Chattin’ with the Chancellor
Esther Esth Es ther er Choo Cho C hoo o • The The Daily Dail Da ily y Be Beac Beacon acon on
Cheek Speak provides students answers to campus questions Noah King
Heidi Hill
Contributor
Assistant News Editor
Students flooded room 201 of the Haslam Business Building Tuesday night to hear Chancellor Jimmy Cheek’s annual Cheek Speak Town Hall. As students filed into the room, Cheek began the session with a round of handshaking and inquiring students about their studies and chosen majors. On diversity and inclusion initiatives: Questions regarding diversity and inclusive practice dominated the Q&A session, prompting Cheek to emphasize recent strides made by UT faculty and staff to accomplish those goals and increase funding for diversity initiatives. He also cited the addition of Rickey Hall as Vice Chancellor of Diversity and the recent construction of a modernized Student Union as evidence of the university’s success in these areas. Hall, who was formerly employed at the University of Minnesota, retains six years of experience as the university’s assistant vice president for the school’s equity and diversity division. “You have to be excited about the things you actually see happen, (and) I think you can see our vision with the student union,” Cheek said. Cheek and Dean of Students Melissa Shivers discussed the university’s Stop Bias initiative as an integral part of maintaining an inclusive environment on campus for students and faculty alike. “Our primary concern is making sure that the affected student staff or faculty member has received the type of
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support that they need in order to continue to be involved and connected at the University of Tennessee,” Shivers said. “Usually within 14 to 24 hours the reporting individual has received an email from a member of our staff to meet. We are very timely with our response.” See CHEEK on Page 4
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Wednesday, November 11 2015
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The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, November 11, 2015
DISPATCHES Transgender woman jailed on mistaken prostitution charges Meagan Taylor, a black transgender woman, is suing an Iowa hotel after a mistaken police call resulted in her spending eight days in a Des Moines jail cell. An employee of the hotel called police after witnessing Taylor and a friend enter the hotel, describing what he believed were “men dressed as women” engaging in acts of prostitution. Police later searched the room and arrested Taylor for possession of her estrogen pills without a prescription. Taylor had planned to attend a funeral in Kansas City before being detained.
Three men arrested for attempts to start race war
The 310-foot tall smokestack created in 1965 is set to be demolished. Tanner Hancock • The Daily Beacon
Federal authorities arrested three men Sunday under suspicion of trying to start a race war in Virginia, according to federal authorities. Robert Curtis Doyle and Ronald Beasley Chaney III were approached by an undercover FBI agent posing as an illegal arms dealer in an FBI operation. Doyle and Chaney had planned to rob local businessmen and jewelry dealers in order to finance their scheme to bomb black churches and synagogues in their area. A third man, Charles Daniel Halderman, was also arrested under suspicion of attempting to aid Doyle and Beasley in their attempt to start a race war.
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Soon to be less smoggy smoke on Rocky Top Staff Report
UT’s skyline is set for some big changes, as the 310-foot smokestack at the corner of Lake Loudoun and Volunteer Boulevard is set to be demolished. The smokestack was built to accompany the coal-fired burners constructed in 1965 to help power the campus through their steam output. The university ceased coal burning as a means of power production on campus in March 2015, making the transition to cleaner burning natural gas to help power over 150 buildings on both the main campus and the agricultural campus. With the transition, UT’s utilities emissions were cut by half, while carbon dioxide emissions fell by over two-thirds. “It’s important that we continually work to reduce air, water and land pollution from
campus operations and to demonstrate our commitment to environmental stewardship,” said Dave Irvin, associate vice chancellor for facilities services, in a press release announcing the demolition. Irvin also noted the smokestack’s demolition will aid in the university’s continued efforts to beautify campus and the city in general, as the smokestack is visible from downtown Knoxville. The structure originally cost $25 million, with $24 million being provided by the state of Tennessee and the remainder from the university. The demolition of the smokestack will be done in phases. After a hole is prepared at the base of the smokestack, bricks from the top of structure will be removed and allowed to fall into the hole below and removed later. The demolition project is predicted to last around 45 days, including the removal of all remaining coal burning equipment left in the facility.
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CHEEK continued from Page 1 On the gender neutral pronoun list: One student questioned the administration’s decision to remove the nationallyrecognized gender neutral pronoun list posted in a Pride Center newsletter last August. Cheek confirmed that he and the other administrators stood by the decision, claiming there were “many pros and cons” to each side of the decision. “We ultimately decided that was the best option we had at that point in time,” he said. “That’s just a decision we had to make. You can’t have too much diversion from the path you’re on.” When informed that UT ranked low in campus friendliness to LGBTQ+ students, Cheek responded that he would want that perception to change in the coming years. “It was our decision to take down the (pronoun) list, but I don’t think it weakens our commitment to inclusion at all.” Cheek also encouraged students to read the final report given by the Senate committee hearing held on Oct. 14 and 15. The conversation, Cheek explained, centered on the finances of diversity initiatives rather than the release of the list. On the revised Student Code of Conduct: When asked about the pending changes to the Student Code of Conduct, Cheek and Vice Chancellor of Student Life Vincent Carilli said these mostly refer to the elimination of legalistic language, an “indefinite suspension period” and the inclusion of an amnesty policy for students, faculty and staff. “It has removed some things that hopefully, once we get it approved, will make us a more student friendly campus,” Cheek said. “We’ve had more student input on this document than any document in 40 years. Much improved over what we currently have.” As a topic related to the new Code of Conduct, one student asked Cheek if the current alcohol policy, banning on campus drinking or liquor sales, would be altered in the future. The chancellor simply responded that he, Carilli and other administrators were examining the policy at the time, referencing the necessity for state approval. “It’s not something we can do ourselves.” On campus sustainability: Following the announcement of the demolition of the Lake Loudoun smokestack, Cheek emphasized an increase in reliance on natural gas and educational
Wednesday, November 11, 2015 • The Daily Beacon programs centered around sustainable practices. “We reduced pollutants by about 60 percent, (so it) doesn’t look like an industrial campus,” Cheek said in reference to the the smokestack’s pending removal. On Gov. Haslam’s privatization proposal: When the inevitable topic of privatization for Facilities Services arose, Cheek specified the topic of outsourcing as suggested by Gov.Bill Haslam’s August announcement that he would be investigating the possibility for institutions, including UT, statewide. “We would have to see data that it was clearly better for us (to outsource Facilities Services),” he said. This stance, as reasserted by UT President Joe DiPietro’s October email, remains the official stance by the university on the outsourcing agenda and will require, Cheek explained, more research and data comparisons from Tennessee legislators. Chris Cimino, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, also commented on the current trajectory of Haslam’s proposal, claiming that significant campaigning and campus response resulted in the state legislature’s delay in setting a hard deadline. Cheek also reminded those in attendance about previous periods where UT had elected outsourcing as a way to cut costs. “We have outsourced janitorial services, and brought them back because we feel we can do it better that way,” he said. “We are not opposed to outsourcing, but it has to make sense to us from a financial perspective as well as a utility perspective.” On Top 25 initiative: In regard to the Honors Program, Cheek was asked how he and the UT administration plan to attract more high-achieving students and faculty in accordance with the initiative to become a Top 25 public research university. “The Honors (student) population is the largest it’s ever been this year,” Cheek said. “Provost (Susan Martin) is actively looking to expand the program, but we have had the largest freshman class in 41 years.” On the number of bicycle racks on campus: As the session concluded, Ross Martin, junior in business management, asked Cheek about how he plans to tackle the apparent lack of bicycle racks around campus. “I would like to have more bicycle racks on campus because it would reduce traffic on campus,” Cheek responded. “You would be healthier when you graduate.”
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The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, November 11, 2015
UT Gardens offers outdoor education for future teachers Alahnah Ligon Staff Writer Tis the season to be thankful. As a part of its community for Knoxville homeschoolers, UT Gardens is hosting its third annual educational event that offers a new way to celebrate Thanksgiving. “Homegrown: Pilgrims and Pumpkins” is one of a series of monthly events hosted by UT Gardens as an educational outreach program for elementary-level homeschool students within the Knoxville community. Derrick Stowell, UT Gardens Educator, said the series is a way to “enhance homeschool family’s curriculums with science, nature and gardening-based education programming.” As a part of the “Pilgrims and Pumpkins” event, students will debunk common Thanksgiving myths, learn how to grow pumpkins, how to roast pumpkin seeds and play games like “Pumpkin’ Chunkin’,” where students can shoot small pumpkins from slingshots. UT Gardens offers other community outreach programs including field trips for public schools, summer camp programs and other workshops offered throughout the year for both students and adults. On Nov. 21, UT Gardens will open an “Indoor Edible” workshop to teach people how to grow herbs and microgreens in an indoor environment. In December, the group will host a wreath-making workshop to prepare for the holidays. In the spring, UT Gardens is opening a six-
Humans of Knoxville
week “Intro to Vegetable Gardening” course available to students and community members one hour per week to continue their mission toward knowledge. “My goal is education,” Stowell said. “I look at creativity and other gardens around the country to see what they are offering and to see what interest people (have) in different garden subjects.” The FUTURE Program is one of the organizations that has collaborated with UT gardens to set up the homeschool series in its three year run. Jordan Ashcraft, a second year FUTURE program student, works with Stowell to develop goals and objectives for the monthly educational events in the series. As a Pellissippi State student, Ashcraft originally heard of the FUTURE program while attending a summer camp for offered by UT in the summer of 2014. Ashcraft has since served as an intern for on-campus programs, including UT Gardens, working within the education department to develop skills for the future. “Being able to help with the classes gives me more of a feel of what it will be like teaching later,” Ashcraft said. “I bond with the kids and get that ‘teacher’ feel in an environment that’s different from a classroom.” “Homegrown:w Pilgrims and Pumpkins” is hosted at UT Gardens from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. this Wednesday. UT community members can attend the event for $5. To sign up or register for other events, visit utgardens.wildapricot.org for more information.
Missouri protesters welcome media, day after shunning it Associated Press
Protesters credited with helping oust the University of Missouri System’s president and the head of its flagship campus welcomed reporters to cover their demonstrations Tuesday, a day after a videotaped clash between some protesters and a student photographer drew media condemnation as an affront to the free press. Activists removed yard signs warning the media to stay away from a grassy area of campus that has served as an impromptu campsite
for the protesters in recent days. Concerned Student 1950, a group which led the protests, put out fliers titled “Teachable Moment” that encouraged demonstrators to cooperate with the media. “The media is important to tell our story and experiences at Mizzou to the world,” the flier read. “Let’s welcome and thank them.” That embrace stood in sharp contrast to Monday, when protesters chanted “Hey hey, ho ho. Reporters have got to go,” and some tried to block a freelance student photographer from covering protesters’ celebratory reaction to the system president’s departure.
What is your favorite memory here at UT? “I went to a play here my second semester. It was a student written play and I was really impressed. I just really loved it.” What about it impressed you? “It was really funny and had a great storyline. It also had a lot of plot twists that I did not see coming.” - Jade Knox, sophomore in studio art Alyssa White • The Daily Beacon
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Wednesday, November 11, 2015 • The Daily Beacon
Beauty pageant to showcase local talent Sam Kennedy Contributor
Believe it or not – pageants are not just for reality TV. This year, the Multicultural Mentoring Program will be hosting their seventh annual Mr. and Miss Freshman Pageant. Multicultural Mentoring Program is a program whose main goal is to help freshman by providing them with support, assistance and social guidance. The program helps create a positive environment for the first year students by developing activities for them and facilitating interactions with upper-class students. The pageant gives students a chance to show off their personalities and talents to the UT student body. Freshman who are part of the program had to apply to be in the pageant, and after a round of interviews, the program chose 12 students: five men and seven women. After starting off the pageant with a group dance number, each of the contestants will give an introductory speech about themselves. The contestants also had to pick out specific outfits that they thought described their personalities as well as a song that represents them. The participants will have to compete in several
competitions, including a talent portion, which can include singing, acting and dancing. The students will also have to model evening gowns and suits, along with their personal style. The pageant will conclude with a traditional onstage question. “I am looking forward to working with everyone to give the best show we can. We have put so much effort and time in it, and what I’m most excited about seeing is the outcome,” said Kenneth Reed, freshman in supply chain management and participant in the pageant. In addition to naming a winner of the pageant competition itself, there is also a prize for the contestant who raises the most money for the event through selling tickets and ads. Both winners will receive a scholarship, and the winner of the pageant wins the name of Mr. or Miss Freshman. “Working with the people in the pageant has created a family bond. We spend time with each other outside of practice and enjoy each other’s company,” Kiana Thomas, freshman in communication studies and participant in the pageant, said. “I’m glad I applied for the pageant, because if I hadn’t, I would not have formed such great relationships with the other contestants and all the mentors in the MMP program who have helped out.”
I am looking forward to working with everyone to give the best show we can.” Kenneth Reed, freshman in supply chain management
The preparation for this pageant has been going on since October, with the group practicing every other day. For the last few weeks though, the group has been practicing every night. “It’s really fun most of the time. Sometimes it can be tense, but for the most part, we all are a family and encourage each other,” Reed said. The event will take place in Cox Auditorium in the Alumni Memorial Building on Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. Tickets are on sale at the Black Cultural Center for $3 now or $5 the day of the show.
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Terminally ill Texas man who saw new ‘Star Wars’ film before release dies Associated Press A terminally ill “Star Wars” fan who requested an advance screening of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” has died less than a week after watching the movie. Daniel Fleetwood, who had cancer, had a private screening at his home in Spring, Texas, Nov. 5. His wife, Ashley, posted on Facebook that he died in his sleep early Tuesday and “is now one with God and with the force.” Diagnosed with spindle cell carcinoma and told he had just months to live, the 31-year-old Fleetwood lobbied online to be allowed to see an early version of the movie, due out Dec. 18. He saw an unfinished version, thanks to the film’s producers and director, J.J. Abrams. Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors say a celebration of Fleetwood’s life is scheduled Nov. 21 in Nacogdoches (na-kuh-DOH’chihs).
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The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Individual rights need to take priority over brands Missouri. We have to talk about Missouri. It’s important that we talk about what just happened on the University of Missouri campus, because if we’re not careful, something this drastic dealing with diversity could definitely happen here. For those who might not be as informed, both the president and chancellor of the University of Missouri have resigned from their positions after the players of color on their football team went on strike as a
Maria Smith Bleeding Orange, Being Different
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To not even be close to this situation, we have to learn and practice both appreciating and accepting all forms of diversity.”
reaction to various acts of racism on campus. In addition to the football strike, one student went as far as participating in a hunger strike. All of the acts of racism that occurred have not been explained in detail, but the main event that has been brought up in the news is that of a swastika being made out of human feces. This action should be an automatic trigger to our awareness. By doing something this offensive and disgusting, we as individuals should instantly see how much diversity was disrespected at that university. It was a swastika made of human feces, for Vols’ sake. If we plan to be better, we have to observe and learn from these types of situations that affect other institutions within our same demographic. To not even be close to this situation, we have to learn and practice both appreciating and accepting all forms of diversity. Now, here’s the tricky part. Being optimistic and a promoter of diversity inclusion and awareness, I want to believe that Missouri got these people in its administration to resign out of the intolerance of wrongdoings toward minority students. But if we are being completely honest, there is the possibility that the administrators resigned because the fate of their football team was in jeopardy after the greater majority of their team went on strike. This possibility is sad
but feasibly true. So with that being said, there is obviously a bigger issue to be exposed. Why is it that sometimes the well being of individuals is looked over to protect an image? Why is it that an athletic brand is seen as so much more important than the protection and respect of individuals that anything will be done to keep it? This is awful and completely disregards all aspects of diversity as being relevant to society. Hopefully, this is not this case, but living in the time that we do, we cannot act like the likelihood does not exist. Part of being aware is taking in all facets of the situation and talking about all the possibilities surrounding it that no one wants to mention. If we as a campus community plan to be better, do better and not be in this type of situation whatsoever, then we have to first start by accepting and respecting diversity. To avoid this situation all together, we have to stop being ignorant to the small acts of disrespect that can build up over time to cause an explosion of strikes and riots. We have to respect each other’s differences in their entireties despite their complexities. It’s possible. We can do it, but how will we start?
Maria Smith is a sophomore in journalism and electronic media. She can be reached at msmit304@ vols.utk.edu.
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On communications, turn signals and paying attention
Clint Graves If I’m Honest
Blinkers. Indicators. Turn Signals. Whatever you call them, I hate them. Or, at least, I hate the way motorists use them. The turn signal constitutes what a communications major might call a message. They are pieces of information used to stimulate meaning in the mind of another. They create a shared meaning. Messages are powerful things. When we communicate, we undertake a lot of responsibility. Two large responsibilities are the concepts of clarity and honesty. We’re supposed to communicate in a clear and honest way to be competent communicators. And turn signals are just messy messages. I can maybe think of one scenario when the turn signal, as a tool for communicating, is helpful. When traffic patterns become tight, it’s possible that it becomes absolutely necessary that all drivers around you know exactly what you’re in need of doing. Typically, you only need turn signals when you’ve messed up royally. Needing to change over several lanes of traffic immediately, for instance. Or being in the wrong lane because you have no idea where you are. But these situations are atypical. For the most part, people go where they are supposed to go, without too much of a fuss. The problem is overuse. Yes, it’s good to know what the people around you intend to do. But messages can be mistaken. And when you miscommunicate
in a several-thousand-pound hunk of metal, blazing at over 200 degrees Fahrenheit, sailing at 60 mph, it might be the last message you ever send. It might be the case, every once in a while, that no information is safer than misinformation. Driving, as an exercise, takes a lot of single-minded concentration. When you focus on it wholly, it’s child’s play. Of course this is the point where most people bother to look up from their phones and scoff at the idea of not doing 17 separate tasks simultaneously. It’s a deal breaker, I know, but hear me out. Most of the time, it’s pretty easy to tell what people are going to do. Predictive driving is not difficult as long as you pay attention to the road. A turn signal tells you nothing more than the direction in which some person is about to move. A lot of the time, that’s completely unnecessary information. If you’re behind someone, who is about to turn in a different direction, then they’ll be slowing down. This means their brake lights will be illuminated, which means you should also apply the brakes so as not to smash into their rear. Either direction merits the same result. No difficulty at all. If you’re merging on the interstate, there is only one direction you can go. It’s left. Chances are pretty good that someone is going to be looking to move left out of a far-right lane that’s about to end. So let them over. Simple. If you’re in a turn lane, then you’re probably turn-
When we communicate, we undertake a lot of responsibility. We’re supposed to communicate in a clear and honest way ... ”
ing. Most of the time, there’s only one direction you can turn. If there are multiple options, you follow the rules: everyone turning right goes first, those proceeding straight go second, then people turning left go last. Blindingly easy. And by that, I mean it is so easy that you don’t need the sense of sight to figure it out. All road-going scenarios can be easily handled by paying attention to the road and the cars around you. And turn signals are possibly useful in that. But they’ll never be as good as situational awareness. Clint Graves is a junior in communication studies and English. He can be reached at bhr713@vols. utk.edu.
Columns of The Daily Beacon are the views of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Beacon or the Beacon’s editorial staff.
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Wednesday, November 11, 2015 • The Daily Beacon
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A prison sentence should stop after prison
Miranda Gottlieb Fireside Chatter
Racial tensions stemming from structural and systemic inequalities have led to widening disparities acutely displayed in the criminal justice system. The disproportionate and negative impact of mass incarceration can be felt in the compounding strains leading to overcrowded prisons and a lost generation of young men. Moreover, upon release after serving sentences affiliated with non-violent drug offenses, formerly incarcerated persons continue to feel the burden of a crime, regardless of the time already served. Federal prison release currently underway will affect some 6,100 inmates across the country. As release initiatives progress, a shadow of ostracism remains in the hiring process for formerly incarcerated persons. Structural poverty and economic instability have generated insufficient resources for minority communities that suffer from high crime rates and limited commercial opportunity. Thus, the prisoners being released, although a move in the right direction for criminal justice reform, will likely face difficulties entering the job market. Shockingly, individuals looking to work in legal enterprises such as the adult-use marijuana industry in certain states continue to face barriers, as individuals charged with felony drug crimes are ineligible to work in the legal cannabis market. The exclusion from the new marijuana industry mimics other forms of employment subjugation that can be felt across formerly incarcerated populations,
”Current sentencing procedure and mass incarceration efforts, in an attempt to be “tough on crime,” have led to devastating results across this country.”
but disproportionately so for people of color. Change to drug policy laws does not return everyone back to their families, but it begins to change the mass incarceration paradigm that for 40 years has continued to increasingly target African-American communities on the false narrative that the policies implemented would bring safety and better opportunity. Current sentencing procedure and mass incarceration efforts, in an attempt to be “tough on crime,” have led to devastating results across this country.
Bamboo trees and college progress Elle Johnson I Learned Something
In the Far East, Chinese bamboo trees grow. These trees start out like any other tree. You take a little seed, plant it in fertile soil and nurture it with water and fertilizer until you begin to see your results flourish. However, there is one aspect of growth in the Chinese bamboo tree that differs from your average tree. After a year of cultivating the seed, you will see no visible growth in the tree. Nothing will change after two years and even up until the fourth year of watering your Chinese bamboo tree, the ground will remain as flat as the day you began. Stretches like that can be discouraging enough to make someone want to quit and move on to an easier, less time-consuming task. However, if you hang on to the chore and continue to care for the plant up until the fifth year, something amazing happens. The Chinese bamboo plant finally sprouts and grows an astounding 96 feet in six weeks. These past few weeks, I’ve felt like a farmer halfway through their second year of drudging over a plant that just won’t grow. In college, we are presented with so much information and knowledge in our selected fields through courses, organizations and other activities on campus, but as ideas and interests begin to flourish in our minds, for the most part, we aren’t seeing any tangible developments.
Will I slide right into my dream job right after graduation? Does the ideal career for me even exist? What am I even supposed to do with this degree? These are some of the many questions I imagine go through the average college student’s mind, based on how regularly they float around mine. But we have to remind ourselves regularly that, like the Chinese bamboo tree, great things take work and time. Still not convinced? Take this for example. What do Pandora, PayPal and the Harry Potter empire all have in common, beyond all being common symbols that make regular appearances in our day-today lives? They were all the first successes of their respective entrepreneurs but were not founded until the entrepreneur was at least 30 years old. Tim Westergren, co-founder of Pandora, was originally a failing musician but had dreams of a music hardware company that pushed him forward. After starting Pandora, he was originally unable to pay his employees, but after two more years of hard work and patience, Pandora became the online radio channel we all know and love today. Before he co-founded PayPal, Peter Thiel was an unhappy Stanford law graduate working in a Manhattan law firm. While some may superficially view that as “success,” it was nowhere near the term in Thiel’s eyes. “From the outside, everyone wanted to get in,” Thiel describes, “but on the inside, every-
The inequitable distribution of punishment for drug use extends beyond the brick and mortar cells as the sanctions placed on formerly incarcerated persons continue to be felt in access to higher education as well. In turn, stratified access to higher education limits job opportunities and ultimately social mobility. In refocusing our efforts towards ending systemic and structural poverty specifically within underserved communities, mass incarceration policies connected to antiquated drug laws must be reformed. Moreover, the work is incomplete solely by releasing individuals convicted of drug crimes. Lifting the perpetual roadblock for those seeking new futures and opportunities would greatly help those who are shadowed by sentences already served for a crime that may no longer receive penalty. Ending the war on drugs and ending mass incarceration for drug offenses is not only right socially, fiscally, and morally, but it serves as the foundation for achieving equity and justice in our racially biased criminal justice system. Miranda Gottlieb is a senior in political science and Hispanic studies. She can be reached at mgottlie@vols.utk.edu. This column is part of a public policy-centered series written by members of the UTK Roosevelt Institute.
one wanted to leave.” However, he had a vision in his mind for innovation, and after leaving the law firm and hopping around a few jobs, he went on to found PayPal at age 31. J.K. Rowling considered herself a failure, even after spawning the idea of the Harry Potter at age 25. Rowling worked through a failed marriage, an abusive ex-husband, raising a child and relative welfare in the seven year period it took to finish and sell Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. “I had an old typewriter and a big idea,” Rowling once said. “Had I really succeeded at anything else, I might never have found the determination to succeed in the one arena I believed I truly belonged.” In our lives during and following college, we are all just cultivating our little Chinese bamboo tree seedlings. Some may take longer to grow than others, like some of the world’s most recognizable entrepreneurs, but truly incredible things can come to those who persevere and are willing to have patience. Hold on to your passions and dreams, and don’t let them go. Because I promise you, the world can’t wait to see what awesome trees you will grow someday. Elle Johnson is a sophomore in College Scholars. She can be reached at *ejohn100@vols.utk.edu.
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The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Renowned architect brings BläpDĂŤli album delivers bonesexy back to subsidized housing shattering bass, pure bliss Jared Sebby Copy Editor Since the creation of suburbs in the ‘50s, government-funded residential development has been seen as a failed concept, a relic of a post-war period devoid of aesthetic or architectural quality. Nowhere is this more prevalent than in Mexico. As part of a massive building project designed to solve the rampant homelessness across the country, the Mexican government began building millions of single-family homes in the ‘70s, and it hasn’t stopped since. Now, faced with large-scale abandonment of those developments, they’re looking for a solution to the looming housing crisis. Enter Tatiana Bilbao, a residential architect from Mexico City, who is working to bring individuality back to Mexico’s suburbs and neighborhoods. “Architecture gives quality of life. Architects can have a lot of power. I decided to use it in a good way, in a way that really impacts people,â€? Bilbao said. “Really, the people that cannot afford it are the people that need (an architect). And people might say it’s not sexy, but you don’t need to do ugly things.â€? As the last of this semester’s Church lectures, Bilbao addressed a room of architecture students and faculty, stressing the importance of humanity in residential design and city planning. In addition to her work in Mexico, she
has also worked with the architecture firm Herzog & De Meuron on a city planning project in France. Bilbao was given three buildings in each block to design, including two subsidized housing projects. “In France you have to do (architecture) in a good way, it’s not the cheapest you can build. The target price is much higher than what we use for residential housing in Mexico,â€? she said. “We are used to working with the minimum, so we really work with a lot of economic constraints. For us, it was a luxury to be designing social housing in France, whereas normal architects in France think they have nothing.â€? Bilbao also discussed her other work, from a botanical garden in Sinaloa to a funeral home in San Luis PotosĂ. In each building, she tries to design spaces that work within her constraints, from the unskilled laborers in the construction crew to the materials available locally. “I’ve always been interested in low income housing,â€? fourth year architecture major Edgar Bolivar said. “Actually seeing it done in the real world, that’s what really spoke to me. I’m doing this project and we’re dealing with the community, which usually doesn’t have the biggest budget, so being able to understand the setting – you’re going to use it, no matter what.â€? This lecture concludes the Church lecture series for this semester. The series will resume on Jan. 26, with Jason Young’s “Skirmishes with the MacroPhenomenal.â€? More information can be found at archdesign. utk.edu.
Sterling Martin Copy Editor One man’s first traveling tour has inspired his most recent work—which is nothing but nine songs of pure bliss. California native Emmett Kai, aka BläpDĂŤli, has been hard at work since returning home from Thriftworks’ and Russ Liquid’s Too Few Tour, where he joined on as support for the first half. “I kind of already knew what I was going to do with my life, but then I did (the Too Few Tour), and that’s what really kind of set it off for me‌â€? Kai said. “This year has been psycho.â€? His newest release titled the “KUATIRâ€? EP displays a range of versatile EDM that is tricky to grasp on the first listen. According to Kai, the EP title comes from the Indonesian word “kuatir,â€? meaning “to worry.â€? Inspiration for the EP, according to Kai, comes from a place of uncertainty. The addition of a low-pitch vocal track helps to bring out emotion as “KUATIRâ€? sets sail with its intro, “Stupid.â€? The track, which Kai admits he is partial to, has ample amounts of energy and pizzazz. The second track, “Old Things,â€? has an antique vibe that compliments the subtle “world musicâ€? influences throughout the release. Crisp, stuttering percussion is used in the second half of “Click.Tap.Stove.,â€? one
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of the more versatile tracks on the release. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Click.Tap.Stove.â&#x20AC;? transforms from an upbeat dance groove into a break down that emphasizes silence and rhythmâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;highlighting the ways in which BläpDĂŤli creates emotion with the use of layers and by skillfully using the often-underrated inclusion of silence. This same sinister style is carried over into â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wristfull.â&#x20AC;? Various emotions can be felt throughout the entire â&#x20AC;&#x153;KUATIRâ&#x20AC;? EP, as seen in the slower-paced, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hair.â&#x20AC;? Layers of vocals establish a quicker beat, which generally contrasts from the more down-tempo second half of the album. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Like Itâ&#x20AC;? is another upbeat installment that features the vocals of Thigh Gap Jackson. This track, much like the release as a whole, inspires dancing no matter the setting, with bone-shattering bass and unexpected twists at every stage of the listening experience. Aside from the need to make people dance, Kai explained that the â&#x20AC;&#x153;KUATIRâ&#x20AC;? EP is also about reconnecting with his fans, while gaining new ones in the process. The albumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s final track, â&#x20AC;&#x153;tttttt,â&#x20AC;? grabs the listenerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attention immediately with a sudden drop, which is recreated and reintroduced through the songâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s various progressions. The tasteful sample of Marvin Gayeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Going Onâ&#x20AC;? is included and serves as a final cherry on top of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;KUATIRâ&#x20AC;? EP.
PUZZLES&GAMES
Wednesday, November 11, 2015 • The Daily Beacon
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Get Fuzzy • Darby Conley
NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD • Will Shortz
I’m Not a Hipster• John McAmis
Cartoons of The Daily Beacon are the views of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Beacon or the Beacon’s editorial staff.
ACROSS 1 Painter Chagall 5 Kevin who was the 2014 N.B.A. M.V.P. 11 Record holders? 14 Vicinity 15 One way to be caught 16 Basketball star ___ Ming 17 Amused the singer of “Raise Your Glass”? 19 Zero 20 Ore-Ida product 21 Bit of campfire entertainment 22 Time to rise, in poetry 23 Ruinous end 25 Enchantment of the singer of “Raspberry Beret”? 31 What an unbelievable YouTube video might be 32 Some military defenses, for short 33 K.G.B. adversary 34 ___ port
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2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 35 Favoring the singer 1 of “Sunday Bloody Sunday”? 14 15 38 Easter egg 17 18 container? 39 Red Lobster freebie 20 40 ___-Aid 41 Cream and 22 23 eggshell, for two 25 26 27 28 42 Medical procedure 31 32 for the singer of “If You Love Somebody Set 34 35 36 37 Them Free”? 39 40 47 Source of ivory 42 43 44 45 48 Tree of Life locale 49 Loo 47 48 51 Fast-food convenience 49 50 51 52 56 It might puff 56 57 58 you up 57 Coached the singer 59 60 of “Kiss From a Rose”? 62 63 59 90° turn 60 Emmy-winning series set at 63 Word next to a coin 12 One corner of a the Sterling Cooper slot Monopoly board ad agency 13 Filleted fish 64 Fraud fighters, for 61 Bit of fish food short 18 ___ Hubbard of 62 26th of 26 Scientology DOWN 1 LeBlanc of “Friends” 21 When doubled, a drum ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE 2 Diva’s delivery 23 “Aw, hell!” N F O C S I S D O G S 3 Four-sided fig. 24 Approximately A R R T R I T E R A N I 4 Betty Crocker 25 Put forward product P E D W E N T T O O F A R 26 Way into A N E C O O K I L O S T 5 Coke Zero Wonderland alternative C R Y L I O N E L 27 Premium ___ A H N O E N D S O C A L 6 Ruined 28 27-Down G O T I T G O V V A S E 7 Entranced offering A P E C O D R O B E R T A 29 David of “Separate 8 Four of the 12 V E N H E F C U R L E D Tables” imams of Shia E N D S F E D E X O R S 30 Travels (about) 9 Diarist Anaïs E A S T E R O K S 31 Central points S T R U T L E T M E S E E 10 Shatner’s “___War” 35 U.P.S. truck T E A L A K I S S S L A V contents: Abbr. A N G G I N S U H I R E 11 Nickname for a high-achieving 36 Piece next to a N T E E D G Y A M P S couple knight
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SPORTS
The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, November 11, 2015
FOOTBALL
Senior wide receiver Von Pearson runs the ball giving Tennessee a strong field advantage during the Tennessee-South Carolina game. Hayley Pennesi • The Daily Beacon/Tennessee Athletics
Freshman backup quarterback Quinten Dormady fakes the ball against Kentucky. Hayley Pennesi • The Daily Beacon/Tennessee Athletics
Barnett finding “edge” as season progresses Taylor White Assistant Sports Editor Owen Williams hadn’t been playing his best football over the past few weeks, but that changed against South Carolina. The redshirt senior defensive tackle tied a career high with six tackles in Saturday’s win, and three of those were for a loss. “Owen is just playing with great pad level and leverage,” defensive coordinator John Jancek said. “He had a really good game last week.” He saved his best for critical moments in the game. One tackle-for-loss came on a third-andshort situation, while another was on a South Carolina fourth down attempt. For Williams, his success came not just from holding his gap, but knowing when to leave his gap and make a play. “He didn’t play well two weeks ago,” defensive line coach Steve Stripling said. “So we
really challenged him and he responded... He made three or four plays where the ball didn’t even come through his gap. He was protecting another gap, and he was able to physically move a guy and make a play in a different gap. It’s just the maturity of knowing when he can leave his gap.” The senior isn’t the only defensive linemen who has improved toward the end of the season, as Derek Barnett has started to become the force he was at the end of last season. The sophomore recorded seven tackles against South Carolina with one sack, his fifth over the last four games and sixth overall. Barnett dealt with nagging injuries early in the season, and has been able to increase his production now that he’s healthy. He’s regained more than his health, though, as Stripling said he’s starting to see the “edge” that Barnett played with his freshman season, in which he had 10 sacks. “He’s got some his personality back, he’s a little edgier, which is good,” Stripling said.
“Like today, we’ve got a pre-set rotation and guys running out there (to take his spot) and he’s just like, ‘I’m not coming off the field. Turn around.’ He’s just kind of getting that edge back to him and he has maybe a little more command on the field.” Targeting issues:** For the second straight week, a member of Tennessee’s secondary was forced to leave the game early due to a targeting penalty. One week after sophomore defensive back Emmanuel Moseley was ejected in the second half of the Vols’ win over Kentucky because of a questionable call, redshirt senior safety Brian Randolph was ejected in the first quarter against the Gamecocks on a much clearer play. The senior left his feet and hit South Carolina wide receiver Pharoh Cooper in the air, after the ball had already fallen incomplete. “We worked on (targeting) today,” Jancek said. “But the thing is, I don’t know if Brian was necessarily targeting. It was just a bad, bad decision on his part and he knows it. He couldn’t see
the ball in the air and he saw the guy going up, so he obviously took a shot on him.” Jancek insisted that the defense didn’t change when Randolph, the player largely responsible for making calls in the secondary, went out, but the loss did give younger players a chance to see meaningful snaps. Evan Berry hadn’t seen much time at safety since the season opener against Bowling Green, but Randolph’s absence opened a door for the sophomore defensive back. While he didn’t record a tackle, Jancek said the improvement from August to November was clear. “Evan went in there and did a good job,” Jancek said. “He got us out of the ball game. He did some good things and helped us win... We go in with the expectation that those guys know what they’re doing. They’re going in with the mindset that they’re just one play away from the being the started. That’s the way we approached it and they went out there and helped us win.”
SPORTS
Wednesday, November 11, 2015 • The Daily Beacon
FOOTBALL
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DeBord: Pearson deserving of big game against South Carolina Jonathan Toye Sports Editor Tennessee didn’t do anything different schematically to increase senior wideout Von Pearson’s productivity. It just happened. And Tennessee offensive coordinator Mike Debord is glad that it happened. “He is very deserving,” DeBord said after Tennessee’s Tuesday practice. “He has been working hard, he has been patient when he hasn’t got the ball, hasn’t said a word. “When you call a pass, you really don’t know where the ball is going to go. I mean until all of a sudden you see the coverage, and then you still don’t know exactly where the ball is going to go. You know where the progression of the quarterback is and stuff. It’s not like all of a sudden we said, ‘hey we are going to throw the ball to Von (Pearson). It has just happened.” The ball found its way into Pearson’s arms more often than not on Saturday. Pearson had eight receptions — a career-high and the most by a Vols receiver this season — for 121 yards in Tennessee’s 27-24 win against South Carolina. He had three receptions that went over 15 yards, including a 37-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter. DeBord credited the coaching staff for giving Pearson the opportunity to find open space in South Carolina’s coverage. “I thought our coaches put together a really good plan to handle cover one and cover two,” DeBord said. “So that opened some guys up, then the players did a great job of executing it. “I thought it was good execution from an offensive standpoint.” Running woes: Tennessee experienced a significant drop-off in the ground game last Saturday. After rushing for 136 yards in the first half, the Vols only gained 17 yards on the ground in the second half. DeBord gave an explanation for the sharp decline in rushing numbers.
The first-year offensive coordinator said he decided not to run junior quarterback Josh Dobbs as much. “We stayed away from that a little bit,” DeBord said. “When you have that ability to do both — with the back and the quarterback — that’s hard on a defense. So I just went to basically running our backs a lot more in the second half.” DeBord didn’t provide a clear reason why he elected to reduce Dobbs’ carries. The quarterback’s health, however, was most likely a factor into the decision. While Dobbs insisted he was fine on Monday, Tennessee coach Butch Jones said after the South Carolina game that Dobbs has been banged up. Dobbs produced solid passing numbers, but was noticeably less mobile in the Vols’ 27-24 win over the Gamecocks, as he ran for only 35 yards on 13 carries. His offensive coordinator, however, wouldn’t comment on Dobbs’ health, deferring all injury questions to Jones. “I am not going to talk about injuries or anything like that. Butch (Jones) always talks about injuries, or whether he did or didn’t have one. It was just a decision I made at that time. As the game got closer, I was going to do it more, but we ended up being OK.” Gas Pedal: Dobbs said on Saturday that the Vols took their foot off the pedal after they jumped out with a big lead against South Carolina. DeBord said he couldn’t confirm or deny Dobbs’ statement. “From my standpoint, that is really hard to judge,” DeBord said. “I am up there in the press box and you don’t have any idea. You are so far away. And when you watch the film, guess what? You are far away, you are not there. It’s hard to tell.” One thing is clear: DeBord doesn’t want the Vols to make complacency a habit. “But that’s not what we want, and that’s not what we are about. I really think we have learned from that and we were fortunate to win and beat them. So you learn from things like that.”
Junior quarterback Josh Dobbs attempts to pass the ball before being tackled by a South Carolina Gamecock. Esther Choo • The Daily Beacon
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The Daily Beacon â&#x20AC;˘ Wednesday, November 11, 2015