10222025_FINALPAPER

‘THEY

SOLD US DOWN THE RIVER’

Homecoming to lose traditional student organization ACE amid fallout with CSE, pg.2

EDITORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Caden Dyer

MANAGING EDITOR: Ansley Graves

COPY CHIEF: Harper Brabson

NEWS EDITOR: Patrick Busch

ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR: Emma Caskill

SPORTS EDITOR: Trevor McGee

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR: Alex Sarkis

OPINIONS EDITOR: Natalie Dripchak

PHOTO EDITOR: Jackson Clavier

DESIGN EDITOR: Lindsay Favre

ENGAGEMENT EDITOR: Sarah Portanka

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT EDITOR: Sophie Mehta

COVER DESIGN: Lindsay Favre, Jackson Clavier

PAGE DESIGNERS: Emma Fingeret, Ashley Cammarota, Renee Allen, Erin Higney, SaraJane Weber, Ava Balducci, Ava Edwards, Kate Wims

ADVERTISING/PRODUCTION

ADVERTISING MANAGER: Abigail Cheslock

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE: Joe Slott

CONTACTS

TO REPORT A NEWS ITEM OR SUBMIT A PRESS RELEASE, please email editorinchief@utdailybeacon.com or call (865) 974-2348

TO PLACE AN AD, please email admanager@utk.edu.

LETTERS POLICY: Letters to the Editor must be exclusive to The Daily Beacon and cannot have been submitted to or published by other media. Letters should not exceed 400 words and can be edited or shortened for space. Letters can also be edited for grammar and typographical errors, and Letters that contain excessive grammatical errors can be rejected for this reason. Anonymous Letters will not be published. Authors should include their full name, mailing address, city of residence, phone number and e-mail address for verification purposes. Letters submitted without this information will not be published. The preferred method to submit a Letter to the Editor is to email the Editor-in-Chief.

CORRECTIONS POLICY: It is the Daily Beacon’s policy to quickly correct any factual errors and clarify any potentially misleading information. Errors brought to our attention by readers or staff members will be corrected and printed on page two of our publication. To report an error please send as much information as possible about where and when the error occurred to managingeditor@ utdailybeacon.com, or call our newsroom at (865) 974-5206.

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

‘They sold us down the river’ Homecoming to lose traditional student organization ACE amid fallout with CSE

CADEN DYER Editor-in-Chief

EMILY HURST Managing Editor Spring ‘26

On April 29, an impromptu meeting in Strong Hall set off a chain reaction of confusion, change and outrage.

As the registered student organization All Campus Events, affectionately called ACE, prepared to hold its third and final event of the year, they received an obscure message from their advisor Brad Ward.

“Hi ACE,” the message read. “I hope you are doing well. We need to have an impromptu meeting tonight if at all possible. … Sorry to sound super cryptic, we’ve just had a couple of significant things come down from above that we need to discuss. It is important to be there if you can.”

According to ACE members, ACE and certain members of the Center for Student Engagement met that night. By the end of the meeting, ACE had disbanded from the center, thus losing the majority of their funds. The future of ACE’s role in UT Homecoming was up in the air. Students were left with far more questions than answers.

“Every single person was blindsided,” ACE President Kylie Burke said.

A legacy of tradition

According to members, ACE is one of the longest standing student organizations on campus, having been around since the early 1900s. Historically, it has run three major UT traditions: Homecoming, Carnicus and All Sing. Participation in these events gives student organizations eligibility to win the ACE Cup, a culmination of hard work and school spirit.

According to VolLink, ACE’s mission is to “provide fun, safe and inclusive events to foster the competitive and fun loving spirits of our participants and keep some of the most longstanding UT traditions alive and prosperous.”

At the core of ACE’s existence is tradition, and it’s been this way for a very long time, according to Burke.

“We market ourselves as being a traditions-based organization because

those three events are the three longest standing on campus,” Burke said. “And we have always prided ourselves on that it’s very much a privilege to be a part of.”

Planning and executing such large events takes money, and Burke said ACE has been used to raising funds independently, mainly through percentage nights and alumni donations. Student organizations also paid registration fees to participate in the three key events.

Joining forces

with CSE

Since 2022, ACE members claim the center as well as the university began working to get more involved with ACE’s Homecoming responsibilities, beginning by telling ACE to not charge registration fees.

The center helped fund Homecoming in 2022, 2023 and 2024, according to ACE members.

As time went on, the center “required strings attached, including changing the verbiage for how ACE leads Homecoming events,” according to Jacob Maples, ACE director for Homecoming 2023.

Maples said he “saw the writing on the wall” with the center and “tried to fend them off” during his time running ACE.

Burke said that when the center approached ACE, it promised additional funding and wider marketing for ACE events across campus. When 2024 Homecoming came around, the center worked even more closely with ACE.

“A lot of things were taken care of for us,” Burke said. “We had this giant hot dog eating competition. … That event was super expensive, but a lot of things that we couldn’t really do on our own got taken care of for us (because we had joined the center).”

They said some of the center’s changes seemed more like growing pains.

“We weren’t allowed to put our name on things,” Burke said.

Because it was now partially funded through the center, ACE said they had to take a back seat when it came to receiving credit for the event, and were now required to use the phrase “Hosted by the Center for Student Engagement with assistance from ACE” instead.

This came as a surprise, ACE members say, because they hadn’t been informed of these requirements before joining the

center.

“(It was) kind of BS because all they did was help with the funding and if you know anything about Homecoming, I probably put in close to 150-200 hours of work for that,” Burke said.

Burke said the center instructed them to make further changes concerning marketing.

ACE has their own public relations chair, a student responsible for assisting with publicity, running social media accounts and designing graphics for sponsored events. With the center’s involvement, however, ACE says it was no longer allowed to have creative control over Homecoming. Graphics, colors and social media fell under the direction of the center now.

“Anything that we posted on our own personal Instagram had to get approved by the university,” Burke said. She explained that their color scheme became limited to orange, gray and white, and the PR team couldn’t create their own graphics.

“All we kept being told was that Homecoming is too big,” Burke said. “‘It’s too big for you guys to handle.’ Even though we had done that for the past 100 years without their assistance, without a problem.”

“I’ve been a high-level decision maker in six ACE events, and (the model that the center proposes) is not gonna work,” Maples said. “The model that we had, while imperfect and still has struggles that we were constantly improving, it worked. It worked well, and it kept the aspect that I think people love so much about ACE — and that’s the fact that it’s student-led.”

The center’s attitude appeared to extend only to Homecoming, because when All Sing rolled around in February 2025, the restrictions were lifted, according to ACE.

“We did all of our work on our own for that one,” Burke said.

At a crossroads

Initially unconcerned when she received Ward’s message to the ACE team in April, Burke felt unprepared for the drama that unfolded.

Why UT’s supply chain program ranks top 3 for 2026

JERIMIAH SAGUIN Contributor

Hannah Clark, president of Tennessee Association of Supply Chain, wants prospective supply chain management students to know one thing first.

“You cannot fail. You will not, cannot fail,” Clark said.

Last month, U.S. News ranked the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s undergraduate supply chain management program third-best in the country for 2026. It’s the sixth year in a row that UT’s program placed in U.S. News’ top five.

Students and faculty say that the program’s industry partnerships, professional development and supportive community among its nearly 1,500 undergraduates contribute to its sustained, prestigious success. Several also said the program’s goals are bigger than a high national ranking.

Clark, a senior supply chain management major with a concentration in business analytics, pointed to UT’s SCM program requirement that every student — with rare exceptions — complete an internship of at least 150 hours in less than six months. Clark said this requirement sets students up immediately for success and can lead to job offers.

Sara Hsu, a clinical associate professor serving both the undergraduate and master’s supply chain management programs, highlighted the importance of the SCM program’s partnerships with industry employers.

“We have really strong relationships

with our industry partners, and that’s really unique amongst supply chain management programs,” Hsu said.

“We actually talk to our counterparts in industry and ask them what they would like to see in courses, we make sure that the material we use is realistic and reflects real concepts that students will need to understand in daily life,” Hsu added.

Another professional aspect Hsu said makes the SCM program stand apart is its active recruiting of industry employers for internships and helping place students in jobs after graduation.

To emphasize the supportive network the SCM program provides, Hsu highlighted the experience of first-generation college students.

“I have had first-generation students who have struggled with the college experience because their family members haven’t been to college previously,” Hsu said, “but because we have such a strong support system, we have gotten those students to succeed in our classes and obtain well-paying jobs after, which is a huge milestone not only for the students but for their families.”

This year, there are 27 first-generation college students enrolled in the supply chain management program, according to the UT Fact Book.

Of supply chain management undergraduates, 50.3% are from out-of-state, including Samuel Averill, a sophomore supply chain management major with a concentration in data analytics.

Averill said he appreciates the oppor-

tunities he’s had to meet with companies such as Exxon Mobil and NASA and to travel for on-site visits through the supply chain management program.

“It’s just really cool as a freshman to have those experiences and to be able to talk to those companies, talk to those recruiters, something I was very scared of, but something I’m forever thankful for, because it’s set me up with an internship these last two years,” Averill said.

Every Friday morning before dawn, a group of supply chain management students and a professor play pickleball at the courts. As the sun rises, they’re already finishing up: back to school, back to the

world, and back to shaping the future.

This Friday, the dozen or so gathered included Hartley Barnett, a junior supply chain management major with an international business concentration, who sprained her ankle three weeks ago while taking a risky step to keep a ball in play.

She’s here just to watch. She says the risky maneuver and the resulting pain were worth the chance to compete and enjoy being in the community.

“It’s kind of a pain in the moment, but I’m glad that I came and I’m glad I’m OK,” Barnett said. “I wouldn’t go back and undo it.”

Read the full story at utdailybeacon.com

Faculty Senate approves bylaw changes removing ‘Diversity and Inclusion’ language, highlights other social media, immigration concerns

OLIVIA LEE Staff Writer

The Faculty Senate met Monday afternoon to discuss a range of current issues and concerns facing faculty. Here’s a quick summary of the meeting outcomes. For the full story, visit utdailybeacon.com.

Bylaw changes

The senate approved two changes to the Faculty Senate Bylaws.

The first change was to Article V of the bylaws, which outlines the bylaw amendment process. Currently, all amendments to the bylaws must be proposed, reviewed for at least 28 days and approved by twothirds of voting members in order to take effect.

The senate voted to add a paragraph to Article V allowing the executive council to amend bylaws without a review period and without senate vote, if the bylaw change does not impact the substance of the by-

laws, like changing job titles, building and committee names or outdated language.

Sen. Jason Brown and Sen. Matthew Pamental of the senate’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee proposed a name change to the committee, renaming it the Access and Engagement Committee. The change comes as a response to Tennessee’s new House Bill 923, the “Dismantling DEI Departments Act,” which prohibits certain public entities from maintaining or authorizing departments that are perceived to promote DEI.

The senate approved the name change, bringing the committee to align with the university’s Division of Access and Engagement, Student Government Association’s Undergraduate Senate and other university organizations that have undergone the same name change.

Faculty social media guidelines

Charles Noble, president of the senate, notified senators that the Faculty Affairs

Committee and senate leadership were drafting faculty social media guidelines, prompting backlash from some senators at the meeting.

“I think the law is pretty clear that, in fact, we have a right to say what we want as a private citizen,” Sen. Michael Gilchrist, associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, said to Noble. “The state has a law saying that we’re allowed to do that, and the faculty handbook says that there’s a separation between the two.”

The drafting of the guidelines comes after controversy over UT professor Tamar Shirinian, who is facing termination due to an online comment made about the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

International students and faculty William Vittetoe, director of UT’s International Student and Scholar Services, spoke to the senate about international student and employee processing with

changing immigration and visa regulations in mind, specifically President Trump’s Sept. 19 proclamation, which went into effect on Sept. 21.

“The language does not specifically target higher education. It is very much focused on the tech sector,” Vittetoe said. “That said, it absolutely impacts us.”

The proclamation established a $100,000 fee for H1-B petitions filed on or after Sept. 21. Vittetoe says the department plans to ask for exemptions for any required fees on the grounds that employing faculty for the purpose of education is in the national interest. However, if the petition is denied, Vittetoe said UT does not intend to pay the fee.

International students applying to UT, Vittetoe said, will have their university applications processed, apply for a visa and have their admission deferred for a year before coming to campus due to backlogs in the visa process in certain countries.

‘This is noT going To break me’

How graduate student Klara Dolin finds strength in advocating for her late brother’s corrupt investigation

ANSLEY GRAVES Managing Editor

On the night of Dec. 18, 2022, Klara Dolin received a call from her father that changed her life forever.

Klara’s brother, Conor Dolin, was just 15 years old when he was killed in a car accident in Knoxville, Tennessee, due to what is believed to be reckless driving by another teen.

Klara was 22 and in her second year of nursing school at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga when she lost her younger brother.

“I was working my butt off to get where I wanted to go,” she says. “I only had two semesters (of undergrad) left.”

She returned to school almost three weeks later, but the details of Conor’s death are still unclear to the Dolin family.

“Basically, it all started to spiral from there,” Klara says.

Becoming vigilantes

On the night of the accident, Klara’s family never received a next of kin call, despite claims there was effort made to inform the family.

“We didn’t know the basic details for a long time — what kind of car it was, where they were, who, anything, nothing. Me and my mom went down to the sheriff’s office and we’re like, ‘Is anyone ever gonna talk to us about this?’” Klara said.

When they still had not received crucial details that explained Conor’s death almost four months later, Klara says that her family began growing frustrated and impatient.

“We were told to expect a call from Sargent Scott DeArmond,” Klara said. DeArmond was a patrol and crash reconstruction officer at KCSO who assisted in Conor’s case. They were told that there was no drugs or alcohol involved, no excessive speeding occurred and that this incident was deemed a ‘freak accident,’ according

to Klara.

Klara says that she and her family knew from the beginning that there was something more than what they were being told, and that they refused to accept it.

The Dolin family obtained the initial crash report, where Klara pointed out numerous inconsistencies.

“The crash report was wrong and incomplete,” Klara said. “There were no citations, no tickets, no points on the license, no interviews, no statements, nothing. … They didn’t do anything. So we said screw this.”

Klara and her mother began contacting every person they thought of who would be able to listen to their story in hopes of providing guidance. Details and an updated timeline of their entire ongoing investigation are outlined in the Knoxville News Sentinel by Tyler Whetstone.

Grieving for answers

Almost 3 years later, Klara and her family are still actively seeking justice for Conor.

“Conor was the victim of a crime, so we have to treat it like that,” Klara said.

According to Klara, the goal of all of the investigative work done by her and her mother is not just to put someone behind bars. She said that this is about advocating for Conor.

“They treated him like he was a squirrel on the side of the road. … I just think they (two other passengers) should have to be made to sit across from us, and tell us what the hell happened, at the very least,” Klara said.

While strides have been made in their investigation, Klara said that they have seemingly been left with one final conclusion: The lack of investigation for Conor was wrongful and preventable.

In April of 2025, Klara and her family sat down with Lieutenant Chris Allison, who then explained the findings of the internal investigation requested by the family.

Allison admitted that the Knox

County sheriff’s office dropped the ball.

“We didn’t do a proper investigation for your son,” Allison said.

Klara says the reason her family has so strongly tried to pursue further investigation is because they believe nothing would ever happen otherwise.

“There was never going to be accountability, no one was going to have to answer to this,” Klara said. “At the end of the day, Knoxville is a big place, but not that big of a place. We go to work, we go to school, we hang out with our friends, we live our lives … If they are doing this to us they are doing it to other people.”

Doing it for Conor

Now 25, Klara is a grad student in the Doctorate of Nursing Practice within the hybrid program at UT, set to graduate in May 2027.

“Starting the online program here, hybrid, I really appreciate that,” Klara said. “If I had to go in person for everything, there would be no way.”

Klara says that her new normal can feel “isolating,” as she feels like she has “taken on a whole other full time job.”

“When I am in class, I never know what’s going to happen. Is there going to be a call I get, some kind of, I don’t know, just something that happens,” Klara said. “It’s weird and isolating to go through something like that, not only because you have to process it, but because you don’t even have the details to process the information.”

Today, Klara works at the crisis stabilization unit at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital with the inpatient program, where she loves working with kids.

“I want to be able to do therapy and (medicine) management, and help kids who go through something like this — with them struggling as well.”

She says that her unique perspective from the situation her family experienced is something she can utilize from a professional standpoint.

“(I want to) help kids with their

mental health. This degree will set me up to be able to do that. It can be hard, but I am glad to be in grad school here,” Klara said. “It will help me reach my end goal.”

This is not going to break me. This is not going to break my family and we are not going to stop talking about it. This is the life I live — we — we live this life every single day. I carry this experience with me through the perspective I have been given every day.”

Klara Dolin Graduate nursing student

Klara said her end goal is to have a private practice of her own, where she can see children experiencing crises and develop relationships with them.

When asked about one thing she would want the world to know about her, Klara said, “This is not going to break me. This is not going to break my family and we are not going to stop talking about it. This is the life I live — we — we live this life every single day. I carry this experience with me through the perspective I have been given every day.”

Klara said that she remembers her brother Conor as someone who had the most character out of anyone she had ever met.

She reflected on Conor’s achievements, like being an amateur boxer and STEM academy acceptee.

“Conor was a badass. He got into that ring and he would fight grown men … He was inspiring. He was a huge motivation for me and he is still a huge motivation for me now to do all of this because he deserves it.

“Thats what I want people to know, is that he deserves this. We deserve this. And we are not going to stop.”

According to Burke, the center presented ACE with two options in that meeting.

The first option: Combine with the Campus Events Board and become an entirely new organization called the Student Programming Team. Within this deal, they could still keep the leadership of Homecoming, All Sing and Carnicus, but they would have to plan these events alongside the members of what was previously CEB. The organization ACE, as it currently stood, would no longer exist.

The other option: Secede from the center entirely, losing all funding attained through that partnership. They would remain ACE, but they would also lose the years-long tradition of planning and executing Homecoming.

Burke said ACE did not have any prior warning of this ultimatum, and that she has posed the question, “Why does the center just get to take Homecoming?”

“They (didn’t) really give me an answer other than, ‘You guys can’t handle it.’ They just say it’s too big of a thing across campus,” Burke said.

State funding laws

The ultimatum ACE faced did not happen in a vacuum.

Maples recalls that during the center’s interactions with ACE for Homecoming, he was told that it was not ACE’s event because of “some state law that they were always very unclear about.”

The center’s cited reasons for this sudden change in Homecoming leadership were attributed back to the policies adopted as a result of 2019 Sex Week, according to ACE members.

The Tennessee Comptroller released a report on UT’s annual Sex Week, a student-organized program that had long drawn scrutiny from lawmakers. In response, the university adopted a policy change: Student activity fees that support events like Sex Week could no longer be automatically allocated. Registered student organizations were no longer eligible to receive Student Policies and Services Fees, a semestral fee that students pay in order to access certain services and programs throughout the year. The shift had lasting ripple effects. Student organizations across campus now operate under tighter oversight, and funding streams once considered reliable can be reshaped or withdrawn by administrative decision. That means groups with historical autono-

my — like ACE — are now subject to greater scrutiny and control when it comes to how their events are funded and branded.

“(CSE) basically said that we were not allowed to say that we had ownership of the event,” Maples said.

An uncertain future

Where does Homecoming stand now?

According to a statement from UT, Homecoming is a collaborative event between students, athletics and alumni.

Student contributions through organizations like ACE have historically made up a large portion of UT’s biggest fall event.

ACE has traditionally created and controlled eight events that contribute toward competition over the ACE Cup, according to Burke. That list includes Chalk Ped Walkway, Smokey’s Howl, the banner drop from Neyland Stadium, parade floats, lawn display, tower of cans, a rotating sporting event and Rocky Top Dog.

ACE’s decision to keep its organization alive and leave the center meant they had to give up control over any Homecoming events.

“We 100% understand that we are not the ‘entirety’ of Homecoming, but we are a very great part that affects many student orgs, especially considering Greek life organizations,” Burke said.

ACE members told The Daily Beacon that the center had promised to honor ACE’s two homecoming chairs for the 2025 school year, because those elections had already taken place before the meeting in May.

The Daily Beacon reached out to the center and UT for more information regarding the chair-honoring process. The center has declined to further elaborate on a reason for any changes.

A public records request to the university sought emails and memorandum with the phrases “ACE,” “All Campus Events,” “Homecoming,” “Homecoming funding,” “Homecoming budget,” “Homecoming sponsorship” and “student fees” sent or received between April 15 and May 13, 2025, to and from administrative personnel, including Frank Cuevas, vice chancellor for the Division of Student Life, Brad Ward, Nick DeGuzeman, CSE assistant director, Ashleigh Moyer, CSE director, and Dianna Foulke, CSE associate director. The only email received was an unrelated email to Frank Cuevas about the American Center for Education.

The Daily Beacon also reached out to Cuevas and Ward for comment, but was referred to Director of Media and Internal Relations Kerry Gardner in each case. The Daily Beacon also reached out to Ashleigh Moyer and did not receive a reply.

The Beacon received this information from Gardner:

“Financial cuts were not made to student organizations. The Division of Student Life distributes funds to division departments, and departments may choose to collaborate with student groups in alignment with the Student Programs & Services fee policy.

ACE with funding were brought about by that desire.

“I think a lot of this was coming from the angle of, you know, wanting to appeal to the student body and give as many people access to these things as possible,” the past director said. “I think the intent was honorable. However … it was really hard to protect the integrity of an organization that had been around so long when these options are just kind of, like, thrust upon you, and you go from being completely student-led to now, almost being given an ultimatum, and it’s tricky.”

Maples said he believed that the center had been planning a takeover of Homecoming for quite some time.

I can guarantee you while this happened for ACE in an instant in terms of how it changed, this has been coming down the pipeline for a while, and they have been stringing us along, and as soon as we give them that one step in the door, they’ve taken advantage of that, and then able to, you know, move us around to the point where we’re at.”

-JACOB MAPLES Past ACE director

“Registered student organizations (RSOs) may continue to operate independently like other RSOs on campus.

“Programming boards may also continue as registered student organizations (RSOs) if they choose to do so.

“ACE is a registered student organization and operates independently of the university, just like other RSOs. Additionally, ACE and other RSOs are not eligible to receive SPSF funds per the Student Programs and Services Fee policy. This policy reflects the state law enacted in 2017.

“Homecoming is an administrative program led and funded by Alumni, Athletics, and Student Life. Interested students and student organizations may assist in the execution of specific events. If there’s confusion, those individuals should connect with the Division of Student Life for clarification.”

A past ACE director who wishes to remain anonymous spoke to the Beacon about their experiences with ACE in light of its relationship with the center. According to them, the center ultimately wanted to make ACE’s events more accessible to all students, mainly by eliminating registration fees, and their offers to help

“We got sold down the river,” Maples said. “Our conversations always came from a place (of) they wanted to be helpful. They wanted to be a resource for ACE. … I can guarantee you while this happened for ACE in an instant in terms of how it changed, this has been coming down the pipeline for a while, and they have been stringing us along, and as soon as we give them that one step in the door, they’ve taken advantage of that, and then able to, you know, move us around to the point where we’re at.

“CSE itself was always working an agenda, and we’re seeing their agenda play out right now. This was not a spur of the moment decision. This was a decision that was calculated and well thought out,” Maples said.

This fall, ACE will not participate in Homecoming, according to a statement by Burke in August. Burke also said that the role ACE was expected to play had been confusing up to that point.

A member of ACE who wishes to remain anonymous told the Beacon that even though ACE is not helping with Homecoming this year as an organization, some members will be helping as individual volunteers. The member also said there is a lot of uncertainty within the general ACE body as to what is truly going on.

“I just think it’s not really even supposed to be known that we’re helping with (Homecoming) this year at all,” the member said.

Maples does not have high hopes for Homecomings which do not include ACE.

“It will be a disaster. simply because they (the center) do not have the operational knowledge, and the ability to operationally execute, what it takes for Homecoming. There are very few people that know how to do it, and it’s ACE that knows how to do it,” Maples said.

UT pre-vet students address mental health crisis within pre-veterinary program, gaps in resources

SAMANTHA WHITLEY Staff Writer

Are you grabbing your own oxygen mask before helping others?

Andrew Lufkin, a UT veterinary social worker, used this question to point out one of the reasons why some veterinarians struggle with their mental health.

A CDC 2019 report stated that veterinarians have a higher suicide risk than the general population, with males 1.6 times more likely and 2.4 times for female veterinarians.

While great progress and attention continues on this matter, it still remains a critical topic, according to Aidan Smith, a senior studying animal science with a preveterinary concentration.

“When I first heard of this statistic, which was back in my sophomore year, it was honestly very shocking to hear. I had somewhat realistic understanding of the challenges this career presents, but I had never really thought that it would correlate to such a high suicide rate … that really demonstrates just how much of an issue this actually is,” Smith said.

Recently, the UT Pre-Vet Association added a mental wellness chair, Julia Cutchin, to support pre-vet students. According to Smith, Cutchin sets up wellness check-ins that also act as earned credit for students.

“I feel like the mental health resources provided are good ones but they’re not specifically targeted towards pre-veterinary students,” Smith said.

While UT communicates the availability of resources to student vets, as well as adding faculty like Cutchin for extra support, Smith feels the mental services could apply more to pre-vet students.

“Most people know about them but they’re not advertised anymore on the Ag campus than they would be on main campus or to other majors … but they’re usually the same ones that you can find anywhere else on campus. I view this more as a PVA action than an action done by UTK itself,” Smith said.

According to Smith, UT could implement specific coping mechanisms for prevet students and inform them on some of the mental health issues vets commonly face.

Smith stated she was not made aware of the “veterinary suicidal crisis” until halfway through college.

“I feel like bringing awareness to it earlier on and giving students coping skills and mechanisms to use earlier can help with that kind of issue and benefit us both in undergrad (and) veterinary school, as

well as in the professional world, once we graduate.”

Rebecca Hopkins, a freshman studying pre-vet, also said that UT could provide service animals for pre-vet students to bring emotional benefits.

“This might not be doable campus wide, but where my mom works they have a service dog that comes in to help lift spirits,” Hopkins said. “That might be good because I know a lot of students also had to leave their pets behind, so being able to pet and play with a dog might help boost their mental health.”

Despite alarmingly high suicide rates among veterinarians, the question remains — why is this not talked about enough?

According to Lufkin, the vet world holds a strong traditional sentiment in their methods and procedures and “that friction is probably more so at play than oversight” — yet, newer generations are more vocal about mental health in this field.

When vet students come to Lufkin for mental health support, he proposes baseline questions like how much sleep they obtain, their nutrition and physical activity or what their support looks like at home. Lufkin said the ultimate question is, “When do you feel like you’re not a vet student?”

“I think a big thing for a lot of these people is they get blinded into, ‘I’m just a vet student, I need to pay attention to me being a vet student,’ and they forget that they’re a sister or a mother or a wife or a boyfriend or a son or any of those things. We as people are much more than just one thing,” Lufkin said.

Smith believes that vet emotional wellbeing is overlooked because of the recent shift in perception of mental health as she said, “many people do not view mental health the same way physical health is viewed,” making it easier for individuals to internalize their struggles and avoid the conversation.

“While some causes are pervasive across multiple occupational fields, like burnout and general forms of stress, anxiety and depression, there are other contributing factors that are only found in the veterinary field that don’t often get addressed,” Smith said. “This can include things like compassion fatigue, euthanasia stress and burnout associated with factors unique to veterinary medicine.”

When vet students encounter ample stress levels, they struggle to explain their emotional turmoil because of the extra complicated components that the field encompasses. Lufkin said this additional context is difficult for outsiders to understand, including vet students’ parents.

Another key trigger is the course load.

and

According to Lufkin, first semesters are extremely tough, especially for out of state students. He says that it is a big jump academically, but also a huge mental transition.

Additionally, Lufkin says that since most vet students are perfectionists, they put a lot of pressure on themselves to obtain a perfect grade in their courses. While efficient grades help students succeed in their future careers, that’s not all that makes a sufficient veterinarian.

“I think a big thing that I talk a lot with didactic students is that external validation for that A (grade) is not going to make you a great doctor,” Lufkin said. “It’s also not going to be able to have you get the problem solving skills that you need to have in order to define what the problem is and be able to solve it. It’s kind of a difference between job performance and mastery.”

Although becoming a veterinarian demands great exertion and diligence, Hopkins believes the outcome is still rewarding.

“Honestly, the first time I shadowed at the clinic, there was a dog that was dying and had to be put down and it really made me question being a vet,” Hopkins said. “But, I continued to shadow there and seeing them try their hardest no matter what and most of the time being able to

help, made me really want to keep going to become a vet.”

In Lufkin’s experience as a social worker, he takes a holistic approach to his demanding career because he is still on staff.

“I still can’t believe that that happened, that I’m still here,” Lufkin said. “There’s a big, huge chunk that I’m just grateful to be able to be in this position. I’m humbled by the opportunity that students knock on my door and be like, ‘Hey, can I pour my guts out to you?’ And I’m like, ‘Yes, you can.’”

Hopkins said she takes breaks when she needs and focuses on one day at a time to not feel overwhelmed. Similarly, Smith plans her studies out in small fragments and pairs her favorite activities with studying to make it more enjoyable.

“This included listening to music and watching TV as I study … or ‘treating’ myself to some sort of reward after studying. I’ve also set a hard rule to never lose sleep over studying or homework. This not only forces me to prioritize my sleep and wellbeing but it also forces me to be more efficient with my time and prevents me from procrastinating as much,” Smith said.

If you are struggling with a mental health crisis, do not hesitate to contact 988 or the UT 24 hour helpline at 865974-HELP (4357).

Compact tying federal funds to campus policies spurs debate

REAGAN MURPHY Contributor

Earlier this month, President Trump and his administration extended an invitation to nine universities, both private and public, asking them to sign onto a compact that would prioritize federal funding to their institution.

The Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education was originally issued on Oct. 1. Sections of the compact committed institutions that signed off to shut down transgender individuals from playing collegiate sports, freeze tuition for five years and shut down organizations that could be seen as being hateful toward conservative ideologies.

Some specific language of the compact focused on “transforming or abolishing institutional units that purposefully punish, belittle, and even spark violence against conservative ideas,” as well as committing to “defining and otherwise interpreting ‘male,’ ‘female,’ ‘woman,’ and ‘man’ according to reproductive function and biological processes.”

In addition to comments on the biological composition of an individual, it includes wording that requires minimizing the number of international students admitted to 15%, with less than 5% of students being allowed from a singular nation.

Reports show that the University of Tennessee has upwards of 1,000 international students, with close to 80% composed of graduate students working towards their masters and PhD.

The University of Tennessee has not been approached with the compact and has not announced adoption of any of these policies. The nine original universities the contract was offered to had until midnight of Oct. 20 to sign.

Vanderbilt University and the University of Texas are the only institutions that have not outright rejected this compact. Instead, they expressed interest in signing, but have stated they would like more time to discuss it further with their administrative faculty.

Josh Dunn, the executive director of the Institute of American Civics, pointed out that the specific policies mentioned would make it extremely difficult for universities like UT to sign on as a whole.

“I mean I just don’t see how universities could enforce this,” Dunn said “Part of the open exchange of ideas is that you can say things that people who disagree with you could find belittling.”

According to Dunn, the verbiage of

the compact may make it difficult for universities to sign on, highlighting the importance of diversity of political thought.

“Most universities would say, ‘We want different views explored, debated and challenged,’” Dunn said. That commitment to open dialogue, he argued, may clash with certain enforcement mechanisms proposed in the compact.

“I can’t see how there could be a requirement forbidding belittling conservative ideas, no matter how one reads it,” Dunn said. “That seems like a straightforward violation of viewpoint neutrality. I don’t think that particular viewpoints can be immunized from criticism.”

Still, Dunn acknowledged that not all aspects of the compact may raise the same constitutional concerns.

“If some of the other provisions are read as prohibiting incitement to imminent lawless action, then they could potentially survive,” Dunn said. “However, incitement is already not protected so it’s not clear what doing that would accomplish.”

The Baker School and the Institute of American Civics push for civil discourse and engagement with others carrying different viewpoints. Organizations like Bridge and the Baker School Student Association allow for the discussion of politically charged topics in a civil, moderated setting.

Lindsie Rank, director of campus rights advocacy at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, believes that implementing this compact could restrict faculty and student opinions.

“There is this aspect of the compact that says that university employees have to refrain from actions or speech

related to politics — does that mean that faculty are not allowed to vote anymore?” Rank said.

Rank suggested that some universities’ administrations may be vying for prioritization of federal benefits, but made clear that there are no confirmed reports yet. These efforts may stem from concerns that universities will lose more funding, as reports have shown cuts ranging from $6.9 to $8.2 billion have already impacted education.

“Administrations are really freaked out that they’re going to be the next targets of federal administrations, so they’re acting in advance to fend off any criticism from the conservative side of the aisle,” Rank said.

Beyond administrative reactions, Rank pointed to a deeper issue in how speech is perceived.

“Speech that’s offensive isn’t violent in of itself, and I think we’ve seen this growing conflation on both the left and the right between speech and violence,” Rank said. “But saying, ‘I hate Americans’ isn’t incitement, burning the flag isn’t incitement.”

Nick Suttle, a sophomore public affairs major and vice president of UT’s Turning Point chapter, discussed how he believes the pact could ensure the protection of conservative individuals and speech.

“We should be able to have civil discourse, and if there is violence going on against conservative ideas, then that’s not really an institution that is promoting civic engagement,” Suttle said.

Madeline Rust, a freshman majoring in marketing who serves as the freshman representative for the College Democrats, expressed how she would be worried if the compact were implemented on campus.

“I feel like it will shut a lot of peo-

ple down and make them feel like they cannot speak their mind on things,” Rust said.

When asked why she thought the Trump administration didn’t include language protecting political beliefs other than conservative, she took a moment to think.

“He often radicalizes the left and makes them out to be evil and wicked and just flat out hateful,” Rust said.

Suttle heavily critiqued this viewpoint, instead advocating for the inclusivity it would bring of more conservative leaning students.

“This compact is bringing it to where we can have open discussions and not be treated differently. … Again, it’s bad when we have college campuses that are just solely liberal and these conservatives are being mistreated because they don’t have the right to fully discuss their ideas, and that’s just creating a culture that is liberal ideology,” Suttle said.

With major cuts to departments like the Institute of Agriculture, UT faculty have had to reassess how they want to allocate current funding and make priorities. The Institute of Agriculture alone lost over eight grants.

Rank pointed out that there are some enlightening ideas in the compact that could help to keep universities up to date on viewpoint diversity and civic discourse on campus, but said that it can’t be done through coercion.

“The trick is on how you address it, and … true change doesn’t happen through coercion. You know, Trump connecting federal funding to institution agreement with this compact really is a coercive measure, especially given the action that the administration has taken against … other institutions … (in) regard to their ability to bring international students in,” Rank said.

Dunn noted that, historically, funding has been tied to compliance with certain measures.

“The federal government has always used funding as a way to encourage, or force, even, behavior it desires out of colleges and universities, so there have always been strings attached,” Dunn said.

While the compact has sparked debate about free speech, academic freedom and political influence in higher education, its future remains uncertain and so does its potential impact on universities that choose to adopt it.

36

38

by Margie E. Burke

8 restaurants that fit your college budget

ARABELLA VILASI Contributor

It can be difficult to decide where to eat, especially when you’re on a budget. Whether you’re looking to grab a bite with some friends or an easy meal on the go, this list has got you covered, with a variety of cuisines.

Nama

The first Nama opened in downtown Knoxville in 2004, and it is still thriving. Nama is one of Knoxville’s go-to sushi spots, winning many accolades over the years. On Mondays and Thursdays, they offer half-priced sushi. From 4 p.m. to close, enjoy any of your favorites to-go from their half-priced menu.

Farmacy

Locally owned and operated, Farmacy provides southern comfort and a cozy atmosphere. They offer a unique variety of food choices and a happy hour every weekday. From 4-6 p.m., enjoy halfpriced appetizers, $3 tacos and $10 hot chicken.

K Brew

Did you know that K Brew has what they call “power hour?” Monday through Friday, from 5-6 p.m., they offer $1 cappuccinos, $1 small drip coffee and $1 bagels. You can even get a baker’s dozen for only $6 during this hour. This deal is a perfect boost for a late study session or to pick up a cheap breakfast for the following morning.

Sitar Indian Cuisine

Sitar Indian Cuisine hosts all-youcan-eat Northern Indian food for just $12.99 from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on weekdays. On weekends and holidays, the price is charged up to $14.99. Embrace the authentic taste and fill up on lunch, drinks and desserts. The restaurant also offers dinner service, with a separate menu and pricing.

The Hill

Located in the Fort, The Hill has specials for almost every day of the week. On Monday, enjoy a burger with fries for only $6.49. Make Tuesday a Taco Tuesday with $1 tacos and $1 chips and salsa. On Wednesday, indulge in

their award-winning wings for $0.75. Enjoy a sandwich and chips for $7.99 on Thursdays. End the week with their $8.99 fried fish and chips on Fridays. Enjoy one of these deals while catching up on sports.

Calhoun’s

Local to Tennessee, Calhoun’s offers a variety of food and drinks, coupled with a southern flair. Savor a burger and fries anytime on Monday starting at $7.50. This offer is only available at select Calhoun’s locations, including The Original, Bearden Hill, Turkey Creek and Maryville.

Victor’s Taco Shop Craving Mexican? Victor’s taco shop is a family-owned business with some great deals. Victor’s dream started in Arizona and made it all the way here to Tennessee. The shop offers a meal deal for only $7.99, and it is available any time! Enjoy 2 rolled tacos, 1 beef taco and a torta, alongside a medium drink. Their menu also offers plenty of other options at low prices.

Buffalo Wild Wings Free wings? Yes, please! Buffalo Wild Wings offers two BOGO deals each week. On Tuesdays, they offer BOGO traditional wings for dine-in orders. On Thursdays, they offer BOGO boneless wings for takeout and delivery orders placed through their platform. You must have a rewards account to retrieve these deals.

Hispanic Film Festival showing independent, cultural films during October

AUBREY HOLLAND Contributor

The Hispanic Film Festival is being hosted for the sixth year at the University of Tennessee’s campus. A new film will be shown every Wednesday in October at 6 p.m. in the Lindsay Young Auditorium at Hodges Library. The film series screens independent, award-winning films in Spanish with English subtitles. UT professors introduce the films as guest speakers, delivering short talks on the historical and cultural background of the films.

The festival’s organizer, Betsabé Navarro, is a Spanish professor and director of the elementary Spanish program at UT. She has been teaching at UT since 2018, and began organizing the film festival in 2019. Each of the five films is chosen from a catalog given to Navarro by a film distributor for the festival, with each telling a unique story.

“I try to include one film per country,” Navarro said. “Basically, the five films I always include in the lineup come from five different countries, just to avoid having five films from Mexico or five films from Chile. So, I try to select the films or nationality, so to speak.”

Each of the chosen films focuses on historical or cultural contents of the country it represents. The Hispanic Studies Program and the Latin American Studies Program both offer classes that focus on these aspects. Navarro wants the films to complement and connect to the contents of those courses in a way that the professors like.

Christian Chabman, a freshman studying Spanish, was drawn to the festival due to his professor offering extra credit, but became interested in bettering his Spanish from the films.

“I want to see Spanish used and try to understand them in conversation, like identifying words that I’ve learned and phrases, and then trying to work on my comprehension,” Chapman said. “It’s a good learning exercise.”

Though the movies are successful, award-winning films, Navarro understands that students are not used to their structure.

“Our students are not used to this kind of format of independent movies, which are normally slow paced with little dialogue, emphasis on landscape and photography,” Navarro said. “(That’s) the

reason why I normally select those films with a little bit more action. I am aware of the kinds of audience we have, and I need to connect with our students.”

Many students are attending the festival for extra credit in their courses, but Navarro believes the festival has a greater outreach.

“I’m pretty sure that the film festival goes beyond any extra few points that the students can get as extra credit,” Navarro said. “Some of them are really impacted by the stories we screen and after that they are genuinely interested in coming back and watching the rest of the films.”

Solange Muñoz, one of the guest speakers, gave a talk for the first film, “Machuca.” Muñoz lived in Chile for six years after she graduated college. She was inspired by her Spanish professor’s love for Chile, as well as by her own desire to become bilingual, to move there. Her professor was from Chile and had been impacted by the country’s 17-year dictatorship. Muñoz got to see what happened afterwards while she lived in Chile. “Machuca” is about this dictatorship.

“I was preparing something to really say, okay, how can I contextualize this

better so they (the students) have a better idea of what’s happening?” Muñoz said. “And hopefully, (they) walk out of here and maybe, you know, just think a little more about not just Chile, but also even what’s happening in the United States. And the connections that I see, not everyone will, but I see them.”

Navarro and Muñoz both want to create a positive impact with the festival. The festival is open to all UT faculty and students, as well as the wider community of Knoxville. Navarro is proud that the festival is happening on campus and that she is contributing to the cultural life of the university and its students. She hopes to continue organizing the festival in the future and that it will reach more people.

The Hispanic Film Festival is a great opportunity to learn more about other countries, peoples and cultures.

“It’s kind of my baby, you know what I mean?” Navarro said. “I created the festival from the beginning and I am proud of what it means for the people who normally come to see the movies.”

The film schedule can be found on the World Languages and Cultures website.

Pretty in pink: UT student blossoms as entrepreneur, empowering others through flowers

EMMA CASKILL Arts and Culture Editor

Angela Ramiscal, a freshman at UT studying finance, has always found joy in making arts and crafts.

For her parents’ anniversary last year, she made a floral arrangement. Now, she has her own company, Angelita Blooms LLC.

Angela Ramiscal’s inspiration throughout her entrepreneurial journey has always been her parents. Originally from the Philippines, her parents migrated to America looking to make a name for themselves. Angela Ramiscal’s father worked as a physical therapist before opening up his own gym, F.I.T., in New Jersey.

Seeing her father create his own success inspired Angela Ramiscal to do the same. With the encouragement of her family, friends and her dog Ziggy, she felt she had enough support to start Angelita Blooms.

Lawrence Ramiscal, Angela’s father, explained that a parent’s biggest worry is that their child’s first focus isn’t school. When it comes to his daughter, he said that this is not the case.

“I’m so proud that she can juggle this,” Lawrence Ramiscal said. “We’re very proud of her being able to make sure

that even though that plate is full, it’s not spilling out.”

What makes her business unique among other floral arrangements is the personability and hospitality. These two aspects Angela Ramiscal has incorporated into her business are something that she learned from her Filipino culture.

“Filipino culture is very personable and hospitable,” Lawrence Ramiscal said.

Each floral arrangement Angela Ramiscal designs is custom-made, accommodating their requests.

“There’s no one arrangement that she does the same,” Lawrence Ramiscal said.

Angela Ramiscal’s business focuses on three aspects — femininity, diversity and reliability. By incorporating these three aspects into her business, Angela Ramiscal finds that she can run a successful business that not only caters to her customers’ needs but also reflects her personal beliefs and experiences.

Growing up, Angela Ramiscal found herself indulging in femininity, but she found that others took this as a weakness and considered her less intelligent or superficial.

“Femininity doesn’t mean weakness,” Angela Ramiscal said. “A lot of people tend to associate the two, which is why it’s constantly important for me to show that just because I make pretty things or

have a pretty page, doesn’t mean I’m any less independent or powerful as a woman or a business owner.”

Diversity to Angela Ramiscal is a big part of her company. Being able to communicate with different communities allows her to grow her outreach while making her customers feel appreciated. Angela Ramiscal speaks three languages — English, Spanish and Filipino — allowing her to communicate with her customers on a personal level.

Diversity for Angela Ramiscal not only means being able to communicate with all of her customers, but also having diversity in her work.

“I try not to limit myself to paper arrangements or the same folding style every single time,” Angela Ramiscal said. “I try to work with new flowers or I try to work with new colors and things like that.”

When it comes to reliability, Angela Ramiscal wants her customers to feel comfortable when requesting a bouquet from beginning to end. Reliability to her also means being affordable.

“I don’t want anybody to feel like they can’t get something pretty if they don’t have a lot of money to pay for it,” Angela Ramiscal said. “I always just tell them, you give me your budget, and I will work with your idea and with what you have.”

Angela Ramiscal is in the process of incorporating a nonprofit branch, Blooming Bright, into her business in hopes of expanding her reach. Blooming Bright will allow her to give back to a community that has shown her an abundance of support throughout her entrepreneurial journey. Angelita Blooms LLC. operates fully online through social media. Order requests are taken through direct messages, where Angela Ramiscal will note specific requests while also bringing her own creativity into the arrangement. When a customer orders their first bouquet, a bracelet and charm are attached. After the first bouquet, a charm will be given to add to the bracelet.

“After you get three charms, you get a discount for your next purchase,” Angela Ramiscal said.

This one-of-a-kind aspect of her business creates loyalty with her customers. Lawrence Ramiscal explains that he notices his daughter’s loyal customers, seeing the same faces coming to pick up their bouquets.

Angela Ramiscal hopes that her business will encourage other students to go out and create something of their own.

“You never know until you try,” Angela Ramiscal said. “I would rather at least try than never know what would have happened.”

OPINION: College burnout: How cramming can lead to crashing

Is the cost of success our sanity? We’re approaching this stark reality, seeing dropout statistics and suffering students across the country. Students pay thousands of dollars, usually more, to receive an education that will ultimately gain us experience, opportunities and respect for the rest of our lives. The pressure to achieve academically is on and as profuse as ever.

The obligation to succeed as an undergraduate student is pushing a considerable number of young minds over the edge. College students are more than aware of the cost of sitting in a university lecture. We know the privilege of learning from the experts of the professions that we aspire to someday be a part of. Some would argue that this instills a feeling of fear within ourselves. Even if you are a strong student academically, there is far more being demanded than only this: College takes effective study habits, staying on top of the substantial workload, and a balance between school and our social lives to truly be successful.

The influx of Canvas notifications, along with professors claiming we should be studying 8-10 hours a week for their class alone, begins to add up. I find my-

self constantly cramming, whether it be staying up all night studying or allotting all of my free time in general to homework. While cramming feels necessary in the moment, as if it is the path to all A’s, this is extremely off base. As college students, we need to strive for a healthy balance between our schooling and selfcare, or else irreversible damage can be done.

Dropout rates are escalating as students feel the increasing need to keep up. According to Gallup, in 2024, 35% of college students nationally reported they had considered leaving their program in the past six months. Some cited the difficulty of the coursework and personal mental health issues as reasons for this consideration. This is a jarring statistic to face — how can we prevail and prevent the classic college burnout?

There has to be a middle ground. Somewhere between the frantic, panicked studying and a lack of initiative, there is harmony, something in which all university students should be striving towards.

On social media outlets, we get a glimpse of people’s academic and even career-centered highlight reels, but it isn’t always such smooth sailing. Students feel both proud and comfortable to post

OPINION: The illusion of connection

Now, as a senior, I am confident in saying that hookup culture is on the rise here on campus — and it’s not just a freshman thing. Across all years, it’s become “easier” for students to have situationships than to practice essential relationship skills like safety, open communication, and self-love.

National surveys even back this up— a 2023 American College Health Association study reported casual hookups in the past year. Still, nearly half said they actually wished they’d built a real emotional connection instead. We often act as if having control over a situation is empowering, but how much control do we actually have if we aren’t even honest with ourselves about what we truly want?

I see it in my peers all the time. Hookup culture can mask the feeling of freedom. No consequences and no strings attached. But is that really true? The truth is, most of us end up craving more. That’s why so many people pretend not to care — it’s way easier to act like something means nothing than to admit you’re actually hurting.

Somewhere along the way, our vulnerability started to feel embarrassing to us. We joke about how “catching feelings” is like a disease, but really, it’s the most human thing we can do. There is only so much we can push back our emotions before emptiness creeps in, and the quiet, lingering feeling of deserving

those exciting job acceptances and brag about their academic successes. While this is exhilarating, it tends to leave our peers insecure about their own progress, which can cause an entirely new source of internal pressure. Juggling important courses and a career search while comparing yourself to someone your age who has now “made it” is tough. As a college student, you are putting all of your effort, time and energy toward chasing this path to success. The cycle is exhausting.

You must take a stand for your own sake. To avoid crashing and burning, we must organize our time and balance our priorities. While it may seem like a minute detail, this could be the difference between graduation and the possibility of dropping out.

within college culture

something more.

Social media makes it easy to be detached, parties encourage it, and your peers pretend that they don’t care when they don’t get a text back. Apps like Tinder and Snapchat have normalized temporary, low-effort connections. Pew Research found that almost half of people under 30 use dating apps, but more than half of them say the experience leaves them feeling “disposable” or “burned out.”

Behind the chill attitude, many students feel lost, confused and lonely. The normalization of not having genuine feelings has stripped away the confidence on our campus.

Not only is it eroding our confidence on campus, but it’s also making real connections feel rare. There’s a difference between attention and affection, and many students have started to confuse the two. I’m not saying everyone needs to be in a relationship — college is definitely the time to grow, experiment, and figure yourself out. But there’s a big difference between being independent and being numb. Real connection — whether it’s romantic or platonic — should make you feel grounded, not disposable.

But how do we actively change this? The truth is, there’s no easy fix. Hookup culture isn’t just in college, but it’s tied to everyone in our generation. We grew up online, went through a pandemic and are used to every-

thing fast and filtered. We need to realize that with our generation of technology and easy access to anyone in the world, this will never disappear. That may be why real connections feel so intimidating.

We can, however, be more honest with ourselves and each other. Even UT’s Student Counseling Center has seen more students coming in just wanting to talk about loneliness and how to communicate better in relationships. That alone shows that people want real connection — we need to start admitting it. There isn’t a simple fix. Hookup culture isn’t just college life, but it’s how our generation connects now. So, slow down and get to know people. Change won’t come from avoiding hookup culture altogether but from being intentional. Avoiding authentic connections might seem like the safer route, but if we’re honest, it’s keeping us from the relationships we actually deserve.

and letters of

Tennessee volleyball plays free in contested match with Auburn

THEO COLLI Senior Staff Writer

Sophomore Paityn Chapman made a play in the second set of action that Lady Vols head coach Eve Rackham Watt credited as a “set-saving play,” despite it not appearing in the stat sheet postgame.

Tennessee volleyball persisted against a tough Auburn team that gave a fight for all three sets, sweeping the Tigers 3-0 and bouncing back into the win column.

The second set served as a pivotal point in the game as the Lady Vols trailed for a majority of the round before a late-set surge boosted them ahead.

“Paityn made a play in the second set that won’t go on the stat book, but it was probably set-saving,” Rackham Watt said. “The touch that she had when she was on one against their outside hitter.”

Chapman finished her day with just three kills on 18 attacks, but Rackham Watt was looking for an impact beyond the numbers, especially on the defensive side.

As a team, the Lady Vols outblocked Auburn nine to seven over three sets. Zoe Humphrey led the way with four assisted blocks.

“I didn’t think the block showed up the way it needed to against Florida,” Rackham Watt said. “And I think that was different

today. I thought they did a really nice job. Chelsea (Sutton) and Zoe did an excellent job.”

The ability to hold firm defensively against the SEC is something that the coaching staff has been hammering home to the team. And it proved in situations such as Sunday’s against Auburn, where a few blocks serve as the difference between a win and a loss, even during a sweep.

Each round finished just two points from

one another, allowing more reassurance to Rackham Watt and company that this conference isn’t a walk in the park.

Even with the competition, Sunday was an example of what it looks like when the Lady Vols play “freely” as a team, as both Rackham Watt and Sutton described postgame.

“We found more of a groove,” Sutton said. “We kind of like had more fun on the court. We started lightening the load a

little bit, and then we allowed ourselves to feel that lightness and then we got back to grounding it out again.”

If there was a moment that marked the switch, it was the second half of set two, which saw the Lady Vols earn their first lead of the set at the 20-19 mark before eventually winning 25-23.

“I told the team that we needed to start having a little bit of fun,” Rackham Watt said. “We’ve got to just kind of relax a little bit, and this is how we’re going to learn how to be great, coming back against a good team, being down on a set, learning how to win. They really just needed to settle in.”

In a game where it seemed not one single player out-worked the other on the stat sheet, there were still well-rounded performances from players like Sutton, Hayden Kubik and Mackenzie Plante that helped push the Lady Vols over the top on Sunday.

The Lady Vols look to continue to look for more fun on the court when it hits the road for a meeting against Alabama on Oct. 24.

“I think that just all around, keeping the vibes up on the court,” Sutton said. “We’re not all freaking out, ‘Oh my God, this is happening,’ We’re just like ‘This is fun, it’s a game, we’re here to play,’ and I think it allows us to be more creative.”

Tennessee football running back Star Thomas: ‘We lost ‘cause

MCGEE Sports Editor

Self-inflicted wounds.

Those are where Tennessee football points the fingers in its pair of losses to date. A recent three-score loss to Alabama in Bryant-Denny Stadium echoed the internal battles the Vols are fighting.

“It wasn’t nothing against Alabama, nothing against Georgia, but we know those games … We lost cause of us,” running back Star Thomas said.

Tennessee lost the game in the details. That is what head coach Josh Heupel alluded to. That is the same shared sentiment among the players as well.

The Vols committed 10 penalties on Saturday. It is tied for the most in a game this season — even with Georgia and Arkansas. That marks back-to-back games with double-digit penalty numbers.

It’s a common theme in conference games. Tennessee is averaging nine penalties per SEC conference, going for 71.5 yards per game. That is losing focus on the details.

“A couple of things with our alignments and/or catch points,” Heupel said. “And it’s what you’re doing every single day and

every drill. So you put all that together. When you have a penalty, it makes it tougher.”

Tougher, indeed.

Three of Tennessee’s penalties came pre-snap. That includes a false start on Tennessee’s second play of the game, setting the Vols back five yards after an eight-yard gain on first down. Joey Aguilar and the offense did not recover from the setback, and Tennessee opened the game with a three-and-out — setting Alabama up with a 91-yard drive to ensue.

Details were further lost in the execution. The obvious play to point to is Aguilar short-arming a pass that was a predetermined read with the throw-away option, leading to Alabama’s half-ending pick-six. But Tennessee still had a chance when it came out of the locker rooms.

The defense forced an Alabama threeand-out on the first possession, and the Vols went down and scored in four plays to make it a 10-point game. The defense followed by forcing a rare Crimson Tide turnover on the next possession, taking over near midfield.

An 18-yard Bishop run put Tennessee on the cusp of field goal range quickly. But as the offense got set after a first-down

loss of yardage, and Aguilar attempted to check the play, Sam Pendleton aired a snap into open grass — and the Vols incurred a seven-yard loss.

Again, Tennessee was lost and did not recover.

“A loss is only a loss when you don’t learn from it,” running back DeSean Bishop said.

“The two games we’ve lost last this year have been self-inflicted wounds, I believe, and it comes down to just the small details, man. And it comes down to, what do we want out of this? You know, how are we continuing to grow day in and day out and never get complacent with ourselves because every team in this league is — I mean, honestly, if you don’t prepare the way you do, it’s a losable game.”

Tennessee had the chance to correct its mistakes that arose in a loss against Georgia. Instead, the same mistakes came up.

That is what loses football games in a competitive conference. And that is what leaves the rest of the season in murky waters. Tennessee snuck into the playoff field a year ago with two losses, one of which came in late November.

The season is just past the midway

of us’

point, surpassing the Third Saturday in October, and the Vols have already tallied a pair of blemishes. The margin for error is slim, and another loss likely derails playoff potential.

It makes Tennessee’s road trip to Kentucky all the more crucial. But there’s a level of confidence that comes with mistakes that are controllable in-house.

“Overall, I feel like it bring a lot of confidence for us because we know, like after the game — right after the game — we know, like, the things that caused us to lose,” Thomas said.

Heupel’s road record sits at 8-10 in road SEC matchups during his tenure in Knoxville, coming with a 1-1 mark this season. There is criticism surrounding the inability to win big games away from home, but the lack of focus is not limited to road environments.

“Well, I don’t think we’ve played perfect at home either,” Heupel said. “I take you in there and watch the tape. There’s so many controllables that we control that can change the way a game’s played. And you also understand this game is never going to be perfect either.”

The climb back:

Leah Klurman’s return to pitch for Tennessee soccer The climb back:

TYLER EDMANDS Contributor

During a summer training session back home in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, redshirt junior defender Leah Klurman felt a sharp pain shoot down her right leg.

“I immediately knew something was seriously wrong,” Klurman said. “I could barely move my right leg.”

When she returned to Knoxville, doctors ordered an MRI, which revealed a completely blown-out disc in her lower back. The injury required surgery, as the disc was pressing on nerves in her lower back, limiting her movement.

“Multiple specialists told me surgery was unavoidable,” she said. “Hearing that was devastating.”

The diagnosis came just a week before her sophomore campaign, ending months of training and preparation Klurman had put in since the spring.

As a freshman, she had begun to carve out a role on the Lady Vols’ back line, appearing in six matches and logging 120 minutes, including SEC contests against Kentucky and South Carolina.

Though she had received injections to manage her lingering back pain during her freshman season, she had never experienced anything like this.

“I’d never had issues in high school,” Klurman said. “So to be told I needed surgery was heartbreaking.”

Her injury was one that the team had to monitor during her freshman season, head coach Joe Kirt said, before realizing it had become more serious.

“She was pushing to get herself into a great place, and it just went on her,” Kirt said. “We didn’t know what exactly it was going to look like, and then it got into a place where she just needed to step away and rest.”

The news marked the start of a sixmonth-long recovery process. Klurman underwent surgery that summer, beginning a long rehabilitation program that kept her off the field and away from her normal training.

“I broke down when I heard the news,” Klurman said.

Following the surgery, she had to relearn simple movements, from walking to tying her shoes.

“It was incredibly tough to accept,” Klurman said. “The hardest part of my

Leah Klurman (21) looks to pass the ball during a game against LSU at Regal Soccer Stadium. Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025.

David Smith / The Daily Beacon

rehab wasn’t just the physical recovery, it was the mental battle that came with it. Physically, I could handle the workouts and the pain, but staying patient and disciplined was the real challenge.”

Klurman’s roommate, senior midfielder Mac Midgley, said that Klurman’s attitude set an example for others in the recovery group.

It was a gracious mindset that allowed her to benefit from the misfortune, setting an example for her teammates.

“She was always about the team,” Midgley said. “I never heard her complaining, and it was never about her. She did a great job and was a standout to all those who were injured, since they all followed how she carried herself.”

Senior defender Ally Brown, Klurman’s other roommate and teammate on the back line, said her consistency and leadership have been important since her return.

Klurman’s vocal leadership on the backline, Brown says, allows her to be more vocal.

“We have a chemistry where I know where she’s going to be,” Brown said. “We cover for each other, and it’s very comforting to have her on the field.”

Now that she’s back on the pitch, her growth and maturity have been evident.

“We need players in the back line that are going to be consistent and that we

practices and lifts, I struggled mentally with the fear of reinjury. Learning to trust my back again took time, confidence and a lot of mental strength.”

Through consistent training and gradual progress during spring and summer practices, Klurman found her rhythm again.

“What helped me most was slowly building confidence through repetition — starting small, proving to myself that I could move without pain, and gradually pushing my limits,” she said.

“My trainers and coaches were great about easing me back in while keeping me accountable, which made a huge difference.”

By the start of her redshirt sophomore season, Klurman had worked her way into a starting role on Tennessee’s defensive rotation. Each game brought a reminder of how far she had come since her surgery.

can rely on,” Kirt said. “She’s got a great understanding of what that expectation is. Her ability to meet it comes down to her physicality and ability to match up with strong, athletic and fast forwards.”

Klurman was cleared to run again by December, just as Tennessee’s 2023 season came to an end. Though the year was over, her small milestone marked major progress.

“It was an incredible feeling,” Klurman said. “All the hard work I put into physical therapy had finally paid off. I didn’t realize how much I missed running until that first time I was cleared to do it again.”

Klurman spent the winter back home in New Jersey, focusing on building strength and mobility before returning to Knoxville for spring training.

“Mentally, I had to shift my mindset from fear to trust,” she said. “Instead of worrying about getting hurt again, I focused on how much work I had put in to get to that point.”

When she rejoined team practices in the spring, her body was ready, but hesitation lingered. Trusting her body again didn’t happen right away. Every cut, sprint and tackle brought a reminder of what she had been in the past year.

“Every movement made me overthink whether my back could handle it,” Klurman said. “Once I got back into

“The moment my feet hit the ground, it reminded me how much I love running, and I’ll never take it for granted again,” Klurman said.

Since returning to full competition, Klurman has become a key contributor for the Lady Vols. She logged 1,394 minutes in her redshirt sophomore season and has already tallied 1,244 minutes this year. Defensively, she has been instrumental, helping Tennessee allow only seven goals this season.

“She’s one of the toughest people I know,” Brown said. “She’s been through a lot with injuries and has continued to show up every day and is relentless.”

Her impact isn’t limited to defense. Klurman scored her first career goal this season, a deep strike against LSU that earned a spot at number six on SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays.

“Her experience, leadership and confidence speaks volumes to what we think of her and the trust she’s earned from her teammates,” Kirt said. “It’s a big part of what we do in terms of how we play with the ball. She’s been a big part of that, and I’m really proud of her for stepping into that role.”

“She’s hard on the exterior, but she has a soft soul,” Kirt added. “She’s very proud of who she is and how hard she’s worked to get here. She has that Jersey edge at times, but she’s also caring and supportive. She has the hard exterior we need on the field, but the softness and care are tremendous from her.”

‘We got to continue to grow’: Tennessee football in need of improvement for crucial remainder of SEC schedule

ALEX SARKIS

Assistant Sports Editor

The margin for error is significantly smaller.

Tennessee football now sits as a twoloss team after its blowout defeat to rival Alabama on the Third Saturday in October. The scene in Tuscaloosa was an ugly one, an iteration of head coach Josh Heupel’s team that didn’t live up to the standard of the fifth-year SEC coach. Now, one more loss acts as the dagger in the Vols’ College Football Playoff hopes.

After it travels to face a pesky Kentucky team in its second-straight night game behind enemy lines, Tennessee glares down the barrel of a four-game stretch that currently features a pair of top-15 teams. Perfection is a tall task, but it is needed to keep any hopes of a national title still alive.

“Obviously, everybody is disappointed with the outcome from the other day,” Heupel said. “But whether you win or lose, you gotta flip it forward and watch the video, learn from it. They know they’re going to play a good team every week inside of this league.”

Tennessee’s defensive shortcomings have been well documented by the midway point in the season. Missed tackles remain an issue, while an inability to get off the field on third down strands a unit that plays a majority of the game due to the Vols’ high-tempo offense.

Time is starting to dwindle for any second chances.

“It’s the nature of the game that we play,” Heupel said. “You gotta be the same competitor every week, every day. That’s why your routine matters. Getting ready and prepared matters. So this is our next opportunity as a football team, and we got to continue to grow.”

Tennessee’s upcoming opportunity is a great one for fostering growth. The Vols have lost consecutive road games in each of the last three seasons. They haven’t dropped an away meeting with the Wildcats since 2017.

Kentucky’s offense ranks 14th in the

SEC in total scoring, while its defense sits in the same spot in points allowed. Both of Tennessee’s units need a getback showing, and the numbers say this can be the week to get one. Mistakefree football is the focus inside of the Vols’ locker room.

“I think it starts with the everyday ordinary things, communication,” Heupel said. “Not having the pre-snap penalties. I think that’s where it starts on the offensive side of the football. The nature of the game, it’s 11-on-11 between the white lines, but all of your players being able to be in the present and just go play the next play.”

Heupel’s group has seen some significant improvement on the ground over the course of the last few weeks. After starting the SEC slate with some pedestrian rushing numbers, DeSean Bishop is coming into his role as Tennessee’s lead back. The Knoxville native can boast back-to-back games of at least 120 rushing yards, an element that the Vols’ offense has relied on. His 123-yard effort against Alabama nearly single-handedly kept his team in striking distance.

“He made a couple of elite cuts and making people miss to have extended, long runs,” Heupel said. “He has done a really good job of pressing it. I was just talking about being the same competitor every single day. You know exactly what you’re getting from them. Guys that do that continue to get better. That’s been DeSean’s journey in college football and this season too.”

Now, Tennessee is trying to find a way to sustain some defensive positivity in the coming contests. Bright spots have emerged in the play of Colton Hood and the Vols’ pass rush, but it still hasn’t been enough to make a difference in the premier matchups.

Heupel doesn’t doubt his guys’ efforts.

“I love the way we continue to compete and play,” Heupel said. “We got to play smarter. That’s in alignment, assignment, it’s execution, it’s all of those things. Now we got to execute better. But ultimately, this group competes hard and plays hard.”

2025 Football PICK ‘EM

Tennessee 35 vs Kentucky 28

Texas a&m vs lsu

ole miss vs oklahoma missouri vs vanderbilt

houston vs arizona state usf vs memphis byu vs iowa state

Tennessee 24 vs Kentucky 13

Texas a&m vs lsu

ole miss vs oklahoma missouri vs vanderbilt houston vs arizona state usf vs memphis byu vs iowa state

Tennessee 31 vs Kentucky 21

Texas a&m vs lsu

ole miss vs oklahoma missouri vs vanderbilt

houston vs arizona state usf vs memphis byu vs iowa state

Tennessee 30 vs Kentucky 20

Texas a&m vs lsu

ole miss vs oklahoma

missouri vs vanderbilt

houston vs arizona state usf vs memphis byu vs iowa state

Tennessee 38 vs Kentucky 21

Texas a&m vs lsu

ole miss vs oklahoma

missouri vs vanderbilt

houston vs arizona state usf vs memphis byu vs iowa state

Tennessee 40 vs Kentucky 25

Texas a&m vs lsu

ole miss vs oklahoma

missouri vs vanderbilt

houston vs arizona state usf vs memphis byu vs iowa state