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Pat Summitt eyeing improved Lady Vols squad

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Thursday, November 12, 2009 Issue 58

E D I T O R I A L L Y

I N D E P E N D E N T

PUBLISHED SINCE 1906

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Vol. 112 S T U D E N T

News Editor Katie Freeman reviews the return of the S&W

N E W S P A P E R

O F

T H E

U N I V E R S I T Y

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T E N N E S S E E

Sculpture vandalism causes increased security Robby O’Daniel Chief Copy Editor “A Startling Whirlwind of Opportunity,” the spiraling sculpture in the middle of the Pedestrian Mall, currently sits with one of the bulbs on the piece broken. It’s been that way for over a month, waiting for a $400 replacement bulb, and that damage is just one example of the vandalism the sculpture’s endured since its installation this summer.

The starburst part of the piece was also broken on the night of the Pedestrian Mall sculpture’s dedication on Sept. 11, Jason Brown, associate professor in sculpture, said. But since it could be glued, it was repaired within a week.

“It caught probably several administrators’ attention because of the timing of it,” Brown said. “It was so close to the dedication, and the donor, Chick Hill, was still on campus for the home game. He took it in stride, I would say.”

No one was identified for the starburst vandalism because of the lack of cameras at that time. In reaction to the starburst’s break, temporary cameras were set up the following week, Brown said, with university police looking at the possibility of permanent cameras for the area.

“I don’t think they’ve had anybody stationed out there

for home games after the first two home games, basically,” Brown said. “It didn’t really do any good, as it turned out.”

Then the bulb was damaged on Oct. 3, and due to the temporary camera’s lack of quality, no one was identified in this incident either. Brown said he was told videotape evidence exists that shows a blurry individual climbing the sculpture on that date.

“It was just a mysterious, shadowy figure,” he said.

About three weeks ago, permanent cameras with higher video quality were installed.

Since the bulb could not be glued and it was not a “clean break” like the starburst, Brown said the university has to replace it with a new one made in Florida. The price quote given for the replacement bulb is $400, which Brown said the university will most likely have to pay.

Going further, he said, after looking at worst-case scenarios, if the starburst lighting element were ever damaged beyond repair, it would cost in excess of $20,000.

In addition to these two incidents, Brown said the piece was rolled with toilet paper multiple times, a traffic cone was put on top of the sculpture and it also has had a tar-like substance applied to it, but all these cases were minor and easily fixed.

Scott Martineau • The Daily Beacon

After repeated vandalism offenses on the “Startling Whirlwind of Opportunity,” video surveillance has been installed.

See SCULPTURE on Page 3

Scott Martineau • The Daily Beacon

UT grooming trio of freshmen

Freshman forward/center Faith Dupree takes a shot during Monday’s exhibition game against Delta State.

David Wells Staff Writer With a 13-woman roster and six returning true sophomores, Lady Vol head coach Pat Summitt signed just three freshmen for the 2009-2010 season.

The small rookie group is making Faith Dupree feel like the middle child.

“Kamiko (Williams) is way to the right and Taber (Spani) is way to the left, and I’m in the middle,” Dupree said. “I kind of see a bunch of different personalities in us three. Kamiko keeps me entertained, and Taber keeps us in line.”

Dupree, Taber Spani and Kamiko Williams join the Lady Vols who want to rebound after what Spani called a “rebuilding season.”

Summitt said the freshmen won’t just sit on the bench.

“To speak to the freshmen in particular, I think they can get some playing time, and they can help us,” Summitt said.

Dupree, who played with Lady Vol sophomore Glory Johnson at Webb School of Knoxville for three years dur-

ing high school, comes to UT as a likely bench player at the forward and center positions behind redshirt sophomore Kelley Cain.

At Webb, Dupree averaged 16.7 points per game while pulling down 7.4 rebounds, capitalizing on her scoring ability under the basket.

“Shooting is definitely my best (skill),” Dupree said.

Spani is UT’s first player from Missouri. As a homeschooled high school player, Spani was named the Gatorade Kansas Player of the Year during her senior season.

Spani was also the first player in girls’ high school basketball history to finish in the top 10 for her career in points and in rebounding.

The McDonald’s AllAmerican said she has long desired to be a Lady Vol. “For me, it was the chance to play for Coach Summitt,” Spani said. “I want to win national championships.

That’s what I want to do, and that’s what I want to be a part of. So I love the chance I have to do that this year.”

The freshman guard comes from a long line of athletic

family members.

Her grandfather, Frosty Westering, is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.

Spani’s father, Gary, played in the NFL for the Kansas City Chiefs for 10 years and currently holds the record for alltime leading tackler in team history.

While she acknowledged her athletic talent, Spani said she wants more than anything to give quality effort.

“Like Coach Summitt says, you have to work hard every day and be busting your tail on every play,” Spani said.

“So I try to bring that hardworking mentality all the time.”

Fellow freshman Williams knows all about that hardwork mentality. For the rookie guard, hard work has been the most noticeable difference from high school to college.

“Coming from high school, where you don’t have to do anything, to now, you having to play hard all the time and push yourself and have people push you, I love it, I really do,” Williams said. “It brings out the best in me.”

See FRESHMEN on Page 5

Dance Marathon to raise funds for hospital Maria Lund Staff Writer Faculty, students and staff are invited to participate in the 2nd Annual Dance Marathon 5K. The Nov. 22 race will raise money for the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.

Kate Phelps, race director for the event and senior in communication studies, said she hopes there will be a large turnout to support the event.

“We are very excited,” she said. “We are hoping to have around one hundred participants this year. We have a lot of local businesses participating by sponsoring the event, including the Runner’s Market and Dick’s Sporting Goods.”

The 5K was created in order to foster more involvement on campus, Amanda

Dail, who works in Dance Marathon’s media relations department and is a senior in marketing, said.

“The 5K got started to get more student involvement with Dance Marathon,” Dail said. “We had done a golf tournament in years past, but we wanted to bring it back on UT’s campus.”

Phelps also said that the course for the race is certified as a 5K track.

“The course is a certified course, so basically if you run a lot of 5Ks, you can use your time from the race in bigger races,” she said.

The Dance Marathon event is something that began back in the 1970s, Dail added.

“The philanthropy first began at Penn State University in 1973,” Dail said.

“Today, 77 colleges and universities have a

dance marathon event on their campuses.

The dance marathon event at UT began in 1995.”

Dail said that students work on raising money for the event year-round through fundraisers, such as collecting cans at football and basketball games. The fundraiser culminates in the spring with the big event: the all-night dance marathon.

“UT students give a day of their lives for the life of a child,” Dail said.

“Throughout its history here at UT, thousands of students have raised more than $900,000 for children with cancer and other blood-related diseases, making Dance Marathon the largest-run event that benefits the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.”

Phelps added that teams participating in the race have the opportunity to earn

spirit points for the Donna Rainey Miracle Cup. “You can sign up for the event on the day of the 5K, or you can go online anytime and print off the registration form,” Phelps said. “Also, T-shirts, food and gift items will be provided at the event.”

The Dance Marathon organization wants to raise more money this year than they did last year.

“Last year we raised $54,000, so our goal for this year is $60,000,” Dail said.

“That is our goal for the whole event, not just the 5K.” The 5K is open to everyone, and awards will be given out in different age groups, Phelps said. Registration forms for the 5K can be found online at the Dance Marathon Web site, http://www.utkdm.com.

CAMPUS CALENDAR

2 • The Daily Beacon

Thursday, November 12, 2009

InSHORT

?

Katie Hogin •

The Daily Beacon

What’s HAPPENING

Idan Raichel plays the piano while fusing African, Latin American, Caribbean, Ethiopian, and Middle Eastern sounds together with his band during their performance at Cox Auditorium Monday night.

AROUND CAMPUS

Nov. 12 - Nov. 13, 2009

Thursday, Nov. 12 — • 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. — The International House finishes up Latin American Week with the Mexican film “Under the Same Moon” in the I-House Great Room.

The film tells the story of an illegal immigrant living in Los Angeles and her son, who still lives in Mexico.The film is free and open to the public.

• 7 p.m. — Award-winning author Dorothy Allison shares a reading from one of her books during an installment of the English department’s Creative Writers Series in the McClung Museum Auditorium.

Allison received mainstream recognition with her novel “Bastard Out of Carolina” (1992), which was a finalist for the 1992 National Book Award and also won an ALA Award for Lesbian and Gay Writing. Her third novel, “She Who,” is forthcoming.

Friday, Nov. 13 — • 12 p.m. until 1 p.m. — Dr. James Killeffer, M.D., head of the neurosurgery department at the UT Medical Center, speaks on “Minimally Invasive Back Surgery” in Thompson-Boling Arena dining rooms C-D.The lecture is free and open to the public.

• 12 p.m. until 2 p.m. — The International House hosts a Turkish cooking class in the Great Room. $2 for students and $5 for others.

THE CRIME Saturday, Nov. 7 • 8:59 p.m. — While working the UT vs. Memphis football game, an officer was approached by two complainants. The female said she and her boyfriend were sitting in Row C when some Memphis fans started an altercation with them. She said they’d had words the entire game, and she and her boyfriends decided to leave. As they did, one of the Memphis fans grabbed her by the throat and pushed her down, the complainant said. The couple then found the officer, who requested the Memphis fans to come with her to the Concourse level to discuss the altercation. When she did this, 15-20

people in the section began to yell that they’d done nothing wrong and that it was the accusing couple who had made problems in the section.

The accused couple explained that the complainants had been cursing the entire game, and they’d asked them to refrain as there were children present.

The complainants then started cursing the female accused, and her husband got involved. The argument continued, and the complainants got up to leave, but the woman got in the accused woman’s face and pointed her finger while still cursing her. The accused told the complainant to back off, and when she did not, the accused woman pushed her backwards, but she did not fall. During the

LOG

questioning, it was ascertained that the complainant male was drunk and his girlfriend smelled of alcohol, but the accused party had not been drinking. Furthermore, three individuals approached the officer during questioning to vouch for the Memphis fans. The accused party returned to their section while the complainants left the stadium.

Monday, Nov. 9 • 11:38 a.m. — Officer was dispatched to UTPD lobby where she met with a complainant about a theft.

She said on Nov. 9 around 7:30 a.m. she placed her backpack in room 550 of Buehler Hall during an exam,

When she returned at 8 a.m., the backpack had been knocked over, and her VolCard was missing. There were no suspects.

• 10:04 p.m. — Officer went to Laurel Hall on a report of a stolen wallet. He spoke with the complainant, who said he’d been sitting outside the Quizno’s near Volunteer Hall and left his wallet on a table. He left and returned a few minutes later to find it was gone. The wallet contained his Tennessee driver’s license, a First Tennessee debit card, a credit card and his Social Security card. He advised that the debit and credit cards had been canceled.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

SCULPTURE continued from Page 1

UT Athletics offers discount tickets to veterans or with military ID In honor of Veterans Day, the Tennessee athletics department is offering $5 tickets to Friday’s men’s basketball season-opener against Austin Peay for all active and retired military personnel and their families. Veterans can purchase their discounted tickets by showing their military ID at the main Thompson-Boling Arena ticket office.

“The men and women who serve our country in uniform are the ultimate Volunteers,” UT head coach Bruce Pearl said. “I thank them for their sacrifices every chance I get, and I never take for granted the freedoms we all enjoy thanks to them. I’ll remind our team before the game to honor our veterans with nothing less than our best effort on the court.”

Prior to Friday’s 9 p.m. tipoff, there will be a moment of silence honoring the victims of last week’s Fort Hood Army Post shooting rampage as well as all fallen veterans. And during the first media timeout of Friday’s game, cadets from UT’s Army ROTC will be recognized on the court for their assistance with Tennessee’s preseason team retreat in October.

Vol Night Long hosts reality TV night The Campus Entertainment Board is hosting Vol Night Long Fall 2009: The Real World, Knoxvegas on Saturday in the UC from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Students can come to this free event for some reality TV activities, including making your own music video, dance lessons, inflatables and more.

For tickets, visit http://web.utk.edu/~asa/ticket.htm.

Agee series welcomes curator, book critic The James Agee Centennial Celebration, a month-long series of events marking the 100th birthday of the Knoxville native and Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, screenwriter, journalist, author and poet, continues this weekend with exhibits, lectures and film screenings that explore the connections between Agee, photojournalist Walker Evans and former U.S. President Abraham Lincoln.

New York Times book critic, editor and author Dwight Garner will speak on “Why Agee Matters: It’s Not for the Reasons You Think,” Saturday at 7 p.m. in McClung Museum. A reception at the museum will precede the lecture.

On Sunday at 1 p.m. in the East Tennessee History Center, 601 S. Gay St., Jeff L. Rosenheim, curator of photographs at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, will speak on “Reappraising ‘Let Us Now Praise Famous Men’: The Curious Camerawork of Walker Evans.” Related exhibitions at the history center include “The East Tennessee Streetscape,” which gives a sense of the Knoxville of Agee’s youth, and “Voices of the Land: The People of East Tennessee,” which echoes the poverty-stricken Southerners profiled in the Agee/Evans collaboration, “Let Us Now Praise Famous Men.” David Madden, a Knoxville native, novelist and scholar of James Agee and Abraham Lincoln, will discuss “Seeing Agee in ‘Mr. Lincoln,’” 3 p.m. Sunday at the John J. Duncan School of Law at the Knoxville campus of Lincoln Memorial University, 611 West Summit Hill Drive. Following the lecture, Michael Lofaro, UT English professor, Agee scholar and organizer of the month-long celebration, will screen “Agee’s ‘Mr. Lincoln,’” from the “Omnibus” 1950s educational television series. The Knoxville Museum of Art, 1050 World’s Fair Park Drive, is hosting a related exhibition on young Abraham Lincoln, “His Ambition Knew No Rest.”

The Daily Beacon • 3

STATE&LOCAL

UTPD Capt.

Keith Lambert said the only sculpture vandalism that was reported to the police department was about the night of Sept. 11’s damages to the starburst in a report on Sept. 15. Brown said he called in the report.

Brown stressed that the blame does not necessarily fall on students for this vandalism, as the campus opens up for various events, and anyone could have perpetrated it.

“I don’t think it reflects very well on the university,” Brown said. “But at the same time, it happens.

It’s just a part of most all public art and public infrastructure stuff that I’m familiar with.”

Jeff Maples, senior

associate vice chancellor for finance and administration, expressed his dissatisfaction with the vandalism.

“It’s very disappointing,” Maples said. “It’s very alarming. They’re some people that, for whatever reason, are not very fond of the sculpture, but I know some other people who like it a lot. ...

The artist is a very famous artist. I think it adds to the campus beautification.”

In a September interview with The Daily Beacon, sculpture artist Alice Aycock commented on the possibility of vandalism.

“You have sculptures in all kinds of places around America, and it’s not vandalized, and it is respected,” Aycock said. “And I would hope the University of Tennessee would

behave like all the other colleges and public places where I have art.”

Zack Crane, senior in electrical engineering and a member of the Facebook group “The Pedestrian Mall Sculpture is Hideous!,” said activities like rolling the sculpture are harmless, but no one should break or damage it.

“I think pretty much, at this point, it’s just an eyesore we all have to learn to live with, and honestly, vandalizing it isn’t really going to help anything,” Crane said. “It’s just going to cost the university more money that it doesn’t have to begin with.”

Though, he said he thought rolling the sculpture after every home game could have worked as a tradition that placated those who dislike the sculpture.

In late September,

Associate Dean of Students J.J. Brown talked with the creator of the anti-sculpture Facebook group, Isaac Bosley, as well as Crane and two other members about ways to address the student backlash, Crane said.

Those from the Facebook group were interested in having the sculpture removed or relocated, but about four weeks after the meeting, Crane said the group received an e-mail opening the door to contact SGA President Laura Nishida about starting a petition.

“There’s things about campus that people don’t like that they learn to live with,” Crane said. “I don’t see this as something people will ever look back on fondly. I think that this will honestly go down as a laughing stock.”

4 • The Daily Beacon

Thursday, November 12, 2009

OPINIONS

LettersEditor to the

Student newspaper ignores holiday, fails in coverage For the second consecutive year, I am outraged upon skimming through The Daily Beacon.

Wednesday was Nov. 11, Veteran’s Day, a day specifically set aside to honor those who have given of themselves to serve their country and defend the freedom we all enjoy. For the second year since I have been paying attention, the Beacon and this entire campus have failed. Miserably. The Beacon mentioned nothing about the day and its meaning. It is bad enough that asking several students what the day is would yield shrugs and ignorance. It is worse that the largest source of news on campus is also apathetic. We count on the Beacon to report the happenings of our world and Wednesday, it has failed us all.

It is long past time that everyone, including the editors of this paper, took this opportunity, this one day, to thank those who have given months, years and some even their entire lives to the service of our nation.

To the veterans: thank you. We will never know your sacrifice, but we appreciate it nonetheless.

Joshua Carrigan Junior in nuclear engineering UT Army ROTC

Both sides of abortion debate ignore opposite viewpoints This letter is written in response to Will Rabb’s letter titled “Abortion eliminates unborn children’s voices, lives” in the Oct. 30 issue of The Daily Beacon. Rabb’s letter is the trigger for my response, not the reason.

The fact of the matter is that the question of whether or not abortion should be permissible is a moral one, which means that it comes down to what one believes to be morally right or wrong, and beliefs cannot be argued. They simply can’t. You can never persuade anyone in believing something they do not believe, which causes the debate over abortion to become ridiculously loaded with emotion and language that makes for very bad debating (which is, after all, necessary).

First of all, anti-abortioners (I just flipped a coin to decide whom to start with). Stop pretending that those for abortion rights want to systematically eradicate children. It’s complete nonsense.

Calling it a holocaust does an immense disservice to victims of a real systematic eradication. No one is out to just generally kill unborn babies through legalizing abortion. The thought by itself is absurd. Stop pretending that those for abortion rights want to establish a lifestyle of making babies and then getting rid of them as if it was nothing. Abortion is traumatic and certainly not enjoyable, and no one gets an abortion for fun. Stop using the argument that any given aborted child might have accomplished greatness, because any given aborted child might also have been the next sociopathic mass murderer. The argument goes both ways, and speculating about a road not traveled is a waste of time.

Now, those for abortion rights. Stop pretending that those anti-abortion individuals are deaf to extreme circumstances. Just because they think abortion is a bad thing on principle does not mean they do not have sympathy for rape victims, for instance. Stop pretending that those against abortion are hypocrites for possibly supporting the death penalty. An unborn fetus and a convicted murderer or rapist are not the same thing. In the words of Samuel L. Jackson’s Jules Winnfield of “Pulp Fiction”: “Ain’t the same ... ballpark. It ain’t the same league, it ain’t even the same ... sport.”

And finally, Will Rabb. Firstly, don’t call an unborn child a citizen. Citizenship is granted upon birth and not just in the United States. That is a fact, quite unarguable. Secondly, don’t drag the question of health care into the debate over abortion. Moral issues (like abortion) should not be argued alongside economic issues (like health care). They don’t mix well because they need to be argued very, very differently. Lastly, you’re in Tennessee. Don’t tell us how fantastic Tebow is. It still hurts.

Thomas Wahrlich Junior in journalism and electronic media SUPER BROCCOLI • Sumter & Starnes

Doubts persist despite clear career path Wel c ome to Bohemia by

Cody Swallows

I would like to think the life path I have chosen for myself is more difficult than necessary. Or rather, I could’ve made things much easier on myself, preventing the periodic episodes of tremendous self-doubt that permeate my otherwise confident outlook.

“Why shouldn’t I just change things?” I ask myself during these times. The answer: Because I would much rather tough out the experience that forces me to live up to my full potential as a person than wonder about the outcome for the rest of my natural-born life.

So far so good. I’ve accepted my wellplanned (and mostly executed) decision and am moving forward with my life. Of course, as the gods would have it, a recent experience forced me to glance back at my “what if” journeys, knocking down a few pegs one of the main reasons I’m sticking in this whole career choice thing at all: the promise from those beyond undergraduate education.

That is, people whom you hold dear to your heart who have survived your experiences that unequivocally prove to you that there is life beyond this tiny (but oh so influential) microcosm of academia. Recently, I talked with a close friend of mine attending a graduate program at UCLA. He was extraordinarily successful during his undergraduate career and showed only more promise post-graduation.

After getting comfortable with the conversation, he revealed something very interesting: He is considering dropping out of graduate school. (He actually calculated there is just over a 25-percent chance of his remaining enrolled.)

A host of reasons led him to this prediction.

First, despite his tremendously broad knowledge background and superb capability, he can’t help but feel dwarfed by the vastness

of his area of interest. Apparently, the more you know, the more you know how little you know. Secondly, he began sharing fantasies of alternative scenarios, even going back to ponder the possibilities of following through on long-discarded career ideas.

Not surprisingly, he also shared with me a profound need to be close to friends and family. This rung a bell. Missing your favorite people, considering drastic life-direction changes and feeling like an idiot are all symptomatic of first-year-itis. Apparently even my 23-year-old student prodigy can’t escape it.

After further probing, I concluded this was only part of the problem, however. He and I share a need to be inspired by our work, even though this sort of inspiration can be very difficult to attain. While I initially concluded he only needed some time to become comfortable with his new setting, his experience has led him to believe the inspiration he pursues probably isn’t what he’ll get in his chosen career. This was a little more startling. Here is a person very talented at what he does and very clear-minded about his direction, but even he can’t escape these simple nagging questions of alternate possibilities. Basically, would he be happy if he continued down this path?

I think his testimony lends a lot more credibility to what can first appear to be simple questions that arise out of self-doubt.

Obviously, my friend knows very well what he is doing, yet he still ponders whether his path is worthwhile. This both rattled me and reassured me: It scared me in that I may never escape questioning my own decisions but gave me confidence that my own questions weren’t simply a product of environmental stress.

While he still hasn’t figured out his direction, I imagine his experience is a result of both firstyear fears and legitimate questions about his existence. Either way, his experience has reinforced a very valuable lesson that I wish to share: Sometimes, nagging questions about confidence could have something very profound to say.

— Cody Swallows is a senior in the College Scholars Program. He can be reached at codyswallows@gmail.com.

Space puts everyday life into perspective An A l ternate R o u te by

Leigh Dickey

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The Daily Beacon is published by students at The University of Tennessee Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and Tuesday and Friday during the summer semester. The offices are located at 1340 Circle Park Drive, 5 Communications Building, Knoxville, TN 37996-0314. The newspaper is free on campus and is available via mail subscription for $200/year, $100/semester or $70/summer only. It is also available online at: http://dailybeacon.utk.edu.

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LETTERS POLICY: The Daily Beacon welcomes all letters to the editor and guest columns from students, faculty and staff. Each submission is considered for publication by the editor on the basis of space, timeliness and clarity. Contributions must include the author’s name and phone number for verification. Students must include their year in school and major. Letters to the editor and guest columns may be e-mailed to letters@utk.edu or sent to Jenny Bledsoe, 1340 Circle Park Dr., 5 Communications Building, Knoxville, TN 37996-0314. The Beacon reserves the right to reject any submissions or edit all copy in compliance with available space, editorial policy and style.

I desperately want to be an astronaut. Like, so, so badly. Unfortunately, though, there is no hope for me.

When I was a kid, my parents let me do useless things like play hide-and-seek and read books for fun, instead of making me study chemistry and physics, and now I am horribly inept at all things mathematic and scientific. They don’t let you hang out on the International Space Station just because you can give an adequate history of the Industrial Revolution. (I asked.) You have to know things like what NaCl means and that F= ma (These were the only two science-related formulas I could think of. I’m not exactly sure what the second one means …). So my parents failed to instill in me either a love of or an aptitude for anything that would help me be an astronaut. I cope with this by watching the NASA channel.

For those of you who may not be aware, here in Knoxville (depending on your cable provider) you get the NASA channel. It is channel 10, technically the “Educational Access” channel. Sometimes it shows random operas or interpretative dancing, but most of the time it broadcasts NASA TV. I watch it all the time. (You think I’m kidding, but I’m not. I love it.)

I like watching the broadcasts from the shuttle or the space station, watching as the men (and one woman) float around inside the station or maneuver in their space suits outside it, going about their daily routines. My roommates make fun of me for this, but I love the fact that these astronauts are playing amongst stars. They are out in “space,” out of what I consider “normal”: They can see the whole earth, and then are able to look beyond it.

This past July, in celebration of the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11’s moon landing, the Washington Post ran guest editorials reflecting on space exploration: its practicality, its effects on man, etc. An editor had titled one piece “Return to the Heavens, for the Sake of the Earth,” and this phrase caught and held my attention. When I read the oped, however, I was disappointed.

The column, written by a science fiction author, Kim Stanley Robinson, justified exploring other planets as a means of understanding our own planet more fully, addressing both climate change and sustainability. While this was an interesting point, it was not what the title, “Return to the Heavens, for the Sake of the Earth,” had brought to my mind. The phrase, for me, had evoked a sentiment best expressed in a Walt Whitman poem, “When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer.”

In the poem, Whitman describes listening to a “learn’d astronomer” lecture with his “proofs, the figures … the charts and the diagrams.” Whitman soon “became tired and sick, / Till rising and gliding out, I wander’d off by myself / In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time, / Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars.”

Now let me prevent a misunderstanding: I am in awe of astronomers and mathematicians, physicists and biologists, all the scientists who sort through the chaos of our environment and describe the order which they find. There is both a beauty and utility in that work that should not go unnoticed or unpraised.

I don’t think Whitman was criticizing scientists, per se: What he, I believe, was reacting to is the human tendency, in the midst of the mundane, to lose sight of the awesome. I become overwhelmed by due dates and responsibilities and forget to take time to marvel at the world. I neglect the beauty and the mystery of my surroundings, ignore the pull of the unknown and bury myself in facts and figures, Whitman’s “charts and … diagrams.”

I tend to immerse myself in the practicalities of surviving and forget to appreciate life, as well as survive it: For me, this is especially true during finals time. At the end of the semester, I often lose sight of the forest and focus on the trees (or papers and exams). That is what I thought that column would cry out against: “Return to the Heavens, for the Sake of the Earth,” look to the stars, for the sake of our souls.

I watch shuttle launches and space walks because they make me think about things greater than myself.

I am reminded that the universe is bigger than I am; that I am mortal; and that maybe I should rearrange my priorities accordingly. Very few things, I think, are as important as I make them out to be. So I watch the NASA channel and wish I was an astronaut, but content myself with, “from time to time,” looking up in wonder and “in perfect silence at the stars.”

— Leigh Dickey is a junior in global studies. She can be reached at ldickey2@utk.edu.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

The Daily Beacon • 5

STATE&LOCAL

Author to lecture on warfare, volunteer army Ellen Larson Staff Writer Professor of history at Temple University and award-winning author Beth Bailey will give a lecture on her latest book, “America’s Army: Making the All-Volunteer Force,” on Thursday.

“It’s an important topic now that we are fighting two wars,” Daniel Feller, professor in history at UT, said.

Feller said Bailey’s latest book is the story of the all-volunteer force, from the draft protests and policy proposals of the 1960s through the Iraq War. He said it is also a history of America in the postVietnam era.

“I think the military is different now because it’s not as glamorous as it used to be,” said Lauren Baylor, senior in English.

“Now there are more serious and destructive weapons of warfare.”

Feller said the lecture should prove interesting because the professor and author usually speaks about fascinating topics. Feller has heard Bailey’s lectures in the past, as he is a former colleague of Bailey’s.

“She is one of the most lively and exciting women of history in modern culture,” Feller said. “She takes on interesting topics with wide relevance.”

Feller said people should enjoy Bailey’s lecture because she is speaking about a fascinating topic: the volunteer army.

The book also explores topics in gender, race and sexual orientation.

Baylor described what factor she thinks gender plays in the military.

“During WWI, race was a big deal,” she

said. “I think it has progressed, but without personal experience, I don’t know if it’s an issue or not. Today, women are fighting, so the military has definitely changed. Now, it’s not such a big deal that women fight.”

Feller said the history of the Army in America has confronted the legacies of civil rights and black power, the women’s movement and gay rights.

He also said, in her book, Bailey talks about how the volunteer force raised questions about the meaning of citizenship and the rights and obligations it carries.

“Other topics the volunteer army exposes are whether liberty or equality is the more central American value and what role the military should play in American society, not only in time of war but in time of peace,” Feller said.

Feller said Bailey conducted research for her book through interviews with Army officers and recruiters, advertising executives and policymakers.

Feller said Bailey’s past work includes topics on the military, dating, marriage, love and sexuality, use of the birth control pill and historical looks at the 1950s and 1960s.

The former UT history professor has a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and a master’s degree and doctorate from the University of Chicago.

She has also received numerous awards, including the 2007 Army Historical Foundation Distinguished Writing Award.

The lecture will take place at 5 p.m. in the UC Shiloh Room.

Tenn. businessman pleads guilty

FRESHMEN continued from Page 1

The Associated Press A Gatlinburg businessman accused of defrauding investors of $21 million in a wide-ranging Ponzi scheme pleaded guilty Tuesday to all charges against him.

Dennis Bolze, 60, entered his pleas to wire fraud and money laundering charges before U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Varlan. He faces up to 90 years in prison if the maximum terms are applied when he is sentenced April 15.

Bolze also agreed to be held accountable for money investors lost, but it wasn’t clear how much of it he could produce.

Authorities said Bolze disguised his scheme as a legitimate stock-trading operation but ran a scam between 2002 and 2008 in which initial investors were paid with money put in by subsequent investors.

Prosecutors have said up to 100 people in 12 countries were defrauded.

Prosecutors said investors believed they were receiving a return on their investment through the day-trading of futures contracts. Victims have said he promised returns of 15 to 18 percent.

Bolze posted fabricated day-trading results on the Internet, prosecutors said.

In a news release, prosecutors said he used proceeds of his scheme to purchase various properties.

Bolze was indicted in July and was arrested by federal agents in March after fleeing to Pennsylvania. He had disappeared last December and has been forced into bankruptcy.

Bolze had pleaded not guilty in July but changed his plea Tuesday. He is being held without bond.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO RECYCLE YOUR BEACON

Williams hails from Clarksville, Tenn., and has been following Lady Vol basketball since she was 9 years old.

But before she made her long-desired commitment to Tennessee last season, Williams built up a resume at Northeast High School that included two All-State nods in 2007 and 2009, a 22.5 points-per-game average her senior year and a starting spot on the 2008 GA/LINA 76ers Nike elite team.

Summitt said that once Williams gets into the swing of things, she can make an impact for UT. “She’s a typical freshman, and she’s giving into fatigue,” Summitt said.

“She’s got a chance to be a special guard. Of all of our Scott Martineau • The Daily Beacon guards, she does as good a During Monday’s exhibition game, freshman job as any of them at getguard Taber Spani dribbles the ball down the ting to the paint. court while fending off a Delta State defender.

“I’m hoping it happens sooner rather than later.”

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NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD • Will Shortz Across

33 Repeatedly … and a hint to the answers to this puzzle’s starred clues

1 ___ salad (dish with ground beef) 5 Where Panasonic is headquartered

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9 The Falcons, on scoreboards 10 Cosmetician Adrien 11 Olympics venue 12 Individually, in a way 13 Leading lady Down 19 N.E.A. part: Abbr.

They’re read at 21 Part of a hazmat suit services 25 Follow-up to a Uncouth sort parent’s command, Basilica feature maybe Hazard around an 26 Metal that’s an aerosol can effective radiation shield Work started by 28 It may be pinched London’s Philological Soc. 31 Range part: Abbr.

Many Mel Brooks 32 Treacherous films expanse “Dedicated to finding 33 Caligula’s predecessor as ___” (diabetes emperor foundation motto) 34 Not gradually Japanese port

35 Suffix with glee or sorrow 36 Like circus elephants 37 Potassium ___ (preservative) 41 Home of highways H-1, H-2 and H-3 42 Flap one’s gums 43 Vermin hunter 44 When Romeo meets Juliet 45 Russian playwright Andreyev 47 -like 48 Insurance giant 50 ___ the Dragon, ruler of old Wallachia 53 “Yo te ___” 54 Stat for an R.B.

6 • The Daily Beacon

Thursday, November 12, 2009

ENTERTAINMENT

Historic restaurant opens with modern menu Katie Freeman News Editor For anyone who has been following the development of downtown Knoxville over the last four to five years, it has been an exciting time. For a while, the only reason to go east of campus was to drink in the Old City or see a concert at the Bijou Theatre or Tennessee Theatre. Now Market Square is quickly renting out to capacity, Regal Riviera Cinema has lit up Gay Street and good tapas, crepes and sushi can be found within a city block.

During all of the rapid improvement, an expanse of

blank storefront remained on Gay Street — the location of the old S&W Cafeteria. Then, Brian and Stephanie Balest and Shane Robertson, owners and executive chef at the Northshore Brasserie, respectively, announced they would reopen the S&W Cafeteria as the S&W Grand, a modern restaurant that would still embrace the history of the property.

The restaurant is still in its honeymoon phase, having opened for a Sunday lunch on Oct. 18. A lot of people who remember the S&W Cafeteria (which closed in 1981) are visiting the S&W Grand to see the

Country singers unite against coal mining NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A group of music figures has begun a campaign against mountaintop coal removal.

The campaign, Music Saves Mountains, is sponsored by the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Gibson Foundation. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a senior attorney with the council, addressed those attending a meeting Monday night.

Those at the gathering included Emmylou Harris, Randy Travis, Big Kenny Alphin, Dierks Bentley, Delbert McClinton, Kid Rock and J.D. Souther.

Harris said protection is needed for the Appalachian mountains, where country music was born and is celebrated in song Parton, Daniels and Rock awarded stars on Music City Walk of Fame NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Dolly Parton, Charlie Daniels and Kid Rock have been given stars on the Music City Walk of Fame in Nashville along with the late Ernest Tubb and Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge founder Hattie Louise Bess.

While Parton was the star of the ceremony on Sunday, Kid Rock’s reputation in the city was also recognized.

Mayor Karl Dean said he’s glad the star has been staying out of the news when he visits — referring to a 2005 arrest in Nashville on charges that he punched a disc jockey.

The Tennessean reported that the entertainer noted that Nashville has one of the finest police forces, and he’d never seen a nicer jail.

Daniels applauded the inclusion of the rock/country musician, saying it showed great diversity.

Timberlake granted restraining order against woman LOS ANGELES — A judge on Monday ordered a woman to stay away from Justin Timberlake for the next three years.

Timberlake wrote in court filings that Karen McNeil repeatedly showed up at his house and trespassed on his property last month.

McNeil, who represented herself in the case, opposed

new interior. What they found was a new menu. Instead of a wide, cafeteria-style selection, the menu is narrow and lofty, offering such dishes as Pork Shank with cider-poached apple, gigante bean ragout and natural pan jus for $21.95.

For all the historical similarities — the tea-green marble floors, the Art Deco designs, even original fixtures such as a brass weighing scale — the restaurant no longer serves the same purpose, and it’s unfair to compare the two.

Accounts submitted by commentators of the Knoxville News Sentinel articles about the

reopening suggest the cafeteria was the kind of place mothers and daughters would visit when they would come into the city for a day of shopping or doctor’s visits.

It is clear that the new restaurant is not for a quick bite. The menu is pricey, portions are smaller and classic cafeteria dishes like spaghetti and meatballs have been transformed to culinary endeavors like baked spaghetti pie — spaghetti folded into the shape of a pie and served with garnish.

The 21st-century S&W Grand will be for business lunches, dinners before the theater, cocktails

the court order, writing in a court document that she thought she was destined to marry Timberlake and “to rule” with him.

During the hearing, Judge David S. Cunningham III ordered a five-minute recess after an outburst by McNeil when the judge issued the order.

Outside court, McNeil said, “That was all lies. I did not break into Justin’s house. I was let on the property.”

The 28-year-old Timberlake was filming a movie and didn’t appear in court. He has won multiple Grammy Awards for songs such as “SexyBack” and “Cry Me a River.”

Houser recognizes status as newcomer NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Randy Houser has no illusions when it comes to the Country Music Association Awards.

The new artist of the year nominee doesn’t think he’s got even the longest of shots in that category during Wednesday’s awards show, where he faces the Zac Brown Band, Darius Rucker, Jamey Johnson and Jake Owen.

“I think my chances are somewhere right between slim and none,” Houser joked last week. “I’m just a new guy. The fact that I got nominated was just a recognition of things that may come in the next couple of years.”

Houser started writing songs and performing on his own as a teenager and had a pretty comfortable life as a honky tonk hell-raiser on a circuit of bars around Meridian, Miss. He arrived in Nashville in 2003 with all his worldly possessions stuffed into a 1992 Falcon.

Six years later, the 33-year-old is up for two awards, including best video for “Boots On.” He just released a new single, and his next album is due in the spring.

But first, the red carpet and a chance to fulfill a lifelong dream — win or lose.

“I think about all the years I spent sitting on the couch watching those awards and wishing I could just go to them one year,” Houser said. “And here I am being nominated for two categories.”

Swift, Kristofferson recognized at BMI Awards NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Taylor Swift started what could be an interesting week with her second-straight

and a novelty meal for visitors to Knoxville. Once crowds of former patrons have come and gone, it might take S&W a while to establish its demographic, but there’s reason to believe it will be successful.

The baby grand piano, the upstairs bar and the formal, polite service lends the Grand a cosmopolitan atmosphere, which is appealing to young people moving into the growing stretch of loft apartments and urban condos downtown. Yet, the restaurant’s owners have still gracefully recaptured the architecture and design of an historic landmark.

song of the year award at the BMI Country Awards Tuesday, when Kris Kristofferson was honored as an icon.

Swift won for her song “Love Story” — the night before she contends for entertainer of the year at the Country Music Association Awards — Bobby Pinson won songwriter of the year, and Sony/ATV Music was named publisher of the year.

BMI also honored Brooks & Dunn with the president’s award.

“I just want to say to every songwriter and every loved one of a songwriter, thank you, because you are the reason I wanted to try Nashville,” Swift said. “You are all my heroes.”

It was Kristofferson, the 73-year-old songwriter of classics like “Sunday Mornin’ Come Down” and “Me and Bobby McGee,” though, and not the 19-year-old pop sensation Swift who had the audience’s attention.

Willie Nelson, Patty Griffin and Vince Gill paid tribute to Kristofferson, who cried during Griffin’s rendition of “Help Me Make it Through the Night.”

“There’s no better songwriter alive than Kris Kristofferson,” Nelson said. “Everything he writes is a standard, and we’re all just going to have to live with that.”

Comedic magician passes away at age 92 LOS ANGELES — Carl Ballantine, a comedian, magician and actor who was in the 1960s TV sitcom “McHale’s Navy,” has died. He was 92.

His daughter says he died Nov. 3 in his sleep at his home in the Hollywood Hills.

Ballantine, who was born Meyer Kessler in Chicago, switched from straight magic to comedy in the 1940s.

He would fumble tricks while joking with the audience.

He appeared in Las Vegas, in nightclubs and on TV variety shows, including “The Tonight Show.”

Steve Martin says Ballantine influenced him and a generation of magicians and comedians.

Ballantine was crewman Lester Gruber in “McHale’s Navy” and had roles in several other TV shows and movies.

He also did voiceovers in many cartoons and commercials.

He’s survived by two daughters and a sister.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

The Daily Beacon • 7

SPORTS

Sophomores prepare for clean slate in 2009 Anthony Elias Staff Writer

Scott Martineau • The Daily Beacon

Sophomore guard/forward Shekinna Stricklen aims for the basket as a Delta State player attempt to block the shot.

There is plenty of room to improve for sophomore Shekinna Stricklen and her Lady Vols teammates after last year’s first-round exit from the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history.

“Last year, losing in the first round, it hurt us all pretty bad, and it made us realize that we just have to work hard every day,” Stricklen said. “Everyone, not just one, two, three or four people, but everyone, and we have to just encourage each other, make sure basically if I see one of my teammates not working hard, go tell them to pick it up. Work hard in it.”

Earlier this spring, the fifth-seed Lady Vols were upset by 12th-seed Ball State in the NCAA tournament. Not only was it the lowest seeding in Pat Summitt’s 35-year run as the Lady Vols head coach, but also the first time she did not coach her team to the Sweet 16 or further.

There are no seniors returning to the lineup this season. Seven of the 13 players on roster are sophomores, including Stricklen. Last year, the sophomore class contributed 49 percent of the team scoring.

Summitt said many of her players are starting to lead both verbally and by example.

“Bri’s obviously a very vocal leader, Angie Bjorklund (as well),” Summitt said of sophomore point guard Briana Bass. “I think Kelley Cain has understood her role in the paint. I think we’re doing it more by committing. I can see the difference in ‘Kina and Angie right off, both their confidence, they’re comfortable. Kelley feels a lot better about her game.”

Sophomore Glory Johnson said they have no problem using last season’s ending as motivation.

“After that game, it was disappointing of course, but it kind of showed us, obviously that we had a lot of things that we needed to work on,” Johnson said. “We aren’t a perfect team. We do have a lot of things we need to work on, each and every one of us, so coming back and practicing hard is what we have to do.”

Stricklen, who was named Freshman of the Year by U.S. Basketball Writer’s Association (12.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg, and 3.5 apg), is looking to improve her game this year and has made sure that she listens to Summitt’s advice.

“Coach has still been on me about stepping up and (to) communicate more with my teammates,” Stricklen said. “Just step up, create more for my teammates, trying to get them open.”

From Summitt’s standpoint, she feels that the team still needs to work on many aspects of its game, especially offensively.

“We have to continue to work on setting and using screens,” Summitt said. “I think us committing to our defense and our board play and then ball security. I mean, we just can’t be careless with the ball. The passing on the perimeter was not that good; it can be a whole lot better.”

Some of the players realize there are individual parts of their game they must improve. This season, Johnson is working on harnessing that aggression into an advantage.

“No matter what, I’m always physical on the defensive end,” Johnson said. “On the offensive end, that physical goes to an extent because they do call fouls on me a lot so on the post-up, so I have to be a little less physical and when moving and competitive. As far as scoring, I just need to slow down a little bit. I tend to overthink things, and that just leads to turnovers.”

Summitt added she has decided to play her in the perimeter this year to take advantage of Johnson’s aggressive style of play.

“I’m not looking for her to shoot the 3-ball,” Summitt said. “I’m looking for her to take advantage with her quickness and her ability to get around people. She can score a lot of points with us.”

Throughout this season, Stricklen and the Lady Vols will look to avoid a repeat of last season.

All in all, Summitt said many factors go into preparing for not just each game but the season as a whole.

“We use that for a lot of motivation; starting down low, it made us realize, made us work even harder to get back up to the top spot. We kinda deserve to be down low right now because of what happened last year, but I believe we’re going to work ourselves back up, and I don’t think what we had last year is going to happen again.”

THESPORTSPAGE

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Summitt, Lady Vols aim to bounce back

SPORTS CALENDAR

8 • The Daily Beacon

?

What’s HAPPENING IN SPORTS

Nov. 13 - Nov. 14, 2009

Friday, Nov. 13 — Women’s Volleyball Auburn Auburn, Ala. 5 p.m.

Men’s Basketball Austin Peay Knoxville 9 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 14 — Men’s Cross Country NCAA South Regional 10K Tuscaloosa, Ala. 11 a.m.

Women’s Cross Country NCAA South Regional 6K Tuscaloosa, Ala. 12 p.m.

Football Mississippi Oxford, Miss.

12 p.m.

Daily

Quote

“I don’t think Scott Martineau • The Daily Beacon

Women’s basketball head coach Pat Summitt surveys the court during the Lady Vols exhibition game against Delta State.

Travis Cabage Staff Writer Tennessee Lady Vols basketball head coach Pat Summitt is a coach that needs very little introduction.

Last season, she became the first NCAA coach on all levels, both men and women, to reach the 1,000 win plateau. Summitt’s overall record sits at 1,005193 in 35 seasons. She has coached her teams to eight national titles and 14 Southeastern Conference championships. She has recorded over 100 wins in the NCAA tournament and won a gold medal in the 1984 Olympic Games as head coach of the U.S. National team.

Even with being a seventime coach of the year and named the Naismith Coach of the Century in 2000, Summitt is looking to add to her resume with a successful 2009-2010 season.

In 2008, the Lady Vols hit a bump in their historic road when they failed to win a NCAA Tournament game for the first time ever, snapping a 29-season streak. In fact, it was the first time Summitt and her Lady Vols failed to reach the Sweet 16, ending the season with a 22-11 record.

The team’s 11 losses were the most for a Summitt-led

team since 1975. Five of those losses came against Southeastern Conference opponents, the most ever by a Lady Vols team.

“The toughest part

“

one senior from last year’s team, leaving them with a crop of young talent. With a team that is still young, Tennessee will look to its leaders on the team to help

Last year proved

we had to work for victories. Nothing is ever handed to you.

”

– Pat Summitt, speaking about her players on last year’s team

about last season was that we were so young, the youngest team ever,” Summitt said.

Part of the growing process is learning a few lessons.

Junior guard Angie Bjorklund knows after last season that there are no gifts in the collegiate ranks.

“Last year proved we had to work for victories,” she said. “Nothing is ever handed to you.”

The Lady Vols lost only

with the youth.

“Bjorklund and (Shekinna) Stricklen have both stepped up,” Summitt said. “They’ve been very vocal.”

Bjorklund comes off a statistically dominant 2008 season. She averaged 12.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and shot 41 percent from the floor and 83 percent from the free throw line.

“I always wanted to play for her (Summitt) when I was little,”

Bjorklund said.

Sophomore Shekinna Stricklen led the team with 13.3 points per game with 95 assists and 58 steals.

Sophomore Kelley Cain will look to bounce back this season after being injured last year.

“If healthy, Cain is going to be huge this year,” Bjorklund said.

Sophomore Glory Johnson and junior Vicki Baugh are also back to help the team make it to coach Summitt’s 18th Final Four.

Summitt will coach a crop of new talent this season. Taber Spani comes to Knoxville from Missouri and was a McDonald’s High School All-American at National High School.

Spani is the only player in National High history to be ranked in the top 10 in career total points and rebounds.

“Spani has great range,” Summitt said.

Kamiko Williams will also add her name to this young group. Williams is a native of Clarksville, Tenn., where she earned First Team All-State honors in 2007 and 2009.

Summitt will coach her Lady Vols against another difficult schedule, hosting Baylor, UCLA, Texas and Oklahoma in Knoxville this season. Road and neutral site games include Texas Tech, Rutgers and Stanford, before running the SEC gauntlet.

anybody thinks about how much money Monte KIffin makes or Ed Orgeron makes when we play Georgia and Alabama back-toback, and they don’t score an offensive touchdown.”

– UT head coach Lane Kiffin on recent articles pinpointing the Vols’ coaches as the highest-paid staff in the country