New Mural Unveiled at UT Knoxville to Raise Awareness on Student Stress

Knoxville TN, September 22, 2025

News Summary

A new mural by UT student Chloe Peterson has been unveiled on ‘the Rock’ to address student stress and opioid misuse. Highlighting that 76% of college students face daily stress, the mural is part of a collaboration with the Metro Drug Coalition aimed at providing support and promoting healthy coping strategies. Additionally, community initiatives like the Back-To-School Bash offer resources to students and families. The UT campus is also planning to construct new parking garages to alleviate congestion.

KNOXVILLE, TN – An eye-catching mural painted by University of Tennessee student Chloe Peterson has been unveiled on “the Rock” as a public initiative to raise awareness about the critical issue of student stress and opioid misuse. The mural features a football player adorned with the number 76, which signifies the alarming statistic that 76% of college students report experiencing daily stress, as noted by the Metro Drug Coalition (MDC).

The partnership between MDC and Peterson aims to educate students on effective stress management techniques and encourage them to seek support in healthy ways. High levels of stress among students, often exacerbated by academic pressures and financial challenges, can lead to substance misuse, including opioids.

MDC highlights that opioid misuse is most prevalent among college students dealing with significant stress, depression, and suicidal thoughts. The data also indicates higher rates of misuse among those students who consume other substances, such as alcohol or illicit drugs, especially those involved in fraternities or sororities. In light of these concerns, MDC recommends several strategies to combat stress:

• Practicing meditation and mindfulness.
• Engaging in regular exercise.
• Spending time outdoors.
• Creating a structured weekly schedule.
• Getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night.
• Eating healthy and avoiding stimulants like coffee and energy drinks.
• Seeking support from friends, family, or counseling services.

In addition to Peterson’s efforts, the Emerald Youth Foundation recently held a Back-To-School Bash in collaboration with Wellpoint Tennessee, providing support to local students and families. The event focused on facilitating a smooth transition back to school, distributing essential items such as backpacks, clothing, school supplies, and offering health screenings and mental health assistance.

Several organizations participated in this event, including the Boy Scouts of America, Boys and Girls Club, UT Medical Center, The Joy of Music School, and Nourish Knoxville. Various activities were organized, such as face painting, games, and opportunities for parents to win door prizes. Licensed massage therapist Ronnie Glenn also provided massages to alleviate stress for both parents and students attending the event.

In response to ongoing concerns about parking availability on campus, the University of Tennessee has outlined plans to construct two new parking garages. One garage, estimated to cost $304 million, will accommodate approximately 4,000 vehicles. Renovations to the existing G10 parking garage will also create an entertainment plaza and add 1,200 parking spaces, with the total renovation costs projected at $79 million. This initiative aims to address concerns regarding congestion and the availability of parking slots for students and faculty on campus.

Conclusion

Through the mural, various initiatives, and upcoming infrastructural changes, efforts are being made at the University of Tennessee to confront the issues of student stress and support overall well-being.

FAQ

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Additional Resources

• WBIR: University of Tennessee Mural
• Wikipedia: Stress (psychological)
• Knox Focus: The Knoxville Focus for July 21, 2025
• Google Search: College Student Stress Management
• Knox News: University of Tennessee Parking Garage Projects
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Opioid

Author: STAFF HERE KNOXVILLE WRITER

The KNOXVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREKnoxville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Knoxville, Knox County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Dogwood Arts Festival, Big Ears Festival, and Knoxville Asian Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership and United Way of Greater Knoxville, plus leading businesses in healthcare, education, and energy that power the local economy such as Covenant Health, University of Tennessee, and Tennessee Valley Authority. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBristol.com, HEREChattanooga.com, HEREMemphis.com, and HERENashville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Tennessee's dynamic landscape.