Holiday recognized

Some UTC students are observing Lent, a religious reflection period of 40 days before Easter, which includes self-restraint and sacrifice. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday after the Mardi Gras celebration and is the tradition of many Christian denominations including Catholics, Lutherans and Methodists, however, others participate as well.

BayLee Long, a freshman from Athens, Tenn., said she chose to give up ice cream and soda this year.

"As a Lutheran, it's part of our practice to celebrate Lent," Long said. "I knew it would be hard this year since I'm a college kid now."

Long said she gave up her favorite treats in hopes that doing without them now will make her not want them as much in the future.

"I eat and drink way too much of those things," Long said. "It's just not healthy."

Trae Hughes, a sophomore from Memphis, had similar reasoning behind his choices for Lent.

"I gave up beer," Hughes said. "You're supposed to do whatever is good for your body, and I thought this would be good for me."

However, Hughes said this particular sacrifice has proved to be a difficult task for him this year.

"I broke it once the other day," Hughes said. "You're allowed to have whatever you gave up on Sunday, but I didn't drink on Sunday. I simply traded it for another day."

Hughes said he hopes his sacrifice, giving up beer, will make him a bit healthier and hopefully make him drink less in the future.

"I'm not the most strict with it," Hughes said. "But the intent is worth it."

Keeli Monroe, a sophomore from Chattanooga, said she is a vegetarian and a converted Catholic, so she chose to take this year's Lent, her first, seriously.

Monroe said she chose to give up fake meat for the 40 days.

Monroe said Lent is important for her because the idea of the tradition is to sacrifice something that will change your daily life.

"By having that sacrifice in your mind, it helps you to reflect and think of what Lent is all about," Monroe said.

However, Monroe said the 40 days will not completely change her future way of life.

"I'm definitely going to start eating the fake meat again as soon as Lent is over," Monroe said.