HOLIDAYS SECTION B
Dec. 3, 2015
Volume 84, Issue 15
www.FlorAla.net
Student newspaper of the University of North Alabama
A PEEK ‘UNDER THE HOOD’ photo courtesy of Andy Tennille
Frontman and guitarist for Drive-By Truckers Patterson Hood will speak at UNA’s Fall 2015 Commencement in Flowers Hall Dec. 12. College of Nursing and College of Arts and Sciences graduates will participate in the 10 a.m. ceremony, and College of Business and College of Education and Human Sciences graduates will participate in the 2 p.m. ceremony.
Hood more than ʻdriving byʼ at commencement ceremony ANNA BROWN
News Editor news@florala.net
UNA is bringing a nontraditional speaker to its commencement this year. Patterson Hood, best known as the frontman and guitarist for Drive-By Truckers, will speak at the Dec. 12 ceremonies. “We thought we could enlist speakers who represent those (musical) dimensions of the Shoals,” said Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost John Thornell. “We’re looking for ways to connect with the community. When we starting
INSIDE
this week’s paper
talking about music, Patterson Hood’s (name) came forward. We looking at others, but we didn’t think they brought as much as him.” Thornell said university President Kenneth Kitts, with the counsel of the vice presidents, makes the final decision on who the commencement speaker is. Between gigs, writing, recording and caring for a family, Hood finds time to share his story. He has spoken at other universities including Princeton University, the University of Alabama and the University of Georgia. In addition to songwriting,
NEWS . . . . . . . . 2A VIEWPOINTS . . . . 4A LIFE . . . . . . . . . 5A
Hood has also published essays, poems and short stories. Some of his work about being a southern musician appeared in the New York Times, and he is also one of UNA’s own. “I can say that (being the commencement speaker) is among the most surreal experiences I’ve ever had, which is saying a lot because my life is full of strange turns,” Hood said. His band began in 1996 with his friend Mike Cooley in Athens, Georgia. Since then, the band has released 10 full-length studio albums, four live albums and 13
SPORTS . . . . . . . 7A SPECIAL . . . . . . . 1B EXTRA . . . . . . . . 8B
”
I CAN SAY THAT (BEING THE COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER) IS AMONG THE MOST SURREAL EXPERIENCES IʼVE EVER HAD.
PATTERSON HOOD
FRONTMAN, DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS
singles. The group just released a live recording and box set, “It’s Great to Be Alive!” in October.
Hood is the son of bass player for the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, David Hood. He was raised in a home filled with music. He said he thinks his father’s career as a musician influenced his decision to pursue music as well. “(My dad) showed me that such a thing was possible, even living in a place like North Alabama,” he said. “I began writing songs when I was 8 years old and pretty much wrote fanatically from then onward.”
See HOOD, page 3A
YOU WIN SOME, YOU LOSE SOME ...7-8A
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2A NEWS
Dec. 3, 2015 • The Flor-Ala
photo courtesy of Artificial Ice Events
Patrons enjoy an Artificial Ice Events ice rink in New York City. Vice President of the University Program Council Adam McCollum said UPC is considering using Artificial Ice Events for a temporary rink on campus if UPC secures outside funding from the Shoals community.
UPC raises funds for temporary ice rink ANNA BROWN
News Editor news@florala.net
The University Program Council is trying to raise enough money from local businesses to pay for an artificial ice rink on campus. The ice rink is part of a series of events called “Snow Daze,” which will take place in January and February 2016, said Vice President of UPC Adam McCollum. He said the series of campus events includes a service day, polar plunge, semi-formal ball, horse and carriage rides and an ice rink. “(February) is one of the most dreary times on campus,” McCollum said. “There’s nothing going on, it’s past Christmas and no one really wants to be there.” He said UPC’s goal is to raise the money by the end of December. The ice rink would only be on campus for two days and will cost about $16,000, he said. There are flat areas around campus that would be suitable for the ice rink’s location, like the practice field and parking lots, said UPC Pro Tempore Amanda Areostatico. “We are looking to set up the ice rink at the practice field,” she said. McCollum said Athletic Director Mark Linder said he is interested in the ice rink, but needs more details on the materials that will be on the field. Junior Mai Curott said she supports the idea of the ice rink, conditionally. “If (the ice rink) is temporary, that would be good,” she said. “I feel like a permanent structure is more of an
investment.” Where there are events, there is money. The ice rink is the most expensive part of the series, costing nearly double that of the other “Snow Daze” activities. McCollum said the exact cost of the rink is not certain right now because they are still negotiating with the company.
”
(FEBRUARY) IS ONE OF THE MOST DREARY TIMES ON CAMPUS. THEREʼS NOTHING GOING ON, ITʼS PAST CHRISTMAS AND NO ONE REALLY WANTS TO BE THERE.
ADAM MCCOLLUM
VICE PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY PROGRAM COUNCIL While UPC typically uses its cut of the student activity fee to pay for students’ entertainment, funding for the ice rink will not come entirely from the fee. UPC approved spending $2,938 toward the ice rink, but the remaining funds must come from donations, he said. The total amount UPC will spend on “Snow Daze,” including the allotted funds for the ice rink is about $9,000, according to the budget. “It’s not that we’re spending $16,000 of the students’ money on this,” McCollum said.
See RINK, page 3A
713 WAVERLY AVE MUSCLE SHOALS, AL 35661 (256) 383-7454
To make your Christmas list complete,shop with us for all your musical needs
News 3A
Dec. 3, 2015 • The Flor-Ala
Scholarships and T-shirts? Where’s the connection? ANNA BROWN/JOHN ED DEARMAN
News Editor/Student Writer news@florala.net
Everyone loves getting free UNA T-shirts. However, these shirts are not exactly “free.” The student activity fee, included in tuition and fees, pays for every free T-shirt students receive through student allocations funding, said Director of Student Engagement Tyler Thompson. “There are many different things that Registered Student Organizations can do to get money to be able to hand out
T-shirts for free,” Thompson said. “They can do fundraisers and things like that, but they mainly use the money from Student Allocations.” Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs Clinton Carter said T-shirt sales generate significant revenue from the UNA bookstore in the Commons. “The sales always spike up at the beginning of the school year during football season, and they go up again around graduation,” he said. Carter said the profits from the bookstore are designated toward scholarships for Presidential Mentors Academy participants.
These scholarships are awarded to incoming freshmen whose racial group is underrepresented in the students body, according to una.edu. Even if organizations don’t use allocations funds, there is still a process in approving the design. The RSO adviser also must give the OK for the shirt design. Thompson said there are certain guidelines for organizations to follow when using the allocations fee. If an RSO is giving out free T-shirts at a planned event, it can use allocations funds. However, if the RSO uses the shirt to promote the organization, the RSO members must pay for the shirts
KATLYN SHANNON I Staff Photographer
Freshman Sierra Hill browses the T-shirts at the University Bookstore in the Commons. She said she is looking for a specific shirt as a gift for a family member.
HOOD, continued from page 1A He studied Marketing at UNA, but decided to pursue his true passion instead: music. Hood said he always wanted to make music for a living, but went to college because he was convinced he could not survive in the music industry. He said he realized he was destined to be a musician after writing for a familiar newspaper in 1985. “I was writing for The Flor-Ala, doing record reviews, and reviewed a record by a band called The Replacements,” he said. “They were kind of sloppy and kind of crappy, especially in technical areas, but also glorious and great, with excellent songs that really moved me. I had this epiphany while listening to that album (‘Tim’ from 1985) that this was what I should be doing. “I dropped out the following spring,” Hood said. He moved to Athens, Georgia, where he started the band Drive-By Truckers in 1996. While he never finished his degree, he said he thinks some of the marketing skills he learned while at UNA helped him in the long run. “I was a pretty lousy student, but I did have some really great classes during
my time (at UNA),” he said. “Ironically, there were things I learned from that, that probably helped me later, too. I’ve been so hands-on in running my business that I wish I had paid a little more attention to some fundamentals there.” Even music requires continuous learning and discipline, he said. While being a full-time musician seems “inherently adolescent,” he said he still has to work hard, and has for years, at crafting his music. “Your education doesn’t stop when you graduate,” he said. “It should never really stop. I’m still trying to get better at my job every day.” While Hood said he doesn’t want to reveal too much about his commencement speech now, he said he encourages recent graduates to always pursue the things they love. “Live your life full of passion,” he said. “Do the things you feel strongest about and do them really well.” Thornell said he thinks more people will attend the ceremonies because of the public interest in Hood and his work.
themselves, he said. Thompson said there are rules for T-shirt designs. If the organization is using allocations funding, Student Engagement must approve the shirt design. “If we catch something that is offensive or problematic, then we send the design back and tell them to change it,” he said. “Of course, you can’t have things such as drugs and alcohol on the T-shirts. You also can’t have profane language or anything like that as well.” Thompson said the reason the university monitors the shirt designs is protecting the university’s name and moral and ethical standards. “If you have our name on the shirt right next to a picture of a beer can, then there will definitely be some problems,” he said. Senior Jordan Shelvin said he has collected many T-shirts over the years at UNA. “In the five years I have been here, I’ve probably gotten around 12 or 13 T-shirts,” he said. “It’s good though because I can always add it to my wardrobe.” Sophomore Chris Daniels likes the free T-shirts, but wishes there were more variety of apparel. “It would be cool to have scarves or toboggans or something like that to have something different,” he said. Sophomore Deysha Garner, who is a member of SGA, said they do have plans for other kinds of shirts. “Now that it is starting to get cold, we will start to hand out long sleeve shirts and other kinds of warm clothing,” she said. “As SGA, we always listen to student feedback and see what we can do which will be best for them.”
RINK, continued from page 2A “If we can secure outside funding, then we will proceed,” McCollum said. “But if we can’t, we just can’t, unfortunately.” Due to the South’s notoriously inconsistent winter weather, the rink will not be made of real ice. “They have these platinum sheets that they put down,” McCollum said. “Then, they layer it with like a liquid substance that makes it feel like ice and skate like ice. It’ll be a synthetic rink, so we don’t have to worry about it melting.” He said the rink will be open to both UNA students and the community. “We wanted to have something that
people could expect in a college town and some things that will bring the community and the college together,” he said. “That’s why we would want to open it up to (them). Plus, we’re asking for the community’s money to fund it, so we want them to come and enjoy it as well.” Senior Coddy MacNeill said he is concerned as to what the university’s priorities are. “I like the idea of an ice skating rink on campus, however, I think there are better things the money could be used for,” he said. Editor’s Note: Online Editor Emily Kazungu contributed to this report.
UPC ‘Snow Daze’ Budget
• Polar Plunge and service day (Jan. 30) - $930 • Ice Ball (Feb. 25) - $2,666 • Horse and carriage (for the ball) - $2,400 • Ice rink (Feb. 12 - 13) - $2,938 • Total Cost: $8,934
4A Viewpoints
Dec. 3, 2015• The Flor-Ala
Winter break offers service opportunities
Review EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kali Daniel MANAGING EDITOR Jasmine Fleming NEWS EDITOR Anna Brown LIFE EDITOR Melissa Parker ASSOCIATE LIFE EDITOR Monday Sanderson SPORTS EDITOR Mike Ezekiel ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR Kadin Pounders ONLINE EDITOR Emily Kazungu BUSINESS MANAGER Jordan Byrd GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Peyton Lawler Michael Meigs Kelsey Weathers CIRCULATION MANAGER Alan Kimbrel CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER Kaitlin Douglass STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Amandalyn Dorner Katlyn Shannon Shay Redd
MELISSA PARKER Life Editor life@florala.net
With winter break comes a multitude of emotions. Many may be excited about that gift mom and dad have hinted at. Others are waiting impatiently for that present from their significant other. Some might be looking forward to a delicious Christmas dinner with family. We should remember, however, this is the season of giving and not receiving. There are many people right here in our community
Editorial Policy Corrections The staff strives to maintain the integrity of The Flor-Ala through accurate and honest reporting. To report an error, call 256-765-4364 or email editor@florala. net.
Letters Policy Letters to the editor should be emailed to editor@florala.net or mailed to: The Flor-Ala UNA Box 5300 Florence, AL 35632 Letters must include name and telephone number for verification. Please limit letters to 400 words. The editor reserves the right to edit or refuse to publish a letter.
family and friends or worrying about how to pay the bills after buying the presents. Helping a person in need provides a sense of meaning and reduces stress. It can also remind us that things are not as bad as we thought. There are several ways giving to others can help the giver, according to helpguide. org. Volunteering, even just a few hours a week, provides both mental and physical health benefits. Volunteering increases self-confidence. When a person does something for others, there is a sense of accomplishment, which, in turn, leads to a more positive outlook about life and the future. It provides a sense of purpose. For anyone going through a rough patch in life, finding a healthy outlet that
takes their minds off of their troubles can be beneficial. Volunteering combats depression. One of the key risk factors for depression is social isolation. Volunteering offers the opportunity for social interaction and the chance to make new friends. It also offers the chance for physical activity. Helping with environmental projects, dog bathing at the shelter or playing ball with the kid next door can be great motivators to get some much-needed exercise. Take a moment and consider that maybe, just maybe, Christmas is not about the gifts. I think the Grinch was right in his movie: “‘What if Christmas,’ he thought, ‘doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.’”
US needs to protect First Amendment freedoms
ADVISER Scott Morris
Content is determined by the student editorial staff of The Flor-Ala and has not been approved by the university.
who will get nothing for Christmas. There will be no lively dinner discussions about how Uncle Joe burned the ham last year. There will be no visions of sugar plums dancing in the heads of small children. Some people in our community may not even have a place to lay their head at night. How can we help? There are plenty of local opportunities for helping others (see page 3B for ideas). The season does not have to be about money. Even broke college students can give the gift of time and put some of their skills to use. Besides the good it does for those lives touched, helping others boosts one’s own happiness, according to actionforhappiness.org. Other, less happy, emotions involved with this time of year include the stress in finding the perfect Christmas gifts for
KADIN POUNDERS
Associate Sports Editor sports@florala.net
“Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” Benjamin Franklin, a member of the Pennsylvania Providential Assembly, penned this quote in a letter to Pennsylvania governor Robert Hunter Morris in 1755. The phrase essentially means no individual should have to fear sacrificing their basic freedoms in order to feel safe and secure. Many of the fundamental liberties Franklin mentioned in his letter are in America’s Bill of Rights. The most basic, but most important, of these rights are in the First Amendment. This includes freedom of speech. As Americans, we take
advantage of these freedoms every day without much thought. We skewer our sports team’s coaches and players every weekend. We ruthlessly criticize elected officials on every action they take. We say a lot of things, some nice and some pretty mean, but we know it is within our rights to do so. However, as much as we love our own personal right to free speech, we hate everyone else’s. Twenty-eight percent of Americans believe the U.S. government should censor offensive comments about minorities, according to the Pew Research Center. Forty percent of Millennials, people ages 18 to 34, believe public statements offensive to minorities should be prevented. While I do not condone racism or derogatory comments toward any group of individuals, the numbers in this study are alarming to me. It is not that I think hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan or political nightmares like Donald Trump have anything good to say, but because this type of thinking is dangerous. What if tomorrow the
U.S. government made offensive statements toward minorities illegal? What if the government had the power to say, “You can’t say that,” and fined or incarcerated individuals for their words? Maybe it is restricted to just minorities at first, but at what point does it stop? After the government crosses the line for one group, where does it end? If we started down that road, would it eventually lead to a place where nobody could say anything that offended anybody, regardless of race, religion or sexual orientation? I think it would, and it is a scary thought. A similar issue occurred at the University of Missouri. Students who were offended by racist comments toward their student body president have petitioned for “safe zones” where no one can use media or offensive dialogue. Students have also demanded “trigger warnings,” where individuals must warn someone if what they say may be offensive. It has even reached a point where students are purposefully segregating themselves by forming black and white unions at the
university, and the idea is spreading to other campuses across the country. Are we seriously at this point now where we want to be segregated? This is not just an issue concerning one race either. Sixty-three percent of Americans believe blacks are the most discriminated upon, but 43 percent of Americans believe discrimination against whites is as big a problem as it is against minorities, according to a study by the Public Religion Research Institute. Racism and discrimination are both evil and ignorant, but are we willing to destroy 50 years’ worth of progress and the First Amendment just because we are afraid of someone offending us? The politically correct culture has put such a beat-down on free speech that people are scared or intimidated to voice an opinion, no matter what it may be. If we continue down this road, I fear we will have neither freedom nor security, just as Franklin warned.
Congratulations to our Photographer of the Week! Jackson Townsend
LIFE 5A
Dec. 3, 2015 • The Flor-Ala
Conversations with God
Student captures spiritual journey on film MELISSA PARKER Life Editor life@florala.net
Talking to a best friend is easy. It is just two people having a casual conversation. “Koinonia with God,” a film project senior Tate Hipps has spent the past 18 months working on, discusses how to get that relationship with God. “It’s about talking to God,” he said. “How do we get close to God, the creator of the universe?” People seem to think a close relationship with God takes years, but, he said, that is not true. “My objective is to allow people to perceive with their eyes what they couldn’t perceive before, begin to hear with their ears what they may not have heard before and understand with their heart,” he said. Hipps said he began filming in December 2014, but the creative process began in May. “I started pursuing prayer that summer,” Hipps said. “I realized that prayer isn’t a monologue. It’s a dialog between you and God.” Hipps enlisted the help of freshman and fellow film major Molly Timothy for the project. Timothy said she met Hipps through The Well. The Well is an environment for college students and young professionals within the Shoals region. Their mission is to connect or reconnect
lives vertically with God and horizontally with people, according to their Facebook. “He immediately wanted me to get connected with it and invited me along to help with the filming, just to teach me about it,” she said. Hipps said he read books on prayer and talked to church elders while researching the essential parts of prayer — faith, humility, thanksgiving, transparency and listening — for the documentary. For the faith section, Hipps interviewed an Alabama mother of three who has had cancer for four years. “She has held close to God through all of it,” he said. “She knows God to be a loving father, (even) when she’s dying.” The transparency section took Hipps to Guatemala in August 2015 to interview a young American couple who traveled there as missionaries shortly after their wedding. “It’s about how transparent they need to be within themselves and relating that to how transparent we need to be with God,” he said. “Transparency is the one key I found over anything, to how you become intimate with God. That’s how you become intimate with anyone.” Filming led him to places like Chicago, New York and Portland, he said. He chose a Hillsong conference in New York that focused on listening as his
final piece of research, he said. Hillsong Church is passionate about local churches and is on a mission to see God’s kingdom established across the earth, according to its website. “God hit me in the back of the head and said, ‘You’re supposed to go to this,’” he said. Timothy said traveling and interacting with others are typical of Hipps. “His personality is just always out there,” she said. “He wants to know everyone and love on everybody. I’ve learned a lot from Tate as a person on how to just be there for everyone and love everyone regardless of who they are.”
” I realized that prayer isn’t a monologue. It’s a dialogue between you and God. — Senior Tate Hipps The Dwelling Place in Florence, where Hipps attends church, produced the film along with Epic Church in Decatur. UNA Athletic Director Mark Linder, a member of The Dwelling Place, said it was the church’s duty to support Hipps. “He had a dream of creating a documentary,” he said. “We like to help people accomplish what God has placed on their hearts.”
See KOINONIA, page 6A
photo courtesy of Noah Tidmore
Senior Tate Hipps (left) and Justin Argo near the end of their cross-country journey at Arches National Park in Moab, Utah. Hipps films the landscape just as the sun rises. Hipps spent 18 months working on his documentary, “Koinonia with God,” which took him across the country and to Guatemala.
6A LIFE
Dec. 3, 2015 • The Flor-Ala
Quick tips help students prepare for finals MONDAY SANDERSON
Remembe r what yo u learned in class
Associate Life Editor life@florala.net
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KOINONIA, continued from page 5A Linder said the church family cannot wait to see the fulfillment of the project Hipps has worked hard on. “Tate’s a great young man,” Linder said. “He’s got a passion for video and for God. With those two coming together, I think he’s got a bright future.” UNA alumni Alex Rubolin, also a member of The Dwelling Place, said Hipps asked him to help with the music for the documentary.
“My involvement was basically writing all original music for the entire film,” he said. “The whole film and the concept of it was definitely something that touched my heart.” As a songwriter, Rubolin said the most important thing to him is the impact his songs have on people. “If one of my songs just hits someone and impacts them, that means the world to me,” he said.
Rubolin said Hipps asking him to be a part of the project encouraged him. “It’s an honor to me,” he said. “It’s really cool to be a part of something like that.” Assistant Professor of Radio, Television and Film Janet McMullen said people learn from examples, and she thinks the examples in this film are powerful. “To see somebody walk through
a difficult time and see how their faith uplifts them, or see somebody comfortable speaking about what they believe, or to learn how to explain what you believe by watching someone do that can be extremely valuable because we remember it,” she said. Hipps said he hopes to have the film, which premiered at Highland Baptist Church Dec. 1, on Vimeo by the end of the year.
Sports 7A
Dec. 3, 2015• The Flor-Ala
GRAB THE BROOMS! N . 21-28 Scoreboard ov
Nov. 21
Division II Playoffs (Round 1) Football vs. Newberry College 50-7 Win Women’s Basketball vs. Montevallo 80-71 Loss Men’s Hoops vs. Kentucky Wesleyan 78-63 Loss Volleyball vs. Valdosta State 3-0 Win
Nov. 22
GSC Championship Volleyball vs. West Florida 3-2 Win
Nov. 24
Women’s Basketball vs. Arkansas Tech 87-65 Loss
Nov. 28
Division II Playoffs (Round 2) Football vs. Tuskegee 35-31 Loss Women’s Basketball vs. Lipscomb 88-67 Loss Men’s Basketball vs. Miles 90-84 Loss
Nov. 29
Women’s Basketball vs. Tennessee State 58-40 Loss
Upcoming Volleyball
Division II Playoffs (Round 1) Dec. 3 at Florida Southern
Basketball
Women’s and Men’s games will take place back-to-back, respectively. Dec. 3 at Valdosta State Dec. 5 at West Florida Dec. 10 vs. West Georgia Dec. 13 vs. West Alabama
Games continued at roarlions.com
JACKSON TOWNSEND, SHAY REDD, AMANDALYN DORNER
UNA football players Lee Mayhall (left) and Stephen Evans, volleyball player Natasha Fomina and soccer player Margarida Sousa show emotion en route to conference championships this season. The football, volleyball and soccer teams won their respective conference championship in the same season for the first time in school history.
Lions complete conference championship sweep MIKE EZEKIEL
Sports Editor sports@florala.net
Things are a little icy this December at the University of North Alabama, but not because of the weather. Members of the volleyball, football and soccer teams will receive championship rings this year. For the first time in school history, the UNA Lions won the Gulf South Conference in its three main fall sports all in the same year. “I think it shows we are fairly balanced and competitive in our conference,” said UNA Athletic Director Mark Linder. “When you do something for the first time in school history, especially with our storied history, our coaches and student athletes should feel good about the accomplishment.” The most recent conference championship was in volleyball; the team defeated West Florida Nov. 22, securing the GSC tournament victory and the UNA fall conference sweep. “For all three teams to be able to win conference is huge and exciting,” said head coach Stephanie Radecki. “After the game, when people started to
tweet about it, that made us feel that much better.” The volleyball team is the only squad still in action, as its first playoff game takes place Dec. 3 against Florida Southern in West Palm Beach, Florida.
”
I think (winning all three conference championships) shows we are fairly balanced and
competitive in our conference.
Mark Linder
Athletic Director “We’ve been preparing throughout the thanksgiving holiday,” Radecki said. “Our players have done a good job of staying focused. We obviously have to play our best volleyball in order to make a run, and we look forward to the opportunity.” The volleyball team finished its regular season with a 26-7 record, including a 13-1 record in Flowers Hall. The team avenged its only home loss, West Florida, by defeating the Argonauts in the GSC Championship. The football team shared its third straight conference
championship this season, finishing with a 9-3 record. The Lions share with West Georgia, despite losing to the Wolves 3110. The football season ended for UNA with a 35-31 loss to Tuskegee Nov. 28. Winning the conference is not an easy feat, as the GSC accounts for 10 national championships and 106 postseason all-time wins. UNA’s football program owns 12 GSC titles, which is the most in conference history “We earned this one,” said sophomore wide receiver Dre Hall. “It feels really good to win three straight.” UNA’s soccer team won its second conference championship in the program’s history, as the first came in 2011. The Lions defeated Lee on penalty kicks Nov. 8 to secure the GSC championship a home playoff berth. “(Winning the conference in all three sports) is fantastic, especially for recruiting” said head coach Chris Walker. “The more publicity UNA gets, the more kids that are interested in playing here. Hopefully, we can keep building and get stronger each year.”
The Lions’ season ended in heartbreaking fashion, as Tampa’s last-second goal knocked off UNA in the second round of the playoffs. The team finished 15-3-2 on the year, including a 9-1-1 record on its home turf. Walker said his favorite part of coaching at UNA is seeing players from other sports support the soccer team and his players returning the favor for other sports. “I love seeing the kids support each other,” he said. “Our girls went to the football and volleyball games, and their players were at our games as well. It’s a great environment to play in and coach in.” Junior defender Alyssa Bova said it was rewarding to display the athletic program’s strength as a whole. “I thought UNA deserved to win conference in all three sports,” Bova said. “It was truly an unforgettable feeling to win conference for soccer alone, but to attend a school that had a clean sweep for conference titles in the fall is awesome.” With the success of the fall sports, the pressure falls on the spring sports to continue the streak.
8A Sports
Dec. 3, 2015 • The Flor-Ala
UNA Football 2015 Results 9/6 at Miles College (34-17 W) 9/12 vs. Mississippi College (34-17 W) 9/26 vs. Florida Tech (55-48 W) 10/3 at Valdosta St. (34-12 W) 10/10 at Western Oregon (22-24 L)
JACKSON TOWNSEND I Student Photographer
Sophomore wide receiver Dre Hall walks off the field in disappointment after the Lions lose to Tuskegee in a second round playoff game Nov. 28. The Lions finish the season 9-3, including a 6-1 home record and a share of the 2015 Gulf South Conference championship.
Football team eliminated in second round MIKE EZEKIEL
Sports Editor sports@florala.net
Another seemingly premature playoff ending occurred for UNA Nov. 28, as the No. 23 Tuskegee Tigers upset the No. 14 Lions 35-31. The Lions finished the season 9-3, winning their third straight Gulf South Conference championship, but falling in the second round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs. “We had a lot of things go against us,” said UNA head coach Bobby Wallace. “You could call that a little bit of luck, but at the same time you have to stop that luck. That’s why you have to play good enough to overcome those things when you get in the playoffs.” Although the season’s end disappointed Wallace, he said seeing his former assistant and Tuskegee head coach Willie Slater advance was encouraging. “I told (Slater) after the game I wasn’t glad he won, but I’m happy for him,” Wallace said. “He’s a great football coach and a great person.” The loss ends the career of the 2012 recruiting class, the first since Wallace’s second stint as the Lions’ head coach. “I hate to see it end like this in the second round at home,” said Lee Mayhall, who played his last game in a Lion uniform. “I didn’t think it would ever end. At the end (of the game), I was trying to savor that last moment. Having
all of these (teammates), I wouldn’t trade any of them for anything.” UNA senior quarterback Luke Wingo said despite coming up short of a national championship the past few years, he would not change his decision to play for this team if he had a repeat. “I’ve been very lucky to be a part of something as special as this (team),” Wingo said. “I don’t have any regrets; it’s been a lot of fun. I’m going to miss the comraderie and being around great guys everyday.” This year’s seniors left their marks in the record books. Wingo, who became the team’s starter in the middle of his freshman season, graduates from the team as the all-time leader in total offensive yards with 9,532. Wingo also finished with 8,374 career passing yards, putting him second alltime behind A.J. Milwee, who holds the record with 8,436 career yards. “It’s a cool feeling,” Wingo said. “It shows how much success we had as a team in the last three or so years. Usually, when you have a good team around you, the stats start to pile up.” While Wingo gave credit to his teammates, he also mentioned the offensive coaching staff attributing to his success. “Coach (Cody) Gross has especially helped me since I’ve been here,” Wingo said. “I give him a ton of credit for helping me as a quarterback, along with the other coaches and players around me.”
Senior running back Lamonte Thompson, who redshirted in 2011 and started as a freshman in 2012, leaves as the second all-time rushing yard leader with 3,524 yards. Thompson fell short to Tyrone Rush’s record of 4,421. “It feels really good to leave my name in the record books,” Thompson said. “I have to give all the credit to God, because without him, I wouldn’t be here, but also my teammates who have helped me become the player I am. I can‘t take all the credit.” Thompson said taking off his uniform one last time was tough, especially it being his last game in Braly Stadium. “It was really sad leaving the field after the game,” he said. “I’ve been playing in Braly since middle school. Growing up in Florence and continuing my playing career here, I had a lot of supporters, and I’m going to miss that.” Mayhall finished with 131 career receptions, putting him fifth all-time among wide receivers in the program’s history. While the Lions lose 21 seniors heading into next season, the future still looks bright for the program. The Lions return numerous All-GSC players, including junior defensive backs Philbert Martial and Levi Fell, sophomore receiver Dre Hall, junior tackle Stephen Evans and sophomore longsnapper Will Lovelace. “This team continues to build, even when we lose a lot of guys,” Wingo said.
10/17 vs. North Carolina Pembroke (62-28 W) 10/24 at West Georgia (10-31 L) 10/31 vs. Delta St. (43-17 W) 11/7 at Shorter (28-7 W) 11/14 vs. West Alabama (52-14 W)
PLAYOFFS 11/21 vs. Newberry College (50-7 W) 11/28 vs. Tuskegee (31-35 L)
SECTION B
Dec. 3, 2015• The Flor-Ala
graphic by MICHAEL MEIGS I Graphic Designer
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Minority winter holidays
Dec. 3, 2015 • The Flor-Ala
DECEMBER
21 22 23 24 25 26
مولد النبي
Yule is celebrated by about
134,000
Mawlid al-Nabi is the celebration of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Wiccans on Dec. 21¹
The holiday celebrates the Winter Solstice, the longest night and shortest day of the year. Locations north of the equator get sunlight for less than
Kwanzaa will celebrate its 50th anniversary in
People may sing and dance in the streets on Dec. 23 while collecting candies from tents.
2 Muslims often sing and read devotional poems, with the most famous being written
700 years ago
The name comes from the word for “first fruits” in Swahili, reflecting the idea of the holiday: African Americans acknowledging their cultural “first fruits” A kinara is lit with seven candles, representing the seven basic principles of Kwanzaa⁶⁷
from the perspective of Muhammad’s mother,
Aminah bint Wahb which is how long the Yule Log should burn. the previous year’s log is used to light the current year’s, and failure to light on the first try is a bad omen.³
But not all Muslims celebrate the holiday. Some believe Muhammad never celebrated Mawlid, so neither should his followers.⁴⁵
Represents the people and the principle of unity Represents the struggle and principles of creativity, self-determination and cooperative economics Represents the future with the principles of collective work and responsibility, purpose and faith
1 http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/16/us/16wiccan.html?_r=0 2 http://www.ibtimes.com/winter-solstice-2014-3-things-know-about-pagan-yule-celebrations-1763756 3 http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/yulelog.asp 4 http://www.onbeing.org/blog/the-celebration-of-mawlid-the-birthday-of-the-prophet/7174 5 http://www.islamicsupremecouncil.org/understanding-islam/spirituality/1--mawlid-an-nabi-celebration-of-prophet-muhammads-s-birthday.html 6 http://www.pbs.org/black-culture/connect/talk-back/what-is-kwanzaa/ 7 http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/celeb-procedures.shtml
information gathered and infographic design by Editor-in-Chief Kali Daniel
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Dec. 3, 2015 • The Flor-Ala
4 signs Christmas is on its way JASMINE FLEMING
Managing Editor managing@florala.net
Each year (and usually before Thanksgiving), signs of the upcoming Christmas season approach in the winter months. Whether it be families decorating houses, shopping centers erecting trees or peers on campus dressing in their best ugly sweaters, the Christmas season is fast approaching. Students know what signals Christmas, but how did those symbols come to take on their meaning? 1. Red and green “Red and green definitely puts me in the mind of Christmas,” said junior Lilly Wallace. “In my house, we have decorations and Christmas cookies that are red and green. I look forward to seeing everything decorated that way.” Red and green have their historical significance from rood screens, or decorative boundaries that separated areas in the medieval church, according to a 2011 study from the University of Cambridge called “Who colour-coded Christmas?” Red and green were a major color
theme in the screens, which was most likely due to their availability as pigment options, according to the study. Later, in the Victorian era, people revived the use of these colors into holiday traditions, and the use of them stuck with Christmas celebrations.
2. Christmas trees “Decorating the Christmas tree is a family thing at my house,” said sophomore Khalil Borders. “We all get together and decorate it together each year.” The first decorated Christmas tree was recorded in Riga, Latvia, in 1510, according to the National Christmas Tree Association. “Men of the local merchants’ guild decorated a tree with artificial roses, danced around it in the marketplace and then set fire to it,” according to their website. “The rose was used for many years and is considered to be a symbol for the Virgin Mary.” Twenty years later, in Alsace, France, residents bought trees to celebrate the holiday, but they did not decorate them, according to the website. Over the following centuries, decorations began
to vary; in Germany, using apples was common. In the 1800s, German settlers brought the idea of using Christmas trees to the U.S., and the concept grew in popularity.
3. Candy canes “I usually always eat candy canes around Christmastime,” said Tavares Weeks, a sophomore. “Their coloring is part of what makes them so fun to eat.” The origin of the candy cane has no verifiable explanation, but there are many legends as to its existence, according to “The history of candy canes,” a 2014 CBS News report. One story said a German choir director in the 17th century gave candy canes to children to quiet them during Christmas church services. They were shaped like a shepherd’s staff to symbolize people watching over their flocks, according to the report. Whether these stories are true, Bob McCormack, in the 1920s, capitalized on the product by using his Albany, Georgia, factory to produce handmade candy canes, which increased their popularity.
4. Mistletoe and holly “Holly is usually placed on wreaths, and mistletoe lets you kiss someone on Christmas,” said Hannah Bridgeman, a freshman. “They’re definitely strong Christmas symbols.” Mistletoe and holly have historic origins of signifying calm and peace, according to Did You Know?, an organization that provides historical context to common practices. Originally, mistletoe was sacred to groups such as the Norse, the Celtic Druids and native North Americans, according to the website. These groups often used it to signify protection. Romans used holly to honor the god Saturn at their Saturnalia festival (see page 5B for more about Saturnalia) and gave it to each other for uses such as medicine and decoration, according to the site. “To avoid persecution during the Roman pagan festival of Saturnalia, the early Christians decked their homes with Saturnalia holly,” according to the site. “As Christian numbers increased and their customs prevailed, holly and mistletoe lost their pagan associations and became symbols of Christmas.” photo courtesy of Stephen Nakatani | Flickr
Gratitude: the gift that keeps giving MELISSA PARKER Life Editor life@florala.net
There are numerous local opportunities for students to give back to the community this holiday season. Director of the North Alabama Christian Children’s Home Don Williams said the home offers a few chances for local people to help. “We have 15 children ages 7 to 19,” he said. “(We have) nine boys and six girls. Our children come to us from anywhere in the state of Alabama. They’ve come out of homes where they have been abused, abandoned and — or — neglected. They often come to us through the Department of Human Resources.” The children always appreciate gift cards, he said. Some requests are Wal-Mart, J.C. Penney, Martin’s and GameStop. The Florence home also offers volunteer opportunities, he said. People can rake leaves, sweep and do general outside cleaning, he said. The Salvation Army Angel Tree is another opportunity to give to local children. There is one in the Florence Mall, as well as the Student Government Association offices in the Guillot University Center. Junior Spencer Woods said he adopts an angel from the Angel Tree whenever he can. He and his girlfriend, junior Anna Glosemeyer, adopted two angels this
year, he said. “There are kids out there that need help more than I do,” he said. “I’m in college. I’ve got it good.”
”
OUR CHILDREN COME TO US FROM ANYWHERE IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA. THEYʼVE COME OUT OF HOMES WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN
ABUSED, ABANDONED AND
— OR — NEGLECTED.
THEY OFTEN COME TO US THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES.
DON WILLIAMS
DIRECTOR OF NORTH ALABAMA CHRISTIAN CHILDRENʼS HOME Some parents work hard to provide what their children need but are not financially able to provide the extras they may want, he said. “It’s always good to help out other people,” he said. Room in the Inn Shoals offers a place for anyone needing a place to sleep, as well as volunteer opportunities, said Director Krista Manchester. Room in the Inn will be open its usual hours during the holiday break with additional hours on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day, she said. “We will be open throughout the day and on those holiday days because the library will be closed,” she said. Anyone needing a place to stay is encouraged to be at the intake center at 104 S. Poplar St. by 4 p.m., she said. The intake center will remain open each morning until 9 a.m. while it is cold, she said. Manchester said those interested in volunteering can request an application through email or visit the website roomintheinnshoals.com. The center needs volunteers during the regular shifts from 3:45 to 6:15 p.m., she said. Geography professor Lisa KeysMathews said First Methodist Church in downtown Florence welcomes volunteers and is within walking distance of campus. “It’s the season for giving and it’s important to give back to our community,” she said. The church prepares and delivers meals to shut-ins on Christmas Eve, she said. Volunteers prepare the meals two to three days before Christmas Eve, and on Christmas Eve morning they put the meals together and deliver them, she said. “We have it all set up so if somebody comes in and wants to deliver, we give them a map, they pick up their meals and then they go,” she said. Keys-Mathews said she never realized
how many people in the community go without a good meal during the holidays until she started helping at the church 10 years ago. The number of students willing to help others impresses her, she said. “This generation of students seems to be very interested in helping other people,” she said. “There are just a lot of good hearts and good minds in this generation of students that we have on campus right now for wanting to give back.” Anyone wanting to volunteer can email her for more information, she said.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: FOR
ANYONE INTERESTED
IN DONATING A GIFT TO THE
CHILDRENʼS HOME...
• CONTACT: 256-757-4212 • THE
BEST TIME TO BRING
ITEMS IS
DEC. 14-17.
4B
Dec. 3, 2015 • The Flor-Ala
3 DIY Christmas gifts for the financially frugal MONDAY SANDERSON
By looking on the Internet, specifically Pinterest, students can find many ideas for Christmas presents. Below, I have suggested It is the time of year where people go out three do-it-yourself gifts fun for anyone on of their way to buy products for their friends your Christmas list. Give them a try and make and family, but this can be difficult for college your shopping trip a little less hectic. students. An easy and touching way to save money is making homemade gifts. Associate Life Editor life@florala.net
Snow Globe
Candy Sleigh
Anything can be the focus of the snow globe. Students can find most of the necessary items around the house, or they can buy them for a low price at the store.
The candy sleigh is a delicious and easy gift to make for someone with a sweet tooth. Materials:
Materials:
10 miniature candy bars 2 candy canes 1 full-size KitKat bar Hot glue gun Ribbon
Empty jar with lid Figurine Hot glue gun Glitter Ribbon Water 1 copy of The Flor-Ala First, wash the lid and jar. If there are any stickers or labels, remove them. Second, place The Flor-Ala on a counter top. The newspaper will catch any mess. Third, use the hot glue gun to glue the figurine inside the lid. Place a small amount of glue on the lid and press down firmly for 10 seconds. Let the figurine set for an hour. Fourth, coat the bottom of the jar with glitter and fill with water. Fifth, screw the lid into the jar once the glue has set. Finally, tie the ribbon around the base. Tip: Do not add any more glitter after the water. The glitter will clump together and look disgusting. Total Cost: $8.59
First, glue the candy canes to the bottom of the KitKat. Second, glue the miniature candy bars in rows, making a pyramid. The first row will have four, then three, then two and then one. Finally, wrap the ribbon around and make a bow. Tip: Make sure the candy is either frozen or refrigerated. This slows any melting. photos by Kaitlin Douglass I Chief Photographer
Total Cost: $6.84
Green Mint Sugar Body Scrub This is a great gift for anyone who likes pampering. Materials: ½ cup coconut oil 1 ½-2 cups sugar 1 tablespoon peppermint extract 1 drop green food coloring 1 glass jar(s)
First, place the coconut oil in a bowl a microwave on high for 20 seconds. Second, add in the sugar, extract, and food coloring. Stir until the ingredients are well combined. Finally, transfer the contents into the glass jar(s). Tip: Wear gloves when making this. The food coloring will stain your hands in its liquid form. Total Cost: $15.34
5B
Dec. 3, 2015• The Flor-Ala
ʻMerry Christmas,ʼ ʻhappy holidaysʼ or something else? EMILY KAZUNGU Online Editor online@florala.net
The Starbucks red cup was not the first to omit “merry Christmas.” In recent years, people have moved from saying “merry Christmas” to “happy holidays.” Some people see the change as a way to diminish the true meaning of Christmas. “I think mostly people don’t get the true meaning of Christmas anymore,” said freshman Jessica Robinson. “People think it’s more about gifts rather than spending time with your family and celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.” Freshman McKayleh Smith said she thinks we should say ‘merry Christmas’ because it is about Christ, but she believes it should be a personal choice. “It’s what I believe,” she said. “I want to keep it focused on Christ, and I think I should have the right to say ‘merry Christmas.’” While others see “happy holidays” as taking out Christmas — and its meaning — some students see it as putting all holidays that happen this time of year into one, said freshman T’Sharra Woods. She said she would rather say “merry Christmas” as opposed to saying “happy holidays.”
Society has seen the transition from “merry Christmas” to “happy holidays,” said Department Chair of Professional and Interdisciplinary Studies Craig Robertson. This is considered more of a secular outlook because it is allegedly taking out the true meaning of Christmas. “I don’t subscribe to a religious point of view,” he said. “What is taking place here is a return to the original holiday of this time of the year called Saturnalia.” Saturnalia was a popular Roman holiday honoring Saturnus, the god of seed and sowing, with a festival, according to a uchicago.edu article. “It was a pagan holiday that was basically co-opted by Christianity as a way of replacing the pagan holiday with some more Christ-centered event, such as the birth of Jesus,” Robertson said. As long as the true meaning of Christmas is not lost, some Christians have no problem with people saying “happy holidays.” “Personally, I do identify myself as a Christian, so to me it is important as far as showing love to other people,” said senior Mike Smith. “But at the same time, I’m not going to push my beliefs on somebody else. I don’t get offended if somebody says ‘happy holidays.’” There are other holidays to celebrate this time of the year, and it would be fair
to say merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah and so forth, Smith said. “People have different beliefs,” said graduate student Alex Heatherly. “Not everyone is a Christian, and I don’t feel like I should make everyone say merry Christmas if they follow any other religion. I understand not everyone is going to think the way I do.” At the end of the day, the meaning of Christmas stays the same regardless of whether people say it or not, Robertson said. The meaning of Christmas should be what the individual believes it is according to their faith, he said. “Their faith is internal to be externally evidenced to other people,” he said. “You don’t need a holiday to express externally your faith because it should be done every day.”
Happy Holidays!
Than k You, s! too!
Merry ! Christmas
Than ks You, ! too!
Happy ! Hanukkah
Than ks You, ! too!
Joyous Kwanzaa!
Than ks You, ! too!
What are you doing over the winter break?
”
IʼM GOING HOME TO JAPAN TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS AND SEE MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
”
I PLAN TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS AND THE NEW YEAR WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN RWANDA.
KAI SHAIMADA
I PLAN TO TRAVEL FOR A MONTH TO BOSTON, AND POSSIBLY OTHER PLACES, WITH FRIENDS FROM FLORENCE.
PING XIONG FRESHMAN
IʼLL BE TRAVELING BACK TO JAPAN
IʼM GOING TO ROME WITH
TAKAHIRO ABE
LAYLA ALHASSAN
TO TEMPLE.
”
MY FATHER IS COMING TO
CHRISTMAS CARNIVAL.
AMERICA, AND THEN WE ARE TRAVELING TO LOS ANGELES AND SAN FRANCISCO.
SUMMIT KAPOOR
JIAJUN HAO
Information compiled by Staff Writer Spencer Brooks
NEW YORK.
FRESHMAN
FAMILY AND ATTENDING THE
JUNIOR
IʼM GOING TO VISIT MY FIANCÉ
IN PENNSYLVANIA AND THEN TRAVEL TO
SENIOR
”
”
TO SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY AND GO
BELINE KARERA
FRESHMAN
”
”
GRADUATE STUDENT photos by KAITLIN DOUGLASS I Staff Photographer
FRESHMAN
”
IʼM GOING BACK TO PAKISTAN TO SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY.
ALI MURAD
JUNIOR
design by PEYTON LAWLER I Graphic Designer
6B
The Flor-Ala staffʼs Christmas playlist + Wonderful
Christmas Time by Paul McCartney & Wings
Dec. 3, 2015 • The Flor-Ala
KALI DANIEL I Editor-in-Chief
Managing Editor Jasmine Fleming and Associate Sports Editor Kadin Pounders make a toast. Fleming and Pounders, along with Editor-in-Chief Kali Daniel, tasted holiday drinks in the name of journalism.
Holiday drinks inspire quirky comments KALI DANIEL
Editor-in-Chief editor@florala.net
+ Sleigh Ride
The holidays have special drinks associated with them, like egg nog and hot chocolate, but what happens when you hit 21? Managing Editor Jasmine Fleming, Associate Sports Editor Kadin Pounders and myself explored the dark side of beverage favorites for Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
+ Jingle Bells
Egg Nog J: It’s actually not as bad as I thought it was going to be. Although it is stronger than I expected. It tastes peppermint-y.
+ Rap version of The Nutcracker
+ O, Holy Night
Sports Editor sports@florala.net
+ Carol of the Bells
+ Baby, It’s Cold Outside
1.
Picture frame
My personal statistics tell me 100 percent of Dirty Santa games involve some sort of picture frame. Within those games, 85 percent of the gifts are, in fact, picture frames. You cannot go wrong with this item. 2.
A ball cap
+ The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) by Nat King Cole
In all seriousness, the other 15 percent is probably this. Caps are a good addition to a Dirty Santa game, just make sure it is a UNA hat. They seem to win a lot.
+ Grandma Got Ran
Who can deny the awesomeness of making a long road trip even longer with these throwback jams? Tell me why, it’s tearing up my heart.
Over by a Reindeer
3.
4.
+ White Christmas by Bing Crosby
Chai Hot Toddy J: It’s really sweet and smooth. And I like it a lot. Tea and alcohol is a good combination. [Kadin,] you don’t seem like you like it very much. KP: I don’t not like it, I just…. It’s just not a good combination to me. The taste combination. J: I have the opposite reaction. I thought it went really well together. I think my tongue is going kind of numb, though. KD: Less bourbon would be better. I mean, it tastes like a hot toddy. To read more comments and get the drink recipes, visit florala.net.
10 Dirty Santa gifts to rule the Christmas party MIKE EZEKIEL
by Pentatonix
KD: What? It tastes like cinnamon alcohol with milk. I could drink this all day. KP: Yeah, it’s like, really creamy. J: Definitely not my favorite. KD: You’ve only had one! KP: It’s Evan Williams, and Evan Williams is always a bit stronger. It isn’t the smoothest. KD: It’s warm, though. J: You’re right, it is warm. Maybe I’m not drinking it as fast as you are. KD: That was unpleasant. It started off nice but it got pretty bad. J: Save it for Christmas. KD: Definitely. With my family, I’m going to need it.
A “boy band” CD
A John Cena T-shirt
Because nobody is tired of John Cena, right?
5.
Socks
It might be the most dreaded gift one can receive from their parents, but in Dirty Santa, this gift will rock your… never mind. 6.
The Flor-Ala Newspaper
If you can’t afford socks, go pick up a free newspaper on campus. It is a pretty good newspaper and an even better Dirty Santa gift. 7.
A tool set
When it comes time to steal a gift, you can always count on Uncle Bob to swipe in and get this one. Plus, if you ever need something fixed, you hit two birds with one stone. 8. Two batteries …Gift included.
double-A not
9. Back scratcher These bad boys come in handy, but when you need it, it is either away from you or lost forever. 10. Food Do I even need a reason?
Dec. 3, 2015 • The Flor-Ala
7B
design by JACQUELINE WILLIS I Student Designer
8B EXTRA
SOCIAL MEDIA OF THE WEEK
Dec. 3, 2015 • The Flor-Ala