111820 The Daily Beacon by UT Media Center

Volume 139, Issue 13 Wednesday, November 18, 2020

utdailybeacon.com @utkdailybeacon

Hundreds petition Chancellor Plowman for ‘Mental Health Break’ DANIEL DASSOW Staff Writer

Last week, an anonymous student posted a petition on change.org calling for Chancellor Donde Plowman to give students a “Mental Health Break” before the last day of classes on Nov. 24. Since then, the petition has gained close to 800 signatures from students who see a day off as a way for the university to make up for removing all breaks from the semester, a decision made to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. “COVID has caused so much unrest, and on top of that our fall break was removed weeks into the semester,” the petition said. “We’re not performing at full capacity and this isn’t the standard amount of stress. It feels like nearly everyday is a ﬁnal exam day. Therefore, I think it is reasonable and fair to ask for one day off between Election Day and Thanksgiving Break. One day for us to have a mental health break and allow us to get off our laptops and breathe.” The petition cites the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as an institution where students successfully petitioned for a mental

health day. UNC’s chancellor recommended that faculty give students a day off of classes on Oct. 9 as a way of supporting student health. A month later, it seems that hundreds of UT students are at the end of their rope after 13 consecutive weeks of online school work without a break. Kaitlyn Meadows, a junior studying ecology and evolutionary biology who signed the petition, says that the administration’s safety precautions, while well-intentioned, have negatively impacted students’ mental health. “The decision to eliminate breaks for this semester was made to help keep us physically safe, but many students have faced severe mental health consequences,” Meadows said. “This not only affects our productivity and motivation to complete schoolwork, but it also deeply affects our personal lives and our overall health.” Meadows, an SGA senator representing the College of Arts and Sciences, believes that a mental health day would help to prevent widespread burnout in the student body in the last few weeks of classes. “Many students, like myself, are totally remote this semester, which means that most days are spent doing schoolwork while physically isolated from the rest of the UT community,” Meadows said. “A mental health day would provide a much-

needed mental break for students and faculty who have been pushing through an unprecedented semester despite the many obstacles along the way. For me, a mental health day would be an opportunity to recharge to ﬁnish out the semester without getting burned out.”

In a semester that feels like one long day spent in front of a screen, hundreds of students seem to want a day where they can choose to simply walk away from it all and reclaim their mental health. DANIEL DASSOW STAFF WRITER

Tyler Sivels, a junior studying architecture, saw the petition on Twitter and was inspired to sign it because of the lack of breaks this semester. He believes that the main source of students’ mental health problems is a lack of understanding on the part of university leaders about the unique stresses facing students this semester. “I would just tell the faculty and the people over everything that’s going on to think about how they would feel if they had to go to school constantly without any breaks while all this is going on in politics, the world and all the different changes that are happening,” Sivels said. Sivels’ sentiment was echoed by many students who signed and commented on the petition. One signer went as far as to say that “student health shouldn’t be a joke to the faculty.” For his part, Sivels would just like a day to either catch up on or take a break from work. In a semester that feels like one long day spent in front of a screen, hundreds of students seem to want a day where they can choose to simply walk away from it all and reclaim their mental health. “Everybody’s just been really on edge about school work and when (my roommates) come home from class … they don’t want to worry about school at all, they don’t even want to think about it, but they have to,” Sivels said. “It’s just like a never-ending cycle.”

8 Vols football assistant coaches choose to refuse salary pay cuts RYAN CREWS Sports Editor

Tennessee football didn’t play this weekend, but there was a bit of news, as pointed out in a report by Blake Toppmeyer of the Knoxville News Sentinel. Eight Tennessee assistant football coaches refused to accept a pay cut despite the rest of their Vols and Lady Vols counterparts agreeing to help the university in what is likely to be a very tough year ﬁnancially. The only Vols assistant coaches to accept a pay cut were wide receivers coach Tee Martin and running backs coach Jay Graham, who both went to Tennessee and have since returned to coach at their alma mater. The eight individuals on this list include seven of the Vols’ nine assistant coaches, as well as new strength coach A.J. Artis. Coordinators Jim Chaney and Derrick Ansley, who rank 11th and 23rd in the nation for assistant coach salaries, are the most notable of the bunch. Oth-

ers refusing a pay cut are offensive line coach Will Friend, quarterbacks coach Chris Weinke, inside linebackers coach Brian Niedermeyer, outside linebackers coach Shelton Felton and tight ends coach Joe Osovet. “Unfortunately,” Athletics Director Philip Fulmer told Knox News, “there were some contract employees who did not agree to a reduction for their own reasons. But I am especially appreciative of all our head coaches and staff members who are doing their part for the greater good of the department.” According to the documents obtained by Knox News, the eight individuals were the only employees with the Volunteer athletic department to who were both asked to and then declined to take a pay cut in the midst of a pandemic-based recession. This is expected to result in a $40 million dollar loss due to lack of revenue from a variety of sources, including football. Tennessee Athletics has worked hard to avoid having to terminate staff, but it was decided that starting on Nov. 1 until June 30, there

would be tiered pay cuts for Volunteer employers with an annual salary higher than $50,000. The department can only force at-will employees to take such a reduction in salary without his or her consent. Contract employees, however, must agree to the reduction and sign amendment; to agree to that lower salary. The plan was projected to save the university roughly $1.6 million if everyone agreed but will now save about $1.3 million. The cuts include all head coaches, expect for Jeremy Pruitt who declined to accept a raise earlier in the year and as such was not asked to be take a cut. The head coaches also agreed to forgo any non-championship incentive compensation through next summer. Included in the reductions is Fulmer, who originally was set to earn $900,000 and is taking the high percentage cut at 15% in addition to waiving any and all incentive compensation though this coming summer. “I am very grateful,” Fulmer said to Knox News. “To all the athletic department employees and families that have taken a salary reduc-

tion and are showing support to our department during such a difficult time, they have helped prevent the need to eliminate positions as we continue to battle this pandemic and its medical and ﬁnancial implications.”

I am very grateful to all the athletic department employees and families that have taken a salary reduction and are showing support ... PHILLIP FULMER ATHLETICS DIRECTOR

2 2

The Daily Beacon Wednesday, November 18, 2020 The 2020 October 2020 The Daily Daily Beacon Beacon ••• Wednesday, Wednesday,November October14, 7,4, 2020

DAILY BEACON STAFF AND POLICY INFORMATION

Letter from the Editor: Reducing print to once a month ALEXANDRA DEMARCO Editor-in-Chief

EDITORIAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Alexandra DeMarco MANAGING EDITOR: Calista Boyd COPY CHIEF: Allie Justis CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR: Sarah Rainey CITY NEWS EDITOR: Jake Yoder SPORTS EDITORS: Ryan Schumpert, Ryan Crews DIGITAL PRODUCER: Austin Orr OPINIONS EDITOR: Elijah Hunt PHOTO EDITORS: Sydney Goodsell PAGE DESIGNERS: Hannah Cunningham, Claudia

Gutierrez

ADVERTISING/PRODUCTION ADVERTISING PRODUCTION MANAGER: Carlos

Padron ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER: Emelia

Sandreuter ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVES: Brynn

Close, Seven Swain ADVERTISING PRODUCTION ARTISTS: Hailey

Morash, Caroline Waters, Victoria Wheelock

CONTACTS

TO REPORT A NEWS ITEM, please email

editor.news@utdailybeacon.com or call (865) 974-2348 TO SUBMIT A PRESS RELEASE, please email pressreleases@utdailybeacon.com TO PLACE AN AD, please email beaconads@utdailybeacon.com or call (865) 974-5206 ADVERTISING: (865) 974-5206

beaconads@utk.edu EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: (865) 974-3226

editorinchief@utdailybeacon.com MAIN NEWSROOM: (865) 974-3226

editorinchief@utdailybeacon.com

It’s no secret that newspapers across the country — especially those with smaller circulations — suffered this year. While the battle between print and digital has been raging on for decades now, the decreased personal interaction of the pandemic has led to a decline in pick-up rates for physical papers, as well as a decline in opportunities for advertising revenue. Not as many students, faculty and staff wander campus these days, leaving fewer patrons interested in picking up a print copy of The Daily Beacon. In recent years, The Daily Beacon has slowly been decreasing its circulation and number of issues per volume. Because of the changes the newspaper industry and our personal paper have undergone this year, The Daily Beacon will now

The Daily Beacon is published by students at The University of Tennessee on Wednesday during the fall and spring semesters. The o�ces are located at 1345 Circle Park Drive, 11 Communications Building, Knoxville, TN 37996-0314. The newspaper is free on campus and is available via mail subscription for $200/year or $100/semester. It is also available online at: www.utdailybeacon.com

The Daily Beacon is printed using soy based ink on newsprint containing recycled content, utilizing renewable sources and produced in a sustainable, environmentally responsible manner.

be transitioning to a once-a-month print schedule for the spring 2021 semester. This situation is hopefully temporary, as we are aiming to return to our weekly printing schedule by fall 2021. Our digital content will remain the same, and our team of editors and staff writers, photographers and videographers will continue to work toward our goal of providing accurate, objective and newsworthy stories pertinent to our campus and East Tennessee. Because most of our readership occurs online anyway, we will continue to maintain a valuable relationship with our community and university through our website and various social media outlets. The four issues that we do publish in the spring — in addition to our two magazines, Rocky Top and the Housing Guide — will be the culmination of months of work, and we will be using this schedule to our advantage by taking extra time each month to ensure that the quality of our stories is substantial. Our ﬁrst paper will be published on the ﬁrst day of the spring semester, Jan. 20, and we will publish on the second Wednesday of each month through April. Now, more than ever, it is important that you support your favorite local and student-run newspapers, whether that be through a donation or simply by taking the time to read through their websites. Student newspapers play a crucial role in the development of young journalists. In our

newsroom on the bottom floor of the Communications Building, students learn how to report, interview, film and shoot content for everything from serious investigative pieces to lighthearted entertainment. The skills student newspaper outlets provide are irreplaceable, and without them, the next generation of student journalists would be missing out on a fantastic opportunity to professionally practice journalism and hone their understanding of news ethics prior to entering the workforce outside of their universities. It is imperative that we work to ensure these institutions are able to remain in operation — especially during a time of particular international importance, when every day seems to arrive with some new, and usually disastrous, story. Throughout the next semester, please continue to visit our website regularly. If you are interested in placing an ad with us — digital or print — please contact admanager@utk.edu. You can find us online at utdailybeacon.com and on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @UTKDailyBeacon. If you are interested in working for us, please apply online through our website. For more information, contact editorinchief@utdailybeacon.com.

Women of the Abyss: Toxicity in radical feminism KAMYIA RIVERS Columnist

LETTERS POLICY: Letters to the Editor must be exclusive to The Daily Beacon and cannot have been submitted to or published by other media. Letters should not exceed 400 words and can be edited or shortened for space. Letters can also be edited for grammar and typographical errors, and Letters that contain excessive grammatical errors can be rejected for this reason. Anonymous Letters will not be published. Authors should include their full name, mailing address, city of residence, phone number and e-mail address for veriﬁcation purposes. Letters submitted without this information will not be published. The preferred method to submit a Letter to the Editor is to email the Editor-in-Chief. CORRECTIONS POLICY:It is the Daily Beacon’s policy to quickly correct any factual errors and clarify any potentially misleading information. Errors brought to our attention by readers or sta� members will be corrected and printed on page two of our publication. To report an error please send as much information as possible about where and when the error occurred to managingeditor@utdailybeacon.com, or call our newsroom at (865) 974-5206.

OPINIONS

The misrepresentation of feminism will be the holistic downfall of the philosophy. Yes, philosophy. Movements involve organizations using structure, resources and power to implement action, yet women have been powerless for centuries due to their inability to recognize their power. Philosophy, though, is a fundamental principle or idea an individual may oppose or approve, but philosophy never dies. We can dismantle a movement. Women and men exhibit their support through hashtags, marches or even a tattoo across their forehead screaming, “I AM A FEMINIST,” yet their hysterical behavior showcases their igno-

rance. Self-benefiting morons transform feminism into a profitable branding statement, disregarding its true purpose of existence in society. Feminism is an ideology or a belief in the equality of all sexes and genders. However, women with overbearing emotions break up with an ex and suddenly transform themselves into a “radical feminist.” Let’s talk about it. Ancestral hard work paved the way for modern feminism, but radical feminists are too busy hating men to see it. For example, Leonora O’Reilly, a suffragist during the 20th century, displayed class, maturity and assertiveness when confronting an all-male committee on the ratification of the 19th amendment. O’Reilly paved the way for Kamala Harris’ presidential ticket, yet radical feminists lack awareness and overall intelligence to comprehend the power women possess. In recent news, journalists and reporters dwell on the historical achievements of founding members such as Elizabeth Stanton or Lucy Stone, attempting to resurrect the value, honor and reputation lost because of radical feminists. Articles randomly surface, explaining the accomplishments of ancestors during the first wave of feminism, refusing to comment on the dishonorable acts fueling the philosophy’s degradation. Why? The answer is simple. No one wants to hear how the philosophy of feminism is failing and conforming to nothing more than a male-

hate group. Radical feminists believe society is a patriarchy dominated by men that is oppressing women, yet they do not know how to communicate their frustrations without throwing a tantrum. The assumption of women being overly emotional is further supported by the attitudes and responses of radical feminists. They center modern feminism around being better than men, unknowingly applying self limitations. We should not limit ourselves to being better than men, who cares. Let’s eliminate the toxicity of radical feminists and focus on women. The philosophy exists to uplift women, not to encourage a battle of the sexes. When women allow the rudimentary principles of feminism to be misinterpreted due to misrepresentation by radical feminists, ignorance will surface and shirts with ‘MANISM’ smeared across them will prevail. Kamyia Rivers is a sophomore majoring in political science and journalism. She can be reached at kamdrive@vols.utk.edu

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

OPINIONS

Wednesday, November 18, 2020 • The Daily Beacon

Baby Steps: Easy ways to live more sustainably, be eco-conscious BEN GOLDBERGER Columnist

As we waited for the results of the 2020 presidential election, politics had taken over seemingly every media platform. Between TikTok, Facebook and cable news, politics have become seemingly unavoidable. Truthfully, we all should be paying attention to this election because it very well decides the soul of our country. This doesn’t mean that we should exclusively consume election news all the time. Doing so will undoubtedly take a heavy toll on your mental health, and you should take breaks from time to time. I easily could’ve written about topics surrounding the elections that took place this month, topics that only feed into the media tsunami of election coverage. Instead, I decided to write about something away from the suspense of our nation’s well being, something a little more approachable. Our planet’s health has been on a consistent decline for years and years, with temperatures rising and natural disasters and storms becoming more frequent and extreme. We’ve seen trash flood our rivers, ponds and oceans, harming the wildlife that live in and around these bodies of water. Parts of America and Australia have been on fire for months at a time, creating poor breathing conditions and an orange haze that encompasses the entire skyline. Our Earth is flat out crumbling under the tremendous pressure that we as a species have put on it, and if we don’t do something within the next decade or two, we might never be able to save our homeland. The director of Environmental Studies at UT Michael McKinney speaks to the urgency we must take to become more eco-conscious, explaining that “unless we are better stewards of our environment, future generations will be forced to suffer the consequences of polluted air, water and depleted

resources.” Not only are we damaging our health by ignorantly damaging the environment, but we are also destroying the futures of generations to come. I know I said I was writing about an approachable issue and a globally diminishing environment sounds like anything but that, yet there are surprisingly many easy actions that you can take to create a more eco-conscious society. Even for those who are living on campus and therefore have some limits on their lifestyle, there are plenty of ways to live more sustainably. One way that we all can limit our environmental impact is by using fewer single use products. Probably the easiest one to eliminate from our daily lives is bottled water. Plastic water bottles never decompose, even when they are recycled, only slowly breaking down into microplastics that eventually find their way into the ocean and pollute the living organisms inside of it.

As the saying goes, we borrow the Earth from future generations; it is not ours to destroy. MICHAEL MCKINNEY UT DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Also, the process to make and ship the bottles uses an immense amount of fossil fuels that contribute largely to the amount of greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere. All aspects of this product destroy the planet, and it is way too easy to stop using bottled water regularly to justify ignoring the impact that it has. Whether you live off of campus and have a full kitchen or live in a community style dorm, you can absolve the need for bottled water by purchasing a water filtering pitcher and a reusable water bottle. There are plenty of filtration products that make the need for bottled water obsolete and can easily fit into your mini fridge in your dorm. There are also water bottle spouts on most of the water fountains in the dorms and university buildings where you can refill your reusable water bottles. This is an easy lifestyle switch that you can make with minimal effort that creates a large positive impact on the health of our planet. McKinney also suggests that an easy way to limit your environmental footprint is to eat less meat and more local, organic foods.

I know that for those who live on campus, there are not very many opportunities for you to hand select the ingredients that make up your dinner. Luckily, the dining halls on campus make it extremely easy to incorporate more meatless options into your diet. Both the PCB Café and The Fresh Food Company in Stokely Hall consistently have a vegan and vegetarian station open that rotate food options frequently. You don’t have to cut out meat cold turkey, but by eating at the meatless stations once or twice a week, you are cutting down your environmental impact exponentially. We the student body also have the power to adjust university policies and actions to be more eco-conscious. Students have had large impacts on UT behavior in the past, fighting to include healthier food options and more recycling on campus. We also saw an uproar in student support backing petitions to ban the Styrofoam containers being used for takeout from the dining halls during a two week period where dine-in options were restricted. You can read the Beacon’s story on the movement ignited by SpeakUTK at utdailybeacon.com. The student body has a tremendous voice in how

the university acts, and we can use it to create a more environmentally friendly campus. We have taken the Earth for granted for practically our entire time on this planet, depleting it of its resources and spewing pollutants into the atmosphere with no remorse. Our consumer culture creates a society that can only be sustainable with unlimited resources, something that is irresponsible and unachievable. It is time for us as a human race to take a look at the impact that we’ve had on our planet and start backpedaling to a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle. “As the saying goes, we borrow the Earth from future generations,” McKinney said, “it is not ours to destroy.” Ben Goldberger is a sophomore majoring in anthropology. He can be reached atbgoldbe3@vols.utk.edu.

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

OPINIONS

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, 2020 Wednesday,November October 7,18, 2020

The Coffee Plug: The Golden Roast location in Marble City

JOSHUA STRANGE Columnist

It is an adage as old as time that says, “the journey of a thousand papers begins with the right coffee shop.” With finals just around the corner, it’s becoming more pressing that UT students have an off-campus alternative to Hodges Library to study for tests and write papers. Which is why today I will be highlighting one coffee shop in particular for your consideration, with a recommendation based off of four categories of coffee, atmosphere, focus-ability and barista service. When UT students hear the words “Golden

Roast” they typically think of the coffee shop just off of the Cumberland Strip, across from Panda-Cane’s and Chipotle. Today, however, I will be reviewing Golden Roasts’ newest location in Marble City a few minutes from campus, just off of Sutherland Avenue. Housed in what appears to be the basement of a literal house, Golden Roast Marble City is deceptively quaint on the outside. The inside, however, is a welcoming coffee shop that features some of the friendliest baristas, trendiest decorations and tastiest coffee in Knoxville. If you’re anything like me and are currently sporting a checking account equal to the monthly membership fees of some Greek organizations, you’ll want to try to get the most bang your buck and order the cheapest drink on the menu. Thankfully, Golden Roast’s cheapest coffee, their small-size drip brew, comes in at a nice sum of two dollars and eighteen cents. However, should you want something different than a simple drip coffee then Golden Roast’s industry-average ten drink menu will likely satisfy your cravings. A particular favorite of mine is their Bavarian Chocolate cold-brew. Of course, if you want to stray off the beaten path and order a hot chocolate with a triple shot of espresso, the baristas will accommodate any request you might have. It is my personal belief that the baristas are

the gatekeepers of the world of coffee shops. They’re the difference between making you feel welcome at their coffee shop and making you feel like an uncultured coffee-peasant, unworthy to stand amidst their nitro-brew chugging, loafer-wearing, demi-god regulars. Thankfully, the Golden Roast Marble City is in the former camp. Asking an uninformed question about the coffee on the menu or committing any other coffee-related faux pas isn’t met with a disdainful response. The baristas at Golden Roast always offer the same, polite service that lends an inviting atmosphere to the customer. The coffee shop with the best drinks and baristas but a lacking, comfortable décor is no suitable place to study. The aesthetics are one of the main reasons people choose to study at coffee shops rather than at libraries. Golden Roast Marble City sports a pleasing, brick-wall hipster aesthetic that will be familiar to anyone that frequents other downtown-area coffee shops like Remedy or Honeybee. What sets Marble City apart, however, is the impressive patio area that features a large gaslit fire pit and generous amount of seating, both inside and out. It is fairly common, however, to find an intimidating number of cars in the parking lot when you first pull up, often stretching off the pavement and into the grass.

Once you go in, you’ll be surprised at how well the Marble City location distributes the seating to allow for a large number of patrons while also responsibly enabling customers to social distance. Even at the coffee shop’s busiest times, it’s not hard to find an empty table to hunker down on for a few hours to work. With a relatively distraction-free work environment, it will be easy for anyone to focus for hours on end on school work. The Golden Roast Marble City offers a refreshing alternative to their often jam-packed Melrose location with cheap, tasty coffee, satisfying interior decorations and welcoming baristas. If you want to give Golden Roast Marble City a shot, check them out at 2558 Sutherland Avenue just down the road from the Young-Williams Animal Shelter. Joshua Strange is a junior majoring in journalism. He can be reached at jstran10@vols.utk.edu

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

CAMPUS NEWS

‘Answering the Call’ discusses the ﬁght for voting rights NATASHA MCKAMEY Staff Writer

Photo Courtesy of IMDB “Answering the Call” explains that the death of Jimmie Lee Jackson, a civil rights activist who was killed when peacefully demonstrating in 1965, would “spark the plans for a march from Selma to Montgomery” to express the need for voter rights. UTK Libraries screened the film as part of its Voting Rights Series. The film is directed and narrated by two men, Brian Jenkins and John Witek, who have recorded the continued fight for the right to vote. “Answering the Call” provided an understanding of a somewhat personal timeline of voting rights during the 1960s, but also a reflection of the struggle in its current day. The late Congressman John Lewis of Georgia was included early on in the film stating that “we all have roles to play,” and there are times where we have to protest in a nonviolent way. According to the director, the film began as a tribute to his uncle, Witek; however, it progressed into the exploration of current voter suppression in the United States. Witek was a civil rights and campus activist during the 1960s. When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called for a march, Witek felt, “This is something I should really do. What is Christianity really about? What is the real message of Christ? It is really ‘love one another, a struggle for justice.’ And here was an opportunity.” Lewis discussed the literacy test that some

men were subject to in order to register to vote, such as guessing how many bubbles were on a bar of soap or how many jellybeans were in a jar. Witek and Lewis reflected on the police force in Alabama during marches. Lewis cited an officer who carried a gun, a baton and a cow prodder that was not used on cows, along with a button on his lapel which read “never.” Interestingly, Witek reflected on an experience where he was signaled by a couple of white men in Selma to cross over to the white community, which was differentiated by available sidewalks. Witek and a friend were pulled into a garage and threatened by a group of men who questioned their presence in Selma. The two men’s lives were spared just in time by state troopers who threated to castrate them if they did not leave. Witek called this the “nicest” thing to be said, because it meant they would live to leave the garage, despite the harshness of the troopers. Lewis reflected on Unitarian Minister James Reeb, stating that the beating and death of Reeb led to hundreds of thousands “getting into the streets.” The film continued to follow the fight for voting rights through a four-day march to Selma and the signing of the Voting Rights Act by President Lyndon Johnson.

Speak up. Speak out. You have to organize.

REPRESENTATIVE JOHN LEWIS U.S. CONGRESSMAN

Ari Berman, senior contributing writer for The Nation, broke down what the Voting Rights Act did. It suspended literacy tests, sent federal officials to the south to register Black voters and created a system that would outlaw discriminatory laws, among other things. However, the ﬁlm also highlighted the backlash to the Voting Rights Act and the ways in which states contributed to voter suppression, such discontinuing DMVs as voter registration centers. John Archibald, columnist at The Birmingham Times, claimed that there was ignorance on the state’s part by closing driver’s license offices. This ignorance was not necessarily to be malevolent; it was more a lack of consideration, but he called the ignorance just as bad as knowingly doing it. The 53rd Secretary of State for Alabama John Merrill claimed that the closing of DMVs was not related to race, but that it was related

to closing locations in rural locations in order to save money – approximately $100,000. However, state-run liquor stores were losing $75,000 annually and were not shutting down. The film aimed to provide a perspective – seemingly on all sides – through news clippings or interviews, though the film’s stance on voter suppression was obvious. The director also included a discussion from multiple people on voter suppression tactics, such as increasing costs related to voting, poll worker discretion and even the distinction of male or female in voter identification, which was only necessary when pictures were not on identification. The right to vote, as defined by the Supreme Court, is preservative of all other rights. Some interviewees in the film were able to show the interconnectedness of discriminatory voting rights and other rights, such as limiting an increase on minimum wage, as described by the Executive Director for the National Center for Transgender Equality Mara Keisling. “Speak up. Speak out. You have to organize,” Lewis said. He reflected on his experience in the voting rights fights as he risked his life and spent time in jail, not only in his younger days but even five times while in Congress. “I would do it again. I would not hesitate one moment,” Lewis said. Though the film was released several years ago, watching it in 2020 during an election season feels like a bit of a tribute to Lewis and his journey with civil and voting rights. Witek closed the film as he walked on the Edmund-Pettis Bridge, claiming his passion and interest in the struggle for rights was reignited. “Answering the Call” spotlighted Selma and Alabama specifically as beacons casting light on the struggle to vote as an issue that has gone on for decades.

“THE 7”

1 HEISKELL

2 REDTENBACHER’S FUNKESTRA

3 SHARON JONES AND THE DAP KINGS

4 PUP

5 GORILLAZ

MIC HARRISON & THE HIGH SCORE

7 RHYE

Congressman John Lewis Courtesy of Liberty Hill

wutk

Wednesday,November Wednesday, November18, 18,2020 2020 • •The TheDaily DailyBeacon Beacon

SPORTS

November 18, 2020 66 The TheDaily DailyBeacon Beacon• •Wednesday, Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Lady Vols basketball releases upcoming 2020-21 season schedule BARRETT WALKER Staff Writer

The University of Tennessee women’s basketball team released its 2020-21 schedule on Friday afternoon. The Lady Vols will play 16 games against SEC teams and eight against non-conference opponents. “Finalizing our game schedule has required a lot of patience and flexibility,” Lady Vols head coach Kellie Harper said. “There were a lot of moving parts. While this is not the schedule we started with, we are excited to have the opportunity to play games.” Tennessee opens up its season with three games at Thompson-Boling Arena. The first matchup is against Florida A&M on November 27. The next day, the Lady Vols will take on Western Kentucky. The final game in the homestead will be against in-state rival ETSU on December 1. Tennessee will then compete in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. On Dec. 6, The Lady Vols will face off against West Virginia. To close out the tournament, Tennessee will battle Texas on Dec. 13. The Lady Vols will come back home to Rocky Top for two games in late December. The first is against Jackson State on Dec. 20. Lipscomb will then travel to Thompson-Boling Arena on Dec. r 28 to take on Tennessee. The Lady Vols open up conference play

Tamari Key, #20, shooting over Ole Miss forward Dominique Banks, # 13, on Feb. 27, 2020 in Thompson-Boling Arena. Kenneth Richmond / The Daily Beacon against three ranked teams. On New Year’s Eve, Tennessee plays No. 13 Texas A&M at College Station, Texas. The Lady Vols will then travel back home to battle against No. 11 Kentucky on Jan. 3. Finally, Tennessee will compete

against No. 14 Arkansas on Jan. 7. The next three games for the Lady Vols will be an away match against LSU, then a home game against Georgia and they will end with a visit to Alabama on Jan. 10, 14, and 17, respec-

tively. Tennessee will take a brief break from conference play to square up against No. 3 UConn on Jan. 21. Three days after that, the Lady Vols will play their final 10 games against SEC opponents, with Vanderbilt being the first of those games. Tennessee will then play two games at home, then two away, then two more at home, then two more away. The first home set of games will be against Ole Miss and Florida on Jan. 28 and 31, respectively. The Lady Vols will then travel to No. 6 Mississippi State on Feb. 4 and then, No. 11 Kentucky on Feb. 11. The second set of home games for Tennessee will be against in-state rival Vanderbilt on Feb. 14. Then the Lady Vols will take on the top team in the country, South Carolina, on Feb. 18. The final set of away games will be on Feb. 21 and 25, with Tennessee playing Georgia and Missouri, respectively. The final game of the regular season for the Lady Vols will be on Feb. 28 against the Auburn Tigers. The SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament play will begin on March 3 to March 7. NCAA 1st and 2nd Rounds will be between March 19 to March 22. NCAA Regionals will be played on March 26 and will end on March 29. Finally, the NCAA Final Four will start on April 2 and end April 4.

Johnson, Springer expected to help Vols basketball in many ways RYAN SCHUMPERT Sports Editor

Igniting much of the excitement for the Tennessee basketball season is the pair of five-star, freshmen guards Keon Johnson and Jaden Springer. With the bulk of a strong frontcourt back from last season’s team, Tennessee needed help at guard, especially with athleticism and defense. That’s where Johnson (247sports’ No. 19 player) and Springer (247sports’ No. 16 player) come in. In meeting with the Knoxville media Thursday, both players listed their defensive ability as something they bring to the table. Not the typical characteristic you’d expect from a top 20 shooting guard. “I’ve always been one that wants to play defense and not let the other team score or let anyone get easy, free points on you or nothing like that,” Springer said. “That’s always been my mindset.” It may be Springer’s mindset, but it’s Johnson’s bread-and-butter. The Bell Buckle, Tennessee native climbed up the recruiting rankings as he impressed with his defense

at both top AAU events and the USA Basketball camp in Charlottesville, Virginia, where Johnson competed twice. Johnson credits his grit as what makes him special at defense. “I just want to play defense and want to lock another opponent down,” Johnson said. “Just being able to have that type of heart and stigma about myself.” The 6-foot-5 guard, is a high end athlete who can shut down wings and guard alike. It isn’t the only, or even the best, way Johnson feels like he can help the Vols this season. “I feel like my speed is what helps the team this year,” Johnson said. “Just being able to get a rebound and push the ball. I feel like me being able to lead the break off the rebound sets myself apart.” Leading the break and Tennessee’s offense is something Johnson may do more of than he expected when he arrived in Knoxville. Despite both Springer and Johnson being recruited as shooting guards, both have worked at point guard this preseason. “It’s been something I’ve been asked to do since getting here,” Johnson said of playing point guard. “I haven’t been running away from the task. I feel like it’s a great way for me to learn, and if that’s what it takes for me to

get on the court, I’ll do it.” While playing point guard is more of adding a weapon to Johnson’s repertoire than making an adjustment to his game, Springer has been working at running an offense, spending his senior season at IMG Academy playing point guard. The opportunity to play both against and around some of the best competition at the high school level didn’t just ease the transition to the college game, but also taught him how to play without being an offense’s first option. “Last year at IMG (Academy) definitely helped me,” Springer said. “Being able to come here I’ve been able to take it to a different level now. Being with coach Barnes he’s definitely big on the point guard spot, so being able to get those reps at practice and when we scrimmage and get up-and-down it’s definitely a big help for when the games come around.” While his point guard abilities have developed immensely in the past year, it was the Charlotte, North Carolina native’s natural offensive talent that originally made him a fivestar recruit. Springer is a standout shooter and has a smooth game that allows him to score at the

basket in and around traffic. Despite this, Springer mentions his ability to get others involved first when describing his offensive game. “I feel like I can create for my teammates,” Springer said. “I can drive. I can attack space and really open things up for me and everyone else that’s on the court with me.” Tennessee will lean on its highly rated freshmen this season in more than just the traditional ways. Springer and Johnson’s diversity of skills should help them be up to the task.

Tennessee men’s basketball Head Coach Rick Barnes, during a game against Auburn at Thomson-Boling Arena on Saturday, March 7. Sydney Goodsell / The Daily Beacon

CITY NEWS

Wednesday, November TheDaily DailyBeacon Beacon Wednesday, October 18, 14, 2020 2020 • The

Knoxville’s reaction to the election results: More representation ASHLEY JACKSON Staff Writer

2020 will not only be remembered for many eventful moments, but for the history that was made by American citizens four days between the election and the announcement of the results. Though the results are still a source of contention among many, Joe Biden has been projected to be the new president of the United States with Kamala Harris as the first biracial and first female vice president. For days, people around the world were glued to their TVs and phone screens, constantly flipping through channels and refreshing their news feeds awaiting the announcement of who would be the next president-elect of the United States. After a long four days, election news finally broke. The reactions around the world from supporters of the Biden-Harris campaign did not go unheard. Gloria Johnson, Knox County state repre-

sentative, shared her reaction to the election of president-elect Joe Biden. “The American people have spoken in record numbers. Joe Biden will be the next president of the United States. We will be hearing Madame Vice President for the first time in history. A Black woman, an Indian woman and the daughter of immigrants — this is America,” Johnson said. “Now it’s time to come together and focus on solving the problems. Our schools are underfunded. Our economy is more unequal than ever before. Our people need access to affordable health care. And we must get control of the pandemic. Take a rest but get ready to work.” Here in Knoxville, many flooded to a local park to celebrate the blue victory and what it means for the state of the country and its people. In this election, more than 25 million millennial and Gen Z votes were cast, bringing the voter turnout rate by young people to 53% compared to 51% in 2008. Zoe Anderson, a sophomore marketing

major, shared her excitement after hearing the election results.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris Courtesy of AP “I was watching the election results on CBS. When I saw Biden was the projected elect, I could have cried. History has been made. I am a female, and to finally see female representation, black, Asian and Indian representation next to the president of the United States is a big deal. Now the real work starts,” Anderson said. In the past, young voters did not show

up to the polls at rates like older generations. However, the Biden-Harris ticket was all the motivation they needed to get to the polls and exercise their rights to vote. Mabry Johnson, a Knox county native and student, shared why this year’s election was so important to her. “This year has been crazy for me, as it has been for most around the world. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything for a lot of people, including myself. To see how the country took a turn for the worse because of it and how the current president did nothing was insane,” Johnson said. “So, to hear and see the Biden-Harris campaign be centered around pulling America out of this nightmare was a big factor in them getting my vote. Not only that, but America needs change, and what better way than Kamala

Harris as the new VP.” This presidential election will be one to remember. President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris have assured the U.S. that they have a plan.

Tim Burchett wins U.S. House seat in Tennessee’s 2nd District NATASHA MCKAMEY Staff Writer

With Election Day’s coming and going, Tim Burchett won the House seat for Tennessee’s second district. Burchett’s re-election marks the beginning of his second term in office, as he once again defeated Renee Hoyos. Despite her loss to the incumbent, Hoyos remained positive. “Not everyone wins every election. But instead of crying in your soup, it’s important to learn from the experience. We’ve put new things into practice and come up with strategies that will help us to figure out what works and what doesn’t,” Hoyos said in an interview with the Daily Times. Burchett is from East Tennessee. where he attended Bearden High School and the University of Tennessee and served as the Knox County mayor in 2010. He now lives in Knoxville with his wife Kelly and their daughter Isabel. With respect to his political career, Burchett prides himself as a “lifelong East Tennessean, conservative, a husband, a dad, and the Republican Congressman for Congress in Tennessee’s 2nd Congressional District.” He ran for Congress because “he

was fed up with the status quo in our nation’s capital.” The congressman comes from a family of veterans and thinks that the Veteran’s Administration has too much control over the care of veterans, claiming there is too much red tape and bureaucracy. Burchett thinks veterans should be able to receive care wherever they want, as opposed to the hour-and-a-half drive from Knoxville to the Veteran Administration hospital in Johnson City. Burchett supports free-market policies for healthcare and “is proudly pro-life.” His webpage displays Burchett’s support of the right to bear arms and term limits because he believes when it comes to politicians, they become beholden to “the special-interests who line their pockets.” As a small businessman himself, he supports rolling back “job-killing” regulations imposed by government agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency. A self-proclaimed anti-tax champion, Burchett received the “Tax Ax” award during his time in the legislature. This was awarded after fighting off the state income tax. Burchett’s website claims he has saved taxpayers’ dollars through privatizing government services, selling government buildings and “introducing

efficiencies in government,” among other ways. In an interview with Knox News, Burchett said his top priorities for his next term were to push Congress to pass a balanced budget, tackle the rising cost of healthcare and to curtail our dependence on Chinese manufacturing. “I introduced the Do Your Job Act, which would cut Congress’ salary more and more each year that it fails to pass a budget. A dysfunctional Congress has proven unable to tackle the tricky issue of rising healthcare costs. Measures like these, along with free market solutions like the expansion of telehealth, will do much to bring prices down and expand access to quality health insurance,” Burchett said. “China poses an eminent threat to our national security, economic stability and public health. For too long we have allowed them to expand their influence in our interests, foreign and domestic.” With respect to the pandemic, Burchett claims he was the first to act on liability protection for businesses during these times. “I was the first member of Congress to propose legislation that would provide liability protection for businesses who want to reopen but are afraid of frivolous lawsuits,” Burchett said. “We are facing a health pan-

demic, but we are also facing an economic pandemic with millions of jobs lost. We need to address both concerns.” Burchett’s economic policy standpoint focuses on reviving jobs and businesses threatened by COVID-19, aiming to increase economic activity.

Former Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett Courtesy of Knox County Communications

CITY NEWS

The DailyOctober Beacon 28, • Wednesday, 18, 2020 8 8 Wednesday, 2020 • TheNovember Daily Beacon

Social media, LGBTQ businesses: Gaining traction through the web EVA HERINKOVA Contributor

It’s no secret that social media has changed the world. From how we interact with our friends to social justice movements and news consumption, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram have drastically changed our lives. The LGBTQ-owned business community in Knoxville is no exception. Facebook groups in particular fuel networking opportunities for fledgling businesses, helping queer professionals find mentors, ask for advice and advertise their services. Blair Griffin, a freelance makeup artist, relied almost entirely on social media and word of mouth when she began offering her services in 2015 after she noticed that same-sex couples were still struggling in the Knoxville wedding industry. “I advertised and utilized local wedding expos, blog posts, Facebook groups and vendor groups to build a group of networking professionals,” Griffin said. “As I became busier and busier, word of mouth on social media has be-

come the main driver for my business.” According to a New York Times article on how social media can help small businesses, an estimated 81% of Americans have a social media account, and many users gravitate to social media websites when looking for more information on local establishments.

Courtesy of the South Press Facebook page

In addition to marketing, social media has fueled connections within the LGBTQ+ business professional community in Knoxville, letting those with experience offer advice to new businesses opening in the area. “I use LGBT+ focused Facebook pages on the regular to answer questions for other queer couples looking for wedding-related businesses to hire and to find other queer businesses to network with,” Griffin said. A recent example of the importance of networking through social media is South Press, a trans-owned coffee shop on Chapman Highway that opened in September to provide a sober space for the LGBT+ community in Knoxville. Joslynn Fish, the owner of South Press, used Keep Knox Queer, a local Facebook group that aims to provide support for the community in Knoxville and other surrounding counties, throughout the planning process of her store. In fact, Keep Knox Queer provided not just moral support for Fish, but financial help as well. After an initial post in July 2020, Fish was able to raise funds for furniture and an espresso machine, all from word of mouth on Facebook. Ultimately, however, marketing is still the

main goal for many businesses in Knoxville on social media. Much like Griffin, Kelly Absher, a local realtor, was only able to start his practice because of online advertising. “Social media greatly helped my career because of the marketing packages that I pitched to clients,” Absher said. “Mastering how to do campaigns, A/B split testing and knowing the rules of social media was crucial. I would not say social media helped me connect with other queer folks personally, but it helped me build a successful business.” While each owner uses Facebook and other social media platforms in different ways, digital networking and marketing remains core to the success of local business, especially those run by minorities such as the LGBTQ+ community. “Though there have been some negative experiences, I think those are outweighed by people open to learning more about our lifestyle and realizing that we aren’t as different as what they think,” Griffin said. “I feel confident that even here in East Tennessee, doors are opening for the queer community every day.”

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Viking RPG we never knew we needed JAKE YODER City News Editor

Assassin’s Creed is a series that has seen its fair share of ups and downs. After cementing itself as a new staple of gaming back in the 360/ PS3 era, the series took a bit of a dip in quality due to overabundant releases. Thanks to this (and a lack of series innovation), many fell off Assassin’s Creed sometime around the release of Assassin’s Creed 4. Ubisoft must have noticed this lack of interest themselves as they opted to completely change the series in 2017. With the release of Origins, Odyssey and now Valhalla, the series has completely shifted from stealth-action to a full-fledged RPG. This was one of the best moves Ubisoft could have made, as Origins and Odyssey are some of the best games on the market. With the release of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, one begins to wonder how many AC games in this style can be released before it also starts feeling old. Though Valhalla is set in a completely different place than it’s predecessors, its core combat and systems looked almost identical at a glance, making it unclear if it would be able to set itself apart from the rest of the series. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla follows Eivor, a Viking warrior looking to make a place for his clan in the mid-800s. After he and his best friend split off from their old clan in Norway,

they must start from the beginning in England. This is easier said than done, however, as the last thing that most Saxons want is Danes taking their land. On top of this, two familiar organizations continue their fight for power, inevitably pulling Eivor and his clan into their skirmish. After the first few games, the Assassin’s Creed series has not really had the strongest stories. Sure, there are definitely interesting characters and plotlines in the past sections of the games, but whenever players are forced to hop out of the animus and into the future sections, things become a complete mess. This same issue is present in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Though a very small amount of the game takes place in the future, it is almost completely incomprehensible unless you have played all of the past games and their DLCs. Seeing as how this is a small part of the game, it isn’t a huge issue, but it would be nice to see a good future storyline in AC again. Eivor’s story fairs a little bit better. While it still isn’t anything mind blowing, watching Eivor rebuild their clan from scratch and interact with some truly interesting characters is enjoyable. Though this story didn’t prove to be revolutionary, it does what it needs to do to get players from point A to point B. The real reason to play Valhalla is for the gameplay loop. Essentially, players spend the whole game going from place to place fighting enemies, completing fetch quests and collecting materials. Doing these tasks and other missions gives Eivor experience which in turn

helps them level up and improve their skill. Leveling up Eivor consists of a huge skill tree consisting of three sections: stealth, melee and ranged. Depending on where players choose to invest their skill points, Eivor will be able to become more powerful in these areas. The sheer size of the skill tree means there is plenty of room for customization, letting players create a build that best suits their playstyle. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is an absolutely beautiful game, even on last-gen hardware. The game runs beautifully on PS4, so I can only imagine what it looks like on PS5 or Xbox Series X. The world of Valhalla is not only beautiful, but it is also full of things to do and secrets to find. Not to mention, it’s absolutely huge. Tracking down every collectable and upgrade hidden throughout England and Norway is either a completionist’s dream or nightmare, depending on how you look at it. Luckily, almost all of the missions and side activities in Valhalla are a blast to play. Chances are you’ll enjoy your time with Eivor, and if you do, you’ll be getting lots of it. Combat is Valhalla’s main draw. From personal duels to huge raids with Eivor’s clan, there is an endless amount of opportunities to get into fights in Valhalla. Combat is reminiscent of that found in Origins and Odyssey but slightly tweaked. It is still familiar enough to give veteran players a sense of familiarity but different enough to make it feel unique. Though it looks beautiful and runs at a steady framerate, Valhalla does suffer from

some pretty intense load times on last-gen hardware, an issue that is (probably?) nonexistent on current-gen. While this isn’t a huge issue, it is noticeable. Valhalla does suffer from a number of bugs and glitches that, while not game breaking, really take players out of the game. For instance, a number of audio glitches such as characters not speaking when they should, characters talking over each other or certain audio just not happening at all were pretty frequent. Additionally, a number of character models would occasionally T-pose during cutscenes instead of doing whatever they were supposed to be doing, which was quite jarring. Aside from the long load times on currentgen and the number of audio and visual glitches, Valhalla is a great experience. Those looking for a pure, addicting RPG Viking simulator will get exactly what they are looking for from Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (Though it might be a better idea to play Valhalla on a next-gen console if possible). Game reviewed on a PlayStation 4 Pro. Review code provided by Ubisoft.

4/5 Torches

PUZZLES & GAMES

Wednesday, November 18, 2020 • The Daily Beacon

the daily beacon

crossword & sudoku

your morning coffee’s best friend. Daily Egyptian 9/14 Crossword 14

LOS ANGELES TIMES CROSSWORD • Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

STR8TS No. 515

Tough

Previous solution - Medium

7 6 2 6 9 5 5 6 3 4 4 3 9 7 8 8 9 1 2 2 1 3

8 7

3 4 1 9 1

4 5

You can find more help, tips and hints at www.str8ts.com

8 9 7 8 3 6 7 5 6 2 5 3 4 4

4 5 3 2 8

No. 515

Easy

How to beat Str8ts – Like Sudoku, no single number can repeat in any row or column. But... rows and columns are divided by black squares into compartments. These need to be filled in with numbers that complete a ‘straight’. A straight is a set of numbers with no gaps but can be in any order, eg [4,2,3,5]. Clues in black cells remove that number as an option in that row and column, and are not part of any straight. Glance at the solution to see how ‘straights’ are formed.

9 8 2 3 8 1

2 3 2 7 4

Previous solution - Very Hard

7 8 9 2 4 6 5 1 3

The solutions will be published here in the next issue.

2 6 5 1 9 3 8 4 7

9 2 8 6 1 7 3 5 4

4 3 6 8 5 9 2 7 1

5 1 7 3 2 4 9 6 8

8 7 2 9 6 1 4 3 5

1 9 3 4 8 5 7 2 6

6 5 4 7 3 2 1 8 9

To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely.

6 7 2 3 4 1 6 5 5 7 1

3 4 1 5 7 8 6 9 2

Across 1 5 10 14 15 16

3 4 5 1 3 2 2 1 9 8 8 9 7 5 4 4 1 3 6 7 5 6

SUDOKU 4

PuzzleJunction.com

For many strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org If you like Str8ts, Sudoku and other puzzles, check out our books, iPhone/iPad Apps and much more on our store at www.str8ts.com

17 19 20 21 22 23 24 26 29 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 45 46 47 48 51 52 55 56 59 60 61 62

Dry run Excludes Plummet Eli’s school Ham’s need Keystone State port Ethics Some jeans Telesthesia Puncture Blueprints Caesar’s farewell Grinder More than one word, usually Auto repair after an accident Awaken Icy coating Corral Evict Compare Utah lily Don’t waste Anon’s partner Unfertilized lobster roe Fashioned Carmaker’s woe Twiggy digs Connect Thug Mediator’s skill Not guzzle Thun’s river Georgia’s AKA Billboard Be of one mind Map abbrs. Gravity-powered vehicle

14 17

35 38 41 45

46 49

23 26

63 College girls 64 Galba’s predecessor Down 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Variety Corn units Lingerie item Half a score Meadowlark Syrup ﬂavor Eric of Monty Python fame 8 Formal requirement 9 Plea at sea 10 Gent

11 12 13 18 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 34

Kind of rug Bank holding Reduced by Pursue Meddle Widespread Four-bagger Promised land Kind of parent Domicile Tricks Cycled “Lohengrin,” e.g. Fit for a king Small hill Steel worker’s item 37 Microscope part

puzzles Wednesday. NewNew puzzles every every Monday and Thursday.

38 41 43 44 45 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 56 57 58

Punch Some change Have in mind Turn right, to a horse Wealth Spiked Low in pitch Commuting option Craving Container weight Computer command Road to Rome Mexican moolah Lobbying grp. Popinjay’s problem Thrash

THE DAILY BEACON

CITY NEWS

10 The 18, 2020 TheDaily DailyBeacon Beacon• •Wednesday, Wednesday,November October 7, 2020

4 movies to get you in the Thanksgiving mood this November BEN WINIGER Staff Writer

Thanksgiving is almost upon us. It’s a time to give thanks, relax and eat food until you feel stuffed. After the post-turkey high sets in, you may want to settle down with a movie or two. While Thanksgiving movies are few and far between, there are still options available for those who want some entertainment in the holiday spirit. Here are a few of those options. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving The Peanuts specials were a staple of many a child’s holiday viewing. Thanksgiving is no exception.

“A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” follows the Peanuts gang as they try to make a proper Thanksgiving meal. Naturally, the children mess somethings up and hilarity ensues. The best part about Peanut’s is how low-stakes everything is. You won’t be worrying about the fate of the world, or even much about inter-personal drama. It’s just a couple of kids a trying to have fun. If that’s something you need right now, definitely revisit this one. Winnie the Pooh The purpose of Thanksgiving is right there in the name. It’s a time to be thankful for all the things and opportunities you have in life — no matter how small. Winnie the Pooh is all about enjoying the little things. They’re simple stories about friendship, harkening back to easier

times when daily worries were simple. They’re also wistful representations of nature, soft coloring and smooth animation depicting the Hundred-Acre Wood as a calm and soothing fall landscape. If you want another nostalgia watch, give some old “Winnie the Pooh” specials a try. Star Wars Holiday Special Sometimes it’s enough to laugh at something bad. Initially released Nov. 17, 1978, the “Star Wars Holiday Special” could theoretically match any holiday. With the special LEGO remake releasing on Disney+ next Tuesday, it’s the perfect time to revisit this “classic.” It’s not the kind of thing you watch to have an unironically good time. Until recently, many fans considered it the worst piece of media to every come out of the franchise. Looking back,

however, it’s a wonderfully campy time with the right mindset. In the meantime, the special still tries to remain in the spirit of the holidays. Knives Out While Thanksgiving is a great time to eat some good food and give thanks, it’s also a time you have to be around your extended family. For many Americans around this time of year, that is not a pleasant experience. After any potentially arguing and tension around family reunion, you may need some catharsis. “Knives Out” is a whodunit murder mystery involving a family. The family members clearly don’t like each other and would rather argue than get along. This may sound familiar. It’s a thoroughly entertaining film with relatable characters and family dynamics.

The best PS4, Xbox One games to play if you don’t have next-gen SETH CHAPMAN Staff Writer

It’s official: the next-gen season is finally upon us! This week, both the PS5 and the Xbox Series S/X are launching, and this is exciting news for many gamers. However, most of us won’t be so fortunate to be able to play the new consoles this week. Whether your orders have been delayed or the limited supply of consoles made it near impossible for you to secure one, it obviously sucks for many of us who will feel left out this generation. But take hope! There are plenty of fun and exciting games coming out soon that all current-gen console players can enjoy while they wait to get their hands on the nextgen hardware. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Let’s kick this one off with the big one: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Set in England during the Dark Ages, you play as Eivor, a Viking warrior from Norway trying to secure a new home for their people. Players will take part in raids, build up their settlement and uncover the mysteries of ancient England. The wasteland of England is both massive and rendered gorgeously, even on the current-gen systems. Early tests of Valhalla on older systems showcases a beautiful world, albeit with some hiccups such as long load times and a jumpy framerate. Still, the game should be well worth its time for many players. It should also be noted that PlayStation and Xbox owners who purchase Valhalla on current-gen systems will also receive a free upgrade when they switch to the

next-gen consoles. Bugsnax This quirky little adventure is coming to both PS4 and PS5 and is the perfect title for anyone waiting for next-gen. While its visuals won’t exactly be cutting edge even on the PS5, it more than makes up for it with its charming characters and cute cartooney style. Bugsnax places the player in the shoes of a journalist who ventures to Snaktooth Island for the next big story. This places them on a collision course with both the quirky inhabitants of the island as well as the weird and inventive Bugsnax themselves. What exactly is a Bugsnack? It’s all there in the name: they are part bug and part snack creatures that roam the island. Ranging from cute to odd, these wonderful creatures all posses their own unique behaviors that players will have to learn adapt to in order to solve the various puzzles on the island. Bugsnax is sure to be a fun hit for players looking for a great and funny story as well as just a good puzzle game. Gears Tactics For Xbox players who have Game Pass, you should check out Gears Tactics. This spinoff from the Gears of War series plays it a little differently from its older brothers. For one, its not a third-person cover shooter. Instead, Gears Tactics is a turn-based strategy game. Think of something along the lines of XCOM. Players will manage their squad and move along a grid-based battlefield. However, what keeps Gears Tactics firmly in the Gears line-up is both how gorgeous it is and how it still keeps the spirit of the Gears games

alive in a completely different genre. Iconic weapons like the lancer and longshot are still here, and the Locust from the first trilogy of games are the primary antagonists yet again. Not to mentions, the grisly executions are also here and play a big part in the gameplay loop. If you want a fun Gears adventure with a tactical edge, you can’t go wrong with Gears Tactics.

Miles as he begins his first foray as SpiderMan. Along with the web-slinging and gadgets similar to Peter Parker, Miles also comes with his own unique abilities. This includes his Venom powers which allows Miles to power his attacks with bio-electricity. Miles also possesses active camouflage which will allow him to quietly take out bad guys or confuse them during a fight. Plus, Miles Morales is set in New York during the holiday season, so the snow and Christmas decorations are sure to put players into the holiday mood. This will be a must have for any PlayStation owner, and players who pick up Miles Morales for PS4 will also receive a free upgrade when they switch to PS5. Cyberpunk 2077

Courtesy of the PlayStation Store Spider-Man: Miles Morales This might come to a surprise for some, but Miles Morales isn’t only coming to PS5, it is also coming to PS4 as well! While the visuals and performance of Miles Morales is sure to be a treat for players on PS5, Miles Morales is sure to also look great on PS4. Marvel’s Spider-Man in 2018 still holds up visually today, so Miles Morales is sure to look just as good. As the title suggests, you will be playing

I mean, what else could we possibly say about this game? This futuristic RPG juggernaut has been on everyone’s radar for years, and we’re finally getting it! While it has been delayed at least one more month, we can expect an action RPG on an epic scale and a highly detailed dystopian world. Why this game will be perfect for currentgen players is because, for one, its being built for Xbox One and PS4 first. Yes, it will be playable on next-gen systems day one through backwards compatibility, but CD Project Red has already confirmed that Cyberpunk 2077 won’t be receiving next-gen enhancements until sometime in early 2021, so you will have plenty of time to enjoy the game until you get a next-gen console. Not to mention, players who get Cyberpunk 2077 on current-gen systems will also receive a free next-gen upgrade when it becomes available.

CAMPUS NEWS

Wednesday,November October 14, Daily Beacon Wednesday, 18,2020 2020• •The The Daily Beacon

Siddiqi lecturer advises students to defy ‘illusion of tradition’ DANIEL DASSOW Staff Writer

The critic Alfred Kazin once appraised the work of James Baldwin by saying, “to be James Baldwin is to touch on so many hidden places in Europe, in America, the Negro, the white man — to be forced to understand so much.” The same could easily be said of Shahzia Sikander, the renowned Pakistani-American visual artist whose portfolio transverses every imaginable boundary of genre and theme. To be Shahzia Sikander is to touch on so many hidden places in America, in Asia, the colonizer, the colonized — to be forced to understand so much. That which is colonized takes many forms in Sikander’s work, from her native country to the female body to the religion of Islam. As this year’s guest for the Department of Religious Studies’ seventh annual and firstever virtual Siddiqi Lecture in Islamic Studies, Sikander traced her career from its origins in Indo-Persian miniature painting in Pakistan through its many evolutions of medium and scale after her move to the United States. She is the past recipient of a MacArthur “Genius Grant,” and her work has been exhibited in galleries and museums in dozens of countries around the world. Sikander is the first visual artist to be featured in the lecture series, after six previous speakers who were all scholars of religion. However, it is no accident that Sikander was chosen to speak in a series by and for academics. Her artwork is deeply rooted not only in history, but in the critical intersections of gender, race, sexuality, religion and politics, with certain artworks analyzing all of these fields of study at once. Her works operate on a global scale and are also stunningly intricate and colorful, managing to be a pleasure both for the eye and the mind. In a 70-minute, pre-recorded conversation with Manuela Ceballos, an assistant professor of religious studies who specializes in Islam, Sikander explained that the intricacy of her work is owed to her early training in the genre of miniature painting at the National College of Arts in her home country of Pakistan. The genre of miniature painting, a source of national pride for Pakistan, had largely fallen out of favor with younger artists by the time Sikander entered art school in the 1980s. “Miniature painting, with its unresolved national status, almost like a deep stigma, captured the paradox of culture and nationalism far more than any other discipline at the National College of Arts in the shifting geopolitical landscape of the 80s,” Sikander said. “It was mostly mired in its prevalent iterations of tourist kitsch much more than in its indigenous status, and it had been declared deriva-

tive.” Sikander’s work in the genre, notably her 1990 breakout piece entitled “The Scroll,” which depicts the artist as a ghostly female form moving through a panorama of her childhood home, introduced new possibilities of its use to both uphold and subvert traditional depictions of women and religious and cultural icons. “My work was very influential for a whole generation of artists,” Sikander said. “It was signaling back that miniature painting was viable, valid.” Though she has since expanded into diverse genres of visual art, from sculpture to portraiture to photography and mosaics, Sikander still reserves a special place for the ancient art of miniature paintings, which, she informed the Zoom webinar audience, are often about the size of a sheet of notebook paper and are bafflingly detailed. The genre of the miniature painting has often been seen as what Sikander termed a “Pakistani nationalistic art form,” though she has resisted this association through her work, which often breaks with tradition more than it upholds it. As she experimented more with the political and cultural themes of her miniatures, she realized how the genre could create powerful statements and transcend its reputation as simply ornamental. “The spontaneous nature of it was disrupting the very perfect or this projected precious notion to the miniature,” Sikander said. “So I was questioning this preciousness that is being projected onto a very, for me, intellectually exciting genre. Why do we have to talk or think of it always in terms of something decorative or beautiful or something that is precious?” In fact, much of Sikander’s career has been dedicated to questioning and dismantling the definitions that others have tried to place on her art. When she moved to the United States in 1993, where she received a master’s degree at the Rhode Island School of Design and where she resides today, Sikander felt a pressure to produce art that would represent the brand of otherness that her new home placed on her. Her artwork began to reflect a concerted effort to break away from these expectations. “With the distance from home, the process of self-actualization came into focus,” Sikander said. “The new work started to resist the straightjacketing that I encountered in terms of my biography. Who I was, what I represented became limited constructs, and the burden projected onto me to represent a culture felt not just unfair but almost alien, becoming the other.” Now, as she began breaking into other mediums, her iconographies took less traditional forms, becoming more androgynous, more chaotic, less pretty and complete. As Sikander says herself, the “order started to collapse.”

The new iconography was less the result of her training or her identity as a Pakistani woman or an immigrant, but rather came from inside Sikander as she strove to deconstruct and reimagine historical norms. She says this has been the most exciting part of her career. “Learning how to drop fear, embrace vulnerability, to live the true potential of the mind with all these burning questions was very exhilarating, so it wasn’t just like I was simply creating new narratives in the miniature style,” Sikander said. “It was really about digging deeper to really understand, ‘how do you take ownership of tradition?’ Or, ‘what is this idea of tradition and how can iconography come from within,’ which is not appropriated from older paintings.” Having outgrown the tired burden of identity, Sikander was free to follow her imagination to any medium and any scale it led. For an artist who began in miniature paintings, Sikander’s work has certainly not been bound by size. A recent mosaic commissioned by Princeton University stretches 66 feet up a wall of the campus’s International Building. A recent collaboration with Pulitzer-prize winning composer Du Yun features an immersive animation projected along 75 feet of wall space. And Sikander’s global audience is by no means miniature. A 2015 collaboration with Times Square Arts titled “Gopi-Contagion” flooded screens in the world’s most visited tourist destination with Sikander’s artwork from 11:57 p.m. until midnight every night in the month of October. Sikander’s portfolio is so diverse, so complex and so varied that it is impossible to capture in words. Ceballos herself had trouble finding the right way to describe what is indescribable about her guest’s artwork. “I’m just remarking how historically engaged and how deeply, there’s something, I hesitate to say ‘academic’ because that’s not the right word, but there’s something so intellectually exciting as well as aesthetically exciting, so rich that I’ve just learned so much,” Ceballos said. Now 51, Sikander is turning her attention to a suite of projects that deal with dual themes of abundance and extraction. Recently, she adopted a sense of British wit to create a Christmas tree made entirely out of oil rig parts as a visual parody of the “gift” of oil from the Middle East to Western nations. This kind of stylized political statement is only one among many controversies into which Sikander has dared to wade into with her art. Several of her pieces contain spiritual, silhouetted forms of the Prophet Muhammed, an artistic tradition with an ancient lineage that has garnered media attention amid the ongoing controversies surrounding offensive caricatures of the Prophet. Like many people who grew up Muslim without speaking Arabic, Sikander says that

her interaction with the language has been mostly through the senses of hearing and seeing, which is how she likes to integrate Arabic into her work. “I’ve been interested in the visual dimension of the script itself, which is incredibly powerful and beautiful and has an incredible logic behind it,” Sikander said. “Geometrically, it’s so precise … the experiential, through visual and through recitation and through the sound, all of that collapses and gets used in some of the drawings that I make.” Drawing on sacred, ancient practices like Qur’an recitation and calligraphy and finding a way to make them new and exciting through her visual artwork is a hallmark of Sikander’s career. That she has dared to go into the heart of traditions that millions hold dear and to reinvent and subvert them in ways that feel newly sacred is likely to be her legacy as a transnational feminist artist. Perhaps the most surprising claim of a lecture filled with questions of tradition (how it is made, who has authority over it, what it means to learn it and then break it) was Sikander’s advice to students during the live Q&A session following the pre-recorded lecture. Sikander called tradition an “illusion” and advised students not to become obsessed with it as so many young people do. “Students think that there’s some magic … ‘how can I learn this tradition’ and then, you know, it’s going to give me a way of being in the world as an artist,” Sikander said. “That fetishization towards tradition needs to be demystified. This illusion of the tradition is an ongoing journey for me, this idea of how you learn something in depth.” As its moderator, Ceballos ended the lecture with some level of difficulty. After a 70-minute conversation and a smattering of questions from the Zoom audience, she was tasked with putting the cap on a discussion that could last hours longer. “The engagement that you have with all these various discourses makes it both endlessly rich and interesting, but we could talk forever about any of these particular subjects, right?” Ceballos said. “The engagement with politics and different movements, language and tradition and innovation and so on.” To see through Shahzia Sikander’s eyes is to see so many things at once, to be forced to understand so many things at once. Amid the many inconveniences of hosting an annual lecture in a detached format, there was this consolation — that Sikander’s kaleidoscopic sight, through which history and religion and politics become fractured into a million sparkling pieces, was lent to her audience, if only for a little while. “I think societies are not static, histories are never one dimensional,” Sikander said. “There are infinite ways to create meaning.”

12 12

CAMPUS NEWS

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, 18,2020 2020 Wednesday,November October 14,

Tennessee Promise, UT Promise deadlines extended during pandemic BEN WINIGER Staff Writer

One Stop Student Services is located on the first floor of Hodges Library. File / The Daily Beacon The TN Promise and UT Promise scholarship programs regularly allow lower-income students to receive a college education. In a move necessitated by the ongoing pandemic, tnAchieves and the University of Tennessee rescheduled the deadlines for these scholarships. While the old deadlines ended in early November, the current deadline is in December. Now, every high school senior in Tennessee can apply for the TN Promise by Dec. 1 and the UT Promise by Dec. 15.

In a press release, UT President and tnAchieves Board Chair Randy Boyd cited the decision as providing more opportunity for high school seniors to apply for these scholarships, allowing them an affordable education. “Tennessee has a history of providing an opportunity for every student to earn a college credential. UT Promise is a critical component of the University of Tennessee’s goal of serving all students who academically earn the opportunity to attend one of our campuses,” Boyd said. “It is important to reduce the financial barriers often preventing Tennessee students from pursuing their dreams of graduating college. UT Promise and TN Promise directly address this challenge.” The Tennessee Promise scholarship is a last-dollar program available to any high school senior in Tennessee. If applied for and used, it covers full tuition for two years in either a Tennessee community or technical college. There are no application requirements other than being a high school senior and Tennessee resident. The UT Promise allows recipients to attend any classes within any UT campus tuition free, provided they also complete a certain number of community service hours during their tenure. Applicants are eligible if they qualify for the Tennessee Hope Scholarship and are from

a household with a yearly income of $50,000 or less. Both programs offer college mentors who guide recipients through their college careers, ensuring that they have the knowledge and resources necessary to succeed. All of this together allows numerous students to afford and access a higher education they otherwise couldn’t. Officials from tnAchieves, tnPromise’s partnering organization, previously reported drastically decreased application rates. As of Oct. 26, tnPromise applications were down 20% — from 47,540 applicants in 2019 to 39,323 in 2020. This translated to an 8,217 difference in high school seniors who applied in 2019. When The Daily Beacon spoke to tnAchieves, they attributed the decline to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The two weeks leading to the previous deadline, Nov. 2, saw the percentage decrease, with tnAchieves Executive Director Krissy DeAlejandro reporting a gap fewer than 5,000 below 2019’s numbers. DeAlejandro credits this accomplishment to Tennessee’s high school career counselors, responsible for guiding students through college and scholarship opportunities. “Much of the credit belongs to school counselors who work tirelessly for students across our state. They continue to promote the schol-

arship, as well as counsel students on what it means to actually go to college,” DeAlejandro said. She described the deadline extension as a way to enable the last remaining high school seniors to apply. DeAlejandro reports that UT Promise applications were not significantly affected, with application rates “drawing close” to 2019’s numbers. “We want to ensure all students have the support they need as they transition from high school to college. The deadline extensions mean we have additional time to reach students during this vital time,” DeAlejandro said. UT Promise applications are on pace to meet last year’s, however. In this regard, DeAlejandro hopes the extension draws further attention to both programs, as tnAchieves want high school seniors to know of as many opportunities as possible. “We decided to extend so Tennessee Achieves has an opportunity to market UT Promise to eligible Tennessee Promise applicants. It was more ensuring we communicated the opportunity to every Tennessee Promise applicant,” DeAlejandro said. DeAlejandro describes FAFSA applications as the next big deadline after the TN and UT Promise. As of Nov. 11, FAFSA applications are due June 30, 2021.

Fighting back against stress of finals and seasonal depression NATASHA MCKAMEY Staff Writer

With school wrapping up and the recent season change, things might feel overwhelming, and you may also be experiencing seasonal depression. The ongoing pandemic has possibly even added to or exacerbated these feelings or experiences. Here are some things you can do to combat any stress or sadness. Get social The pandemic has limited many opportunities to socialize, but you might want to try a form of video chat or video meeting with some friends and family if you are not able to meet in person. Do not underestimate the power of a good meet and greet, especially with people you love. Withdrawing from others will likely add to any feelings of depression, stress or sadness you might be feeling during this time. Try to spend some time with other people and fill your cup, so to speak.

Light therapy With the season change and the coming of winter next month, you might consider light therapy. If the sun is not readily available for your skin to soak up, try some artificial form of light. Light boxes have become popular recently and may be able to add to your energy. As always, conduct your own research and consult a licensed physician as you feel necessary. Pick up a hobby You may want to think about picking up a hobby or craft to provide a sort of distraction when times get tough. Hobbies and crafts could be potential outlets for your personal expression. Maybe they are just to pass the time, instead of constant exposure to technology. Cooking, baking, needlepoint, crocheting and even making gingerbread houses as the holidays get closer could help you decompress from any stress that might be going on. Try something new and give your brain a break.

Lewis Walton / The Daily Beacon Exercise Because of the pandemic and the nearing of cold weather keeping people inside, a good idea may be to look into being active in your home or around your neighborhood. Some local parks might have their own version of obstacle courses or workout routine machines available for use. If you check out the parks, remember to social distance and be safe. If you are looking to stay inside, you might consider some phone applications or websites that you can work out with. There are even athome workouts you can do just by watching YouTube videos.

Some phone applications are FitOn, Fitbit Coach, MapMyFitness and more. Charity Miles donates money to organizations based on the user’s choice when they log their miles for running, walking and cycling. Sometimes taking some time for yourself is what you need, but it can be easy to get lost in alone time. So, try something new – socially distant socializing, light therapy, a new craft or an exercise plan. With finals coming up quickly, a change in season is already upon us with another to follow. Do not forget to take care of yourself and your mental health. The pandemic has only heightened emotions for some, so keep these things as top priorities.