march 31 2011

By HannaH Lazar

assistant news editor

Elections for student government representatives will begin April 6 and end April 8.

Dean of Students Jim Hicks said students will receive a link in their UTC email that will take them to a ballot to vote for their favorite candidates.

Running for SGA president are Alden Coleman, a sophomore from Jackson, Tenn., Shalin Shah, a sophomore from Chattanooga, Dominique Copeland, a senior from New Orleans, La., and Matthew Huckabee, a sophomore from Chattanooga.

Coleman, Shah and Copeland are all running as part of election

tickets, Shah said.Coleman is running with Chris

Onan for vice president and Zeno Mercer for treasurer. Onan is a sophomore from Chicago, Il., and Mercer is a sophomore from Memphis.

“Zeno’s a great guy and is probably the best candidate for treasurer,” Coleman said. “He has a lot of business experience. And Chris has great networking skills and is very personable and well-known on campus. Both the guys will be great to excite people and get people involved.”

Coleman said that in addition to creating a positive perception of SGA with students on campus, he wants to focus on campus safety.

“Lack of funding is no excuse for lack of action as far as security goes,” he said.

Shah is running with Katie Kinsinger, a junior from Chandler, Ariz., for vice president, and Evan Williams, a freshman from Jackson, Tenn., for treasurer.

“We are among the most experienced running,” Shah said. “Katie has been in charge of campus observations and done an excellent job. Also, Evan has the dedication and expertise to get the job done.”

Shah said the slogan for their campaign is “restoring respect,” and that his main goal as president would be to increase the accessibility of SGA to students and organizations.

Copeland is running with Bradley Bell for vice president and Emily Neutens for treasurer. Bell is a junior from Knoxville and Neutens is also a junior from Knoxville.

“Our team has the most experience,” Copeland said. “I’ve been involved with SGA for four years, Emily three years, and Bradley two years. We work very well together, and we’re involved in different areas on campus. So we bring a lot of unique things to the table.”

Copeland said the slogan for her campaign is “Now and Later,” and that one of her main focuses as president would be to

See ELECTIONS page 3

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Floats raise money for charity Softball team brings in wins

in news

5

Volume 105, Issue 23

Campus plans to go green for fall semester

3

in features 7

echothe student newspaper of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

the university

Main office: (423) 425-4298 Advertising office: (423) 425-8101 Fax: (423) 425-8100 [email protected]

in sports

Background checks become mandatory

Photo by Matt KenwrightClean slate: (Left to right) Two Boling resident assistants, Sydney Kessler, a Knoxville senior, and Stephen Doyle, a Milan, Tenn., sophomore, interact with resident Jessica Cook, a Chattanooga freshman. All current and future Housing employees will undergo background checks for emploment.

By racHeL sauLs

editor in cHief

In response to the former resident assistant Bernard Moriss’s recent felony charges related to surveillance, the University will begin conducting background checks on all resident assistants.

The newly mandatory background checks will be performed on anyone working for housing who has access to dorm room including secretaries and administrators, Chuck Cantrell, vice chancellor for University relations, said.

However, the exact protocol and process of this new implementation have not been decided, Cantrell said.

“The actual process and the steps that are going to be taken, those have not be hammered out yet,” Cantrell said.

Cantrell said he does not anticipate a blanket policy that would prevent anyone with a criminal record of any type from being able to work as a resident

assistant in the residence halls.“Each case is going to be

looked at individually, which is the same way it is with all the University,” Cantrell said.

Cantrell said it doesn’t seem fair to equate traffic violations with felony level charges even though they will both pop up when a background check is conducted.

“There’s a process in place at the UT system level for processing background checks of employees so I’m assuming that we will take advantage of that contract,” Cantrell said.

Emily Watanabe, a senior from Savannah, Tenn., and former assistant resident director for Boling apartments, said she was never asked about her criminal background while she worked with housing but thinks it will make a lot of people more comfortable to know background checks are being performed.

“Making residents comfortable is the number one job of RAs,”

See RAs page 3

Close battle for SGA executive officers ensues

Name: Alden ColemanHometown: Jackson, Tenn.Class rank: SophomoreCurrent position: District I SenatorRunning for: PresidentRunning mates: Chris Onan (for vice president) and Zeno Mercer (for treasurer)Activities: Lambda Chi fraternity, SGAWhy are you running for this position?“I want to work toward establishing better communication between students and SGA. I feel students have lost touch with SGA’s purpose and mission. I want to help them understand that we do work for them.”

Name: Shalin ShahHometown: ChattanoogaClass rank: SophomoreCurrent position: ParliamentarianRunning for: PresidentRunning mates: Katie Kinsinger (for vice president) and Evan Williams (for treasurer)Activities: Pre-law society, University Honors Program, TISL lead delegate and academic trivia team.Why are you running for this position?“I feel like many people have an unfavorable view of SGA, and we’d like to rebuild the relationship between SGA and the student body.”

Name: Dominique CopelandHometown: New Orleans, La.Class rank: SeniorCurrent position: Former District II/V senator/social issues chairRunning for: PresidentRunning mates: Bradley Bell (for vice president) and Emily Neutens (for treasurer)Activities: Up-til-Dawn, Secretary of SHRM, and president of the UTC chapter of NAACPWhy are you running for this position? “It’s time to open up the lines of communication between students, administration and student government.”

Name: Matt HuckabeeHometown: ChattanoogaClass rank: SophomoreCurrent position: District II SenatorRunning for: PresidentRunning mates: noneActivities: Chancellor’s Ambassador, Freshman senator, Sigma Chi fraternity, Campus Crusade for Christ, SGA Academic Affairs CommitteeWhy are you running for this position?“I really want to see a better SGA. I’d like to see it come together. I feel like right now it’s just survival of the fittest, and it shouldn’t be like that. It should be united.”

Other executive candidates:Vice President:Bradley BellKatie KinsingerChris OnanMonica Shubert

Treasurer:Zeno MercerEmily NeutensStephen TurnerEvan Williams

Senate Seats:District I: Jared Anderson Pat Benson Anna Comola Sarah Fenderson Johnny HendersonAlyssa Ison Gregory JacksonBrooke McFaddenDuncan McPhersonElizabeth NielsonSam NienowKathryn Norris Steven Palmer Abby Satterfield

District II: Nathaniel Harlan

District III : Philip George

District IV: Callie Clement Anna Grace Lowry

District V: Amanda Bisgaard Drew Fry

Unknown District:Stephen DoylePierre NelsonAntonio Zorbino

Elections are April 6-8

Thursday, March 31, 2011 Volume 105, Issue 23www.utcecho.com


The Campus Crime Log Compiled by Matt Kenwright

The campus crime log is a weekly feature of the University Echo and is compiled from UTC Police reports to keep students aware of incidents on campus. Reports are listed in chronological order.

March 23, 2011

11-0390 Police responded to a drug call at 815 University St.

Police smelled marijuana when a man left a resident’s room, and they confronted the man.

The man admitted to possessing marijuana, and he said his girlfriend was not involved.

Police confiscated a white paper bag containing marijuana from him and a set of scales.

Police spoke to the girlfriend who allowed her room to be inspected.

A container of marijuana was found, and the man was arrested for possession of marijuana less than one ounce.

The man was transported to Hamilton County Jail.

March 24, 2011

11-0391 Police responded to a vehicle theft call at 605 E. Fifth St.

A man said his sunroof had been busted out, and he said his driver’s license and $200 were stolen.

No further action was taken.

11-0398 Police responded to an injury call at 815 University St.

A man in a residence hall was having seizures, and he accepted

medical transport to the hospital. The man was visiting his

girlfriend. No further action was taken.

March 25, 2011

11-0400 Police responded to a suspicious person call at 612 Oak St.

A University employee said a man was possibly intoxicated outside.

Police stopped the man who said he was following up on a job application, and he said his behavior was due to mental issues.

The man’s job application was confirmed, and he was determined to not be intoxicated.

The man was previously told to call the department and stay off campus, and the man accepted the police’s advice to not return.

The department’s staff was told to use the panic button in the future.

11-0401 Police responded to a theft call at 651 McCallie Ave.

A woman said the day before her Vera Bradley brand case was stolen from her book bag.

The case contained her driver’s license, social security card, Mocs Card, a debit card and credit card.

The credit card was used at a gas station for $1 and possibly $20 at Zaxby’s.

The gas station could not confirm a suspect with their video camera footage.

March 26, 201111-0402 Police responded to

an assault call at 700 Vine St. A woman wishing to remain

anonymous called the police dispatch and said two men attacked her.

The woman said she was leaving the library when two men asked to borrow a cell phone.

The woman reached into her car for it when a man grabbed her, but the woman kicked him in the groin.

The woman’s dress tore, and the two men ran.

Police were unable to contact her again after the initial call, and the woman’s boyfriend shared the same story with a police officer in the parking lot.

11-0403 Police responded to an alcohol violation at 718 McCallie Ave.

A resident assistant said she heard a large party, knocked on the door and was denied access by an intoxicated resident.

Police arrived as a man and a woman were leaving, and alcohol was seen in plain view.

Police entered and detained 13 people, 10 of whom were under 21-years-old.

Police found 12 beers, three bottles of vodka, two bottles of whiskey and one rum bottle.

Two women took responsibility for the alcohol, and they were given citations for underage drinking in lieu of arrest and cited to Student Affairs.

Police released a UTC student and three non-students over 21 after they determined they had not participated.

An individual’s mother was present, and she said she was just watching a movie with her daughter.

Seven other students were cited to Student Affairs for their involvement.

11-0404 Police responded to an injury call at 742 Oak St.

A woman said a visiting friend was vomiting blood and feeling weak.

Police found the man on the bathroom floor in a semi-conscious state unable to answer questions or keep conscious.

City police arrived and ordered the man to get into bed or be arrested.

The man said he became ill after his third bottle of vodka and had vomited for an hour.

The man was transported to Erlanger Hospital for treatment and later released.

11-0405 Police responded to an alcohol violation at 718 McCallie Ave.

Police entered the room with resident assistants and observed alcohol in plain view.

Five seemingly intoxicated people under 21-years-old were found.

Seventy beers, two bottles of whiskey and a bottle of vodka were seized.

Two intoxicated men approached the room during the inspection and said they were at the wrong room.

Police stopped them, and both admitted to have been in the room.

One man said he and his friend

were under 21 and had drunk alcohol, but the other man denied it.

The man was slightly confused, had slurred speech and was unsteady.

The man was determined to be intoxicated, and police arrested him after they discovered he had a previous alcohol violation.

Inside the room a non-student was disruptive and made excessive noise, and the man was arrested for disorderly conduct and underage drinking.

Three non-students and two students were cited for underage drinking in lieu of arrest.

Three students were cited to Student Affairs.

The arrested individuals were taken to Hamilton County Jail without incident.

March 28, 2011

11-0418 Police responded to a solicitation call at 742 Oak St.

A woman said two men were going door-to-door selling magazine subscriptions.

Police detained the men, and one was found to have several theft and burglary charges on his criminal record.

The men said the subscriptions were for children’s hospitals.

A contact at the subscription company said the men were not supposed to be on UTC property.

Police confiscated $45 and $10 checks and $133 in cash from the men.

One man was arrested and the other was transported off campus.

Students’ money was returned.

2 newsContact news editor Caitlin Case at [email protected]

Thursday, March 31, 2011 Volume 105, Issue 23


3

By GaBrieLLe cHevaLier

staff reporter

UTC is setting the foundation to become more environmentally friendly and reduce its carbon emissions to zero with its new Climate Action Plan.

“In a lot of ways, sustainability and climate mitigation are currently underway on UTC’s campus,” Brad McAllister, the co-founder of the sustainability consulting firm WAP, What About People, and a graduate of UTC, said.

McAllister and his firm have been working with UTC to develop the new Climate Action Plan, which was made specifically for UTC’s needs in meeting their sustainability goals, he said.

Sustainability is listed in the overview for the Climate Action Plan as anything that affects environmental, social, or economic topics.

According to McAllister, the Climate Action Plan for UTC will reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of UTC and help further the University’s environmental sustainability goals. Eventually, they hope to reduce the carbon emissions UTC outputs to zero, becoming climate neutral.

“The plan will include actions focused on reducing energy demand, water consumption, travel and waste generation among other key impact categories,” McAllister said.

UTC started to become carbon

neutral when Chancellor Roger Brown signed the American College and Universities’ Presidents Climate Commitment in 2009.

“UTC has done a great job of increasing the environmental status of the campus, and should continue doing so through energy efficiency measures and facility

upgrades,” McAllister said. “However, for sustainability to work in an organization it must live within that organization, which includes changing the way

that environmental, social and economic criteria are considered in every decision.”

McAllister said that the Climate Action Plan will be submitted to the ACUPCC board to be considered.

If it is adopted, it will be implemented on UTC’s campus for years to come, McAllister said.

He also said that students should begin to notice more changes on campus, such as more opportunities for recycling, healthier and more environmentally friendly food options, and on site generation of electricity, like solar panels.

“It seems more expensive than its worth,” Nathan Holmes, a Chattanooga senior, said. “I think a lot of schools and businesses who try to go green realize it’s not as cost effective as it seems.”

Lynette Hammonds, a Chattanooga senior, disagreed.

“I haven’t gone very green myself,” Hammonds said. “But I do try to recycle, and I think it would be a very positive experience for UTC.”

According to the Presidents Climate Commitment Web site, more than 650 colleges and universities have signed on to ACUPCC and Bowdoin College in Maine is already on track to be climate neutral by 2020.

“UTC will be able to reach climate neutrality through a combination of efficiency projects, renewable energy generation and the purchase of carbon offsets,”

Photo by Matt KenwrightEarth friendly: Kristen Lammons, a St. Augustine, Fl., freshman, recycles at a recycling station in the UC. A UTC graduate heads a consulting firm to help the University reduce its environmental impact.

Campus goes green with action plan

By HayLey Martin

managing editor

SGA senators discussed areas of campus that need physical improvement and passed three bills during its weekly senate meeting Tuesday.

Katie Kinsinger, a junior from Chandler, Ariz., and campus

observations committee chair, presented a slideshow of pictures taken during a “campus walk” the committee took before spring break.

A recurring problem the committee found was handicapped parking spots and curbs needed to be re-painted. As they are now, the blue paint marking the area

is weathered away to the point, it is almost unrecognizable as handicap.

Katelyn Jessup, a junior from Knoxville, sponsored a bill allocating $500 for supplies for the campus observations committee SGA week event.

The bill was given a favorable recommendation by Issac Poore,

a senior from Kenton, Tenn., and SGA treasurer.

The bill was passed in a roll call vote, 25-0.

Josh Hill, a junior from South Pittsburg, Tenn., sponsored a bill allocating $100 for candy for the Academic Affairs committee SGA week event. The bill was given a favorable recommendation by

Poore.The bill passed.Bradley Bell, a junior from

Knoxville, sponsored a bill allocating $6,000 for ACE’s spring budget.

The bill was given a favorable recommendation by Poore.

The bill passed in a roll call vote, 25-0.

Senators discuss needed campus renovations

Don’t forget to vote in the SGA elections April 6-8!

she said. Watanabe said the current process to

become a resident assistant includes filling out an application with three references, a group interview and a personal interview in addition to the resident assistant carousel process.

She said the carousel process includes team building exercises with current resident assistants as a way of determining which potential resident assistants are leaders and a way of determining how their personalities interact with other current and potential resident assistants.

Watanabe said she feels like the resident assistant application process is usually quite effective.

“In most cases it covers pretty much any factors that housing should consider as far as hiring a new employee but one of the most important factors is recommendations because recommendations come from people who actually know the candidate,” she said.

Watanabe said she thinks there should be more oversight of RAs especially when they are not performing specific housing duties. “I think housing can be more careful after the resident assistants are hired. Once they’re in it shouldn’t just be, ‘okay you’re good,” she said. “Housing needs to be more careful about how RAs are conducting themselves and what they’re doing.”

Watanabe said that even though she thinks the new background checks are a good idea, housing is facing too much criticism for the actions of one resident assistant.

“I just think that housing is getting a lot of criticism for it and really after conducting two interviews themselves and getting three recommendations from outside sources, it seems like a pretty good process for hiring RAs,” she said. “I still don’t think that they messed up or should be getting criticism like they’re getting.”

RAs Cont. from 1

Elections Cont. from 1increase the aid given to student organizations, which she said is one of the main factors keeping college students in school.

Matt Huckabee is not running as part of any ticket.

“I feel that every candidate for president is a very capable candidate, and I wish them the very best of luck,” Huckabee said.

Candidates for vice president are Bell, Kinsinger, Onan, and Monica Shubert, a Clarksville, Tenn., sophomore.

Candidates for treasurer are Mercer, Neutens, Williams, and Stephen Turner, a junior from Marshall, Mo. Shubert and Turner are running on a combined campaign for vice president and treasurer. her campaign is “Now and Later,” and that one of her main focuses as president would be to increase the aid given to student organizations, which she said are one of the main factors keeping

college students in school.Matt Huckabee is not running with

any other students for his presidential campaign.

“I feel that every candidate for president is a very capable candidate, and I wish them the very best of luck,” Huckabee said.

Candidates for vice president are Bell, Kinsinger, Onan and Monica Shubert, a Clarksville, Tenn., sophomore.

Candidates for treasurer are Mercer, Neutens, Williams, and Stephen Turner, a junior from Marshall, Mo.

Shubert and Turner are running on a combined campaign for vice president and treasurer.

“I think voter turnout will be a lot higher this year,” Hicks said. “With that many people out looking for votes, I think more students will be encouraged to participate.”


4 opinionContact managing editor Hayley Martin at [email protected]

[email protected]

— Compiled by Casey Green

SGA requires higher standard

CAMPUS

COMMENTS“How much do you trust your

Resident Assistant?”

university echo staff

tiMotHy HensHaw

chattanooga junior

I did appreciate the editorial in last week’s Echo concerning the two SGA members that have been allowed to retain their seats to this point, I would agree with you that college students are young and should be allowed to make mistakes.

That being said, those that choose to put themselves in the public eye and represent their various collegiate constituents such as those in SGA need to realize that they are required by their own actions to meet a higher standard than the rest of the students at UTC.

Students who are in the limelight need to take a second to think about

just what that means. I’m not even going to get into

how abhorrent the offense of driving under the influence is and what a shame that a taxi or friend couldn’t be called before endangering the lives of Chattanooga residents, so I’ll stick with the public intoxication charge.

Under Tennessee Code Annotated Title 39, Chapter 17, Section 310, public intoxication is a person “who appears in a public place under the influence of a controlled substance or any other intoxicating substance to the degree that:

(1) The offender may be endangered; (2) There is endangerment to

other persons or property; or

(3) The offender unreasonably annoys people in the vicinity.”

Do a lot of college students drink? Yes, they do. I do.

That is not what this charge is about.

This charge is about someone who allegedly, legally, should not have been drinking anyway that drank himself to the point he was either a danger to himself, others or their property or was beligerent.

This is a terrible standard for our student government representatives to hold up to the community at large and say that they believe is all right.

Something needs to be done about it and quick, or else the value of student government and its standing in our community will be cheapened.

rachel sauls

editor-in-chief

hayley Martin

managing editor

caitlin case

news editor

Jennifer redMan

features editor

Brad Bacon

sports editor

hannah lazar


Matt Kenwright


eMily suMners

assistant features editor

tyler Brown

assistant sports editor

holly cowart

faculty advisor

audrey glor

online editor

stephen Byard

advertising manager

ricK Mitchell distribution manager

Jessie wright

copy editor

“I don’t know because I don’t really know my RA.”

— Stevie Kay Dotson, Nashville, freshman

“ M y R A i s v e r y unapproachable, and I feel she’s non-existant in serving her duties as an RA.”

— J a r i s D e n n i s , Murfreesboro, Tenn., junior

“I would say my RA is pretty trustworthy and a laidback guy.”

— David Kibo, Memphis, freshman

“My RA isn’t really around that much, and when I see him he’s slick shy. I gues he is trustworthy though.”

— Gabby Cader, Cleveland, Tenn., freshman

“He seems to be a pretty good guy. He always makes a point to give me the ‘sup’ nod when passing. I think he’d be helpful in a situation.”

— Spencer Cant re l l , Camden, Tenn., sophomore

“My RA has been very MIA. He hasn’t gone out of his way to make sure we know him and to prove himself dependable or reliable. I don’t even know his room number.”

— Shanese , Smyrna, Tenn., freshman

“My RA is awesome and always says hi when I pass him. He is there to help whenever, so I totally trust him.”

— Heather Hicks, Franklin, Tenn., freshman

The Echo is produced by UTC students and is distributed free to the campus community on Thursdays during the fall and spring semesters, except during holidays and examination periods. The opinions expressed in The Echo are those of the individual writers and do not reflect the opinions of the personnel at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

aMeLia Jenson

college campaigns assistant

In response to your article “PETA Ad Campaigns Miss Mark” in the March 24 issue, I would like to give some insight into the motives behind PETA campaigns.

PETA’s job is to draw attention to animal suffering, and we have found—and your article confirms—that people do pay more attention to our racier actions.

As a result of our ads, PETA representatives have been interviewed, and our ads have been played—for free—on cable television talk shows with audiences numbering into the millions.

This means that people across America are hearing about how animals suffer on factory farms, and judging by the spike in visits to our

Web sites after we publicized our ads, this tactic is working, and more people than ever before are learning and thinking about going vegan.

As an organization staffed largely by feminist women, we would not do something that we felt exacerbated the very serious problems that women face.

Our demonstrators and models of both genders choose to participate in our actions because they want to do something to make people stop and pay attention.

We believe that people should have the choice to use their own bodies to make social statements—a tactic with a long history of success.

The situation is critical for billions of animals who are suffering on factory farms and in slaughterhouses, and our goal is to make the public think about the issues.

Most people are horrified to discover that chickens have their beaks cut off when they’re only days old, male piglets are castrated, and cows are branded and de-horned—all without any painkillers—and that these terrified animals are often skinned and dismembered while still conscious.

If these kinds of abuses were inflicted upon cats or dogs, it would result in felony cruelty to animals charges.

Yet these practices are standard in an industry that refuses to make even the most basic improvements in the way animals are treated.

Thankfully, it’s never been easier to go vegan than it is today.

To learn more about going vegan and animal rights or to order a free vegetarian/vegan starter kit, visit peta2.com.

PETA defends extreme propaganda

Letters to the Editor

editoriaL

Keeping in mind SGA’s choices over the past year, the need for students to vote in student government elections is more apparent now than ever.

Certainly SGA makes huge efforts to support the student body as a whole, but it seems like this last year in particular, they have been alarmingly preoccupied with their own politics and personal drama.

Though that is not to say the current executive committee has been caught up in the same petty outbursts as the senators holding district seats. This year’s executive office holders have done a great job presenting a productive, unified government.

Over the course of the last two semesters, district senators have attempted to impeach their president and another senator, despite the fact that neither are held to a specific behavior contract or code of ethics while in office.

In addition, the debate about raising the required GPA for senators to run for office, which has been ongoing since fall semester, was finally concluded at last week’s meeting.

There is no way to know for sure, but perhaps this behavior is a product of the fact that student voter turnout was at an all time low last year.

We at the Echo find this completely unacceptable and urge students to vote in this year’s elections.

However, voting for the sake of voting is not what we have in mind.

Voting for a candidate simply because they belong to the same social organizations or have an appealing facebook profile is not acceptable.

Before voting, students should evaluate each candidate’s platform, which is likely available on their facebook campaign page.

In addition to their actual platform, students should keep in mind the candidates’ previous involvement with SGA and other organizations.

Executive candidates who have a history of working well within their organizations, avoiding disciplinary measures or unnecessary conflicts are likely to continue that behavior while in SGA office.

Although an executive candidate could overcome their background of inappropriate or disappointing behavior with an organization or in their personal life, it seems like an unnecessary risk when there are other

capable candidates. However, candidates who have

worked well within their organizations may have issues as well if they do not have executive experience with SGA or are at risk for conflicts of interest.

SGA provides funding to a variety of campus organizations, and candidates from those organizations have a conflict of interest if they are planning to continue their tenure with those organizations outside SGA, especially when the groups receive large amounts of funding from the senate on a regular basis.

This year’s race is shaping up to be a close one with four candidates running for each executive position, and we at the Echo feel strongly about electing the best executive board possible, especially the most qualified president.

After all, the president represents the student body on multiple committees at the University and around Chattanooga.

With SGA’s preoccupation with their own politics over the last year, executive candidates have the opportunity to change this trend or set a precedent by maintaining it.

For more information on SGA elections see the article on page 1.

Voting improves senate

By MattHew Lewis

staff reporter

The Mocs track team, despite harsh weather, soldiered through the rain and delivered solid performances at both the Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket Invitational and the Stanford Invitational March 25 and March 26.

At the Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket Invitational, the weather was wrought with thunder and lightning, as well as large amounts of rain. This meant the cancellation of several events.

As a result of the rain and the poor conditions, the Mocs and other attending teams only managed to compete in a few

events. Senior Shelley Taylor, from Cohutta,

Ga., placed 10th in her 800-meter run, with a time of 2:25.00. Junior Ashley Hall, from Germantown, Tenn., placed 9th in the 400-meter hurdles, clocking a time of 1:08.42. Freshman Gabby Cader, from Cleveland, Tenn., continued her progress in sprints with a notable improvement. In her first outdoor event, she posted a time of 1:00.51. She placed 11th overall.

In the 1500-meter run, Junior Joshua Vasquez, from Kingsport, Tenn., took 6th place with a time of 3:58.49. In the same event, Sophomore Lucas Cotter, from Colliersville, Tenn., showed improvement in his personal record with a time of

4:00.50. Senior Tara Gietema, from Knoxville, placed well in two events. In the 5000-meter run on Friday, she ran a time of 18:01.92 and placed 7th overall. In the 1500-meter run, she clocked a time of 4:53.16 and placed 8th overall.

Senior David Moore, from Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, placed 6th in the 800-meter run, setting a time of 1:55.03

At the Cobb Track and Angel Field in Stanford, Calif., both Chattanooga runners posted personal best times. Juniors Emmanuel Kirwa, from Kapsabet, Kenya, and Chris Berry, from Murfreesboro, Tenn., recorded their times early March 25, despite the rainy conditions.

Kirwa was just seven seconds off of the

lead time in their heat. His time stood at 14:51.29. Berry was not far behind, setting a time of 14:28.12. Kirwa’s previous best time was 14:51.29 while Berry had a previous personal record of 14:57.70. Long Beach State’s Heath Reedy took first place

UTC Head Coach Bill Gautier said the foul weather plagued both events.

“In my 20 years of coming out here, this is the first time that it has rained,” Gautier said. “They both did really well, but I know they would have liked to have done better. They each really improved their PRs, so that’s always a positive.”

The Chattanooga `Mocs will next travel to Jacksonville, Ala. April 2 for the Jacksonville State Gem of the Hills race.


5 sportswww.utcecho.com

Contact sports editor Brad Bacon at [email protected]


Lady Mocs double-up Appalachian StateBy sHawna o’neaL

staff reporter

After the Appalachian State Mountaineers softball team swept Elon, the number one preseason-ranked team in the SoCon, the Lady Mocs were ready for the challenge March 27.

“Well, they swept Elon,” Head Coach Frank Reed said. “So we were sort of thinking, ‘Well what are they going to bring here this weekend?’ But we’ve just really stressed on what we need to do, focusing on what is happening in our dugout and not worry what’s on the other side of the field.”

After the games that were scheduled for Saturday were postponed due to the weather, the Lady Mocs were scheduled to play the Mountaineers in a double header Sunday. Chattanooga won both games against Appalachian State with finals of 9-0 and 13-2.

The Lady Mocs improved their standings to 21-7 for the year and 5-0 in the Southern Conference after the two games while Appalachian State is now 11-16 for the season and 4-4 in the SoCon.

Senior third baseman Tiffany Baker, from East Ridge, Tenn., is number one in the all-time rankings for the Lady Mocs with 39 home runs. She raised the bar for a career high of 41 after hitting two home runs during the first game.

Chattanooga scored six of their runs in the second inning, the first being Nashville senior Della Harrison’s homerun that she hit over left field that brought the score to 1-0.

“I have to thank Coach Andrews for that,” she said. “I just

unleashed everything, and there it went.”

Baker continued the inning with her first homerun of the game. It went high and deep over left field on a 1-2 pitch. This was her third career grand slam.

“I was just looking for something low,” she said. “She’s a drop ball pitcher anyway, and it just happened to be outside and low. I pulled it hardcore.”

The Lady Mocs took their 7-0 lead into the fourth inning after junior designated player Vivian Morimoto, from Sao Paulo, Brazil, hit a homerun that just cleared the fence in right field. It was Morimoto’s third of the season.

Baker hit her second homerun on a 3-2 pitch that rocketed just right of the left field foul pole. It would earn Baker her ninth homerun of the season.

Junior pitcher Michelle Fuzzard, from Huntington Beach, Calif., almost threw a no-hitter in the first game, but Appalachian State’s Sarah Rappe singled down the left field line on the final pitch of the game.

However, left fielder Lauren Flores, from Fort Ogelthorpe, Ga., earned an outfield assist, cutting Rappe down at second base for the final out of the game.

The Lady Mocs offense didn’t stop there, scoring all their runs in the first inning to begin the second game.

Chattanooga responded to an Appalachian State run in the top of the first inning by sending 17 batters to the plate, scoring 13 runs and recording 10 hits in the bottom half of the inning.

Starting off the inning with a walk was Senior outfielder

Lyndsey Stiles, from Hixson, Tenn., followed by a single to third by second baseman Sara Poteat, a Thomaston, Ga., sophomore. Fuzzard was able to load the bases due to an error made by the Mountaineers.

Baker’s single down the left side allowed for the Lady Mocs to tie up the game.

Harrison’s single to left scored Chattanooga their third run. Junior shortstop Jessica Traxler, Chino Hills, Calif., hit a double over right field with two runners in scoring position. The Lady Mocs pushed their lead to 5-0.

It was Traxler’s single to the pitcher that allowed Harrison to score and extend the lead to 13-1 in the first inning.

“We’re a good a hitting team

and the fact that we just come out and do what we got to do,” Baker said. “It shows a lot because it is what we’re supposed to do every game. No matter what, we just come out and hit.

“Any game like this is a game of inches. Any ball could go half an inch foul, half an inch fair, the strike zone gets a half inch bigger. And if luck is on your side, you just keep rolling with it. It is just going to keep going.”

Applachian State’s Katie Boyd started the third inning with a leadoff homerun for the Mountaineer’s second and final run of the game.

Chattanooga won in five innings as the run-rule was put into effect. The 13 runs were the most that Chattanooga had ever

scored during an inning against a conference opponent. The only time that the Lady Mocs hit into the double digits in one inning was against the College of Charleston on April 8, 2001.

The Lady Mocs had a ending total of 18 hits and 22 runs for the day against the Mountaineers.

“We prepared all week as we prepare for every single week,” Harrison said. “It doesn’t matter who we play. We play against ourselves. As long as we play our best selves every game, we should have outcomes like that every game.”

Reed said: “If we take anything from this, we take the fact that you come here to Chattanooga it’s going to be tough. You’re going to have to play to beat us.”

Photo contributed by GoMocs.comCleaning up: Kasey Tydingco, a sophomore from Fairfield, Calif., had a solid second game at the plate as she went two-for-three with two RBIs. The Lady Mocs as a team were solid in the field as they only surrendered two runs to Appalachian State.

Running Mocs pace through wet weather at separate races

By tyLer Brown

assistant sports editor

With spring practices coming to a close and the 2011 football season quickly approaching, the

Chattanooga Mocs are preparing for their annual Blue and Gold intersquad scrimmage scheduled for April 2 at Finley Stadium.

The Blue and Gold game, the final tune-up of the spring, is a

chance for fans to snag a preview of the 2011 football Mocs.

Head Coach Russ Huesman’s squad was back at Scrappy Moore Field March 28 after a rain-plagued scrimmage at Finley over

the weekend. After both of the spring’s intersquad scrimmages were hammered with hard rains, Chattanooga is hoping for a dry Saturday to showcase and develop the upcoming season’s talent.

Suffering losses to the top of his depth chart, including an MCL injury to Acworth, Ga., sophomore receiver Marlon Anthony and Calhoun, Ga., junior Nick Davidson with a knee injury, Huesman said he will consider the Blue and Gold game a success if all of his players walk away from the scrimmage healthy.

“We’ve had a few guys go down this spring,” Huesman said. “We’ve had so many guys out, but this game is good for the guys that haven’t played much. It will be good to get them some playing time and give the fans a chance to see the young guys we have, but the biggest thing is to come away from it healthy.”

The gates to Finley will open at 12:30 p.m. and kick-off for the scrimmage is set for 3 p.m.

Last season’s Blue and Gold game drew around 2,500 fans, and Huesman expects another

exceptional turnout for the upcoming weekend.

“We’ve had a good crowd for this game the past two seasons,” Huesman said. “This game is fun for fans to come watch because you don’t have to stress over who wins or loses.”

The scrimmage is scheduled to conclude at 4:30 p.m. with postgame festivities to follow. Fans will be invited down to the field for autographs and photographs with the players, and Huesman will present top performers with postgame awards.

Offensive and defensive MVP’s will be awarded, the Bob Davis Winter Warrior Award will be presented to the most-deserving offseason performer and captains for the 2011 season will be named.

Coleman, along with former Mocs Buster Skrine and Chris Harr were named 2010 team captains after the final whistle of last season’s Blue and Gold matchup. Skrine was also deemed the Bob Davis Winter Warrior.

The Mocs will open the 2011 season Sept. 3 in Lincoln, Neb. against the Cornhuskers.

Mocs football gears up for annual Blue and Gold game

Photo by Tyler BrownIn the gun: Senior quarterback BJ Coleman, from Chattanooga, drops back for a pass against Samford University in their matchup from Nov. 13, 2010. Coleman, Chattanooga’s only returning captain from the past season, and the Mocs are in search of UTC’s fifth Southern Conference championship.


6 featuresContact features editor Jennifer Redman at [email protected]

[email protected]

coMpiLed By Jennifer redMan

features editor

Andrea Ley,When I think of you, and me, I imagine the two of us, hand in hand, running down cardiac hill, chasing after puppies. There are so many things we can do together that involve puppies! Have you ever been to a wedding for puppies? Have you ever taught puppies how to tango, salsa, or duggie?! I beg you to stop seeing awful movies with Kristi Tobin, and to instead, go frolic in the fields of Coolidge Park with puppies, and me.-Sincerely, A Fellow Puppy Lover

Dear Records Office,Thanks for sending me up and down Cardiac four times in one day...are you trying to tell me something?

-Love, Bitter with Still-Unresolved Problems.

Dear Sexually Alone,Your late-night texts and drunken ramblings slightly entertain and annoy us. You bring a new meaning to “you’ve got a friend in me.”

-Love, Erin and Angela

Dr. Bromley,Good talk, good talk.

-Terrified in Sunglasses

Dear anonymous person with the big brown eyes,

You are oh so fine I hardly see you now But I dream of you being mine Yes it’s true i have feelings for you I know that one day you’ll come through But until that day i’ll continue to have a crush on you.

--that forever smiling, shy person

Dear available semi-cute to very attractive girls,

William Kent desperately needs a girlfriend. He has been very single for some time now and his friends are worried that if something doesn’t change he might switch teams purely because of his poor success rate with those of the opposite gender. Girls please keep this from happening! For those who are a bit skeptical look him up on facebook, or better yet go to any UTC sporting event and you will see him on the sideline rockin raybans and shooting a T-shirt launcher. So to you girls who are tired of only dating the “bad boys,” try your chances with the nice guy who isn’t just trying to get in your pants.

-Love, friends who are tired of hearing, “I need to get a girlfriend”

By Lauren Haynes

staff reporter

The third annual Blood-a-Nooga blood drive was March 24, in the Raccoon Room of the University Center and was hosted by Blood Assurance of Chattanooga.

Bonnie Phillips, marketing and special events coordinator at Blood Assurance said,

“Everyone from the community is welcome to come give blood.”

She said she was glad to see such a good turn out, with donations from the UTC football coach, football players, professors and other UTC personnel.

Phillips also said there were many students volunteering for school credit.

Among the donors was Rihanna Morris,

a freshman from Ooltewah, Tenn., who also volunteered at the event.

“The hospitals have a shortage [of blood donations] right now, and giving really helps a lot of people, so I try to give every two to three months,” Morris said.

Matt Lee, a senior from Chattanooga, said he gives every two to three months as well and said he had some advice for those who may be scared to donate.

“It’s not that bad,” he said. “It doesn’t take long, and they will help you through it. Plus you get some candy afterwards.”

Anthony Ervin, a senior from Johnson City, Tenn., had a story behind his blood giving.

Ervin said in 2007 he was in a serious car accident and lost six pints of blood. Today he is healthy, and along with his father and brother, donates blood every chance he gets.

Ervin said giving blood is so important, and people can leave with the pride of giving someone else a chance to live.

Alysse White, a senior from Argentina said another facet of the blood drive was the Cesar Chavez Blood Drive Competition.

In this competition, UTC competes with over 75 schools nationwide to get the most donations.

White also said the competition seeks out Hispanic donators because their blood is usually type O, which can be given to anyone in need.

“I have type A so I can only give to people with type A,” White said. “But type O blood can be given to type A, type B, and on.”

White said last year UTC came in second nationwide, and their goal this year was 500 units.

Blood-a-Nooga draws participationLet’s get personal

Photo by Lauren CarterJust grin and bear it: Steven Tiner, a freshman from Soddy Daisy, Tenn., gives blood after class during the Blood-a-Nooga event, March 24 in the University Center.

By cHris GarMon

contributing reporter

March Madness has been the source of entertainment and enthusiasm for students in the middle of the Spring semester, allowing them to unwind and take their minds off of school work for a while.

Blaine Brewer, a Memphis sophomore, said he is enjoying the tournament even though his bracket is not doing very well.

“There are a bunch of upsets that destroyed my bracket,” Brewer said. “Many of the teams I thought would make it, like St. Johns, Perdue and Pittsburg, didn’t. That just shows the equality of college basketball, though.”

Brewer said he was surprised how many mid-majors made the Sweet Sixteen.

“Five out of the 16 are mid-majors not from the power six,” Brewer said. “I’m still going for my favorite team, North Carolina. Hopefully we can make it all the way this year, but it’s a tough bracket with Ohio State, Kentucky and Marquette.”

Zack Flowers, a junior from Franklin, Tenn., said he usually follows the same March Madness traditions every year.

“I make a bracket, fill it out and enter a competition with other people,” Flowers said. “Then I watch the games with those people whenever they are on. Ohio State, my team, just lost to Kentucky by two points, though.”

Flowers said that the competitions are all in good fun. No one has to act like a jerk because their team got out or their bracket did badly.

Justin Kyle, a junior from Franklin, Tenn., said he usually creates a bracket and competes against his friends and family but was not able to this year.

“We usually just to it to bust each others’ chops and see who can win, but I’m not really a serious fan of college basketball,” Kyle said. “My grandpa was a huge Kentucky fan, so I have to pull for them, though.”

Kyle said he’s never gambled for anything during the tournament.

“It’s cool that people can get really into it, but it’s hard for me to because I am so busy with school,” Kyle said. “I think it is great that people have something to get them really excited about in the middle of the semester, to let them focus on something other than school.”

Kara Livingston, a junior from Collierville, Tenn., said that girls can get into March Madness just as much as guys can.

“A lot of people think that only guys are really into sports, but I know plenty of girls who have the Sports Center App on their phones to follow the games, including me,” Livingston said. “It’s fun to be part of something like March Madness.”

Livingston said she completely understands how die-hard fans can get so hyped over their teams.

“My family is from Syracuse, so I’m a huge ’Cuse fan,” Livingston said. “Last year we got tickets to their Sweet 16 game, but it was too far away this year. My whole family usually makes brackets, then we bet money on them. We are all for our teams.”

Trent Williams, a junior from Morristown, Tenn., said that he enjoys making a March Madness bracket with his dad.

“When I go home we usually put our brackets together, get some drinks and bet on who’s teams will last longer,” Williams said. “I’m definitely down for the Wildcats to win, and they are already headed to the final four.”

Williams said he thinks March Madness is a great time for students who like basketball.

“It allows us a little mental break from school, leaving us recharged and ready to get back to work, afterward,” Williams said.

March Madness sweeps across campus

Check out recent student personals. Submit current messages to see them in the next issue.

Check out next week’s issue of The Echo for more current personals submitted by fellow students.

To submit a personal to be shown in next week’s issue, send your note to [email protected].

“An Evening with David Sedaris”Win four tickets to his Chattanooga show!

Tivoli Theatre April 16, 2011 8 p.m.

Send in a picture of yourself reading the Echo in a creative place to [email protected] by April 13.

The student with the most creative picture wins!

Photo by Emily SumnersLunch and basketball: Daniel Wild and Will Allen, Ooltewah, Tenn., juniors, watch March Madness coverage between classes in the University Center game room.

[email protected]

Views differ on summer classesBy eMiLy suMners

assistant features editor

UTC Registration is beginning for the summer and fall semesters, and students are deciding if they want to take summer classes.

Brittini Thacker, a Elizabethton, Tenn., sophomore, said she is taking classes this summer because she wants to graduate early.

“Summer classes will put me ahead in school, and that will help me get out of here sooner,” Thacker said.

Beth Thrasher, a Chattanooga junior, said she is taking summer classes to be able to graduate on time.

“If I didn’t take a summer class, I would have to take 20 hours per semester,” Thrasher said. “That would make my GPA go down.”

Thrasher said summer classes will probably require more cramming but might be easier than classes in the regular school year.

“I haven’t really thought about what it would be like,” Thrasher said, “But I hope it will be good.”

Thacker said she might have more difficulty taking classes in the summer than in the fall or spring.

“I think it will be harder because it’s a semester shoved into a couple of weeks,” Thacker said.

Thrasher said summer classes will interfere with having friends and a job.

“I would rather hang out with friends than do class,” Thrasher said. “I’ll have to go to class every day of the week, so my

work schedule suffers.”Frank Mitchell, a Chattanooga

sophomore, said he will not take summer classes because he needs to work and save money.

“I’m going to be a raft guide over the summer, and I need to work so I can pay for school next semester,” Mitchell said.

Thrasher said tuition is a bad thing about summer school.

“It’s expensive, and the HOPE scholarship doesn’t cover it,” Thrasher said.

Mitchell said, “I think summer school can be a really good idea because it’s kind of cheaper. It doesn’t take as long, but you can still get a lot of hours taken care of.”

Bekah Drummer, a Knoxville sophomore, said she is taking her summer courses at Pellissippi State Community College in order to save money and stay at home.

“I just found out I have to get caught up for my new major,” Drummer said. “I’m going to be home this summer anyway, and I have to get a job, so I’m going to take classes back at home.”

Drummer said she will spend about an hour a day on online courses.

Thacker said she decided to take summer courses at UTC instead of her hometown so she can be with friends in Chattanooga.

“It will be good to get my class out of the way,” Thacker said, “but it’s going to be hard to take a vacation with my family this summer.”

Thrasher said, “I will miss a vacation if I do summer classes.”

Mitchell said, “I want my summer to be a break from school.”

Photo by Lauren CarterSchool’s in for summer: John Stoehr, a Knoxville junior, and Chelsea Bresler, a Cookeville, Tenn., senior, look at the summer school schedule in the University Center.

Critic's Corner‘Paul’ induces laughter

By stepHanie cox

contributing reporter

“Sometimes you have to roll the

dice.” This quote from the movie “Paul” was a theme throughout the movie.

“Paul” is about two English nerds, Graeme Willy and Clive Gollings, who come to America for vacation.

While visiting area 51, they get more than they bargained for when they discover a real alien.

The alien, Paul, is on the run from the government and asks for assistance from the vacationers.

The three become fugitives on a wild chase across America and meet quite an assortment of characters along the way.

At an RV park they meet a young Christian woman named Ruth who insists that Paul must be a demon.

When she joins their crew, they find themselves having to dodge her father at every turn.

Along the way, they learn to take risks, enjoy the moment, trust in each other and that sometimes you just have to “roll the dice.”

This movie was funny but weird. Paul, played by Seth Rogan, was a

sarcastic but lovable alien that you just couldn’t help but root for.

Throughout most of the movie, you don’t know exactly where he’s running to, but you’re cheering for him all the same.

His character is really what brought the humor into the movie by performing such absurd acts as bringing a bird back

to life to then eating him. Seth Rogan, who can also be found

in “Knocked Up” and “Pineapple Express,” did a phenomenal job bringing this character to life.

He combined the wild humor with a more caring and sympathetic side to make Paul the well-rounded character he was.

Another comedy highlight was the young woman Ruth.

She is a staunch Christian whose faith has been shaken and decides to start cursing and fornicating as soon as possible.

Her awkward attempts at kissing even make the viewers uncomfortable, and her unskilled tongue spits out some pretty mangled outbursts that you can’t help but laugh at.

Ruth is played by Kristen Wiig, who also starred in “How to Train Your Dragon” and “Despicable Me.”

Overall, this movie was quite a laugh.

It was a rated R, Sci-Fi Comedy, which isn’t really my thing.

I did laugh at some of the funnier moments, and I could appreciate that this was a decent movie and very well acted.

I would recommend anyone who is into Sci-Fi movies or enjoys absurd comedy to go watch this movie right away.

On the other hand, if you are like me and enjoy romantic comedies or action flicks, this movie may not be on the top of your list.

Event floats in donationsBy esan swan

staff reporter

The Freshman Senate’s fundraiser ‘I’m On a Float’ is making its way to the Maclellan Gym April 7.

Students will be able buy a float, sit in the Maclellan Gym and watch the movie “The Hangover,” or they can give a donation to the cause at the event.

The affair will be from 6 to 8 p.m.Tickets will be $3 presale from a

community service committee member and $5 at the door.

The funds raised will go to the Invisible Children organization to help achieve its goal in assisting young adults in mentoring programs and scholarships fund for higher learning.

Steven Palmer, community service committee chair and freshman from Springfield, Tenn., is one of the few people leading and organizing this upcoming event.

Palmer said the scholarship fund and the mentoring program progressing through their education career is essential in helping bring that region of the world out of the state that it has been in.

Palmer and co-senator for SGA, Amanda Bisgaard, formulated the idea for this event after a visit from the Invisible Children to UTC.

“If it is successful, we are going to continue hopefully having other movie nights in the future,” Palmer said. “This

is kind of an experiment to see how the students of UTC take it. We hope to further it from there.”

Marshall Matthews, a sophomore from El Paso, Texas, said he has not had many experiences with fundraisers in the past, but he said he would check out the future fundraiser.

Matthews admits he is not much of a swimmer, but he said he would be willing to donate for the cause.

“It’s a lot of money to go to college these days, and it’s only going to become more expensive,” Matthews said. “But I hope every little bit can help toward the goal.

Alaina Skinner, a sophomore from Brentwood, Tenn., said she would definitely go to support the good cause.

Skinner said she has attended a few fundraisers in the past, but they weren’t as exciting as this one sounds.

She said she thinks many people would come out for the event.

Skinner said she is not sure about the float and swimming but would definitely watch the movie.

Skinner said she plans to attend and bring a few friends along.

Kortnea Young, a freshman from Covington, Tenn., said she would choose to attend the event to show support for the Invisible Children organization.

“It would be a fun gathering for everyone to get together, and it’s helping a good cause,” Young said.

Let’s get personalsubmit notes to fellow students, faculty and staff

under a pen name at [email protected]

SGA organizes Japan relief

Pin Strikes provides fun for allBy Jennifer redMan

features editor

Two weekends ago I went to the

Pin Strikes Bowling and Laser Tag Entertainment Center.

We went for our friend’s birthday to play laser tag, and it was awesome.

When you walk in you immediately feel like a kid again running around with all the games and a big group of your friends.

During the weekend it costs $8.50 plus tax for two, six minute sessions of laser tag.

It is a little cheaper than a movie, and you can run around like crazy, so it is definitely worth it.

The laser tag room is filled with obstacles to hide behind, and it is two stories, which makes it much more fun because everyone is not an easy target.

They also have a small place for bumper cars motorized bumper cars and an arcadewith tons of games.

Obviously there is bowling, and

while I am not a fan of bowling, the set up does look very cool.

A nice addition to the establishment is the bar and billiards area in the back.

There are food, drinks, televisions and pool tables, so customers have a chance to feel like an adult again after playing around in the arcade.

They have several different price packages depending on the time and activity you select to do.

“Monday Mania” is where everyone can bowl as much as they can for $1.50 per person per game with shoe rentals for only $3.

Every Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. they offer “2 Tuesdays” where every entertainment option is only $2.

I would encourage everyone to try it out, because it is a fun and goofy way to forget about school stress for a while.

They are open Sunday through Monday 10 a.m. to midnight, Tuesday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.

By HayLey Martin

managing editor

SGA is collecting donations to give

to the American Red Cross for the Japan earthquake and tsunami relief effort.

Laura Cagle, a senior from Dandridge, Tenn., and public relations director for SGA, said they will be accepting donations for the next two weeks.

“SGA is going to set up buckets like we did for Haiti at the cash registers in the UC food court, Java City in the UC and Fletcher and convenient store on south campus,” Cagle said.

Iesha Vann, a sophomore from Mount Juliet, Tenn., and social issues chair, said everyone should help out with the relief effort.

“We encourage everyone to give what they can,” Vann said. “At the end of the event, SGA is going to write one big check and send it off like we did for Haiti Relief. It will be designated

specifically for this tsunami relief effort.”

Cagle said last year’s Help Heal Haiti earthquake relief effort fundraiser was successful.

“We raised $1,400 in the Help Heal Haiti campaign,” Cagle said. “That was including t-shirt sales and other organization’s contributions.”

Meghan Smith, a sophomore from Calhoun, Tenn., and co-freshman senate advisor, said it was instinct for SGA to help out.

“It’s to help over the long term, not the short term,” Smith said.

Cagle said the American Red Cross uses the money in different ways in disaster relief.

“They use it on a lot of general labor,” Cagle said. “The America Red *Cross sponsors sending teams over there, and they buy food to send.”

Smith said they need water, too.“Their water is highly contaminated

with radiation,” Smith said.



Premier Crossword Puzzle by Frank A. Longo“Long in the Past”

Answers for March 24 SimCenter welcomes new presidentBy HannaH Lazar


The SimCenter is in the process of welcoming a new president and CEO, Tim Walsh.

Walsh was hired on as president and CEO in January and said he is in the process of beginning some new initiatives with the SimCenter.

He said he has an extensive background in the fields of computational engineering and business, having both worked for prominent Fortune 500 companies and owned his own companies within those fields.

Walsh said the current goals of the SimCenter are to take some of its projects and commercialize the technology, selling business ideas

and technology to Chattanooga area businesses.

He said the two areas of technology the SimCenter is working on commercializing are “agent dispersion analysis,” and naval operation.

“Agent dispersion analysis” looks at how to effectively prevent destruction from natural disasters and nuclear explosions and how to efficiently evacuate people out of a city in which such a disaster has occurred, he said.

Naval operation refers to attempts to better design cargo ships so that they do not bend and break under the stress of their cargo, he said.

The SimCenter is working with these two areas of technology to open up for-profit businesses in

Chattanooga, Walsh said.He said these two

commercializing efforts will bring companies to Chattanooga, boosting the local economy and providing jobs for graduating students at UTC.

Walsh said he is currently working on negotiating with interested businesses and attracting funding for the SimCenter, which he said is the foremost computational engineering center in the world.

“Chattanooga needs to be proud of what we have here with the SimCenter,” he said. “The University will play a huge role in the academic and economic development of the Chattanooga area, and students should be prepared. It will be very exciting.”

By Katie KinsinGer

chandler, ariz. junior

I had mixed feelings about the “SGA needs standards” editorial that was run in last week’s Echo.

I’ve heard some say that it was ridiculous and way too harsh and others say that they agree with it completely.

Personally, I’m somewhere in the middle of all that, and I feel like I can respond to this editorial with a clear, level-headed point of view.

Most of us in SGA take our jobs as campus leaders very seriously. I am the chairperson for the Campus Observations committee, but I’m sure most people on campus haven’t heard of my committee. That’s probably because most of our work is more behind the scenes. The same can be said for plenty of the work that SGA does. I know that my committee and I work hard to get things done on this campus.

So, when the senate becomes distracted by the dramatics of impeachments and other personal discrepancies, it becomes annoying.

I agree whole-heartedly that our “important issues are not given the proper attention and debate” because it seems some of the people in SGA can’t put aside personal issues and do their jobs.

The parts of the editorial that stated that SGA “allows friendship to cloud its judgment” and that it “lacks accountability outside the weekly sessions” were unfortunately spot on. It’s great that people in SGA can get along and be friends, but when that friendship gets in the way of some serious decisions, it becomes a serious problem. And trust me – it is a problem.

As far as accountability goes, I

think there should be more clearly defined guidelines that senators should abide by. I don’t know that going as far as establishing a permanent Ethics Committee is completely necessary, but there does obviously need to be a simplified (and constitutional) way to assemble one.

That being said, I have a problem with the editorial because it gives off the impression that everyone in SGA has a problem with standards. It’s essentially blaming the entire organization for the actions of a few of its members.

Another senator said last week that “it has become embarrassing to be a member of SGA lately,” and I would have to agree with that statement. SGA senators have to realize they are part of the public eye, and there has to be some accountability there.

Personally, I know I haven’t acted with “misconduct in office” (even without that term being clearly defined), and I hate to be forced into this impression that we all have a problem with ethics.

All in all, I think it really comes down to personal responsibility. If you want to be an SGA senator, you should be aware beforehand of the kind of effort you need to put into it. You should also know how to act appropriately as a student in the public eye.

I’m sorry, but it’s just not that difficult. All it takes is some common sense and a little bit of old-fashioned work ethic.

I’ll end this response with a quote that I think everyone, not just SGA senators, can learn something from… in the wise, wise words of Denzel Washington from the movie Remember the Titans: “you don’t have to like each other, but you will respect each other”.

Letter to the EditorSenators have standards

march 31 2011

Documents