In 2003 the theft of information from a library database maintained by UT for use by First USA Bank as part of its Affinity credit card agreement touched off complaints about the provision of student information to First USA and the failure to protect information being provided. Technically, UT was providing only “directory” information, which … Continued
In 2003 student complaints about the fact that the online registration system, Circle Park Online, was not continuously open, even though it was an automated system, were coupled with complaints about the need to go from place to place on campus to gain permission to add a course, even if needed for the graduation sequence. … Continued
The adoption of a new book as the basis for Spanish 211 caused considerable discord among the twelve hundred students taking the course in 2003. Also, for the first time, 200-level Spanish had departmental midterms and finals, as well as similar chapter tests. Amy Gregory, coordinator of second-year Spanish and assistant professor in the Department … Continued
Both UT’s College Republicans and College Democrats claimed victory when the Supreme Court decided in July 2003 to uphold, but to narrow, affirmative action in college admissions. Republicans indicated that the court had taken a significant step in ending racial favoritism on campus; Democrats viewed the ruling as a victory for affirmative action in admissions.
Hundreds of students marched from the university center to the Hill and to the Volunteer Statue chanting “one, two, three, four; we don’t want your daddy’s war” and carried signs and flags on March 5, 2003, in a “Books not Bombs” protest. The Books not Bombs protest included some three hundred universities and high schools … Continued
In April 2003 the Office of Information Technology, without warning, suddenly replaced the existing website with a new one. The previous site was designed more for the internal university community. The new site was geared toward external users, with a strong marketing focus. Students (and others) experienced significant navigation issues with new terminology, placement of … Continued
Students Promoting Environmental Action in Knoxville (SPEAK) held a rally on the pedestrian mall on September 9, 2004, to support bringing green power to campus. The board of trustees failed to implement the SPEAK-initiated environmental fee at its June meeting but agreed to begin steps to bring renewable energy to the campus. The well-attended rally … Continued
Members of the Collegiate Club (the name by which the UT Pep Club had been known since 1998 when the Volunteer Athletics Scholarship Fund became its official sponsor and began charging membership fees) returned from winter break in 2004 to find that the VASF had replaced the Collegiate Club with the Orange Nation without notifying … Continued
More than 50 students who arrived at the university center in the late evening of September 9, 2004, to camp out while waiting for ticket distribution for the Florida football game were told to leave by UT police officers, who explained that camping out to wait for tickets had been banned because of the costs … Continued
Students joined members of the United Campus Workers at a Rally for Fairness on March 2, 2004, in front of the College of Law Building to protest the small (2 percent across-the-board) raise for UT employees, the unfairness of across-the-board raises, and the fact that the raise was mandated but no funds were provided by … Continued