Destination Imagination (DI), a nonprofit organization that provides learning opportunities to enrich the global community, will celebrate its thirtieth anniversary at Global Finals. This is the fourteenth year Knoxville has hosted the creative thinking and problem-solving competition for kindergarten through university-level students.

“We are busy preparing to host more than 14,000 visitors from around the world at Knoxville and the UT campus. It is an honor for our community to be selected year after year as the site for this prestigious event. I know first hand how DI changes lives and prepares students to succeed in our modern world,” said Robert Gibbs, executive director of UT Conferences and Noncredit Programs. “Our goal is to join with Destination Imagination to provide our visitors with a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Teams selected from more than 15,000 attempting to qualify will present the projects created during their regional competitions. In addition to the presentations, teams will compete in open-ended challenges during the week-long competition. Such challenges require teams to solve problems using a holistic approach of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) knowledge; improvisation; theater arts; writing; project management; communication innovation; teamwork; and community service.

In addition to the challenges, Global Finals will offer a glimpse at the future of technology at the Innovation Expo. This year’s Expo will feature twenty-three activities that include 3M’s Duct Tape Playground and Data Wind’s first US preview of the world’s least expensive tablet.

Founded in 1982, Destination Imagination has impacted more than a million students.

For more information, visit the Global Finals website.

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C O N T A C T :

Amy Blakely (865-974-5034, ablakely@utk.edu)

UT will award two honorary degrees and welcome a host of accomplished speakers at this spring’s commencement ceremonies, which begin May 8.

Honorary degrees will be awarded to renowned journalist John Seigenthaler at the College of Law commencement and to opera singer Mary Costa, known as the voice of Sleeping Beauty, at the College of Arts and Sciences commencement. Read more about the recipients in Tennessee Today.

More than 3,730 undergraduate and graduate students will receive degrees at thirteen college ceremonies this spring.

Graduates and their guests can park free in university student parking areas throughout the campus, but should avoid parking in staff lots.

Commencement ceremonies will be webcast.

Webcast links are included below. For information about parking and other details, visit the commencement website.

Below is a list of the commencement ceremonies and speakers. All events take place in Thompson-Boling Arena unless otherwise specified:

WEDNESDAY, MAY 8

• 8:30 a.m.—College of Nursing. The speaker is Julie Worley, a nursing doctoral student who has a private psychiatry practice. She teaches online at Rush University in Chicago and will be a full-time assistant professor and researcher at Rush after graduation. View the webcast here.

• 11:30 a.m.—College of Engineering. Alumnus Dwight Hutchins, the global managing director of Accenture’s Health and Public Service Strategy practice, will speak. View the webcast here.

• 3:30 p.m.—College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences. Missy Kane, a former Olympian, a Pan American Games medalist, and a former UT track coach, will speak. She is now a fitness promotion coordinator for Covenant Health. View the webcast here.

THURSDAY, MAY 9

• 8:30 a.m.—College of Communication and Information. The speaker is alumna Monica Langley, an author and senior special writer for The Wall Street Journal. View the webcast here.

• 11 a.m. —Audiology and Speech Pathology. Cox Auditorium in Alumni Memorial Building

• 1:00 p.m.—College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Alumnus Donnie Smith, president and chief executive officer of Tyson Food, will speak. View the webcast here.

• 4:30 p.m.—Graduate Hooding. Amanda Sanford, fifth-year doctoral candidate in political science and president of the Graduate Student Senate, will speak. The Graduate School expects about 300 master’s students and 100 doctoral students to take part in the ceremony. View the webcast here.

FRIDAY, MAY 10

• 9:00 a.m.—College of Arts and Sciences. Costa will receive an Honorary Doctor of Humane and Musical Letters and speak briefly. The speaker is alumna Margaret Scobey, former US Ambassador to Egypt and longtime diplomat. She is now deputy commandant, international affairs advisor, Industrial College of the Armed Forces. View the webcast here.

• 2:00 p.m.—College of Business Administration. Mark A. Emkes, Tennessee Commissioner of Finance and Administration and retired chairman, chief executive officer and president of Bridgestone Americas Inc., will speak. View the webcast here.

• 5:00 p.m.—College of Law. Seigenthaler will receive an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree and speak briefly. US Sen. Lamar Alexander, who served as Tennessee’s governor, president of the University of Tennessee and US Secretary of Education, will speak. View the webcast here.

SATURDAY, MAY 11

• 10:00 a.m.—College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Patricia Sura, who completed her residency at the College of Veterinary Medicine and was an assistant professor of surgery for six years, will speak. Sura now practices at a veterinary hospital in Kentucky.

• 1:00 p.m.—College of Social Work. No guest speaker. View the webcast here.

• 5:00 p.m.—College of Architecture and Design Hooding Ceremony. The speaker is alumna Robin Klehr Avia, regional managing principal and chair of the board at Gensler, an internationally acclaimed design firm. View the webcast here.

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C O N T A C T :

Amy Blakely (865-974-5034, ablakely@utk.edu)

“People loved the idea. The response has been overwhelming,” said Gary Peacock, director of Campus Renewal Ministries’ Campus House of Prayer at UT, who had seen similar projects at other campuses around the country. Peacock reached out to UT’s campus ministries and asked each to submit information for one day.

Pray UT is thirty-one days long, although it’s not dated so it can be used any time.

Each day features a prayer, a scripture passage, a description of the organization that submitted it, and a group of people at the university to specifically pray for. The groups range from faculty and staff to transfer students and students with disabilities, to support staff and the Board of Regents.

Campus Renewal formatted each entry and designed hard-copy and PDF versions. They also hope to turn the book into a mobile app.

The book has been distributed to the participating campus ministries and they are using it this month. Several churches in the Knoxville area are also using the book, and Campus Renewal continues to receive requests for copies.

Peacock said he was amazed by how the idea took off.

“It happened really fast,” and the contributing organizations are “across the board, from Roman Catholics to Baptists,” Peacock said. Within two weeks, the book was put together and enough money was raised to publish it.

“It’s groundbreaking,” Peacock said. “It’s the largest collaborative faith project we’ve done at UT.”

Anyone who would like a free copy can e-mail utk@campusrenewal.org or stop by the Campus House of Prayer, 1915 Lake Avenue, to pick up a hard copy.

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C O N T A C T :

Holly Gary (865-974-2225, hgary@utk.edu)

Amy Blakely (865-974-5034, amy.blakely@tennessee.edu)

Impact and Student Alumni Associates, two student groups in the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs, created “I Heart UT Week.” They are collaborating with the Central Program Council to provide some of the week’s events, including the annual Volapalooza concert.

“‘I Heart UT Week’ is an opportunity for students not only to get excited about our wonderful university but to also see the many ways they can give back,” said Paige Atchley, president of Impact and junior in marketing.

Events scheduled include:

All Week

• Photo Contest: Participants can post pictures of why they love UT to the I Heart UT Facebook page. Winners will be chosen at the end of the week.

Saturday, April 20

• 9:00 a.m.–noon, Day of Service: Participants can make UT beautiful by joining in a campus clean-up.
• 2 p.m., Orange and White Game: Football fans can come to Neyland Stadium for a free preseason scrimmage.

Sunday, April 21

• 2:00 p.m., Ole Miss Baseball Game: Baseball fans can watch the Vols take on the Rebel Black Bears at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

Monday, April 22

• Big Orange Breakfast: People on the Joe Johnson and John Ward Pedestrian Walkway can grab a free doughnut.
• 1:00 p.m., I Heart UTea: Free iced tea will be available on Pedestrian Walkway.
• 6:00 p.m., Stress Relief Party: Attendees can unwind with inflatables, ice cream, and music at the Humanities Amphitheater.
• 9:00 p.m., Wreck It Ralph: Watch the animated film at the Humanities Amphitheater.

Tuesday, April 23

• All day, Keep Tennessee Orange: People wearing orange on campus could win a prize.
• 1:00–4:00 p.m., Decal Drive-Thru: UT seniors can drive to Tyson Alumni House and grab a “Vol for Life” alumni decal for their car.

Wednesday, April 24

• 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., Thank UT Day: Participants can fill out postcards on Pedestrian Walkway to thank alumni.
• 3:00–5:00 p.m., Ice Cream Social: People can drop by the Tyson Alumni House for a sweet afternoon treat.

Thursday, April 25

• 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Canned Food Drive: Students can bring canned food to the Pedestrian Walkway. The first 250 students to donate three cans will receive a free tank top.
• 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., Class Ring Distribution: Students can pick up their official UT ring at Tyson Alumni House.
• 7:30 p.m., Carnicus: People can watch various student groups compete in skits in Alumni Memorial Building’s Cox Auditorium. Tickets can be purchased online.
• 9:00 p.m.–midnight, Rocky Top Rave: Students can dance the night away on the Hill.

Friday, April 26

• 4:00–7:00 p.m., FestiVOL: Students can gather in Presidential Courtyard for a carnival-like celebration with food, giveaways, and music before Volapalooza.
• 7:00 p.m., Volapalooza: This year’s show includes rapper Tyga with special guests DJ Mike Nasty and Beats Antique. Students must purchase tickets at the Central Ticket Office in the University Center, and general admission tickets can be purchased online.

Impact is a student organization that aims to develop philanthropy among students and educate them on the importance of alumni support,

The Student Alumni Associates work with the UT Alumni Association to provide an enriched relationship between students and alumni.

For more information, visit the I Heart UT Week page on the UT Alumni Association website.

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C O N T A C T :

Desiree Krichbaum (865-974-3011, dkrichba@utk.edu)

“When you graduate from this university, you can compete on the world stage with anybody, from any time and any place,” said Holliday, who was the speaker of the fall commencement ceremony, held this morning at Thompson Boling Arena.

Holliday, chair of Bank of America and former CEO of DuPont, also received an honorary doctorate in engineering during the ceremony.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxf1_ocibp8

More than 1,800 UT students received undergraduate and graduate degrees at ceremonies held Friday and today.

Holliday said the American research university is a unique invention and “the best in the world by a long piece.”

“We don’t have a copyright on it, we don’t have a patent on it but all those who have tried to copy it have not been successful,” said Holliday, who recently chaired a National Research Council committee focused on strengthening higher education’s role in global competitiveness. “In this world that you’re going into, take great confidence that you have what it takes to compete.”

He asked the group to have faith in America and its ability to restore its position as a global power.

“What we have seen in 2012 is a fundamental shift in the key mechanism for a modern society, a modern economy, and that’s energy,” Holliday said. “Due primarily to American creativity, which has found a way to tap natural gas and oil that’s been here all along, we see a route now to energy stability and independence within a couple of decades.”

He added: “I’m telling you that this country is going to lead the world again and you can put that in your notebook and just check me on that over the next couple of years.”

The alumnus urged graduates to protect their integrity and to seek careers with companies and organizations that demonstrate high ethical standards.

Holliday received his bachelor’s in industrial engineering from UT’s College of Engineering in 1970. Chancellor Cheek said UT is “incredibly proud to claim him as our own, a Tennessee Volunteer.”

“Chad Holliday is an accomplished Tennessean who is firmly committed to advancing business, industry and society as a whole,” Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek said. “We are proud to award him an honorary degree from his alma mater and the flagship institution of our state.”

A Nashville native, Holliday parlayed a college summer job at DuPont’s Old Hickory plant in Nashville into a 38-year career at DuPont.

Holliday is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He is currently chair of the National Academy of Engineering.

Holliday also chairs the American Energy Innovation Council, whose mission is to re-establish America’s energy technology leadership in developing clean energy technologies.

Holliday and his wife, Ann Blair Holliday, have two sons, Chad and Scot.

–

CONTACT:

Lola Alapo (865-974-3993, lalapo@utk.edu)

Karen Simsen (865-974-5186, karen.simsen@tennessee.edu)

The project is a joint effort of Veterans at UTK, the student group for veterans; the Center for the Study of War and Society; and the Office of Veterans Affairs, part of the Office of the University Registrar.

The board will be displayed during the all-day ceremony on November 12, when the names of fallen service men and women will be read.

To sign the board, visit 209 Student Services Building anytime between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 30, through Friday, November 9.

Last year, UT joined in the National Day of Remembrance Project started by Eastern Kentucky University by having campus volunteers read the names of the more than 6,300 veterans who have died since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. This year, members of the community are invited to join in the reading of names—and to add the names of their loved ones who have died while serving in the military at any time in history.

Anyone interested in reading names and/or adding the name of a loved one who died while serving in the military is asked to e-mail Regina Lewellyn at rlewellyn@utk.edu.

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C O N T A C T :

Regina Lewellyn, Veterans Affairs Assistant (865- 974-1500, rcoving1@utk.edu)

The forty-acre complex will open early in the spring semester. The two-year construction project is on track to wrap up in mid-January, just in time to host the full gamut of intramurals and student activities. More than 10,000 students participate in UT’s sport clubs and intramural programs each year.

Funded solely through student activity fees, the new complex will significantly improve intramural programming and provide much more flexibility and convenience in scheduling of games and practices for sport clubs.

Most games are now played on the 2.5-acre RecSports field, while others are scheduled off campus due to space limitations.

The new complex will have an open-air seating pavilion and a central building which will serve as a field and equipment house, three sand volleyball courts, two softball fields, and eight multi-purpose fields that can be used for flag football, lacrosse, soccer, and other sports. The complex also will have plenty of parking and terraced seating for spectators on several fields.

Student Life Vice Chancellor Tim Rogers said that having natural and artificial turf will provide more flexibility to play intramurals and tournaments year round when inclement weather hits.

“This has been a great need for a long time. We are pleased that our students will soon get to enjoy the new complex,” Rogers said.

RecSports Director Rex Pringle anticipates the new complex will spark additional growth in the number of student teams, particularly in flag football, soccer, softball, and sand volleyball.

The pavilion, the central building, and the utility/maintenance building are now being built and artificial turf is being installed. The complex connects to the city’s Third Creek Greenway and is just three miles from campus by car or by way of the greenway.

The university will provide transportation from campus to the site to accommodate game schedules.

Rogers said the university has worked with students for more than twelve years on how best to address the need for field space. More than twenty-five sites were evaluated before the site was chosen in 2009. Because the campus is bordered by downtown Knoxville, Cumberland Avenue, and Fort Sanders along with the Tennessee River, railroads, and major interstates, it was difficult to find a large parcel of flat land near the campus.

Homecoming events begin Sunday and culminate on Saturday, November 3, when the football Vols take on Troy in Neyland Stadium. Kickoff is at noon.

Veterans activities

UT veterans and their families are invited to campus for the third Veterans Reunion, a homecoming event held every five years.

“Your Service—Our Freedom” is the theme of the reunion, sponsored by the Office of Alumni Affairs. Events on Friday, November 2, and Saturday, November 3, include a luncheon, a Veterans Recognition Dinner, and a tailgate party.

To see a full list of events and to register online to attend, visit the UT Knoxville Alumni Association website. Contact the Office of Alumni Affairs at 865-974-3011 or by e-mail at reunions@utk.edu for more information.

Homecoming highlights

The annual Homecoming parade will begin at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, November 2. It starts at the Rock and travels east on Volunteer Boulevard. The grand marshal is Chamique Holdsclaw, former Lady Vol basketball star who went on to play for the WNBA with the Washington Mystics, the Los Angeles Sparks, the Atlanta Dream and the San Antonio Silver Stars. Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek and UT System President Joe DiPietro also will ride in the parade. Veterans and Little Vols are invited to participate.

The signature event of Homecoming—the annual Party in the Park—begins at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 3, in Circle Park. Admission is free and there will be live entertainment, cheerleaders, music, door prizes, and children’s activities. The World’s Largest MoonPie will be cut at 10:00 a.m.

Morrill Act plaque dedication

Cheek, DiPietro, and Institute of Agriculture Chancellor Larry Arrington will unveil a historical marker commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Morrill Act during Ag Day on Saturday, November 3. The plaque dedication is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. outside the Ellington Plant Sciences building, near the intersection of Joe Johnson and E. J. Chapman drives.

The Ag Day street fair will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and feature a petting zoo, a cricket-spitting contest, and appearances by Smokey and Charlie, the television personality of Farm Bureau Insurance. For more information, visit the Institute of Agriculture website.

For more information about Homecoming activities, as well as details about making reservations for events that require them, see the Alumni Association’s Homecoming website.

Additional homecoming activities include:

Sunday, October 28

• Anything Goes, a variety of field games for students, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Fiji Island.

Monday, October 29

• Soapbox Derby, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. along Volunteer Boulevard near Stokely Athletics.

Tuesday, October 30

• 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament, 4:00  to 10:00 p.m. in the HPER Bubble.

Wednesday, October 31

• Smokey’s Howl, a spirit competition for student organizations, 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. in Thompson-Boling Arena.
• Talent Show, 7:00 p.m. in the University Center Auditorium.

Friday, November 2

• Pep Rally and Smokey’s Howl finals, 6:00 p.m. in Thompson-Boling Arena.
• Homecoming Comedy Show featuring Lav Luv, Nema Williams, and Sean Larkins, doors open at 7 p.m. and show starts at 7:30 p.m., at the Bijou Theater. Sponsored by the Black Cultural Programming Committee and Office of Multicultural Student Life, this show features three comedians who have appeared on BET’s Comic View. For ticket info, see knoxvilletickets.com.
• Friday Night Live at the Square Comedy Show featuring UT alumna Leanne Morgan, 7:30 p.m. at the Square Room on Knoxville’s Market Square. Reservations required.
• Alumni discount at the University Bookstore in the University Center, 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Alumni receive a 20 percent discount on all Volunteer Shop regularly priced merchandise.

Saturday, November 3

• Pre-Game Faculty Showcase, 10:00 a.m. in the University Center Ballroom. It will feature David Reidy, head of the Department of Philosophy, who will present “The Authority of Citizens: Its Nature and Limit.”
• African-American Hall of Fame induction, 10:00 a.m. at the Black Cultural Center. This year’s inductee is Jane S. Redmond, who retired from UT in 2008 after a twenty-six-year career. She has served as assistant vice chancellor for student affairs, director of the Office of Multicultural Student Life, director of the Women’s Center, and interim chairperson for the Commission for Blacks.
• The Office of Admissions’ “Continue the Tradition: Tips for Alumni and Legacies,” 10:30 a.m. in McClung Museum Auditorium.
• Thirteenth Annual Southeastern Stomp Fest, 7:00 p.m. at Knoxville Civic Coliseum. Purchase tickets at Tickets Unlimited locations or call 865-656-4444.

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C O N T A C T :

Amy Blakely (865-974-5034, ablakely@utk.edu)

New glass-enclosed group study rooms that allow natural light have been built around the Commons’ perimeter. Service desks, computer tables, and booth-style seating are already in place. Library and OIT staff will begin installing computers and printers later this week.

The Commons have been undergoing renovations since early summer. Renovating an entire floor of Hodges Library has entailed a complex choreography of temporary relocations of services and staff offices. Library staff recently reoccupied the updated circulation/media/reserve service desk and office area just inside the Melrose Place entrance. This freed up space outside Starbucks’ new west-facing entrance for the upcoming installation of expanded café seating.

When students return from fall break, they should see the progress. Some improvements are already apparent. Entrances to Commons North and Commons South have been widened, and a series of service desks are clearly visible across the entire expanse, north to south, of the second floor of Hodges.

One need only peek over the construction barrier into Commons North to see the zigzag computer tables and a serpentine arrangement of easy chairs. Commons South boasts new mediascape furniture that that will allow students to walk up, plug in their own laptops, and confer on group projects.

The centralization of service desks means students will be able to check out all equipment—laptops, scanners, video cameras, headphones, voice recorders and more—from one convenient location in Commons South. The studio, now centrally located in Commons South, will offer more recording and video studios.

Commons North will provide dedicated spaces for the Student Success Center, the Writing Center, Stat Lab, and the Math Tutorial Center.

UT welcomes fans to campus this Saturday for the Volunteers’ game against the University of Florida. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m., with gates opening at 4:00 p.m. ESPN will televise the game.

Follow @UTGameday on Twitter for the latest updates on traffic, weather, gate information, and game day events such as the Vol Walk and band march. For a comprehensive list of all gameday information, please visit utsports.com/gameday.

Saturday’s game is sold out. However, season tickets are available at uttix.com. Please be cognizant about purchasing counterfeit tickets, as all counterfeit tickets will be confiscated at the stadium gates and the patron(s) denied admission.

ESPN College GameDay

ESPN will broadcast its live ESPN College GameDay program in Circle Park, outside Neyland Stadium, from 9:00 a.m. to noon, Saturday. Fans will be admitted to a viewing area near the show stage no earlier than 7:00 a.m. Saturday morning. Only fans with permits can park on the UT campus.

The following items are prohibited before and during the show:

• Food or drink;
• Vulgar signs;
• Signs promoting .com, .net or .org websites;
• Religious signs;
• Political signs;
• Bookbags, purses, or bags of any kind; and
• Markers, pens, pencils, or dry-erase boards.

Throwing items is also prohibited during the live telecast.

Stadium Security

All items, including purses, are subject to search at the gates. Bags larger than 12 inches by 12 inches by 12 inches cannot be brought into the stadium, and items larger than this standard size, as well as other prohibited items, cannot be stored at any stadium gate.

UT reminds visitors that sportsmanlike behavior is expected throughout the day, and entering the field before, during, or after the game is prohibited. Anyone who attempts to do so will be arrested and face university sanctions as well.

Under state law, smoking is prohibited in Neyland Stadium at all times. Fans cannot leave the stadium and be readmitted. Commercial solicitation in front of Neyland Stadium from Middle Way Drive to Gate 10 is prohibited starting four hours before kickoff and continuing until the game is over.

UT reserves the right to examine the contents of any container brought into the stadium. To protect the safety of our fans, players, officials, and staff, the following items are prohibited. Please do not attempt to bring these or similar articles in the stadium. Items will not be stored at the gate and/or stadium and cannot be retrieved after the game.

• Alcoholic beverages
• Cans, bottles, coolers
• Outside food, snacks, beverages
• Radios without headsets
• Open umbrellas
• Video cameras
• Stadium seats with arms
• Bags or parcels, including backpacks and purses, larger than 12″x12″x12″
• Weapons
• Artificial noisemakers

Permissible Items

The following items are permitted inside Neyland Stadium:

• Cell phones
• Binoculars
• Radios with headsets
• Diaper bags when accompanied by an infant
• Limited use of cameras. Game action may not be filmed. Consideration of other spectators is expected.

Parking and Traffic

Since on-campus parking is limited to fans with permits, UT encourages the use of shuttle buses to campus. Shuttles travel from the Old City, the Knoxville Civic Coliseum and the Market Square area of downtown Knoxville, and Farragut High School in west Knoxville.

Limited public accessible parking spaces and fully accessible shuttle buses to the stadium are available on the UT Agriculture Campus off Neyland Drive.

Due to campus construction, fans are encouraged to arrive early. For complete information on game day parking, stadium regulations and activities, visit utsports.com/gameday.

Game Day Activities

The annual Tim Kerin Memorial Food Drive will be held outside Neyland Stadium to benefit Knoxville’s Second Harvest Food Bank. Collection centers for financial donations will be set up around the stadium prior to the game. Fans are encouraged to bring nonperishable food items to a Second Harvest drop-off point near the Communications Building. Kerin, the long-time head trainer at Tennessee, died suddenly in 1992. The food drive has been held in his honor ever since.

The traditional Vol Walk will start at 3:45 p.m. on Volunteer Boulevard near Circle Park, as the members of the football team proceed down Volunteer Boulevard and then continue down Peyton Manning Pass to the stadium.

The Pride of the Southland Marching Band will begin marching at 4:20 p.m. at the intersection of Pat Head Summitt Street and Volunteer Boulevard and will then follow the same path as the Vol Walk. This Saturday, the marching band will be joined by a sixty-five-member bagpipe band.

Because of the potential for large crowds at both the Vol Walk and the band march, fans are encourage to consider entering the stadium when gates open at 4:00 p.m. and view the band march from the ramp areas on the west side of the stadium.

The Volunteer Village commercial display area will be open from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the lawn of the Humanities and Social Sciences Building, offering festivities for fans of all ages.

Fans also can attend the College of Arts and Sciences’ Pregame Showcase. Held two hours before each home game kickoff in the University Center Ballroom, the showcase is a free thirty-minute presentation by a UT faculty member. This week, at 4:00 p.m., Hap McSween, Chancellor’s Professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, will discuss Exploring Asteroids with the Dawn Spacecraft.

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C O N T A C T :

Jimmy Stanton (865-974-4167, jimmystanton@tennessee.edu)

Charles Primm (865-974-5180, charles.primm@tennessee.edu)

One of their move-in helpers was Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek, who wasn’t afraid to break a sweat lifting large boxes and bins.

“It’s really great to be here with all our new students,” he said. “We like to have this opportunity for them and their families to come here and get established in the residence halls.”

Members of the Class of 2016 were polled about the most important items they packed for college. They listed peanut butter, clothes, a mattress pad, computers, and a rug—because freshman Aaron Gamble detests “waking up and putting his feet on a cold floor.”

An army of volunteers from various campus and community organizations were on hand to help freshmen check-in, get carts, load-up, and find their rooms.

Parents were also there to lift heavy objects and lend advice.

“This is my fifth of five students and I suggested to each one to pack light but you can tell that didn’t happen,” said one parent pointing to a pile of materials.

When the chancellor moved into his freshmen residence hall at Texas A&M, he does not remember the move-in process being so organized.

“We had to park a long way from the dorm,” he laughed. “No one was there to help us. And there were no carts so you had to carry everything yourself. And my room was on top floor so we had to go four floors up. And it was hot.”

Freshmen said they are most looking forward to the freedom of being on their own, meeting people, and just being a Vol.

The Class of 2016 arrived at UT with an average ACT score of 27 and an average GPA of 3.89. About 44 percent had average GPAs of 4.0 or higher. UT received about 14,400 applications for seats in this year’s freshman class, a 5 percent increase over last year.

Chapters Delta Zeta and Alpha Chi Omega moved in earlier this week. The women of Kappa Delta are moving in this weekend.

UT expects a total of seven houses to be completed this fall, with as many as 270 women living in the development by the end of the semester.

Sorority Village will have thirteen houses and one administrative/meeting building once it is completed next year. The administrative/meeting building will also open this fall.

Sorority fall recruitment begins Sunday, August 19 and events will take place at the Panhellenic Building on Cumberland Avenue and the three open houses in Sorority Village. Nearly 900 women are registered to participate in fall recruitment.

The university has accommodated several sorority chapters that expected their houses to be completed this month. Most women are in residence halls. The Sigma Kappa sorority chapter is moving into an unoccupied house in Fraternity Park on a temporary basis while their house is being completed.

All new property is subject to compliance reviews and a fire marshal inspection before they open. In the works for more than six years, work began on the Sorority Village infrastructure in the fall of 2009.

The Rock, located at the corner of Volunteer Boulevard and Pat Head Summitt Street, has been fenced for its own protection—and that of would-be painters—while crews performed necessary utility, sidewalk, and guttering work around the new Natalie L. Haslam Music Center.

The Natalie L. Haslam Music Center began construction in 2010. The $40 million project is expected to open in fall 2013.

View a photo gallery of the Rock here.

Liu will speak at 1 p.m. on Tuesday in Thompson-Boling Arena. The event is open to the public and free parking is available in G-10 parking garage.

The common reading selection is a key component in UT’s efforts to orient and engage new students in academic and campus life. Freshmen also must submit creative projects on one of the book’s themes and attend a small-group discussion session.

“By the time students have read the book, done their creative projects, and participated in a discussion group, they have a good feel for what college work is going to feel like,” said Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Susan Martin. “As a bonus for our students, we plan the Life of the Mind common reading program with the intent of having the author come to campus to talk to students. It’s a rich experience to meet the author, hear him speak, and even have the opportunity to ask him a question.”

The Accidental Asian: Notes of a Native Speaker, was a New York Times Notable Book and was featured in the PBS documentary Matters of Race. It is an essay montage with themes ranging from race, language, and global politics to the feelings of inadequacy and ambivalence that often accompany the college transition.

Liu, a second-generation Chinese-American, is a graduate of Yale and Harvard and a former speechwriter and deputy domestic policy adviser for President Bill Clinton.

His other books include The True Patriot and The Gardens of Democracy, both co-authored with Nick Hanauer; Guiding Lights: How to Mentor and Find Life’s Purpose, which was named the official book of National Mentoring Month; and Imagination First, co-authored with Scott Noppe-Brandon of the Lincoln Center Institute, which explores ways to unlock imagination in education, politics, business, and the arts.

Liu lives in Seattle, where he also teaches at the University of Washington and leads the Guiding Lights Network, a national mentoring organization dedicated to promoting great citizenship. He also hosts an acclaimed television interview program called Seattle Voices.

Liu has served on the boards of the Washington State Board of Education, the Seattle Public Library, Demos, Washington State Mentors, the League of Education Voters, and the Swedish Medical Center Foundation. He has served on the national leadership councils of Communities in Schools and the Association of American Colleges and Universities.

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C O N T A C T :

Amy Blakely (865-974-5034, ablakely@utk.edu)

Elizabeth Schonagen, First Year Studies program (865-974-2792, schonagen@utk.edu)

Commuter Students

Another 150 student commuter spaces at Church St. United Methodist Church surface lot – designated as lot C-26 – available from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday but subject to closure during special events*

Another 140 commuter spaces in Poplar Street Lot designated as C-18 – available from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday but subject to closure during special events *

Spaces (52) have been added in a lot at Laurel Avenue and 16th St.—designated as C-9

*effective on Monday, August 20.

Resident (Non-Commuter) Students

Due to construction, the lot at Lake Ave. and Volunteer Blvd. West (N-15) has been redesignated for noncommuters.

Faculty and Staff

Sixty-five staff spaces have been added to Caledonia Ave. (Staff Area 37), which was formerly a noncommuter lot. This substitutes spots lost when Staff Area 23 closed for the new residence hall site.

Forty-one spaces have been added to Lake Avenue (Staff Area 12), just west of Melrose Ave.

UT Parking and Transit Services will be open throughout the weekend to accommodate move-in schedule and permit sales.

For more information, contact Mark Hairr at 974-6031.

A small parking lot on the north side of Hess Hall will be converted into an open-air seating area, sidewalks on both sides of Melrose Avenue will be widened and improved, and additional angled parking will be available on the north side of the street. Handicapped parking spots and a new entrance will be added to the front of the International House.

Hodges Library and the I-House will remain open during the road work, with pedestrian access and employee parking available in the Staff 12 lot next to the I-House.

Limited access to Melrose Avenue for local traffic will be granted on July 26-27. No on-street parking will be permitted until the road reopens on August 4.

For more information on campus road and construction projects, visit the Cone Zone at conezone.utk.edu.

UT expects seven houses to be completed this fall, with as many as 270 women living in the development by the end of the semester. UT anticipates at least three houses opening in time for fall classes, which begin August 22.

Sorority Village will have thirteen houses and one administrative/meeting building once it is completed next year. Sorority fall recruitment is set for August 19—26 at the Panhellenic Building on Cumberland Avenue and at the completed properties within Sorority Village, with transportation provided between the two locations.

The chapters with houses opening in this first phase are:

• Delta Zeta
• Alpha Chi Omega
• Kappa Delta
• Delta Delta Delta
• Alpha Delta Pi
• Sigma Kappa
• Kappa Kappa Gamma

The administrative/meeting building will also open this fall. The university is funding a portion of the facility for its administrative offices and meeting space. Alpha Kappa Alpha is funding the other portion and will have a dedicated space within.

All new property is subject to compliance reviews and a fire marshal inspection before they open.

In the works for more than six years, work began on the Sorority Village infrastructure in the fall of 2009.

Chapters are funding their houses in full through private donations and mortgage agreements that will be paid through rent and chapter fees. Each house is estimated to cost between $3 million and $5 million. Once construction is complete, the total private investment in Sorority Village is expected to exceed $45 million.

Houses were bid as separate projects through the state Building Commission, and UT is managing the construction contracts. The houses range from 9,000 to 17,000 square feet, with the largest houses accommodating up to forty-eight women.

View a few commonly asked questions about the development.

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CONTACT:

Karen Simsen (865-974-5186, karen.simsen@tennessee.edu)

Work crews will install new electrical conduits below street level as part of the construction of the new Student Union, at the site of the current University Center.

From June 20 to June 30, traffic on the side of Volunteer Boulevard closest to Hodges Library will be reduced to one lane. From June 26 to July 3, traffic on the side of Volunteer Boulevard closest to Claxton Education Building will be reduced to one lane as well.

The work is scheduled to be completed by the July 4 holiday.

For more information on campus traffic, visit conezone.utk.edu.

RAIDS Online provides a map and crime analysis data. UT community members can use the map, data grid, and analytics to learn more about specific incidents and reports. Community members also can sign up for crime alerts that provide statistics about their area in a daily, weekly, or monthly e-mail.

“Our goal is to provide community members with another way to get information about general crime on the UT campus. Building an awareness about incidents that occur is key to preventing and reducing crime,” said Interim Chief Debbie Perry.

The Knoxville Police Department and Knox County Sheriff’s Office also use RAIDS Online as a crime prevention and education tool.

The site also allows members of the community to submit anonymous tips. Along with connecting the public to police departments, RAIDS Online provides citizens with the same data used by law enforcement so that they can make informed decisions about their safety.

The system will be used in combination with the university’s communication about serious incidents which includes e-mails to all faculty, staff, and students, UT Alert text and e-mail messages, and updates to the front page of the UT Knoxville website.

To view the UT campus on RAIDS Online, click here.

For more information about UTPD, visit the department’s website.

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C O N T A C T :

Emily Simerly, UTPD (865-974-0163, emilym@utk.edu