oak Ridge High School player with a massive hit on third down. The play, later dubbed simply “The Hit,” cemented a 14-13 win for the Falcons and is now considered one of the most famous in Fulton football history. The Falcons finished that season undefeated, a first for the eventual Knoxville prep powerhouse.

Despite his impressive accolades, Walker is not currently a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Walker passed away in 2002 as one of the most revolutionary athletes in SEC history, but many have never even heard his name.

Marshall has an idea as to why that is.

“It’s because of his sexual orientation,” his brother said.

Like Marshall, many argue that breaking two major barriers, be it through race or sexual orientation or both, should be enough to enshrine Walker in college football history. Walker was also cut before the NFL season after being selected in the sixth round in the 1972 draft by the San Francisco 49ers, which Walker himself attributed to the team discovering his sexual orientation.

“I’ve never nominated anybody, but Jackie Walker is certainly worthy in my eyes, and I don’t have a clue why he hasn’t been included,” former Vols football color analyst Tim Priest said of Walker in 2007. “He’s qualified for the National Football Hall of Fame, too. I’ll tell you this — his name will be put in nomination. It’s time.”

In his final days, his brother promised Walker that he would work to make sure Walker got the recognition that he deserved.

With the help of Priest, Walker was inducted into the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.

2021

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PICK ‘EM

Josh Lane Sports Editor (28-14) Ole Miss (45) vs. Tennessee (42) Texas vs. Oklahoma State Auburn vs. Arkanas Kentucky vs. Georgia Pitt vs. Virgina Tech Nebraska vs. Minnesota BYU vs. Baylor

Ethan Stone Asst. Sports (28-14) Ole Miss (42) vs. Tennessee (35) Texas vs. Oklahoma State Auburn vs. Arkanas Kentucky vs. Georgia Pitt vs. Virgina Tech Nebraska vs. Minnesota BYU vs. Baylor

Ben Goldberger Opinions Editor (28-14) Ole Miss (48) vs. Tennessee (51) Texas vs. Oklahoma State Auburn vs. Arkanas Kentucky vs. Georgia Pitt vs. Virgina Tech Nebraska vs. Minnesota BYU vs. Baylor

Caleigh Rozmenoski Copy Chief (27-15) Ole Miss (53) vs. Tennessee (42) Texas vs. Oklahoma State Auburn vs. Arkanas Kentucky vs. Georgia Pitt vs. Virgina Tech Nebraska vs. Minnesota BYU vs. Baylor

Alexandra Ashmore Photo Editor (26-16) Ole Miss (35) vs. Tennessee (21) Texas vs. Oklahoma State Auburn vs. Arkanas Kentucky vs. Georgia Pitt vs. Virgina Tech Nebraska vs. Minnesota BYU vs. Baylor

Sarah Rainey Editor-in-Chief (22-20)

Jackie Walker’s Statue in front of Gate 21 at Neyland Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021.

Ericksen Gomez-Villeda / Contributor

Ole Miss (42) vs. Tennessee (27) Texas vs. Oklahoma State Auburn vs. Arkanas Kentucky vs. Georgia Pitt vs. Virgina Tech Nebraska vs. Minnesota BYU vs. Baylor