Feb. 5 Issue

Tennis Preview Page 6B Feb. 5, 2015

Volume 83, Issue 20

www.FlorAla.net

Student newspaper of the University of North Alabama

ORGANIZATIONS

WHERE DID THE MONEY GO? 6% dia Me

8% M

ultic

-based 5% Faith

Data shows gap in student allocations funding Total fall 2014 funds:

$98,689.18 $54,679.04

ultu

ral

9% Community service

55% Greek

$17,265.98 $8,601.02

ic m e d a c A % 17

$7,517.44 $5,673.70 $4,952

What is the breakdown of UNA RSOs?

17

Fraternities and sororities

184 Total RSOs Figures based on UNAʼs Orgsync website

INSIDE

this week’s paper

NEWS . . . . . . . . 2A PHOTO ESSAY . . . 4A VIEWPOINTS . . . . 7A

LIFE . . . . . . . . . 1B SPORTS . . . . . . . 5B EXTRA . . . . . . . . 8B

What is the breakdown of students?

711 Greeks 6,841

One = 1,000 students

Total students

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JOB INTERVIEW TIPS.....2B

Please recycle your paper.

2A NEWS

Feb. 5, 2015 •

FINANCES

ONLINE

Students dispute allocations funding process Newspaper

$

STUDENT ALLOCATIONS FUNDING

Alpha Phi Alpha

9 MEMBERS

$

10,578.64 ASHLEY REMKUS

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Data provided by SGA’s Budget Oversight Committee shows a disparity in allocations funding between registered student organizations.

Greek organizations received 55 percent of the funds during the fall 2014 allocations period, according to the committee’s records. The data also shows of the $98,689 available to all student groups, Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity received $10,578, more than 10 percent.

Part of the Student Activity Fee, which is charged to all students taking at least one on-campus class, provides the allocations funding budget.

Budget Oversight Chairman Skyler Mansell said no favoritism is shown toward any groups.

“It is first-come, first-served,” Mansell said. “We are working on, in the next months, changing the policy.

We make notes throughout the semester, depending on specific situations, to change the policy at the end of the year.”

He identified limiting the amount of funding an organization can receive as one of the potential changes. He said the committee plans to present changes to SGA Senate that also include limiting an RSO to two requests per week “to ensure a more even distribution of the money.

“This would prevent one organization from possibly getting half the funding. It needs to be a more equal spread,” he said.

Senior Roger Good said he thinks the money should be split evenly among the organizations.

“There should be a limit on what an organization can get and how many times they can apply,” Good said. “They should also consider whether these events are open to all the students who paid the money for the funding to begin with.

That way you know it’s actually going back to students.”

The only current limits on funding are $1,500 per travel request and $4,000 per event request, according to the allocations funding handbook. However, the number of events or trips an organization can apply for are unlimited.

Fall semester funding includes events or trips that occur between October

and December, while spring semester allocations cover January through September, according to the handbook.

Mansell said requests for the fall semester can be submitted beginning Sept. 1, and spring requests open Nov. 1.

He said the problem with the funding model is by the end of the first day, the money is often already gone.

UNA NAACP President Destiny Battles said her organization did not obtain funding during the fall 2014 semester because the money ran out before the chapter’s request was reviewed.

”

IT IS FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED. WE ARE WORKING ON, IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS ON CHANGING THE POLICY.

SKYLER MANSELL BUDGET OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN “(Allocations) has a lot of money, and last fall it was only open for like a week,” Battles said. “It was gone so fast. Plus, you have to wait four weeks once you get approved.”

She said when the organization was first chartered on campus it received no funds for the first year.

“We had to go through all of 2013 with no funding, and that’s really hard for a new organization,” she said. “You can’t throw any events. You can’t do anything. It’s almost impossible to get people involved like that.”

Assistant Director of Student Engagement for Greek Affairs Julie Fletcher said because the approval of events is determined by whether organizations meet the requirements established by the committee and when the request is submitted, many Greek organizations have also been on the losing end of the funding spread.

An organization could have an event every week and request $4,000 for each event, “and if they get it in first, how the requirements and guidelines were written, if they documented everything correctly, they are going to be approved,”

$

0.13 PERCENT OF STUDENTS

$ Fletcher said.

Mansell said requests must include all expenses for travel or events and a detailed statement of how any funds received will be spent.

Battles said the difficulty of filling out the requests also makes it tough for organizations to beat others to the money.

“Like three areas have paragraphs of information and if you miss one little thing, you get denied,” she said.

SGA senators and the board of trustees passed a resolution in 2014 implementing a $23 increase to the fee in hopes of providing more funds for RSOs. The fee also funds UPC, Leadership and Volunteerism, the Lions Den game room, Student Engagement salary support and the Miss UNA pageant.

The fee, $27 at the time, increased by $8 during the 2014 fall semester and $5 this semester, and will rise by $5 in the proceeding fall and spring semesters to bring the total to $50, according to the resolution.

Student organizations that seem to fall on the losing end said they question whether the increase was beneficial.

Phi Mu President Hadley Skalnik said her organization had difficulty getting funding for its annual Casino Night event because the money ran out before the sorority’s application was reviewed.

Skalnik said she was told another organization filled out applications for several events and was awarded because the requests met the requirements and were submitted earlier.

She said Phi Mu previously has not charged students to attend Casino Night because the allocations fund and the sorority’s budget paid for the event, but this year the organization will have to.

Fletcher said attendance at events should be considered in determining who gets allocations funding.

Skalnik said Casino Night drew between 300 and 400 people last year.

Fletcher said future changes in the policy should include considering the educational value of a trip or event.

Alpha Phi Alpha President Kentrell Thomas was unavailable for comment.

website features new mobile design, capabilities STAFF REPORT

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Online readers of The Flor-Ala now have access to the newspaper’s website on the go.

The introduction of a mobile-friendly web page allows readers to catch up on the latest news, life and sports stories, opinion pieces, and photo galleries from their smart phones.

“The new mobile site lets our readers stay up to date on all things UNA and local news,” said Editor-in-Chief Anna Grace Usery. “It is our goal and our responsibility to keep students, faculty, staff and the Shoals community informed, and now we are better able to do that than ever before.”

The mobile site also features photos to accompany top stories on the home page instead of the list of headlines the old site showcased. Visitors can access various sections of the newspaper by selecting the drop down menu at the right of their screens.

CHECK VISIT

IT

OUT:

WWW.M.FLORALA.NET FROM

YOUR SMART PHONE TO STAY UPDATED

Editor’s note: To see a full list of allocations for fall 2014, please visit www.florala.net.

UNA AND SHOALS FROM THE FLOR-ALA.

ON THE LATEST NEWS

NEWS 3A

Feb. 5, 2015 • The Flor-Ala

FACILITIES

ADMINISTRATION

Shields: goal is finding ‘right’ chief for UNA ASHLEY REMKUS

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photo by JORDAN FERRELL I Graphic Designer

Students walk down stairs inside Bibb Graves Hall onto the first floor after noon classes end Feb. 2. Director of Disabilities Services Mary Bowers said an elevator, which will hopefully be added to the building, will benefit special needs students.

Bibb Graves elevator construction postponed MELISSA PARKER

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Students walking to class may not pay attention to the width of doors or the long inclines between buildings, but those additions to campus were created for faculty and students with special needs.

Director of Disability Services Mary Bowers said one of the buildings that causes the most problems for students is Bibb Graves Hall.

“I was told there was an elevator going in (last) summer and it didn’t,” she said. “They did substantial work on it.”

Clinton Carter, vice president for Business and Financial Affairs, said a Bibb Graves elevator is still a priority.

The project has been placed on hold,

however, as bids were about 40 percent above the $350,000 budget approved by the board of trustees. Hopes are high it will be completed later this calendar year, he said.

Currently there is only a motorized chair in Bibb Graves, Bowers said.

Senior Michael Bramlett said he has not used the lift in recent years, but did have one unfortunate experience with it.

“In 2007 I got stuck on the lift for an hour or so while they had to get it fixed,” Bramlett said.

He said if Disability Services could not move a class, an elevator would be beneficial to students in chairs as well as teachers who have materials and maps already in a room.

Senior Janice Jackson said there are two sets of stairs on each side of the

staircase, and although they may be an inconvenience, an elevator would be a hassle.

“I think it would cause a traffic jam because everyone’s going to wait for the elevator,” she said.

Bowers said the department works with the registrar and academic departments to settle accommodations for students with learning, psychiatric and physical disabilities.

“If, for instance, someone had a class on the third floor of Bibb Graves Hall, we, the registrar or the faculty member might move the class so they could get there,” she said.

Bowers said the department focuses on classroom accessibility for students with disabilities.

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TRANSPORTATION

Police continue to suppress illegal handicapped parking SHAUN SWINEHART

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Officials from the UNA Police Department indicated last year they would begin cracking down on illegally parking in handicapped spaces.

Since early 2014, the situation has improved, but the problem is still present, said Interim UNA Police Chief Mark Parker.

Parker said 408 tickets were written for handicapped parking violations between spring 2013 and fall 2014. He said since fall 2014, the police department has issued 126 tickets for the violation.

Senior Michael Bramlett said the biggest problem he faces on campus is parking.

“Parking, for every student, is a nightmare,” Bramlett said. “When I first started driving here, before the UNA Public Safety Institute kind of

cracked down, people would get their grandparents’ handicap decals and would use that to be able to park in handicap spots.”

Parker said the driver of the car does not have to be handicapped to be authorized to park in a handicapped space. Another passenger could require the decal.

He said the police department is still working on reducing the frequency of the violations, and one way he hopes to achieve that goal is by increasing the ticket fee of $50.

“I have got plans to talk to the parking committee when they come into session a little later on, but right now ($50) is the standard fee for the handicap parking violation with a university citation,” he said.

Freshman Bianca Phillips said she believes a higher fee will have a positive impact.

“If ticket prices are raised, it will

force students to do the right thing and park where they’re supposed to,” Phillips said.

“Today, I was driving around waiting to find a spot, and you just see people who park in the spots, literally running to or from their cars,” Bramlett said. “It just makes it hard for me to find a spot.”

Bramlett said most of his classes are in the Communications Building, but when all the handicapped spaces there are taken, he has to park at Powers Hall. UNA has also begun issuing some temporary handicapped parking decals, Parker said.

“If proper documentation is presented, we have a placard that we allow people to put on their dash,” he said. “It shows that they are authorized to park in handicap spaces for a temporary amount of time.”

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The search for a new police chief is underway, officials said.

To kick-start the process, a search committee was named, and the job description was finalized, said Vice President for Student Affairs David Shields.

“I’ve looked at other universities around our size and tried to make sure our job description is contemporary to what other universities around the country do and to what UNA is looking for,” Shields said. “I’ve also made sure there was a broad representation from the campus and community on the search committee.”

”

I MADE SURE WE HAVE A BROAD REPRESENTATION FROM THE CAMPUS — FACULTY, STAFF, STUDENTS AND A COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE FLORENCE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

DAVID SHIELDS VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS The search comes as part of the university’s attempt to fill the position left vacant when former Chief Bob Pastula resigned effective Dec. 31, 2014.

Officials named Mark Parker the interim police chief earlier this semester.

Shields said that was the first step in moving forward with the search.

“The new chief and I met with faculty senate, staff senate and SGA,” Shields said. “Because this position is so vital to the university we had to get someone in there immediately. Chief Parker has been a great asset to the campus.”

Parker said he is “very seriously” considering entering his name into the search, but will not make a final decision until the job requirements are posted.

Shields said he expects to meet with the search committee within the next two weeks to finalize all details and present his expectations.

“I made sure we have a broad representation of the campus — faculty, staff, students and a community representative from the Florence Police Department,” he said.

Officials named Chair of the Geography Department Francis Koti the head of the search committee.

Koti said via email he was asked not to comment on the search process.

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4A IMAGES

Feb. 5, 2015 • The Flor-Ala

GETTING THE SHOT

Olympic Training Paralympic athlete Roderick “Rod” Sewell practices his breast stroke at Sheffield Recreation Center. This file photo accompanied an Aug. 28 story about Sewell winning the gold medal for the U.S. Para-swim team.

Have you ever thought about joining an organization on campus but just were not sure which one to choose (see page 7A)? Do you have a problem with fitting into the other clubs or organizations due to your schedule or otherwise? Do you have an opinion or viewpoint about an event or happening on campus or within student life? Would you like for that opinion to be expressed without any

▶

Harassment Junior Andrew Kerstiens waits a table at Buffalo Wild Wings Oct. 14. This photo by Staff Photographer Deanna Kampmeyer accompanied an Oct. 30 article about sexual harassment in the workplace.

a friendly and unique staff and become a part of the news on campus. No experience is needed, and instruction will be provided to any who ask.

It is really enjoyable to share the most urgent stories the way that you saw them with the entire campus and Florence community. I feel a sense of belonging and purpose that I did not have before. We have an extremely skilled, creative staff who are all willing and able to help out with teaching anything from the basics to more difficult shoots like sports events.

Do not be shy, or feel you are not capable — we all start somewhere, and we would love for you to start here.

Help us share the behind the scenes news, photos and information about your campus and become a voice of the Pride. Take a look at the work our current staff has contributed, and send your resumes with samples of your own work to kshannon@una.edu.

To find out more information, come to our meetings Tuesdays at 6 p.m. in the Student Media Building, located at the Wood Avenue crosswalk.

Hobbies Chair of the Department of Communications Greg Pitts discusses his collection of antique technology.

This image by Staff Photographer Kaitlin Douglass ran alongside a Nov. 13 article about professor hobbies.

▶

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long-term commitment on your part?

Need volunteer hours, resume building material or a $1,500 scholarship?

The Flor-Ala is actively in search of both volunteers and staff members for multiple positions including writers and photographers. We are offering a $1,500 scholarship to hire a staff photographer and are always looking for volunteers.

You can gain hands-on experience working in a fast-paced office environment, get your work published and make connections through hundreds of networking opportunities. Come join

▶

KATLYN SHANNON

Bid Day Buddies Hannah Hopkins (left) and Lauren Snow of Phi Mu pose for a picture together after Bid Day festivities.

This image by Staff Photographer Kaitlin Douglass will run in the 2015 issue of the Diorama, The Flor-Ala’s sister organization.

NEWS 5A

Feb. 5, 2015 â&#x20AC;˘ The Flor-Ala

COMMUNICATION

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< Inbox (14,873) From: UNA Info To: All students and staff

Students unable to opt out of emails ANNA BROWN

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Most email lists allow recipients to opt out of receiving messages. But, for UNA students, opting out is not an option. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Students will ask if they can be removed from the email list,â&#x20AC;? said system services manager Sara Huntley. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We cannot because that list is generated mathematically based on your role as a student. We canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pick which ones to remove you from because you may miss an important email.â&#x20AC;?

Email is a fundamental means of communication on a college campus, Huntley said.

Since the beginning of the semester, more than 105 emails have been sent from the UNA Info domain, Huntley said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just wish they wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t send me 16 emails everyday,â&#x20AC;? said junior Melanie Mather.

Huntley said Information Technology Services occasionally receives complaints about the number of emails sent to student, faculty and staff portal accounts.

Junior Marianne Gaston said the repeat emails are the most annoying. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Most of the emails are about things that not everyone cares about,â&#x20AC;? Gaston said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really care to hear about all the Greek events. Plus, I feel like some of the on-campus events are advertised too much, like the movie nights.â&#x20AC;?

Emails often have to be resent because of mistakes in the initial message, and these mistakes

further increase the volume of emails sent, Huntley said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like that we have to resend some of the emails,â&#x20AC;? Huntley said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s frustrating not only for students, but for us as well.â&#x20AC;?

Junior Blake Wilson said he only reads the full email if the subject line is relevant to him.

Junior Katy Zurmuehlen said she often does not read the UNA Info emails. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I usually just delete them,â&#x20AC;? she said.

Huntley said there is no way of knowing how many emails are actually opened. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have no way of filtering it to say, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;well, your email is not important. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not going to send that,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? Huntley said.

Information Technology Services cannot discriminate between which emails should be sent and which should not, outside the basic guidelines, she said.

The announcement request must be related to a UNA campus event and must come from a UNA student account. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Before we will actually send that email, we scan it to make sure that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legit, that it pertains to UNA,â&#x20AC;?

Huntley said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It has to be about a UNA event and it has to come from a student who is an officer with a recognized student organization on campus.â&#x20AC;?

Huntley said she hopes all students are reading the emails. â&#x20AC;&#x153;UNA is your official communication from the university,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Email is the best, most efficient way university faculty and staff can get in contact with students.â&#x20AC;?

photo by ASHLEY REMKUS I News Editor

Sophomore Victoria Roose sits at a table in the GUC catching up on homework on her laptop.

Roose said she only reads campus emails if the subject line is something that pertains to her.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Of course, if someone has a permanent disability, they need to go to the courthouse and get one,â&#x20AC;? Parker said.

Bramlett said he hopes the department will start issuing permanent handicapped decals as well.

Even if a person who has a decal hanging in his or her car does not appear handicapped â&#x20AC;&#x153;officers canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go up to a person and ask them whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your disability or whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your handicap,â&#x20AC;?

Bramlett said.

He said that makes it easy for students to get away with using someone elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decal.

â&#x20AC;?

PARKING, FOR EVERY STUDENT, IS A NIGHTMARE. WHEN I FIRST STARTED DRIVING HERE, BEFORE THE UNA PUBLIC SAFETY INSTITUTE KIND OF CRACKED DOWN, PEOPLE WOULD GET THEIR GRANDPARENTSĘź HANDICAP DECALS AND WOULD USE THAT TO BE ABLE TO PARK IN HANDICAP SPOTS.

MICHAEL BRAMLETT SENIOR A policy that allows students to sign up for a handicapped decal before each semester would help alleviate the problem, he said.

Parker also said someone who is not handicapped parked in a handicapped space illegally is a valid reason to contact the police department and advise law enforcement of the situation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We do get complaints,â&#x20AC;? Parker said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Some people require handicapped parking spaces because of their physical abilities. If they come to a location and see there is a handicapped spot taken by someone that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need that particular space, yeah, they do come in and complain.â&#x20AC;?

Senior Hailey Boeck said although many students have difficulty finding parking on campus, taking a space away from someone who â&#x20AC;&#x153;actually needs itâ&#x20AC;? is not respectful. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s super inconsiderate,â&#x20AC;? Boeck said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one of the handicapped accessible things we actually have a considerate amount of on campus.â&#x20AC;?

Bramlett said he hopes the violations will continue declining because of the police departmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They did crack down on it, and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve issued a lot harsher tickets and penalties,â&#x20AC;? he said.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

â&#x20AC;˘ A

HANDICAPPED PARKING

VIOLATION TICKET IS

â&#x20AC;˘ SINCE

$50.

THE START OF THE FALL

SEMESTER,

126

TICKETS HAVE

BEEN ISSUED FOR ILLEGAL HANDICAPPED PARKING.

6A NEWS

Feb. 5, 2015 • The Flor-Ala

MEDIA

LION PRIDE LIVE

photo by KATLYN SHANNON I Chief Photographer

Student Tera Broaddrick utilizes the Communications Building studio to finish a class project. Chair of the Department of Communications Greg Pitts said students will soon be getting real world experience in the Communications Building when WLNP radio hits the airwaves on FM 107.9 this summer.

Campus radio station to air summer 2015 ANNA BROWN

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UNA Radio is expected to begin making waves on 107.9 WLNP this summer.

Many people taking several steps to get the station up and running has slowed down the process, said Chair of the Department of Communications Greg Pitts.

“I had looked at maybe originally a March or April airing, but now about a June or early July,” Pitts said. “As of this point, we’re thinking of a soft on-air open of June 27.”

Communication students and faculty are working on the final preparations for the station’s opening, Pitts said.

“I’ve got some students in communications practicum who are looking at doing a couple sample programs, and we’re evaluating some software,” Pitts said. “Dr. Pat Sanders has an advanced creative audio class.

They’re doing a couple things related to it.”

He said some of the public relations students have been working on a promotion plan to inform the community about the station’s existence.

“I think it’ll be amazing for students,” said senior Erin McAllister. “I think this will give them an actual practice run of what it takes to work at a radio station.”

The UNA National Broadcast Society chapter is involved with the planning and startup of the station, McAllister said.

“I’d like to hear a mix of campus news, current events on campus, and talk shows,” said senior Skyler Mansell.

“But, I would mainly like to hear music.”

Mansell said he is going to tune into the station this summer.

Pitts said he would like to primarily broadcast music that reflects the Muscle Shoals Sound.

“We have a lot of people who are local musicians, and I think there is a good opportunity to give them radio airplay,” Pitts said. “There is also an

opportunity to give people a chance to do a radio show.”

”

WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE LOCAL MUSICIANS, AND I THINK THERE IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE THEM RADIO AIRPLAY. THERE IS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE TO DO A RADIO SHOW.

GREG PITTS CHAIR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS He said communication students involved with the station are currently working on talk show ideas that could be on the air for 20 to 30 weeks.

“We’ll just get the thing up and running, and then we’ll add more

programming as people find out about the station and find things they can sustain so we can have some consistency in the sound,” he said.

The station will broadcast with 100 watts of power. Shoals residents may tune into the station within a 10-mile radius of the communications building.

WLNP, which stands for “Lion Pride,” is licensed to broadcast 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, Pitts said.

There is more than enough time for students to have a chance on air, he said.

“We’re going to hold our breath and wait and see if anything ever happens to change the station’s power,” he said. “If not, this is what we have.”

The station will also stream live online, giving those outside of the coverage area an opportunity to tune in.

“I just hope to see it take off, and I hope to see the communications department get a lot more attention than they’re used to,” McAllister said.

VIEWPOINTS 7A

Feb. 5, 2015 • The Flor-Ala

White privilege historical, no one groupʼs fault EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ANNA GRACE USERY MANAGING EDITOR KALI DANIEL NEWS EDITOR ASHLEY REMKUS LIFE EDITOR MARI WILLIAMS SPORTS EDITOR DUSTIN POLLARD ONLINE EDITOR JASMINE FLEMING BUSINESS MANAGER UNDREA RANDOLPH II GRAPHIC DESIGNERS JOHN BAVIS SHILO CUPPLES JORDAN FERRELL CIRCULATION MANAGER LORI BLANKENSOPP CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER KATLYN SHANNON STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS AMANDALYN DORNER KAITLIN DOUGLASS DEANNA KAMPMEYER ADVISER SCOTT MORRIS

MARI WILLIAMS 4QNM -LQ\WZ TQNM(NTWZITI VM\

As a junior in high school I had the privilege of reading “Their Eyes were Watching God,” by Zora Neale Hurston.

My English teacher told the us we would be listening to the audio in class instead of reading the book on our own. She explained the dialogue could often be hard to understand because of Hurston’s use of dialect.

One might describe this as a Southern dialect with plenty of “African-American” twang.

Just before she turned on the audio she looked me straight in my dark brown eyes and said, “Well you might understand this well.”

This is just a small example

The deadline for submitting letters is 10 a.m. Monday, the week of publication.

Letters must not exceed 400 words.

The Flor-Ala prefers to publish your letters exactly as written, but reserves the right to reject slanderous or libelous material.

The publication of any letter is left to the discretion of the Editorial Board.

Priority is given to letters critical of The Flor-Ala, or written in direct response to an editorial, a column, or a news story.

When the editors deem it necessary for ease of understanding or to clarify facts, an Editorʼs Note may accompany a letter.

Address correspondence to The Flor-Ala. UNA Box 5300 Florence, AL 35632.

Email: florala@una.edu.

or who think that somehow they’re skin color has never put them at an advantage, I urge them to walk in a black, Arabic or Hispanic person’s shoes for one week. Though these examples of white privilege may seem small, they stack up quickly.

Growing up, I distinctly remember learning about three black women in school. Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth. That was it. I remember thinking, “What the heck were all the black people doing?” I knew they were there, but my history textbook begged to differ.

One can imagine the inferiority I felt thinking there were few important people who looked like me. White America left no room for a young black girl’s ambitions.

Why would I want to be black when no black person ever did anything that helped us? That is a privilege of Caucasians.

They are able to see themselves everywhere. I laugh at people who say there should be a White Entertainment

Television to show contempt over BET (Black Entertainment Television), I would like to tell them to just flip it on any other channel.

No, I am not here to speak the opinions of an entire race. I am speaking as someone who lives through the effects of this system every day. I am putting my harsh but bearable past on display to show you this exists.

I have been told I should be happy white people brought my ancestors over on a slave ship.

I have been told to go back to picking cotton for expressing my opinion. I have been called a “nigger” more times than I care to share. I am not sharing this for pity because, frankly, I have lived through this and much more, and I am a stronger person for it.

My only request is these naysayers go up to people of minority and ask them to talk about a time when they were singled out, rejected or picked on because of their race. Then grab some popcorn and relax because you might be sitting there all day.

RSO involvement critical to college life experience

Letters Policy

Letters must be accompanied by the writerʼs name, mailing address, phone number and email.

of so-called “white privilege” — or what black people like myself call “just another Tuesday.”

White privilege. That is one scary phrase. When people have lived through mountains upon mountains of struggles, they do not want to hear that they have been awarded some sort of “privilege” in a world that has treated them like crap.

No one wants to hear that their skin color has given them a leg up on life when they can see the distinct lines of pain that show them they have in fact not been privileged at all.

What needs to be stressed is that white privilege is about a system of oppression of those who are not white. Many white people did not ask for things to be run this way, but this does not diminish the fact they are. The way I look at it is, if a white person can look in the mirror and say they do not judge, fault or place blame on a person, then in my opinion he or she is in good shape.

But for those who feel the need to deny my struggles

JASMINE FLEMING 7VTQVM -LQ\WZ WVTQVM(NTWZITI VM\

Last semester, I began working two jobs I enjoy, and I also met my academic goals. I was often tired, but it seemed worth it until I realized something was missing.

My first semester, I was a member of two RSOs. About a month into my third semester, I realized I was unable to attend meetings for either. I remember

wondering what I could do to stay involved, and I even contacted the president of one of the organizations. She told me we could figure something out, and for a week, I attempted to make that work.

I figured out that even if I was a member on paper, I still did not feel like one. I was not at meetings, I did not get to help plan any events and I did not have the time to participate in anything the groups did.

I left both of the organizations, but it did not hit me until the semester was almost over. I never noticed how important being involved in campus organizations was to me until I no longer was.

Not only did I neglect my commitments to these RSOs, but I also neglected my family

and many of my friends. I can remember how few times I saw some of my closest friends last semester. I was either in class, working, studying or sleeping, and I felt like those were valid enough excuses for me not to feel guilty.

I also did not see my family until Thanksgiving break in November. Considering I only live two hours away, I feel like I could have gone home more.

Over Christmas break, I thought a lot about how my semester went. I would say the reason I became so uninvolved was because I am busier than most, but that is not true. I know far too many students doing much more than me, and they still manage to remember what is important.

Although I do not make

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New Year’s resolutions, I did have a goal this year — to spend more time with friends and family. Although studying and working are important, they are not as important as appreciating the people who choose to be in my life.

I also decided to join another RSO this semester. I am still looking for one that fits in my schedule, but I am confident I will.

If you are someone who finds you have no time to spend with people or organizations that matter to you, then it is a good idea to reprioritize your time. It is up to everyone to decide the best way to spend his or her time, but remember there is more to life than school and work.

Congratulations to our Writer and Photographer of the Week!

Mike Ezekiel and Deanna Kampmeyer

8A NEWS ;-):+0 KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) â&#x20AC;&#x153;(Shields) also feels that only he can address the media regarding the search not the committee chair,â&#x20AC;? Koti wrote in an email to The Flor-Ala staff.

Officials also named senior Adam McCollum to serve as one of the two student representatives on the committee. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think we really need somebody who can relate to the students,â&#x20AC;? McCollum said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to be one of the things I look for. If people trust you and have a good relationship with you, you can do a better job getting people to talk.â&#x20AC;?

Freshman Eria Jackson agreed the chief should have a good relationship with the student body, and she also said it is important for the person to be familiar with campus. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important for the person to be close to students because If I have a problem I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to be hesitant about talking to them because I feel they wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t understand me,â&#x20AC;? Jackson said.

Freshman Jâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Lyrick Woods said it is important for the chief to show care for students. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chief Pastula used to send out emails to let us know when someone was possible a danger, and he showed us he thought we were important by sending things like safety tips,â&#x20AC;? Woods said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That kind of stuff is important to me.â&#x20AC;?

-4->)<7: KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re here for the students,â&#x20AC;? Bowers said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean all students need that kind of accessibility.â&#x20AC;?

Bramlett said Disability Support Services works with students to get the best schedule and to get classes moved to another building if needed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done that with me a few times,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Bowers said the easiest, least confusing time to request a classroom move is before classes start.

She said there are a number of things in place now to aid in accessibility: curb cuts, slopes, wider push doors and adjustable tables for classrooms are just a few. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I would say the campus is working and moving in a good direction,â&#x20AC;? she said.

Feb. 5, 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ The Flor-Ala

SGA in Review â&#x20AC;˘ Senate - Announced â&#x20AC;˘ UPC - Reminded â&#x20AC;˘ SGA - All branches students Step Sing will SGA officer elections of the organization for the 2015-16 be help Feb. 6 and 7 elected a school will kick off in Norton Auditorium representative to soon when candidate at 7 p.m. Tickets are serve on the SGA declaration forms available online for Endowed Scholarship open Feb. 9. $9 or at the door for Criteria Committee, $10. which determines â&#x20AC;˘ Senate - Added a line which students receive to its code of laws â&#x20AC;˘ UPC - Announced a assistance from the stating the Rules movie night event is fund in the future. and Regulations scheduled for Feb. 13 Committee chair will at 7 p.m. in the GUC â&#x20AC;˘ UPC - Announced it swear-in new senators Performance Center. will host a dating because the judicial The featured film will doctor event Feb. 16 branch was expunged be â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mockingjay Part from 7-9 p.m. in the during a previous One.â&#x20AC;?

GUC Performance vote.

Center.

Bramlett agreed the campus has made progress in the years heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a student. â&#x20AC;&#x153;UNAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really made the campus successful,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done a lot to make it where people can maneuver around a lot easier than from five or six years ago.â&#x20AC;?

A master plan produced in 2010 which details a vision for UNA is available on the Facilities Administration and Planning website, said director Michael Gautney. According to the document, the plan â&#x20AC;&#x153;provides a long-term, campuswide vision for the maintenance, improvement and continued development of the UNA campus.â&#x20AC;?

The plan also states, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sidewalks, multiuse paths, parking areas, recreational facilities, and building entrances shall be designed to assure accessibility for students, faculty, employees and visitors with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.â&#x20AC;?

Bowers said changes in the GUC and

Norton Auditorium and the addition of the Commons and Science building are compliant with the ADA. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Since Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been here Raburn Hall has come in,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That adds an elevator in Keller. You go in the new wing, and they have ramps that are accessible.â&#x20AC;?

Disability Services offices moved to the GUC so wider doors and halls could be utilized, she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve worked on trying to have doors that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have more than 5 pounds of pressure to push,â&#x20AC;? she said.

Bramlett said the sidewalk from Powers Hall to the Communications building is his biggest obstacle. He also voiced concerns for students whose injuries might be more severe than his. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They might have a more difficult time getting from one building to another because of some of the inclines,â&#x20AC;? he said.

All new buildings should be compliant, Bowers said, but that does not always make them the best.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Have two elevators that work well instead of just one,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Even better than push buttons are the doors that just open. They help everybody.â&#x20AC;?

A universal design would benefit everyone, Bowers said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a disadvantage?â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cost maybe? Ask yourself one question: who could get in that door and who couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t?â&#x20AC;?

Freshman Spencer Hanskiewicz said an elevator would be beneficial. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had class move to a different building because there was no elevator in Bibb Graves. I think it would update the building, not take away from its historical value.â&#x20AC;?

Junior Tavarius Wheat said a wheelchair accessible lift is available, and classes can be moved instead of adding an elevator. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to take money away from other things that need to be done,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Your Ad Here For more information call 256-765-4427

Email advertising@florala.net

LIFE

SECTION B

Feb. 5, 2015• The Flor-Ala

MOTS

”

ITʼS A REMINDER TO NOT ONLY THE U.S. BUT TO GLOBAL NATIONS BECAUSE WEʼRE SO FOCUSED ON BY THE WORLD.

EQUALITY IS STILL SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN BECAUSE WEʼRE NOT AN EQUAL SOCIETY.

”

”

ITʼS A CONSTANT REMINDER OF WHAT I NEED TO DO TO BE BETTER AS A PERSON. PEOPLE HAVE STRUGGLED BEFORE ME SO I CAN BE HERE IN COLLEGE SITTING WITH OTHER RACES.

ITʼS A REFLECTION BACK ON THE HISTORY OF A WHOLE PEOPLE IN OUR CULTURE, AND IT GIVES THANKS TO THOSE WHO PAVED THE WAY FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS.

DARIUS ASHER

ARIEL BELL

NAOMI MONGOSA

SOPHOMORE

SENIOR

SOPHOMORE

What Does Black History Month Mean to you? ”

”

BLACK HISTORY MONTH MEANS LEARNING THE HISTORY BEHIND ANOTHER CULTURE THAT, EVEN THOUGH I GREW UP RIGHT BESIDE IT, IT IS NOT AS DOMINANT IN MY DAY-TO-DAY LIFE AND LEARNING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH IS LOOKING BACK WHERE WE CAME FROM BECAUSE IF THOSE LEADERS WERENʼT THERE TO GET THE BLACK RIGHTS, MY PARENTS COULDNʼT HAVE HAD THE RELATIONSHIP THEY HAD.

OLIVER IRINE

REBECCA LOGSDON

JUNIOR

IN THIS SECTION

See page 2B

I DONʼT KNOW MUCH ABOUT BLACK HISTORY BUT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT EMMETT TILL FROM MISSISSIPPI. THAT KIND OF STUFF NEVER HAPPENED IN JAPAN OR ANY PLACE IN ASIA. THE FIRST TIME I HEARD ABOUT IT, I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY SHOCKING.

RYO ISHIBASHI

JUNIOR

LIFE Career Planning and Development give tips on interviewing

”

SENIOR

SPORTS Historical black women offer inspiration

Freshmen stepping up on the court

Fishing team ranked No. 1

See page 3B

See page 5B

See page 6B

2B LIFE

Feb. 5, 2015 • The Flor-Ala

EMPLOYMENT

Career Planning and Development gives interview advice JASMINE FLEMING 7VTQVM -LQ\WZ WVTQVM(NTWZITI VM\

While getting a job interview is important, making sure to prepare for it is vital.

Students should practice interview questions beforehand, said Jennifer Smith, assistant director of Career Planning and Development.

“Practice using specific examples and drawing from your experiences,” she said. “(Employers) don’t just want to know that you’re hard-working and dependable — they want to know how, based off a real-life example or a story.”

Smith said she suggests using readyprepinterview.com because it gives specialized questions for each job. She also said Career Planning and Development offers free mock interviews, which allow students to practice responses.

When going to the interview, students should bring multiple copies of their resume and a portfolio because they might have more than one interviewer, Smith said.

Bill Huddleston, professor of communication, said bringing these items can give the student a leg-up against the competition.

“If someone asks, ‘Why should I hire you?’ The student should say, ‘I have a resume or portfolio,

and I would love to show it to you,’” he said. “It puts the interviewer in your court and makes them ask questions about areas you are strong in.”

Smith also said to take a pen and a notepad so any instructions given in the interview can be written down.

When dressing for the interview, appropriate attire depends on the field, but it is always best to dress conservatively, Smith said. She recommends women wear a suit jacket with a camisole or collared shirt, matching dress pants and short heels or flats to reduce the chances of stumbling.

If a student does not have interview attire, he or she can check out clothing from Career Planning and Development’s Career Closet, which is equipped with male and female clothing including suits, ties and shoes, Smith said.

Students can get a feel for what to wear by seeing what current employees wear to the job, Huddleston said.

“I would scout the place, see what people wear on a typical workday and dress one level above that,” he said.

Senior Eddie St. Hilaire said he learned about the importance of dressing for the interview from a guest speaker at an ROTC program.

“In my last interview, I got the job because I came in with business attire on, and everyone else was wearing T-shirts,” he said. “I think how you’re

dressed is one of the most important parts of the interview.”

When going to interviews, students should arrive 10-15 minutes early, Smith said. Arriving any earlier will put pressure on the interviewer to hurry with tasks they might already be involved in.

Huddleston said since the student received an interview, the company already finds him or her qualified.

“They want to know if you’re who they want to work with,” he said. “They want to see if you fit with everyone else. Watch any of their nonverbal cues to see how they feel during the interview, and watch your own hand gestures and posture.”

Senior Connie Rodriguez said she advises students to be honest in their interviews.

“I always try to be myself, and I try to do the best I can,” she said. “Being honest and putting forth the skills you have will definitely help in any interview.”

Even if the student has practiced questions, slip-ups might occur, Smith said.

“Most interviewers realize we are humans and make mistakes,” she said. “It’s usually OK to ask them if you can go back and add something to a previous question. Sometimes they’ll ask you if you would like to say something else, and that’s a chance also to add to a response.”

LIFE 3B

Feb. 5, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

BHM

Black History Five historic black women leave lasting impression MARI WILLIAMS 4QNM -LQ\WZ TQNM(NTWZITI VM\

Each year during Black History Month, Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech is watched and the resiliency of Rosa Parks is discussed. These two were integral to the progress of the U.S. today but were not the only important people by far. Below are five black women who among others paved the way and changed history forever.

Annie Lee Cooper At the very top of the list of kickbutt, black women is Annie Lee Cooper.

The recently popularized Selma native was a civil rights activist in the voting rights movement. Cooper is best known for punching the notorious Dallas County Sheriff James Clark in the face after he repeatedly prodded her with his nightstick. Cooper’s brave story is one that lives on decades later.

Fannie Lou Hamer Fannie Lou Hamer, a Mississippi civil rights activist once said, “One day I know the struggle will change. There’s got to be a change — not only for Mississippi, not only for the people in the U.S., but for people all over the world.”

Hamer fought for equality in some of the toughest trenches in the country. Hamer was a co-creator of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, which was created to challenge the white-only, Mississippi Democratic Party.

Donyale Luna To this day people refer to Beverly Johnson as the first black woman on the cover of Vogue, but they are mistaken.

Detroit-born Donyale Luna was the first black woman to grace the cover in 1966. Luna forced her way into the fashion industry and made a name for herself where no African-American had. Eventually Luna moved to Europe and became a sensation, appearing in Harper’s Bazaar as well as French and American Vogue.

Madam C.J. Walker Conveniently locate ed in n th he ne ew Student Commons buiild din ng on n camp pus!

Over 100 rotating flavors Ovver 50 toppings to choose from Mix and match to create a one of a kind taste that you love!

Madam C.J. Walker was America’s first, self-made, female millionaire, according to her website. Walker acquired her wealth by creating a line of beauty and hair products for black women. As a woman who suffered from a severe scalp disease that caused her to lose her hair, she began experimenting with different ointments until she found one that worked. Walker effectively paved the way for black female entrepreneurs around the country.

Bessie Coleman Bessie Coleman was the first black female aviator and the first AfricanAmerican to receive an international pilot license. Because no one in the U.S. would teach her to fly, Coleman learned French and traveled to Paris. In 1922 she earned her pilot license. Coleman flew over people’s expectations and became an odyssey upon her return to the U.S.

4B LIFE

Feb. 5, 2015 • The Flor-Ala

BHM

CALENDER OF HISTORIC BLACK EVENTS 1619 The first African-American slaves arrive in Virginia

1773 Phillis Wheatley becomes first African-American woman author published in the U.S.

1793 Federal Fugitive Slave law is implemented 1808 Congress bans importation of slaves 1820 The Missouri Compromise bans slavery north of the southern boundary of Missouri

1849 Harriet Tubman becomes a significant leader of the Underground Railroad

1857 Dred Scott case rules slaves are not citizens 1863 Emancipation Proclamation grants all slaves freedom

1865 Black Codes are passed in the South

Visit any of our Lauderdale County locations: • 1155 North Wood Avenue, Florence • 101 Highway 72 East, Rogersville • 306 Cox Creek Parkway, Florence • 1001 Highway 72 East, Killen • 3138 Cloverdale Road, Florence • 1505 Florence Boulevard, Florence

1868 14th Amendment is ratified overturning Dred Scott ruling

1896 Plessy vs Ferguson rules segregation constitutional

FREE Egg McMuffin Breakfast Sandwich ®

1920 The Harlem Renaissance begins 1948 The U.S. military is integrated 1954 Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas Rules segregation unconstitutional

1963 Wendell Wilkie Gunn becomes first black student enrolled at UNA

1964

Civil Rights Bill goes into effect

1968 Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated 1968 Shirley Chisholm becomes the first black female U.S. Representative

2001 Colin Powell becomes the first African-American U.S. Secretary of State

2009 Barack Obama becomes first African-American president

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Expires 3/11/2015. Valid for product of equal or lesser value. Valid only at participating McDonald’s locations in Lauderdale County, Alabama. Prices may vary. Not valid with any other offer, discount, coupon or combo meal. Cash value 1/20 of 1 cent. Limit one coupon per person per visit. Tax may apply. Price of required purchase posted on menu board. Coupon may not be transferred, auctioned, sold or duplicated in any way or transmitted via electronic media. Valid when product served. May not be valid for custom orders. Void where prohibited. ©2015 McDonald’s

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FREE

Big Mac Sandwich

With purchase of same at regular menu price.

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Expires 3/11/2015. Valid for product of equal or lesser value. Valid only at participating McDonald’s locations in Lauderdale County, Alabama. Prices may vary. Not valid with any other offer, discount, coupon or combo meal. Cash value 1/20 of 1 cent. Limit one coupon per person per visit. Tax may apply. Price of required purchase posted on menu board. Coupon may not be transferred, auctioned, sold or duplicated in any way or transmitted via electronic media. Valid when product served. May not be valid for custom orders. Void where prohibited. ©2015 McDonald’s

Expires 3/11/2015. Valid for product of equal or lesser value. Valid only at participating McDonald’s locations in Lauderdale County, Alabama. Prices may vary. Not valid with any other offer, discount, coupon or combo meal. Cash value 1/20 of 1 cent. Limit one coupon per person per visit. Tax may apply. Price of required purchase posted on menu board. Coupon may not be transferred, auctioned, sold or duplicated in any way or transmitted via electronic media. Valid when product served. May not be valid for custom orders. Void where prohibited. ©2015 McDonald’s

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2 for $4 Filet-O-Fish

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SPORTS 5B

Feb. 5, 2015 • The Flor-Ala

BASKETBALL

SCOREBOARD Jan. 29- Feb. 4 Jan. 29 Womenʼs Basketball Vs West Alabama 70-69 Loss Menʼs Basketball Vs West Alabama 72-68 Win Jan. 31 Womenʼs Basketball Vs West Georgia 66-63 Loss Menʼs Basketball Vs West Georgia 93-84

Freshmen Phenoms

Loss Feb. 2

Softball Vs Truett McConnell 4-2, 4-0 Win

Upcoming Feb. 5 Womenʼs Basketball Vs Shorter 6 p.m.

Menʼs Basketball Vs Shorter 8 p.m.

Feb. 6 Womenʼs Tennis @ Belmont 5 p.m.

Feb. 6-8 Softball UAH Charger Chillout Feb. 7 Womenʼs Tennis @ West Georgia 2 p.m.

Womenʼs Basketball Vs Lee 1 p.m.

Menʼs Basketball Vs Lee 3 p.m.

Feb. 8 Baseball Vs Stillman 1 p.m.

Softball Vs Maryville 11 p.m.

Softball Vs Southern Indiana 1 p.m.

photo by DEANNA KAMPMEYER I Staff Photographer

Freshman guard KeKe Gunter focuses on a University of West Alabama player Jan. 29 in Flowers Hall. Gunter is one of four freshmen to see playing time this season. Injuries to the team opened the door for the freshmen to step up, Tiber said.

Injuries give freshmen opportunity to step up MATT SULESKI

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Second-year head coach Missy Tiber had high expectations with a slew of returning starters and up-tempo offense that give opposing coaches nightmares.

The Lions got off to a fast 6-3 start, but have faltered down the stretch losing six of their last 10.

Injuries are starting to derail what seemed to be a once promising season.

“We have been beat up badly with the injury bug,” Tiber said. “I’ve seen injuries this year that I have ever seen before in all of my years of coaching.”

Second team All Gulf South Conference player Lauren Faris came back from ACL surgery to have the same injury happen again, this time to her other leg.

Rabun Wright, who tore her ACL before the start of last season hoped to have a bounce back season before tearing her ACL again prior to the season opener and missing two straight seasons.

“My athletic career at UNA has not gone exactly the way I had hoped and these injuries have been heartbreaking to me,” Wright said. “But it’s taught me how to fight through adversity and my desire to play has never wavered as I continue the path back to the hardwood.”

Senior guard Janae Lyde broke a finger, and many other players have been banged up along the way.

Due to the numerous injuries at the point guard position, Tiber had to insert freshman KeKe Gunter into the rotation.

“Coming into the season I thought point guard was our deepest position,” Tiber said. “But after all of our injuries I had to take the redshirt off of KeKe because we needed somebody to play the position.”

Gunter said she embraces the challenge of stepping into a larger role.

“With multiple injuries that happened to our team, especially our point guards, I had to step up and be able to contribute to our team by managing the floor and playing both ends,” Gunter said.

Gunter said Tiber expects much out of her even though she is a young player.

“Since I’m a bigger point guard, I can rebound pretty well,” Gunter said.

“Coach expects me to be able to step up and handle the other team’s pressure and manage the court in tough situations despite me being young.”

Freshman guard Jaclyn Heath contributed big minutes early in the season but has missed the last eight games due to a finger injury.

Despite missing significant time, Heath leads the team in total assists with 61.

Freshman Jessica Brown also has been called upon to play a bigger role amid all of the injuries.

“I think my versatility has helped me be able to contribute to this team.” Brown said. “Coach (Tiber) has expected me to

fill an important role even though I am young, and to be a key contributor on both ends of the floor.”

Brown averages nine points per game and shoots 33 percent from beyond the arc. The 6’1” forward offers versatility by being able to step back and hit shots from long distance, Tiber said.

”

WITH MULTIPLE INJURIES THAT HAPPENED TO OUR TEAM I HAD TO STEP UP AND BE ABLE

TO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR TEAM BY MANAGING THE FLOOR AND PLAYING BOTH ENDS.

KEKE GUNTER FRESHMAN GUARD The Lions are 10-9 overall and 7-8 in conference play and currently sit tied for sixth in the GSC standings.

Only teams that finish in the top eight make the conference tournament.

The Lions have lost three out of four games look to get back on track Thursday night as they host Shorter University in a conference showdown with tip time scheduled for 6 p.m.

Editor’s note: Rabun Wright contributed to this issue as a student writer.

6B SPORTS

Feb. 5, 2015• The Flor-Ala

CLUBS

ALL ABOUT THAT BASS Fishing team holds No.1 ranking in country DUSTIN POLLARD

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UNA’s fishing team is kicking bass and taking names.

The Lions occupy the top spot of the Association of College Anglers’ 2015 Cabela’s School of the Year leaderboard with an 80 point lead over the University of Louisiana Monroe. UNA won the title last year and the players said they plan to reclaim

the championship this season.

“It’s an honor and a blessing to be ranked No. 1 in the nation,” said senior Ryan Darracott. “We want to win it again this year. Anything less than finishing No. 1 would be a disappointment for us.

Eighty points is a pretty good lead but we still can’t let up.”

Team President Dawson Lenz said the two toughest competitors are Louisiana Monroe and Murray State University but says his team is up to the challenge.

“It’s going to be an awesome year for us,” he said. “We will go and

get points at every event. We have a team willing to travel eight to nine hours to an event.”

Darracott joined the fishing team when he came to UNA as a freshman fall 2011. He said he has seen a vast improvement of the team since then.

“My freshman year we had 15 people on the team and didn’t have that good of a year,” he said. “Sophomore year we finished No. 2 with 20 people on the team. Junior year we won it all with 25 players, and this year we have 35. We’ve climbed each year I’ve been here, and I hope it continues.”

Lenz said being

ranked No.1 is impressive considering the schools they compete against.

“The whole top five other than us was D-I,” he said. “We still held our No. 1 spot, and it just shows the kind caliber of anglers we have.”

Darracott said the closeness of the team is a key component to success.

“We spend time with each other outside of fishing and just hang out,” he said. “It’s more than just a team. It’s like a brotherhood.”

Lenz said the team has an advantage over other schools when it comes to fishing because of the location of UNA. Editor’s note: To read the rest of this story, visit www.florala.net.

The Flor-Ala file photo

A group of UNA anglers cast their lines in the Tennessee River January 2014 at McFarland Park. The fishing team is No. 1 in the Association of College Anglers’ 2015 Cabela’s school of the Year leaderboard.

TENNIS

Young Lionsʼ team prepared to serve multiple victories RABUN WRIGHT

;\]LMV\ ?ZQ\MZ Z_ZQOP\ (]VI ML]

UNA tennis is ready to ace the competition this season.

Building off a competitive 2014 season equipped with new faces and fresh talent, the men’s and women’s tennis teams are prepared to begin what could be their best season yet.

“I think our talent level is deeper than we’ve ever had it, which has made for good practices,” said head coach Brice Bishop. “We’re ready to go play.”

Nine of the 18 members on the UNA roster are freshmen.

“Our talent level is high, and how quick our freshman can adapt to the college level will have a lot to do with our success,” Bishop said.

For both the men and women’s teams this season, leadership is vital, he said.

Senior Guillaume Dechoz said he understands and embraces his role as a leader.

“Sometimes adaptation to college tennis can take a while,” he said, “It’s my role to help them go through this process and I love it. It’s like a new challenge for

me.”

Dechoz resumes the No. 1 singles position this year.

Natalia Barragan, the only senior on the women’s team, said she is doing her best to help her team with anything they need.

“We have six freshmen on the team so with the experience I have, I will make sure I am a good role model for them,” she said. “I want to help them feel good and comfortable but most importantly proud of being on this team.”

”

I THINK OUR TALENT LEVEL IS DEEPER THAN WEʼVE EVER HAD IT, WHICH HAS MADE FOR GOOD PRACTICES. WEʼRE READY TO GO PLAY.

BRICE BISHOP TENNIS HEAD COACH Sophomore Olivera Ngouabeu was named first-team All Gulf South Conference last year.

Both teams suffered tough losses in

the Gulf South Conference tournament last year. The men lost to Valdosta State University in the first round, and the women lost to the Blazers in the semifinals.

Dechoz said this is the year to have a different outcome.

“The main goal for the team is to make the regionals,” he said, “I think we definitely have a chance this season. As a senior, I have to make other players believe we can make it.”

Although winning a championship is always a goal for Bishop, he said his main goal for his teams is to compete.

“Every day you walk out there, you want to be competitive,” Bishop said, “For the men, three of our conference schools are in the top 10 in the nation. So if you’re competitive in your conference, you’re going be competitive nationwide.”

The men’s team lost their season opener 7-0 to University of AlabamaBirmingham Feb. 3. The women begin their season Feb. 6 at Belmont University in Nashville.

“We are ready for our first match,” Barragan said. “I think we have had a lot of court time and preparation and I am sure we will do a good job representing

UNA against Belmont.”

The Lions first home game is Feb. 22 against Christian Brothers at 1 p.m.

photo by AMANDALYN DORNER I Staff Photographer

Freshman Hope Willis prepares to hit the ball in practice Jan. 30. Willis is one of nine freshmen on the team.

SPORTS 7B

Feb. 5, 2015 • The Flor-Ala

TECHNIQUE

Coaches, players offer thoughts on talking smack MIKE EZEKIEL

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Many basketball legends like Michael Jordan and Larry Bird are not only remembered for their playing ability and numerous accolades, but also for their ability to “trash talk.”

Trash talking has become a natural part of the game for most players. Some players find ways to get inside the head of their opponent — with a combination of skill and trash talk — while others simply let their play do the talking.

When it comes to basketball at UNA, trash talking is defined in different ways.

Head coach Bobby Champagne said he does not encourage trash talking as much as others.

“In general, I don’t think it’s good for the game,” Champagne said. “I think you should let your game talk for itself as opposed to running your mouth about what you did or didn’t do.”

Champagne also said trash talking can backfire.

“I don’t think we should have any

conversation with the other team or give them any bulletin board material,” he said. “That gives them a reason to get going.”

Senior Forward Marcus Landry said trash talking is good for the game, but only to a certain extent.

“I love it,” Landry said. “It’s competitive to a certain point, but there is another level of trash talk. I like clapping in someone’s face or beating on my chest, but talking about someone’s mom goes beyond trash talk.”

Landry said trash talk not only gets inside the opponent’s head, but also fires up his teammates.

“I like to jump up and down and beat on my chest because it gives our team energy,” he said. “Some people don’t consider that trash talk, but to me it shows the other team that we’re stronger.

When I score on them I say ‘give me my buckets,’ or sometimes I say ‘give me my rebound.’ Coach Champagne says I’m overexcited sometimes, so I have to calm down.”

Landry’s teammate, freshman guard Jeff Hodge, said he does not talk a lot of

PROFILE

Sophomore faces high expectations KADIN POUNDERS

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Softball season is underway, and one of the preseason All Gulf South Conference team selects will be on the mound for the Lions again this spring.

Sophomore Hillary Carpenter led the Lions in wins and ERA last season on her way to becoming GSC pitcher of the year.

Carpenter said she contributes her

success to short-term memory on the field and being able to keep herself in check.

“One big thing is showing no emotion on the field and staying level-headed,” Carpenter said. “As hard as it is for a pitcher coming back from a home run or a loss, you just have to forget about the last pitch and move on. There’s no reason to stay stuck in the past.”

Editor’s note: To read the rest of this story, visit www.florala.net

The Flor-Ala file photo

Sophomore pitcher Hillary Carpenter throws a pitch against Valdosta State University March 9, 2014. Carpenter is a preseason All-GSC selection.

trash on the court. He said he is more of the type of player to let his play do the talking.

”

I THINK YOU SHOULD LET YOUR GAME TALK

FOR ITSELF AS OPPOSED TO RUNNING YOUR MOUTH ABOUT WHAT YOU DID OR DIDNʼT DO.

BOBBY CHAMPAGNE MENʼS HEAD BASKETBALL COACH “I have no problem with trash talking, but my dad raised me to just play the game,” Hodge said. “He said not to worry about the defense or the fans because that’s motivation to them. If someone comes at me talking, I’ll just show them what I can do.”

Hodge said he agrees with his teammate on where to draw the line when it comes to trash talking.

“When you talk about someone’s family, that’s when it becomes personal,”

he said. “Those are the things that should be left out.”

Landry and Hodge said they carry themselves differently on the court, as they try to resemble two NBA players on completely different sides of the spectrum when it comes to talking smack.

“I’m kind of like Kevin Garnett,” Landry said. “Not to the extent of throwing balls at people, but his attitude and how dominant he is.”

Hodge said he compares his style to Oklahoma City Thunder player Kevin Durant.

“He’s very humble and he might say something here or there, which is exactly how I am,” he said. He never goes into the game talking, but if someone comes at him talking, he comes back at them with his game.”

Champagne said he does not necessarily like his team to trash talk, but he believes in confidence.

“I think you should play with confidence and have a swagger about yourself, but I don’t think you should get in anyone’s face,” he said. “I tell them to keep their mouth shut and just play.”

UNA Planetarium and Observatory Presents

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8B EXTRA

Feb. 5, 2015 • The Flor-Ala

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