April 3 Issue

LIFE AFTER

GRADUATION LIFE 6B April 3, 2014

Volume 82, Issue 27

www.FlorAla.net

Student newspaper of the University of North Alabama

ENTERTAINMENT

ITĘźS LUDACRIS

UPC committee reveals 2014 spring concert artist BLYTHE STEELMAN

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It’s Ludacris — really, it is.

University Program Council’s Live Acts committee revealed its artist Wednesday, April 2 for the annual spring concert and it is none other than the Grammy award winning rapper and actor.

With SGA President-elect Keke Greer spinning the beats as DJ Keeks and plenty of snacks for partygoers, UPC members distributed CDs at Memorial Amphitheatre containing a 30-second song clip and information about this year’s concert. The concert is

set for Tuesday, April 29 at 7 p.m. in Norton Auditorium. “Everything was finalized the Friday before spring break started,� said Alonzo Dukes, chairperson of the Live Acts committee. “All contracts have been signed by everyone and we’re excited to move forward.�

Walter Hartley, vice president of UPC, is pleased with the committee’s selection this year. Though Ludacris is not set to release a new album until 2015, Hartley said having an artist as well known as him is a big plus. “When you think about it,

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photo by Darren Abate|courtesy of AP Images

Hip hop artist Ludacris headlines at the Doritos #BoldStage at the South by Southwest Music Festival on Saturday, March 15 in Austin, Texas. For the first time since its debut at South by Southwest in 2012, fans experienced performances from inside the larger-than-life vending machine turned concert stage.

MEMORIAL

Board of Trustees member John ĘťBunyanĘź Cole dies at 76 JASMINE FLEMING

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The UNA Board of Trustees may have lost one of its most vital members but the contributions he gave will never be forgotten.

John ‘Bunyan’ Cole died March 26, at the age of 76. “As a trustee for UNA, Mr. Cole was always a compass for

INSIDE

this week’s paper

me — sharing what the community was thinking, listening to my thoughts (and) imparting his own perspective born from a life well-lived,� said University President William Cale. “His wise words will be sorely missed by me, by the university, and by this community.�

Cole always put students first, which was evident through his actions, Cale said. “There came a day not so

NEWS................2A PUZZLES.............5A VIEWPOINTS.........7A

long ago when he and his wife decided to create an endowed scholarship to further their long-held belief in the value of education,� Cale said. “John and Rosie Cole know that actions make a difference, and the John and Rosie Cole scholarship will forever echo through time, making education and success a reality for future UNA students.

John Cole always showed his leadership by example.�

SPORTS.......3B LIFE...........5B EXTRA.........8B

For the remainder of Cole’s trustee term, a new member will be selected in accordance with the relevant section of the Code of Alabama, Cale said. “Trustees are appointed by the Governor with the consent of the Alabama Senate,� Cale said. “We would expect that in due course Governor Robert Bentley will nominate someone to fill the remainder of Mr. Cole’s term, and that person will

DOES GOD EXIST?...6B

become a permanent member of the Board for the remainder of Mr. Cole’s term if approved by the Senate.�

Cole was a well-respected and knowledgeable member of the Board of Trustees, said Trustee Steve Pierce. “John was one of those people who was very soft-spoken and very wise,� Pierce said. “When he did speak, everyone

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Please recycle your paper.

POLICE

Address plan ensures quick emergency response ANNA GRACE USERY 7VTQVM -LQ\WZ WVTQVM(NTWZITI VM\

UNA Police Chief Bob Pastula is currently working with UNA 911, the universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dispatch service, to implement new building addresses to each building on campus.

Pastula believes the plan will be implemented by Florence City Police Dispatch sometime this week, he said.

The implementation of new building addresses comes as a part of the comprehensive emergency operation plan the university has to ensure safety at UNA, Pastula said.

â&#x20AC;?

April 3, 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ The Flor-Ala

STATE

Why should students care about...

Carlyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Law? *

JASMINE FLEMING

WEĘźRE GOING TO REASSIGN BUILDING

ADDRESSES TO ENSURE THE RESPONDERS CAN EFFICIENTLY LOCATE A BUILDING AND GET SOMEONE THE HELP THEY NEED QUICKER

BOB PASTULA

UNA CHIEF OF POLICE

The plan came about after fire inspectors obtained a list of building addresses that were not consistent with the list the 911 dispatchers had, Pastula said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to reassign building addresses to ensure the responders can efficiently locate a building and get someone the help they need quicker,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Senior Tim LeVan said if it makes it easier for the fire department to respond to a situation at a building then he is all for it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The emergency respondents can know where to go if we say Floyd, the music building, etc. instead of giving a specific (street) address,â&#x20AC;? LeVan said.

Implementing the new building addresses will also not require any funding, Pastula said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This new plan will ensure we get the right help to the right place,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The new building numbers will map out an efficient route to ensure quicker response time.â&#x20AC;?

Lisa Brown, administrative assistant for Florenceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 911, said the difficulty of responding at UNA is the fact the addresses are assigned to sidewalks. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This new plan will just make it to where fire trucks can get to specific locations to help,â&#x20AC;? Brown said.

Pastula has been working with the UNA 911 center to get the new system operational, she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just a matter of getting the technicalities together,â&#x20AC;? she said.

Senior Brent Barnes said he has always wondered why each building does not have its own address.

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Twenty states and Washington, D.C., have legalized marijuana for medicinal use. Although Alabama is not on the list, a bill known as Carlyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Law recently passed could be a step toward legalization.

It was passed unanimously by both the Alabama House of Representatives and the Senate on March 24, legalizes an oil derived from the cannabis plant â&#x20AC;&#x201D; CBD oil â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and is the first bill of its kind for the state.

Carlyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s law, which only awaits the approval of Governor Robert Bentley for legalization, is supposed to help those suffering with seizures, said Billy Beasley, Alabama Senate member for district 28. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Carlyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Law was named after a child who has epilepsy,â&#x20AC;? Beasley said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She suffers from multiple seizures every day. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been found that you can extract an oil from the cannabis plant to treat the seizures associated with epilepsy.â&#x20AC;?

What exactly is CBD oil?

CBD oil is made from the cannabis plant, but it has low levels of the chemicals that cause psychological effects and the high associated with smoking marijuana, said Mike Ball, Alabama House of Representatives member for district 10. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The oil is remarkable in that it cuts down seizures with little to no harmful side effects,â&#x20AC;? Ball said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It has anti-psychotic

qualities, and it is also being seen as a breakthrough in schizophrenia treatment.â&#x20AC;?

It is still unclear how CBD oil reduces seizures, said Mitch Earleywine, chair of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Helping people control seizures is a complicated issue, but research since the nineties suggests that epileptic seizures appear to respond to cannabidiol and relate to the function of the CB1, CB2 or NMDA receptors (in the brain),â&#x20AC;? Earleywine said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not crystal clear on (how) yet.â&#x20AC;?

What does the bill actually legalize?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Originally, the bill said people who had CBD oil that had debilitating illnesses, or their guardians, wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be prosecuted for possessing it,â&#x20AC;? Ball said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As it has evolved, the bill now allows $1 million for the Neurology Department at The University of Alabama at Birmingham to research the oil and to make a way for people who need the oil to have access to it. If anyone possesses the oil in the state, it will be from UAB.â&#x20AC;?

Who will be able to use CBD oil in the state?

UAB will be the ultimate deciding factor in who can access the oil, Ball said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I would expect them to start out with a low number of children, because seizures are more likely to have long term effects on children than adults,â&#x20AC;? Ball said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ultimately, if it proves successful, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure they will find a way to expand the allowances of using the oil.â&#x20AC;?

Does Carlyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Law indicate a legalization of marijuana for the state in the future?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have yet to see a state pass a law like Carlyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Law and subsequently pass a more comprehensive medical marijuana law â&#x20AC;&#x201D; in part because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just too soon to tell,â&#x20AC;? Earleywine said.

Freshman Miriam Wilson says she thinks Carlyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Law might lead to other marijuana laws for the state. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I only see legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes, which I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be opposed to for the state,â&#x20AC;?

Wilson said.

The oil extracted from cannabis leaves like these can be used to treat seizures and possibly other ailments. A bill known as Carlyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Law, passed by the State Legislature, legalizes research and use of the oil, at the discretion of scientists at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

photo courtesy of Morguefile

2A NEWS

NEWS 3A

April 3, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

ECONOMICS

State education budget increases funding for colleges ASHLEY REMKUS

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The Alabama House of Representatives has passed the state education budget for the 2015 fiscal year, which includes an increase in funding for higher education.

The budget provides for a large percentage of the state’s education fund to be allotted for K-12 education, leaving the remaining budget to fund Alabama’s colleges and universities.

The allotment for higher education has increased by 0.24 percent, which could mean about $1,440,000 more for higher education.

“We actually spent about $134 million more on education overall this year,” said Alabama Rep. Lynn Greer.

Freshman Savannah Rowland said higher education should be given more of the state education budget.

“I don’t think it’s that fair,” Rowland said. “It really doesn’t make sense to me at all why they wouldn’t give us more than (26 percent of the budget).”

The State House budget is providing UNA more funding for the new science building and weight room being constructed on campus, Greer said.

“We are giving $800,000 for the new technology center and weight room at UNA,” he said. “$500,000 of that is for the new technology center and $300,000 is for the new weight room.”

Greer is glad to see UNA getting more funding because like a lot of other schools in the state, UNA is one that tends to get less money than is deserved.

“A lot of schools just don’t get their fair share, and UNA is

one of them,” Greer said. “Even though we gave more money, the goal is to make that $800,000 a total of $1 million.”

Rowland believes tuition could be lowered or more programs could be offered if UNA got more funding

26.66 percent 73.34 percent

from the state.

“If you look at other universities, they have more than us,” Rowland said. “I think we should get more or the funding should be divided between the schools based on the number of people who go to college there.”

Freshman Larry Rawdon believe more money should be put into the education budget to increase funding for higher education.

He believes providing more funding for higher education should not take away from the funding K-12 education is currently getting.

“I do think more money should be put into the education system because raising the next generation in ensuring the country’s future,” Rawdon said. “To think we don’t need more money in education overall is stupid.”

MORE

Alloted to K-12 Education Alloted to Higher Education

ABOUT THE

BUDGET

• THE STATE EDUCATION BUDGET INDICATES $26,427,318 WILL BE GIVEN TO UNA. • HIGHER ED. INSTUTIONS WILL BE RECEIVING $1,493,115,389 OF THE BUDGET. • K-12 INSTUTIONS WILL BE RECEIVING 4,108,477,741 OF THE BUDGET. budget info provided by the office of State Representative Lynn Greer.

Infographic by News editor Pace Holdbrooks

GREEK LIFE

Greek Week directors expect greater student participation PACE HOLDBROOKS 6M_[ -LQ\WZ VM_[(NTWZITI VM\

Make changes and watch what happens: This has been the philosophy behind planning efforts for Greek Week 2014.

This year’s theme is “Greatest Greeks on Earth,” and the event will carry a circus motif with proceeds being split between the Leo and Una Foundation and the Florence-Lauderdale Animal Shelter.

Taking place between April 7 and 12, Assistant Director of Student Engagement for Greek Affairs Julie Fletcher and a student planning committee have been working to customize this year’s event to encourage participation from all students involved in Greek life.

“We’ve made some pretty radical changes this year and we are anxious to see how it plays out,” said Greek Week Director Sarah Keeter. “We’ve changed up some of the events this year by adding philanthropy activities.”

Greek Week events include a kickoff party, banner competition, field day, an awards ceremony and philanthropic events, Fletcher said.

“The sole purpose of Greek Week is to have a fun, eventful week that has healthy competition and that shows PR for the entire Greek community — not just a particular council,” she said.

Two philanthropic events will be added to this year’s schedule. One is a can drive, where chapters will collect canned food items to compete in a “cancastle” competition, with all cans going to Feed the Pride food pantry. The other is a “profit share” night at Buffalo Wild Wings, where 10 percent of all money spent at the restaurant between 4 and 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9 will be donated to organizations chosen by members of the Greek community, Keeter said.

Committee members proposed the changes to make Greek Week more inclusive than in years past, Keeter said.

“There has not been a whole lot of participation in the past,” Keeter said.

“When I think of Greek Week, I think it is just a time to celebrate being Greek.

We have a saying: ‘No matter the letters, we’re all Greek together.’ We all come together and it’s a great time to celebrate.”

Fletcher, who is finishing up her first year as Greek Life adviser, feels letting students take ownership of the event allows them to plan a week that all members of Greek Life will enjoy.

“There’s lots of flexibility in the week because it’s a lot of students and a lot of time,” Fletcher said. “The Greek community is very diverse in numbers so we wanted to make sure that we could have inclusion of everyone.”

This year’s competitions and awards

ceremony will be focused on individual chapters, rather than large teams like in recent years. Hopefully this will improve chapter recognition while encouraging a larger sense of community, Fletcher said.

“Honestly, I don’t know what has been done in the past,” Fletcher said. “We have got to try and start from somewhere.

We have a great director and committee that have been working really hard since October.”

Keeter was elected director by her

peers on the Greek Week committee, which is made up of approximately 10 representatives from various chapters on campus who wanted to take part in the planning process. The committee was vital in doing necessary research on other schools’ Greek Weeks to plan the best possible event, Fletcher said.

“I’m all about change and coming up with new ideas every year,” Fletcher said.

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4A IMAGES

April 3, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

Grab a Cup of Joe Rivertown Coffee Company employee Jonathan Oliphant makes a drink for a customer. Rivertown is located in Downtown Florence on Seminary Street.

Staff photographer takes on local coffee joints, cafes JOSH BROOKOVER

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Two students utilize Rivertown Coffee Company’s open seating and workspace while they study. Rivertown is a popular hangout for local college students.

A cup of hot tea rests on a table at Rivertown Coffee Company. Rivertown and several other local cafes offer a wide variety of coffee and tea drinks.

Recently I sat pondering over a couple of questions: What do most college students have in common, and where do they tend to frequent? The answer came to me so suddenly that I gave myself a face-palm.

Generally, most students cannot start their day without coffee — and they all need food — and the best places to obtain both are local cafes.

My first stop was Jen’s Cafe in Seven Points. It was a quaint, simple little place not far from campus. As soon as I stepped over the threshold, the aromas of what could only be delicious, Southern cooking hit me. My mouth watered as I spoke to the owner about the menu and their freshly-brewed coffee. They have an assortment of dishes to choose from, such as hamburger steak, grilled and fried chicken, and a variety of salads, sandwiches, hotdogs, burgers and desserts. The best deal I found at Jen’s was the $4.99 lunch special, which is served with three sides, roll or cornbread and tea. Not only is this a great price for quantity, but also the quality is assured to be satisfactory.

The second destination was Rivertown Coffee Company. This location seemed like it is frequented by college students. It has all the workings of a modern, college-friendly social hub. Rivertown has lovely artistry hanging from its walls and the scenery and vibe of this place are extraordinary.

The aroma of coffee hangs in the air and many students gather here to socialize over a cup of joe, a sandwich or even the bean dip and nachos. Another perk to coming to Rivertown was the Tazo tea and free Wi-Fi. The final cafe I discovered also happened to be in Downtown Florence, and it is not too far from Rivertown. Dish Gourmet Cafe & Catering is a classy place to sip coffee and dine. The menu is filled with delicious soups, sandwiches, desserts and beverages. I had the privilege of meeting one of the owners and she was very courteous. I recommend dining at this locale.

I enjoyed my trips to these cafes and will be returning in the future for the food and coffee that each have to offer.

I recommend other students do the same.

Who knows maybe someone will discover that one of these has the potential to become their habitual hang out.

Dish Gourmet Cafe & Catering sits ready for the day. The upscale establishment is located on Mobile Street.

NEWS 5A

April 3, 2014 • The Flor-Ala <:=;<-- KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) stopped what they were doing and listened — because we knew what he was going to say was something we all needed to hear.”

Florence City Councilman Dave Smith said he had been an acquaintance and colleague to Cole since the 90s.

“I’ve been involved with John over many, many years through community service, the city, the chamber, and through UNA,” Smith said. “He’s going to be sorely missed because of his very keen sense for business and his willingness to do anything to help people. He would give you the shirt off his back.”

Being a trustee member was fitting for

4=,)+:1; KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) most people who are in college right now have probably at least heard of Ludacris or grew up listening to his music,” he said. “He’s a seasoned rapper and I think that will help him reach a broader audience. Plus, since he doesn’t really have any new stuff out I’m hoping he will perform his classics that everyone already knows.”

UPC members secured a maximum budget of $150,000 for this year’s concert, after petitioning the other branches of the Student Government Association for funds from their rollover account, said UPC Adviser Tyler Thompson in an earlier interview with The Flor-Ala. The final agreement in the contract was between $88,000 and $90,000, Dukes said.

While UPC members did secure a larger budget than what they spent on last year’s $60,000 concert, Thompson said UPC’s goal is not to make money or turn a profit from ticket sales. There are risks involved with artists potentially not showing up to the concert, as well as little costs associated with the show.

“If we can’t pay the entire bill with what we already have, we won’t sign the artist,” Thompson said.

Extra funds will be used on marketing and public relations for this year’s concert, Dukes said. He and his committee members have worked with 413 Media

Cole, because he loved UNA students and the university as a whole, said Hermon Graham, Florence city councilman.

“He wanted the students from UNA to go out and excel,” Graham said. “ He supported young folks who were in college and encouraged them to go out and make something of themselves in life. He did that with his life and set an example.”

President Pro-Tempore Rodney Howard said Cole was a respected and dependable businessman.

“He had so much valuable knowledge of the board and what we try to accomplish.” He said. “He always had a broad view that included all people and looked for the best decisions to be made.”

Howard said the Board will be having a special meeting in April to discuss which direction they will be moving in. to put together a marketing campaign, including announcements on radio stations in Florence, Huntsville and Birmingham, as well as promotional videos to be shown around campus for the launch party and the concert itself.

“Marketing and visibility are big goals with this concert,” he said. “That’s really what it’s all about.”

The committee putting together the concert is one of the best Hartley has seen during his time with UPC, he said.

“I feel like they really did their research this year and knew what they were getting into,” he said. “Even though they didn’t get their first choice and Plan A — or even Plan B — they continued to work hard.”

Dukes agrees and said his committee put a lot of hard work into the planning and execution stages so far.

“There’s a lot of talent in UPC, but this committee is great,” Dukes said.

“I’m the type of person, I like to do things big or go home, and they have been with me every step of the way.”

Dukes said he was notified early last week that the opening act for the concert will be Two-9, an Atlanta-based rap group secured through UPC’s entertainment agency.

Student tickets will be free for those with a Mane Card and available for pickup April 3 and 4 in the GUC. Tickets will also be offered in the Office of Student Engagement and will be on sale to the general public Thursday, April 10 for $20.

file photo by DALLAS MOORE I Sports Editor

Trustees Lisa Ceci and John ‘Bunyan’ Cole review documents at the December 2013 Board of Trustees meeting. Cole died March 26 at the age of 76.

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6A NEWS

April 3, 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ The Flor-Ala

WEATHER

Road to Storm Safety Safety authorities prepare year-round for harsh weather ASHLEY REMKUS

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Tornado season is rapidly approaching, but university officials work year round to make the campus safe for students during severe weather.

UNA is considered a StormReady university by the standards of the National Weather Service, said UNA Police Chief Bob Pastula.

The severe weather procedures for all buildings on campus are available on the University Police Web page. The universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hazardous weather plan also includes training severe weather spotters and holding emergency exercises, Pastula said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;On our website it tells you were to go,â&#x20AC;? Pastula said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m in the process of having maps made for each of the buildings, but thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just in the process.â&#x20AC;?

It would be better if information about where to seek shelter in the case of severe weather was more readily avail-

able to students, said Quintus Rowlett, a sophomore.

Students should be responsible for finding out where to go in the case of severe weather, but most of them will not, said freshman Nikki Lowey. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There should be little billboards somewhere public that say this is what you do for severe weather and fires because I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see those any other place besides the residence halls,â&#x20AC;? Lowery said.

Information about where to seek shelter in the residence halls is covered in training at the beginning of the semester for residents and provided on the back of the doors inside each room, Pastula said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are posters in the hallways and on the back of the doors with fire procedures and weather procedures on them,â&#x20AC;? said Rivers Hall Resident Assistant Maurice Mull.

To prepare students when severe weather is expected, Residence Life officials stay in contact with Pastula, who gets weather alerts directly from the Emergency Management Agency,

â&#x20AC;?

BECAUSE CHIEF COMMUNICATES DIRECTLY WITH THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, WEĘźVE GOT THE MOST ACCURATE WEATHER INFORMATION.

KEVIN JACQUES

DIRECTOR OF RESIDENCE LIFE said Director of Residence Life Kevin Jacques. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Because Chief communicates directly with the Emergency Management Agency, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got the most accurate weather information,â&#x20AC;? Jacques said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I pass that information along to my staff and they get it to students.â&#x20AC;?

Knowing when severe weather will come into the area provides the Residence Life staff a chance to encourage students living on campus to keep track of messages from the campus alert system, he said.

Lion Alerts are used to keep the uni-

versity community informed when a severe weather threat is imminent, Pastula said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lion Alert is the biggest way we let students know what to do,â&#x20AC;? Pastula said.

Junior Madison Freemon said the campus alert system is helpful in letting the university community know what is happening. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I like the Lion Alerts a lot because I live off-campus, so those are really helpful for me to know whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going on (on campus),â&#x20AC;? Freemon said.

For a community to be considered storm ready, it must also have more than one way for the public to receive severe weather warnings and forecasts, create a system to monitor local weather conditions and promote the importance of public readiness through community seminars, according to www.noaa.gov, the website of the National Weather Service.

For information about what to do in the case of a severe weather emergency on campus, students, faculty and staff may visit una.edu/police.

A highway streches into the horizon, where a mass of black storm clouds loom. Students at UNA may take comfort in the fact that the school is considered at StormReady university by the National Weather Service.

photo courtesy of Morguefile

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VIEWPOINTS 7A

April 3, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA

THE

CORINNE BECKINGER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF BLYTHE STEELMAN MANAGING EDITOR PACE HOLDBROOKS NEWS EDITOR KALI DANIEL LIFE EDITOR DALLAS MOORE SPORTS EDITOR ANNA GRACE USERY ONLINE EDITOR LAURA IVIE BUSINESS MANAGER KEVEN RIVERA-ORTIZ GRAPHIC DESIGNER LELA AARON-VICENTE CIRCULATION MANAGER KAYLA STINNETT ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES JOSH BROOKOVER SARAH HOLLIDAY DALLAS MOORE ROGER WANG STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS

Letters Policy

Indifference poisons student potential

PACE HOLDBROOKS 6M_[ -LQ\WZ VM_[(NTWZITI VM\

I’m going to cut to the chase. As I look toward the future (in which I will soon graduate), I find myself somewhat concerned.

It’s the Thursday after spring break, and regardless of the shape we’re in, all students know that the end of spring break means looking forward to the end of the semester.

During this hectic time, students work to finish strong while preparing for the summer and beyond.

“Beyond” is where my concern lies.

This concern is not for my own future, but the future of students who remain at UNA.

I believe certain fears of mine may be coming true: that many students are settling for indifference when they could be striving for excellence.

The majority of students recently committed this crime of indifference by choosing to not participate in elections for the Student Government Association.

In the election, the members of the SGA executive committee — students who have the potential to be some of the most powerful on campus and in the community — were elected by a total of 311 student votes.

Whether or not you consider this number small (like I certainly do), I feel it may be important to compare it to voting numbers in years past.

On the bright side, this year’s results carry three more student votes than last year’s election. However, this is also noticeably less votes than in 2012 when 488 votes were recorded and in 2011 when 594 votes were recorded, according to previous articles from The Flor-Ala. That means that three years ago, almost twice as many stu-

dents were willing to participate in SGA elections.

This is sad because our lack of participation means we don’t understand why SGA is important.

Honestly, the power these students have rivals that of some working individuals within the “real world.”

Read the majority of stories and briefs we’ve run on SGA this year and you’ll find in depth accounts of how they’ve spent their time and money — hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars that have gone into governing the campus, for better or for worse.

If students are hearing anything at all about the power this small group possesses, why on earth don’t they care?

I think it’s part of a greater issue — an issue of the heart.

Yes, I find it appalling that so few of our students are involved in the democratic process of electing leaders, but I am sad to think that this indifference toward something with potential like SGA may reflect a greater apathy in the hearts of students toward making a difference.

SGA seeks applicants for upcoming year

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.

LAURA GILES • The publication of any letter is left ;/) 8ZM[QLMV\ to the discretion of the Editorial Board.

TOQTM[(]VI ML] • Priority is given to letters critical As the year is coming to of The Flor-Ala, or written in direct an end, SGA is planning for response to an editorial, a column, or next year and seeking leaders a news story. to fulfill these leadership roles • When the editors deem it necessary that those graduating are leaving for ease of understanding or to clarify vacant. We must have dedicated facts, an Editorʼs Note may accompany a letter.

ETTER TO THE DITOR • Address correspondence to The Skyler Mansell Flor-Ala. UNA Box 5300, Florence, AL smansell@una.edu 35632.

Wanted: Student’s OpinEmail: florala@una.edu. ions on 8-5-5-5 Resolution • Phone: 256-765-4364 This Thursday, April 9th Senate will begin debating on Copyright © 2013 a proposed resolution written The Flor-Ala by the Budget Oversight ComAll rights reserved. mittee to increase the Student First copy free.

Activity Fee gradually from the Additional copies $1 each. current $27 and capping off in the Spring semester of 2016 to $50. The gradual increase would begin in the Fall of 2014 with an $8 increase and then a $5 increase the following three semesters excluding Summers.

The proposed increase stems from research conducted

L

students willing to give their time to serve their university in planning events and working with UNA’s administration to make this campus more focused on students in all ways possible.

I will be finishing my term as SGA President in the next few weeks, and I have enjoyed being the voice for the students to our administration. I know that SGA will continue to be a voice for you all if we have students willing to help SGA be that voice and reaching out to students for feedback and ideas for how to improve our university.

To become involved in SGA through either our Senate or University Program Council, please visit una.edu/sga by April 4 at 4:30 p.m. to apply

for a position. We want to hear your ideas and help you to make your mark on this campus during your time here. You all are important parts of this university and your opinions are wanted and needed to help improve SGA’s role on UNA’s campus.

Do not hesitate to come by the SGA office to talk to one of our executive officers to find out more information on this opportunity to become a part of one of the largest organizations here at UNA. Make your mark and be a voice for your peers to create a student-focused UNA. Thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative to the UNA administration and supporting SGA and me throughout this year.

In my experience, I have noticed a strong correlation between involvement in extracurricular activities (especially those within the campus community) and work ethic. The students who are active and pay attention to what’s going on around them tend to do better in school and in life.

I’d say this is important. We aren’t talking about the act of not voting now, we are talking about the heart issue of indifference.

Students need to realize what they do in college prepares them for the real world.

The indifference they show toward their surroundings in college may be a reflection of the indifference in their souls that will lead to an apathetic life full of self-fulfillment.

This is a life I want for none of my peers.

I am graduating and my focus now has to shift to the outside world, but I hope that those students who remain at UNA will ponder this question.

It could be life-changing.

Congratulations to our Writer and Photographer of the Week!

Mari Williams and Roger Wang

E

by the Budget Oversight Committee which compiled a list of 13 universities of a comparable size to UNA and examined each school’s Student Activity Fee. UNA was found to have the lowest fee on the list. This fact is not necessarily a good thing; this information means that UNA is not able to compete with the other universities due to our current allocations and programming budgets.

Although fee increases are not necessarily wanted, they are essential in keeping our university thriving and competitive. Do you, the students want to invest $23 more dollars into

campus life and into student organized activities? Is the investment of your money worth the visible and tangible benefits from increasing the fee?

Imagine the benefits that could come from this investment. An increase could mean an extra $100,000 more dollars for the Budget Oversight Committee to allocate, which could supply 25 more fully funded events for students. Can you imagine 25 more Caffeine High or Casino Night type events? For the University Program Council this investment could bring the ability to bring a big name artist to the Spring Concert and mul-

tiply the number of weekly and monthly events.

While I and my fellow committee members on the Budget Oversight Committee are personally in favor of this proposed resolution, we each represent 240 students with various opinions and insights. We encourage students to reach out to senators and give us your opinions before the upcoming debate this Thursday. Feel free to stop by the Student Government Association office in the GUC at any time and let your voice be heard!

8A NEWS

April 3, 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ The Flor-Ala ?--3 KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) â&#x20AC;&#x153;Since we are working on year number one for me, we want to see how it goes this time,â&#x20AC;? Fletcher said.

While philanthropic efforts help Greek Life members reach out to parts of the UNA and Florence communities, nonGreek students are welcome to observe events like the field day and awards ceremony, Fletcher said.

Junior Shane Parker is unaware of the significance of Greek Week, he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pretty much all I can say about Greek Week is that I know itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a big deal, but I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really know why,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t plan on observing any of their events, because I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think I have a good reason to do so.â&#x20AC;?

photo courtesy of Greek Life

The new logo for Greek Life at UNA, designed earlier this year, will be visible at various events during Greek Week between April 7 and 12, said Julie Fletcher.

),,:-;;-; KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) â&#x20AC;&#x153;If dispatch has a way to communicate quickly the location of an emergency that could buy some valuable time,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I suppose if they were to keep access routes consistent with their building designations, the university could plan accordingly to keep other university activities functioning with minimal interruption.â&#x20AC;?

This plan has been a combination of efforts between the university, the building department and the fire department,

said UNA 911 Director George Graybryan. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Campus has changed substantially and establishing new building addresses will help us to catch up with the geographical transformations,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Students will be able to benefit from this tremendously, Graybryan said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For those in an emergency, you may know what building youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in but may not know the address,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now you can just say youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in Wesleyan Hall and responders can pull up the best route to get there quickly.â&#x20AC;?

Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s note: Editor-in-Chief Corinne Beckinger, a member of Greek Life, did not contribute to this report.

AT A GLANCE Each building is assigned to a sidewalk, rather than a specific address, officials said. Implementing a set address will allow UNA and Florence Police Departments to respond to requests more efficiently, said UNA 911 Director George Graybryan.

SGA

IN

REVIEW

â&#x20AC;˘ FRESHMAN FORUM - ALLOCATED $507.09 TO PURCHASE FOOD FOR THEIR SPRING BARBECUE PARTY ON APRIL 10 AT THE AMPHITHEATRE. â&#x20AC;˘ SENATE - TABLED LEGISLATION TO ALLOCATE $3,362.51 TO PURCHASE COWBELLS FOR FANS TO USE AT HOME FOOTBALL GAMES.

â&#x20AC;˘ UPC - ALLOCATED $25,000 TO THE WELCOME WEEK COMMITTEE TO PLAN EVENTS. â&#x20AC;˘ SENATE CONTINUED DISCUSSION ON INCREASING THE STUDENT ACTIVITY FEE FROM

$27 TO $50 BY FALL

2016.

FOR MEETING BRIEFS AND UPDATES ON THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION, PLEASE VISIT WWW.FLORALA.NET

LIFE AFTER GRADUATION

SECTION B

The average person will hold at least 10 different jobs before the age of 40.

April 3, 2014• The Flor-Ala

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE BY DEGREE IN 2012 (%)

UNA According to Monster.com, the top resume mistakes are typos and grammatical errors.

The second most common mistake is lack of specifics.

12.4

8.3

7.7

6.2

4.5

3.5

2.1

2.5

a e e e e e e a lom iplom gre gre gre egre gre gre p e e e e e i d d d d d d l l ld o ʼs ʼs ʼs ld na oo ora oo ge, n ciate lor aster o t h i h e c s c c h s s c es le so Do M Ba igh rof As igh e col h P H n m t ha So ss

Le

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? MAJORS

NURSING

UNAʼS 3 MOST

POPULAR

MAJORS

THAT LEAD TO THE MOST SATISFYING CAREER

HEALTH, PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND RECREATION

ELEMENTARY EDUCATION

IN THIS SECTION

NURSING SPECIAL EDUCATION MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING ATHLETIC TRAINING SOCIAL WORK CHILD AND FAMILY STUDIES DIETETICS BIBLICAL STUDIES PUBLIC HEALTH ELEMENTARY EDUCATION PETROLEUM ENGINEERING HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION MOLECULAR BIOLOGY BIOTECHNOLOGY HEALTH SCIENCES EXERCISE SCIENCE THEOLOGY MICROBIOLOGY KINESIOLOGY INFORMATION

GATHERED FROM

COLLEGE SALARY REPORT (2012)

See page 3B

S TUDENT - LOAN

DEBT HAS SURPASSED

$1.2 TRILLION

LIFE

SPORTS Lions place first in Jim Bishop Toyota Classic

PAYSCALEʼS

IN OCTOBER 2011, THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR 20 TO 29-YEAR-OLDS WHO HAD GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE IN 2011 WAS 12.6 PERCENT.

Snapshots of the Week See page 4B

International students face academic issues See page 5B

World suffering debate questions existence of God See page 6B

2B LIFE AFTER GRADUATION

April 3, 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ The Flor-Ala

LOCAL

Why should students care about...

JASMINE FLEMING

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After graduation, students will begin seeking employment, which can take them all over the world. However, students might want to consider Florence as a viable option in which to enter the job market.

How does Florenceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s job market compare to other cities?

Florenceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unemployment rate is well below the state and national averages and the cost of living is low as well, said Barry Morris, Florence city councilman for district four. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Consider what it would be like spending a few days in Atlanta,â&#x20AC;? Morris said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They have a much higher cost of living, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a maze of traffic and crime is much worse. Florence provides a relief from that so people here can visit places like Atlanta but have Florence to come back to.â&#x20AC;?

Will there be jobs in Florence for future college graduates? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking to bring in more high tech jobs,â&#x20AC;? said Hermon Graham, Florence city councilman for district three. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With the creation of the new science building at UNA, we hope to have some engineering and technical classes as well

Florence?

to prepare students for the jobs weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re bringing here.â&#x20AC;?

There are many opportunities for students to find employment if they stick around Florence, said Matt Davis, Edward Jones investment broker and 2006 UNA alumnus. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Eighty percent of the business I receive comes from the community,â&#x20AC;?

Davis said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Job opportunities are definitely growing in the area.â&#x20AC;?

Sophomore Michalia Lewis said Florence does have many job opportunities, just not for the specific field she wants to enter. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am working on becoming a nurse practitioner,â&#x20AC;? Lewis said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Florence does have plenty of opportunities for nurse practitioners, but I want to be a neonatal nurse practitioner and Florence doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t offer many jobs in that field.â&#x20AC;?

Can graduates become

EMPLOYMENT

VP of Sage advises students est bankruptcy state in the nation. I had a communications and history degree but there was no work and I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know what to do. I thought about working as a paralegal or legal secretary but they said â&#x20AC;&#x153;we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pay you.â&#x20AC;? I worked four jobs over two years. Now I work in technology.

KALI DANIEL

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Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re probably terrified of graduating. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next? How am I going to get my dream job? How am I going to balance a social life? How am I going to overcome the job market? How, as a woman, am I going to succeed? I spoke with Gabie Boko, executive vice president of marketing at Sage North America, a company offering business management solutions for small and mid-sized businesses. As an executive woman, she had numerous valuable insights for our seniors and claimed inspiration from each successful individual. college, how did you get to where you are now?

KD: IAfter came into the workforce when there were issues in the market in GB: the mid-1990s. I graduated college in Arizona which was, at the time, the high-

the ultimate advice for people who are graduating?

KD: InWhatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s college, learn whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offered and how to think. Learn how to commuGB: nicate and make partnerships. The job of your choice may not be available. It may not be what you need so you have to think of how youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to support yourself.

As a woman in the workforce, what are some issues you see for KD: female graduates and how would you suggest resolving those issues?

The majority of women have lower-wage jobs. My advice is to start your own business. Have a job on the side, of course, but entrepreneurship is a gap we should close. What we do about closing that gap is thinking outside of your career - how you impact organizations for great communities and changing how a woman is perceived in the â&#x20AC;&#x153;workforce.â&#x20AC;?

GB:

Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Note: To read the rest of this story, visit florala.net.

entrepreneurs as well?

Michelle Jones, a 2005 graduate, said she and her husband will be opening the first microbrewery in Florence, called Singinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; River Brewing Company, on March 21. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We decided to open a brewery in Florence because we saw a niche that wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t (being) filled,â&#x20AC;? Jones said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will be in local restaurants and bars (March 21), and we hope to have our tasting room open by the end of April.â&#x20AC;?

After graduating from UNA in 1994, Keith Collier Jr. said he was able to open two businesses in Florence â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Valley Fixtures Inc. and a public accountancy firm. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Opening two businesses in Florence has been much better that I could have ever expected,â&#x20AC;? Collier Jr. said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think it would have been harder in a bigger city. If you look at Florence, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see

that new businesses are opening every year, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s because this is one of the best places to open them.â&#x20AC;?

Florence already has so many established businesses, said Josh Keel, a sophomore. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I came to school at UNA for the commercial music program,â&#x20AC;? Keel said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want to open my own recording studio, so I would probably have to leave the area since Florence is already known for that.â&#x20AC;?

What are some tips for future graduates?

Whether graduates will be job hunting or creating their own employment, they should begin networking now with local leaders and business owners, Jones said.

Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Note: To read the rest of this story, visit florala.net.

CAREER CARNIVAL

SPORTS 3B

April 3, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

March 18 - March 31 Scoreboard Tuesday, March 18

Sunday, March 23

BASEBALL

WOMENʼS TENNIS

UNA vs. Selma University Win 15-2

UNA @ Tuskegee University Win 9-0

Wednesday, March 19

Tuesday, March 25

SOFTBALL

MENʼS TENNIS

UNA @ Stillman University Win 7-0 Win 10-0

UNA @ Valdosta State University Loss 0-9

Friday, March 21

WOMENʼS TENNIS UNA @ Valdosta State University Loss 8-1

MENʼS TENNIS UNA @ Christian Brothers University Win 9-0

WOMENʼS TENNIS UNA @ Christian Brothers University Win 8-1

Wednesday, March 26 BASEBALL UNA vs. Trevecca Nazarene University Win 10-5

MENʼS TENNIS

Saturday, March 22 BASEBALL UNA vs. Union University Win 7-6 Win 12-6

UNA @ Alabama State University Loss 4-3

WOMENʼS TENNIS UNA @ Alabama State University Loss 4-3

SOFTBALL UNA vs. Union University Win 4-2 Loss 2-1

TRACK Rhodes College Invitational Placed 16th out of 16

BRIEFS

Lions play while students away DALLAS MOORE & DUSTIN POLLARD

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The Lions continued to play over the break, adding multiple wins and losses to their respective records.

Golf The Lions placed first in the 2014 Jim Bishop Spring Classic at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at the Shoals Fighting Joe Course March 22 and 23.

This was the fifth tournament for the Lions and it was their first victory of the season.

Missouri-St. Louis led the field after the first two rounds with a 603 total.

Second round leader Trent Alexander held on to win medalist honors with a final score of 218. Senior Connor Godsey tied for seventh place with a total of 226 and shot the best during the final round with 71. Sophomore Michael Peter tied for 10th place with a total of 227.

The Gulf South Conference Tournament starts April 21 in Tunica, Mississippi.

Softball The Lions split both games with Union Saturday, March 22, in a doubleheader.

They won the first game 4-2 thanks to a three-run homer by center-fielder Shelby Goodman.

The Bulldogs took the second game on Saturday 2-1.

The Lions bats went quiet Sunday, March 23, as the team fell 2-0 to the Bulldogs again.

photo by JACOB DAWSON I Student Photographer

Trent Alexander stands with his club extended after driving the ball at the Jim Bishop Toyota Classic Monday, March 24.

Baseball The baseball team kept an even record as they managed four wins and three losses over the break.

Starting the break with two wins against Union University on Saturday, March 22, they fell to the Bulldogs the following Saturday 6-3.

They continued on to defeat Trevecca Nazarene University 10-5 on Wednesday, March 26.

They finished the break with two losses and a win versus University of Alabama - Huntsville on March 29-30.

Tennis The tennis team brought home a win against Christian Bros. University on Friday, March 21.

The men’s team scored 9-0 and the women won eight out of nine matches.

They followed up the wins by shutting out Tuskegee University 9-0 Sunday, March 23.

The winning streak did not hold, however, as both the men’s and women’s teams brought home losses from both Valdosta State University and Alabama State University Tuesday, March 25 and Wednesday, March 26, respectively.

Track The track team traveled to Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn. for the Rhodes Invitational Saturday, March 22.

Overall, the team placed 16 out of 16 in the invitational.

Outdoor Club The UNA Outdoor Club participated in the Rock and Rumble Bouldering Competition, Saturday, March 26 at Western Carolina University.

“We didn’t place, but just because we don’t have the endurance the other teams had,” said Outdoor Club Adviser McKenzie Martin.

Saturday, March 29 BASEBALL UNA @ University of Alabama - Huntsville Loss 4-3 Loss 12-2

SOFTBALL

Sunday, March 23 BASEBALL UNA vs. Union University Loss 6-3

SOFTBALL UNA vs. Union University Loss 2-0

UNA @ University of Alabama - Huntsville Win 1-0 Loss 4-2

Sunday, March 30

BASEBALL

UNA @ University of Alabama - Huntsville Win 2-1

MENʼS TENNIS

SOFTBALL

UNA @ Tuskegee University Win 9-0

UNA @ University of Alabama - Huntsville Loss 5-2

photo by ALLI OWNBY I Staff Photographer photo by ROGER WANG I Staff Photographer

Pitcher BreeAnna Blevins winds up the ball at the Saturday, March 22 game versus Union University.

Brett Guzay catches the ball near second base at the Saturday, March 22 game.

4B SPORTS

April 3, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

SNAPSHOTS OF THE WEEK

STAYING ACTIVE AT UNA 3

4 3:30 p.m. - Ab Attack 2 p.m. - Horseback Riding at Shady Grove Dude Ranch, weekend trip sponsored by the OAC*

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

12 p.m. - TRX 3:30 p.m. - Ab Attack 4 p.m. - Zumba, XFit and Cycling 6 p.m. - Muscle Works 7 p.m. - Tabata

5

3 p.m. - 7 p.m. - SRC Open

photo by JOSHUA BROOKOVER I Staff Photographer

Junior Trent Alexander places his ball on the green. Alexander finished first in the Jim Bishop Toyota Classic held March 24 and 25.

6

4 p.m. - Ab Attack

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

11 a.m. - 1 p.m. - Slack7 lining in front of Coby Hall 3:30 p.m. - TRX and Ab Attack 4 p.m. - Zumba, XFit 6 p.m. - Yoga 6 p.m. - Outdoor Club Meeting at OAC 7 p.m. - Tabata

12 p.m. - TRX 8 3:30 p.m. - Ab Attack 4 p.m. - Zumba, XFit and Cycling 6 p.m. - Muscle Works 7 p.m. - Tabata 7 p.m. - Outdoor Clinic hosted by the OAC

3:30 p.m. - TRX and Ab Attack 4 p.m. - Zumba, XFit

6 p.m. - Yoga 7 p.m. - Tabata

MONDAY

TUESDAY

9 WEDNESDAY

photo by ALLI OWNBY I Staff Photographer

Shortstop Brett Guzay slides into home plate at the Saturday, March 22 game versus Union University.

OAC = Outdoor Adventure Center *Weekly pre-trip meetings are Tuesdays at 5 p.m. To check for last-minute availability e-mail mlmartin2@una.edu

SRC = Student Recreation Center All exercise classes held at the SRC.

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LIFE 5B

April 3, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

EDUCATION

Work hard, Work harder

photo illustration by JACOB DAWSON I Student Photographer

International students involved in the English as a Second Language program are challenged more in their studies at UNA than their American counterparts.

“Many students have to get through the program in a certain amount of time,” said adjunct ESL instructor Brian Mulack. ESL students must complete four terms rather than two semesters so they advance through their studies more quickly.

International student challenges provide opportunity KALI DANIEL

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On top of learning a new language, international students face numerous other challenges most American students do not face when attempting to gain a diploma.

International students involved in the English as a Second Language program are involved in four eight-week class sessions, two sessions per semester, according to the Office of International Affairs’ policy.

“In my opinion they have more chance to move up and down with the eight-week sessions,” said adjunct ESL instructor Brian Mulack. “Many students have to get through the program in a certain amount of time based on scholarships they receive from their country.

The sessions allow them to get through it all faster and move to different levels.”

Classes for international students take place in Powers Hall, where students take any mixture of speaking, grammar, reading, listening or writing classes in

one of five levels ranked from beginner to advanced. Each class occurs at the same time every day.

“Level one is not knowing any English and level five is very proficient in a specific area,” Mulack said. “We do this because the students need to be comfortable learning ABC’s or random words. We keep them separate so they all get what they need.”

Adjunct Arabic instructor and former ESL student Ali AlNasar said ESL classes provide a stable learning environment.

“In ESL you’re taught about U.S. culture as well as how to speak, write, listen and become grammatically correct,” AlNasar said. “They know you’re from a different country, so they allow translations. It becomes a little different when you become academic.”

ESL student Ye Bojie said he finds the separate terms difficult.

“It seems like you get two finals for one semester,” Bojie said. “I’m always trying to figure out how to make my every

day go fast. Sometimes you are desperate to get out of the building as soon as possible, for whatever reason. You can get tired of language.”

Should a student receive a C, D or F letter-grade for a given class, they do not move up a level, rather are required to retake said class, according to ESL policies.

”

IN ACADEMIC CLASSES ITʼS NOT THAT PROFESSORS DONʼT CARE, THEY

JUST HAVE A LOT MORE STUDENTS SO

(INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS) DONʼT HAVE SOMEONE ON TOP OF THEM AND THEY STRUGGLE WITH THAT.

BRIAN MULACK

ADJUNCT ESL INSTRUCTOR

“Academic courses are very different from ESL in that ESL is more skills-based,” Mulack said. “If they don’t meet the standard, they’re not ready. If

you don’t know certain basics, you can’t go on to the next part.

It keeps students from drowning in a language.”

ESL students are placed in different levels based on test scores, according to the policy.

“The Compass ACT ESL Placement Test will be given to all new students to determine level placements in each subject,” the policy said. “A student who scores level six in all areas may be eligible to waive ESL classes…(or) that subject.”

After taking level four and five classes, ESL students may begin taking “academic” classes, or classes for the major, minor and general requirements.

“In ESL it’s so small so we work closely and stay on top of students work and homework and make sure they’re excelling,” Mulack said. “In academic classes it’s not that professors don’t care, they just have a lot more students so (international students) don’t have someone on top of them and they struggle with that.”

A big issue of becoming academic lies with international students being unable to trans-

late for their classes.

“Some professors won’t let you translate certain vocabulary you’re unfamiliar with,” AlNasar said. “On the plus side, they communicate with you as they would their American students.”

Outside of the ESL program, students are encouraged to sign up for the Language Partner program in Powers Hall, Mulack said.

“The friends of international students and language partner programs are vital for ESL and American students to get involved with another culture,” Mulack said. “Students get hesitant because they don’t know what to expect, but it’s a great resource. I really can’t stress it enough.”

Cross-cultural interaction provides the most important lessons a student can learn, Bojie said.

“Sometimes ESL means a lot to me,” Bojie said. “You’re learning something more than just language. You’re learning culture and a more effective way to talk with somebody. I think I gain more that way.”

6B LIFE

April 3, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

RELIGION

Wordly suffering debate questions existence of God KALI DANIEL

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“The pain and suffering in the world indicate that the Christian God does not exist,” or so will be debated on April 4 in Norton Auditorium, hosted by the Christian Student Center.

Kyle Butt, a Freed-Hardeman graduate, will deny this claim while Bart Ehrman, James A. Gray Distinguished Professor, will affirm.

“It is our hope this debate will reach out to both the campus as well as the community of Florence as a whole,” said Christian Student Center Student Council President Travis Hunt. “It is our desire for those attending the debate to have a better understanding of God and his nature and the existence of pain and suffering.”

Debates offer valuable insight on subjects that allow both sides to be explained, Butt said on the Apologetics Press website.

“In many cases, publicly debating a proposition can help uncover the flaws and inconsistencies of a particular position while at the same time bring to light the truth and validity of the other position,” he said. “In some respects, a debate is one of the most valuable ways to analyze the truth of any position.”

Both candidates were chosen based on their extensive research in the field of

Christianity, Hunt said.

“Ehrman is one of the most respected scholars of New Testament in the academic community,” he said. “Many of the books he has written are used as the textbooks for college New Testament courses. He is a self-acclaimed agnostic and he has debated against the existence of God on several occasions in the past.

“Butt is an author for Apologetics Press and also a preacher of the Bible.

He has defended the authenticity of the Bible and discussed other Christian evidences in his over twenty books as well as in several debates.”

Ehrman said his perspective is described as “theodicy,” which questions how an all-powerful, all-controlling god can allow humanity to suffer.

“I think the issue of suffering is one of the most difficult issues any person can deal with,” Ehrman said. “It’s difficult for both Christian and not Christian, but nobody should settle for easy answers or for an answer they’re comfortable with without digging into the real problems. They’re not simple answers.

If they were, we’d all have the answer.”

Ehrman said this will be his first debate in Alabama, however he is familiar with the Bible Belt.

“I think this is most important topic anybody could possibly be involved with,” he said. “These are big questions in life. The kind of questions student have to wrestle for their entire life. It’s

April Events ...............

Christian Student Center Debate Norton Auditorium 6 p.m.

April 8 Chasing Ice GUC Performance Center 6 p.m.

April 8 The World of Sallie Independence Foster Norton Auditorium 7 p.m.

April 9 Horse Feathers with Dylan LeBlanc 116 E Mobile St. 8 p.m.

April 9-10

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April 4

Research Day GUC Banquet Halls All Day

April 15 First Amendment Awareness Month COM 131 7 p.m.

April 18 The Green Seed with Machinery of the Night 116 E Mobile St. 9 p.m.

April 29 Spring Concert Norton Auditorium 7 p.m.

Kyle Butt by MALISA MCCLURE I Senior Staff Photographer · Bart Ehrman courtesy of IndyWeek

Preacher Kyle Butt and James A. Gray Distinguished Professor Bart Ehrman will debate the existence of God based on worldly suffering Friday, April 4. Both said they find this topic important as everyone deals with suffering.

really helpful to see different points of view. You have to be willing to be challenged to think differently than what you were brought up with. Not to necessarily change religion, but to think deeper.”

Butt said he hopes to clarify misconceptions and has prayed a lot in preparation for the debate.

“This topic is one of the most important things you can deal with because everyone suffers at one point or another,” he said. “People are going to ask ‘Why does this happen?’ They need to see that

it is something that can be answered and that when they really think, they’ll see there are some very good reasons for why God allows suffering.”

Ehrman said he has debated since he was 14 and looks forward to every debate he participates in, including the upcoming event with Butt.

“Kyle Butt is a great debater,” he said. “I look forward to the very different points of view and hope for a very cordial debate.”

CAMPUS

UNA debuts three-minute thesis for undergraduates MARI WILLIAMS

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North Alabama will participate for the first time in Three Minute Thesis competition.

“Three Minute Thesis is a process that is a part of the University of Queensland in Australia,” said Lisa Keys-Mathews, director of the Quality Enhancement Program. “They have their Ph.D. students take their entire life’s work and their dissertation and condense it down to three minutes.”

The goal of the program is being able to get your research across in three minutes to a layman. If you can achieve this, then it is a successful body of work and presentation, Keyes-Mathews said.

Though Three Minute Thesis originated at the University of Queensland, from 2009 to 2011 the competition expanded to 170 universities in over 17 countries around the world, according to the competition’s website.

“It’s kind of proliferated out of Queensland, Australia and across the world,” Keys-Mathews said. “In the United States there are multiple universities doing these three minute talks at the graduate level — we are one of probably two or three universities doing it at the undergraduate level.”

Maisey Hunter said she enjoys be-

ing a first-year participant. Her thesis looked at the electron scattering of buckyballs, magnetic silver balls made of sixty carbon atoms.

“It’s completely new to UNA so it’s interesting to be able to say I was in it the first time,” Hunter said. “This was totally new, no one knew what was going on, but I had the guts to do it. It’s just a fun thing to do — to share your research with someone else.”

Research is a way for students to show potential employers they know how to solve a problem, Key-Mathews said.

“Think about spending an entire semester or an entire year on a research project, but having to know your information so well that you get into an elevator and you’re going up five floors and you can tell somebody in that elevator exactly what you’re doing, and they get off that elevator and they’ve understood it,” Keys-Mathews said.

Three Minute Thesis helps its participants explain their research to average people, Hunter said.

“It’s definitely benefitted me a lot already,” Hunter said. “When you talk about stuff in these types of situations, you can’t explain things how you normally would.”

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

LIFE AFTER GRADUATION 7B

April 3, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

TRANSITIONS

Graduating Flor-Ala editors discuss excitement, fears MARI WILLIAMS

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It is no secret that preparing for graduation and post-grad life is hard — the three senior editors at The Flor-Ala know exactly how tough it can be.

One is looking into graduate school, another is searching for a full-time job and one is planning a wedding. The three of them shared their thoughts in a roundtable discussion on graduating and leaving UNA behind.

Q: What’s the strongest emotion you feel when you start to think about graduation?

Blythe: It’s not really an emotion. It’s just more like nausea and being ready to throw up.

Corinne: I feel anxiety because I don’t know what’s going to happen, and I don’t know if I’m making the right decision.

Pace: It’s just a lot of confusion for the most part. It really is hard to make a big decision, because even though it is just deciding what we’re going to be doing for the next few months it feels like we’re deciding what we’re doing for the rest of our lives. The decision feels a lot heavier than any decision we’ve ever made before.

Q: What’s been the hardest part of preparing for the next phase in your life?

Blythe: Trying to balance it with the newspaper.

Corinne: And balancing school. At the same time we’re supposed to be getting straight A’s and showing our future employer, “Look, I can do it all!” but the reality is it doesn’t feel like you should be able to do it all.

Pace: Even more so knowing that you have to dedicate time to thinking about the future. It’s really hard sometimes.

photo by JOSHUA BROOKOVER I Staff Photographer

Staff Writer Mari Williams interviews News Editor Pace Holdbrooks, Managing Editor Blythe Steelman and Editor-in-Chief Corinne Beckinger about graduation and how students can prepare for the next chapter in life.

Q: Is it harder to dedicate time because you don’t have the time or because you are afraid to think about it?

Everyone: Both.

Q: Since you’ve been at UNA does it feel like the time has flown by?

Blythe: Sometimes. It’s a weird kind of feeling because I can clearly remember my first day here on campus four years ago, but at the very same time it feels like it’s gone on for a really long time.

Q: What scares you the most about graduating?

Blythe: Ending up on the streets in

six months.

Q: So how does it feel that soon you’ll really be adults?

Corinne: My hands are sweating just thinking about it.

Pace: It’s tough, but I honestly feel we’re ready. If my parents were to drop me right now it would suck. It would suck so bad, but I would be able to figure it out. We all would.

Blythe: There are so many people in college already who make it on their own and support themselves. I have no qualms about the three of us supporting ourselves.

Corinne: Man, bump that, I’ve got a cat to support.

Q: Do you have any regrets or things you would have done differently?

Pace: I have no regrets, but I wish I could just go back to school or get a degree in two semesters. There are certain programs at this university that are really great that I would have liked to pursue more in depth than I did.

Blythe: No regrets.

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

REVIEW

ʻYoung Wanderlustʼ misses storytelling, lacks form in writing ”A ,K ...

KALI DANIEL

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photo courtesy of Amazon.com

In Evan Kenward’s new book “Young Wanderlust”, Kenward writes about his time spent traveling after college.

The journey began and ended in the town of Amherst, Mass., home to the great poet Emily Dickinson and now the great non-fiction writer Evan Kenward.

Or, so the author of “Young Wanderlust” seems to think.

Kenward paints a beautiful, naturefilled scene of his journey across the country and up into Canada as his first adventure fresh out of college at the University of Massachusetts. As he waits to figure out what to do with his life, he looks forward to the 28-day journey he

has planned with his friends. He engages in numerous altercations with his traveling partners, “Gil” and “Wallace.” Halfway across the country he begins to have issues with Wallace’s attitude, using his novel as more of a 13-year-old girl’s diary.

Similarly, his personality is incredibly distracting. He seems to mock several people throughout the book and his tone occasionally becomes unfriendly and angry. It seems like he tries very hard to make the reader like him, which, of course, made me hate him.

As a written novel, “Young Wanderlust” is in serious need of a publisher. Between the horrible usage of commas, the lack of differentiation between “peak” and “pique” and the overwhelming amount of try-hard alliteration, textual errors make the story difficult to enjoy and even more difficult to relate to. At one point, his friend Casey is referred to as “Calab,” shattering the illusion of the pseudonym.

S AN ENTERTAINMENT WRITER

ENWARD

HAS MUCH GROWING TO DO

Kenward deserves his due credit, though. Not many college graduates can travel across the country and back, remembering all of the details and writing a 470-page novel about their experiences.

Better yet, not many college graduates attempt to inspire other students pursuing their degrees. Kenward definitely pushes a message, however getting to the end of the novel can be extremely tedious.

As an entertainment writer, however, Kenward has much growing to do and many basic grammatical principles to overcome before he can afford a respectable readership.

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

8B EXTRA

Tweets of the week

April 3, 2014 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.