The Daily Helmsman

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Daily Helmsman The

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Move more, eat healthy

U of M pushes out healthy lifestyle incentives for students, faculty.

Vol. 79 No. 60

see page 3

Independent Student Newspaper of The University of Memphis

www.dailyhelmsman.com

Rockin’ in Memphis BY JACK SIMON News Reporter Students may have noticed an oval-shaped sticker bearing the letters “TST” affixed to stop signs and light poles around The University of Memphis campus. The acronym is promotion for the local Blues Rock band, The Soul Thieves. “I started The Soul Thieves as an acoustic duo in Southaven, Mississippi,” said Zach Gilliam, junior integrative studies major and lead guitarist and manager for TST. Their sound could be described as something between Dave Mathews Band

and The Black Keys, beer-battered and deep-fried in a vat of southern soul. The group expanded when Gilliam moved to Memphis, where he met Darrian Balongie, the group’s bass player. The saxophonist, David Moore, joined the group after responding to an advertisement Gilliam placed on Craigslist. Balongie knew a drummer, former University of Memphis student Rusty Dodd, and with the addition of a rhythm guitarist, William Charles, the band had evolved into a complete five-piece.

courtesy of Matt Colvin

UM students apply skills gained through classical study to BluesRock group The Soul Theives

Zach Gilliam, U of M junior and member of The Soul Thieves performing at Newby’s. “I played in just about every University of Memphis band there is,” said Dodd, a former business finance major. Dodd said he gained the

skills to compose music through his experience in marching band, percussion ensemble, orchestra and wind ensemble.

see

Band, page 4

Study Abroad Fair in UC

Former Olympian in U of M’s ranks

Olympic competitor Gil Stovall reminisces on medal opportunity BY SARA HARRISON News Reporter

BY CHRISTINA HOLLOWAY News Reporter

courtesy of Gil Stovall

Students visiting the Recreation Center have an Olympic competitor in their midst. A graduate of Ridgeway High School, Memphis Tiger Swimming Assistant Coach Gil Stovall swam for the University of Georgia in 2004 where famed swim coach Jack Bauerle coached him. Seeing great potential, Bauerle told Stovall he wanted to train Stovall for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. “The Olympics was always a goal of mine — one you dream but are not quite sure it will happen. Once I was in college and started training at that level it boosted my confidence and made me think I had a chance,” Stovall said. After years of training, Stovall missed the opportunity for an Olympic medal by onehundredth of a second. He placed second in the 200-meter butterfly at the US Olympic Team Trials, qualifying him for a spot on the 2008 US Olympic Team. Stovall said he feels grateful that came so close to a medal, though a bit disappointed in the end. “It was a pretty big disap-

“The producer ’s job in the studio is to refine and polish the sound, basically make it

Gil Stovall, assistant coach for Memphis Tiger Swimming, at the NCAA championship after breaking Mel Stewart’s 17-year-old record for 200-yard butterfly. pointment considering I was favored to medal. I ended up getting sick and things didn’t work out as planned but you have to roll with it and be grateful for the experiences. I still got to be part of one of the most prestigious swim teams, so it works for me,” Stovall said. Stovall has now moved away from competitive swimming and is focusing on school and coaching.

Stovall is currently an assistant coach for Memphis Tiger Swimming, a year-round competitive swim team for ages five and up which is serviced by The U of M’s Recreation Center. In addition, he is also the head coach for the swim team at Hutchison High School in East Memphis. “I am constantly drawing on my swimming career to help kids. Today, I am very self aware and hyper sensitive and

it helps explain to kids teaching techniques and how to deal with mental anguish,” he said. His future goals aim as high as his Olympic ones, as Stovall is currently working towards organizing a college swim team. “It’s a really healthy sport for body and mind. The people involved are well-rounded and intelligent people. It draws a good crowd and is a great community to be involved with,” he said.

Students interested in studying in a different country can visit the Study Abroad fair, today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the University Center ballroom. Twenty exchange students are studying at The University of Memphis this semester, a few of whom will be at the fair to speak to interested students about the university they came from. Faculty members and students who have participated in past study abroad trips will be stationed at various tables giving testimony to their time abroad. While the main aim of the fair is to provide information regarding the summer programs, there will also be tables set up for students interested in semester programs, and tables with information on third-party providers. Jonathan Holland, study abroad adviser, said students can receive credit for every trip. “We want all our programs to meet degree requirements, so it doesn’t hinder your time to graduate,” Holland said.


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