In the waning days of the nineteenth and early days of the twentieth century, an annual cane rush was held on campus, which usually resulted in a broken arm or two and many black eyes. In the cane rush, a representative of the freshman class and one of the sophomore class met in the center … Continued

In 1963 Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity began firing a cannon to mark scores at home football games. In January 1968 the firing of the cannon was a major topic of discussion at the SEC Athletics Directors’ Conference, with Auburn’s Jeff Beard complaining that there was in place a gentlemen’s agreement among SEC institutions that cannons … Continued

In 1871 two cannons and twelve-pounder Napoleon guns with caissons were furnished to the university by the US War Department. They were first placed on the Hill, but the citizens of Knoxville protested the loud firings at odd hours when students were enjoying the game of loading and firing them. In 1876 the cannons were … Continued

In the university’s anthropological collections is the country’s largest known Native American dugout canoe, which is 32½ feet from stem to stern, 2 feet wide, and 9 inches deep on the inside. The canoe was found floating on the Tennessee River in 1797. It was given to UT in 1950. The Smithsonian Institution indicated that … Continued

Capital maintenance funds are state-appropriated dollars expended on infrastructure repairs or enhancements or projects within buildings necessary to maintain the facility in good repair. Prior to 1973 institutions were expected to pay for such expenditures from capital outlay savings or operating dollars. In 1973 the Tennessee Higher Education Commission recommended that a formula allocation be … Continued

UT Knoxville prepares an annual capital outlay request with three components: projects for which state funding is requested (academic and support buildings); projects that will be paid for by an identified revenue stream (facilities that have a dedicated revenue stream, such as athletic or residence hall buildings); and projects that are institutionally funded. All projects … Continued

Governor Phil Bredesen’s 2004 budget proposal included $94 million for capital outlay projects in Tennessee postsecondary education institutions, but he also proposed that the institution provide one-third of the funding for any project. He had previously challenged UT’s College of Business to raise one-half of the funds necessary for the renovation and expansion of the … Continued

Academic caps and gowns worn at commencement arrived at the university in 1901 when the senior law class used them for their commencement. By 1903 all seniors wore this traditional academic regalia. The faculty first wore caps and gowns at the inauguration of President Brown Ayres in April 1905 and in commencement that year. In … Continued

In fall 1939 an activity that would become nationally famous and would continue through the 1963 football season was started by having a card section in the football stadium. Dr. Robert Rapp devised card pictures—some of which (like the sinking of Commodore Vanderbilt’s ship) moved as cards were raised and lowered. The Beaver Club sponsored … Continued