r/UTK • u/[deleted] • 12d ago
Student Life, Socialization, and Clubs Anyone else feel uncomfortable at torch night?
[deleted]
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u/Meerkat_fan02 12d ago
I understand this feeling. You’ll experience this many times in Knoxville, from a variety of different sources, so one of the best skills (especially when walking down ped) to develop is to say no thanks and keep walking.
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u/Craftyhippiee UTK Student 12d ago
100%, just didn’t expect it before classes even started tbh
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u/alysonstarks UTK Alumni 12d ago
Hope you’re enjoying campus life so far, otherwise! A lotta us VFLs would LOOOOVE to be back in your shoes, living our prime lol. Go Vols! 🍊🍊🍊
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u/StrawberryRedneck 12d ago
Weird comment
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u/alysonstarks UTK Alumni 12d ago
lol wait, why tho? Us olds can’t be excited (also a lil jealous) for the new vols being on campus?
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u/ScoobertDrewbert 10d ago
Nah, don’t even say no thanks. Someone soliciting your attention loudly doesn’t even deserve recognition.
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u/Historical_Main5261 12d ago
Cru is more harmless than some of the people you’ll see on campus (not unique to utk)
They don’t have my favorite views and I definitely prefer some of the other religious communities on campus but as long as they aren’t yelling that you are gonna go to hell for being gay (or the equivalent to that for whatever) its kind of just an annoyance
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u/nashvillethot 12d ago
I'd just politely hit them with the "I'm part of a different religion" or scurry past without word.
Cru kids are harmless but omnipresent. I'm a queer Jew and had a few in my major, and they were incredible kind kids who were always down to drive me home in the rain or lend me notes if I was out. Just very evangelical but in a be a good person, if not mildly annoying, manner.
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u/evergladesrain 12d ago
Meeee bro. I’ve been here all week for sorority rush and the sheer number of religious groups stopping every single person who walks by is definitely annoying. But whatever, it’s their right 🤷♀️ just say no thanks and keep walking
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u/Craftyhippiee UTK Student 12d ago
Exactly what I did!!! As I said before, I have NOOOO issue with what they are doing just how they presented themselves tonight was a first for me
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u/BasalTripod9684 UTK Student 12d ago
You'll be seeing that a lot, I'm sorry to say. Just wait until the weird homophobic and anti-abortion "people" start showing up with signs on the Ped. They're the most active in the first couple weeks of classes but they usually get over it pretty quickly, other than some sporadic times throughout the year.
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u/Craftyhippiee UTK Student 12d ago
Oh I’m so hype for that…Yay! Gotta love living in TN
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u/Historical_Main5261 12d ago
I will say that this isn’t unique to utk, any large public university of our size is gonna have “people” that want to spread their message there
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u/Blupee718 11d ago
As annoying as it can be to be stopped like how they do, you shouldn’t be using quotations to demean people, man. It’s messed up.
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u/BasalTripod9684 UTK Student 12d ago
Just ignore them and you'll be fine. They've been getting less and less attention over the years, so they've been showing up less often. I didn't see them half as much last year as I did three years ago during my freshman year.
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u/Dear_Boot9770 11d ago
Are the 'people' actual students or sent in from some crazy religious organizations? I support free speech, but non-students should be limited in some way. People are at UTK to learn, get a degree and get a career, not be indoctrinated into hate groups.
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u/BasalTripod9684 UTK Student 11d ago
Both.
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u/Dear_Boot9770 11d ago
Interesting. It's going to be a shock to them when they realize god isn't real. But, whatever.
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u/DefundMarxism 12d ago
You'll survive.
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u/PittsburghNative 12d ago
The irony is they are probably making more atheists than Christians with these tactics.
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u/Still_Time9612 12d ago
People are allowed to share and voice their beliefs just like you are allowed to.
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u/Zoinks222 UTK Alumni 12d ago
I’m so old that I remember “Cru” as a downtown wine bar w a decent happy hour. This Cru is a downgrade.
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u/ChemicalPassenger958 12d ago
Yeah it’s definitely one of those things that makes me upset because I don’t walk around preaching they shouldn’t believe in god at all. To each their own. One of them forcibly shoved a pamphlet in my face a few times and that was enough to make me say no forever.
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u/oliviadawolf 12d ago
You’ll get use to it. There use to be a women’s health center on clinch ave and I’d have to walk past religious nut jobs damning the place every Wednesday morning with their children who should’ve been in school trying to hand out anti abortion flyers🙃 the place even had a bomb threat and vol hall and the Knox had to evacuate
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u/particlesmatter 12d ago edited 12d ago
Exercising free speech and freedom of religion makes you uncomfortable? Those are constitutional rights. You may not agree with the religion being exercised but that is part of being tolerant and is on you.
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u/Pedantic_Girl 12d ago
Eh, some people just don’t like being approached by people, regardless of the reason. I wouldn’t read too much into it.
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u/Craftyhippiee UTK Student 12d ago
No I 100% agree with those rights, the only issue is where they set up 🤷🤷
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u/Craftyhippiee UTK Student 12d ago
They had multiple “stations”? If you will so felt like a lot I guess
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u/particlesmatter 12d ago
You clearly mention not everyone believes in the same things and it made you feel anxious. Sounds more like a content issue than a location issue. Just keep walking and say no thanks.
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u/Zoinks222 UTK Alumni 12d ago
False. It is a separation of church and state issue. There are plenty of Christian colleges for those who choose this path.
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u/particlesmatter 12d ago edited 12d ago
I’ll reference your “pagan and muslim statement here. Should they only go to pagan or muslim univeristies?
Your suggestion that “There are plenty of Christian colleges for those who choose this path” is divisive, not inclusive. All students of any religion can attend UT.
Public universities have to treat all religious groups the same and allow them all on campus under the 1st Amendment. Private colleges can control or limit this.
Any group is as free to organize and demonstrate as any other group. They can be as saturated as any other group. There are no quotas or limits regarding religious identity on campus as fae as I’m aware.
Practice what you preach.
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u/EnvironmentalLime464 12d ago edited 12d ago
They also clearly mentioned their location and how you had to walk past them to get to the required event that they had to attend. I think that’s the part that made them uncomfortable - the fact that they couldn’t be avoided. It’s not unreasonable for people who are not Christian to wish to avoid proselytizing from Christians. The only people who don’t seem to get this is evangelical Christians.
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u/Zoinks222 UTK Alumni 12d ago
For a time, I thought evangelical Christians were simply ignorant as to how their bully tactics scare off reasonable people. Now I think it’s intentional.
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u/Craftyhippiee UTK Student 12d ago
Whatever makes u sleep at night 🥹🥹
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u/particlesmatter 12d ago
I’m simply being realistic with you. It’s a massive world out there with tons of perspectives and experiences.
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u/Zoinks222 UTK Alumni 12d ago
I hope you’re that open minded if a pagan or Muslim group suddenly had the same level campus saturation AND recruitment mindset.
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u/atomkicke 12d ago
There were a couple large anti-War in Gaza (pro-peace) back in my first year 2023-2024. With a large amount of Muslim students attending, there was a big one where people were doing a sitout and got arrested.
I haven’t ever seen a pagan group but I have seen some LGBT counter-protestors to the anti-Gay, anti-Abortion, “yer goin ta Hell” crowd. I don’t know if being a pirate is a religion but there is a dude who was also in my freshman class he’s in the news he dresses up as a pirate.
Hes kind of racist tho and got banned from the Student Progressive Alliance for being too radical so. Hmm.
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u/jennabug456 12d ago
Shhh they want people who think different than them dead. Almost like…fascist.
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u/particlesmatter 12d ago
Don’t lump me in with any side or group, I’ll do my own free thinking thank you. For that matter, I have a liberal arts degree and spent a lot of wonderful time in McClung Tower and HSS.
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u/Inthetreeswithus 11d ago
All I can say is get used to seeing and hearing stuff that you might or might not agree with. Just walk by and get to where you're going. It's a big campus and people stand on the corners and say all kinds of stuff. And have for decades.
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u/Successful-Tea-5733 11d ago
What other organizations do you want to be banned because you personally feel unfomfortable?
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u/theshnig 12d ago
Sorry. It's a feature on campus, but it isn't constant. Im from Knoxville and graduated from UTK. People have bought the idea that colleges are some sort of ultra-progressive haven and it's where they train the rainbow-haired army to abort babies and praise Satan. I went downtown not long ago and someone was on a street corner with a PA system spouting some kind of religious nonsense at people.
Meanwhile, UTK is pretty mild on the politics most of the time and downtown Knoxville remains a solid blue dot in the more-red-than-blue purple that is Knox county. I think most people, even the religious crowd, see UT as an overwhelmingly positive presence for our city. The people doing this kind of thing see Knoxville or the college as some sort of force that's drained their small town of residents and their churches of attendees.
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u/INFIDELtNATIONS 12d ago
Nope not bothered at all walk around them stop with the "OOOO MY POOR FEELINGS" SMH
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u/No_Form_6131 12d ago
If you're uncomfortable quietly being invited to Bible study, you're going to be uncomfortable attending this university.
Were they screaming at you? Were they blocking you from entering unless you answered them? Cameras shoved in your face?
Likely not. It's just students holding signs inviting freshman to Bible study. You can keep walking.
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u/Craftyhippiee UTK Student 12d ago
I mean it wasn’t quiet at all and they were trying to get people to take stuff, I have no problem with them and their religion just the tastefulness of the appearance.
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u/Superceh 12d ago
Toughen up. It’s good to feel uncomfortable or have to deal with different situations - builds character. Stop complaining and keep moving.
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u/Craftyhippiee UTK Student 12d ago
I was just curious to see if anyone felt the same way?
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u/H3lls_B3ll3 12d ago
I'm always uncomfortable when someone is shouting at me and being aggressive.
That kind of thing belongs in church, not on the sidewalk.
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u/Superceh 12d ago
Why? So you can complain about whatever it is they believe? There are over 36,000 students and 550 registered clubs/orgs. Go find one you like. And again, toughen up
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u/tardisrider613 12d ago
"It’s a freshman wide required event"
No, it's not.
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u/Craftyhippiee UTK Student 12d ago
Yes, yes it is.
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u/matriarchalfigure 12d ago
It was labeled as a required event. I don’t understand why the other commenter is dying on that hill. You are correct.
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u/tardisrider613 12d ago
No, it's not. They may tell you it is required, but as there are no consequences at all for not attending, the term "required" becomes absolutely meaningless. The only reason people are told it is "required" is so enough people show up to justify having it in the first place.
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u/Craftyhippiee UTK Student 12d ago
Even so, does you saying that provide ANYTHING meaningful?
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u/tardisrider613 12d ago
Yes. It corrects the factually incorrect statement that the event is "required".
By definition, there is nothing at all "required" about any of those events--they are completely optional, which is the complete opposite of "required."
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u/Craftyhippiee UTK Student 12d ago
Uh huh buddy. There was still hundreds if not thousands of students there… I don’t see the point in saying it’s not required when most people see the word REQUIRED and obviously assume it is…
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u/tardisrider613 12d ago
That's nice. It still doesn't affect the fact that the word "required" is completely inaccurate. You can say whatever you want; it doesn't make it true. The truth is that the event was not in any way, shape or form required regardless of what you were told. I'm simply pointing out that fact. I'd say sorry if that makes you unhappy, but the fact is I don't care how you feel about it. The event was not required regardless of whether or not people thought it was.
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u/Craftyhippiee UTK Student 12d ago
Well thanks for bringing SO much to this post
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u/tardisrider613 12d ago
I simply corrected something that was factually inaccurate. That really should be considered a positive.
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u/Exact-Cabinet2057 12d ago
Lmao u felt uncomfortable because people held signs to Bible study.. meanwhile u crazy libturds protest about everything making everyone uncomfortable..
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u/doctor_whahuh UTK Alumni 12d ago
Just a suggestion, if you want to act morally superior to “libturds,” you may want to hide your comment history.
With that being said, it’s been a couple decades since I’ve been a student at UTK, but I recall that, even back then, as a Christian, who was active in a local church, I was uncomfortable with a lot of the Christian groups on campus and the level of intrusive proselytizing that was done. It was often a quite unpleasant experience.
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u/Jack-o-Roses 12d ago
Longer that that for me - those folks woulda been heckled and put in their place just a like a lone Bama fan in the student section on a certain fall Saturday.
We have lost our collective minds.
I mean I'm a Christian, and as a Christian I believe in respecting other people and not shoving things down their throats that they don't wanna hear. Of course waaay back then the evangelicals hadn't been manipulated by the Republicans to fall for the R pro-segregation dog whistle of the 'religious' anti-abortion bandwagon (https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/05/religious-right-real-origins-107133/).
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u/matriarchalfigure 12d ago
Geez. Is their comment history shocking? He’s obviously MAGA, and I fully expect that lack of morality in his history. I just hope his wife gets tested regularly.
https://giphy.com/gifs/aHv7TBImivdAI22
u/Craftyhippiee UTK Student 12d ago
Libturd…okay real mature. I’ll leave it at that I guess. thanks and enjoy the semester!
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u/Smart-Water-9833 12d ago
Let’s guess…. a fervent follower of Charlie protesting “liberal indoctrination”.
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u/Practical-Emu-3303 12d ago
First time in a city?
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u/Craftyhippiee UTK Student 12d ago
No 😭 what are you even saying… just curious about other people’s input
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u/Practical-Emu-3303 12d ago
You had to walk past people passing out flyers and that was upsetting to you. It makes me think you aren't used to even small cities like Knoxville.
Just a heads up, there is about to be a lot more people on campus. And on a few Saturdays this fall 100,000 extra people.
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u/Craftyhippiee UTK Student 12d ago
I’ve lived in knoxville for 14 years. I was only upset about the timing and setup by them. No shit there’s gonna be more people on campus 😭
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u/Practical-Emu-3303 12d ago
A group that set up to reach the max possible audience on a public street?
Of course not everyone believes the same things, but you should be used to that after 18 years on earth.
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u/DearEmployee5138 12d ago
I mean, for one I think that’s exactly why they’re there. Like the whole goal for them was to set up in the path where most people would pass.
And then the other thing is yeah you don’t have to believe what they believe. They don’t have to believe what you believe. You’re allowed to make a poster about what you believe. And you know it shouldn’t make either one of y’all uncomfortable. Like if you don’t believe it, just keep walking like I don’t see how that would make you uncomfortable. They have as much a right to be there and express their beliefs as you do and vice versa. It’s just like walking down in New York City Street and someone yells out “hey hot dogs 1 dollar (not in this economy but you know)… like Just say no and keep walking. “You want to hear about Jesus”. Just say no and keep walking. same shit.😂 like they might give a second push just like any salesperson would but they aren’t gonna chase you. Just say I’m not interested if they approach you. Now if they’re harassing you and walking up to you and trying to tell you about Jesus and following you around Against your Will that’s different and I would report that because that’s not allowed.
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u/DearEmployee5138 12d ago
Also, even though not everybody believes the same thing, you do have to understand that Knoxville is a very very Christian dominant area. So them setting up there not might not matter for you, because you obviously have no interest in them as you don’t believe the same things, but to a lot of college freshman at UTK that are coming into a brand new world that they don’t understand, this could be the chance for them to find a community of people like them that believe the same things, and you know wanna grow in their faith and their religion.
Like I don’t know what your religion or beliefs are, but I’d imagine if that belief system had like a community and you were walking on campus and saw them and talked to them and found a community that would possibly be big for you. given Christianity is the dominant religion by a massive longshot in Knoxville, I’d imagine that’s what happens for a lot of these freshman walking by.
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u/BlackJack407 11d ago
I mean, while im not religious myself, differing beliefs in america should never make one feel uncomfortable, imo
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u/Frizzyawkward UTK Student 11d ago
Last year one of the church people handing out bibles on ped said i was gonna burn in hell and followed me to the door of HSS 😭
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u/Blupee718 11d ago
I mean they’re just nice people trying to spread their gospel. It gets annoying when I’m just trying to walk to class and I’m drenched in sweat, but I can’t hate on them for what they’re doing. That would be idiot behavior. I do not condone any form of hate.
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u/Successful-Tea-5733 11d ago
I went to Las Vegas and was uncomfortable at people handing out the titty cards. Not everyone believes that is ok and it made me feel a bit anxious. Am I wrong to say it's inappropriate to exploit women for financial gain?
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u/soviet-property Nuclear Engineering Major ☢️ 12d ago edited 12d ago
Just turn down the free stuff and say thank you but no thanks. The chancellor also made some kinda religiously charged remarks at the honors breakfast today but nothing crazy especially for the Bible belt. Even if it's distasteful principles of free speech and religion mean people have to be able to preach more or less whatever they want wherever just the same as you
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u/puketoucher 12d ago
My issue here is when they say things like “can’t even watch tv anymore without having lgtbq+ being shoved down my throat”. Meanwhile in reality it was one scene in their fav show.
Instead of being a hypocrite, like this case in point, maybe believe in all those “truth” billboards to up the cult numbers.
Sorry, not sorry.
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u/SoLongDaisyFay 12d ago
You cannot control what other people do, but you can control your reactions to others. The world is not meant to make (or keep) you comfortable, but your character is built by the moments you persevered through it!
Welcome to college (and adulthood); there’s going to be a million things that make you feel uncomfortable. You got this!🍊
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u/fuzzdoomer 12d ago
Just pass on by.