Bookstore purchase p. 2 Lawsuit timeline p. 3 Diversity at the Oscars p. 8 Basketball update p. 11 February 23, 2017 Vol. 85, Issue 12
2 NEWS
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF JASMINE FLEMING MANAGING EDITOR MIKE EZEKIEL NEWS EDITOR BREANNA LITTRELL LIFE EDITOR MONDAY SANDERSON ASSOCIATE LIFE EDITORS TYLER HARGETT HANNAH ZIMMER SPORTS EDITOR ANDREW FULMER ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR JACOB COLE SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR MADI WINKLER JUNIOR SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR ASHLEE CARTER BUSINESS MANAGER KARA DUCKETT CIRCULATION MANAGER ALLEN CHILDERS GRAPHIC DESIGNERS MICHAEL MEIGS DAVID SAN MIGUEL JACKIE WILLIS JUNIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS DYLAN BAKER KENDALL BROWN CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER MELANIE HODGES STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS ANDREA BELK HILLARY TAYLOR VIDEOGRAPHER SIERRA HILL ADVISER SCOTT MORRIS COVER PHOTO BY ANDREA BELK
The Flor-Ala is published biweekly on Thursdays at 111 locations on campus and off.
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.
ANDREA BELK | Staff Photographer
Students walk in front of the Off Campus Bookstore Feb. 10. The College of Business got the approval to purchase the property Feb. 2 to allow innovation expansion.
College of Business purchases bookstore BREANNA LITTRELL News Editor news@florala.net The College of Business purchased the Off Campus Bookstore Feb. 2, allowing the expansion of innovation activities to help benefit students as well as the university. The Off Campus Bookstore will move to an unknown location within the next two months, said Brad Nichols, Store Manager of The Off Campus Bookstore. Gregory Carnes, dean of the College of Business, said a series of projects is in the works to allow the College of Business to serve as a platform to help encourage economic development. The Generator, which is in a house on Pine Street, is under lease, Carnes said. When the property where the Off Campus Bookstore sits went up for sale, the College of Business began looking into making the house a permanent home for the Generator. “We really needed, as a university, to provide students an opportunity for the next step, which is actually trying to help get a business started, and that’s called an incubator,” he said. “In 2015, we launched what we call the Generator, which is our student incubator, over on Pine Street.” Carnes said the bottom floor of the house is where the Generator will move. “The house will not all be the Generator,” he said. “It will take up most of the house, but we will probably move the Innovation Engineering classroom over there. We are thinking
of having the upstairs be a very nice, professional conference room, which will be something for everyone on campus to use.” Executive-in-Residence for the College of Business Janyce Fadden said there is a lot of planning to do to decide how they will renovate the Off Campus Bookstore to fit the Generator in there and what else will be done with the house. Carnes said there is not a timeline for when the move will occur. “We want to apply for grants, and there’s some fundraising opportunities for donors who believe in supporting these types of efforts, and we’ve already started working with an architect to develop what we need to do to have the building in function for what we are going to use it for,” he said.
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“The goal is to try to get some grant money and do some fundraising so we can make the building the best it can be and really reflect the quality of UNA,” he said. Senior Kaitlynn Jones said she thinks the purchase will be good for the business department, especially if the Off Campus Bookstore can remain in business. “I love how much the College of Business is expanding, what with all the NASA expansion and all,” she said. Graduate student Moussa Ye said it is beneficial for students who use the Generator because it would be closer to campus, but he expressed concern for the Off Campus Bookstore. “It’s definitely bad news if (the Off Campus Bookstore) will move away,” he said.
“The goal is to try to get some grant money and do some fundraising so we can make the building the best it can be and really reflect the quality of UNA.” Gregory Carnes | Dean of the College of Business
NEWS 3
Lawsuit updates give timeline for case Newspaper receives conference honors JASMINE FLEMING Editor-in-Cheif editor@florala.net
U.S. Magistrate Judge Harwell Davis issued a timeline in the case of Mitchell versus the University of North Alabama, but the case might receive a judgment before it is eligible to go to trial. In the rule 26(f) planning meetings, which were Nov. 21 and Dec. 9, 2016, the plaintiff, Director of Environmental Services and Housing Facilities Management Audrey Mitchell, and the defendant asked for a pretrial conference in September and a trial by October, which would last about two to three days, according to the meeting report. The report listed the plaintiff’s claims to include that Mitchell “has been subjected to years of discrimination, harassment and retaliation due to race since 2006.” The defendant “denied plaintiff’s allegations and denies that she is entitled to any relief as alleged in the complaint.” In Davis’ Dec. 27 case document, he decided the parties should be ready for a two to three-day trial by Oct. 10 and should have all discovery, or gathering of evidence, started in time to be finished April 26. However, UNA’s representation
asked for Mitchell’s claims to be dismissed in a Jan. 19 motion. In the motion, they challenged her claims of race discrimination and retaliation, hostile work environment, coercion and defamation. Mitchell had 21 days to respond to UNA’s motion. Her following document came Jan. 23 when she filed a motion to compel. According to the motion, Mitchell hadn’t received documents she requested in the case during the discovery from UNA, and she felt the defendant did not deliver the documents quickly because Mitchell represents herself. The same day, Mitchell filed a motion to allow accusations of perjury to the case, as well as a motion for the court to rule in her favor and “award her damages for her (lost) wages as well as pain and suffering.” Davis denied the motion to amend the complaint in a Feb. 2 document. “While plaintiff wanted to be able to amend her pleadings up to the date of any scheduled trail, presumably to add any allegations about anything occurring between plaintiff and defendant up to that time, there is a point at which the pleadings in any case must be closed, and that point has passed,” he said. In the planning meeting document, Mitchell asked for the ability to
amend pleadings in the case until 30 days before the trial. The university’s representation asked for a Jan. 13 deadline for Mitchell. In Davis’ order, he acknowledged UNA’s deadline. The judge’s decision also said Mitchell’s motion for would be considered a “motion for summary judgment” because it had evidence exhibits attached to it. A motion of judgment has to be alone and not with exhibited evidence. Mitchell’s motion for summary judgment and the motion to compel are “held in abeyance,” or on hold, until the court determines if UNA is entitled to its motion for judgment. UNA also submitted a Feb. 14 reply in support of the original motion for judgment. “Despite having readily available years of secretly recorded statements by UNA officials, plaintiff’s complaint is devoid of any factual allegation supporting actionable harassment, discrimination or retaliation based on race or other protected status,” according to the reply. “That plaintiff’s complaint is limited to allegations of petty slights and trivial harms, despite the mountain of evidence plaintiff says she created, further shows the frivolousness of plaintiff’s lawsuit.”
LAWSUIT| 6
STAFF REPORT The Flor-Ala Staff editor@florala.net Members of The Flor-Ala’s editorial and photography staffs attended the 2017 Southeast Journalism Conference in Oxford, Mississippi, and returned to Florence with awards in tow. The conference, which ran Feb. 16 – 18 at the University of Mississippi, honored The Flor-Ala with numerous awards, including fourth place in the best college newspaper category of the Best of the South awards, out of 22 entries. “Winning such an award is an amazing feat,” said Editor-in-Chief Jasmine Fleming. “It’s not just for editors — it’s for our editorial staff, including our graphic designers, as well as our photography and business staffs. It represents the hard work of every staffer and volunteer who walks through our doors and takes on the responsibilities of honesty, fairness and journalistic integrity.” The staff’s long nights in the newsroom have led to this year’s success, said Managing Editor Mike Ezekiel. “Our staff has some of the hardestworking people I’ve ever been around, and it’s really paid off,” Ezekiel said. “We are honored to continue the 85-year tradition of success here at The FlorAla.” There were entries from 29 schools, including in-state universities such as University of Alabama, Auburn University and Samford University. Sports Editor Andrew Fulmer, who competed in the editorial op-ed writing on-site competition, placed second out of 22 participants. “Heading into the competition, I didn’t know the topic I was to write on, so that was stressful,” he said. “On top of that, I had an hour and 15 minutes to research, write and edit my story. It was tough, but I was glad to compete against some of the best writers in the southeast and bring home a top-five finish for overall paper.” Fulmer said his editorial covered whether the president should have ultimate say in White House press credentials. Individual Best of the South winners from The Flor-Ala were Fleming with a fourth place award out of 22 entries in the editorial op-ed writing competition and Graphic Designer Jackie Willis in the news graphic designer category with a sixth place award out of 15 entries.
HONORS | 6
4 NEWS
Influenza virus runs rampant in North Alabama
ILLUSTRATION BY ANDREA BELK
The flu spreads when a person infected with the virus coughs and sends out virus-filled droplets, said Director of University Health Services Teresa Dawson. Getting vaccinated is the best way to avoid the flu. CIERA GOLLIVER Staff Writer cgolliver1@una.edu The influenza virus is in full swing at UNA, so students need to know how to best combat it. UNA Health Services at Bennett Infirmary had the first positive flu test in
the first week of December 2016, Dawson said. Director of University Health Services Teresa Dawson said receiving the annual vaccine is the best way to prevent the flu. Alabama has one of the highest numbers for patients with the flu this flu season, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Alabama is classified in region 4 with Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. In this region, there have been 1,771 positive cases of the flu since Feb. 11. Patients can still vaccinate themselves for the flu at Bennett Infirmary as well as their local pharmacy or health care provider. The flu vaccine causes antibodies to develop in the body. The antibodies provide protection against infection with the viruses in the vaccine, according to the CDC. One hundred and ninety-one patients have presented flu-like symptoms in the Bennett Infirmary, but many with the flu manage their symptoms at home without seeing a health care provider, Dawson said. Bennett Infirmary treats patients for symptoms of the flu rather than diagnosing them with the flu, Dawson said. Dawson said the best way to treat flu symptoms is with plenty of rest, fluids and acetaminophen like Tylenol or ibuprofen such as Motrin. Most recover within a week of flu symptoms. In some extreme cases, the health care provider may prescribe an antiviral medication such as Tamiflu to lessen symptoms, Dawson said. The flu spreads when a person infected with the virus coughs and sends out virus-filled droplets. Anyone within close proximity who inhales the droplets or receives them in any form can be infected, Dawson said. The next best strategy to prevent the flu is keeping the immune system healthy with a sufficient amount of sleep each night and a healthy diet full of citrus, Dawson said. Everyone should also wash their hands regularly with soap and water or use an alcohol based sanitizer. Dawson also recommends wiping down communal surfaces that may have come in contact with sick people. These surfaces include computer keyboards, door handles and table tops.
Students should also be aware of drinking and eating after people. Everyone should be careful not to touch their face, rub their eyes or put their hands in their mouth to prevent the spread of germs. Sophomore Haley Hicks said on Facebook the flu is spreading through campus, especially the dorms. “Wash your hands, Lysol everything and drink lots of (fluids),” Hicks said.
TOP 5 WAYS TO AVOID THE FLU 1. Get Vaccinated. 2. Keep the immune system healthy with rest and a healthy diet. 3. Wash hands regularly. 4. Don’t eat or drink after others. 5. Avoid touching face and eyes or putting hands in mouth.
Amendment to constitution reinstates judicial branch TAYLOR SIMPSON Student Writer tsimpson4@una.edu UNA’s Student Government Association successfully amended Article V of its constitution and reinstated the judicial branch at the Senate meeting Feb. 16. Fifty students voted in the online poll to amend the constitution to reinstate the branch, with the amendment passing 43-7. “I wish SGA would have informed students about the vote a little more,” said senior Brittany Etherly. “It makes me wonder why no one knew.” SGA President Sarah Green said the judicial branch’s responsibility will be to act as an appeals court which hears cases as a court. “It will be nice for future SGA (members) to have a branch whose main job is to interpret the organization’s laws,” Green said, “Before, we didn’t
have anyone who could give definitive answers.” In Section 2 of the amendment it states the judicial branch “shall have original jurisdiction in all cases involving this Constitution and appellate jurisdiction involving inter- and intra- conflicts of SGA members and appeals from SGA members.” SGA has done a lot of research on other schools’ student judicial branches to decide what duties the branch will have and make it as effective as possible, Green said. She said senate removed the judicial branch in fall 2014. Senate gave the power of the judicial branch to the Rules Committee upon the branch removal. “It also may act on any special case referred to it by the University Administration and by the Student Senate,” according to the amendment. The change will bring five additional members into the organization, the
student court will consist of four justices working under one chief justice. The justices may be any full-time students, according to the amendment. The chief justice may be any junior or senior with a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA. A minimum of one justice must have served at least one full year on a branch of SGA. The Vice President of Senate and the Vice President of University Program Council must each appoint two members of the student court. The appointed must be approved by two-thirds vote of senate. Appointment of chief justice is the responsibility of the SGA President, however, the three people Green had in mind declined the offer. At the Senate meeting, Vice President of Senate Tyler Delano nominated sophomore Nicholas Edwards and current senator Megan Statom for justice. Vice President of UPC Nic Smith nominated UPC members Georgia Claire Park and
Grant Gunn. Three of the four nominated justices were approved by senate vote — Statom, Park and Gunn. They will be sworn into office March 9 marking the official reinstatement of the judicial branch. The two unfilled positions are now the responsibility of Tyler Thompson, director of Student Engagement, who can appoint justices without senate approval, according to Article X of the SGA constitution. Thompson has until March 9 to appoint a justice and chief justice. The organization’s Code of Laws outlined the branch’s official duties, which the Rules and Regulations Committee is still drafting, Green said. Senior Chris Dunn said he is in favor of the reinstatement of the judicial branch. “It sounds like a good thing if it will help balance out the power in their government system,” he said.
NEWS 5
University hosts third Shoals Big Idea competition TAYLOR SIMPSON Student Writer tsimpson4@una.edu The third annual Shoals Big Idea competition is March 9, 5-7 p.m. in the Gulliot University Center Performance Center. Creative minds from kindergarteners to college students and community members in the Shoals will present their innovative ideas. The finalists for the competition will present their ideas, and the top three winners for each category will receive a cash prize up to $300. The judges will announce the winners at the end of the event. There is no cost to attend. “The purpose of the Big Idea Competition is to foster innovation and entrepreneurship by getting the community to imagine the Shoals as the next leader in digital technology,” according to the Shoals Big Idea website. “We hope that some of your ideas will lead to business opportunities and the possibility of creating those opportunities in the Shoals.” Digital technology is the use of scientific and engineering knowledge to create practical uses of digital or computerized devices and methods. The competition will consist of individuals and teams, and some may have multiple ideas. Last year, there were 29 ideas
submitted and the sponsor, Listerhill Credit Union, wrote 10 checks totaling $3,250 to the winners. Ben Hillis, a fifth-grader at Hibbett Middle School in Florence, won first place in the middle/high school category for his electric bicycle idea. The community winners, Jason Strayhorn and Hope Lowery, working with tech developer Brian Williams, took first place for their app that would connect farmers with their customers. First place in the university category went to UNA senior Isabella Roland for her “Smart Parking” concept, which consisted of an app that would allow student to see available parking spots on campus. “I think it would be great if some UNA students could pitch ideas to make campus better,” said junior Rahsaun Fletcher. The keynote speaker is Deborah E. Barnhart, chief aexecutive officer and executive director of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. Santanu Borah, professor of management and marketing, said the competition is a great opportunity to make the community better by listening to younger generations’ ideas about digital technology. Companies like Apple, Facebook, Wal-Mart, Airbnb and Google derived from big ideas to fulfill a need in a community. “The younger generation doesn’t
Courtesy of the University of North Alabama
Winners of the Shoals Big Idea competition receive their prizes March 10, 2016. This year’s competition is in the Guillot University Center Performance Center March 9, 2017. operate on old assumptions,” Borah said. “They see a gap in the community needs, and they fill it. That’s why we need competitions like this to encourage this younger generation of innovators. “It’s a great way for a diverse group of people to get together and solve problems in the community and to show young people they can take control of their own destinies.” Listerhill Credit Union is presenting
the event. Sponsors are No’Ala Studios, PartyPros, the Shoals Chamber of Commerce and the city of Florence. Senior Hannah Coates said she is happy someone is encouraging young people. “A lot of times great ideas get overlooked just because someone isn’t a certain age,” she said. “It’s the young people who make the changes that really matter, and I’m glad that Florence has realized that.”
SGA plans library coffee stop JESSICA B. LIVINGSTON SGA Beat Writer jlivingston2@una.edu Student Government Association President Sarah Green is working alongside Cindy Conlon, Assistant Vice President for Business Services, to provide Collier Library with a coffee stop. Green said the project is in the research stage, so there is not yet a timeline. Costs to students will depend on the machine choice. Starbucks or a Keurig set-up are the two options, Green said. The Procurement Office is looking into which would be most efficient and successful. Green said there could either be Starbucks equipment, an espresso machine with liquid pumps to allow flavoring or a Keurig set up. For the Keurig, there would be a vending machine, which would dispense the choice of K-Cup for the student to place in the Keurig. Liquid pumps for flavoring are available for this option. Green said the main concern would be the cleanliness of either option. There would need to be someone who would make sure the machines stay clean and maintained. “Conlon and other university employees have been trying to locate the best spot for the machine to go,” she said. The location must be near a water pipe for the machines to work properly, Green said.
Junior Kristen Rogers said she always drinks out of the water fountain by the printers on the main floor, and she hopes that is where the coffee stop will be. Green said she encourages feedback on where students prefer the placement of the coffee stop, as well as which of the two choices they would rather have. Junior Jessica Lenz said her preference would be Keurig. “Students have their option on what coffee they would want,” she said. “Don’t get me wrong, I love Starbucks, but there might be some students who would prefer something else other than Starbucks. It gives the students more of a variety of coffee.” Freshman Elicia Springer said she thinks Keurig is better because Starbucks is already on campus. Senior Paige Drovillard said Keurig would be her choice between the two because it would give students the option of hot coffee. “The Starbucks would be my preference, but I can see the Keurig option being easier to use,” said junior Allison Shull. Sophomore Owen Edwards said the K-Cups are a cool idea, but he is concerned there would be a long line of students waiting on drinks to brew. “I would prefer Keurig so that I could bring my own flavor of K-Cup,” said junior Becky Hushka. “Plus, if I wanted Starbucks, I could just walk to the Commons.”
6 NEWS
Officials discuss steps for Florence Middle School CIERA GOLLIVER Staff Writer cgolliver1@una.edu
The phrase of the night was “60 days” as the UNA board of trustees, Florence Board of Education and the Florence City Council met Feb. 20 at the Marriott Conference Center to discuss the future of Florence Middle School and Braly Stadium. UNA President Kenneth Kitts started the night by asking the Florence Board of Education to partner with UNA for 60 days to discuss alternate locations for Florence Middle School. This would cause Florence to delay bids for construction of the new school, which opens Feb. 23. The groups did not reach a decision. The Florence Board of Education has until Feb. 23 to decide how to move forward. “I’m not convinced this is the only
place for (Florence Middle School) to go, or even that it’s the best place,” Kitts said. Florence Superintendent Janet Womack said the Florence Middle School children are currently in “portable pods,” or miniature trailers. Womack said the delay is not necessary because the school board has discussed the plans for the building and the effect it will have on the children for over two years. UNA board of trustees member Libby Jordan said as long as the Florence Board of Education can prove the new school location would not harm Braly stadium, UNA should not have a say in the manner. Kitts said the architectural plans for the new Florence Middle School would significantly disrupt UNA game day at Braly Stadium by taking away parking for the home side and forming an “alley” between the new school and the home
side of Braly stadium. UNA Director of Athletics Mark Linder said UNA experienced a 1,300-person drop in attendance for regular season games due to the construction with the demolition of the old Florence Middle School. “Our decision is not driven by the transition to Division I or by the status of our football program or even by the proud tradition of Lion athletics,” Kitts said. “Those are all important considerations. Fundamentally, however, this is about how we as representatives of different stakeholders come together to make decisions that are in the best interest of the community.” Freshman Sabrina Gilliam said UNA needs the extra space for game day with the transition to Division I. “Moving up (in division) means more people,” she said. “I feel like a lot of that
area could probably be used for parking.” Florence Board of Education Vice President Laura Hardeman said she would love to see Florence and UNA work together to build a new entrance to the stadium to benefit both schools. Those in attendance discussed other locations for the new school, but none of the locations seemed feasible. “The previous location served us well for 60 years, but we aren’t moving back,” said Florence Board of Education member Britton Watson. “We are moving forward.” Junior Ben Schoenbachler said Florence should take the 60 days to reevaluate their plans for the space as well as the partnership with UNA. “They need to make sure they can build it on that location in the first place and it won’t affect game day for UNA,” he said.
Smart Start Weekend offers hands-on experience BREANNA LITTRELL News Editor news@florala.net
UNA’s Smart Start Weekend teaches students entrepreneurial skills to be successful in starting their own businesses. The event is Feb. 24-26 on the third floor of the Commons. The event will provide hands-on experience for students to learn ideation, team formation, customer discovery, rapid prototyping and pitch workshops. “The event culminates with student teams pitching their ideas to a mock venture capital panel,” according to the website. “The panel then gives the teams constructive feedback to help them refine their ideas and business models. The mission of Smart Start Weekend is to kick start new student-run companies and build entrepreneurial capabilities in students and their university communities.” Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Mitch Hamm said on Friday night at 5 p.m. there is a kick off where the expectations for the weekend are explained to the students. The event is open to 40 students at no cost. Students may register until the day before the event at www.una.edu/ smartstartweekend. Students are put into groups of five or six students to share their idea and decide on one or two of the ideas they feel is
strong enough to pitch to the entire group of 40 students. Students will work on six to eight of those pitches the entire weekend. “Those ideas will pivot and change during the weekend because who they thought the customer for their product may be going in may not be where their customer discovery leads them,” said Hamm. This event will also teach students if they fail in their idea to learn to do so without losing a lot of money, he said. “Late Friday or early Saturday morning they will go out into the community to do customer discovery,” he said. “That way, (participants aren’t) developing out a full product service idea and then taking it to market only to find out that they missed the mark and that’s not what customers desire. That’s a lot of waste of time and money.” Hamm said the customer discovery will consist of surveying 50 potential customers in the community using a scale of 1-10, asking the questions, “What is the problem?” and, “How often does the problem occur?” “If it’s something that’s a big problem but it doesn’t happen that frequently, they won’t spend much money to fix it,” he said. The second step is to determine how meaningful a solution is by presenting the ideas to focus groups made of student
Courtesy of the University of North Alabama
Students participants in the University of North Alabama’s Smart Start Weekend event in 2016. This year’s event is Feb. 24-26 on the third floor of the Commons. mentors and community members who will give feedback. Then students will work to perfect these ideas for final presentation on Sunday, he said. Sophomore Charles Harville said this is opportunity is beneficial for students who are interested in starting their own business. “This is actually one of the smarter
things (UNA is involved with),” he said. “People who are pursuing business degrees need to be working in business.” Freshman Lauren Gasque said this sounds beneficial, but it only applies to a specific audience. “This is good for people who want to (go into business), but it isn’t something I am personally interested in,” she said.
any claims of plaintiff remain pending after the ruling, defendant may renew its motion” Updates to the case also include a Dec. 27 protective order through the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which gives the attorneys for the parties access to any necessary health care documents and the
ability to interview health professionals. Both parties also entered a joint protective order Jan. 12, which the judge granted the same day. The order will give case documents from the discovery confidentiality from outside parties. Editor’s Note: Continue to stick with The Flor-Ala for further updates on this story.
“It was a surprising but welcome award,” Willis said. “It’ll give me confidence to create even stronger designs in the future.”
Fulmer, Staff Photographers Hillary Taylor and Sierra Hill and Staff Writer Ciera Golliver represented The Flor-Ala at the conference.
LAWSUIT, continued from page 3 UNA also had a Feb. 17 motion for a mental examination of Mitchell on the grounds that the school is legal entitled to one and that Mitchell has not opposed it, according to the motion. The motion was accompanied by a brief further detailing why UNA’s legal representation felt the exam was necessary. The university also submitted a brief
in support of the motion on the same day, further detailing why UNA’s legal representation felt it was necessary. Davis denied the motion in a Feb. 21 response. “The motion is premature because the court has not had an opportunity to rule on defendant’s pending motion for judgment on the pleadings,” he said. “If
HONORS, continued from page 3 Fleming submitted editorials about the university’s smoking ban, prioritization of freshmen within the residence halls and the role of
millennials in the 2016 national election. Willis’ work included an infographic on sexual assault statistics and information.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH 7
Alabama locations to view African-American history JASMINE FLEMING Editor-in-Chief editor@florala.net Black History Month is a time for people to remember the accomplishments of African-Americans. One of the best ways to do this is by seeing these accomplishments in person. While some black history landmarks might be inaccessible to students in Alabama, there are still places students can visit in state. Here are some suggestions for places throughout the state to learn more about black history. Florence To kick off the search for a location to appreciate black history, the Shoals is a great starting place. One of the biggest historical landmarks in the area is the W.C. Handy Birthplace, Museum and Library. The log cabin that houses memorabilia from the “Father of the Blues” is in Florence and contains instruments, original sheet music, his personal piano and more, according to the city of Florence’s website.
Adult admission fits the college budget at $2. Birmingham When people think of black history in Alabama, the first city to probably come to mind is Birmingham. During the Civil Rights Movement, it was the location for many historical moments, such Martin Luther King Jr. authoring “Letter From a Birmingham Jail.” A major location to visit to learn more about black history is the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. Regular exhibits include the Birmingham Police Department’s tank from the 1960s that they used to suppress protesters and the door and bars from King’s jail cell when he wrote his famous letter. There are also special exhibits, including the current Odessa Woolfork Gallery, which the institute named after one of the founders. Not only is the history overflowing, but it’s also an inexpensive experience with $6 student tickets. To learn more about places in Alabama to experience AfricanAmerican history, go to florala.net.
HILLARY TAYLOR | Staff Photographer
The W.C. Handy Birthplace, Museum and Library is in Florence. The log cabin houses memorabilia from the “Father of the Blues.”
Movies prominent to black culture, community MONDAY SANDERSON Life Editor life@florala.net When most people think of movies prominent in black culture, the first ones that come to mind are slavery movies, such as “Roots” or “12 Years a Slave” or the stereotype “hood” movies, such as “Boyz n the Hood” or “Friday.” Although these movies are important to the culture and provide different perspectives, there are more movies just as important and that portray another aspect. Below are five movies that represent and are important to black culture.
“The Color Purple” This movie follows the life of Celie, a young girl growing up in the early 1900s in the South. The audience sees her as she matures and has to
Posters courtesy of Amazon
overcome the challenges in her life, such as becoming pregnant at a young age. While the oldest film on the list, this movie is the first one I remember watching. This movie shows a heartbreaking story, but the end gives people watching hope for the character and themselves. It shows that even though someone had this horrible life, those issues can work out.
“Akeelah and the Bee” The movie tells the story of Akeelah Anderson, who is from South Los Angeles, as she tries to make it to the National Spelling Bee. Akeelah does not have the best home life, nor does she have the most supporting environment. Despite these factors, she is able to overcome them and do well. “Akeelah and the Bee” is an inspirational movie showing people to
never give up on a dream, despite what others believe. My first encounter with this movie was my sixth grade teacher playing it, but I did not pay attention to it. Once I was older and had the choice to watch it, I enjoyed it. Not only was it about someone defying expectations, but the main character was someone like me who enjoyed learning.
“Remember the Titans” As with most sports movies, “Remember the Titans” is not just about sports. This movie is about an African-American football coach who must work with a racially-integrated high school team. There is tension between people on the team and people in the city, but the tension eventually resolves. The movie is about real events in Virginia in 1971. “Remember the Titans” is a sports movie I have heard many people say they enjoy because of the story. Even though my teacher forced me to watch
this on four separate occasions in my 10th grade health class, I never began to dislike this even though I had to watch it multiple times. The movie shows how tense it was between races in the 70s and what people had to endure.
“Hidden Figures” This 2017 movie follows the story of three African-American women who worked in NASA and helped challenge the ideas of racial and gender norms in the industry. Their stories are not ones people can find in history books. While I have not seen the full movie, I have enjoyed the pieces I have seen. Without this movie, I would have never heard of them and their contributions to history. This is currently nominated for an Oscar for “Best Picture” and Octavia Spencer for “Actress in a Supporting Role.”
MICHAEL MEIGS| Graphic Designer
8 LIFE Best Actor Nominations
Best Actress Nominations
2016- White: 5 Minority: 0 2015- White: 5 Minority: 0 2014- White: 4 Minority: 1 2013- White: 4 Minority: 1 2012- White: 5 Minority: 0
2016- White: 5 Minority: 0 2015- White: 5 Minority: 0 2014- White: 5 Minority: 0 2013- White: 4 Minority: 1 2012- White: 4 Minority: 1
Best Supporting Actor Nominations
Best Supporting Actress Nominations
2016- White: 5 Minority: 0 2015- White: 5 Minority: 0 2014- White: 4 Minority: 1 2013- White: 4 Minority: 1 2012- White: 5 Minority: 0
2016- White: 5 Minority: 0 2015- White: 5 Minority: 0 2014- White: 4 Minority: 1 2013- White: 5 Minority: 0 2012- White: 3 Minority: 2
MICHAEL MEIGS | Graphic Designer
Oscars committee nominates more minority actors MONDAY SANDERSON Life Editor life@floral.net In 2016, actors and others boycotted the Oscars, and #OscarsSoWhite was trending on Twitter and Facebook. This year, the Oscars are #NotSoWhite with the academy nominating seven minority actors. People who work in the film industry are those who are in the academy and are able to vote on the nominees, said Jason Pangilinan, assistant professor of film and digital media production. Since the academy votes on the movies, the nominations are different than award shows where regular viewers can vote, said senior Bri Palmer. “The Oscars is on a more distinguished level than the others,” she said. “It’s the Super Bowl of movies.” In the past five years, only two minority actors have won an award for best acting. These actors were Octavia Spencer for “The Help” and Lupita Nyong’o for “12 Years a Slave.” Both won awards for Best Supporting Actress. This lack of diversity comes from tradition, Pangilinan said. “Some of the people in the academy have been there for decades,” he said. “Some of those people don’t actually watch the films. Some say
‘Is Meryl Streep in a film? I’ll vote for her then.’” Senior Shelby Poindexter said there should not be a minority winner every so often. “It’s sad that there is not more recognition given to minorities at the Oscars,” she said. “We should have a more diverse pool of nominees to match the country.” Sophomore Emily Stafford said she believes the increase in minority nominations is a reaction to the previous year. “They don’t want to receive the same judgment that they did last year,” she said. Pangilinan said the voters are conscientious of their decisions. “Now the voters are becoming more mindful and have started to watch the movies instead of basing it on actors they already know,” he said. “By doing this, they are now discovering other good actors. It also helps that last year they have added over 600 new members to try and become diverse.” Poindexter said a resurgence of racial movements might have also contributed the increase. “These movements are bring more awareness to minorities and the prejudice toward them,” she said. While the Oscars had issues with diversity, the Tony Awards, the show for Broadway, has had 14 minority winners in the past five years.
“I don’t think (the amount of winners) have to deal with anything major,” said senior Trevor Kurzhal. “The Tony’s just have more acting categories available. There are acting categories for both musicals and plays, so there are more chances for a minority actor to win. If the categories are cut down, then the numbers would be the same as the Oscars.” Palmer said the difference in minority winners could come from the nature of Broadway. “I have seen more diversity in Broadway recently than in Hollywood,” she said. Pangilinan said there is a difference in economics between the two industries. “Movies spend hundreds of millions of dollars on a film, and (producers) are hoping to recoup that cost,” he
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said. “Because of this they tend to stick with certain actors that they know will bring in money. Broadway on the other hand doesn’t have to worry that much because (producers) don’t spend as much money.” Palmer said she hopes the trend in the Oscars continues. “It’s awesome that Hollywood is making a change,” she said. “I hope to see this growth continue and they depart from their norm.” Pangilinan said this trend will continue as long as there are roles for minority actors. “How many Tom Cruise movies have there been?” he said. “How many movies has Emma Stone been in? Viola Davis and Taraji P. Henson have about half of those roles. There has never been a lack of talent, only a lack of opportunities.”
There has never been a lack of talent (with minority actors), only a lack of opportunities.” Jason Pangilinan | Assistant Professor of Film and Digital Media Production
LIFE 9 Alabama ranks 50th for overall dental health TYLER HARGETT Associate Life Editor life@florala.net One of the dreaded aspects of health care for people young and old is visiting the dentist. Whether it is the pain of having a dentist operate on their mouth or being nervous to make an appointment, some people avoid this process. This is especially so in Alabama. Alabama is the second-worst state in dental health, according to personal finance website WalletHub’s February 2017 report. WalletHub took the 50 states, and the District of Columbia, and ranked them based on their average score in dental habits and oral care. Alabama took the 50th place for overall dental health with a score of 36.98 out of 100. It scored less than a point above West Virgina in last place with a score of 36.40. The study ranked Minnesota as no. 1. The reason Alabama and other states are low on the list might be because of the average income of residents, said Amy Crews, adviser of pre-health majors and director of university advising. “I think a lot of times the cost is out of the price range of the average person,” Crews said. “If you’re looking
at someone’s disposable income, they’ve got other things they need to spend that money on as opposed to dental care. (Also), I don’t know that people understand how important oral health is to their overall well-being.” The cost issue deals with Medicaid and other insurance providers, said Dr. Robert Griffin, UNA alumnus. “A lot of (Alabama) dentists (either) aren’t accepting Medicaid or used to and are not now, because the money is drying up,” Griffin said. “We need to have a serious conversation about what we want our statewide program to be. When we determine this, we need to (either) fund it and fund it well or not do it. There’s not much middle ground.” Junior Nathan Hansen said he believes the state has room for dental improvement and more dentists. Despite this, there remains competition for getting into dental schools. However, this does not deter him from wanting to become a dentist. After he graduates from UNA, Hansen said he hopes to attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s School of Dentistry, Alabama’s only dental school. “I’m considering becoming a rural dentist,” he said. “So many rural communities in Alabama are underserved with (dental)
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I don’t know that people understand how important oral health is to their overall wellbeing. Amy Crews| Director of University Advising
professionals.” While low dental rankings may not seem as important to some as much as low income or low job offerings, possible health issues can occur from poor dental health. Poor oral health may increase the risk of respiratory infections, such as pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which can affect the lungs, according to a study from the Journal of Periodontology. “It’s not all on the dentist,” Hansen said. “There are responsibilities put on the individual person.” Dr. Marjorie Jeffcoat, professor of Periodontology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental
Medicine, reported if people use mouthwash twice a day, they can decrease the risk of gum disease by 60 percent. Having high levels of physical fitness and keeping a healthy weight can help lower the risk, according to the Journal of Periodontology. Griffin said these issues show how important it was for college students to visit the dentist. “In college, a lot of times life (can get) in the way,” he said. “Because you’re away from home, you might forget you had a regular physician. If you’re not from the area, you need to find yourself a local dentist to still get your regular checkups.”
Films display varying representations of mental illness RACHEL DANIEL Student Writer rdaniel@una.edu Mental health is an issue some people are afraid to discuss because it is a sensitive topic, but the film industry brings this topic to the forefront with certain movies. The trailer of the 2017 movie “Split” shows the main character, who has multiple personalities, as the villain of the story. This movie, along with others, can sometimes show mental illness in a negative manner. Movies can stigmatize mental health, said Andrea Hunt, assistant professor of sociology. “Characters of mental illnesses tend to be framed as villainous and crazy,” she said. “This can be damaging to those people dealing with mental illnesses who are shamed and stigmatized because of it and may affect whether someone seeks treatment or not.” These portrayals can make others in society unsure of how to interact with those with a mental illness, said sophomore Jaimy Murff. “Portrayals of mental illnesses in movies are not that accurate,” he said. “They are sacrificing the seriousness of the actual illness to make profits.” However, Hunt said some movies get it right, and movie viewers are beginning to see more accurate and
humanized representations. Depiction of mental illness depends on the actors in the movie, said Richard Hudiburg, department chair of psychology. “Hollywood films are meant to entertain and gain profit,” he said. “It’s difficult for movies to display an accurate adaptation of mental illness. Some movies portray mental illnesses realistically, where other films get it wrong depending on the performance of the actors and how well they understand the role.” There are several movies that have come out in the last few years regarding mental illnesses such as “Split,” “Inside Out” and “Starry Eyes,” Hudiburg said. Hollywood has taken a step forward in making films that are very informative about mental illnesses, said senior Paige McCay. “Inside Out” is one movie that shows it in a positive light. “This movie gives you a beautiful insight into the human mind that you can enjoy whether you are 6-yearsold or 60-years-old,” she said. Hudiburg said if people want to learn more about a mental illnesses, they should do their research. “Films are somewhat limited because there is a short period of time to depict the whole truth,” he said. “This can make it very hard to get all true aspects of
mental illness.”
To read more about the film industry’s influence on the discussion of mental illness, go to florala. net.
Courtesy of Pixabay
10 SPORTS Scoreboard Feb. 10 - 20
Women’s Basketball Feb. 11 at West Alabama Win, 83-73 Feb. 16 vs. West Florida Loss, 75-51 Feb. 18 at Valdosta State Win, 70-52
Men’s Basketball
Feb. 11 at West Alabama Win, 64-62 Feb. 16 vs. West Florida Loss, 86-77 Feb. 18 at Valdosta State Loss, 77-74
Softball Falcon Frenzy Tournament Feb. 10-11 Record: 4-0 Feb. 14 vs. USI (DH) Loss 3-0, Loss 6-1 Feb. 18-19 at UWG Loss 2-0, Win 11-9, Win 4-2
Baseball Feb. 15 vs. Lem.-Owen Win, 19-1 Feb. 19-20 at UWG Win 7-1, Win 5-4, Win 16-10 Games continued at roarlions.com
ANDREA BELK | Staff Photographer
North Alabama freshman utility player Hannah Shollenberger returns to the diamond in the Lions’ home game against Southern Indiana Feb. 14. Shollenberger, who has started nearly every game at third base, has worked her way into the starting lineup as a walk-on freshman.
Freshman walks into starting role AUSTIN PEACOCK Softball Beat Writer apeacock@una.edu After returning 50 percent of its roster this season, the defending national champion North Alabama softball team needed to find some fresh faces to step up to the plate. True freshman Hannah Shollenberger has done just that. She is amongst the top three in most batting statistics, including third on the team in hits with 14, fourth in RBIs with seven and first in home runs with three. Shollenberger has been the team’s new starting third baseman. She’s produced three game-winning hits in her first seven games. To top off her hot start, Shollenberger is replacing a former four-year starter in Harlie Barkley as a walk-on. “I didn’t ever imagine that I would have this kind of start,” Shollenberger said. “I went up to the plate relaxed, just looking for my pitch.” Shollenberger played high school softball under her father, Brian Shollenberger, at Florence High School, where she was an All-State
honorable mention selection at catcher in 2014 and 2015. Shollenberger had three offers to play college softball after her high school career ended. Those offers came from Northwest Mississippi Community College, Snead State Community College and Wallace State Community College. But, staying close to home and having the opportunity to play for the defending national champions led her to walk-on at UNA, she said. “Both my parents played sports at UNA, and after visiting the campus and talking to coaches, I was very pleased with the program,” she said. Shollenberger’s dad was a pitcher at UNA and is one of a handful of Lions to throw a no-hitter, doing so against Wayne State (Neb.) March 9, 1995. Shollenberger said she credits her father as being a huge influence in her life. “He always encourages me to do my best in athletics and academics,” she said. “He’s coached me since seventh grade and has always challenged me to compete. He always pushes me and loves the game just as much as I do.” UNA head coach Ashley Cozart said Shollenberger’s play has been
a welcome surprise and key to the team’s wins this season. “I’m so proud of her,” she said. “She’s playing like a senior and not a freshman, and I just love that about her. She’s been very consistent at the plate, and I’m proud of the effort and the bat that she’s brought to the team.” Starting for a defending national champion could be a daunting task for a walk-on freshman, but Cozart said the freshman has handled it well. “I’ve felt some pressure, but there are good leaders on this team who make me feel comfortable,” Shollenberger said. “Also, my coaches — They know how much pressure can be on a freshman. They encourage me and tell me what I need to hear so I won’t have much pressure on me.” Shollenberger said hard work over the summer months and her eagerness to crack the starting lineup has also contributed to her immediate impact. To keep her streak going, Shollenberger said she’ll have to keep working hard during practice and putting in extra time, even on off days. Shollenberger, along with the rest of the Lions, will be back in town Feb. 25-26 for a Gulf South Conference series against the Shorter Hawks.
SPORTS 11
Women’s team clinches conference tournament bid ANDREW FULMER Sports Editor sports@florala.net
MELANIE HODGES | Chief Photographer
North Alabama sophomore guard Savannah Stults goes to the rim against Valdosta State Feb. 18 at Flowers Hall. The Lions clinched a playoff spot in the win against the Blazers.
The North Alabama women’s basketball team has secured its place in the Gulf South Conference tournament after defeating the Valdosta State Blazers 70-52 Feb. 18 in the Lions’ home finale. The Lions (12-8 GSC) could play at least one more game at Flowers Hall, however. UNA is still in contention to secure one of the remaining top four seeds and the right to host a quarterfinal matchup in the conference tournament, along with Lee (14-6), Valdosta State (14-6) and West Georgia (12-8). West Florida (16-4) sits atop the GSC standings and has already secured a top four finish. UNA has two games remaining in the regular season, and both are on the road. The team has a 4-6 record on the road this season. The Lions are 13-2 at Flowers Hall. “We have to try to be a better basketball team on the road,” said UNA head coach Missy Tiber. “I think we are a really good basketball team at home. You learn how to win at home first and then figure out how to win on the road. That’s part of building a basketball program. “We are extremely young, and we have to be better at handling things. Our
maturity level and consistency level on the road is a challenge for us right now.” In the race for a GSC top-four seed, the Lions will face two teams on the road that are middle-of-the-pack in the conference this season in Union (1010) and Christian Brothers (9-11). Both teams are vying for a tournament berth. The Lions handily beat Union, the defending GSC champions 75-53 at home Jan. 9 in a game that saw junior forward Michaela DeKilder tally a season-high 20 rebounds. “We’re coming together as a team to finish out the way we need to at the end of the season,” DeKilder said. The team’s previous meeting with Christian Brothers Jan. 7 was back-andforth long into the fourth quarter where the Lions prevailed 68-61 in Florence. UNA’s struggles on the road are an aspect Tiber will focus on correcting in the final few practices of the regular season, along with reinforcing the young team’s confidence, she said. “We’ve hit a few rough spots, but we’re working on it,” said sophomore guard Savannah Stults. “During practice, we work on getting back to where we were during the regular season. I have plenty of confidence in this team.” Editor’s Note: The final GSC standings will be announced at the conclusion of the final conference game Feb. 25. We will announce when and where the Lions will play on Twitter @FlorAlaSports.
Lions struggle down final stretch of season JACOB COLE Associate Sports Editor sports@florala.net The North Alabama men’s basketball team has kept games close, but the Lions have fallen short of expectations in the final stretch of the season after they were picked fourth in the Gulf South Conference preseason poll. The Lions sit in eighth place in the GSC standings with an 8-12 conference record. UNA can clinch a place in the conference tournament with a win over Union Feb. 23 along with a Lee loss against West Florida the same night. With two games remaining in the regular season, UNA will face Union Feb. 23, the seventh place team in the standings who is one game ahead of UNA at 9-11 in GSC play. The Lions will then face Christian Brothers (12-8 GSC) to close out the regular season Feb. 25. UNA head coach Bobby Champagne said the team has to “right the ship” and make the adjustments to win games. “I don’t have a button on the bench to turn intensity on and off,” Champagne said. “That’s all on them. We have to play at a higher level.” Senior forward Austin Timms said the team is more concerned about finishing the season strong than what comes after.
“We aren’t too worried about our placement in the tournament right now,” Timms said. “Our focus is doing whatever it takes to win these last two games, regardless of where it puts us.” UNA has been competitive in the first half of games, but the Lions have not been able to close out games in the second half. When West Florida came to Florence Feb. 16, the Lions led 46-34 at halftime, but were outscored 52-31 in the second half of the 86-77 defeat. The defense and offense is where it needs to be, but the team is lacking intensity at times, Timms said. “We tend to play pretty good in the first half of games, but we come out in the second half less aggressive,” Timms said. Senior Guard Dimario Jackson said he wants the team to play with an intensity that cannot be matched. “We have to have the mindset that we are going to do whatever it takes to come out on top because after next Saturday nothing is guaranteed,” Jackson said. Both of UNA’s senior leaders agree on one thing that can help the team in the last two games and in the GSC tournament — finishing games strongly. To continue reading about UNA men’s basketball, go to florala.net.
MELANIE HODGES | Chief Photographer
North Alabama senior forward Austin Timms eyes up a jump shot against Valdosta State Feb. 18 at home. UNA is reeling after losing six of its last eight games.
12 SPORTS
Courtesy of Sports Information
North Alabama junior first baseman Kyle Hubbach looks on as he hits one of his four home runs this season against Bellarmine Feb. 12 at Mike Lane Field. Hubbach leads the Lions in hits, runs, RBIs and home runs through 10 games this season.
Junior first baseman proves to be hitting powerhouse NICK GRIFFIN Baseball Beat Writer ngriffin@una.edu Kyle Hubbuch is off to a hot start in his third season with the North Alabama baseball team. In his first nine games of the season, Hubbuch is posting a batting average of .447 and leads the team with 17 hits, 14 RBIs and four home runs. The junior first baseman has excelled on the field since arriving at UNA, but he has also made progress on his goals off the field. Hubbuch says the “student” part of “student athlete” is a high priority for him. “I’m majoring in secondary education with a focus in social science,” Hubbuch said. “I want to be a teacher and a coach at the high school level unless I get the opportunity to coach at the college level — then I would probably take that chance.” While Hubbach’s statistics suggest otherwise, baseball was not the sport Hubbuch received the most scholarship offers to play in college. “I had more college offers for bowling than I did for baseball, honestly,” he said. “But I knew since I was a little boy that I wanted to play baseball in college and beyond if I can, so the choice was pretty easy for me.” UNA head coach Mike Keehn said
he is also well aware of Hubbuch’s skills as a bowler. “His first year, we had a preseason get together as a team, and everyone bowled and it was a good opportunity for him,” Keehn said. “In the long term of me coaching here, he’s the first one I’ve ever had that was a baseball and bowling athlete.” The team goes bowling from time to time, but because of his skills on the lanes Hubbuch does not always get the invite. Hubbuch said the strides he has made between his first games as a freshman to now as a three-year starter are beyond what he thought they would be. “As a freshman, I was kind of young and raw and just tried to force a lot of stuff because it was a lot different for me,” Hubbuch said. “The speed of the game picked up a lot from high school to college, but now playing summer ball has helped a lot, and being able to relax and take what the game gives you has been the big difference this year.” Keehn said he has also noticed the improvements Hubbuch has made since coming to UNA. He’s got the talent and awareness to get the consistent hits we need, he said. To continue reading about Kyle Hubbach’s strong season start, go to florala.net.
OPINION 13
Social media affects life’s future outcomes
MADI WINKLER Social Media Coordinator
online@florala.net Social media closely resembles a black hole of endless posts regarding politics, angry rants, nearly nude photos and inappropriate language. Some social media platforms
have filters to limit the most extreme content, but what good will those filters actually do? Sometimes, privacy settings actively filter, block or hide this content, but someone normally must bring attention to it before the content disappears. So how does this type of content affect the average user and his or her ability to succeed in life when that person engages with it? All social media users own their accounts and have the right to post as they please. But, inappropriate posts may inhibit their chances at a variety of opportunities without the person even realizing. Unsuitable posts can invalidate the most capable students, excluding them from a minor occurrence like a second date to a career-altering chance like graduate school or job opportunities. “As social media becomes the latest branding strategy, networking
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Nick Griffin & Andrea Belk
technique, job seeking tool and recruitment vehicle, it’s also becoming the latest way for people to get job offers rescinded, reprimanded at work and even fired,” said CNN’s Rachel Zupek. People normally would not share their nearly nude photos on LinkedIn for the professional world to see, but what they often do not realize is the same professionals who monitor LinkedIn are also active on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. They see it all. This is important to keep in mind when sending in an application. Northeastern University’s Office of Information Security published a list of the most common reasons for job application rejections. The article includes the posting of distasteful pictures and comments, drug and alcohol related topics, unfavorable comments about a previous job or employer and even poor writing and grammatical skills.
This list supports the idea that one’s profile reflects his or her lifestyle or how others perceive it. Often, perception is reality to someone outside of the situation. However, as Zupek said, social media can be a beneficial tool in the professional world. Users can track trends, obtain news, network with other professionals in their field and portray themselves in a positive light. Tools like social media and its services can lend people a competitive edge in the job market when he or she uses it correctly. When people use common sense with social media, it could help with landing that big interview. As college students, understand the importance of using professionalism online, as it carries over in person. Good or bad, the content people see online can make all the difference in perception and reality.
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.
14 PHOTOS
wi l l i s
Local heroes WILLIS guitarist Trey Murphy performs alongside his fellow band members at Alpha Tau Omega’s Caffeine High at the ATO house in spring 2016. WILLIS is a local band from Florence that is rapidly becoming one of the most popular bands in the Shoals area. MELANIE HODGES Chief Photographer photo@florala.net
‘Clean’ lyrics From left: Will O’Steen, Trey Murphy, Glenn O’Steen, Edward Bernard and Murphy Billings pose at Coin Laundry for a promotional photo shoot for their band’s new EP “Locals 2.” The band WILLIS created an unprecedented sound that has captivated the Shoals community.
Brushing the ivories Will O’Steen performs during Alpha Tau Omega’s Caffeine High event at the ATO house in spring 2016. Will, alongside his brother, Glenn, are two of the five members in WILLIS.
The band WILLIS is a local group from Florence consisting of five members: Murphy Billings, Trey Murphy, Will O’Steen, Glenn O’Steen and Edward Bernard who each display a laid-back personality while pleasing the ears of their audiences. Starting in 2015, the band has since built quite the name for themselves throughout the UNA community. Lead singer Murphy Billings described the band as having “dreamy soundscapes and soulful pop melodies combining to make music that feels familiar, while still feeling fresh and modern.” This new spin on a classic style of music has created an unprecedented sound that has captivated the Shoals community.
After their debut release, an EP titled “Locals,” WILLIS has been hard at work recording its second EP “Locals 2.” The process of recording the second EP has been quite the undertaking. In order to complete its vision, WILLIS engineered a “dream team.” Jamie Sego, Albert Rothstein and Danley Nunley recorded the EP live at Portside Sound Studios in Muscle Shoals. Grammy award winner Jimmy Nutt is in the process of mixing the EP at Nutthouse Recording Studio with assistance from WILLIS manager Russ Randolph and Nutthouse house editor and engineer Cody Simmons. The band expects to release the new EP in late March. WILLIS has three upcoming shows, including Feb. 25 at Underground Art and Sound, March 11 at Warehouse 414 and April 22 at 116 E. Mobile. For more updates, visit WILLIS on Twitter and Instagram (@thebandwillis).
Jam Session Edward Bernard (left) and Murphy Billings record a song for “Locals 2.” WILLIS recorded the album live inside Portside Sound Studio in Muscle Shoals.
CALENDAR 15 Thurs., Feb. 23 What: Collier Library Faculty Lecture Series, ft. Mr. Will Brewer When: 2:30 p.m. Where: Collier Library What: 30 Years on Death Row: A Conversation with Anthony Ray Hinton When: 6 p.m. Where: GUC Performance Center What: Second Chance Prom When: 7 - 9:30 p.m. Where: GUC Banquet Hall B What: Senior Recital: Angelo Sandoval, percussion When: 7:30 p.m. Where: Music Building Band Room
Fri., Feb. 24 What: Eighth Annual Alabama Regional Graduate Conference in English When: 2:30 - 6:30 p.m. Where: GUC Loft
Sat., Feb. 25 What: Eighth Annual Alabama Regional Graduate Conference in English When: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Where: GUC Loft
ANDREA BELK | Staff Photographer
Junior second baseman Haley Mills (left) attempts to earn UNA a force out during a game against Southern Indiana Feb. 14. UNA softball matches up against Shorter Feb. 25 at 1 p.m. in the conference home opener. What: The Flor-Ala writer’s meeting Where: Student Publications Building When: 4 p.m. What: Campus Classic Movie Night When: 6 p.m. Where: GUC Performance Center
What: UNA Baseball v. Shorter When: 1, 4 p.m. Where: Mike Lane Field
Mon., Feb. 27
What: UNA Softball v. Shorter When: 2 p.m. Where: UNA Softball Complex
Where: Office of Student Engagement
Sun., Feb. 26 What: UNA Baseball v. Shorter When: 1 p.m. Where: Mike Lane Field What: UNA Softball v. Shorter When: 1 p.m. Where: UNA Softball Complex
What: UPC Meeting When: 3:30
Tues., Feb. 28 What: Senior Recital: Jimmy Smith, percussion When: 7:30 p.m. Where: George S. Lindsey Theatre What: Muse - Body Positivity Workshop When: 5 p.m. Where: GUC 200
What: Women’s Tennis v. West Georgia When: 1 p.m. Where: UNA Tennis Courts
Wed., March 1 What: Black Entrepreneurs: Models Too Often Forgotten When: 7 p.m.
What: Shoals Symphony at UNA: Choral Masterworks When: 3 p.m. Where: Norton Auditorium
Where: GUC Performance Center
Thur., March 2 What: SGA Senate Meeting When: 3:30 p.m. Where: Office of Student Engagement
What: Percussion Ensemble Concert When: 7:30 p.m. Where: Norton Auditorium
Fri., March 3 What: Guest Artist Recital: Richard Henson, percussion When: noon Where: Music Building Band Room What: Women’s Tennis v. Delta State When: 2 p.m. Where: UNA Tennis Courts What: Men’s Tennis v. Delta State When: 2 p.m. Where: UNA Tennis Courts
Sat., March 4 What: Senior Recital: Wade Dillingham, saxophone When: 2 p.m. Where: George S. Lindsey Theatre
Sun., March 5 What: The Flor-Ala writer’s meeting When: 4 p.m. Where: Student Publications Building
Mon., March 6 What: UPC Meeting When: 3:30 - 5 p.m. Where: Office of Student Engagement
What: English Department Alumni Speaker: Michael Isbel When: 3:30 p.m. Where: GUC 208 What: FAFSA Filing Night When: 4 - 6 p.m. Where: Commons Room 227
Tues., March 7 What: UPC Movie Night: “Don’t Breathe” When: 8 - 10:30 p.m. Where: GUC Performance Center
Wed., March 8 What: Departmental Recital When: noon Where: Music Building Recital Hall What: International Women’s Day Panel When: 3 - 4:30 p.m. Where: GUC Loft What: Guest Artist Recital: Stewart Gerber, percussion When: 3:30 p.m. Where: Music Building Band Room
Check online at una.edu/calendar for more events and updates.
16 SOCIAL MEDIA OF THE WEEK