UTC to begin moment of silence before football games; gets interim chancellor

photo A sign marks an entrance to the UTC campus.

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Chancellor Roger Brown said this afternoon that the university immediately will begin observing a moment of silence, rather than a spoken prayer, before its football games.

"We believe this allows all in attendance to reflect and address their individual beliefs in their own ways," Brown said at a news conference. "Events such as football games should provide opportunities to bring all members of our community together."

The university's Secular Student Alliance has protested the former policy of prayers before games.

Also, Brown said today that he is retiring effective Sept. 30, and an interim chancellor at UTC has been named.

University of Tennessee President Joe DiPietro named Grady Bogue, a retired professor of leadership and policy studies at UT in Knoxville and former chancellor of Louisiana State University in Shreveport, to serve as interim chancellor.

Bogue will begin work Sept. 20, officials said.

Brown previously had announced he would stay in the job until his replacement was found, but he said this afternoon that he had reconsidered that plan.

For complete details, see tomorrow's Chattanooga Times Free Press.

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