Sept. 20 issue

SCHUSTER KICKS

HIS WAY TO TIE A GSC RECORD SPORTS 1B

Sept. 20, 2012

ADVANCEMENT

www.FlorAla.net

Volume 81, Issue 5

Student newspaper of the University of North Alabama

RESIDENCE LIFE

Hendricks named VP for University Advancement

FRESHMEN TO LIVE ON CAMPUS

ALEX LINDLEY & BLYTHE STEELMAN .TWZ )TI -LQ\WZ[ NTWZITI(]VI ML]

President Bill Cale announced Sept.

18 that Dan Hendricks has been hired as UNA’s new vice president for university advancement. Hendricks will assume his new position Oct. 15.

Cale said in a press release that Hendricks has an outstanding track HENDRICKS record with university advancement programs. He has worked in similar positions at several universities.

Officials hosted Hendricks as a vice

;MM 0-6,:1+3; XIOM ) photo by ALLI OWNBY I Student Photographer

Freshman Courtney Watkins studies in her room. Freshman students predominantly live in Rivers Hall on campus. Rivers Hall is the home to a new freshman-focused success center to aid students with their academic studies.

INTEGRATIVE HEALTH

New program approved, on track officials say BLYTHE STEELMAN 7VTQVM -LQ\WZ J[\MMTUIV(]VI ML]

The Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) approved a new concentration in integrative health within the Master of Science in health and human performance degree Sept. 14 at its regular meeting in Montgomery, officials said.

The new concentration is slated to begin fall 2013, said John Thornell, UNA vice president of academic affairs and provost.

Thornell said university officials would now be taking different steps to fully incorporate the integrative health concentration.

“The next step will be for us to communicate that we have official approval to Chairman Zhang and begin seeking funding for land and a faculty search,” Thornell said.

Officials plan to implement freshman live-on requirement in 2014 to improve retention JOSH SKAGGS

-`MK]\Q^M -LQ\WZ R[SIOO[(]VI ML]

University officials announced last week that first-time, full-time freshmen would be required to live in an on-campus residence hall for their first year at UNA. The requirement comes from university officials wanting students to be more successful in their first year on campus, said Director of Residence Life Kevin

this week’s paper

AT A GLANCE • REQUIREMENT

• OFFICIALS

BEGINS

2014

WORKING ON EXCLUSIONS

this, this is an issue and we need to address it,” Jacques said.

;MM 41>- 76 XIOM )

DOWNTOWN FLORENCE

Lion Night organizers pleased with event, despite sparse crowd Ivan Gonzalez and Lacey Smith perform during SCM Electrix’s set at Lion Night last week.

photo by CHRISTINA COVINGTON I Staff Photographer

;MM 0-)4<0 XIOM )

INSIDE

Jacques.

“We want our students to graduate from UNA, and that’s the whole thing behind this,” Jacques said.

Students typically are not as focused when they live in off-campus housing options because they are not connected and engaged in the university, he said.

Jacques said the requirement would not only increase involvement, but it would help retention university-wide.

“The university is really focusing on

NEWS................2A IMAGES..............4A VIEWPOINTS.........7A

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

RYAN PAINE

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

The first-ever Lion Night was held Sept. 13 in downtown Florence. Lion Night—a joint venture between SGA, UNA Athletics, the Division of Student Affairs and Florence Main Street—was created with the expressed purpose of starting a new tradition: a specific night for UNA students to enjoy and explore the downtown area, said SGA president Will Riley.

Riley said Lion Night was “definitely a success.”

“We don’t have the exact headcount, but I would say there were several hundred UNA students - as well as people from the community – there,” he said.

Lion Night was born out of an idea of Riley’s to create a “college night” for UNA students in the downtown area. When he mentioned it to Teryl Shields, executive director of Florence Main Street, she immediately voiced support for the idea.

;MM ->-6< XIOM )

IMAGES FROM UNA VS. KENTUCKY CHRISTIAN 4A

2A NEWS

News Briefs

Sept. 20, 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ The Flor-Ala

CAMPUS

FLEAS

Student Wellness Council to recruit in GUC Sept. 25 - 26

ON CAMPUS

The UNA Student Wellness Council will be recruiting new members in the GUC from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 25 and 26.

The group will be handing out fliers and taking names and emails of students interested in joining the group.

The Student Wellness Council is a student-led wellness initiative that promotes student health on campus.

The group previously operated under the name K4L but is officially changing its name in its first meeting this year in early October. Student Wellness Council is a temporary name for the organization until members decide the official name at the first meeting.

Geography department to host 8th Annual Conference The UNA Geography Alumni Association is hosting its 8th Annual Conference Sept. 27 and 28. The conference will feature several workshops, lectures and events, including keynote speaker Juan Valdez.

Valdez is the geographer and National Geographic mapsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; director of editorial and research.

Conference organizers are searching for papers and nominations for the geographer of the year award for the conference.

The recipient of the award will be honored during the conference. For more information, email contact@unagaa.org.

Leo III,Una ranked No. 1 live college mascots Leo III and Una got more attention than normal last week when TotalProSports.com ranked them No. 1 in the 25 Best Real Mascots in College Football.

Of the 25 schools recognized on the list, UNA is the only school that is not Division I. But UNAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lions have been recognized before: Leo II was designated as the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second best mascot by Sports Illustrated.

The 9-year-old sibling lionsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;who live on campus in the George H. Carroll lion habitatâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;represent a nearly 40-year history of UNA having the lion as its mascot. They are also the only live lion mascots in the country housed on a university campus.

HAVE AN EVENT?

News Briefs are compiled by News Editor Alex Lindley. Email alindley@una.edu or tweet @TheFlorAlex to have your event featured in this section.

photo by CHRISTINA COVINGTON I Staff Photographer

Despite administrative efforts to exterminate fleas spotted in the math building, Room 4 still remains closed due to lingering flea problems. Officials said they hired exterminators quickly after the infestation was discovered.

Class cancelled, moved due to flea infestation KALI DANIEL

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

Recently, rumors have been circulating among math students that the math building has been a little more crowded than usualâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;with fleas.

Megan Kingsley, UNA junior, said she walked to her math class the week before Labor Day in a state of bliss. After waiting outside her classroom five minutes, she texted a friend. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She told me that 10 minutes before class, the teacher told everyone class was cancelled because the room was infested with fleas,â&#x20AC;? Kingsley said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was angered that there was no note on the door, and I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like the idea of possibly catching Lyme disease, but at the same time I was happy that class was cancelled. Class met the next day in the same room.â&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;?A

GAIN, ITĘźS A MATTER

OF A LACK OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE PEOPLE DIRECTLY AFFECTED.

KATIE GOLDSMITH Kingsley said she was shocked that there was no method of communicating with the mass of students attending math classes and â&#x20AC;&#x153;expected the school to send out a LionAlert, email or note on the door at the very least.â&#x20AC;?

Like Kingsley, sophomore Katie Goldsmith went to class only to discover

it had been moved to Bibb Graves. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It would have been good to be informed by the administration rather than through word-of-mouth, but I do understand why they want to keep that kind of stuff secret,â&#x20AC;? Goldsmith said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s similar to a lice outbreakâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want that information being spread around, but if the population could be affected by it, you need to let them know.â&#x20AC;?

Goldsmith said the second floor of Lafayette Hall had recently encountered an abundance of fleas and could only assume they came from the math building. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even know about fleas being in our building until my roommate told me they sprayed in our room and we had to wear shoes in our own roomâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;again, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a matter of a lack of communication with the people directly affected,â&#x20AC;? Goldsmith said.

;MM .4-); XIOM )

POLITICS

Politicians overlook young voters MATT WILSON

;\INN ?ZQ\MZ UL_QT[WV (]VI ML]

According to a recent Gallup poll, only 56 percent of voters between the ages 18 and 29 said they definitely will vote in the upcoming national elections.

The poll also shows that only 60 percent of this voting group is registered to vote. Older age groups have higher percentages of registered voters and those that said they will definitely vote in the upcoming elections.

Christopher Maynard, professor of political science at UNA, said that, his-

torically, the younger voters do not actually vote and are often overlooked by major political parties. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Because they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t vote in large numbers, neither major political party really reaches out to the young voters,â&#x20AC;?

Maynard said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They focus on the issues and the voting groups that will get them re-elected.â&#x20AC;?

In the 2008 election, the 18- to 29-year-old voting bloc supported Barack Obama 2-1 over John McCain, but those voters might not show up to the polls this time, according to the Gallup poll. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the 2008 election things were dif-

ferent,â&#x20AC;? Maynard said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At the time candidate Obama was younger than recent candidates. He also popularized himself by talking about sports and pop culture.

These things made him more attractive to young voters.â&#x20AC;?

Maynard said the spike in voting among younger voters in the 2008 election is not being seen this time, based on the Gallup polls. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If younger voters showed up consistently to the polls and made themselves a known voting bloc that politicians could count on, then politicians would start ad-

;MM >7<- XIOM )

NEWS 3A

Sept. 20, 2012 • The Flor-Ala

FINANCE

Listerhill, UNA form financial literacy center

photo by JOSH SKAGGS I Executive Editor

The Hill employee Amanda Bliss helps students set up accounts and provides access to Listerhill’s financial resources.

BRITTANY BUCKNER ;\]LMV\ ?ZQ\MZ JJ]KSVMZ(]VI ML]

Listerhill and UNA are partnering up to form the Center for Financial Literacy. This partnership will assist students in understanding financial issues such as budgeting, student loans, and checking and savings accounts.

The Center for Financial Literacy will be offering free student checking and savings accounts, free debit cards, online banking, mobile banking, and the “oops” refund feature that will refund overdraft fees for up to five times in a year.

“The primary goal is to educate students when it comes to personal budgeting, spending wisely, borrowing responsibly, and learning to establish credit while encouraging them to save for the future,” said Heather Brown, director of the Center for Financial Literacy.

The center will be located in the upcoming Academic Commons Building, Brown said. Upon visiting the center, a student can expect help with transacting business, withdrawing and depositing money and practical financial advice.

The center will help students with any questions or concerns about balancing their checkbooks, using online and mobile banking services, filling out student loan applications and managing any student loans, Brown said.

The center will teach students how to create and stick to a budget, how to manage their money and spend it wisely, how to make their own financial de-

cisions and how to save for the future, she said.

Brown said that, usually, high school curriculums skip over personal money management skills, leaving college students unprepared to keep up with their spending and confused by complicated loan application processes.

The main focus of the Center for Financial Literacy is to prepare students with a financial knowledge to be successful, she said.

Many students receive large lump sums of money in refund checks from the university and might have trouble managing the money, Brown said.

“The concentration of this partnership is to help students learn to make a budget now and how to be wise (with their money) in the future,” she said.

The average college student graduates from a four-year university with a student loan debt ranging from $11,000 to $32,000, according to studies by The College Board Advocacy and Policy Center.

“We want to help students learn to manage that debt and not incur more,” Brown said.

Students who take advantage of these opportunities for assistance with money management and budgeting will benefit from the services offered, she said.

Brown said the center will also provide several job opportunities for students; officials are working closely with Career Planning and Development through LionJobs to employ full-time UNA students.

.4-); KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) Math Department Chair Cynthia Stenger described the removal of the math building fleas, contrary to campus rumors.

“We were moving desks in the rooms when we found fleas in Rooms 4 and 6, after which we promptly sent out emails to the teachers with attached fliers to put on the doors as to their class relocations,” Stenger said. “We called the exterminator that day and had the

rooms shut and locked for at least 24 hours before any students were allowed back in.”

While Room 4 is still currently closed to students due to remaining flea problems, Kingsley said this issue is not about school hygiene or the fleas themselves, rather an administrative shortcoming regarding the welfare of the students.

STUDENT SUCCESS

Res Life fights to keep students in school KATIE LINDSAY

;\]LMV\ ?ZQ\MZ STQVL[Ia(]VI ML]

While retention rates vary from school to school, numbers have jumped slightly within the past several years from 67.0 percent in 2003 to 70.9 percent in 2010, according to UNA’s website.

UNA’s reports record freshman classes having between 900 to 1,000 students or more. These reports, however, also cite that these numbers typically drop by about 200 to 300 students between freshman and sophomore years.

Assistant Director for Success Initiatives Jennifer Ballard had much to say about these retention rates.

“The first six weeks (of the freshman year) are the most critical,” Ballard said.

Residence Life’s goal is to build a foundation from which students can grow and succeed at UNA. Residence Life is doing more to keep students informed and involved through things such as Play Fair, Pride Week and the FOCUS community located in Rivers Hall, Ballard said.

Play Fair was an event for freshmen their first night on campus to help get everyone acquainted with each other. Pride Week was filled with events for everyone, starting with ice cream socials and ending with Foamapalooza, a dance party backgrounded with foam.

Both of these events took place the first week that freshmen were on campus.

Ballard said she feels that each event was very successful in involving the students and helping them to inform them on all of the different organizations on campus.

Though Residence Life is striving to enhance the first-year experience, numbers still drop between freshmen and sophomore years, Ballard said.

Ballard said she believes this is because many students do not often understand the demands of college work, or they come to UNA to knock out their core classes before transferring to other schools to pursue professional programs, such as medical, nursing or law school.

According to UNA’s website, the latter reason seems to be the most common. Most students tend to transfer from UNA rather than just drop out of college altogether.

For those students who do not fully realize the demands of college academics, Residence Life has devised the FOCUS community in Rivers Hall. This program includes many perks such as study sessions and access to the writing center on Mondays and Thursdays.

“The number one way to ensure your stay is to make a connection and stay involved,” Ballard said.

Whether that be through Greek life, academics, or RSOs, it is imperative to find a niche within the college community, Ballard said.

All of these statistics can be found on the university website, www.una.edu.

4A IMAGES

Sept. 20, 2012 • The Flor-Ala

PLAYINʼ THE GAME

photos by CHRISTINA COVINGTON & MICHAEL REDDING I Student Media Photographers

->-6< KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) “Downtown adds to what UNA has to offer,” Shields said. “There’s a lot down here for students - they just have to explore.”

The night featured musical performances by Madeleine Frankford, SCM Electrix and the Gnarley Charlies and, additionally, provided students with an opportunity to take advantage of discounts and extended business hours offered by downtown restaurants, clothing stores and boutiques exclusively for the event.

“I really love the music, it’s really awesome, but there could definitely be more people here.” said sophomore Jodi Kimbrough.

Kimbrough’s sentiment was not an uncommon one. Many attendees seemed to think the event’s attendance was sparse.

Junior Lindsey Hamlin said students could have been staying in, preparing for bed and Friday morning classes.

“I expected there to be a ton of people here, but there were only a few,” she said.

Riley said the event was, perhaps, “under-promoted,” but maintains the SGA did an “excellent” job, when taking into account the short amount of time they had to publicize it.

To market the event, Riley and the SGA produced a YouTube video, created a Facebook group, sent out a campuswide email, and painted a mural on the exterior of the GUC. News of the event did not reach everyone, though.

“I didn’t hear about (Lion Night) until today, actually,” said sophomore Tara Phillips.

Both she and Hamlin urged organizers to advertise more aggressively in the future and said they believe the event will attract more people in time.

Regardless, Riley said most feedback directed to SGA has been positive and said he “absolutely” intended to push photo by CHRISTINA COVINGTON I Staff Photographer for another Lion Night in the near future, Students listen to SCM Electrix, a band made up of three UNA students. Sparse hoping to schedule one as soon as April crowds are not going to keep Lion Night organizers from planning more down2013. town-oriented student events, officials said.

FEATURE 5A

Sept. 20, 2012 • The Flor-Ala

Live-on requirement details in works

presidential candidate Aug. 24 to allow him to address the UNA community about his plans for the advancement division if chosen. He said he wants to promote the university’s mission and bring meaning to that mission for alumni and donors.

“If we’re lucky, alumni will remember for a lifetime their love and loyalty to this institution,” he said. “Advancement works only as a derived function of the educational mission of the university.”

41>- 76 KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) Schools across the state and in the Ohio Valley Conference, the Division I conference UNA is looking at joining, have live-on requirements, Jacques said.

UNA President Bill Cale said in a release that statistics show students that live on campus perform better academically and have a more successful college experience.

“The freshman year is the most important year of college,” said David Shields, UNA vice president for student affairs in a release. “It’s a major transition in a student’s life, and it’s a difficult transition for many students.

“That’s why we’ve applied the new freshman programs and initiatives that we have, and it’s why we’re developing a live-on requirement for freshmen. We’re here to help these students become a real part of this campus community, because when they do, their college experience will be a greater success. And that, in turn, will set them on a better course for life.”

The potential of the residence halls becoming over crowded is an issue officials are already working on, Jacques said.

A group of university officials is scouting locations for potential residence halls to be located on and the possibility of repurposing land around campus for new halls. Jacques said the officials are working on exclusions to the requirement based on marital status, whether or not a student has children or their homes’ proximity to campus.

“We would be able to accommodate them (for the fall of 2014) … we know that there would be a percentage that would be excluded (because of param-

”

I WANT TO FIRST GET TO KNOW THE STAFF, CONFER WITH PRESIDENT CALE AND GET TO KNOW WHAT THE OBJECTIVES WILL BE.

DANIEL HENDRICKS photo by KAYLA SLOAN I Chief Photographer

Rivers Hall is the home of a freshman success center that is for the freshman students living in the hall. The center offers students academic help and counseling.

eters not yet put in place),” he said.

Students like freshman Entertainment Industry major Brett Burcham said although he is successful by living on campus, forcing students to do so is counterproductive. Burcham said that despite the convenience of living on campus, there are still some downsides.

“Stuff that a lot of kids don’t like, like community bathrooms and small living space and having a roommate… the fact that they are requiring students to do that is unfair,” he said.

Burcham said students should have the opportunity to live wherever they want, and that is one of the reasons he chose to come to UNA. “I think that’s a great option to have, to be able to live off campus or on,” he said.

ALABAMA SCHOOLS WITH LIVE-ON REQUIREMENTS UNIV. OF ALABAMA ALABAMA A&M JACKSONVILLE STATE UNIV. TROY UNIVERSITY TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA HUNTSVILLE • UNIVERSITY OF MONTEVALLO • UNIVERSITY OF WEST ALABAMA

• • • • • •

*SOURCE DEPARTMENT RESIDENCE LIFE

WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK! TWEET US YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE NEW REQUIREMENT. 0-)4<0 KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) Thornell said the university is not currently showing particular interest in any one specific property, but Chinese businessman and partner Zhiting Zhang will be here in November and will hopefully finalize plans at that time.

“We presume that at that time, Chairman Zhang will either buy land or make an offer of some sort,” Thornell said.

While the program will begin during fall 2013, any physical structures associated with the program will not be in place until fall 2014, Thornell said.

“After the land is purchased, we will secure an architect for the 2013 and 2014 school year,” Thornell said. “We’ll then try to have buildings, such as the residence halls and instructional facility, constructed by fall 2014.”

0-6,:1+3; KWV\QV ]ML NZWU XIOM )

The university will now proceed with a faculty search for someone qualified to teach graduate level courses within the concentration, said Tom Coates, chair of the health, physical education and recreation (HPER) department.

“The next step is going to be hiring a faculty member, hopefully by the end of the academic year,” Coates said. “If not, we’ll continue our search during the 2013 to 2014 academic year, with someone on board for fall 2014.”

The HPER department will also begin scheduling courses, as well as advertising the program and recruiting students, Coates said.

Integrative health, versus other health programs, seeks to explore the overall health of a person, including mental, physical and spiritual health, officials said.

“Integrative health seeks to find the best strategies to help someone be as

CHECK OUT BACK TALK,OUR BI-WEEKLY VIDEO FEATURE, AT WWW.FLORALA.NET.

completely healthy as possible,” Coates said.

The new concentration is special because it’s not offered in a traditional manner, officials said.

“The uniqueness of our program is that we’re not a medical school,” said Chunsheng Zhang, UNA vice provost for international affairs. “We’re not practicing medicine. It is a high quality, applied interactive program. The goal is to bring a global perspective to integrative health.”

The proposal for the concentration has been in the works for just over three years, Zhang said.

“It began in late fall 2009,” Zhang said. “The entire concentration presents a very unique opportunity to create a program based on existing programs.”

University officials have been working alongside Zhang and the Guizhou Shenqi Group, which researches and

Hendricks said he has several immediate goals to meet after he gets to campus.

“I want to first get to know the staff, confer carefully with President Cale and get to know what the objectives will be,” he said. “I’ll engage as many of the alumni and donors as possible and work closely with faculty and alumni to see where advancement needs to move.”

Hendricks, a DePauw University graduate and master’s degree holder from Duke University, said he and his wife, Barb, were impressed with the university, he said.

“We were impressed by the students, the charm of the area and the Shoals,” he said. “We were received so graciously at UNA and overwhelmed by the beauty of the university.”

Hendricks and his wife are moving from Saint John, Ind. He is currently transitioning out of his most recent position as vice chancellor for advancement at Purdue University at Calumet. produces herbal medicines, to establish the integrative health concentration for international students, Zhang said.

“In China, there is a need for integrative health,” Zhang said. “Better health begins with preventative choices.”

The majority of enrollment in the program will come from Chinese students, Thornell said.

“China is drastically underserved in the healthcare field,” Thornell said. “The rural communities have nothing, and the model we hope to develop includes educating students that can go back to China and serve those people.”

The program can also serve many domestic students, too, officials said.

“We’ve received a lot of questions and interest from the community about the program,” Coates said. “It’s going to be a good mix of international and domestic students.”

BACK TALK

6A NEWS CRACKING

Sept. 20. 2012 • The Flor-Ala

CLASS

DOWN ON

CHEATERS

photo illustration by CHRISTINA COVINGTON I Staff Photographer

According to a recent survey of 14,000 college students, two-thirds of students admit to cheating or academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty covers everything from copying answers from another student to intentional or even unintentional plagiarism, officials say.

Students caught cheating could face class failure, student conduct board BLYTHE STEELMAN 7VTQVM -LQ\WZ J[\MMTUIV(]VI ML]

Following the recent Harvard cheating scandal, a survey was conducted of over 14,000 undergraduates regarding cheating and academic dishonesty. The survey found that two-thirds of undergraduates admitted to cheating, according to an interview with National Public Radio.

Academic dishonesty covers two categories: cheating and plagiarism, according to the university code of conduct.

“The policies are across the board,” said Kim Greenway, director of student conduct. “But if you violate the policy, you violate the policy. It’s as simple as that.”

Greenway said the academic dishonesty policy has been revised and perked over the years, and the most recent adjustments were made within the last couple of years.

“It was really just clarified,” Greenway said. “We wanted to be sure to really cover cheating in any form, specifically plagiarism.”

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the use of paraphrasing or direct quotations of published or unpublished works of another individual without full and clear acknowledgement. Plagiarism also includes the unacknowledged use of materials produced by a different indi-

AT A GLANCE • TWO-THIRDS

OF UNDERGRADS

ADMIT TO CHEATING, ACCORDING TO RECENT SURVEY

vidual or agency involved in the selling of term papers or other academic materials, according to the university code of conduct.

Jim Riser, professor of English, advocated heavily for the English department to adopt a plagiarism policy and awareness form all students must sign before beginning coursework in English courses.

“We were beginning to see a lot of problems with intentional and unintentional plagiarism,” Riser said. “We wanted and needed to bring that under control.”

The English department has utilized the form for approximately four years, Riser said.

“Personally, I’ve seen fewer instances of plagiarism since we adopted the form,” Riser said. “It tells students that we take it seriously in our department.”

The distance learning program also requires students to follow the academic honesty policy of the university, according to the distance learning website.

Students enrolled in distance learning courses and testing on campus will uti-

lize the Remote Proctor Now software, according to the distance learning website. RPNow requires students to show via webcam a photo ID to confirm identity, as well as the room they are in, as to prove that cheating is not taking place.

The number of academic dishonesty cases reported is different each semester, Greenway said.

“The numbers fluctuate,” she said. “I don’t doubt that we meet the statistics, but it’s not a huge number.”

”, B

could decide on a different plan of action.

“Formally, the student would go in front of a university student conduct board, consisting of one staff member, one academic instructor, and three students.”

Greenway said consequences can vary.

“Sanctions range from required educational programs to suspension for varied amounts of time,” she said. “We handle it very seriously. Part of it is that academic dishonesty affects the integrity of the institution.”

UT IF YOU VIOLATE THE

POLICY YOU VIOLATE THE POLICY.

ITʼS AS SIMPLE AS THAT.

KIM GREENWAY Greenway said the conduct process for students found in violation of the academic dishonesty policy could be either informal or formal.

“There are a couple of different ways to handle academic dishonesty,” Greenway said. “Informally, a student would meet with the course instructor, and the instructor could choose to fail them for the assignment or the course, or they

IF YOU BELIEVE THAT There is only one God Religion comes from God Humanity is one family Women and men are equal in the sight of God Prejudice is destructive and must be overcome Science and religion must be in harmony THEN YOU MIGHT WANT TO INVESTIGATE THE BAHA’I FAITH Shoals Baha’is 2037 Huntsville Rd.

OPINION 7A

Sept. 20, 2012 • The Flor-Ala

Lions stand chance against DSU STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA

THE

JOSH SKAGGS EXECUTIVE EDITOR ALEX LINDLEY MANAGING/NEWS EDITOR ANN HARKEY LIFE EDITOR MALISA MCCLURE SPORTS EDITOR JARED MCCOY COPY/OPINION EDITOR BLYTHE STEELMAN ONLINE EDITOR LAURA IVIE BUSINESS MANAGER MATTHEW WILSON CIRCULATION MANAGER KAYLA SLOAN CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER CHRISTINA COVINGTON MICHAEL REDDING CHRISTI BRITTEN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS REBECCA WALKER ADVISER

Letters Policy The Flor-Ala welcomes and encourages Letters to the Editor.

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

• Letters must not exceed 400 words.

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

• 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.

• Phone: 256-765-4364 Advertising: 256-765-4427 Copyright © 2012 The Flor-Ala All rights reserved.

First copy free.

Additional copies $1 each.

MALISA MCCLURE

;XWZ\[ -LQ\WZ U[UKKT]ZM(]VI ML]

With this weekend’s big rivalry game at Delta State coming up, I’ve been hearing a lot of doubt coming from some UNA students and fans.

Of course, I can understand this lack of belief coming from some. With our passing game still lacking, and only one impressive overall game from the Lions’ defense, it seems our team may be shaping up to be the Tony Romo of Division II football – inconsistent from one game to the next.

From what we’ve seen in the first three games, the Lions (like Romo) have gone from good enough for a one-point win in game one, to shutting down and getting whipped in game two, to a refreshingly aggressive defensive and overall satisfactory showing to win game three.

After spending some time pouring over both teams’ seasons thus far, I have one thing to say to all the non-believers (and believers) of 2012 Lion football: If you aren’t planning on going to this weekend’s DSU game, you should – you should at least follow it on Twitter if travelling is not possible. I am

hoping I do not end up eating my next words, but I think this game has the potential to be a good contest between two fairly evenly matched teams.

Judging by the teams’ stats, the Lions and the Statesmen are not so different from each other: both teams are struggling in third-down conversions (DSU 43 percent, UNA 42 percent), and the teams are almost even in touchdowns scored (UNA 8, DSU 7). Meanwhile the teams have lost almost the same amount of yardage to penalties (DSU had had 19 penalties for a loss of 138 yds, UNA 18 for 150).

Additionally, both teams are under the leadership of a new coach, lost a good deal of senior players from last season and have a new face at starting quarterback.

UNA has completed more offensive yards than DSU, having 1,119 on the season while the Statesmen have 803. UNA’s total offense comes mostly from rushing (830 yds), while DSU’s are evenly split with 397 rushing yards and 406 passing.

UNA has racked up more first downs than DSU as well, with 64 as opposed to the Statesmen’s 43. However, DSU is performing better in the red zone, completing 67 percent of touchdown attempts in the red, while UNA is completing only 45 percent of such attempts.

While the Lions have made six interceptions for 130 yards, the Statesmen have only made two for 41 yards. However, UNA has lost five of eight fumbles, where DSU has lost

only one of three.

One of the biggest threats the Statesmen pose to the Lions, in my opinion, is their ability to sack the quarterback.

DSU has recorded four sacks against its first two opponents, taking 25 yards from them. In the Lions’ second game against Harding, Chris Alexander was sacked four times for a loss of 26 yards total.

Another issue worth pointing out is that the majority of the Lions’ impressive stats come from last week’s game against Kentucky Christian University. The Lions played quite well in that game, and as a Lions fan I can only hope to see them continue to step up their game in the coming weeks.

If, however, the Lions revert back to the play they showed against Harding, this season is going to be a rocky one. Of course, the team is young and - as Coach Wallace has said himself - needs time to grow and to learn.

So, I am not saying we are going to show up in Cleveland and kick some Statesmen tail, and I certainly do not expect the team to be perfect – but I think we can at least give Delta State a run for its money, if not a second loss on their currently 1-1 season.

With that said – fans, I hope you’ll show support for your Lions in whatever way you can Saturday. Players and coaches, I hope you guys will show up with your A-game and show us what Lion football has to offer this season.

Follow dreams, whatever they may be

ANN HARKEY

4QNM -LQ\WZ IPIZSMa(]VI ML]

I am going to start this off by saying I love writing.

Writing is the way I express my mind, heart, soul, pancreas.

You name it - writing expresses it. With my degree in journalism and my experience with the paper, I hope to make a nice career for myself writing.

However, I am a woman of many dreams. I have decided to dedicate one year of my life after I graduate in May to fulfilling a dream many people have, few people pursue and even fewer people succeed in: I’m going to Hollywood.

Let’s start this story off

right. Ever since I was a young teen, I have loved anime and cartoons. Anyone who knows me well enough has seen the wall scrolls of my favorite shows plastered all over my bedroom or peeked at my Facebook albums to see me grinning with my favorite voice actors. I said it. I am going to California to pursue a career in voice acting for animation.

Why did I choose to take this big (probably stupid) leap?

It all clicked this summer.

Neon Genesis Evangelion was the anime that brought my attention to voice acting. The lead female character, Asuka, was loud, fearless and amazing.

I wanted to be her.

Obviously, I can’t be an animated character (that I am aware of), so I settled on the next best thing: becoming an animated character’s voice.

Her English voice actor, Tiffany Grant, became my obsession. I even emailed her to get tips on how to make it in the business.

I finally met her over the summer and squealed like a fangirl when she signed my DVDs. My mind was made up.

I had to throw away my doubts and fears.

The thing about this business is raw talent is a must.

Period. Training is always encouraged but the general consensus of all that I have researched is that you have to be brave enough to jump right into it.

I have the raw talent. I may not be a songbird, but I do practice every chance I get to hone in all the voices I can do (my poor fellow editors are sick of me at this point).

The reason I am writing this to you, my lovely readers, is that I am encouraging you to be fearless.

Those impossible dreams all locked in your head? Let them out.

Follow them all the way to the end. Let us not become the next generation of regret.

SHOUTOUT!

Congrats to Kali Daniel for being named Writer of the Week for The Flor-Ala.

PAWS UP, PAWS DOWN

Calling it like we see it In a recent study by the Trust for America’s Health and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Alabama ranked fourth in obesity and diabetes, fifth in physical inactivity and first in hypertension.

After losing to the University of West Florida Sept. 16, the UNA women’s soccer team dropped one rank from No. 21 to No. 22 in the NCAA Division II poll.

U N A’ s overall enrollment numbers are down this year despite freshman enrollment numbers having gone up.

L i o n s Kicker Michael Schuster and Defensive Back Jalen Reedus earned Gulf South Conference Player of the Week honors for their perfomances in the Sept. 15 game against Kentucky Christian University. The 39-0 game was the Lions’ first shutout since 2009.

WANT TO FOLLOW OUR STAFF ON TWITTER? Follow these accounts to stay up to date on what is going on around campus:

@joshskaggs @TheFlorAlex @msm_florala @jmccoy90 @annharkey1 @bksteelman

8A NEWS

Sept. 20, 2012 • The Flor-Ala

DEGREES

College more important than ever, study says

file photo by Malisa McClure I Sports Editor

UNA students prepare to graduate and receive their degrees. A recent study conducted by Georgetown University shows that these students will be much more likely than ever to get jobs than applicants with only high school diplomas.

JARED MCCOY

+WXa 7XQVQWV -LQ\WZ RUKKWa(]VI ML]

A recent study by Georgetown University shows the number of jobs requiring a bachelor’s degree has increased by 2.2 million, while jobs requiring only a high school diploma have decreased by 200,000.

“The high school diploma by itself is rapidly becoming a credential that gives you little entrance into the job world,” said Thomas Calhoun, UNA vice president of academic affairs. “It is increasingly important that some post-secondary work be pursued and achieved.”

Students recognize the importance of college when it comes to getting jobs.

“I think having a degree will show

that you can stick with something for so many years and it gives you experience with people, more knowledge of the field you are working toward, shows initiative and usually increases pay,“ said Katelyn Johnson, a UNA junior.

Job competition creates a need for applicants to stand out to employers, and degrees alone don’t always translate into jobs, Calhoun said.

He said students shouldn’t adhere only to their majors in the job search.

“My first job with a college degree was in a saw shop, building prefabricated houses and cutting sheetrock for $1.80 an hour,” Calhoun said. “That’s not what I went to college for.”

Vagn Hansen, dean of the UNA College of Arts and Sciences, said he encourages students not to be picky.

“I think it’s sad when people don’t seek out jobs they think are beneath them,” he said.

Calhoun said he suggests using time in a guaranteed job to find areas where college-acquired skills are useful.

Samantha Fotovich, a junior elementary education major, said it is more imprtant to gain skills than knowledge.

“We are not just sitting in a lecture hall taking notes all day,” she said. “We are required to spend over 200 hours in the elementary school classroom—both observing and teaching—prior to graduation.”

Hansen said college students should look ahead and become aware of opening job markets.

“I think it’s very wise for students to work with Career Planning and Develop-

ATMs on Campus Student Rec. Guillot Center Center

ment to understand what occupational fields will be expanding,” Hansen said.

Hansen said a creative approach is the best solution for job seekers.

“Very often you need to try to get noticed in some positive ways,” Hansen said. “Creative people find ways to get themselves positively noticed.”

>7<- KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) dressing more of the issues that they are concerned about,” Maynard said.

UNA freshman Paige Drouillard said she does not plan on voting because she does not follow many of the issues or the candidates.

“I don’t think I’ll vote because I don’t really know much about the candidates or the issues,” said Drouillard. “I think if I did know more about the issues, that would make me more likely to vote.”

UNA senior Matt Bruce said it is a little bit different for him.

“I keep up with most of the major issues and where the candidates stand, but I feel a real disconnect with Washington (D.C.) and most of the politicians,” Bruce said. “I have no idea what it’s like to be them, and they have no idea what my life is like either.”

Maynard said getting younger candidates elected would help with younger voters being more engaged and their issues being addressed.

“If you keep electing people that don’t share your own values, then you can’t expect them to make decisions that you always agree with,” Maynard said.

Branch Locations 2975 Hough Rd. 320 S. Pine St. 314.4370 766.7005

SPORTS Follow us on

SECTION B

FOOTBALL

Twitter!

@FlorAlaSports

Sept. 20, 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ The Flor-Ala â&#x20AC;˘ Sports Editor: Malisa McClure 256-765-5098

UNA 39, KCU 0

IN THIS SECTION See page 3B

UNA VolleyballĘźs Jessica Ronyak leads the Lions this season

See page 4B

photo by COURTNEY JONES I Student Photographer

Eddrick Harris (#40) and fellow players Floyd Jones (#16) and Stephen Evans (#73) run onto the field before the Sept. 15 game against Kentucky Christian University. The Lions won 39-0, recording UNAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first shutout since 2009.

Schuster ties GSC record, Lions shut out KCU JAMES DUBUISSON ;\]LMV\ ?ZQ\MZ RL]J]Q[[WV(]VI ML]

Students enjoy skateboarding on campus See page 2B

The Lions were clicking on all cylinders Sept. 15 as they shut out Kentucky Christian 39-0 in their first home win of the season. UNA will try to carry the momentum gained in this game into conference play when it plays Gulf South Conference foe Delta State. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just talked about Delta State in (the locker room) and you can tell it is kinda like, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;the real season is here,â&#x20AC;? said Head

Coach Bobby Wallace.

The Lions will travel to Cleveland, Miss. Sept. 22 to face Delta State. The Statesmen, who have an overall record of 1-1, have recorded 803 yards of total offense this season, compared to the Lionsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 1,119. Both teams are struggling in third-down conversions; however, the Statesmen are performing better in the red zone, scoring touchdowns 67 percent of the time, while the Lions have scored touchdowns only 45 percent in the red zone.

Both teams are under the

leadership of a new coach and new starting quarterback.

In the Sept. 15 game, two Lions made exceptional performances and were honored with GSC Player of the Week honors. Kicker Michael Schuster tied UNA and GSC records after making five field goals out of six attempts; he was named GSC Special Teams Player of the week. Defensive back Rod Woodson was named GSC Defensive Player of the Week.

The Lions defense Sept. 15 was led by Woodson, who had an

interception, a forced fumble and five tackles.

True freshman Jalen Reedus was also impressive in his collegiate debut as he forced three of UNAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s five takeaways. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just want to go out here and help my team the best way I can,â&#x20AC;?

Reedus said.

After giving up 81 points and an average of 462 yards in their first two games of the season, the Lions shut down the Knight offense, only allowing 181 yards

;MM .77<*)44 XIOM *

SOCCER

Soccer takes first loss from West Florida MATT WILSON

;\INN ?ZQ\MZ UL_QT[WV (]VI ML]

Intramural program led by students this year Online Keep up with the LionsĘź weekend games online at www.ďŹ&#x201A;orala.net.

UNA wrapped up a weekend of home games with a win against West Alabama Sept. 14 night and a loss to West Florida Sept. 16.

The Sept. 15 game saw the Lions take care of West Alabama easily behind two goals from Chloe Richards and Chloe Robertsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 84th career goal. Ellis Hillman added a goal and an assist on the night as well, leading UNA to defeat West Alabama 4-0.

Sept. 16â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s game matched the Lions, ranked 21st nationally, against West Florida, ranked seventh.

The Lions jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute thanks to a goal from Nikki Brown. Rob-

erts whipped in a corner kick that found Jennifer Osmond in the box. Osmond flicked a header toward the back post where Brown was waiting to knock it in.

â&#x20AC;?

If we take care of this upcoming weekend, we still set ourselves up for a good position in conference.

NIKKI BROWN West Florida pulled level just before halftime when a high lob into UNAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s box caused problems for the Lionsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; defense before being headed in by West Floridaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Shelby Bush. Bush ended the day with a hat trick for the Argonauts.

photo by ALLI OWNBY I Student Photographer

UWFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Daniela Cruz sends the ball up the field Sept. 16 with UNAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chloe Roberts right behind her.

;MM ;7++-: XIOM *

2B SPORTS

Sept. 20, 2012 • The Flor-Ala

INTRAMURALS

Students take charge of intramural program this year BREKEN TERRY ;\]LMV\ ?ZQ\MZ J\\MZZa(]VI ML]

With intramural sports sign-ups beginning soon, UNA students can expect some changes to the program this year.

Students are going to have bigger roles in the organization and running of intramural sports.

Intramurals will essentially be put in the students’ hands to meet the students’ needs. Dexter Shorter, formerly in charge of intramural sports, is no longer employed by the UNA Student Recreation Center.

“Dexter Shorter accepted a position at Ohio State University as a coordinator of intramural sports,” said Jim Eubanks, the director of recreational sports and fitness at UNA. “Intramural sports will be managed and operated by a group of students pursuing Collegiate Recreation as a major or career.”

Eubanks said Shorter’s position may be filled later, but for now intramural sporting events and organization will be operated by students. Eubanks will also be helping fill Shorter’s position until the students get in the swing of things.

Although the person over intramural sports is changing, the sporting events are not.

“Flag football and volleyball will be the main activities,” Eubanks said. “The activity offerings will be established by Sept.18 and then published thereafter.”

So far, no intramural sporting events

file photo by MALISA MCCLURE I Sports Editor

Students participate in an intramural volleyball match in October 2011. This year, students will have a more active role in organizing intramurals.

have happened because of all the different activities on campus, Eubanks said.

After Greek recruitment takes place, teams will be divided and schedules will be made. Any student may start a team or join an existing team, if they have enough members.

UNA Fitness Coordinator Glenda Richey said a rough estimate of about 175 students participate in intramurals

This week on Twitter

Take our poll of the week!

Will the @Roarlionsvb_UNA (UNA Volleyball) team be able to pull it together at home this week and improve its record?

Tweet @FlorAlaSports using the hashtag #FAvballPoll with your answer and you could win a free Flor-Ala T-shirt!

Ladies - what are you wearing to the Sept. 29 @UNAfootball homecoming game?

Tweet @FlorAlaSports with your style ideas!

each year, forming about 80 teams in all.

Eubanks said he hopes to provide students with individual and dual sporting activities in intramurals this year. Any student interested in signing up for intramural team sports can find all the information they need at the SRC or on their UNAPortal account. There is also a rulebook for intramurals located on UNA’s website.

The intramural program is just one of many serivces the SRC provides to help students stay healthy. The promotion of healthy lifestyles is the center’s main goal, according to its mission statement.

The SRC is open for students daily.

It offers basketball and volleyball courts, various exercise classes, and a World of Wings Cafe & Wingery.

SPORTS 3B

Sept. 20, 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ The Flor-Ala

VOLLEYBALL

Leading hitter Radecki: Ronyak leads vocally, by example AUBREE WHITE

;\]LMV\ ?ZQ\MZ I_PQ\M (]VI ML]

Jessica Ann Ronyak, a junior psychology major, is a 5â&#x20AC;&#x2122;10â&#x20AC;? offensive hitter for UNA volleyball who finished last season with a total of 244 kills and 256 digs.

Ronyak, who is this seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team captain for the Lions, already has 45 kills and 51 digs on the 2012 season.

She is the daughter of David and Stephanie Ronyak. She was born Sept.

23, 1990. Ronyak has two brothers, Jason and Jerrod. The family is from Burton, Ohio.

Ronyak said she enjoys hanging out with her team. She said this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team has great chemistry and that the players are much like a family. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always loved volleyball because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a team sport,â&#x20AC;? Ronyak said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every point scored is a team effort.â&#x20AC;?

Ronyak also played offensive hitter throughout high school at Berkshire High School in Ohio. She was a four-time allconference selection and was awarded Chagrin Valley Conference MVP her junior and senior years (07-08). Ronyak was also selected as a second team AllState her senior year.

Head coach Stephanie Radecki complimented Ronyakâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s character. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an extremely tough kid; she always works really hard,â&#x20AC;? Radecki said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She is an excellent leader â&#x20AC;&#x201D; not just vocally but also by example. She is always encouraging the team, no matter what.â&#x20AC;?

Ronyak played her 2010 season at NCAA Division I Kent State. There, she had 24 kills, 11 assists, eight service aces, 78 digs and 18 total blocks.

The UNA volleyball team has struggled as a whole this season, posting a record of 1-6 as of Sept. 17. Ronyak said that even though the team is inexperienced right now, they are working out the kinks. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have some great hitters this year â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Priscilla (Massengale) and Cara (Gregg) are really talented,â&#x20AC;? she said.

Ronyak also said she believes the Lions have a strong defense this year.

Radecki said her biggest goal for the girls right now is for them to improve.

She said she feels this is a good area of strength for Ronyak. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jess was quickly known as a leader

This weekĘźs UNA scores, stats and other tidbits FOOTBALL (2-1) UNA - 39 KCU - 0 The Lions recorded their first shutout since 2009 against Kentucky Christian University at Braly Stadium Sept. 15. Kicker Michael Schuster tied school and Gulf South Conference records, scoring five field goals out of six attempted. Defensive Back Rod Woodson recorded five tackles, an interception, a forced fumble, tipped pass and a blocked punt. Both Schuster and Woodson earned GSC Player of the Week honors. The Lions play their first GSC game of the season against rival Delta State in Cleveland, Miss., Sept. 22.

SOCCER (4-1, 1-1) UWF- 4 UNA- 1 After defeating the University of West Alabama Sept. 14 at home, the Lions lost their first game of the season to GSC rival University of West Florida Sept. 16. The Lions play at Valdosta State Sept. 21 and the University of West Georgia Sept. 23.

VOLLEYBALL (1-7)

photo by CHRISTINA COVINGTON I Staff Photographer

Junior offensive hitter Jessica Ronyak is this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team captain for the Lions volleyball team. Head Coach Stephanie Radecki said Ronyak leads her team both by example and by being very vocal on the court.

and captain,â&#x20AC;? Radecki said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the first kid Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve ever named captain within two weeks. I expect a lot from my captains.â&#x20AC;?

Radecki said Ronyak is great with go-

ing between the team.

Ronyak said she feels confident in her serve as well as her ability to make quick sets. Last season, she was selected for the second-team All-Gulf South Conference.

;7++-: KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM * Head Coach Graham Winkworth said giving up the goal just before halftime changed things for his team. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Allowing them to equalize before half changed our mindset, our body language,â&#x20AC;? Winkworth said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We were confident and in control up until that point.â&#x20AC;?

The second half saw sweeping changes in momentum in both directions. West Florida picked up where they left off in the first half and created scoring chances early and often in the second half. Bush scored the second of her three goals on a cross five minutes after the restart.

It seemed as though UNA had been eclipsed by the momentum until around the hour mark when Roberts was brought down inside the West Florida box and awarded a penalty kick. UNA trailed 2-1 at the time and could have gone level with

KeepinĘź up with the Lions

a goal, but the West Florida goalkeeper came up with a big save on Robertsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; penalty kick and Brownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ensuing rebound shot.

Winkworth said the missed penalty kick was evidence of the kind of day the Lions were having. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If we (had made) that penalty kick and even(ed) the score, the result could have been much different,â&#x20AC;? Winkworth said.

West Florida scored again in the 67th and 72nd minutes, bringing the final score to 4-1.

Julia Osmond said the defense needs to work on minimizing individual mistakes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The defense has been playing solid as a unit this season â&#x20AC;&#x201D; we just need to work on stopping making individual mis-

takes at the back,â&#x20AC;? she said.

Brown said that after a tough loss, it is time to wipe the slate clean. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The upper classmen have experienced losing to West Florida before, so the team is feeling kind of down,â&#x20AC;? Brown said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;However, we know that we have to wipe the slate clean and focus on the next game as they come thick and fast during the season. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If we take care of this upcoming weekend, we still set ourselves up for a good position in conference.â&#x20AC;?

The Lions travel to Valdosta State Sept. 21 and West Georgia Sept. 23 for two important conference games.

The Lionsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; next home game will be homecoming weekend on Sept. 28 against Christian Brothers.

After losing to Rollins and Florida Southern in the 2012 Armstrong Atlantic Pirate Volleyball Classic Sept. 14, the Lions dropped their GSC opener at West Alabama Sept. 16. The Lions host GSC teams Valdosta State and West Florida Sept. 21 and Sept. 23 at Flowers Hall.

GOLF The Lions held first place in the Kiawah Island Invitational at the University of South Carolina Sept. 16 to 18. Ricky Stiments shot a six-under-par 66 in the opening round, and the Lions won the Invitational by one stroke. The team will compete in the AFLAC Intercollegiate at Columbus State University Oct. 1 and 2.

CROSS COUNTRY After having a week off, the Lions will compete in the Falcon Classic in Montevallo Sept. 22.

4B SPORTS

Sept. 20, 2012 • The Flor-Ala

CAMPUS RECREATION

Students, officials: skateboarding could be allowed on campus PACE HOLDBROOKS

;\]LMV\ ?ZQ\MZ XPWTLJZWWS[(]VI ML]

UNA’s campus is an enjoyable place to skateboard, according to some students. Campus police, however, maintain that skateboarding is illegal on campus, though future concessions could be made.

“The reason we don’t allow skateboarding on campus is twofold: damages and the possibility of injury,” said Bob Pastula, UNA chief of police, “There is a possibility we could allow students to ride skateboards on campus if they are responsible. This would be a decision made by our executive board.”

Pastula said the damage done to campus rails and sidewalks by skateboarders is the main reason for the current rules against skating.

“Another example is the fountain on campus,” Pastula said. “It is made of a soft composite material that could be chipped or broken off if someone was to jump or stand on it. That’s one of my main concerns about future damages.”

Pastula said he is aware of students using skateboards solely for commuting on campus.

“If the students wanted to take action to change the current rules, I’d have no problem with that,” Pastula said. “They would just need to show that they would comply with the new rules once the rules are in place.”

John Marquez, a freshman at UNA, said he enjoys doing tricks on campus but only does so at night.

“I usually go to the top of the parking deck to stay out of people’s way,” Marquez said. “It’s nice up there because it’s the least (monitored) area of campus.”

Marquez said students, including himself, like to skate on the main campus because of the landscape.

“It lets me express myself on smooth pavement and has hills so you don’t have to walk everywhere,” Marquez said. “For a professional skate video, this would be the place.”

Marquez said he also skates down-

town and that there is a public skate park, located a few miles from campus.

“I know it’s illegal to skate on campus,” Marquez said. “I’ve seen the sign and I get it. It wouldn’t be good to ruin any type of structures or go running into students. I think it’s completely understandable.”

Clark Greer, a junior at UNA, said he frequently used his longboard for transportation while living on campus. Greer said he believes that using a longboard

”

If the students wanted to take action to change the current rules, Iʼd have no problem with that. They would just need to show that they would comply with the new rules once the rules are in place.

BOB PASTULA to commute should be no different than riding a bike on campus.

“I’ve actually fallen off of a bike on this campus way more than I have fallen off of a longboard,” Greer said. “If you are responsible, you’re not going to get hurt.”

Greer said the campus terrain is great for longboarding and that it is not hard to be safe around other students.

“I don’t usually wear a helmet on campus because I’m not going to be doing anything crazy,” Greer said. “If they wanted to set that as a rule, I would comply.”

Greer said he is not sure that all students would comply with a new set of rules.

“I don’t think the guys who ride skateboards to do tricks would wear helmets or stop tricking on campus,” Greer said. “I think maybe if the trick skaters got a ticket or their name taken, then they would consider it.”

photo illustration by COURTNEY JONES I Student Photographer

Though signs posted throughout UNA’s campus prohibit skateboarding, many students think the activity should be allowed. And, according to UNA Police Chief Bob Pastula, concessions could be made to accomodate skateboarders.

.77<*)44 KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM *

photo by COURTNEY JONES I Student Photographer

True freshman Jalen Reedus picks off a pass during the Sept. 15 game against Kentucky Christian University.

The Lions travel to Delta State Sept. 22.

the whole game. They also forced two safeties.

“They say that (our defense) was the weakest link, but we had to come out here and show that we are better than what we have been showing,” Reedus said.

“I thought the defense played outstanding,” Wallace said. “They turned the ball over to the offense, so they got the ball back for them.”

The Lions’ offense was led by the feet, not the arm, of quarterback Chris Alexander. Alexander rushed for 132 yards on 20 carries including a nine-yard touchdown in the first quarter. He was 8-18 with 129 yards passing on the night.

Chris Coffey also had a 100-yard rushing night, having 100 yards on eight carries.

True freshman Diamond Simmons had an impressive debut as his second career carry was a 76-yard touchdown run that put the Lions up 32-0 with 3:32 left in the game.

“Offensively we moved the ball up and down the field. Obviously the red zone offense was a struggle; we (have) got to come up with an answer for (what) they were doing to us down there,” Wal-

lace said. “The kicking game was phenomenal.”

Michael Schuster tied the school record for field goal makes in a game. He made five field goals and had two punts downed on the one yard line.

“I couldn’t have done anything without all of my teammates ... My snapper Josh Roberts and my holder Daniel Almon — without them I am nothing. They have to do their jobs, and I have to do mine for all of us to work,” Schuster said.

Schuster was named GSC Player of the Week for his performance in the game, which included a career long 50yard field goal. Coach Wallace said he believes Schuster has even more leg strength.

“If it is the last play of the game, I feel comfortable with him from 65 yards.

I have no question that he can make a 65yard field goal,” Wallace said.

As for Delta State next week, Wallace and the Lions are looking to take the first step toward their ultimate goal.

“We are getting into conference play and that is our first goal: to try to win the conference,” Wallace said. “We got a

photo by MICHAEL REDDING I Staff Photographer

Freshman running back Diamond Simmons (#32) celebrates a touchdown in the Sept. 15 game against Kentucky Christian University.

long way to go if we (are) going to do it, but we (are going) to make strides every week and see what happens.”

Delta State proved troublesome for the Lions last year as the Statesmen defeated UNA twice. Once came in the regular season, and the second time came in the second round of the NCAA Division II National Championship playoffs.

Can’t make it to the game? Make sure to follow @FlorAlaSports for live updates throughout the game.

LIFE 5B

Sept. 20, 2012 • The Flor-Ala

In this section:

WHATʼS IT WORTH?

See page 6B Want to get out this weekend?

Check the calendar!

ELISE COFIELD

;\INN ?ZQ\MZ UKWNQMTL(]VI ML]

Tipping the server is often an afterthought of the dining process, and few can agree on the right way to do it, especially when college students are notorious for being cheap. To make tipping less of a nail-biting experience, UNA students offered helpful tips on tipping the server.

Most servers report work for less than minimum wages, commonly $2.13 per hour, relying on tips for the rest of the wage they take home. According to Alabama law, the employer is required to compensate the server if he or she does not make it to the $7.25 per hour minimum wage mark.

UNA sophomore Bonita HuiHui serves at Stanfield’s Steakhouse in Rogersville. Before that,

See page 7B UNA student Loic Dimithe shares about his involvement on campus

;MM <18 XIOM *

photo illustration by ERIN SKIPPER I Student Photographer

Boxcar Voices gives students a venue for expression See page 7B Mediators on campus help students resolve conflicts Want to know about what is going on around UNA? Follow me!

@aharkey1 Online Want to find more articles, videos and breaking news? Be sure to check out our website! www.florala.net

TAIMA NAGLE

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

Grades. Family. Strip Clubs. Teachers. Sex. Regrets. Hope. This is only a small sample of topics that were brought up as UNA students took part in a poetry reading Sept. 13 at the end. theatre in Florence.

Boxcar Voices is a regular event that is gaining momentum here at UNA. The small theater located a few minutes from campus was filled with laughter and emotion throughout the event.

Andy Thigpen, a UNA student who helped formed Boxcar Voices in March 2011, said the event gives students a chance to be creative without being judged.

“Anyone who wants to participate can express themselves in an environment where people are open and receiving,” Thigpen said. “Here, people can say things they might be ashamed of in the real world.”

UNA graduate J. Scott Long is owner of the end. theatre. He opens his establishment to the sounds of Boxcar Voices

”

ITʼS GOOD TO SEE ALL THIS CREATIVE ENERGY FLOWING THROUGH FLORENCE.

JONATHON DUNLAP as a way to help give back to the school and community he loves.

“It’s a great way to get your feet wet,” Long said. “Students have the opportunity to enhance their resume creatively, put themselves in front of a different audience and get involved with the community.”

The event is free to the public with small donations being accepted to help cover the costs of opening the theater.

“Any extra money will be used to help bring well-known poets and established writers into the event,” Thigpen said.

Boxcar Voices is open to everyone, not just English majors. Attendees are encouraged to join in, but it is not required.

“For every person that reads, there are three or four that will not get up and read,” Thigpen said. “And that’s fine because the audience is needed just as much

as the artists.”

“This is a chance for UNA students to see this whole other creative universe,” Long said. “We get students from all sorts of majors coming in here, and they all seem to really enjoy it a lot.”

Boxcar Voices is currently a poetry and storytelling event, but Thigpen said he plans to branch out in many ways over the course of this school year.

“This area has so much culture and history, especially musically,” Thigpen said. “Singer-songwriter nights, movie nights and the dramatic readings of books such as ‘The Great Gatsby’ will all be a part of Boxcar Voices in the future.”

Boxcar Voices will also be participating in UNA’s Storytelling Festival this year.

“People will be competing for the best story, and the top three will go on to read in the festival,” Thigpen said.

Boxcar Voices had less of a competitive vibe and seemed more like an eclectic family reunion or party.

“It’s a breath of fresh air” said Jonathon Dunlap, a UNA student who performed two poems at the event. “It’s good to see all this creative energy flowing through Florence.”

6B LIFE

Sept. 20, 2012 • The Flor-Ala

<18 KWV\QV]ML NZWU vice and 20 for good service, and I act. It’s like you’re being waited on not tip their server because they did not meet expectations. guess they just didn’t realize that, by your friends.”

XIOM * or they were just too rude to care.”

“I once had a server who was a Fitzgerald said getting to know Students are willing to tip servers more with a better “attitude”.

“It starts with attitude,” said senior culinary major Tyler Layne, who works as sous chef at Sweet Magnolia Café.

“A lot of people don’t realize, in the service business, that your job there is to serve people. You’re not there to enjoy yourself—you’re there as a job. If they keep a good attitude and they’re happy to serve you, then I usually tip pretty well.”

Jonathan Oliphant, a junior at UNA, said the server’s personality is a far more important factor than service quality on the amount he tips.

“I’ve been to Legends a handful of times, and every time I’ve felt like I had a relationship with the server,” Oliphant said. “I don’t know who they are, I’ve never met them before, but I feel like they’re my friends by the way they inter-

she held a job at Walmart, earning a set wage. She prefers working for tips and has become a favorite among her customers.

“It’s more about your personality and how much you truly care for your customers,” she said. “If you don’t care for your customers, they kind of notice.”

Junior Stephanie Fitzgerald serves at Ruby Tuesday’s in Muscle Shoals. Last week, she served four pastors whose check totaled $83. After lingering past closing time, they left her a tip of 17 cents.

Instances like these are fairly common, she said.

“The fact that I work two jobs and go to school and served them as they treated me like a dog and talked about God’s grace at the same time was just too ironic,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s expected that you pay 15 percent for average ser-

WANT

TO WRITE FOR THE

her guests and including that she is a student generally reaps better tips.

“The more that you can get people to relate to you, the more they’ll tip you,” Fitzgerald said.

“If they don’t know anything about you, don’t know your name, in their mind, you’re not really a person. You’re just bringing them their food.”

Some students tip better when they find their server attractive.

“It definitely doesn’t hurt if the waiter’s hot,” said sophomore Kaitlyn Wilson.

Students often build relationships with servers they see often.

“I tip at places that I frequent a lot or for servers that I know well,” said freshman Ashlyn Brown, adding that her tip depends on service quality, food preparation time and attentiveness.

There are times where people do

complete jerk to everybody in my group,” Layne said. “He was being really rude to us. So when I got the bill, I wrote ‘no tip’ on the ticket and felt pretty good about it.”

TIPS

ABOUT

TIPPING

WAIT SERVICE (SIT-DOWN) -15-20 PERCENT, PRE-TAX WAIT SERVICE (BUFFET) -10 PERCENT, PRE-TAX HOME DELIVERY -10-15 PERCENT TOTAL OF BILL BARTENDER -$1-2 PER DRINK *SOURCE: ETIPEDIA.COM

LIFE SECTION?

Follow me on Twitter:

SEARCH

@ANNHARKEY1 “LIKE” ME ON FACEBOOK: FOR “ANN HARKEY THE FLOR-ALA”

Down Time in Downtown Check out what’s coming up this weekend

Friday, Sept. 21 Bottletree Flobama 9:30 p.m. $10 cover if under 19 Chris Smith PJ’s 8:45 p.m. $5 cover

Neon Moon PJ’s 8:45 p.m. $5 cover

Luke Dunkin Swampers Bar & Grille 9 p.m.-12 p.m.

403-409 Cox Creek Pkwy.

Florence, AL 35630

256-764-1820 (next to ALDI)

Tim Cannon Swampers Bar & Grille 5 p.m.-7 p.m.

4

TANS

Saturday, Sept. 22 Gabe Allen Jeff Quillen Band Flobama PJ’s 9:30 p.m.

8:45 p.m. $10 cover if under $5 cover

20 sunless $

SPRAY TAN

4

$

Zach Hacker Swampers Bar and Grille 9 p.m.-12 p.m.

Present this coupon and enjoy 4 Silver Level sunbed tanning sessions for just $4.00.

Present this coupon to receive one Sunless Spray Tan for just $20.

Offer valid for new or existing members, one time only. One redemption per member account. Valid for 7 days from date of purchase.

See salon associate for complete details.

New or existing members. Limit 3 per member.

Valid for 45 days from date of purchase.

Additives are additional cost. See salon associate for complete details.

Offer expires 9/30/12.

Offer expires 9/30/12.

www.facebook.com/PBTOfficial

@PalmBeachTan

STS-33153

LIFE 7B

Sept. 20, 2012 • The Flor-Ala

Student seeks to start an undergraduate journal

GIVE AND TAKE

LUKE SMITH

;\INN ?ZQ\MZ T[UQ\P (]VI ML]

A senior majoring in economics and finance, Loic Dimithe is a member of several campus organizations, including honor societies such as Phi Eta Sigma, Alpha Lambda Delta, Delta Mu Delta and Phi Kappa Phi. “My family and I are originally from Cameroon, which is a country in central Africa,” Dimithe said. “We immigrated to this country when I was barely one.

We moved to Michigan, which is where I grew up and spent most of my early childhood.”

Dimithe said his father’s work as an international economist dictated that his family move often. “ I lived in Florence when I was in middle school, and I graduated from DIMITHE high school in Cullman,” he said. “It seemed ideal for me to come back to this area. UNA’s tuition really attracted me, which is slowly losing its appeal.”

Dimithe said he plans to become an attorney after graduating from UNA. “It’s always been something that’s in the back of my mind – being an attorney,” he said. “I’m a member of the UNA mock trials team, which also helps me get courtroom practice. Currently, I work as a legal clerk at Bunch & James law firm. I’ve been there for a year now. It’s been a great experience working in the legal profession and learning from people who are actually practicing,” he said.

Over the summer, Dimithe attended the Phi Beta Lambda National Leadership Conference in San Antonio, Texas, and participated in a competition there.

“We compete in various categories of business,” he said.

“This summer, I competed in macroeconomics and business law. We compete at the state level first and at the national level if we qualify at state. At the national level, I got second place in macroeconomics and third place in business law.”

Dimithe said he is currently trying to establish an academic journal at UNA. “One thing I’m working on right now that I want people to be aware of is that I’m working on establishing an undergraduate journal in the College of Business,” he said.

photo illustration by ALLI OWNBY I Student Photographer

According to UNA officials, a mediator’s job is not to reconcile relationships, but to help the parties involved agree on an outcome.

Mediators on campus offer students conflict-resolution advice LYNN ECCLESTON

;\]LMV\ ?ZQ\MZ TMKKTM[\WV(]VI ML]

Conflict is something that almost everyone encounters at some point in their lives, and one way of dealing with conflict is through mediation.

Conflict mediation is a service available for UNA students who are having problems.

Kimberly Greenway, director of student conduct and student affairs assessment, said UNA mediates matters such as friendship or romantic situations, roommate misunderstandings or issues involving property, and students can come by or call their office — which handles all conduct and complaints— if they need assistance.

Tammy Jacques, director of student engagement, said that when conflict arises it is usually due to mix-ups or misperceptions between individuals.

“People act out, or they make statements or judgment calls based on misinformation, so it’s important to not make assumptions,” Jacques said.

Jacques said individuals should “sit down and try to understand one another” if there is a difference of opinions, and the mediator needs to be a neutral third party.

A mediator’s goal is to enable the different parties to reach some sort of resolution to their dispute, Jacques said. She said the mediator should not dictate what the resolution will be.

“The resolution of the conflict needs to be owned by the parties involved,” she said.

Mediators do not fix the problem—they

simply assist those involved in resolving their own issues, she said.

Greenway said mediating is “a pretty formal process so that you keep things civil.” Mediators are not trying to reconcile relationships—they are trying to help the parties involved to come up with and agree upon the outcome.

Greenway gave the example situation of a student borrowing another’s book, resulting in both students claiming ownership. In this instance, the mediator could ask a question such as “Can you concede the book

”

BOTH PEOPLE HAVE TO LOSE SOMETHING. CONFLICTS NEVER RESOLVE PERFECTLY.

TRAVIS DYKES once belonged to this person?” Questions can help people consider different angles and lead to an eventual agreement.

Jacques said a person trying to mediate a conflict needs to “keep things in perspective and not overdramatize issues” as well as remain neutral.

In Greenway’s department, informal mediation occurs sometimes daily or weekly, but formal mediation usually does not occur more than two or three times a semester. “(In a formal mediation) when they leave the room there is a written agreement,” Greenway said.

Jacques said student organizations rarely need mediation—maybe once a year. Greenway said mediation is probably used most

commonly in Residence Life.

UNA student Travis Dykes said a mediator should try to get those involved in a conflict to compromise.

“Both people have to lose something,” Dykes said. “Conflicts never resolve perfectly.”

Dykes has successfully mediated conflict in the past.

“First I see what each person has a problem with in the conflict,” he said. “Then I analyze it and see what each person could lose or gain, and try to figure out a compromise.”

Dykes said he normally does not have much conflict in his life, but when a dispute does occur, “a lot of conflict comes into play.”

UNA student Dalton Anderton said there are “minimal amounts” of conflict in his life, and that he and his friends “refrain from arguing.”

Anderton said a mediator needs to be reasonable and should be able to read at least some body language.

“A mathematician should be a good mediator because their focus is on solving problems,” he said.

Dykes said one of the worst things a mediator could do is to spread untruthful information about a person that could “inflame the argument or conflict.”

Anderton said a mediator should not add to the dispute by cheering on the conflicting opinions.

Greenway’s advice to students who are trying to mediate a conflict is to make sure they are listening to both the perspectives and emotions that they are dealing with.

8B EXTRA

Tweets of the week

Sept. 20, 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ The Flor-Ala DISCLAIMER: The tweets below are public tweets found on Twitter by searching hashtags and keywords involving UNA, Florence, Shoals and other university-related topics. Want to see yours on here? Be sure to hashtag UNA and Shoals in your tweets.