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Volume 136, Issue 24

Thursday, November 8, 2018

Fans cheer on UT as they take on UTEP in their first home game. Megan Albers / The Daily Beacon

Inside: • SGA passed multiple bills Tuesday evening. Staff Writer Bailey Fritz breaks down the Senate meeting on page 2.

Dean of students discusses fan conduct at games This is part three of a four part series exploring fan conduct at the University of Tennessee, at other SEC schools and the plans of UT officials to address it.

Cat Trieu

Campus News Editor

From making a video for the Alabama game to discussions with students about game day behavior, fan conduct at football games is an issue that administration members like Dean • Are you a gamer? of Students Shea Kidd Houze are lookContributor Jake Yoder ing into. review’s the new Red Dead “What I quickly noticed when I Redemption 2 on page 4. became part of the community was that we have fans that are passionate like none other, so that has been great and that all our sports teams need a fanbase that is as supportive as ours is,” Kidd Houze said. “I do think ... being honest • Columnist Nguyen there are some things that we need to Nguyen voices his opinion address and that’s not just students ... on the rights of gun own- but I think it’s a cultural element that ers in America on page 5. exists within Vol nation.” Being a University of Georgia graduate, Kidd Houze is familiar with the atmosphere of an SEC game and believes that the issue needs to be addressed while keeping the SEC cul• UT will face off against ture in mind. “I think (addressing fans’ behavior Kentucky on Saturday; is) a cultural shift that maybe needs Asst. Sports Editor Will to happen where SEC in general, I Backus breaks down the think, is more impassioned than other game and what is expected conferences,” Kidd Houze said. “So, on page 6. I think these issues have not been isolated to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.” Alex Soderstrom, sports editor at the

University of Georgia’s (UGA) student newspaper The Red and Black, said that as far as he remembers, administration at UGA has yet to intervene when it comes to their students’ conduct at games and that incidents of misconduct are isolated. “I don’t remember there being anything where it was something where they sent out an email or a statement or anything about the students or the fan base,” Soderstrom said. “It’s been a few isolated incidents where police might escort a guy out for getting crazy or something. I’ve seen a couple times in the stands as a student, people pushing and stuff, mostly because they are drunk. I can’t think of anything that big. “ Nathan King, sports editor of Auburn University’s newspaper The AU Plainsman Transcription, described Auburn to be “generally a pretty tame place to play.” “The student section, like most, gets particularly rowdy when Auburn isn’t winning, so I know when I’m down on the field, sometimes toward the end of a game, when people are getting a little frustrated with how the game might be concluding, there’s definitely a little bit of words thrown around from the student section,” King said. “(Fan conduct has) really never been anything too bad, at least from what I can remember.” According to Kidd Houze, the solu-

tion most likely lies on open dialogue between students, fans and administration. “I think UT is all of us, so when we say (UT), oftentimes we point to administration, but I think UT is administration, faculty, staff, students,” Kidd Houze said. “With that said, yeah, we have the ability together to talk about it and discuss it and first identify what are the issues people have noticed, because from my lens, I notice certain things as I’m walking the grounds on game day, someone who’s in law enforcement may see a different side whereas students tailgating may see something else.” While conversations about this with students is remaining open-ended for now, Kidd Houze said that when talking with UT Athletics officials, she wants to see if there are better ways for students to vocally support the team, suggesting that it might be a good idea to find a way for students to engage with various coaches and players before football season begins. “I think we have to get around the table with students...they have to be the part of the solution,” Kidd Houze said. “This isn’t a case in my opinion where a top-down approach would be successful. So, I think the things we can do are engage with our students and identify the problems that exist and work towards the solutions.” While there are currently no offi-

cial projects underway to address the issue, Kidd Houze plans on continuing conversations in order to get as many perspectives as possible. “My hope is, as the season comes to a conclusion, that we can now, while it is fresh in our minds, that maybe we can begin to think about those conversations and be really strategic going into fall of 2019 in many ways,” Kidd Houze said. “I think that the videos and utilizing social media and those opportunities that can have a quick turnaround for the rest of the games and the rest of the season is a successful approach, but I think we have to be really strategic about a cultural shift and cultural shifts take time.” For now, Kidd Houze encourages fans to abide by the Volunteer Creed and be as respectful as possible in the stands. “I want everyone to have a good time, to enjoy the game and to not have to make others feel bad, not create a negative experience for others in order for us to have a good experience,” Kidd Houze said. “I just want students to recognize they can enjoy both and that we recognize it’s not just students; I think that’s important to reiterate. Students have to take ownership, but all of our fans have to take ownership and be a part of the solution.” Sports Editor Blake Von Hagen and Assistant Sports Editor Will Backus contributed to this article.


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