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On Nov. 17, the university announced changes to dining options as Associate Vice Chancellor of Campus Operations Brian Browning aims to make Vol Dining one of the best student dining experiences in the nation. The UT community can expect to see changes in the provided dining options through next summer.
These upcoming changes to Vol Dining are only a part of the overall alterations and improvements that are upcoming at UT. Although these dining changes are not listed in the academic restructuring plan, which includes many adjustments and developments within existing colleges and programs, they are another step toward making the campus experience more elite and accommodating for students and faculty.
In summer 2023, Southern Kitchen in Vol Hall will be completely renovated. Planned renovations include increased seating capacity in hopes of better accommodating the growing number of students using the meal plan. Alongside Stokely Dining Hall, Southern Kitchen will be extending its weekend hours.
The renovations to Southern Kitchen are just a part of the widespread plans to change the dining experience across campus. Other proposed
Rising Roll and Steak n’ Shake recently opened with the second phase of the Student Union.
File / The Daily Beacon
alterations across dining halls include revamping menus to include more international cuisines, plant-based options and freshly baked goods.
Before the start of the spring 2023 semester, a new Peet’s Coffee location will be added to Stokely Residence Hall. This location will offer students new coffee options, as well as UT Bakery pastries and grab-and-go lunch items.
Union Subs, a deli-style eatery, is planned to open in the Student Union before the start of the spring 2023 semester. The deli will take the place of the current Subway, offering Boar’s Head deli sandwiches.
In summer 2023, the Big Orange Grill, a restaurant serving farm-to-table UT beef burgers, will open in place of the current Steak ‘n Shake. The restaurant will offer milkshakes through a partnership with the UT Creamery, an old-fash-
ioned ice cream parlor promoting student retail experience.
A new Mediterranean dining concept is planned to replace Rising Roll, although there is not currently a timeline available for this change.
UT is beginning to make changes to Arena Café located in Thompson Boling Area. A new Boar’s Head café has already opened in place of the Which Wich that was previously in the café. The café is currently serving deli sandwiches and soups as of now, but additional items such as personal-sized flatbread pizzas and Starbucks coffee will be added to the menu later this month.
This change will not impact the existing hot line at Arena Café, which offers entrées, vegetables, grab-and-go salads and fresh desserts from the UT bakery.
The University of Tennessee offers over 130 minors to undergraduate students. Although most degrees do not require students to choose a minor, many students do in order to gain valuable knowledge and experience. Minors can help augment a major for some students, or be a fun diversion in an unrelated passion for others.
No matter what one’s passion is, there is sure to be a relevant minor on Rocky Top. Here are six of the most interesting minors UT has to offer.
The culinary arts minor introduces students to the fundamentals of food preparation and explores world cuisines and nutrition. This minor is open to students of all majors and disciplines who are looking to further their knowledge about food.
The core curriculum of the major consists of courses in the food science, hospitality and tourism management and nutrition programs.
Artificial intelligence is the future, and this minor prepares students for graduate studies and careers in the tech industry. It is geared towards computer science, computer engineering and electrical engineering students, with its core classes drawing from those programs.
One of the most fascinating classes offered
through the minor is COSC 420, biologicallyinspired computation, which studies computational methods inspired by natural phenomena.
The museum and curatorial studies minor combines several disciplines, such as anthropology, political science and even forestry, into a singular program for students looking to pursue careers in museum stewardship.
Several classes offered in the minor call for field work, making this minor an excellent choice for those looking for more hands-on learning.
Offered through the Haslam College of Business, this minor is designed for students of all majors who are interested in philanthropy, managing non-governmental organizations and other social enterprises. This is a leadershipcentric program with several of its core classes focused on leadership, marketing and management.
Unlike some minors, the social entrepreneurship minor boasts a large selection of classes to choose from across eight of UT’s colleges.
This minor in the College of Social Work is intended for students interested in social justice practice. In addition to social work, its curriculum also includes an emphasis on psychology and sociology.
Topics addressed include racism, poverty and
immigration. Students within the minor must complete a capstone class or off-campus study at the finale of their studies.
The VolsTeach programs are for undergraduate students majoring in education, mathematics or science who are interested in becoming teachers and want a headstart on obtaining practical, hands-on experience in a classroom setting.
The VolsTeach science minor is 29 hours, while the VolsTeach math minor requires its students to take an additional three-hour course on math instruction.
A full list of minors can be found through the Academic Catalog.
McClung Museum sta� and students with the McClung Student Advisory Board display artwork at the museum’s “Night at the Museum” event on March 25, 2022.
File / The Daily Beacon
On Sept. 12, the University of Tennessee officially broke ground on the site that once housed the College of Nursing. A new $85 million nursing building will be constructed in its place, and while the project is underway, nursing students, teachers, professors and teaching assistants alike have been relocated.
Currently, nursing classes, labs and offices are located in five different buildings across campus. From the Art & Architecture Building to the Hodges Library as well as other locations that have the space, nursing students have been going about their studies elsewhere for the time being. Clinical sites have remained the same since the primary building was torn down.
The College of Nursing offices have also been moved to the former Nuclear Engineering Building, which has now been renamed the Nursing Education Building. Victoria Niederhauser, professor and dean of the College of Nursing, spoke on the staff’s reaction and adjustment to the move.
“It is exciting to be (on the Hill). We did some minor renovations to make this space our own and to allow the building to serve the needs of the college … Faculty have been adaptable to the changing environment and appreciative
of the efforts made to provide a smooth transition. We are still working to complete some renovations and upgrades. The faculty and staff have been gracious during this improvement process,” Niederhauser said.
Niederhauser is proud of the adjustment students have made as well.
“The nursing students are amazingly resilient and have quickly adjusted to the new locations. The college aims to provide a comprehensive educational experience and provide a comparable student experience for all students during the building transition,” Niederhauser said.
Junior nursing student Claire Connelly, who has experienced the change firsthand, says that the process of relocation has gone relatively well.
“None of us really know any different. We didn’t have many underclassmen classes in the primary building, so we never knew what we were missing out on,” Connelly said.
Still, Connelly has seen a significant effect in the order of operations.
“Our lab classroom had to be fully relocated to a basement in a service building.”
Typical nursing labs require mannequins, fake arms for IV practice, medical materials, fake medication carts, hospital beds and much more.
“I know that this was a huge undertaking for
(the staff), and they expressed to us that they got the lab set up within days of when we were set to begin our classes,” Connelly said.
Although Connelly will graduate before the new building is completed, she is still excited for the changes.
“I’m happy for the next group of nursing students who come through and get to use those spaces. I’m excited to come back as an alumnae and see the new building. I don’t have any bad feelings towards not being able to experience it as an undergrad. The old building was outdated and rundown, so a new building was definitely necessary,” Connelly said.
Despite the relocation, Connelly has taken away positives from the experience.
“We are learning to be adaptable, just like nurses in the real world have to do,” Connelly said.
Niederhauser explained that there have also been benefits to the temporary changes. Another primary location where nursing classes have been taking place has been at UT Drive Service buildings A and B. The new space allowed for clinical skills labs to increase from 14 to 24 and has allowed the college to increase enrollment while waiting for the new building.
The new building that will house the College of Nursing will be named the Croley Nursing Building after donors Sara and Ross Croley, who donated $7.5 million to support the con-
struction of a new site for nursing students.
There is a general feel of excitement described while discussing the undertaking, and Niederhauser highlights areas to look forward to upon its completion. The building will be designed specifically for the collaborative methods of teaching for nursing aids with simulated learning experiences such as simulated health care facilities to practice nursing skills, a stateof-the-art research lab, several student study and gathering spaces including a fresh food area with coffee and an outdoor patio with a healing garden.
The Croley Nursing Building will remain in the same location as the previous College of Nursing building.
Knoxville area Starbucks workers particpate in national all-day union strike
PIERCE GENTRY ContributorOver 100 unionized Starbucks Coffee lo cations across the United States were closed on Nov. 17, including the Alcoa Highway and West Hills locations in the Knoxville area, as thousands of workers’ dissatisfaction with the company culminated in an all-day strike.
They called it the “Red Cup Rebellion,” a direct response to Starbucks’ own “Red Cup Day,” which is ordinarily one of the company’s busiest days of business. The high demand on this day is a result of many customers’ excite ment surrounding the limited availability of the reusable, holiday cups which come free with a purchase for one day only.
The result is millions of people flocking to stores, creating long lines and stressful condi tions for employees.
“It’s usually the busiest day of the year,” Harley White, barista, said.
Along with several other organized employ ees who gathered at the Alcoa Highway loca tion on Thursday, White felt that striking on Red Cup Day would send a clear message to the company that they weren’t going anywhere and that they couldn’t simply be subdued by disregard.
Starbucks continues to deploy anti-union tactics in its struggle against Starbucks Work ers United (SWU), such as announcing benefits for unorganized stores, spreading anti-union literature and the firing of union leaders, which have brought on several National Labor Rela tions Board investigations.
union continue to claim that Starbucks refuses to come to the bargaining table, while the com pany claims the opposite.
“Starbucks’ stance is that we’re refusing to bargain,” White said. “We just want a fair, de cent contract. They make meeting times, and then they just don’t show up at all.”
The circumstances are similar for workers at the West Hills location, who say that they also continue to be ignored.
“We’re a unionized store, but they keep under-staffing us, they keep putting-off bar gaining with us,” barista Danielle Jones, said. She is one of the several Starbucks employees who showed up at the West Hills location to strike on Thursday, as did her coworkers Elliott Keaton and Ada Beaver.
Although the West Hills store has been for mally organized since April, the workers there have continuously had bargaining sessions ig nored or pushed back.
“We had a date on Oct. 24, but I don’t think we even got a location for it,” Jones said. “Like, they had the day set, and that’s it. Oct. 24 was the set date for bargaining with a lot of stores … they set everything up and then just didn’t show up.”
In an interview with National Public Radio, Starbucks’ Executive Vice President of Com munications A.J. Jones stated that this is not the case. Jones claims that Starbucks has been “overly aggressive” in its planning of bargain ing sessions, and that it is SWU which refuses to properly cooperate.
Local workers hope to eventually advocate for many things at these sessions, should they take place. Key issues mentioned by all of the strikers were better staffing, more hours, im proved business practices and new equipment.
“We are very short-staffed right now, and that only adds to the stress,” Beaver said. Sus pended behind them, on the fence designat ing the outdoor seating area of the West Hills location, was a large banner which read “Now Hiring.” Employees said that the sign has been there for months.
The irony behind the sign’s existence, ac cording to Beaver and Keaton, is that the stores continue to short hours and halt hiring. Beaver is just one example.
Despite these efforts, SWU has garnered the membership of over 250 stores nationwide in just over a year. Members of the nationwide
“I used to be at this store, and then I got forcibly transferred, against my will, to the store that I’m at now because they ‘didn’t have enough space for me,’” Beaver said, gesturing to the hiring sign. “So they forcibly transferred
me to another store which only gives me 28 hours a week.”
Workers at the two Knoxville striking loca tions claimed to be receiving less than 20 hours a week regularly, which they believe is a silent punishment for their organization. Many of these employees remain classified as fulltime, which would ordinarily entail a 40 hour work-week.
Workers at both the Alcoa Highway and West Hills locations agreed that the issues of short staffing and low hours can be attributed to one thing: improper management.
“We would tell managers and they would just be like, ‘no I’ve seen the business, it’s fine, it’s whatever,’” Keaton said. “They don’t pay attention, they don’t care, they always think they know.”
“It helps the managers, because they get paid more if we’re short-staffed,” Beaver said. “They get a yearly budget, and anything that they spend under that — which includes in ventory, labor, maintenance — they keep.”
Beaver and Keaton both agreed that the store managers are being financially incentiv ized to keep staffing to a minimum, low hours andunfulfilled maintenance unless absolutely necessary.
And according to Keaton, maintenance is consistently left unfulfilled at the West Hills store. The West Hills location has supposedly had consistent infestation and mold problems for nearly a year now, with no lasting resolu tion proposed by management.
At the Alcoa Highway location, workers say that their equipment is constantly breaking down, left unfixed or simply gone without ex planation. Workers see this as just another ad dition to the stresses they experience each day.
“One of our espresso bars, especially, con sistently breaks down,” White said. “And we
have to call in and wait for it to get fixed. And depending on what time of day it is, it can re ally put a lot of pressure on whoever has to be working the bar at that point.”
Vonetta Merritt and Nicole Hawkins, the managers of the Alcoa Highway and West Hills Starbucks respectively, did not comment on the matter.
Though the closed stores were not able to give out the official cups that remain so popu lar, they were distributing union-designed red cups of their own. They proudly displayed SWU’s holiday logo, and were free for anyone who stopped by.
As the workers at the Alcoa Highway loca tion hoisted their signs in the cold, a car drove into the parking lot. The driver rolled down their window, and shouted, “I just wanted to say that this is awesome!”
“Thank you,” White said. “You want a cup?”
Signs of community support were fairly consistent throughout the day, according to workers.
“I would definitely say that overall we have had a positive community response,” White said. “Though we did have somebody drive away, flipping us off.”
Meanwhile, at the West Hills store, work ers received a stack of pizzas and a series of other foods and snacks from local supporters throughout the day. The unionized red cups proved to be extremely popular.
However, the response that would mean the most to workers would be one from the company itself. Though both sides of this la bor struggle seem to be locked in a stalemate, neither SWU or Starbucks seem to be backing down anytime soon.
“They just try and indirectly acknowledge us,” Keaton said. “They don’t want us talking about it.”
“They make meeting times, and then they just don’t show up at all.”HARLEY WHITE Barista, Alcoa Starbucks
Research is one of the driving factors of the academic world. Without continuous, dedicated research, technology and life would not be able to improve. This contribution can be seen at the University of Tennessee, as seven faculty members have been named as some of the most highly cited researchers of 2022. These professors are honored by this consideration and attribute a majority of their success to those who have helped them, including graduate students, employees at Oak Ridge who support and further their research by applying it or changing factors to get new results and university administrators.
That being said, each professor listed above is different from the others, and each of their experiences in research are noteworthy.
“I mostly study models,” Wise said. “I
started modeling cancerous growths and then we would study how it’s treated. You can’t do experiments for everything — you must have an understanding and process to describe a system, and then you can do a simulation. Simulations give you a toy version of an experiment where you can change parameters. Computational applied mathematics pushes the boundaries on what models can do and what they can simulate.”
For example, in these models, you could change the speed at which a growth affects the body, then change the age of the body, if the person is a smoker or any other factor which may affect the cancerous growth in their body.
Wise explained that finding meaning in his work is one of the most important aspects of the job.
“It’s nice to know my research has value beyond my immediate surroundings,” Wise said about being named one of the most cited researchers of 2022. “Other people want to build on my research, and it’s very gratifying to be able to advance my field in that
way.”
Norby expressed his agreement with Wise concerning the honor of the ranking.
“It’s always gratifying to know that work I led or contributed to has been useful to others and helps to advance the science. Being cited is one measure of that,” Norby said.
Though Norby is officially retired from his position at UT, he says he still spends about thirty hours a week on research. This amount of work is relatively normal for each of these researchers, though some aren’t completely certain about how many hours they spend on research per week.
“I get up around five in the morning and I’m at UT by six. Around one or two, I head to Oak Ridge and I’m home at seven in the evening, but then I work in the evening after supper. I’m researching all the time, with the exception of two weeks a year where I go fishing with my son,” Ragauskas said.
The dedication these researchers have to their studies is evident. They are passionate about the things that they study.
“If you are not passionate about the thing you are researching, then you should not be doing it. It’s your occupation and your hobby,” Dai said.
This is not the first accolade that some of these researchers have been awarded, either.
For example, Peter Liaw has been awarded numerous “outstanding performance” awards in his career, including multiple dis-
The UT-Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Governor’s Chair who researches sustainable bioresources.
tinguished professor awards. Liaw feels that being named one of the most cited researchers of the year is a great honor. He, like the others, continues to thank those around him for supporting him and making his research possible.
Most of these researchers feel that without the support of their advisors, colleagues and associates at both UT and the other organizations they are a part of, they would not have received this great honor. With this continued support, they will keep researching and improving the lives of people everywhere.
A professor within the college of engineering who studies fatigue, fracture and the creation of high entropy alloys.
Arthur Ragauskas
A mathematics professor at UT who studies primarily computational applied mathematics.
A chemistry professor whose research focuses on material chemistry and how it relates to sustainability.
A material science and engineering professor whose research focuses on the creation and growth of materials which have unusual electrical, thermal and magnetic properties.
A professor of ecology and evolutionary biology who researches the effects of carbon monoxide on trees and forests as well as how the ecosystem responds to climate change.
A professor of material science and engineering who studies the creation of new materials in the realm of electricity and magnetism.
“If you are not passionate about the thing you are researching, then you should not be doing it. It’s your occupation and your hobby.”
SHENG DAI Chemistry Professor
7 UT researchers included on list on years most cited scholars.
The 2022 season was the final for drum major and senior industrial engineering student Julia Boylan after three years atop the ladder in front of the Pride of the Southland Band. This year was also the first for Michael Stewart as the director of the Pride. Although he has been involved in the music department since 2007, Stewart still made several changes from previous Director Jeff Pap pas.
“I’m proud of the band,” Stewart said. “We’ve thrown a lot of little changes at the band this year, and I think they’ve done a fantastic job of buying in.”
The band has been especially challenged by the music selections this year, as that was a spe cific area in which Stewart was looking for im provement.
“I don’t feel like there was a single show that
was a layup,” Stewart said.
Even in her third year as drum major, Boylan is still impressed by the crowd reaction each week, as it helps add to the performance of the Pride.
“That’s always something that motivates me as a drum major,” Boylan said. “Hearing the fans react makes it so much more special. You can run through something a million times in rehearsal, but then it becomes a whole new piece when the fans are involved with it.”
Crowd participation was most evident at half time of the Florida game, when fans sang along to popular songs performed by the Pride. That show was a perfect example of why every half time performance this year by the Pride was spe cial and unique.
“Every show this year had something dif ferent,” Stewart said. “We had the first time we did the light show against Ball State. The second game we had 700 high schoolers on the field, which is something we’ve never done before. That was really cool to see because that outreach is really important to the university.”
No halftime show, however, shines above Cir cle Drill, the Pride’s annual halftime show for the third Saturday of October. The Tennessee Circle Drill is the most challenging halftime show ev ery year, as it requires extreme precision from all involved.
are so fortunate to be part of so many traditions on this campus,” Stewart said. “We also are al ways looking forward to creating those new tra ditions.”
One of those traditions is having football play ers conduct Rocky Top. Although Peyton Man ning took part in the most popular occurrence, others, including Josh Dobbs, have done so.
Although the idea had been floated by the Pride earlier in the week, Boylan had not been thinking about the possibility of Hendon Hooker conducting Rocky Top all afternoon. She was completely focused on the task at hand until the moment arose.
“I was conducting the Tennessee Waltz, and I saw everyone’s eyes drifting towards the side line,” Boylan said. “Then I heard the cheering, and I knew what was happening. I looked to my left, and it was Hendon Hooker.”
Boylan was surprisingly impressed with Hooker’s performance on the ladder and thought he did well throughout.
“He actually had some good rhythm,” Boylan said. “He had a huge grin on his face the whole time. It was awesome.”
“Coming from Ohio State, Circle Drill is the hardest drill I’ve ever had to teach,” Stewart said. “It has become an iconic part of what we do and an important part of the band’s identity around the world.”
Although the performance of Circle Drill is a vital part to the Pride, Stewart still believes that is possible to improve Circle Drill both by increas ing the number of marchers and by finding ways to improve the music.
“Tradition is important to the band, and we
Boylan has been thinking about conducting Rocky Top with a member of the football team since she started as a drum major in 2020. Doing so was a perfect way to cap off her final game at Neyland.
“That was crossing off a huge bucket list item on my drum major experience,” Boylan said. “I always hoped that I would be able to conduct Rocky Top with some big football player, and the fact that it was Hendon Hooker was incredible.”
Under fresh direction, historic Pride of the Southland Band caps off season of innovation
“You can run through something a million times in rehearsal, but then it becomes a whole new piece when fans are involved with it.”
JULIA BOYLAN Drum Major Senior, Industrial EngineeringPride of the Southland band leads the homecoming parade on Oct. 21, 2022. Edward Cruz / The Daily Beacon The Pride of the Southland Band takes the field before the game against Kentucky at Neyland Stadium. Saturday Oct. 29, 2022. Ericksen Gomez-Villeda / The Daily Beacon
Mood Ring Vintage – a place of color, spunk and all things retro – arrived in the Old Sevier area on Nov. 1.
Carly Baskette, owner of Mood Ring Vintage and previous vendor of Retrospect in Old North Knoxville, has found a large community in vintage entrepreneurship.
“I had quite a few friends who started selling vintage during the pandemic, and they didn’t have anywhere to sell in person, just due to limited space. So I thought that this area could really use a shop,” Baskette said.
Baskette said it’s brought on a lot of opportunity for her friends that only sold online to have a set place in store.
Each vendor’s booth is decorated to their style, so it’s like visiting a different room as you walk throughout the store.
One of the 21 vendors, Chloe Walker, said that she’s enjoyed having a set booth instead of just online or a pop-up store.
Walker began selling vintage items online in 2016, and then moved to Knoxville a year and a half ago. Though she had to downsize for the cross-country move, it allowed her to focus on building up her other handmade business, but still curated vintage on a smaller scale.
Now that she has a booth, she’s finally able to fully enjoy working on both aspects of her handmade and vintage business at the same time, while also having the space.
Walker has also found that the vintage community is a lot more connected in Knoxville than she thought.
“It’s been really cool to see the Knoxville community come through and support and it’s genuinely such a fun, small community,” Walker said. “I feel like every day that I do stuff in the community I keep finding connections.”
Baskette said it was tedious at first trying to find vendors, but once word spread there became what is now a waitlist of 30 people trying to fill booths.
Mood Ring sells a little bit of everything. Some vendors specialize solely in home decor
or clothes, others find different odds and ends. The vintage apparel ranges from 1950s to early 2000s.
“For now we’re just trying to build up the word in the community about this location. Spread the word so that people know we’re here,” Baskette said.
Though each vintage store in the Knoxville area is independently owned, they have all become a community where “all the vintage people in Knoxville know everyone.”
Baskette said that she’ll recommend Retrospect to customers, and they spread the word just the same.
“Community over competition,” Baskette said.
Baskette has found that though she used to work retail and was anxious about doing it again, she believes it’s different this time around.
“The best part has been getting to hear people’s stories,” Baskette said. “About how they remember an item they see here from when they were young.”
Baskette has felt satisfaction from learning more about people’s connections to the area and the items they find within the store.
She also likes that there’s a very wide price range throughout the store. Some items range from $1 to $1,000 furniture pieces.
“We have something for every price point,” Baskette said. “It’s great for people to get stocking stuffers that are inexpensive, but they can also find something to treat themselves that is a little more luxurious, as well.”
Baskette also recommends for people to make a day out of coming to that side of town, starting at Red Bud right next door for lunch, and then shopping at Mood Ring, or even starting the day at Mood Ring and ending it at High Wire for a drink, right next to Red Bud.
There will be a 70s themed cocktail bar opening in the near future that Baskette believes will be very cohesive with Mood Ring’s theme.
Mood Ring is open 12-6 p.m. every day at 906 Sevier Avenue, and hours may get more extended over time.
“I don’t really remember not singing. I al ways grew up in the car jamming on country and classic rock, and singing just felt, like, right. I never wanted to do anything else,” Madison “Maddy” Dishner, a UT sophomore majoring in marketing, said.
Made familiar in the UT community by sing ing the national anthem at several UT sporting events, Dishner is a Knoxville native who is trying to break into the music industry. Having grown up in the same area as country stars Kel sea Ballerini and Kenny Chesney, Dishner has an optimistic outlook on her future.
“With Kelsea having gone to Central and Kenny Chesney growing up, like, two minutes from where I grew up, it offered a lot of in spiration to me and gave me a better attitude or outlook – like, they did it. I can do it too,” Dishner said.
As mentioned above, Dishner has become a familiar face and voice in the UT community because she has performed the national an them at various UT sporting events. Her ambi tion helps fuel her self-serving actions, such as personally reaching out to UT’s entertainment coordinators and offering to sing for them in an email.
“Once I was at UT, I just had to figure out who to email, really. I emailed an entertain ment coordinator — I can’t remember their name — and said, ‘If you need anyone,’ just to put myself out there,” Dishner said. She was met with success.
“They asked me to sing at the first Lady Vols basketball game last year, then I was literally in the movie theater watching ‘Spider-Man’ when they called me and asked if I could sing at the UT Men’s Arizona game … the next day,” Dishner said.
“Then I sang at the Kentucky game, and that was probably the biggest crowd I’ve ever sang in front of. I’d have to look it up, but it was probably around 25,000 people. After that, it just kept going. I sang at baseball games. I’m singing at an Ice Bears game. Over time, the coordinators start to reach out to you, and they talk to one another, so I’ve gotten more gigs.”
Such a simple action has offered Dishner many opportunities that she potentially would not have had without reaching out. She has be gun performing more sets at bars, restaurants and hotels, such as the Embassy Suites’ Radius Rooftop Lounge.
Joshua Stockton, the bar manager for Radius Rooftop Lounge, expressed that Dishner has been performing at the Lounge for ages and that she’s good at what she does.
“Maddy’s singing creates a fun environ ment at the Lounge. She’s a good kid with a ho listic image and a great voice. We always have a lot of fun when she’s performing for us,” Stockton said.
Dishner has gotten used to singing at bars and hotels — even at Thompson-Boling Arena — though that doesn’t always take the nerves away.
“You get more and more comfortable as time goes on. The first gig, I was terrified. My heart dropped through my butt, I swear. I was singing, freaking out, but when the students kind of joined in, I thought, ‘This is kind of fun,’ and it was one of those moments that so lidified the idea that I want to do this forever. It’s been a minute since I sang at (ThompsonBoling) , but if or when I go back, it’s not going to be a feeling of ‘I can’t do this,’ rather me be ing nervous because I just want to do my best,” Dishner said.
This experience that Dishner has gained from singing at UT and at other gigs has set Dishner on her path to achieve some of her ma jor goals. She has a dream to meet Dolly Parton one day.
“Even if I’m just shining her shoes,” Dish ner said. “I played at DreamMore, one of Dol ly’s resorts. The gig was about two hours of ‘lobby music,’ and it wasn’t as bad as I thought
it would be. Usually when people listen to me play, they’re listening to me play, but people were just milling around. I was also nervous because I was playing at one of Dolly’s proper ties. Even being associated with her made me nervous. I hope to go back and play again there during the Christmas season.”
This means Dishner is one step closer to Dolly than she was before – she went from a fan to playing at a Dollywood property. There’s only so long until she achieves another major goal of hers if she continues this way.
“I don’t care how I have to get there – I will be attending the CMAs at one point in time,” Dishner said, “Even if I’m just, like, a seat-fill er or watching on as a fan.”
Along with Dolly Parton, Dishner listed an array of artists that she loves – Tom Petty, HARDY, Stevie Nicks, Taylor Swift and Sha nia Twain. She noted particularly that Petty is the person that she would bring back and have dinner with if she could.
Dishner plans to continue her education and graduating from college before she pursues a career as a household-name country artist.
DISHNER“Kelsea Ballerini only went to Central for, what, a semester or two? Then she went to Nashville to make her dream come true. I want to finish college. But then the question be comes, can I do both? Will this be a possibility after? So many musicians don’t finish college or even sometimes high school. I want music to be my career, but I want to finish my education first,” Dishner said.
“Maddy’s singing creates a fun environment at the Lounge. She’s a good kid with a holistic image and a great voice.”
JOSHUA STOCKTON Bar Manager, Radius Rooftop Lounge
“I don’t care how I get there - I will be attending the CMAs at one point in time.”
MADDY
Sophomore, Marketing major
Knoxville is a bustling city that houses UT, and this means the population’s demographic is primarily younger adults, specifically in the Fort Sanders area of Knoxville proper. Businesses are very aware of this population makeup and create operation hours that can bring in these young adults, who are more likely to bring late night business.
Here are some late-night food stops around campus and in downtown that students can find solace in on late nights when the Taco Bell drive through is simply too long.
In the heart of Old City, Urban is open until 3 a.m. and offers a retreat in a bustling nightlife. Featuring traditional American bar foods, there are countless options, variety being key here. From the crispy wings to queso dip, Urban has a menu that caters to the infinite cravings you could find yourself having past midnight. They are also moderately priced, and it is an economically conscious establishment where college students can go and enjoy good food without wiping out their bank account.
SoKno Taco, located on Sevierville Pike, offers late night food to its customer base which would complement a perfect night out. The nachos are enough to be a meal or two, and you can add whatever toppings your heart could desire. The late-night menu could also be topped off with a cocktail at the bar. SoKno Taco is the perfect candidate for a late-night food stop because it is inexpensive compared to other notable Mexican restaurants around the city (i.e. Chivo Taqueria). It is a place college students can go to get bank for their buck in terms of portions and flavor.
A classic stop on game days, Barley’s Taproom and Pizzeria is also a great stop any day of the week or weekend to make a late-night pit stop to enjoy some food. A classic recommendation: the pizza. It never fails to hit the spot, especially when it is 2 a.m. and all you want is a good slice. They have countless pizza options as well as other classic bar foods. Barley’s is also a great place if you have a group – there is so much seating in the twostory bar, so the more the merrier.
“Knoxville has tons of great bars, but Barley’s is one of the classics. It’s been down in the Old City for years and isn’t going anywhere. Tons of space, pool tables, an outdoor patio and live music most nights, Barley’s is a staple of Knoxville. And don’t miss their pizza. It’s real good,” Tyler Anthony of the group Cereus Bright said. File / The Daily Beacon
The Strip has a plethora of places to eat at an unreasonable hour. However, Jimmy Johns is a safe and classic bet. Featuring a variety of sub sandwiches, Jimmy Johns is fast, easy and portable, which is always convenient if you are ready to hop into bed after a long night out with friends. It also offers quick service, so if there is a line, you will not wait until the sun rises.
The three-level bar which brings vitality to the nightlife of Knoxville is open until 3 a.m. and features great bar food options that could satisfy any possible craving. The first two floors of Pres Pub have a lot of booth seating, which allows for a comfortable eating experience. The kitchen moves pretty fast for such a bustling bar, so you will not find yourself wondering if they forgot your order.
Knoxville has so many options for students to enjoy food at the hours most people are in bed. These places listed all feature menus that cater to the late-night foodie. They also won’t make you spend enough money to regret making the trip out.
awareness is the issue. Many of these organizations are small businesses with a limited area of influence, usually consisting of people already interested in sustainable living.
Because of this, I’ve taken it upon myself to share some of the local livable businesses around Knoxville with the hope that more and more people will begin to utilize these opportunities.
First off, there is a new city compost site that is a part of the Knoxville Compost Pilot Project. Anyone is able to drop off food scraps at the compost drop off with the intention of limiting waste and reducing our pollution impact on the ozone layer.
This site is then able to “... repurpose material into healthy soil to grow local produce,” which is a great cycle of growth to promote within the community!
While obviously the use of solar energy is preferable to other types, I suspect that Knoxville is not using it to its full capacity. In the City of Knoxville’s article detailing the solar array use, the KTA Transit Center is mentioned as one of the top users, when it only utilizes 5 kW of solar energy.
Understandably, it is difficult for the average person to be incredibly interested in things like solar energy usage and compost. However, there are also more people-oriented sustainable businesses in Knoxville.
There are options such as KnoxFill, which is a zero waste refillery here in our community. Essentially, someone can take an empty container to this shop and have it refilled with a newly purchased — and locally sourced — product.
coffee shop downtown also offers similar environmentally conscious services. Alongside delicious coffee, there is the ability to purchase dish powder, bath powder, reusable towels and other items.
Places like KnoxFill and Jacks provide such a positive impact on the community as well as the environment, so it is unfortunate that the majority of people on campus have no idea about these sustainable options or how to access them. It is crucial that UT as a campus promotes these organizations to students in order to ensure awareness about a more sustainable lifestyle.
Even after having lived in Knoxville for a while, it is sometimes difficult to ascertain the environmentally friendly practices that the city has to offer. This is especially true for the college students living in the — extremely littered — Fort Sanders neighborhood and the Strip.
Though there are a significant amount of sustainable options in Knoxville, the lack of
This is also super helpful for UT students because of the fact that we cannot use the UT compost site to dispose of our waste. Students becoming aware of this city compost site will hopefully reduce the insurmountable amount of trash accumulated throughout the Fort’s housing.
In addition to the new compost site, Knoxville has incorporated the usage of solar arrays, which are a source of renewable energy. There are five solar arrays currently, with the majority servicing government buildings downtown.
This reduces plastic waste from throwing away containers over and over. It also promotes the use of sustainable and local items such as conditioners and lotions. The only issue, as per usual with this topic, is the lack of awareness.
KnoxFill is a relatively small organization, and I only recently found out about it through their Instagram — which everyone should go follow! They also regularly set up shop at the Farmer’s Market in Market Square, so it is a fun activity to do with friends.
As well as KnoxFill, the small business Jacks
With Tennessee being the top state in littering, one would think that UT officials would prioritize the environmental health and beauty of their campus in order to keep it the Pride of the South.
Ellen Oakes is a senior at UT this year studying economics and environmental studies. She can be reached at eoakes1@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.
GRANT T. MITCHELL
Mental health is a topic that has been brought up by many celebrities. Many movies have also delved into what it takes to explore and take care of one’s own mental health. A stigma and trepidation still seems to remain, however, when showing and sharing our own personal journeys.
Jonah Hill, who has in recent years shared how life experiences and scrutiny have impacted him, goes all in on his feature documentary “Stutz.” This documentary offers an interesting study into his relationship with his psychiatrist Phil Stutz, but it also gives us viewers a safe space to share our own vulnerabilities with trying to manage and maintain our own mental health.
Starting off, Jonah Hill and his psychiatrist jump into things at full speed. The film gets into the methodologies and ideas that Stutz has developed over time and what each of those elements do to balance anxieties and stressors brought on by life. While that can sound daunting, Hill does an excellent job in how he presents these tools over the course of the film. By the end of the movie as well, when Hill says why he wanted to make “Stutz” in the first place, he plainly states that he wants to make the tools he’s been given by Stutz available to as many people as possible.
For me, it wasn’t until I had almost finished the film that I really picked up on how the experience of watching this film was an inter-
active one like Hill said he wanted it to be. My realization came about when Stutz told Hill to close his eyes in one of the many instances he asked Hill to do so for an exercise. In that specific moment, I realized that I too could close my eyes and practice the same visualization techniques that Hill was being directed to follow. From that point on, I felt a shift from being an interested viewer of the documentary to taking part in what the film was trying to teach me.
That has also led me to want to watch the film again soon and more than once. What was shared in “Stutz” was not a preachy or “out there” sort of therapy. Rather, it showed healthy means we can all use to manage stressors and balance our lives. While I don’t know if every part of the tools shown were for me, a lot of the overall concepts I really subscribe to and identify with. Additionally, the score for the film is beautiful and for my money is one of the best compositions and pairings to a film or documentary in the past few years.
For much of Hill’s career, he was the funny man and was often derided for having a larger stature. In addition to the helpful tools and exercises provided to the viewer, “Stutz” puts on full display what it has been like for Hill as he struggled with finding a love and acceptance for himself. It also showed how prevalent and damaging we can be as an audience today when we point our fingers at entertainers or those in
the public eye and hurl insults or criticisms. This provides us with another lesson that we need not be hurtful to one another, and we should work to build up those in our lives as well as those we meet or do not know. After all, the world would be a better place if we were all a bit more empathetic and considerate.
GRANT T. MITCHELL CCI Graduate StudentGrant T. Mitchell is a graduate student in the College of Communication and Information. He can be reached at gmitch16@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.
“(Stutz) showed healthy means we can all use to manage stressors and balance our lives.”
No. 10 Tennessee destroyed its in-state rival Vanderbilt 56-0 behind a stellar running performance on the road. It was the first shutout of the season for the Vols — a huge response to last week’s poor defensive performance where they allowed 63 points to South Carolina.
With the win, the Vols have seemingly secured an appearance in a New Year’s Six bowl. Here are some takeaways from Tennessee’s final regular season game.
Despite the Vols failing to earn a playoff appearance this season, it doesn’t take away from the fact that this season has been a historic one for the Vols. For the first time since 2003, Tennessee finished the regular season with 10 wins.
The quick turnaround that Heupel has been able to achieve has been impressive to say the least after the program’s lengthy span as one of the laughing stocks of college football.
“I know there’s been a lot of talk outside of our program, just from different people, about what the culture is inside of our locker room,” Heupel said. “When I got here two years ago, nobody thought we’d win 10 by this point. But there were 30-plus kids that left this program. This group chose to stay, and they bought into
me. They bought into our staff.”
The Vols now look to build upon this newfound success. If they continue this upward trajectory, this won’t be looked at as the season that could’ve been, but the season that was the start of something great.
First Bank Stadium was absolutely taken over by Tennessee orange. Rocky Top could be heard loud and clear all night, making it as close to a home game as possible on the road.
It has not been uncommon for Vols fans to show out in Nashville, but it still made a significant impact in the game.
“I do want to start out just by thanking our fans,” Heupel said. “They were fantastic tonight — showed out in droves. (On) a night where it was not the prettiest of weather, they stayed. We feel them and appreciate them, man. “They’ve been on this journey with us together this season, but really over the last two years, and appreciate their support. Our players, it means a lot to them.”
Milton wasn’t perfect, but he didn’t need to be. He displayed his cannon of an arm all night. Though he still lacked some control and touch, some of that can be attributed to the weather.
He was able to limit the turnovers as the run game took over.
The Vols finished the day with 362 yards and six touchdowns on the ground. The offensive line had a great performance, allowing the backs to get in the second level and pick up big gains on the ground.
“The weather was tough tonight, and I thought our offensive line took over the football game in the second half, as far as what we were doing offensively.
Jaylen Wright was the star of the day despite having just five carries. With those five touches, he picked up 160 yards and two touchdowns — one for 83 yards and the other for 50. Dylan Sampson had an 80-yard touchdown of his own, leading to his first 100-yard performance of his young career.
Our running backs stepped through something, typically in the first or second level right there, or third level, early and did a great job of extending the play. Thought we blocked cleaner up front in the second half, and it created those big plays.”
Jabari Small was no slouch, either, picking up 79 yards and two scores. The run-game has been a complement to the passing game all season, but the Vols’ backs took over against the Commodores.
The trio of Small, Sampson and Wright will only get better with each of them having at least one year of eligibility left.
ANDREW PETERS Sports Editor
It took a veteran performance from guard Santiago Vescovi for Tennessee to pick up a signature early season win over Kansas Friday night in the Battle 4 Atlantis championship game.
Vescovi came out hot and never cooled down as the No. 22 Vols defeated the No. 3 Jayhawks 64-50 in The Bahamas.
Tennessee got out to a hot start, leading Kansas 12-3 after seven minutes of play. Tennessee’s hot start was quickly dulled as the turnovers mounted. The Vols, who average just over 13 turnovers a game, had an abysmal 17 first half turnovers.
Despite their carelessness with the ball, the Vols still managed to go into the half with an eight-point lead, largely because of their scoring from deep. Tennessee hit 7-of-13 from deep to start the game. Vescovi was the catalyst for Tennessee’s offense, getting nine early points, all from deep, to start the game.
Kansas didn’t score for the final two minutes of the half, allowing Tennessee to gain some breathing room.
After a slow first couple of minutes to the second half, Tennessee went on an 8-0 to make it a 53-38 game with just under eight minutes to go.
Vescovi continued firing in the second half, hitting two early threes to help the Vols’ build up their lead. Vescovi finished the game with 20 points despite being heavily guarded the entire 36 minutes he was in the game.
“Santi’s guarded like no other. They basically try to take him out,” Barnes said. “He knows who he is, what he needs to do.”
Tyreke Key’s three with two minutes to play was the nail in the coffin and Tennessee coasted to its fifth-straight win over a top-10 opponent.
Jalen Wilson, the Jayhawks’ leading scorer, made just three of his 15 attempts and Gradey Dick, who averages 14, scored just seven, a testament to the Vols’ defensive identity forged over the week.
“Our mentality was pretty much just, stop the man in front of us,” Zeigler said. “Offense will come if we play solid defense.”
Kansas as a whole was lackluster on offense. The Jayhawks shot 32% from the field and 23% from deep.
“The one thing we didn’t let up on was the defensive end,” Barnes said. “I said to them ‘we’ll find a way to score enough points, we just won’t let up.’”
COACH RICK BARNES“It was a physical game. They pressured us and we mishandled the ball,” head coach Rick Barnes said. “I thought we were anxious too.”
Kansas crawled back in to make it an 11-point game, but Zakai Zeigler hit a three to halt the Jayhawks run with just under five minutes to go Zeigler finished the game with 14 points.
“There’s not a more electrifying guy that can bring what he does when he comes into the game,” Barnes said. “He’s great at it.”
Tennessee now walks away from the Battle 4 Atlantis a tougher, better team. The week was a prime example of a next man up mentality and now the Vols are in rhythm heading into the brunt of the season.
“It just shows the toughness of our team,” Zeigler said. “At any moment, each and every guy on this team can step up, no matter who’s having a good game or a bad game. We all had that fight in us, and we all had each other’s back.”
“Santi’s guarded like no other ... He knows who he is.”HEAD Tennessee Guard Santiago Vescovi (25) at Thompson-Boling Arena on Nov. 16, 2022. Nolan Keesee / Contributor
CALEB JARREAU Staff Writer
game, finishing with 13 points and eight rebounds off the bench.
Harper has put an emphasis on getting the ball into the post, and it paid off on Sunday.
The No. 23 Tennessee’s offense stole the show Sunday as they ran away with a 105-71 win in Thompson-Boling Arena against Eastern Kentucky.
As a team, Tennessee shot 52% on Sunday.
15 Lady Vols saw the court on Sunday with 14 Lady Vols putting up points. Head coach Kellie Harper’s experimentation with rotations and combinations persisted against the Colonels.
The Lady Vols outrebounded the Colonels 62-31. Board play has been a spot where the Lady Vols have struggled to find consistency.
“Well, there’s not been any schematic changes,” Harper said. I think our players, some of them, are getting some good habits. We’re still not where we want to be at all on the board play. I’m glad that the numbers reflected some positive changes today, but we still have a ways to go there.”
Rickea Jackson led the charge, finishing with 15 points and eight rebounds. Jordan Horston wasn’t far behind, putting up 14 points and eight rebounds.
Horston also reached 1,000 career points as a Lady Vol. She is only the 48th Lady Vol to do so.
“It’s pretty cool, I guess,” Horston said. “I’d just rather win honestly. Like I said, it’s pretty cool. I guess I’ll take it…I’ll take wins over points any day so that doesn’t really mean anything to me.”
Horston and Jackson also tied for the teamhigh assists with five each. The unselfishness of Tennessee’s dynamic duo on the court is uncommon and makes the Lady Vols’ offense much harder to contain.
“They’re confident in their ability, but they’re also confident in their teammate’s abilities as well,” Harper said. “When you have players like that, it makes you want to play with them. I would love to play with those two.”
Tamari Key also hit her stride against Eastern Kentucky, dominating the post. She finished with 13 points and six boards.
Jillian Hollingshead also had another good
“I think I’ve said it since the summer, we have a really good post group this year,” Key said. “Everyone just works really hard it’s just pulling for each other, it’s just been fun with them. I think we just have each other’s back and if you work hard and play well together, then all of it just starts to come together. I’m glad that they’re out there and feeling good and getting comfortable.”
Tennessee finished the first quarter on a 14-2 run, outscoring the Colonels 33-11 in possibly the Lady Vols’ best quarter of the season.
Tennessee shot 6-10 from deep in the first quarter and 59% from the field.
“The game plan was to go inside early,” Harper said. “Because we were able to get inside early, it opened up some opportunities on the perimeter…Even though we’re trying to get it inside, you find those open opportunities and we were able to knock them down with great confidence to start the game.”
Tennessee’s dominance continued into the second half on Sunday.
Harper emptied her bench as the game winded down, giving time to Edie Darby and Brooklynn Miles. The large lead allowed the inexperienced players to get game reps without high stress. Justine Pissott also put in quality minutes down the stretch.
With the win, Tennessee moves to 4-4 on the season. It is the first time this season that the Lady Vols have gotten back-to-back wins.
“We’re thankful for any wins,” Key said. “Just getting the opportunity to be able to play together and play hard and play at home as well. It gives us good momentum going into Virginia Tech.”
Now Tennessee has a week break before hosting No. 11 Virginia Tech in another top-25 matchup on the Lady Vols’ gauntlet of a schedule.
“It’s not going to be an easy week,” Harper said. “We’ll have an off day (on Monday) and then, I’m telling you, Tuesday is going to be probably one of the toughest practices we’ve had. They need that right now.”
Georgia vs LSU Kansas State vs. TCU Purdue vs. Michigan UNC vs. Clemson UCF vs Tulane Utah vs. USC Toldeo vs. Ohio
Georgia vs LSU Kansas State vs. TCU Purdue vs. Michigan
UNC vs. Clemson UCF vs Tulane Utah vs. USC Toldeo vs. Ohio
Georgia vs LSU Kansas State vs. TCU Purdue vs. Michigan UNC vs. Clemson UCF vs Tulane Utah vs. USC Toldeo vs. Ohio
Georgia vs LSU Kansas State vs. TCU Purdue vs. Michigan UNC vs. Clemson UCF vs Tulane Utah vs. USC Toldeo vs. Ohio
Georgia vs LSU Kansas State vs. TCU Purdue vs. Michigan
UNC vs. Clemson UCF vs Tulane Utah vs. USC Toldeo vs. Ohio
Georgia vs LSU Kansas State vs. TCU Purdue vs. Michigan UNC vs. Clemson UCF vs Tulane Utah vs. USC Toldeo