Uncovering UT

By the students of the Business and Future of Journalism course in the School of Journalism and Electronic MediaVolume 1

December 2014

THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEEYOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT

Introduction

Uncovering UT is the class project of the JEM 499 Business and Future of Journalism course (Fall 2014) in the School of Journalism and Electronic Media at the University of Tennessee.

This book was conceived to give the seniors in the journalism program at UT a chance to produce an interactive, multimedia book that would be forcused around a central idea: what are some of the interesting things about the University of Tennessee that people might not know about.

We selected 10 programs, centers or activities, but, of course, there are many, many others.

The book is published in two volumes (because of file size). This first volume includes chapters on the UT Culinary Program, the new SEC Network studio at UT, the Center for Equine Veterinary Research, and UT’s Forensic Anthropology program.

The second volume includes chapters on the the Center for Physical Activity, the Science Alliance, the Center for the Study of War and Society, McClung Museum, and the Center for Children’s and Young Adult Literature.

Each of the chapters of this book was produced by a team of students, and the final section in each chapter tells you who those student are.

The book is part of the Tennessee Journalism Series, a set of interactive, multimedia books produced by the School of Journalism at the University of Tennessee.

We hope you enjoy this book and find out more about the University of Tennessee.

The designer

The designer of this book is Dallas Abel, a student in the JEM 499 course. In addition to his duties as a team member, Dallas volunteer to be the iBooks Author editor for the entire project. His takent, organizational abilities and hard work brought this project into being.

The opening video of the book was produced by David Vincent.

The professor

The professor supervising this project is Jim Stovall.

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Copyright © 2014

This book is copyrighted by the School of Journalism and Electronic Media at the University of Tennessee.

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced without the permission of the School of Journalism and Electronic Media at the University of Tennessee.

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Tennessee Journalism Series

The Tennessee Journalism Series is a set of texts and instructional material developed by the faculty of the University of Tennessee School of Journalism and Electronic Media for journalism students and instructors around the world.

The idea behind the series is “multimedia first.”

That is, these books are built for the iPad and contain a variety of multimedia elements: text, audio, video, photo galleries, interac-tive images, and interactive reviews and quizzes.

At present, books available in this series include:

Feature Writing

Going Online: How to Start a Scholastic News Website

How to Get a Job as an On-Air TV Journalist (Denae D’Arcy)

Introduction to Journalism

Media Reporting

Photojournalism: Telling Stories with Pictures and Words

Reporting: An Introduction

The First Amendment

Writing Like a Journalist (Jim Stovall)

Other books in active development include:

Journalism and Social Media (Ioana Coman and Margaret Grigsby)

Legal Issues for Journalism Students (Mike Martinez and Dwight Teeter)

The British Media (Mark Harmon)

Full descriptions of the books available with their iBookstore, Kin-dle and Amazon links can be found at http://tnjnseries.com.

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Chapter 1

Cultivation. Creation. Culinary.Not all courses affiliated with UT require four years. Some, like the UT Culinary Program, only need 12 weeks to help students get familiar in the kitchen as well as gain valuable real-world experience. From cooking soup to setting brownies on fire, these cooks learn the ins and outs of a culinary operation.

Twelve short weeks of intensive classes that teach more than how to make a good creme brûlée: Chef Greg Eisele, Program Director of the UT Culinary Program, says this program is "based off of real life experiences and life events."

Where other students may find themselves nose-deep in a textbook, Chef Eisele says program participants are more likely to be elbow-deep in tomatoes.

"Most of it is hands on," he adds. “There’s no 17th century, British literature. There’s no English. There’s no history. It’s all about being a culinarian.” 

Section 1

QUICK FACTS

1. The certification takes 12 weeks to complete.

2. All students are full-time.

3. Students learn unique skills like ice-scuplting and cost control.

The Way the Cookie Crumbles

6

The program's industrial kitchen stands empty as the culinary students prepare displays in the lobby.

This unique addition to the University of Tennessee is open to more than just traditional college students. The program is not an undergraduate major or minor program, but rather an

independent certificate program that welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds - as long as those students love to learn about the culinary world. Students get to jump straight into studying what they love without wading through general education classes.

The program is taught by seven American Culinary Federation certified executive chefs, setting the program apart from its peers. The ACF also serves as a support system to help these students find jobs after they graduate and into their careers.

7

Chef Greg explains the purpose of the 12 weeks program. Culinary Student Pearce Gruenenfelder chose the program because it was the perfect short-term opportunity.

Movie 1.1 Chef Greg

Using noodles, peas, bacon and chicken, students make chicken carbonara to serve a group of high school visitors.

 “They deliver that real world message that is the backbone of this program,” says Chef Eisele.

Only a few sessions in, the program has already seen students become successful culinary professionals in many areas - whether owning a food truck or their own bakery.

Students get opportunities that may not be typical of culinary classes. One week, students may be hosting cooking segments at the local television station. Other weekends, they may be pulling long hours catering the skyboxes for Tennessee football games. 

“Most of the events that we do are student managed.”

Chef Greg asks them to make a sales presentation in front of the class, and whoever wins gets to be the executive chef for the event in question. In these types of situations, “If they don’t work as a team, they sink.”

"(This program) is not about food," concludes Chef Eisele. "The funny thing about it is if I had to prioritize this program, it's about engagement, teamwork and passion."

 "Once you master those three, the food will be the easy part." 

8

It's 3 in the afternoon, only two hours before the 180 high school students will start arriving.

"We're actually ahead of schedule," says Chef Greg as he strides back into the kitchen.

Aromas are making their way into every corner of the fourth floor of the UT Conference Center, drawing anyone in the vicinity towards the tables sitting in the hallway. Little by little, people in white attire bring out pots, pans and decorations, arranging the pieces until they are satisfied.

Signs begin to appear next to the dishes. Chicken carbonara penne pasta. Linguini bolognaise with Italian sausage. Flambé blondies.

It's 4:30 p.m. The chefs have slowly pushed their tables into the main lobby. Chef Greg is making his way around to each table, talking to each team about their jobs. The linguini bolognaise sits in a huge cast iron skillet at its table, a skillet Pearce Gruenenfelder needs two hands just to lift.

It's 5:30 when the elevators start bringing up the high school seniors by the dozens.

 

Section 2

FAST FACTS

1. Although affiliated with UT, the program is located off-campus at the UT Conference Center in Downtown Knoxville.

2. It was awarded the "Quality Program Status" by the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation.

3. Students get opportunities to work special events, such as in the skyboxes during UT football games.

If You Can't Stand the Heat… 

9

Preparation for JUMP Trip event.

Gallery 1.1 Culinary Compilation

As the students line up, the chefs' work become a lot more

conversational. One walks over and says, "I've heard this table is the best." Pearce nods. Another asks, "How long have you been doing this?"

Pearce replies, "Three weeks."

For those past three weeks, Pearce has been donning the white chef attire, but throughout college, his outfit of choice was

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Culinary Student Justin Willis has had multiple careers that weren't the right fit for him but he has always loved to cook.

Movie 1.2 Justin Willis

With a dash of spice, a UT Culinary Program student makes fire appear while creating flambé brownies.

something a bit different: scrubs. After three years of working towards a nursing degree at Alabama State University, he found himself with a semester to spare. Pearce decided to pursue something he had always been interested in: cooking.

And after a little digging online, he found the newly restructured UT Culinary Program.

With only a few months to spare, this program was the right fit for him. Students are full time for 12 weeks, who upon their graduation will receive not only their certification but a year's worth of experience. The experience comes from events like this, challenging students not only in cooking, but every aspect of running a business.

All the students came in the day before this event to prepare, cooking a lot of sausage, bacon and pasta - 21 pounds of pasta to be precise. The day of included more aesthetic work. In addition to finishing up the linguini bolognaise, Pearce and his partner are arranging the presentation itself. Once all the ingredients had been chopped, sautéed, stirred and displayed in all their glory, the students flooded in to taste the variety of cuisine. As the high school students scooped the entree onto their plates, many would ask questions of the pair behind the table.

“I like catering because you can relate and actually talk to the people you’re cooking for,” Pearce says. The UT Culinary Program gives him the freedom and opportunity to do that.

Pearce describes some situations that arise in the kitchen which will prepare them for the trenches of  “real world” cooking. Sometimes Chef Greg likes to

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Culinary Student Jodi Beavers has been behind the kitchen for years and used this program as a way to cultivate her skills.

Movie 1.3 Jodi Beavers

turn on the pressure and let them figure things out on their own.

A classmate asks, “Pearce, where’s the pan? Pearce, where’s the tomato sauce?” while Pearce himself wonders the same thing.

When they inquire of the chef, he replies, “Oh, just find it.”

These adventurous, determined students do not go unrewarded in experience or sustenance. Preparing and tasting all kinds of expensive delicacies that he would not be able to at home, Pearce says, is one of many perks.

They have cooked whole salmons and even boiled lobsters alive, not without apologizing to the creatures for the inconvenience.

“I’m sorry we have to do this.”

Pearce was not too emotionally attached to the creatures, though; this was his favorite experience so far.

While the program is enticing to younger people like Pearce, it also appeals to professionals who have already worked in the restaurant industry. Jodie Beavers worked as a server for almost 13 years - until she decided that she preferred working behind the scenes. Shortly after rendering more than 14 pounds of bacon, Jodie says, "I don’t know if I would have done [this culinary program] straight out of high school. Granted, I didn’t know it was an option either." Between the industrial-sized kitchen and all the

jargon that accompanies it, this world can seem overwhelming to younger people, Jodie insists.

That is not necessarily true for all students of the program, though. Some are like Brian Hurt who ventured into the kitchen fresh out of high school. Though much younger than the other students, Brian still feels at home in the environment and slipped easily into the new vocabulary that comes with it.

“I worked at McDonald’s for three years, so, no, it’s not going to be overwhelming," he says as he stirs. "I know how to handle it. They taught me how to do fast pace and everything.”

In high school, Brian spent his time after school working at a fast food restaurant and attributes his ease to his experience there. The intense environment that came with the job was the perfect transition into this culinary program. 

Though, as Brian puts it, “If you don’t love food, you might as well not come.

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Section 3

THE TEAM

1. Rilwan Balogun

2. Jocie Hofstra

3. McKenzie Martin

4. Andi Abbajay

5. Maggie Solomon, team manager

6. Team name: JEM Rats

The Team

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Chapter 2

Lights, cameras and plenty of actionThe SEC Network launched in August of 2014. The new digital studio on campus will make the University of Tennessee a part of one of the largest cable launches in history while also providing students opportunities to work with professional sports broadcasting on campus.

You’re on the field at Neyland Stadium. The Tennessee Volunteers about to kickoff against rival-Florida Gators. 102,455 loud, screaming fans sing in unison while the Pride of the Southland Marching band performs the final verse of Rocky-Top. Five feet away from you on the sideline stands the entire Volunteer football team and you can hear Butch Jones barking commands at his players. The crowd gets louder as star player Joshua Dobbs warms up on the sidelines. Close-ups of the most diehard Tennessee fans appear on the Jumbotron and a sea of orange floods your vision as far as the eye can see. After the song, Bob Kesling’s signature “ITS FOOTBALL TIME IN TENNESSEE” call blasts through the PA system, and the stadium erupts into a deafening roar while subtly a spine tingling chill causes all the hairs on your arm to stand. You close your eyes to gather yourself and you realize that you’re exactly where you want to be. Now imagine you’re getting paid to be in the incredibly privileged position few have ever stood.

If that sounds like your type of college experience, then you’re definitely going to want learn about the opportunities Tennessee’s new SEC Network studio can give you. You know, being able to put ESPN and SEC work experience on your resume coming out of college looks pretty good. By reading this chapter, you’ve taken the first step to getting involved into with the largest cable network launch in history! So sit back, get comfy, and get excited because this could be the start of a long and successful career working around all things sports.

Introduction

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Sterl the Pearl and guest guitarist Andy Wood jam out at the start of the fourth quarter against Florida.

Student section sideline action

The Southeastern Conference Network (or SECN) is a network launch with the purpose to provide the most passionate SEC sport fans 24/7 coverage of all things SEC sports. ESPN and the SECN completed an $898 million merger to get this project off the ground and as a result, the SECN has successfully launched into over 110 million homes already. No expenses were held back in ensuring the staff and production teams have exactly what they need to produce quality content and broadcasts. While many departments are losing money, the Athletic Broadcasting department is one that’s booming. It’s a field where success breeds success and there has never been a better time to get involved.

More than a 1000 live broadcasts will be aired in the first year including approximately 45 football games, more than 100 men's basketball games, 60 women's basketball games, 75 baseball, 50 softball and 120 Olympic sports on the SEC Network. Original SEC content will be run as well and there are opportunities to potentially create and produce your own shows.

Section 2

The SEC Network

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A slideshow of digitally created images released by the university prior to the completed construction of the Ray and Lucy Hand Digital Studio.

Gallery 2.1 Pre-construction studio plans

The SECN will also have a huge digital presence. More than 600 games will be broadcasted live for viewing on SECnetwork.com and Tennessee will be responsible for more than 40 of them. These broadcasts can be streamed online or on your smartphone or tablet via the WatchESPN app.

The implication of these live broadcasts are that each event needs a full crew to work and are paid positions. For example, a soccer game includes, but not limited to on-air talent (i.e. play-by-play), Field reporter, Producer, Director, Timeout Coordinator, four game cameras, audio, camera shader, graphics, replay coordinators, stage manager, runners and utility. The sooner one demonstrates proficiency in certain areas, the sooner you can really start to enjoy what you’re doing.

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View of the field, sidelines, and crowd during the Alabama game.

End-zone Production Team

Students cheer third down for what during the Arkansas state game.

Third Down for What Cheer in the student section

Tennessee has constructed a $12 million, state-of-the-art studio intended to be a control center that accommodates our full time staffer’s demands and students who are eager to learn the ins and outs of television production. Expected to be operational in mid-November, the Ray and Lucy Hand Studio is located adjacent to the Thompson-Boling Arena and Pat Summit Drive on the first floor of the Brenda Lawson Athletic Center, and shares a 22,000 square foot building with the new indoor athletic training facilities.

Having a studio of our own is critical to the success and vision of our athletic broadcasting department. Here in the SEC, we like to compete against other schools, and that extends beyond the results on the field. Coach Jones believes that having the studio will play a critical role in recruitment too as he tries to build this program “brick-by-brick.” Tennessee officials believe prospects will be impressed when they visit campus and see players and coaches being interviewed in a state-of-the-art studio.

Section 3

The Ray and Lucy Hand Digital Studio

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It's just the latest example of how SEC schools continue to compete with one another in trying to build the best facilities and attract the best recruits. We’ll be able to tell the Tennessee sports story and share it with fans nationally and internationally. Having the space, resources and abilities to produce original content pins Tennessee at the forefront of our competition and that’s where we intend to stay.

Each of the 14 SEC schools are required to have some sort of broadcasting studio on campus that the SEC Network can access from its home base in Charlotte, North Carolina. Some schools are farther along than others about developing their studio, ranging from costs of $750,000 put in, to the $10 million that we have invested. Now is the time to get involved. If you’re passionate about sports and sports broadcasting or journalism, then Tennessee can provide you with a better education in that field than almost any other school in the country.

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A slideshow of the completed Ray and Lucy Hand Digital Studio.

Gallery 2.2 Post-construction, a look inside the studio

The dream of having our very own production studio has finally come true, and the final product is more spectacular than anything we imagined. Complete with a 25- foot long Jumbotron in our lobby (the one Lil Jon records his pump-up video messages in front of), a top of the line control room that makes producing live events much smoother and efficient, completely redone editing suites, and a live studio where we can broadcast our original content such as the Butch Jones’ Show. Probably the coolest part is how with one push of a button, our broadcasts are can be viewed or streamed from the other side of the country.

The Ray and Lucy Hand studio will be a permanent feature on University of Tennessee’s campus for the foreseeable future. Many current students are not aware of the potential and magnitude of the SEC network launch and how our studio are plays a part in that. By having read our chapter, you are now equipped with the fundamental information you need to get involved. You get what you put into this business and if you are interested at all in the athletic broadcasting and sport journalism side of UT, then don’t miss the chance to be a part of the best student-run sports productions in the country.

Section 4

Conclusion

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The Ray and Lucy Hand Digital Studio Sign

“Being in my senior year, I am thankful I was around in time to get involved and become part of the athletics broadcasting team when I did,” senior broadcasting student Kevin Kowalewski said. “If I was around here longer, I would have gotten involved much earlier.”

The advantage for incoming students is that they’ll be able to put several years professional work experience with ESPN/SEC network on their resume by the time they have even graduated. You think that looks appealing to employers? Absolutely.

There are so many ways to get involved and find a niche or job that you’re passionate about. Are you the creative type that wants to tell stories or create films? Are you more interested in the production side of things such as operating game cameras or sideline reporting? Maybe you want to be an anchor, graphic designer or film editor? Whatever it is you want to do, the opportunity is there.

Section 5

Getting Involved - Opportunities for UTK students

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Sam Thomas, a Media Specialist for UT Athletic Broadcasting, explains how students can gain work experience on campus.

Movie 2.1 How to get involved

The fulltime staff are some of the most talented and driven people I have ever met. It’s incredible the range of knowledge and skill they possess and the amount you can learn by just watching them work and asking questions. Education is always primary goal and there is an eagerness and excitement to teach. They are also more than accommodating to your school schedules and cooperative with any schools projects you might have, seriously, it helps. One of my coworker friends is sure to become a multi-million dollar producer in the not too distant future. The point is, the sky is the limit. Everyone who has become something and done great thing for our department and university started where you are. The kicker is newcomers will have access to the finest software, equipment and resources than has ever been seen at the college level. If you show the drive to succeed and want to learn how to be great at this, the resources are there.

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Andy Vinson talks about his personal experience working as a student.

Movie 2.2 A student’s perspective

Section 6

THE TEAM

1. Kevin Kowalewski

2. Logan White

3. Leslie Cox, team manager

4. Caitlin Rocco

5. Team name: Team Rocco

The Team

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Chapter 3

Horses.Cows.Ponies....Oh My! The Center for Equine and Veterinary Research (CEVR) encompasses many aspects of the equine world, including rehabilitation and treatment of common injuries. Student participation is a key part of CEVR and has helped draw faculty and students from around the country to be apart of one of the most prestigious programs at the University of Tennessee.

It’s one of the top programs of its kind in the country. It employs some of the top professionals in the world. Students come from across the country to be a part of it.

You might think I’m talking about the University of Tennessee football team, or at least what it used to be in the late 1990s. However, I’m referring to a far less well-known program here on UT’s campus: the Center for Equine Veterinary Research (CEVR).

CEVR, as it states on its website, is not an actual building, but rather a “collection of motivated researchers who are committed to improving the medical care provided to horses.” This collection is mostly made up of clinicians and researchers who work as veterinarians in the Veterinary Medical Center. Some areas of study for the center include laminitis research, anesthesia research and reproduction research.

CEVR includes many different aspects of equine care, but one of the main departments is the Equine Performance and Rehabilitation Center. One of the founders of CEVR, Dr. Steve Adair, is currently the director and treats all kinds of equine injuries. Adair specializes in arthroscopic surgery and has been spearheading the University’s research on equine rehabilitation. Adair said UT has “all the toys” when it comes to rehabilitating horses, and he wasn’t exaggerating.

Overview

QUICK FACTS

1. The Center for Equine Veterinary Research (CEVR) is "collection of motivated researchers who are committed to improving the medical care provided to horses.”EndFragment 

2. CEVR employs some of the top equine vets in the country, including Steve Adair.

3. One of CEVR's main goals is to give students the experience they need to get into vet school or to get a job.

What Is CEVR?

25

UT is the only university to have a hyperbaric oxygen chamber specifically for equine treatment. They also have the equivalent to an ice bath and an underwater treadmill to help horses regain strength.

“I do think we are the model for other vet schools,” said Adair. “We’ve already had several vet schools from across the United

States come here and look at the facilities because we’re cutting edge. There’s really not another place in the U.S. - maybe not in the world - that has everything that we have under one roof.”

One of the goals listed on the CEVR website is “to emphasize graduate student training with the aim of increasing the number of clinical researchers engaged in equine research.” That goal is

being fulfilled by the Large Animal Research Hospital, where five-to-six students get hands-on experience on a daily basis and get the training needed to be accepted to vet school or to get a job. Trent Elsten, a senior at UT and a worker at the hospital, shares Adair’s view of the UT Veterinary program and CEVR.

“Being from Tennessee, I’ve always wanted to go to Tennessee,” said Elsten. “Knowing how good of a large animal program they have here, it’s kind of the place to be. It’s kind of the ivory tower of vet clinics in the area.”

Elsten’s ideology is shared with his peers, which is why the UT Veterinary Program sees most of its graduates obtain high paying and prestigious positions around the world. While CEVR is little known to most students, its fame and regard make it one of the University of Tennessee’s best hidden jewels.

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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.

Gallery 3.1 Large Animal Hospital

Horses seem to have an innate ability to harm to themselves. Whether it be stepping in a hole and breaking a bone or eating too much and causing colic, horse maladies come more often from themselves than from external causes.

One of the most common injuries horses face is laminitis, a condition more commonly known as founder, or becoming lame. The University of Tennessee is fortunate enough to have one of the foremost leaders in laminitis research on staff. Dr. Steve Adair, who has been with the university since 1986, has seen pretty much all there is to see when it comes to equine injuries.  

Section 2

QUICK FACTS

1. Laminitis is more commonly known as "founder."

2. Laminitis is caused by inflammation of the laminae, the fibers holding the canon bone in place. 

3. Laminitis currently has no known cure, but some treatments, such as soaking the hoof in cold water, have been used to lessen the pain.

CEVR Research

27

Gallery 3.2 Dr. Steve Adair

Adair’s definition of laminitis involves a lot of words containing more than five syllables, but the basic idea is this: the canon bone in a horse’s leg connects to the ankle, or fetlock bone, which leads to the hoof. The lamina are the fibers between those two bones that act like a sling and hold the canon bone in place. When those fibers get inflamed, they loosen, creating gaps for the canon bone to come through. Adair said in severe cases, the hoof can rotate 180 degrees or even come off entirely.  

Because inflammation of the lamina can occur in various ways, there are multiple causes of laminitis. The most common include an excessive intake of grass or grain, infection, or stress due to an injury to the opposite leg.  

Even after years of research, there still isn’t a definitive treatment for laminitis. A few methods have shown promise, but nothing conclusive has surfaced.  

“It’s been shown that if you can keep a horses foot cold for up to 72 hours, you can prevent damage from occurring,” said Adair of one of his experimental methods.

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Dr. Adair discusses his research and the entire program.

Movie 3.1

“That cold decreases the metabolic demand of the tissues.” 

A promising field of study when it comes to treating laminitis is one that has been in the limelight of human medicine for the past decade or so: stem cells. Adair said there is a school of thought that injecting stem cells into the hoof of laminitis patients could lessen the effects of laminitis and aid in the recovery process.  

“The stem cells are something that have been a big boom,” said Adair. “Of course stem cells have been around, but people haven’t done as much research, and just hadn’t pushed the limit as far as where to put them at.” 

That recovery process is the main focus of Adair nowadays, as he serves as the Director of Equine Performance and Rehabilitation Center and is one of the founding fathers of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation.  

“If we can help the problem that [the horse] has… then if I can get him into rehab program, that will enable that [injury] to heal better,” said Adair. “By getting that [injury] to heal better and decrease the likelihood of arthritis, then that’s going to give [a horse] better quality of life and thus it should give [that horse] a longer lifespan.”

29

No matter how vigorously you search the University of Tennessee course catalog, it’s highly unlikely you’ll find a course description involving carrying a bull by forklift

into surgery.  

But that’s exactly what UT senior Trent Elsten got to experience while working in the large animal hospital on campus.  

“Things like that happen all the time and it’s just really cool to be able to experience those things and relate to the people at UT

that will hopefully be letting me into vet school soon,” said Elsten. 

Section 3

QUICK FACTS

1. The Large Animal Hospital employs up to six students per semester. 

2. Students' duties vary drastically, anywhere from cleaning horse stalls to transporting livestock to surgery.

3. Some of the animals that have gone through the hospital include cougars, miniature ponies and tigers.

Student Involement

30

Elsten checks on a horse during his daily rounds of the facility.

Elsten, a Hendersonville, Tennessee native, has been helping his dad raise cattle from a young age, so work at the hospital isn’t

too far out of his comfort zone. One thing that did surprise Elsten, however, was the amount of responsibility put on his shoulders right from the start. 

“At first I just thought I’d be shoveling out the stalls and didn’t think I’d be able to work around the animals or doctors,” said Elsten, “but when you get here, you realize how much the doctors rely on you to get things done and prepare animals for surgery.”  

Elsten is one of six student assistants at the hospital who are looking to bolster their applications for veterinary school. Out of the 858 applicants to UT’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2010, only 83 were accepted, so any extra experience these students can get is of the utmost importance.  

That experience is spent in various ways, according to Elsten, and being hesitant is not an option when dealing with these animals. 

“[Our job] really is just helping out veterinarians with whatever they need us to do,” said Elsten. “So when a doctor says we

need to do something ASAP, like we have to hurry up and move

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Senior veterinary student Trent Elsten talks about his involvement at The University of Tennessee Large Animal Hospital

Movie 3.2 Student Involvement

an animal into surgery or something like that, it can be really difficult and really stressful because all you have is a forklift and your coworkers to help you and you have a bunch of different people barking orders at you. But you have to be able to take what they say to you and then utilize what you have, because with large animals you can’t just do anything. It’s not set in stone because the animals are hard to control.” 

Not every day at the clinic consists of moving bovine with heavy machinery, but for Elsten the unpredictability of the job is what excites him the most. Any given day can bring a new task and a new challenge.  

“You really don’t know what’s going to happen at the hospital,” said Elsten.  

And that fact was evident when Elsten discussed the animals he’s seen come into the hospital: cougars, tigers, miniature ponies, cows, horses and bulls, just to name a few.  

Elsten, along with many other students, will be applying for vet school in the spring. So what sets him apart from the rest of the future Dr. Dolittles? In his opinion, it’s the hospital. 

“One thing I’ve seen with people trying to go to vet school, of course they’re just complete geniuses, but it’s difficult to relay things to clients because the client has no idea what you’re talking about when you’re talking about animals,” said Elsten. “What I’ve learned here is I’ve seen every type of client there is

and it really just helps me communicate with them well and tell them what’s wrong with their animal.”

32

Section 4

THE TEAM

1. Matt Gray

2. Jake Smith

3. Dallas Abel

4. Caitlin Cline, team manager

5. Team name: Team Friendship

The Team

33

Chapter 4

Bodies of evidence

Imagine taking a hike in the forest. Feel the breeze in your hair. Listen the rustling leaves. Smell the...what is that? You look down and see - wait. Is that...a hand?

Now imagine that finding human remains in the woods was a daily occurrence. This is just part of the job of a forensic anthropologist. Forensic anthropologists are scientists who use principles of biological anthropology to analyze human skeletal remains. The information that forensic anthropologists gather from examining bones can help solve crimes or contribute to medical breakthroughs.

One of the best forensic anthropology centers in the world just happens to be in Knoxville at the University of Tennessee.

The University of Tennessee’s Forensic Anthropology Center - abbreviated as FAC - began in 1987 through Dr. William M. Bass. With the help of a small group of students, Dr. Bass was able to create a leading institution for forensic anthropology research and training facility that has greatly contributed to the field of forensic anthropology. The University of Tennessee’s Department of Anthropology defines forensic anthropology as “the examination of human skeletal remains for law enforcement agencies to determine the identity of unidentified bones.”

Section 1

History

35

Gallery 4.1 William M. Bass Forensic Anthropology Building

Click image for more information.

Originally starting off with a small, fenced-off area called "The Cage" and one body, the research program has grown to an estimated 2.5 acres, with over 200 bodies currently placed. The majority of these donated bodies eventually make their way to the Bass Skeletal Collection. The collection is located in the Anthropology Department in South Stadium Hall, below Neyland Stadium. As of 2014, the collection consisted of over 1,500 skeletons.

The first research subject was a 73-year-old male who died of emphysema and heart disease. The body was placed in the Cage and left to decompose in the elements. This one body sparked the force that became the FAC. In the modern research area, bodies are placed in various places and under different circumstances, left to decompose and then examined by students and faculty. The bodies are exposed in many different ways to provide various insights regarding decomposition.

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A graduate student at the FAC examines the remains of a body. (Original photo located in the William M. Bass building.)

Boxes of skeletal remains from donated bodies stack ceiling-high in the Bass Skeletal Collection.

All of the bodies used by the FAC are donated. Because of this, the facility is almost entirely dependent on its Body Donation Program. The donation process begins with filling out the paperwork of the Body Donation Packet. The Packet asks for general information and medical and dental histories of the applicant. Once a person has completed the packet and turned it in, the staff of the FAC reviews and either approves or denies that application.

Section 2

Body Donation

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Interactive 4.1 “The Body Farm”

Click on image to access “The Body Farm” video located on YouTube.Dr. Dawnie Steadman examines the remains of a donated body in the Bass Skeletal Collection.

Several factors can play into a person's decision to donate. Some, like pre-donor Brenda Anderson, want to contribute to scientific research. Even changes in the economy can influence donors. Cremation and embalming costs are on the rise, making donation the more economically sensible option.

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Gallery 4.2 Body Donation Program Packet

Brenda Anderson is from Cedar Rapids, Iowa and is a current participant in the University of Tennessee Forensic Anthropology body donation program. Ms. Anderson shared her reasoning with us in her decision to donate.

Movie 4.1 Brenda Anderson

The university's anthropology department transports donors who live within 100 miles of Knoxville, free of charge. Outside of that range, the donors or their families must make their own arrangements.

The bodies lose their names upon arrival at the William M. Bass Forensic Anthropology Building, where they are assigned an identification number. The students and faculty of the FAC record the stature, weight and condition of the bodies. After this process, the bodies are either placed in the facility or are stored for future placement.

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Jake Smith is a graduate student in the Forensic Anthropology program. Jake works directly with the bodies from transporting them to the facility to bringing them in after full decomposition for the staff to analyze the bones.

Movie 4.2 Jake Smith

Click on image for more information

The Forensic Anthropology Center at the University of Tennessee is first and foremost a research facility, but its subject matter is more unique than typical academic studies. The research conducted here focuses on examining the skeletal remains of decomposing bodies. Donated bodies are placed in areas around the facility, then observed at different stages of decomposition. For example, some bodies may be placed in shallow graves or exposed in open-air environments, while others may be placed in ways that mimic specific forensic possibilities.

Section 3

The Forensic Process

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Movie 4.3 Dr. Dawnie Steadman

Dr. Dawnie Wolfe Steadman is a skeletal biologist as well as the Director of the Forensic Anthropology Center at the University of Tennessee. Dr. Steadman demonstrates how a forensic anthropologist would analyze a person’s skeletal remains to identify the individual’s sex, stature and possible bone trauma.

Original photo located in the William M. Bass building

Students at the facility range from anthropology pupils to law enforcement officials. They learn how to excavate burials and recover skeletal remains from the surface, as well as how to clean the recovered remains in the Bass Building lab. Some students even collect entomological samples, or bugs, from decomposing bodies.

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Teeth

Femur

Skull

Sternum

Rib Bone

Spinal Column

Pelvis

Interactive 4.2 Skeletal Identification

Law enforcement simulate a “real life” discovery in the FAC to improve their on-the-job skills. (Original photo located in the William M. Bass building.)

All of the information that anthropologists gather from the experiments at the facility can be used to decode the mystery of an unusual death. Forensic anthropologists can aid criminal investigations by analyzing the skeletal remains of crime victims to identify certain bone traumas, like establishing the pathway of a bullet or the number of stab wounds. This is not the same process of performing an autopsy--forensic anthropologists focus only on skeletal evidence.

Courses Offered by the Forensic Anthropology Center

Forensic Fire and Death Investigation:

A laboratory and field based course designed to explore the various aspects of fire investigation including fire-related death investigation, origin and cause of fire, report interpretation and thermal destruction to bone. Classroom and field exercises will include principles of fire behavior and evidence collection and interpretation.

Forensic Anthropology Field Methods:

This is an intensive course designed to enhance one's knowledge in forensic recovery techniques. Various mapping techniques and equipment will be discussed and applied to an outdoor context. Participants will be responsible for the recovery of scattered and buried human remains at the Anthropological Research Facility.

(This course is best suited for advanced undergraduate and graduate

Students at the FAC develop several skills:

How to excavate burialsHow to recover skeletal remains from the

surfaceHow to clean the recovered remainsHow to identify various bones in the human

bodyHow to collect entomological samples and

bugs

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Review 4.1

Check Answer

Question 1 of 7It is impossible for an individual to grow taller once which of the follow-ing has occurred?

A. The individual reaches 20 years old

B. The individual’s long bone stops growing

C. The individual’s long bone epiphyses have fused

D. The individual’s long bone epiphyses are ridged

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Skeletal remains of a body post decomposition in the FAC. (Original photo located in the William M. Bass building.)

UT’s forensic anthropology center has received national and international recognition. Their research has helped solve high profile cases overseas and across the United States. The Anthropological Research Facility is commonly known as the “Body Farm," a term coined by best selling author Patricia Cornwell. Even the center's founder Dr. Bass has published several fictional tales inspired by the research facility.

Section 4

Forensic Anthropology in the Real World

44(Original photo located in the William M. Bass building.)

Dr. Lee Jantz is an Associate Director at the Forensic Anthropology Center. Additionally, she coordinates and manages the body donation program, working closely with the body donation participants as well as their families after they have passed and talks about the process of the donation program.

Movie 4.4 Dr. Lee Jantz

However, the real life mysteries are solved by law enforcement officials who have received special forensic training at facilities such as UT's. Officer Trina Gregory, of the Knox County Sheriff's forensic services division, is a certified crime scene analyst. Gregory received her undergraduate degree in anthropology from UT, and trained by the researchers at the Forensic Anthropology Center.

Studying anthropology, with a focus on the biological and forensic sub-fields, opens up a world of career possibilities. People interested in forensic anthropology can work in academia as research professors; as professional researchers for corporations; as law enforcement; or as medical examiners, with extra schooling in the medical field.

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Officer Trina Gregory is a certified senior crime scene analyst, who discusses how her training at the UT facility has prepared her for her job today.

Movie 4.5 Officer Trina Gregory

Law enforcement are uncovering a body in the research facility as part of their forensics training. (Original photo located in the William M. Bass building.)

Gallery 4.3

Section 5

THE TEAM

1. Caitlin Armstrong

2. Cloe Bearden, team manager

3. Kelsie Rutherford,

4. Team name: CKC

The Team

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Chapter 5

Stop Trafficking, Join the Movement How many people attend your school? Now imagine that 1,128 of those students were being sold into the sex trade. Is that a third of your school? Half? Double? Triple?  Each year 1,128 children are sex trafficked in Tennessee.  The University of Tennessee’s chapter of the Freedom Movement is working to raise awareness and educate students about sex trafficking on campus and nationwide.

At The University of Tennessee, students are dedicating their time to the global issue of human sex trafficking through local efforts.

Freedom Movement, an organization created and maintained by college students, colonized in Knoxville April 2014 with the help of UT senior Taylor Flatt. The University of Tennessee is the fourth SEC school to join the movement and sixth overall in the United States. Texas A&M was the first school with students who recognized the problem and started a campus Freedom Movement organization. In 2012, these students were introduced to the cause at a Christian leadership conference called Passion in Atlanta, GA. The Texas A&M students kick started the college campus program and began recruiting other schools to form their own campus Freedom Movement motivated by Christian values. Freedom Movement focuses on raising funds as well as educating and equipping UT students to share the story with older generations.

The Cause

While the biggest international issues of human sex trafficking are seen in the form of brothels and red light districts, locally, domestic minor sex trafficking makes up the majority of the cases. Domestic minor sex trafficking is the capturing and sale of Americans under the age of 18 by their own families.

Section 1

QUICK FACTS

1. The University of Tennessee Freedom Movement was colonized in April 2014. 

2. The University of Tennessee Freedom Movement is the 4th colony in the SEC, and  the sixth overall in the country.

3. The Freedom Movement's raises money and awareness to fight domestic sex trafficking.

UTK Freedom Movement

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The Freedom Movement’s two main purposes are to raise money and raise awareness. On the surface, the college campus programs are aimed at introducing teens and young adults to the global issue of sex trafficking. However, the main goal of the

college students is to use their knowledge to educate the older generations with the power to make changes.

Raising Money and Awareness

The UT Freedom Movement chapter is determined to raise awareness of domestic sex trafficking, and they are doing so by holding several annual events and continuous fundraisers. The group has chosen to incorporate Christian elements in their fundraising efforts.

“Freedom Movement is motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ who has set us all free so that we are able to free others.” (Text Box?)

A worship night is scheduled to take place at the UT Amphitheater this fall. The Freedom Movement’s second fundraising event will focus on bringing joining faculty with the students to help educated older generations.

In addition to numerous events, the UT Freedom Movement raises money through the sale of t-shirts and 27-bead bracelets representing the 27 million enslaved across the world.

Allocating the Funds

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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.

Movie 5.1 Lorem Ipsum dolor amet, consectetur

The proceeds from both events and the t-shirt and bracelet sales benefit two organizations. Globally, the group supports Tiny Hands International, a Christian non-profit directed at relieving impoverished children around the world, specifically those who are orphaned or affected by sex-trafficking. They also send money to the national Freedom Movement headquarters. Locally, the Freedom Movement’s efforts support Street Grace Tennessee, a faith based group raising awareness of domestic sex trafficking locally.

A six-person leadership team runs the UT Freedom Movement. Rather than recruit members for their organization, they invited the whole campus to join the cause.

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Have your parents ever had issues paying the rent? Was there ever a guy that swept you off your feet and seemed too good to be true? What about the friend you instantly connected with and thought you could trust with your life?

Picture your sister, mother, brother, or best friend. Would you ever consider using them, for either sex or labor, if you were in a bind for money? According to the 2013 Tennessee Human Sex Trafficking and Its Impact on Children and Youth Study (THST) by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), over 100 reports of adult and minor sex trafficking were made in Coffee, Davidson, Shelby, and our very own Knox County.

Even though slavery was supposedly abolished by the Civil War, it is back with a vengeance. Slavery is involuntary servitude, but the law defines human trafficking as an act or attempted act of recruiting, transporting, transferring, harboring or receiving a person by means of force, abduction, fraud, coercion, purchase, sale, threats, abuse of power for the purpose of exploitation.

Section 2

QUICK FACTS

1. According to the 2013 Tennessee Human Sex Trafficking and Its Impact on Children and Youth Study (THST) by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), over 100 reports of adult and minor sex trafficking were made in Coffee, Davidson, Shelby, and our very own Knox County.

2. The drug trade is also heavily tied with human trafficking in Tennessee. From the counties profiled in the 2011 TBI study, 34% represented methamphetamine clandestine laboratory incidents. Since methamphetamine is so easily manufactured, the drug trade has coupled with trafficking, “where drugs have an important role in the recruitment, retention and exploitation of human trafficking victims.”

HumanTrafficking In Tennessee

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How could this be happening to the person sitting next to you in class? Your next door neighbor? Your best friend? Along with poverty, the drug trade, highway accessibility, and communication technology advances, sex trafficking among adults and minors is thriving across the state of Tennessee.

“People often think that all child sex traffickers kidnap their victims, but in many cases the children end up funneled into the system by their own families because of extreme poverty,” according to assistant Professor AnnJanette Rosga. “Sometimes the children leave home voluntarily because of abuse or other harmful conditions. Rosga went on to say “the global sex trade is as much a product of everyday people struggling to survive in dire economic straits as it is an organized crime problem... attacking the crime and not the poverty is treating the symptom but not the disease” (University of Colorado Boulder, 2005). In Tennessee, 24% of children live in poor families as defined by the federal poverty level.

The drug trade is also heavily tied with human trafficking in Tennessee. From the counties profiled in the 2011 TBI study, 34% represented methamphetamine clandestine laboratory incidents. Since methamphetamine is so easily manufactured, the drug trade has coupled with trafficking, “where drugs have an important role in the recruitment, retention and exploitation of human trafficking victims.”

Trafficking is not confined to just urban areas. Of the 76 counties with known cases from a 2011 TBI and Vanderbilt University study, 49% of rural counties have 156 known cases of sex trafficking in their jurisdiction. These urban and rural areas are connected by the highway system of Tennessee. I-40 stretches 455 miles giving access to 20 Tennessee counties and continuing 2,554.22 miles through eight other states. While we pride ourselves on smooth riding for our drivers and highway

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accessibility, the job of human trafficking is made much easier from the system.

With the surge of social media spanning across all generations, the commercial sex industry has moved from street corners and back alleys to computer screens and smartphones. The emergence of Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, etc. all give platforms for potential predators. In 2011, Backpage.com featured 2,051 ads for sex in their adult section for the Nashville area. The ads featured pictures of those posing as minors with 41% of the area codes listed being in Tennessee. Alarmingly, the remaining area codes were dispersed throughout 38 states, which police officers said is a HUGE indicator for trafficking and also a federal crime for crossing state lines.

While there have been recent laws put into effect and reports are being made, Tennessee has only scratched the surface for terminating this drastic issue. Training among first reporters, even stricter laws, victim treatment solutions, and better education for the public need to be put into motion to continue advocating to end human trafficking in Tennessee.

Think back to that cute boy you’ve had a crush on since sixth grade. Think about that new friend who seems so trusting and the type that would never hurt a fly. While you may live in a world of sunshine and roses, first impressions are often deceiving. Who can you trust in a world of uncertainty?

“He sold me for a dream so he could sell me for sex.”

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You could come to UT and have a typical college experience. Or you could take advantage of living in a creative community for four years surrounded by thousands of your peers, and join an organization that’s making a difference. You might think that no one listens to college students or young people in general, because what do you know about the world? You’ve only lived on earth for twenty-something years. Except you are perhaps more knowledgeable about current events and the future than anyone your senior. It’s terribly corny and cliche, but young people (you) are the future. Consider what that really means. It’s terrifying, actually, that the future of the world as we know it lies in the hands of teenagers and twentysomethings. So, it’s time to put those brilliant minds to work.

The Freedom Movement originated in 2012 as the brainchild of Texas A&M students. They had a vision for an intercollege community that worked together to support nonprofit organizations fighting human trafficking through campus campaigns. College students have access to more research materials than they realize or even know what to do with. Never again in your life will you have the opportunity to collaborate with so many intellectuals and peers as you do during college. Students want to make a difference and be heard, not just at UT but across the country. The Freedom Movement wants to give those students a voice and the ability to educate both students and adults.

Section 3

QUICK FACTS

1. The Freedom Movement originated in 2012 from a group of college students just like you. Never say your voice doesn’t matter. 

2. Social media is the most powerful communication tool we have today. The Freedom Movement needs pros like you to use those social accounts in a meaningful way.

Make An Impact Around The World

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For the Freedom Movement, making a difference means raising awareness and funds for international nonprofits that seek to end human trafficking. According to a study by Patrick Belser at Cornell University, the human trafficking industry is the second largest source of illegal income worldwide, generating 32 billion dollars yearly. Just think of what 32 billion dollars could buy

improved school systems, scholarships, healthier food options in educational and corporate settings, investment in local businesses, or whatever you (the next generation) chooses.

And now, with social media, the world is at your fingertips making it easier than ever to connect with people and organizations around the world. Social media is crucial to raising awareness about human trafficking and garnering support for the Freedom Movement. Through various social media outlets the Freedom Movement creates conversations with students about how they can help end human trafficking. Education And who better to properly mobilize social media for philanthropic groups than you? You who have been using Twitter and Facebook since 2009 or earlier, you who are aware of global issues even before your parents, you who show more interest in making the world a better, more equal, stable place than previous generations, you who have the ability and the know how and the attitude to vocalize a movement.

UNICEF estimates that 1.2 million children are trafficked every year. By participating in the Freedom Movement, you set yourself apart from other students on campus as someonewho cares about more than what party to attend on the weekend or what the latest clothing trend is. (Not that there is anything wrong with those behaviors.) This is your chance to make the college experience more meaningful and affect lives beyond UT’s campus.

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Students gathered for a night of fellowship and worship tp help raise awareness about human trafficing in our nation.

Gallery 5.1 Shine-A-Light-Night

Section 4

THE TEAM

1. Rachelle Blake, team manager

2. Victoria Robinson

3. Casey Black

4. Abby Knight

5. Molly Spinning

6. Team name: See You at Graduation

The Team

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