On Rocky Top 2024

Welcome, Vol

ON ROCKY TOP Table of Contents

Bella Hughes

Editor-In-Chief

The Daily Beacon

Emma Johnston

Managing Editor

The Daily Beacon

Emma Fingeret

Design Editor

The Daily Beacon

Cole Moore

Cover Photo

The Daily Beacon

Cullen Askew

Student Advertising Manager

Donatella Thomas, Ailin Lopez Graphic Designers

Jacob Stromatt, Stewart Sutton

Student Advertising Representitives

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Letter from the Editor: ‘There’s no time like the present’

BELLA HUGHES 2024-25 Editor-in-Chief

Hey new Vols!

Welcome to the Volunteer family. Whether you grew up bleeding orange, used UT as a safety school or stumbled upon UT randomly like myself, we are so happy to have you here.

This magazine is a guide for freshmen to get acquainted with campus before the first day of class. College is exciting and intimidating, restless and revitalizing — all around it truly will be a monumental four years.

I remember when I got accepted into UT. I was about to enroll in a small school back home in Georgia that didn’t have my desired major or a Target within a 20-mile radius. It was safe, but I knew I wasn’t going to be happy.

That week, I got the sweet acceptance package that sings “Rocky Top” and a flag that reads the Volunteer Creed. In that moment my life turned to a head because I knew I had to attend UT. So I broke my parents’ hearts by trading Georgia for Tennessee and moved to Knoxville.

Freshman year is a whirlwind of emotions. For many, it’s the first time you’ll be away from home, tasked with making decisions completely on your own — somehow deciding what to have for dinner will become the most frustrating task. After a couple of weeks of worry, campus will become familiar, and the people you surround yourself with will become a small piece of comfort.

I was so excited to receive this magazine the summer entering my freshman year. I was involved in yearbook in high school and I knew I wanted to continue pursuing student media in my college career. I used the magazine as an avenue to discover the clubs, activities and interest that UT has to offer.

After a brief skim of the magazine, I applied for an editorial position for this very news publication. The Daily Beacon has been around for generations and serves as a resource for students, faculty and alumni to stay connected to Rocky Top.

A campus of 30,000 is intimidating, but I encourage you all to say yes to things as much as possible. With every no, you limit yourself the opportunity of meeting a potential new friend, gaining a new story to reminisce on or knocking something off your bucket list.

During the first week of school, I encourage you all to attend the Student Engagement Fair on hosted by the Center for Student Engagement. This is the perfect opportunity to explore niche clubs that you never knew existed I joined a chicken wing club where all we did was try new wing flavors — how fun!

Needless to say, I am no longer involved in the club, but at least I can say I did it.

The longer you stay engaged in a club the more fulfilling they become. Your peers become your friends who then become your biggest supporters. Get involved soon, because, at a moment’s notice, you will be a senior wishing for more time.

Our mission in student news is to inform, to create and to listen. If something happens on campus, we want

to know about it. My inbox is always open, whether you want to get involved in our newsroom or drop some juicy lore — we are here.

Welcome to Rocky Top, Vols. There is no time like the present — enjoy the ride.

Bella Hughes Editor-in-Chief

Letter from the Managing Editor: A call for ‘people who do cool stuff’

EMMA JOHNSTON Fall 2024 Managing Editor

Welcome to UT, friends.

Freshman year is truly a double-edged sword, as it brings both new good things and new not-so-good things — new friends, new anxieties, new interests, new insecurities, new lifestyles and new emotions. For me, freshman year brought involvement in The Daily Beacon, a best friend and some much-needed counseling.

There’s a lot of freedom in starting a new phase of life, and with all transitions, there’s also a good amount of uncertainty.

This is the first of four years of learning who you are. You’ll feel embarrassed at times, but you’re also likely to figure out what you want to do with your life.

I learned that I’m shamefully terrible at using ice trays. If you’ve had the privilege of having an ice machine in your freezer at home your entire life, here’s a tip for when you move into a dorm: Twist the ice tray to get the cubes out. Don’t bang it on the sink. It will break, and you will be left with several pieces that allow you to make one singular ice cube at a time.

I also learned that I’m a huge editing nerd. My time spent in the depths of the AP Stylebook molded my desire to pursue copy editing as a career. Unfortunately, soon after this desire formed in me, I learned that copy editing positions don’t really exist anymore. Those jobs now have

different titles and include the responsibilities of managing a publication’s website, social media, content plan and much more. But I’m interested in those things, too, so my pursuit continues.

The best ways for you to overcome those embarrassing moments and find your passion are by getting involved early and staying informed. The Beacon is here to publish content that keeps students — like you — informed about the ins and outs of UT and all things campus-related.

The relationship between a newspaper and its audience is two-sided, though. We hope that you’ll use us as a consistent source of information, but we need your help to find the topics you actually want information about.

We want to find and tell the human-interest stories happening underground on UT’s campus — metaphorically underground, of course. Though, if you get involved in a group that actually meets underground, we’d like to tell that story, too. I like to say that these stories are about “people who do cool stuff,” and I strongly believe anyone can be one of those people.

Maybe you become a participant on “Survivor UTK” and win a cash prize for competing in Survivor-style challenges. Maybe you exchange your plasma for money to buy a costume for a party. Whatever your “cool stuff” is, we want to know about it so we can write about it.

When you step onto campus for the first time as a student, take the initiative to find a niche on campus where you think people are doing “cool stuff” and get involved. I still get anxious introducing myself to new people, but doing so freshman year is the reason I enjoy spending

time on campus now. Once you settle in and become comfortable in your new place or club or organization, reach out to the Beacon and tell us what your group is doing. Help us tell the stories you want to read.

Ultimately, we want to give a voice to all members of the UT community. That naturally includes hard news and event coverage, but it also includes harder-to-find features and profiles that require us to listen, observe and then write.

Thanks in advance!

Emma Johnston Managing Editor

Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023. File / The Daily Beacon

Bella Hughes plans to diversify content and find the hidden stories with the Knoxville community. Courtesy of The Media Center

Fall 2024 Managing Editor Emma Johnston explains the Beacon’s copy section to staff members at an open house.

Letter from the Student Body President: A space for you

DANTE GRAYSON Student Body President

Dear Volunteers,

As you embark on new experiences and opportunities, you will find that these things seem to be meant for you and they met you at the right time in your life. At the University of Tennessee, you will learn that these opportunities and experiences are endless.

As I began my new chapter at the University of Tennessee in 2021, I felt there was a sense of volunteerism that I had not experienced before, despite growing up in Tennessee my entire life. Each day, I made it a mission to explore the variety of opportunities this institution has to offer. One thing I continuously notice about the University of Tennessee is that there is truly a space for you in every capacity.

The Student Government Association serves as a beacon of inclusivity and opportunity for all Volunteers, encapsulated by our motto, “Everyone’s a Member.” This principle isn’t just a slogan; it’s a commitment to ensuring that every student, regardless of background or circumstance, has a voice and a place within our university community.

At the heart of our mission is the belief that diversity strengthens us and that every individual’s unique perspective enriches our collective experience. Whether you’re passionate about advocacy, leadership or simply want to make a difference, there’s a role for you within SGA. Our doors are open wide, ready to welcome you with open arms and provide a platform for your ideas and aspirations.

As the student body president, I consider it both an

honor and a privilege to serve all Volunteers. My goal, and indeed the goal of our entire Student Government Association, is to be a resource and a support system for students like you. Whether you have concerns to address, ideas to share or simply seek a community to belong to, know that you have a home within SGA.

In the spirit of inclusivity and collaboration, I encourage you to explore the myriad of opportunities available to you at the University of Tennessee. Your unique talents, passions and perspectives have the power to shape our

campus and leave a lasting impact on our community. Together, let’s continue to cultivate a culture of belonging and empowerment, where every Volunteer feels valued, heard and supported. Together, let’s make the University of Tennessee a space where you not only belong but thrive.

With Volunteer Pride, Dante Grayson Student Body President

Student Body President Dante Grayson encourages students to explore the myriad of opportunities offered at UT. Courtesy of Dante Grayson

FROM THE COLLEGE OF SOCIAL WORK

TOP 25 GRAD SCHOOL*

Who’s who on campus

CADEN DYER 2024-25 Copy Chief

Donde Plowman: Chancellor of UT Knoxville

Frank Cuevas also knows how to support students. Cuevas has led multiple projects, including the con struction of residence halls and help ing UT develop a response strategy to the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with his team, Cuevas currently develops leadership opportunities for students as well as plans student support and health initiatives.

John Keith: Director of the Office of Sorority & Fraternity Life

Academics are John Zomchick’s pri mary focus. He serves as provost and senior vice chancellor, but Zomchick has been at UT since 1985, beginning as a professor of English. He directly communicates with Chancellor Donde Plowman and other vice chancellors to address student concerns and policies. Nine academic colleges report to Zom chick, and he oversees things like stu dent retention, graduation policies and financial aid priorities.

Tyvi Small: Vice chancellor for Access and Engagement

Since beginning her position in 2019, Chancellor Donde Plowman has upheld the values and mission of UT while setting records in multiple areas like research expenditures and enrollment increases.

Plowman oversees Tennessee Athletics and represents the SEC in the NCAA Presidential Forum, as of 2020.

Her subsequent leadership and strategy ensured that students had a quality education that was not only safe but in-depth. UT was listed among the top five U.S. universities for its COVID-19 response in College Magazine.

Vice chancellor for Student Life

If you plan to join a sorority or fraternity, take note of John Keith, as his department is under Student Life. Keith, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, has a personal grasp on Greek life and all it entails.

The Office of Sorority & Fraternity Life serves to enhance the undergraduate experience at UT through membership. Friendships, academic excellence and service are equally important values that the 47 sororities and fraternities on campus seek to uphold.

UT reports that around 27% of its undergraduates are involved in a sorority or fraternity, and Keith takes that very seriously.

Provost

Tyvi Small’s second Clifton Strength is “woo,” which stands for “winning others over.” Those with this strength enjoy meeting new people, learning about strangers and creating a connection with them. As a leader in Access and Engagement, Small works to enhance those connections that are important between students and faculty.

Frank Cuevas:

John Zomchick:

Identity-based resources

MACY ROBERTS

2023-24 Arts & Culture Editor

Acclimating to life on a college campus can be a double-edged sword. While there are many resources available to students with various backgrounds and identities, knowing how and where to access these resources can feel overwhelming on such a large campus.

Here are a few of the departments and organizations that exist to help a diverse range of students find community on the University of Tennessee campus.

First-Generation Initiatives

First-Generation Initiatives offers academic support materials specifically designed to help first-generation college students understand how they can best succeed as the first member of their family to pursue higher education. This includes a First-Gen Dictionary that outlines common terminology, policies and procedures students need to know coming into college as well as a First-Gen Virtual Guidebook on their website.

First-generation students can also apply for the Tri-Alpha Honor Society, which is exclusive to first-generation students with the purpose of assisting these students so that they can grow academically, socially and professionally.

The Office of Multicultural Student Life

The Office of Multicultural Student Life houses a variety of organizations, programs and opportunities to help traditionally marginalized students better integrate into college life. Student associations housed under MSL include the Asian American Association, the African Student Association and the Native American Association. Throughout the year, MSL also partners with different student organizations to celebrate various heritage months, such as Arab American History Month in April and Hispanic Latin Heritage Month from mid-September to mid-October.

From coordinating diversity workshops across campus to offering mentors to first-year students, MSL is committed to making all students feel validated and accepted on campus.

The International House

The International House on Melrose Avenue hosts weekly events and activities as well as features a general meeting space open to both international and domestic students. The Friendship Program pairs international students with an American student together to foster relationships and help familiarize international students with American culture.

On every first and third Wednesday of the month, the International House partners with an international student organization to host an International Coffeehouse. These coffeehouses invite students to explore new cultures and make connections through a specific country’s, region’s or culture’s coffee, tea and food.

Veterans Success Center

The Veterans Success Center helps ease the transition from life as an active duty service member, veteran, reservist or guardsman to life as a college student. VSC has a physical location in Hodges Library filled with computers and study spaces as well as spaces for students to gather casually and connect with individuals who share a similar background serving the country.

VSC recently introduced its Veterans Impact Program, which invites incoming student veterans to engage in a semester-long cohort program featuring a customized orientation, specialized academic plans and coaching, enrollment in a “Veterans Transition” course, and access to exclusive scholarships

Student Disability Services

Now located on the first and ground floors of Blount Hall, Student Disability Services sets out to break down barriers that can make campus life less accessible for students with disabilities.

SDS helps students receive housing and/or dining accommodations they may need, offers special transportation for students with restricted mobility, employs notetakers to help students unable to take notes in class, helps students identify alternative testing options, and lists accessible media, technology and other resources that students can utilize.

The Pride Center

Students can stop by the Pride Center in the Student Union to partake in various events and programs hosted throughout the semester or hang out casually during free time. The Pride Center aims to foster a diverse and inclusive campus community by focusing on three main values: connection, education and empowerment.

Through the Pride Center, students can register for the Safe Zone at UT, an educational workshop series that advocates for awareness, knowledge and skills as they relate to sexuality-based education and outreach.

Additional ways to get connected with the Pride Center include joining the LGBTQ Reading Group, shopping for free, gender-affirmative clothing at the Qloset, and spending time with HABIT therapy dogs during their weekly visits to the center.

Spaces around Knoxville are working to make clothing more accessible

ELI BOLDT 2023-24 News Editor

The Free Store, an initiative under UT’s Office of Sustainability, is open every weekday and provides clothing for free to UT students. The initiative, which started in 2017, opened a physical store in 2022 to provide more accessible and constant help. Maggie Atchley, the social impact coordinator for UT’s Office of Sustainability, works with projects that divert waste and serve the student community, of which the Free Store is a major part.

“Having clothing enhances your ability to succeed in classes, to access all of the other opportunities that being at a university provides you,” Atchley said. “But lacking that basic need makes that, like, that much more difficult.”

Smokey’s Closet, another university initiative through the Center for Basic Needs, provides business casual and professional clothing to students. Open throughout the week in the Student Union, students are welcome to shop for what they need.

Smokey’s Closet fills a niche of professional clothing, which although often necessary for students and workers, can be expensive. This type of clothing is often required for students. Career fairs, interviews and networking events provide opportunities for students, but without the proper clothing to fit the dress codes, they can be inaccessible.

A lot of the donations to the Free Store and Smokey’s Closet come from students, which creates a circular economy of clothing.

“That’s one area where I think that it’s important to have this as a community space on campus because it really incentivizes secondhand shopping, ” Atchley said. These spaces on campus fill the need for students. Outside of university settings, free clothing can also be accessed at ministries and organizations.

Knoxville Dream Center offers professional clothing free of charge through their Fresh Start Clothing Store. Community members need to provide proof of an interview or job they have secured before accessing the clothing. Angelic Ministries International allows people to shop every 30 days for free clothing and hygiene products, and First Aid Collective Knox will hold pop-ups with free clothing.

Around Knoxville, there are spaces that provide free or

HANDS

cheap gender-affirming clothing to community members. UT’s Pride Center holds a pop-up called the “Qloset” several times a semester, where students can shop for gender-affirming clothing for free. Binders are also often provided for students.

Knox Pride’s Thriftique provides gender-affirming clothing for under $8 with the stipulation that it is free to anyone in need.

Clothing is the way a person presents themself to the world. It can be either dignifying or dehumanizing. Self-expression, including gender expression, is shown by what people wear. Gender-affirming clothing can be found in secondhand shops, and Pfeiffer noted that the Free Store doesn’t categorize clothing by gender.

FROM DAY ONE

The Free Store, a UT Office of Sustainability initiative, provides free clothing to students. Eli Boldt / The Daily Beacon

Pride of the Southland holds reauditions as they tackle record numbers

SHELBY WRIGHT

2024-25

News Editor

For the first time since the early 2000s, the Pride of the Southland Marching Band held re-auditions for all of its band members, and not everyone made it back.

The Pride is a microcosm of UT, as nearly every major is represented among its band members. As the university has grown over the last few years, so has the band.

Two years ago, the Pride had about 340 members, but now, if the Pride were to accept all returning members and new auditionees, the band would be over 550 people, according to Michael Stewart, the band’s director since 2022.

“And with that comes a situation where logistically, financially, we can’t do that big of a band,” Stewart said. “And, you know, there’s only so many seats at Neyland. There’s only so many buses we can afford on trips, hotel rooms and meal money when we travel. … There has to be a line somewhere. So, we drew a line last year with the help of the university and athletics of having a band of 415 — which is the biggest band we’ve ever had.”

Eric Baumgardner is the current band director at Halls High School, a Knoxville band with a successful history, and he is an active participant in the Pride of the Southland Alumni Band. He graduated from UT in the summer of 1994 and marched his last season with the percussion section in the fall of ’93.

Baumgardner was part of the Pride when WJ Julian, who had a doctorate in music and was referred to as “Doc,” was the band director at UT. Under Julian, the Pride gained national attention. In 1972, he introduced “Rocky Top” to Neyland, and under his directorship, he created some muchloved traditions on the field like the opening of the “T” and the halftime circle drill.

Since Julian’s retirement in 1993, the Pride band directors have faced lofty expectations, but Baumgardner thinks UT could be back on track to “the glory days.”

“I think (the band) sounds better than it has sounded in a long time. It just has a clear, pure sound, and I think they’re doing a lot of good things and getting back to some fundamentals,” Baumgardner said.

Baumgardner told the Beacon that the number of students who want to audition is a clear indication of growth and rekindling reputation. There’s a reason UT’s band is known as “The Pride of the Southland Marching Band.” The Pride is not just any marching band — it’s a Division I band, and that is something to take pride in because it is not an easy feat, especially as UT’s sports teams make national headlines.

It is also not uncommon for Division I bands to have an annual audition process for all members to ensure continuous growth and improvement, according to Stewart.

The Pride is competing against other Division I bands like LSU, Texas A&M and Ohio State, meaning that members need to be tougher and better than average because the band as a whole is under a national microscope.

Students are expected to learn new music and drills to perform in front of national television and a live audience of 100,000, as well as memorize a new fight song by every Saturday of the UT football season. This is an amount of practice and pressure that many incoming freshmen are not accustomed to, and because of this, some freshmen are not always able to make it to the field to perform at halftime.

While Baumgardner is not part of the Pride audition process, he knows from experience as a high school band director that it’s not always about just being good enough to meet initial expectations — students have to continue to improve, especially when there is such high demand.

Pride of the Southland band plays at Market Square Madness in downtown Knoxville. Oct. 12, 2023.

Cambree Gliessner / Contributor

There are no marching auditions for incoming freshmen. At Ohio State, there are marching auditions during band camp, but Stewart said he does not feel that he wants to do this because then he would be bringing in students before the season starts just to tell some that they are no longer part of the band.

The Pride’s audition process consists of musical skills tests to see how well the person can play. But, Stewart said that he also considers each auditionee’s background, especially if they were a previous member of the band.

Stewart explained that he does not take the decision to cut members from the band lightly. He has multiple people watch all audition videos to ensure that their judgment calls are fair.

“This is the part of my job that I dislike the most,” Stewart said. “We hate to see the students go, but in the back of my mind, I do know that the band is continuing to get better because we’re bringing strong musicians because we’re having these evaluations.”

As the director, Stewart’s job is to make the Pride the best it can be. If the band’s numbers keep growing, Stewart predicts that this re-audition process will become an annual event.

All other sectors of the Pride, including the majorettes, pep bands and color guard, have to re-audition every year, but the color guard just started this process last year.

“This is one way we will continue to see better players that are marchers come through the doors — they’re competing for very precious spots and competing to hold on to them,” Stewart said. “That’s kind of what keeps that fire going every day of getting in the practice room and getting on your instrument. … That pressure of being a part of something that is a high-quality organization will keep you getting better on your instrument.”

Christian Carroll, the Pride’s newest drum major and

sophomore music education major, said that Stewart’s community-building efforts are also contributing to the band’s growth, and he supports all his decisions to improve the band’s overall quality.

“I’ve had many directors in my time,” Carroll said. “But Dr. Stewart is truly the closest thing that I can say I’ve had to like a director that I want to be like because … just the kindness that he has in his heart — his good intentions — I feel like that’s the first step to accomplishing anything great. And since his intentions are so pure … every single thing that he is doing, I can get behind so quickly, just because there’s so much goodwill behind every single thing that he does.”

Carroll is excited to see what the fall 2024 season will look like for the Pride.

“We’re continuing to make outstanding people, volunteers, musicians, scholars — we’re just really creating amazing people within the program,” Carroll said. “Taking a more active role in that is such an honor because I feel like that’s me fulfilling my greater purpose of giving back to the world — and there’s no other group that I’d rather be doing that for.”

While not all students are happy with the tough decisions Stewart has had to make, many understand why he is making them and think the re-auditions are a step in the right direction.

“It is important that these students that are no longer in the band (know) they’re still part of the band family,” Stewart said, “They can still march with the alumni band.”

Stewart said he wants to keep pushing the envelope on the quality of the band and the expectations of the group. In his own experience from watching other bands, he ensures that while he knows some students are upset, this process is for the better.

A look back at UT’s historic 2023-24 academic and athletic year

BELLA

HUGHES

2024-25

Editor-in-Chief

UT has become increasingly more popular in the past several years, and as a result, academics, sports and campus life have expanded. Here’s a look back at what the 2023-24 year had to offer.

August: Thompson-Boling Arena renames Food City Center

On Aug. 23, athletic director Danny White announced that Thompson-Boling Arena would be renamed Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center after a deal that promised UT $20 million over the course of 10 years.

The money from the naming rights deal will be used to renovate the interior and exterior of the facility.

September: Board of trustees approves new guaranteed admissions proposal

In an effort to become more competitive amongst its peer SEC schools, UT System President Randy Boyd presented the proposal of automatic acceptance to those who either finish in the top 10% of their high school’s graduating class or achieve a 4.0 or higher GPA.

January: UT Chancellor Donde Plowman calls NCAA ‘morally wrong’

In a letter to NCAA President Charlie Baker, UT Chancellor Donde Plowman responded to an investigation into Tennessee athletics for alleged name, image and likeness violations stating, “The NCAA is failing.”

Following her letter, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti brought an antitrust suit against the NCAA

regarding NIL violations. Skrmetti argued that the current NIL guidelines “violate federal antitrust law, thwart the free market, and harm student-athletes.”

After a preliminary injunction hearing, U.S. District Judge Clifton Corker in the Eastern Tennessee District issued a preliminary injunction on Feb. 23. The injunction freezes the current NIL guidelines and prevents the NCAA from pursuing any further investigations.

March: Tennessee basketball falls to Purdue, Zach Edey in Elite Eight to end season

After earning their second Elite Eight spot in program history, the Vols were defeated by No. 1 seed Purdue, despite Dalton Knecht’s success scoring 37 points for Tennessee.

April: Kellie Harper fired as Lady Vols head coach, Kim Caldwell hired

During her time, Harper amassed a 108-52 record, going 53-24 in SEC play. As a player at Tennessee, Harper earned three national championships playing under former head coach Pat Summitt.

Kim Caldwell replaced Harper for the head coach position after a swift turnaround. Caldwell comes from Marshall where the team won the Sun Belt regular season and conference titles. Before her lone season at Marshall, Caldwell amassed a 191-24 record at Division II Glenville State. Caldwell won the Pat Summitt Trophy as the Division II National Coach of the Year in 2022.

May: Pro-Palestine demonstrators arrested, march through Fort Sanders

Pro-Palestine demonstrators began protesting days prior to several arrests, but after violating the university’s Outdoor Facility Usage for Authorized Events policy, sev-

en students and two community members were apprehended. Following the incident, the remaining group of protestors marched to the University of Tennessee Police Department and then through Fort Sanders.

Students arrested faced student conduct fines, and community members have since been released.

May: Advisory Board announces parking changes UT will implement a hierarchical structure with tiered parking passes. Parking permits will become available based on credit hours — allowing graduate students and seniors to buy permits first, then juniors, sophomores and finally first-year students.

Parking lots will be zoned differently based on three types: core, intermediate or remote parking. Each zone will have different passes and rates ranging from $198$390. Noncommuter parking permits will follow the same structure providing core and remote options ranging from $310-$450.

Students in support of Palestine march around campus while yelling various chants. Thursday, May 2, 2024. Caleb Jarreau / The Daily Beacon

Acceptance rate drops below 35% as university prioritizes in-state applicants

ABBY ANN RAMSEY

2023-24

Editor-in-Chief

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions released regular admission decisions to the class of 2028 on February 29, showing an overall acceptance rate of less than 35% for fall 2024 with admittance highly favoring in-state applicants.

With 57,270 applications received by the Dec. 15 regular admission deadline — the most in university history — the overall acceptance rate is 34.28%. UT’s overall acceptance rate is now about half of what it was two years ago, with the most significant drop occurring from 20222023. For the fall 2022 admission cycle, the overall acceptance rate was 68.4%. According to materials presented to the university’s board of trustees’ education, research and service committee, last year’s acceptance rate was 46%.

The acceptance rate for in-state students is 65.7% — up from last year’s 59.4%. While in-state admittance grew, out-of-state students saw a 10% drop from last year to this year as only 23.7% of applicants were admitted for the fall 2024 semester — a move in line with the university’s goal of prioritizing admission for Tennessee residents.

In attempts to make UT more accessible to in-state students, the university enacted a guaranteed admission policy that automatically grants admission to in-state students who are in the top 10% of their high school class or who have a calculated UT Core GPA of 4.0 or higher.

“In alignment with the Board’s recent action, UT plans

to enroll a first-year class with two-thirds in-state residents as part of our flagship, land-grant mission,” the Office of Undergraduate Admissions said in a public release. “Due to this enrollment target, the increase in applications for admission, and the outstanding academic quality of our application pool, it will be more difficult for an out-of-state applicant to be admitted.”

The university also offers alternate pathways to many students who are denied first-year admission through UT Access Collaborative and Rocky Top Transfer.

“Not making it into UT Knoxville does not mean not making it into UT,” UT System President Randy Boyd said. “And we’re working really hard to make sure they have a softer landing into UT Martin, Southern or Chattanooga as well.”

While the acceptance rate plummeted nearly 30% from 2022-2023, many students — especially out-of-state ones — are applying under the impression that the Knoxville campus still

accepts more than half of its applicants. If you look up UTK’s acceptance rate, Google will tell you it’s 74.9% — a statistic from 2021. Now, the university is more in line with schools like Clemson University and the University of Georgia.

During the committee meeting, John Compton, chair of the board of trustees, asked UT Chancellor Donde Plowman about setting realistic expectations for applicants.

“We drive traffic (to the website) where we present sort of the profiles of the previous year,” Plowman said. “They can see the number, percentage of applications — they can kind of keep track of that, but I think we need to constantly be working at that.

“One of our concerns is that you say ‘no’ to too many people too many times, your pipelines are going to dry up. So it’s a very good question, and we’ve got to stay on top of it.”

As the university becomes increasingly popular, members of the UT community have expressed concerns about parking, housing capacity and academic spaces. In a release after early action decisions went out, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions stated that these concerns are considered in their decisions.

“Capacity considerations and delivering on the Volunteer experience for all students (new and continuing) remains a priority in building the Fall 2024 cohort,” the office said on its website.

In one of several moves to solve infrastructure issues on campus, the board approved a plan to move forward with the addition of a third new residence hall following two other new residence halls that were approved in October. The residence hall will be built at the intersection of Lake Loudoun and Volunteer Boulevard where construction for the building is already underway.

The drop in acceptance rate comes after 2022’s historic football season when the chancellor also noted that she viewed athletic success and campus growth as “interrelated.”

Students cross the bridge in front of Neyland stadium. Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. Audrey Nash / Contributor

Authoring Your Story*

August 14-17 | Various Times Student Union & Ferris Quad

College Connect*

Saturday, August 17 | Times & locations vary by college

New Vol Picnic*

Sunday, August 18

2:30 p.m. | HSS Plaza

Vol is a Verb*

Sunday, August 18

8 p.m. | TRECs Turf Field

tiny.utk.edu/Vol104 *required events

New Vol Fest

Friday, August 16 7 p.m. | HSS Plaza

Tennessee Saturday Night

Saturday, August 17 7 p.m. | Student Union

Torch Night*

Sunday, August 18 | 6 p.m. Thompson-Boling Arena

Late Night on Rocky Top Friday, August 23 7 p.m. | Circle Park

Brothers United for Excellence preaches meaning of manhood as minorities

ADAM DELAHOUSSAYE 2023-24 Staff Writer

“Better you, better me, BUE.” It’s a slogan that the Brothers United for Excellence preach day in and day out to the members of their organization, and it is one that means something different to each person. For some, it is as simple as bettering yourself and one another. For others, it means the success of one BUE member is the success of every man who proudly identifies with the group.

Whatever the interpretation is, one thing is clear for the men of BUE: When you value your peers, they value you. That kind of attitude got so many current members, including 2023 President Chandler Campbell, a student in the College Scholars Honors Program studying music business and political science, to join in the first place.

“Coming in, I wanted to find a community of minority men on campus that I resonated with and could understand the same things I was going through,” Campbell said. “As a freshman that was a big thing for me. I remember the second meeting we had, we just talked about different things we experience on a daily basis that we all go through. We all have that shared experience. Why not talk about it?”

BUE as a collective aims to uplift and uphold men of color to a standard of leadership and excellence to better prepare them for the professional world and all it entails. Holding general body meetings twice a month and executive members meetings once a week or more, they are always trying to find new ideas or build off old ones on how to best prepare minority men for life once they walk across the graduation stage.

Professionalism is a big aspect of the multi-faceted culture that BUE has been cultivating since it was founded. The brothers hold meetings to develop LinkedIn profiles, practice interview skills and even review professional dress codes as methods of being the best versions of themselves. On top of developing themselves, they are also investing in developing their community. The group usually sets aside a few meetings a semester to do community service in and around the Knoxville area, usually coordinated by Vice President Obinze Nwokochah, a junior studying nursing.

Regardless of academic, professional or personal development, what BUE prioritizes is being a place where brothers can come with their trials as well as their triumphs, knowing that support for both will be gladly given.

“My freshman year, I remember a question that we asked, and it was, ‘What does it mean to be a man?’’’ Campbell said. “With that question, that’s when I really felt at home. I saw the connections that a lot of us had no matter where we were from. From California to Memphis, there was still some kind of connection with our past and how we view ourselves now. After that is when it felt like a safe place for me, as a minority man.”

Once community is fostered, opportunity is soon to follow. One of the biggest things BUE preaches is a cando attitude for all of its members no matter their career goals or personal plans. For Wesley Turner, BUE’s presidential liaison, that idea is the crux of what makes their organization so special.

“I wanna make sure guys have a conscience of, ‘Why

can’t I?’” Turner said. “Asking why can’t I win this award, get this internship, live in this city for a summer, like why do we tell ourselves that? It’s because the world tells us that, but if the world is consistently telling you that, how are you supposed to shift? Getting guys to recognize that it’s completely on them, but you’re capable and have the opportunity. They don’t have to question whether or not they should be here now, but what are they going to do every single day to make sure they and their people are straight.”

“I saw the connections that a lot of us had no matter where we were from. After that is when it felt like a safe place for me, as a minority man.”

CHANDLER CAMPBELL BUE President

Mental health, a topical point of discussion within identity and masculinity today, is also constantly preached as a cornerstone of any BUE brother’s success both in the corporate world and behind closed doors. If you’re emotionally intelligent, other aspects of knowledge and realization seem to fall into place. To them, it’s

yet another stepping stone toward a successful future. Nicholas Moore, BUE’s director of academic excellence, studying aerospace engineering, noted that men need to know how to deal with their emotions safely and healthily in order to be strong men.

“I don’t know if it’s just these days, or it’s been like this forever, it just feels like men are supposed to have control over their feelings,” Moore said. “But they don’t ever teach you to control those feelings. They just show you pushing it down, and that’s not control. That’s just prolonging the effects of it. So we’ll talk about those directly, like with our mental health series, or subtly with a, ‘How was your day?’ Or, ‘Are you good right now?’”

For a lot of minority groups, mental health is often an unnoticed or neglected aspect of existence that’s ignored due to a lack of resources. In many instances, those feelings are pushed aside to make room for the bigger picture, which is a notion the brothers of BUE are constantly trying to fight. For them, identity and masculinity are huge and often congruent topics of conversation. Being successful but losing yourself in the process is far from the end goal for BUE. When prosperity in academics and mindfulness collide, BUE thinks the sky is the limit.

There may be a high standard that these men hold themselves to, but by no means is that meant to intimidate or exclude any potential new member from growing their 92-man roster. A lot of members will bring anywhere from one to 10 friends with them to a meeting, the itinerary of which can range from practicing interview skills to something as simple as a movie night with friends. For BUE and everyone involved, success is something to be found in almost every aspect of living. If their slogan says anything, success in relationships is a good place to start.

Brothers United for Excellence aims to uplift men of color and help prepare them for the professional world. Courtesy of Brothers United for Excellence

5 of UT’s highest-rated professors, according to Rate My Professor

EMMA JOHNSTON Fall 2024 Managing Editor

Ayres Hall has been a UT campus landmark since it was completed in 1921 File /

When students feel passionate about a professor — positively or negatively — they log onto Rate My Professor, write a short review, select whether they would take another class with the professor, rank the professor’s level of difficulty and give them an overall rating from 1-5.

Rate My Professor then presents the average of that professor’s ratings for future students to review when registering for classes.

Some UT professors receive more reviews and ratings than others, especially those who teach general education courses that fulfill Volunteer Core requirements, as these classes are taught in bulk and are taken by hundreds of students each semester.

Volunteer Core requirements are UT’s version of general education requirements and must be met by every UT student in order to graduate. Volunteer Core curriculum is divided into three major categories: effective communication, expanded perspectives and engaged inquiries.

Michael Grubb: English Composition I (ENGL 101)

With a quality score of 5/5 based on 28 ratings, English professor Michael Grubb teaches English Composition I. This class fulfills the first requirement in the effective communication category. Within this category, every UT student must take English Composition I, English Composition II and one other approved written communication course. You can register to take English Composition I under the course code ENGL 101 with Grubb at one of two time slots:

Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11:20 a.m.12:35 p.m. or Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12:55-2:10 p.m.

Robert Guest: Statistical Reasoning (MATH 115)

Another professor rated a solid 5/5 based on a large pool of 127 reviews is math professor Robert Guest who teaches Statistical Reasoning.

Statistical Reasoning is one of several courses that fulfill the quantitative reasoning requirement in the expanded perspectives category. Guest will be teaching MATH 115: Statistical Reasoning during the Monday/Wednesday/Friday at 9:10-10:00 a.m. time slot.

Macy Pearson: Business and Professional Communication (CMST 240)

Communications professor Macy Pearson is the highest-rated professor who teaches public speaking. Rated a full 5/5 based on 54 reviews, Pearson has taught Business and Professional Communication and will again this fall.

Under the course code CMST 240, Business and Professional Communication is one of 21 courses that satisfy the oral communication component in the Volunteer Core effective communication category.

Pearson will be teaching Business and Professional Communication this fall at the five consecutive Tuesday/Thursday time slots — beginning at the 9:45 a.m. slot and ending after the 4:05 p.m. slot.

Katherine Rowinski: General Psychology (PSYC 110)

Psychology professor Katherine Rowinski is rated 4.7/5 based on 94 reviews and teaches General Psychology registered under the course code PSYC 110.

This course satisfies the social sciences requirement in the expanded perspectives category of the Volunteer Core curriculum and simultaneously fulfills three of the nine hours needed in the engaged inquiries category.

You can register to take General Psychology with Rowinski on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11:20 a.m.-12:35 p.m.

Justin Arft: Classical Mythology (CLAS 223)

With an average rating of 4.9/5 based on 44 ratings, classics professor Justin Arft teaches CLAS 223: Classical Mythology.

In the expanded perspectives category of the Volunteer Core curriculum, Arft’s Classical Mythology course satisfies the arts and humanities requirement.

Arft will be teaching Classical Mythology on Mondays/Wednesdays/Fridays at the 11:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m. time slot.

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UT system renames Division of Diversity and Engagement as Access and Engagement

PIERCE GENTRY

2023-24

Investigative Reporter

The UT System’s Division of Diversity and Engagement, which is tasked with promoting diversity, equity and inclusion across all campuses, was renamed the “Division of Access and Engagement” in an effort to better reflect the division’s mission, as well as move away from some potentially divisive terminology.

Those who work within the division are responsible for ensuring that campus environments remain inclusive and accessible for all students, faculty and staff of the university. This work is meant to promote “diversity, equity and inclusion” and is more often referred to simply as DEI. In the past, DEI has been instrumental in the uplifting of minority groups, who may otherwise lack a voice.

In a statement from the university regarding the name change, it was revealed that the UT system hopes to move towards prioritizing blanket access to higher education across the state.

“UT System President Randy Boyd has charged all campuses in the system with prioritizing access to a UT degree for Tennesseans, and to better reflect the socioeconomic demographics of our state,” the university said in a statement to the Beacon. “As part of this effort … the division will change its name to the Division of Access and Engagement. The university’s commitment to the Board of Trustees’ Diversity Statement has not changed.”

The name change will advance gradually throughout the university system and will rename the Knoxville campus’s Office of Diversity and Engagement, while also changing the titles of the DEI offices, committees and divisions within colleges and schools.

According to Guy Harrison, the director of DEI for the School of Journalism and Media, the move is an effort to detract attention from state politicians who have begun to take issue with discussions of diversity in recent years.

“We are in a very ultra-conservative state, and there are political actors who would completely do away with DEI, whether it’s the title or the work that we do,” Harrison said. “And this kind of protects us from them a little bit. But I wish it wasn’t necessary … we shouldn’t need to whitewash the word diversity out of things, just not to alarm certain people.”

Harrison also expressed his concerns that changing the name of DEI, while perhaps necessary, could hinder the recruitment of prospective students from historically marginalized groups.

“There are going to be students of color, queer students, first-generation immigrants and students from a vast variety of social identities or marginalized communities,” Harrison said. “They are going to want to know how the University of Tennessee is handling DEI, and if they go to our website and don’t see anything about diversity, that might raise an alarm.”

Angela Batey, a professor, choral director and current associate dean of DEI for the College of Music, believes that the name change is representative of that fear and confusion.

“Diversity seems to have been made into a negative word,” Batey said. “And we’re trying to get away from something that may have been made divisive.”

UT’s Faculty Senate leadership team, which is composed of 2023-24 President Amber Roessner, 2024-25 president-elect Derek Alderman and past President Beth Schussler, said it has taken an “active interest” in the change and remains committed to continuing its history of championing access for all, even with the division under a new name.

“Supporting the Division, both morally and through continued, if not enhanced investment, at this critical time, is seen by Senate leadership as crucial to maintaining the health, mission, vision, and values of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and its commitment to access and inclusion,” the team said in a statement to the Beacon.

The Faculty Senate also sees itself as a resource available to the university throughout this re-envisioning shift because of its history of lifting underrepresented voices and because of the number of faculty members in the senate who have expertise when it comes to access, equity and social disparities.

“Given that the expanded access focus promises to enhance the university’s responsibility to broaden participation and representation of a variety of social groups in higher education, we hope that the university admin-

istration will see and use the Faculty Senate as a close partner in this important re-envisioning process,” the statement reads.

The Office of the Provost told the Beacon in a statement that the name change will also be extended to the various DEI departments and committees within UT Knoxville’s colleges.

“To ensure alignment with the renamed division, colleges will update position titles, office names, or committee names to contain the words access or engagement,” the statement said. “Colleges’ commitment to diversity remains as strong as always.”

According to the statement, this move is meant to more accurately represent the work being done by DEI departments across campus, shifting away from words such as diversity and equity, and focusing instead on generalized “access and engagement.”

“I think (Access and Engagement) more accurately reflects what we’re doing at a university level,” Batey said. “It’s all about creating as much access as we can for anybody who wants to get an education beyond high school to get that education. It’s about equity for everybody, access for everybody and just respect for all people, no matter what they look like, sound like or believe.”

The Division of Diversity and Engagement, which on UTK’s campus is housed in the Office of Equity and Diversity, is set to see a name change. Audrey Nash / Contributor

Freshman survival guide: How to dominate your first year

BELLA HUGHES 2024-25 Editor-in-Chief

Freshman year is a journey that everyone experiences in different ways. Some will begin college with the same people they left high school with, and others will begin anew with a clean slate ahead of them.

No matter how you start your first year, there are certain things to consider before the first day of the semester. Here is the ultimate guide to your freshman year.

Don’t pack light — pack wisely

YouTube tutorials are helpful, but no one can cover everything you’ll need to live comfortably in a dorm. Pay close attention to your daily routine and the products you use, as these will be the hidden gems that make life easier. An electric tea kettle is handy for morning caffeine or boiling pasta, and a hanging closet cubby rack can double as a pantry or extra storage.

Perfect your shower caddy by including products that make you feel your best. After walking to classes on the Hill, a refreshing shower can go a long way. Staple products like shampoo and conditioner are a given, include products that elevate your hygiene — it’s time to toss the three-in-one body wash.

Remember, it’s not the end of the world if you forget something. There are supermarkets nearby, but there are a few necessities that make move-in day a lot smoother. Paper towels, trash bags, a screwdriver, batteries, exten-

sion cords and lightbulbs are helpful to have at the ready as you settle into your dorm.

Invest

in your roommate

Your roommate is the person that you will spend the most time with at the start of the year. Roommate dynamics differ depending on the people — you may be best friends for two weeks or 20 years, but only time will tell.

Reach out to your roommate before you move in. Ask important questions, like what temperature they keep their room, their sleep schedule and if they like to have people over. Yes, a dorm is your space, but it’s a shared space.

During your first week on Rocky Top, you’ll complete a series of welcome events that are created to get you acclimated to campus life. Use this time to buddy up with your roommate and attend the events together.

It can be awkward to ask for alone time or to hang out with someone 24/7, so communicate with one another about how you are feeling. This will create a welcoming environment that makes it worth living in what feels like a 4x4.

Stay connected to home

Independence is great in small doses and awful after weeks of pretending to be an adult. As an 18-year-old you are somewhere between a responsible human and a kid asking for help. Find a day that works for you and call home each evening.

Nights at home rambling to your parents is something

you may miss, and a FaceTime can easily cure the homesickness. During the breaks between classes, call a family friend or a relative and ask about their day. Hearing the mundane events in someone else’s life can distract from any anxiety you feel in your newfound home.

Long-distance best friends are the glue to staying in touch with home. Your high school friend group will shift by the time Thanksgiving break rolls around, but the people closest to you will remain the same.

Call your long-distance friends at least once a month. You’ll see the people they talk about on their Instagram and create fictitious scenarios in your head about your friends’ lives, but a piece of you will still be connected to them — if you’re lucky, when you visit them at their university, you’ll fit right in.

Prioritize your mental health

This sounds cliche, but the success of your first year depends on your well-being. Change can be overwhelming, so remember to take time for yourself.

Establish a list of things that allow you to rest. Go for a walk by the Tennessee River, journal while listening to your favorite album, get a sweet treat or simply watch an episode of your comfort show before bed.

If you need to talk to an unbiased source, the Counseling Center grants students 10 free sessions with a certified counselor to provide a safe space.

Give yourself time. There’s no right answer on how to ace freshman year, but with this guide, you’ll be on the right track.

Eden Allen (right), Sara Alexander (middle), Taia Sorrell (left) and their friends sit on HSS lawn and share their life experiences at a Chi Alpha meeting. Sam Barbour / Contributor

Clarence Brown Theatre announces 2024-25 season, brand new musical

SHELBY WRIGHT

Fall 2024 News Editor

ty members, as well as Equity Association actors.

“When I started here, there were a few things that were made very obvious to me,” Martin said. “One is that people wanted to bring in guest artists … so we’re gonna do that, and we decided that if we’re gonna do it, we’re gonna do it right.”

The new music for the show will be written by composer Stephen Flaherty and lyricist Lynn Ahrens, who are best known for their work in the award-winning Broadway musicals “Ragtime” and “Once on This Island.” “Knoxville” will also be directed and designed by award-winning guest artists: Josh Rhodes, director and choreographer of the current Broadway show “Spamalot,” Don Holder, the 1998 Tony award-winning lighting designer for “The Lion King,” and Robert Perdziola, renowned set and costume designer who has designed shows for prestigious operas across the country.

this show, CBT will host educational lectures, talks and artwork regarding the trial. Both “A Christmas Carol” and “Inherit the Wind” will be performed on CBT’s main stage.

For the sixth show of the season, CBT will utilize the lab theatre once more to produce “Failure: A Love Story” by Philip Dawkins, a tragic comedy of the three Fail sisters, all of who die unexpectedly in reverse order.

Finally, to conclude the 2024-25 season, CBT will close with “The Play That Goes Wrong” by Jonathan Sawyer, Henry Shields and Henry Lewis. This show is a play within a play. As the cast members act, disasters befall them – doors stick, props fall and are misplaced, the actors forget their lines and someone is even knocked unconscious during the show. Just about everything that could go wrong in a play does, making this comedy and actor’s worst nightmare come to life.

CBT will host seven shows rather than its usual six for its new season, opening with a brand new musical called “Knoxville” based on James Agee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning autobiographical novel, “A Death in the Family.”

Ken Martin, the artistic director and department head of CBT, said that “Knoxville” is a huge step for the theatre, and he is most excited about the possibility of the musical going to Broadway after it premieres at CBT. This show will include graduate students, company and facul-

Coming up next, the CBT will produce two lab theatre shows. First, “Cry It Out” by Molly Smith Metzler, a dark comedy that features new moms navigating motherhood amidst everyday struggles. Then, CBT will present “How to Defend Yourself” by Liliana Padilla, a show that takes place in a college gym where a sorority leader teaches girls how to defend themselves following the sexual assault of a fellow sorority sister.

Fourth in line in the upcoming season is none other than Knoxville’s annual favorite, Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” Following “A Christmas Carol” will be “Inherit the Wind,” a show that encompasses a fictional account of the 1925 Scopes “Monkey” Trial, which resulted in John Scopes’ conviction for teaching Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution in high school science classes, which was against Tennessee state law. Leading up to

Last year, USA TODAY ranked Knoxville No. 4 for the Best Arts District, beating larger cities like Chicago, Houston and Pittsburgh.

Stowers commented how the new CBT season, along with the Carousel Theatre’s public launch, is driving economic development in Knoxville

“(Theatre) is a big pillar for our community, and it drives economic development,” Stowers said. “If we have a thriving cultural and artistic community, we’re gonna trek people to our area, and that has already happened — I know so many people who’ve said, ‘We chose Knoxville because we had big-city amenities in the arts, in a small-town field.’ We have Broadway-level theater and not Broadway ticket prices, and that’s due to fantastic work (from Clarence Brown staff).”

Ken Martin introduces Clarence Brown Theatre’s new season, including an original musical. Courtesy of Madison M. Mansouri

Beyond a bakery: Kern’s Food Hall celebrates grand opening

KYLIA BERRY

2023-24

Staff Writer

Guest walking into the newly renovated Kern’s food hall the day of the grand opening.

Kylia Berry / The Daily Beacon CITY

After over 90 years, The Kern’s Bakery, a beloved historic South Knoxville landmark, has opened its doors again to the Knoxville community. Now, it serves much more than loaves of bread. For more than a century, the mission behind the historic building has remained the same: community.

The Knoxville community has been eagerly counting

down the days until the grand opening after almost five years of construction. Alex Dominguez, one of the food hall’s managing partners who led the development of this new Knoxville hotspot, shared that there have been obstacles in opening the new food hall. Despite these challenges, seeing everyone enjoy themselves makes the hardships worthwhile.

“I’m running on adrenaline because this is unbelievable. Dominguez said. “There has been lots of grinding, lots of tools, lots of heavy equipment. And this is the first time I’ve seen little kids, dogs and families. It’s beautiful to see.”

Along with the community, Katie Marcus, a UT alum, has eagerly waited for the opening of the food hall, despite the setbacks. Marcus said the food hall’s grand opening made the wait worthwhile and created a special day for the community.

“It’s really special that it’s finally opened because I’ve waited five years for this,” Marcus said. “There was a period where I thought it wasn’t going to open at all, and then COVID-19 hit and that stalled the progress, and actually see(ing) it come to fruition is very special.”

The developer’s mission behind the Kern’s Food Hall was clear: to create a fun atmosphere for the entire community to come together and enjoy, whether that includes indulging in some tasty food such as pizza, grabbing a drink with friends, bringing your dog or the variety of other activities that are included.

“We wanted to create these intersections for people to come together and make memories and spend time here. This is not a ‘go shopping and go home,’” Dominguez said. “Come spend a day. Come work. Come have a meet-

ing with someone. Come enjoy ice cream. Go get a workout. Run. Come back and watch a movie. It’s just a great place to come (to).”

The developers of the food hall, including Timothy Martin — owner of Tim Estates and visionary planner and merchandiser for the tenants at Kern’s — understand the importance of continuing the deep connection the bakery once brought to South Knoxville.

Martin sees the importance of highlighting the historical significance of the Kern’s Bakery and creating that human connection with the famously known loaf of bread.

“There’s a gentleman walking around, (who) is Roy Hogen Brown, whose grandfather built this building. … Having a bakery inside Kern’s that we’re going to have with Dustin Cochran and Myrtle’s Bakehouse and actually recreating the emotional connection,” Martin said. “But actually to be able to reproduce the little loaves of bread and that emotional connection throughout the years and the history there. You can’t create that. This is so organic. It’s incredible.”

The Kern’s Food Hall project intends to help the South Knoxville community expand and create a space for aspiring regional and local business owners to accomplish their dreams. The hall now has over 19 tenants who are fulfilling their entrepreneurial goals.

“We have folks that this is their dream to be able to have a retail shop. Kristen Heat at Mae Lee’s — that was her dream. And she has endured it with me. And it’s like watching a family member succeed.” Dominguez said, “And, you know, she lights up and that lights me up.”

Start the Conversation

Parents and family members continue to be the primary influence in students' lives.

Now is a great time to talk about alcohol and consent.

Our "Start the Conversation" guides can help you prepare for this talk.

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A Guide to Market Square

ANDI JONES 2023-24 Contributor

Market Square is a nexus of restaurants, entertainment, shopping and Knoxville culture. Market Square hosts events such as the weekly farmers market in early fall and spring, ice skating over the winter months, the Dogwood Arts Festival in the spring and countless more. The square and surrounding areas offer restaurants in addition to game day outfits, unique gifts and decor, delicious desserts, a good book, and coffee shops for studying.

Tupelo Honey is the well-known spot to bring visiting family members or friends, and it would be hard to think of Gay Street without the classic Cruze Farm. However, there are many spots in the Market Square area that are lesser known among students. Here is a guide to some of these hidden gems of Market Square.

Restaurants

For traditional wood-fire cooking: J.C. Holdway

The restaurant is named after chef Joseph Lenn’s late uncle who had a strong passion for quality food. J.C. Holdway offers regional and seasonal food with wood-fire techniques and handmade treats.

For seafood cravings: The Brass Pearl

Brass Pearl is a seafood and oyster bar offering dinner every day and “brunch & lunch” from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. The menu offers a variety of oysters, including raw, fried and grilled, in addition to an array of seafood including salmon, shrimp and grits, lobster rolls, and many more options. Not a fan of seafood? Try their chicken and waffles or “pearl burger.”

For a bite of comfort food: Myrtle’s Chicken and Beer

Located in the heart of Market Square, Myrtle’s Chicken and Beer offers Southern signatures including wings, fried pickles, ribs and famous fried chicken.

For a prohibition era experience: Peter Kern Library

Students and visitors who are of legal drinking age can enjoy this sophisticated speakeasy located within The Oliver Hotel. Delight in the full speakeasy experience with menus hidden in world encyclopedias and a password-protected entrance. The password and additional information can be found on the Instagram @ peterkernlibrary and the speakeasy’s website.

For a bayou-inspired brunch: Ruby Sunshine

This New Orleans-originated restaurant offers a twist on traditional brunch foods. Try their “sweet heat chicken” or “bananas foster French toast” along with an array of pancake specials.

Shopping

For a fairytale experience: Alice in Appalachia

This enchanting store offers trinkets and decor along with a variety of cocktails and mocktails all inspired by “Alice in Wonderland.”

For unique takes on trends: Fizz Boutique Fizz offers a variety of styles made from natural and sustainable fabrics along with a wide selection of jewelry. Stop by for game day gear, holiday-themed pieces and more.

For special gift shopping: Knoxville Soap, Candle & Gifts

Located off of Gay Street, this store is exactly as it advertises: soap, candles and gifts — with a variety of styles, scents and a selection of Knoxville-inspired items which make great gifts for friends and family.

For a good read: Union Ave Books

Union Ave Books is a staple among the Knoxville reading community and hosts countless author events. Peruse best-sellers, picks by local authors and book-themed novelties such as journals, tote bags and puzzles.

Study Spots and Sweet Treats

For a classic combo: Status Dough Donuts & Coffee

Coffee and donuts are hard to beat, and Status Dough has both covered with classic and specialty donuts along with drip-brewed and cold brew coffee. Status Dough strives to be “a 3rd place for you, neither home, nor work,” making it a great place to reset or catch up on school work.

For a coastal aesthetic: Mahalo Coffee Roasters

Mahalo Coffee Roasters aims to “bring the west coast east,” which it accomplishes with blue hues and a beachy ambiance. In addition to the relaxing environment, Mahalo values sustainable practices and ethical procedures with employees and suppliers.

For a late-night coffee: K Brew

K Brew is well known among students, with three locations across Knoxville, but the lesser-known spot is within the Embassy Suites by Hilton in Downtown Knoxville. This coffee shop has the latest operating hours in the Market Square area, closing at 8 p.m.

For a sweet tooth: Coffee & Chocolate

As promised in the name, this quaint coffee shop offers classic coffees and delectable treats such as chocolate-covered espresso beans, macarons and artisanal chocolates. The founder of Coffee & Chocolate has taken research and inspiration from abroad to provide quality coffee and desserts.

Market Square offers a store, cafe or restaurant for nearly every occasion. From shopping for “Big Orange Fridays” at Bliss Boutique to bonding over a shared love of sushi at Nama, exploring Downtown Knoxville is a great way to branch out from campus.

Market Square is a Knoxville staple for many students and tourists. There are plenty of restaurants and shops to keep everyone entertained. File / The Daily Beacon

Union Ave Books is located in Market Square in Knoxville, TN. File / The Daily Beacon

Shopping local: Where to get coffee on and off campus

WYATT ALLISON

2024 Contributor

Getting coffee is a daily ritual for many students, and trying new local spots can give you a taste of variety. It’s also a great opportunity to support local businesses.

K Brew

With locations spread around Knoxville and a recently opened shop right on campus in the Haslam Business Building, K Brew is one of the staple coffee shops in Knoxville. K Brew was founded in 2008 by two brothers, Pierce and Michael LaMacchia, who both grew up in Knoxville and are UT graduates. They became infatuated with the coffee shops on the west coast and decided to bring their own back home to Knoxville.

Just Love Coffee Cafe

Right across the street from Chipotle on Cumberland Avenue is a newer addition to the community in Just Love Coffee Cafe.

Just Love features your standard selection of drip coffees and teas but has a breakfast and lunch menu serving up nutritious options to get you through the day. Try their “Riptide” refresher, which is a pretty mix of blue curacao, coconut and sparkling water.

Honeybee Coffee & Brewery

One of the most popular coffee shops in Knoxville is

located on Sevier Avenue only five minutes from campus and is called Honeybee Coffee & Brewery. The coffee shop is known for its relaxed atmosphere and proximity to not only campus but Downtown Knoxville as well.

One of the unique parts about Honeybee is its nitro cold brew coffee, which is house-made cold brew infused with nitrogen that adds a natural sweetness and reduces the bitterness in the coffee.

Capybara Coffee

Capybara Coffee lives up to its name, as it’s one of the most unique coffee shops around campus. When you walk in, you’re greeted by walls covered with photos, drawings and molds of capybaras. Located next to Publix at University Commons Plaza, Capybara Coffee features a cozy seating area, free wifi and delicious lattes with unique art on the foam cover.

The Golden Roast

The Golden Roast is a UT campus staple, located right beside Gus’s Good Time Deli and close to Hodges Library with an additional location off campus located on Cherokee Mills.

The Golden Roast features a variety of bagels and flavors of cold brew including their delicious banana bread cold brew.

Jacks

Known for its affordable prices and minimalist aesthetic, Jacks thrives with two locations in downtown. With a simple menu featuring coffee, teas, seasonal drinks and bagels, Jacks succeeds in providing a welcom-

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ing cozy environment with some of the best drinks in the area.

The Golden Roast’s Sutherland location recently relocated down the street to Cherokee Mills.

Abby Ann Ramsey / The Daily Beacon

2023-24 Opinions Editor Calie Wrona says that sorority recruitment is is exhilarating and terrifying in the moment, but between the hair pins and matching T-shirts, real friendships are made. Courtesy of Calie Wrona

Opinion: How to survive sorority recruitment

2023-24 Opinions Editor

Sorority recruitment can be an exhilarating and terrifying thought for anyone. Going through the process is like stepping into a whirlwind of smiles, perfectly pinned hair and genuine sisterhood. Having been through the ups and downs of the rush process myself, I can assure you that it’s a ride worth taking.

Picture this: It’s the first day of rush week, and you’re standing in line with hundreds of other nervous potential new members, wondering if you’ll find your people among the sea of matching T-shirts and perfectly coordinated hairstyles. As the grand doors open and the somewhat haunting chants begin, you can’t help but feel a rush of excitement mixed with a healthy dose of “What have I gotten myself into?”

The next few days are a blur of small talk, awkward

icebreakers and trying desperately to remember the names of the girls you’ve just met. You’ll laugh with new friends, cry to your mom on FaceTime and wonder if it’s too late to transfer to a school where Greek life isn’t a thing.

But then, just when you’re ready to throw in the towel and join the water polo team instead, something special happens. You find yourself bonding with a group of girls over a shared love of Harry Potter, late-night pizza runs or the fact that you all suck at painting your nails. Suddenly, the walls come down, and you realize these girls aren’t just potential sisters — they’re your people.

Of course, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. There will be moments when you question whether you belong, whether you’re pretty enough or whether you made the right choice. There will be days when you feel like you’re living in a real-life episode of “Mean Girls,” complete with drama, cliques and the occasional Burn Book.

But here’s the thing: Sorority life isn’t about being perfect or fitting into some preconceived mold of what a sister should be. It’s about finding a group of women who

accept you for who you are — crazy hair, weird habits and all. It’s about supporting each other through the good times and the bad, celebrating successes and lifting each other when we fall.

Four years later, as I sit here reflecting on my sorority journey, I can honestly say that going through recruitment was one of the best decisions I ever made. Sure, there were moments when I wanted to run screaming for the hills — or at least hide in my dorm room with a tub of gluten-free cookie dough — but in the end, it was worth every awkward conversation and uncomfortable silence.

So, to all the incoming freshmen considering going through sorority recruitment, my advice is this: Buckle up, keep your hands inside of the ride and hold on tight. While recruitment week may be a roller coaster of emotions, the friendships you make will impact your life in more ways than one. And trust me, that’s something worth celebrating — preferably with a round of matching sorority T-shirts, exhausted smiles plastered on your face and a giant slice of pizza.

Student ticket prices for UT football is set to increase to $20 in 2024 and $25 in 2025. The weighted lottery system and student ticket pricing for the remainder of sports is set to remain the same. File / The Daily Beacon

Student ticket prices for Tennessee football to increase in 2024, 2025

CALEB JARREAU

2023-25

Sports Editor

Tennessee Athletics announced that student tickets for football will see a price increase heading into the 2024 and 2025 seasons. The price will be $20 per student ticket in 2024 and $25 in 2025.

Tickets to home football games, allotted to students in limited numbers, were previously only $10. Tickets to other sporting events, including men’s basketball, will remain free of charge to students.

“As we continue to enhance the experience all around Neyland Stadium with added Wi-Fi, an expanded concourse, new videoboards and a new student entrance opening this fall,” an email sent to Tennessee students read, “student tickets will cost $20 for the 2024 season and cost $25 in 2025.”

Student Life and Tennessee Athletics worked with students to address concerns and improve access to all sports. A lot of the change comes as well to eliminate confusion with ticket requests. All students, undergraduate and graduate, who have paid the full student fees will be eligible to request football and basketball tickets.

According to the announcement, the Rowdy Rewards and the Big Orange Tix loyalty systems are merging. Under this new system, the more sporting events students attend, the more T-credits or “loyalty points” are gained

to better the chances of getting a football ticket.

It will remain a weighted lottery system for football. Similar to the current system, the more T-credits a student has will help their chances of being awarded tickets, the UT spokesperson confirmed.

The email adds that T-credits from attending any sporting event will help students be awarded tickets to Tennessee football games. Tickets may be requested through the Tennessee athletics app. The email says that more information on points carrying over will be added at a later date.

Some schools, like North Carolina State, offer free student ticket options. Universities like Kentucky offer student tickets for $11 per game.

Other schools, like Clemson and Notre Dame, offer season ticket options for students. These options range from $120-$325 for a season student ticket, depending on the university.

Tennessee now lands somewhere in the midpoint with the new pricing options — the goal for the university with the changes.

Demand for student tickets rising

Student ticket demand at Tennessee is at an all-time high following the football team’s resurgence. For example, more than 18,000 students requested tickets for the Tennessee-Austin Peay contest in September. The bench seating in the student section areas can only hold approximately 11,500 people.

Requesting student tickets turned into a fiasco during the 2022 season. Many students waited until the clock struck 9 a.m. on the dot to request a ticket, hoping they would be a lucky chosen one. A loyalty points system often chooses who gets the first pick of tickets and also considers the grade of the student.

UT recently announced its record revenue for the 2022 to 2023 fiscal year, raking in more than $200 million for the first time in university history.

The price rise comes as Tennessee Athletics enjoys record ticket sales while Neyland Stadium undergoes intense renovations, bringing the stadium new Wi-Fi and modernizing some of the older parts of the stadium, which includes South Stadium Hall.

Improvements to the football athletic facility, as well as Lindsey Nelson Stadium, are also currently underway, and renovations are planned for Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center.

Tennessee football on an upward trajectory Tennessee football enjoyed the 11-win season in 2022, the first double-digit win season since 2007. Five-star quarterback Nico Iamaleava is expected to take the reigns in 2024, shaping up for an exciting season.

“I am really excited about who is in that locker room, who is coming back,” Tennessee football head coach Josh Heupel said, “and where we have an opportunity to go in ’24.”

GaMe Day Guide

SARAH PORTANKA

2023-25 Engagement Editor

WhAt Do I wear?

Game days are a time to let your fashion creativity fly. We go to college in Tennessee, so cowboy boots are always a great investment — just make sure they’re comfortable for a full day of festivities and football. I’ve seen girls tie strands of the orange and white shakers to their boots for a fun pop of Tennessee orange.

For girls, a cute dress or top and skirt with boots never fails. For guys, a polo and shorts or pants is always a classic go-to.

Another staple is the famous checkerboard game day bibs sold in the VolShop. While you may think they’re corny now, they’re a great option for when it gets cold to layer a sweatshirt or extra pair of pants under. I’ll proudly admit I own a pair.

Tennessee orange isn’t the easiest color to find, and, more often than not, once you order something orange, it’s the wrong shade. If you’re struggling to find Tennessee-themed outfits online, the VolShop, Alumni Hall and boutiques around Knoxville are sure to have that perfect shade of orange we all love. If you’re someone who likes to plan ahead, these stores are available online to order items ahead of time.

One game a year, Neyland Stadium does a checkerboard-out and designates a color to each section of the stadium. You don’t want to be caught wearing white amid a sea of orange. You can check what color your section is at checkertn.com by simply entering your section and seat number.

WhAt Do I brinG?

A portable charger is a must. Your phone battery likely will not make it for a full day of football festivities, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Sunscreen is another must. I don’t care how high or low the UV is, if you’re sitting in the heat of the sun for a four-plus hour game, you will get burnt.

Most importantly, Neyland Stadium has a clear bag policy, so be sure to bring one if you plan on bringing extra things. Freshmen typically get some form of clear bag in orientation events. However, if you want a specific one, they are sold in places like the VolShop, Amazon and even boutiques around Knoxville.

Lady Vols basketball introduces Kim Caldwell as head coach

JACK CHURCH

Spring 2024 Assistant Sports Editor

Kim Caldwell does not expect to make major changes to her style of play.

“I wouldn’t be here,” Caldwell said, “if I didn’t think we could do it here.”

Caldwell comes from Marshall, where her team went 17-1 in Sun Belt play. Moving into the SEC, Caldwell feels like she can be successful with her high-tempo offense and defense.

While Caldwell’s unique way of approaching the game was a consideration, athletic director Danny White appreciated her success before all else.

“We talked to other candidates that also play this style of play,” White said. “So, it was a combination of who Kim is as a leader and a coach and also the style of play.”

Here are three takeaways from Caldwell’s introduction as head coach of the Lady Vols.

Caldwell brings aggressive style to Tennessee Caldwell’s teams play a fast, aggressive style of basketball, looking to shoot 3-pointers and create chaos defensively. Her Marshall team last year did so effectively, forcing the second most turnovers per game in Division I.

With the Lady Vols, she expects to do the same. She wants to create lots of possessions, giving her team the best chance of finding success.

“It looks like a lot of pressure, a lot of shots being taken,” Caldwell said. “Playing a lot of players, trusting your players, giving them freedom, putting them in situations where they can make good choices. Having a lot of athletes on the floor, but just making sure that we’re going to cross half court a lot but press nonstop.”

The Thundering Herd had success as a team, qualifying for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1997. In the Sun Belt championship game, Caldwell’s Marshall team forced James Madison to turn the ball over 39 times in an overtime win.

Jewel Spear, who decided to return for a fifth season, is confident in Caldwell’s style of play.

“I like to shoot,” Spear said. “I like to defend. I can be a better defender. I think she can help me do that. … From what I’ve seen, it looks like there’s a lot of space on the court to get downhill and make plays offensively.”

First year comes with high expectations

Caldwell joins the Lady Vols after Tennessee lost in the second round. Kellie Harper, who coached Tennessee for the last five seasons, made the Sweet 16 twice.

Because of the lofty goals that come with coaching for Tennessee, Caldwell wants to establish her system early.

“We want to be the hardest playing team in the country,” Caldwell said. “We want to establish our culture. We want to score a lot of points and be an exciting brand of basketball in the SEC. We want to make people proud.”

Tennessee has a long history of greatness in women’s basketball, winning eight national championships. Although Holly Warlick’s and Harper’s tenures would be considered successes for most programs, both were fired by Tennessee.

Caldwell wants expectations to be high. She wants to be held to a high standard, and at Tennessee, that standard is Pat Summitt.

“Pat Summitt changed the game of basketball, and wouldn’t she love to see where the game is now?” Cald-

Kim Caldwell is introduced as new head coach of the Lady Vols at Ray and Lucy Hand North Digital Studio. Tuesday, April 9, 2024. Parker Phegley / The Daily Beacon

well said. “I will never be Pat Summitt. Nobody can, but I will strive every day to be somebody that she would be proud of.”

Hire moves away from Lady Vols connections Tennessee’s previous two hires, Warlick and Harper, both played for Tennessee. Although some of Tennessee’s candidates did play for the Lady Vols, others, such as Caldwell, did not.

“That would be one of the things we would consider,” White said. “Did we have a candidate pool restricted to only former players? No. But we also weren’t averse to hiring a player. It’s just one of a whole bunch of characteristics.”

Caldwell only has one season of Division I basketball experience. It was very successful, as were her seven seasons at Glenville State, a Division II program. Caldwell has won at every program, and she has an overall winning percentage of .875.

Although more experience would have made White more confident in his decision, he realized he needed to

act when he did.

“I needed to see that it could happen at the Division I level,” White said. “Obviously, you’d rather have a little more of a sample size, but if you didn’t hire her this time, somebody else is going to. I think she’s going to be one of the best basketball coaches in the country.”

Throughout his career, White has made hires that don’t have major experience. When he came to Tennessee, he brought Josh Heupel with him from UCF. At Buffalo, he hired Nate Oats, who recently brought Alabama men’s basketball to a Final Four appearance.

As athletic director, White tries to move past what others think about a coach, instead trying to find something special.

“I think it’s my job to evaluate deeper than that,” White said. “Coaches become brands of themselves, and sometimes it’s because they’re a high-level player somewhere. Sometimes it’s because they’ve had success at a high-level program, and we can’t fall in love with just that brand. It’s my job to see a little more deeper into that with the substance.”

Find Your Spot on Rocky Top!

Interfraternity Council

Registration Opens: May 1*

Recruitment: Aug. 13-18

Multicultural Greek Council

Meet the Greeks: Aug 21

MGC Meet and Greet: Aug 26

National Pan-Hellenic Council

Meet the Greeks: Aug 21

Misconceptions & Stereotypes: Aug. 28

Panhellenic Council

Registration Opens: May 1*

Recruitment: Aug 12-18

*Priority registration guarantees early move-in for Potential New Members (PNMs) living on campus

Late registration will not have guaranteed early move-in for University Housing Early move-in runs from Aug. 11-13 depending on council.

L e a r n m o r e , r e g i s t e r

f o r r e c r u i t m e n t , a n d

R S V P f o r e v e n t s !

A look back at men’s basketball monumental season

ALEX SARKIS 2023-24 Staff Writer

The Vols won the SEC regular season championship for the sixth time in program history. They carried the success of the regular season into a deep run in the NCAA Tournament, making only their second Elite Eight in school history — the first under Barnes. They boasted one of the best players in the country and SEC Player of the Year, Dalton Knecht.

Through all of this success, the season featured numerous historic achievements and memorable moments.

Here are some of the highlights from the Vols’ historic season.

Knecht rules the floor

Tennessee fans surely didn’t expect the outstanding level of production they would be getting in the Northern Colorado graduate transfer.

It only took Knecht one game to introduce himself to the nation. In a pre-season charity exhibition against No. 4 Michigan State, the 6-foot-6 guard streaked across half-court, maneuvered around a Spartan defender with a behind-the-back crossover and proceeded to unleash a one-handed slam in devastating fashion.

“I just remember (Jahmai Mashack) got a great block on the other end and I grabbed it,” Knecht said. “I put it behind my back against somebody and then just went up to dunk it on somebody. I don’t know what was really going through my head — I was more locked in to actually knowing what I just did. It was a real cool experience.”

This was only the beginning of a historic and magical season for the superstar.

The second installment of the Knecht saga came in a regular season trip to Chapel Hill to take on a tough No. 17 North Carolina team. Knecht tallied 37 points, tied for the most ever by a visiting player at the Dean E. Smith Center. His effort wasn’t enough to carry the Vols to a win, but it set the pace for Knecht’s scoring success throughout the rest of the year.

Knecht would dominate in SEC play, catching fire in a 36-point performance against Georgia, followed up by a 39-point game just three days later against Florida. With these totals, he became the first SEC player since 1991 to post back-to-back 35-point games. The last player to do it prior was LSU’s Shaquille O’Neal.

In what is likely his best all-around performance of the season, the fifth-year senior dominated in a win against No. 11 Auburn with a 39-point showing, despite being double- and even triple-teamed at times. He also tallied a season-high three steals and 10 points at the charity stripe.

To cap off the regular season, Knecht posted a career-high 40 points against rival No. 15 Kentucky in his last home game at Food City Center, the first time a Vol has accomplished the feat at home in 34 years.

The magic didn’t stop for Knecht in the NCAA Tournament as he continued to put up big numbers. Most notably, in the Elite Eight loss to one-seeded Purdue, the guard produced his program-best eighth 35-point game with 37 points.

Knecht was promptly named SEC Player of the Year and a unanimous First-Team All American by numerous media outlets. His lone season at Tennessee will go down as one of the best in school history and all of college

Josiah-Jordan James (30) and Dalton Knecht (3) embrace following their final collegiate game at Little Caesars Arena. Sunday, March 31, 2024. Cole Moore / The Daily Beacon

basketball.

“He’s only getting started,” head coach Rick Barnes said. “He’s what I would call a flamethrower. He gets going. He gets his shot off — you’re not going to affect him with it. He loves the game, he works at it and it’s going to be fun going forward to see how much he improves.”

Veterans lead the way

The Vols were fortunate to have an experienced group of weathered talent to set an example.

Including Knecht, Tennessee featured fifth-year playmaker Santiago Vescovi, and 6-foot-7 guard Josiah-Jordan James as part of its everyday starting five. Joining them was SEC Defensive Player of the Year Zakai Zeigler and fellow SEC All-Defensive team honoree Jonas Aidoo.

Time and time again, whether it be an all-out defensive stand or a run of scoring, these veterans sparked many of what would become Tennessee’s 27 wins.

“It’s even harder to put in the words the joy and the happiness I’ve gotten from being around this team, this university for the past five years,” James said. “These guys mean so much to me, and — I can’t really describe it — I love them so much.”

In what might be their best team game of the season, the Vols earned a hard-fought 103-92 win against No. 10 Kentucky at Rupp Arena. Zeigler and James led the way with 26 points each, but five Vols found themselves in double-digits by the end of the night. Defensively, Tobe Awaka and Jahmai Mashack contributed a strong presence, as was customary throughout the season. It was a complete effort that showed what a Tennessee team firing on all cylinders was capable of.

Down the stretch, the Vols found themselves with a tough road stretch to close out the regular season. With wins over No. 14 Alabama and No. 17 South Carolina, Tennessee officially became regular season kings of the SEC.

The two-seeded Vols’ run to the Elite Eight consisted of wins over St. Peter’s, Texas and Creighton. Tennessee made its first appearance in the regional final for the first

time since 2010 and fell in a physical, hard-fought battle against Purdue. By no means did this loss characterize the magical season.

Barnes spoke glowingly of his players all season long and grew a connection with each and every one of them that certainly contributed to the success of the team.

“I’m just thankful that God brought these guys into my life,” Barnes said. “I truly have enjoyed going to practice with them every day, and even days where they maybe weren’t at their best and I would get after them a little bit, they responded. We got a special group of guys. That’s what makes it so hard when it ends because you just wanted so much more for them.”

What’s to come

The success of the past season will bring increased expectation and attention to Tennessee for the 2024-25 season.

With what will likely be a very different roster taking the floor at Food City Center next fall, fan interest will be at an extreme high in hopes of chasing another national title.

Renovations for the arena will also be underway in the coming years, prioritizing an enhanced fan experience with a new video board and various club amenities. The university hopes to make the facility among the best in college basketball.

An enhanced atmosphere will also be an ideal environment to welcome new recruits, an essential piece of modern college athletics. The future of Tennessee basketball looks to be in good hands.

“You think about football uses basketball during a recruiting period to bring kids into Thomson-Boling Arena to see it,” Barnes said. “You feel the electricity. You feel the spirit. You feel what Tennessee is about. Recruiting is a lifeblood and everybody knows that. This only enhances the experience that people will feel when they come in here, and it’s exciting.”

Names to watch for Lady Vols, Vols in the Olympics

CALEB JARREAU

2023-2025 Sports Editor

With the summer bringing the 2024 Olympics, many Vols and Lady Vols will compete and represent their home countries.

Here’s a look at some names to watch for this summer in the Olympics.

Swimming and diving

Tennessee swimming and diving has a rich history in the Olympic Games. Since 1972, 42 individuals that have come through Tennessee swimming and diving have competed in the Olympics.

Jordan Crooks, Cayman Islands

Jordan Crooks has become one of the most decorated swimmers in Tennessee program history since arriving in 2021 and is the reigning SEC Swimmer of the Year.

Crooks is already qualified for the men’s 50 and 100 freestyle in the Olympics, holding personal bests of 21.73 and 47.71, respectively.

The George Town, Cayman Islands, native was the first swimmer from the Cayman Islands to ever win a World Championships medal. He now seeks to become the first person from the Cayman Islands to win an Olympic medal.

Mona McSharry, Ireland

Mona McSharry competed in the 2020 Olympic Games, finishing eighth in the women’s 100 breaststroke and 20th in the 200 breast. She holds five medals on the international stage during her career.

McSharry has set six Irish national records and three Lady Vol records. Her personal bests include a 30.29 in the 50 breast, 1:05.55 in the 100 breast and 2:24.50 in the 200 breast.

Ellen Walshe, Ireland

Ellen Walshe competed for the Irish in the 2020 Olympics when she competed in the women’s 100 butterfly and the 200 individual medley. She boasts a per-

sonal-best time of 57.96 in the 100 fly and 2:10.92 in the 200 IM.

While at Tennessee, she was the 2022 SEC Female Co-Swimmer of the Year, Female Freshman of the Year and won the Commissioner’s Trophy in addition to her four SEC Championships and seven All-American certificates.

Track and field

Tennessee track and field has had 65 Olympians, sending a competitor to all of the games since 1964. Vols and Lady Vols have earned 18 medals at the Olympics, with 10 of those being gold.

Jacious Sears, USA

Jacious Sears has taken the college track and field scene by storm during the 2023-24 season. She owns the Tennessee school record in the women’s 100-meter after running a 10.77. It is also the second-fastest time in NCAA history.

The runs in the 4x100 as well for the Lady Vols and has clocked in a time of 22.45 in the 200-meter dash on the outdoor circuit.

Joella Lloyd, Antigua and Barbuda

Joella Lloyd competed in the 2020 Olympics for Antigua and Barbuda and will look to find success in the 2024 Olympics. Lloyd holds a 22.66 women’s 200-meter personal-best time and a personal-best time of 11.08 in the 100-meter.

Lloyd earned 2022 First Team All-American honors from U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association for the 200-meter and Second Team honors for the 100-meter.

Clement Ducos, France

Clement Ducos will have the chance to compete. The sprinter achieved a new personal record in the men’s 400-meter with a 46.79 in the UCF Black and Gold Invite. He picked up a personal-best time of 48.26 in the 400-meter hurdles at the Tom Jones Invitational.

Ducos also ran in the 4x100 relay where he placed third in the SEC indoors.

Jordan Crooks competes in a race against the University of Louisville at Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center. Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. Cole Moore / The Daily Beacon

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