Oct. 11 Issue

SOCCER LOSES TO GEORGIA COLLEGE SPORTS 5B

Oct. 11, 2012

Volume 81, Issue 8

www.FlorAla.net

Student newspaper of the University of North Alabama

UNA POLICE

ADMINISTRATION

Administrators plan for universityʼs future, create strategic plan

Safety on their minds

RYAN PAINE

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Over the course of the next year, university officials will commence the development of a new strategic plan, with the assistance and input of faculty, staff, students and the administration.

“A strategic plan helps an institution think about the future, prepare for the future and put itself CALE in the best position possible to be ready for what’s down the road,” said David Shields, vice president for student affairs.

”

UNA police Chief Bob Pastula and Vice President for Student Affairs David Shields speak as Librarian Doris McDaniel listens during campus forums the Division of Student Affairs hosted after a student was reportedly raped in the parking deck.

OUR QUALITY ENHANCEMENT PLAN

Police chief, vice president meet with campus community during public forums

WILL BE ONE WAY WE MOVE TOWARD

DISTINGUISHING

photo by JOSH SKAGGS I Executive Editor

UNA, AND ITS IMPLE-

ALEX LINDLEY

MENTATION WILL MOVE US CLOSER TO

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THAT ASPIRATIONAL GOAL.

BILL CALE “Where do we want to go? What do we want to look like in five years?”

The university’s last strategic plan (2007 to 2012) will conclude Dec. 31 this year. Among its many accomplishments are plans for a new science building, the black box theater and the new Academic Commons Building currently in construction, officials said.

“The plan we are now under, soon to be revised, set clear direction for us in improving our approach to campus diversity, to revising all aspects of our international programming, to our campus building plan (by way of a new campus master plan) and to our programs in student life,” said President Bill Cale via

In response to recent increased crime on campus, UNA officials held four open forums to address safety and security concerns to the UNA community.

The purpose of the forums was to inform the campus about safety measures UNA police have introduced over the last three years, said David Shields, UNA vice president for student affairs.

“When things like this happen, it creates an urgency for all of us,” he said.

“We want to know why this is happening and how we can prevent it.”

UNA police Chief Bob Pastula said he’s seen several security and safety issues that need to be fixed since he started working at UNA and has made efforts to fix those problems.

“We’ve gone to 12-hour shifts to in-

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AT A GLANCE • 12 NEW RESERVE OFFICERS HIRED • MORE OFFICERS IN PARKING DECK FROM 6 P.M. UNTIL 12 A.M. • DISPATCH CENTER RUNNING BY END OF NOVEMBER • STUDENTS SHOULD CALL 911 IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

Students speak out about recent crimes on campus, safety concerns BLYTHE STEELMAN 7VTQVM -LQ\WZ J[\MMTUIV(]VI ML]

Following the recent string of crimes reported to campus police, safety and security are on the minds of students, as evidenced by social media comments on Facebook and Twitter.

Vice President for Student Affairs David Shields and UNA police Chief Bob Pastula said student safety is at the top of the list of priorities for administrators at

UNA. “Safety and security are a primary concern on our campus,” Shields said during an open forum Oct. 9.

David McCreary, a senior, said he doesn’t feel safe on campus anymore.

“With so many incidents happening, apparently something isn’t right,” McCreary said.

McCreary said he doesn’t know exactly what needs to change.

“Maybe they need to add more patrols; I don’t know,” McCreary said. “I

just want to know exactly what’s going on and why no one is fixing it.”

Senior Will Whaley said he went to school in Memphis before transferring to UNA, and he said he’s shocked by the crime here.

“I’ve never seen this kind of crime on campus before,” Whaley said. “I went to school in Memphis and it was never like it is here.”

Whaley said he feels like the uni-

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See page 8B for

an

special

2A NEWS

STUDENT DEBT

Oct. 11, 2012 • The Flor-Ala

RECREATION

Loan debt Rock wall not coming to campus doubles in two decades • Nearly 1 in 5 households affected by student loan debt, study says.

YU FU

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A Pew Research Center study reported that student loan debt now affected 19 percent, nearly one out of five, of U.S. households in 2010, more than double the share two decades ago. The average outstanding debt is $26,682.

According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, U.S. student loan debt has reached $1 trillion.

“It is really difficult to keep up with my loans myself,” said Victoria Paige Smallwood, an accounting major. “I wish my parents could help out to take some of the burden off of me.”

The percent of households with debt headed by those younger than 35 has grown from 25 percent in 1995 to 40 percent in 2010, according to the Pew Research Center.

“As the level of student debt continues to drain more and more of household resources, the standard of living of these families will be negatively impacted,” said Mark Foster, associate professor of finance.

Smallwood said rising tuition causes her loan amount to increase.

“I have a campus job, and most of my paycheck goes toward living expenses,” Smallwood said. “There is very little left over to start paying on my student loans.”

Foster said colleges will need to look for innovative methods of delivering their product to keep cost from continually rising; a healthy economic environment would aid colleges in holding down cost.

The default rate on student loans is high, according to the U.S. Department of Education, which paid $1.4 billion last year to acquire the $76 billion that are currently in default.

“Using alternative methods such as scholarships, work study and other funded programs could serve to help students from getting into the situation of owing large sums of money for student loans,” Foster said.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, nearly 26 percent of people under 25 with a bachelor’s are unemployed, and 38 percent are underemployed. College students are not only forced to take huge student loan debt, but they are unable to look for a job to pay it off.

Foster said if the economy continues to remain in its present downturn, some individuals may choose to return to school because they are unable to find employment.

“Students with parents affected by the economy slowdown are finding themselves more responsible for paying their own way; this has increased the need for these students to seek out aid in the student loan market,” Foster said.

photo by KAYLA SLOAN I Chief Photographer

SGA executive officers meet in the GUC Oct. 4 and discuss student and campus issues. Last week, senate limited the funding of the UNA Rugby Club to only the club sports fund.

RYAN PAINE

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SGA has decided not to pursue plans announced last November to purchase a rock climbing wall for the SRC. Following a student opinion poll on Facebook, SGA had originally intended to utilize surplus funds from the failed acquisition of the Florence Golf and Country Club to bankroll a number of initiatives, including the rock climbing wall, an outdoor pool and a disc golf course.

Instead, this excess money, along with some additional cash raised by a one-time $1 addition to students’ recreation fees, was pumped into financing the spring concert, providing the MilitaryVeterans Affairs Alliance with additional funds and facilitating the construction of

the Communications Building’s movie room.

SGA Senate Vice President Jordan Brasher said that while plans for the disc golf course were discarded due to the campus’ proximity to the course at Veterans Park and plans for the outdoor pool were never realized due to the unrealistic cost of the project, plans for the rock wall fell through mainly due to financial disagreements among senators and logistical concerns. Among these concerns, SRC Director Jim Eubanks informed SGA that the infrastructure of the SRC would not support a “full rock wall.”

To remedy this and the funding issues, SGA President Will Riley said the organization found four transportable “rotating” rock walls, though that project was discarded, too.

“People decided that wasn’t a sufficient spending, and they decided not to

pursue to the purchase of the rock wall,” Riley said.

Outdoor Adventure Center staff member and UNA student Brandon Pennington said he’s disappointed the rock wall didn’t happen.

“We were all pretty excited at the Outdoor Center; we were hoping for (a rock wall),” he said. “I think the rock wall would’ve seen a pretty good bit of use, had they installed it.”

Riley said he thinks the wall would have been a good addition to UNA. “I think it would be a great addition if the students would want it, but we haven’t done the research to see if students want it or want to pursue it,” Riley said.

Brasher said the rock wall would be put to good use by the UNA community,

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SGA

Senate limits Rugby Club funding ELISE COFIELD

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The UNA SGA Senate met Oct. 3 to discuss and settle funding matters for the UNA Rugby Club.

Rugby is a recent addition to the club sports at UNA. The club made an appeal to the budget oversight committee this September to receive funding from the student allocations fund as well as from the club sports fund, said Tyrie Fletcher, chair of the budget oversight committee.

Fletcher said he thought the existing policy clearly restricted the rugby team from drawing from the allocations fund and sent the matter to be handled by the SGA Senate.

As an appeals ward, the senate is re-

”

WE CAN REASSESS THE SITU-

ATION IF THEY ARE SHORT ON FUNDS AT THE END OF THE YEAR, BUT FOR NOW, OUR GOAL IS FAIRNESS

.

WILL RILEY sponsible for handling such special cases and distributing the student recreation fund fairly, said SGA President Will Riley.

The club sports fund was formed last

year when the funds from the $1 student recreation fee were turned over to Senate, who in turn allocated the funds to Student Recreation and Fitness.

SGA Senate Vice President Jordan Brasher said rugby is a club sport, not a registered student organization, meaning that the club is not qualified to pull from the student allocations fund.

After discussion, the Senate unanimously decided to limit the Rugby Club’s funding to only that which comes from the club sports fund.

“We didn’t want to create double dipping of any student organization,” Riley said. “We can reassess the situation if they are short on funds at the end of the year, but for now, our goal is fairness.”

NEWS 3A

Oct. 11, 2012 • The Flor-Ala

VOTING

Out-of-area students opt for abesntee ballots

photo courtesy of Morguefile

Some students opt to vote in their home areas using absentee ballots even while they are attending UNA because their votes mean more to them in local elections or in swing states.

KATIE LINDSAY

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The country will elect a new president Nov. 16. Or re-elect the previous one.

Regardless of students’ political beliefs and affiliations, if they aren’t registered to vote in Lauderdale County, they’ll need to get an absentee ballot to participate.

“In the state of Alabama, absentee ballots are available to people who are temporarily living outside the county in which they’re registered or to those who are ill or physically disabled and are unable to make it to the polling place,” said Tim Collins, professor of political science. “Ideally, it’s if you’re going to be out of the country or if you’re a student and you’re away at school.”

Students can register to vote at rockthevote.com.

Students can check their registration and print out an absentee ballot application at longdistancevoter.org.

“Make sure you apply for it and think ahead,” Collins said.

According to longdistancevoter.org, the deadline for the absentee ballot application is Nov. 1. The actual ballot must be postmarked by the day before the election and received by noon the

day of the election if mailed. If hand delivered, it must be received by 5 p.m. the day before the election. “(Absentee ballots) are more convenient,” said UNA senior Atticus Wright.

“You’re exercising your rights as a citizen to vote.”

Though these two students are getting absentee ballots, “a significant number do change registration to where they are,” Collins said.

“College students are notorious for not voting in as large a percentage as older voters,” Collins said. “For students, the issues are abstracted, and they tend to be more transient. They don’t think their vote matters because they don’t know how to make it matter. The more you get involved in the process (of voting), the more you can affect the process.

“A few votes can make a big difference. It’s kind of a duty of citizenship.”

Collins said students should stay informed on the issues before voting.

Collins said UNA makes this possible for students by airing the presidential and vice presidential debates.

If students can’t make it to these, the debates are also aired on YouTube. According to debates.org, the debates are Oct. 11, Oct. 16 and Oct. 22. Each debate starts at 8 p.m. and lasts until 9:30 p.m.

4A IMAGES

Oct. 11, 2012 • The Flor-Ala

Music THRIVES in Shoals

by Christina Covington, staff photographer

Local music is everywhere from the streets to the big stage right here in Florence. Music is one of the core aspects of this town that brings in talent and produces the main attraction for Florence’s small city crowd of music lovers. Florence and its surrounding cities, such as Muscle Shoals, Sheffield and Tuscumbia, were made to host entertainment throughout their outside downtown areas and, most of all, having live talent inside bars and sometimes in selected restaurants. Local acts even become popular through the college life on UNA’s

own campus. Home on a Friday night? No homework?

Have some extra cash? Florence at night and especially on days such as the traditional first friday festival, which is mainly a holiday in Florence, is the best time to fill that Friday night up with its free and local music in downtown. Florence is and has always been a good place to discover and experience great music and it’s such a great, musically talented city that it even is home to a GRAMMY award winner. Go support and enjoy!

FEATURE 5A

Oct. 11, 2012 • The Flor-Ala

UNIVERSITY

POLICE STEP UP PATROLS FOLLWING RECENT CRIMES What students are saying on Twitter:

photo by JOSH SKAGGS I Executive Editor

Vice President for Student Affairs David Shields speaks during an open forum Oct. 9.

.7:=5 KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) crease our coverage and have three officers on duty at most times,” he said.

“We moved to a more centrally located area of campus to increase our visibility.

We also offer bike patrols, Segways and officers patrolling on foot.”

Recently, UNA police have created new investigative positions, Pastula said.

“I’ve created an investigator’s position and, more recently, in response to the recent events, a sexual crime investigator who is specially trained,” he said.

Shields said the recent addition of reserve officers, who train for seven to eight months, to the UNA police force has doubled the size of the force and said they don’t cost the university much money because they work on a volunteer basis.

;<=,-6<; KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) versity doesn’t have its priorities in order.

“Instead of worrying about parking, they need to be worrying about campus safety,” Whaley said.

Amanda Frazier, a junior, said her fears about safety and security extend beyond the campus.

“I don’t feel safe on campus because they’re not doing anything to implement security measures,” Frazier said. “But it’s not strictly the campus. I don’t feel

84)6 KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) email.

Some of the things students can expect to see featured in the new university strategic plan are new residence halls, the completion of a new science building, plans for Floyd Science Building’s second life, new partnerships between academics and student affairs, a new “university success initiative” to aid in retaining students through graduation, programs to aid in preparing incoming students for collegiate life, enrollment increases and the expansion of on-cam-

“Recently, we had 12 reserve officers trained, and they’re out there assisting us right now,” he said. “They’ll be officially joining our ranks soon.”

Pastula said he has arranged for more security in the parking deck, citing officers who will patrol the deck from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m.

A new 24-hour dispatch center will open in late November or early December, Pastula said.

“We will be opening a new dispatch center, which will be manned 24 hours a day,” he said. “And we have blue phones located throughout campus — about 70 phones, with five on each level of the parking deck.”

Pastula said students should call 911 for campus emergencies and 765-HELP for non-emergencies. A sign displaying the HELP number will be hung outside the university police station soon, he said.

Shields and Pastula encouraged

students to take advantage of campus safety resources, such as the Student Nighttime Auxiliary Patrol and the Rape Aggression Defense courses offered on campus.

“Saturday (Oct. 13) is the last class of this year, and new ones will start in January,” he said. “Because they aren’t usually well-attended, we only offer

them once a quarter, but if demand goes up, we’ll create more classes.”

Shields said campus will be safer with the help of students.

“We have 7,000 people a day on campus,” he said. “If we can employ 7,000 eyes, we have a better opportunity to respond to security issues.”

safe in Florence, period, with everything that’s happened on campus and the inmates escaping recently.”

Arielle Jones, a student living in Rice Hall, said she recently found herself in a situation that tested how safe she feels, even though she lives on campus.

“It was late, and I left my room to go brush my teeth in the (community-style) bathroom,” Jones said. “There were two drunk guys wandering around in the hallways, knocking on people’s doors.

They stuck their heads in the bathroom and started talking to me.

“It’s not that they did anything to me, but they were blocking the door, and if I had tried to leave, they might not have

let me.”

Kevin Jacques, director of residence life, said it’s important for students to report these types of incidents as soon as possible when they happen.

“I can promise you this — we address situations as soon as we’re notified,” Jacques said. “It’s difficult to respond, though, when it’s not reported. People are quick to put information on Twitter or Facebook, but they don’t report it to the proper people.”

Jones said she doesn’t feel like the residence halls are as secure as they could be because there aren’t cameras anywhere, and once someone gets past the card swipe outside, they’re free to go

wherever they want in the building.

“People are doing this stuff on campus because they know they can get away with it and they won’t get caught,” Jones said.

SGA President Will Riley said SGA is currently looking at options to help increase student safety.

“It’s certainly something we want to be a part of,” Riley said. “I’m not real sure how or in what capacity yet, but we’re looking into it.”

Shields and Pastula are both encouraging students to report anything suspicious they see happening on campus.

“The more we know, the better prepared we can be to help,” Shields said.

pus programs and services for students, in addition to a possible move to Division I. “We can’t do all things,” Shields said. “We don’t have the resources to do everything. So we have to strategically look at what key things will help our institution to grow, to remain strong, to distinguish ourselves as an institution, to support our students and to make the in-class and out-of-class experience for students top-notch.”

Cale said the university still had more to do in the way of ensuring students’ academic success but pointed to the creation of a University Success Center as work progress toward this end.

Also, he said the university will rely

on a “comprehensive fundraising campaign as part of the next plan.”

Through this campaign, the administration hopes to decide what new building projects UNA needs.

“Our Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) will be one way we move toward distinguishing UNA, and its implementation will move us closer to that aspirational goal,” Cale said.

Shields said the new strategic plan will be reviewed every year to ensure its goals and initiatives align with the interests and realities of the university. In effect, the plan will become a “living document,” something that guides UNA’s progress as a whole, he said.

“Destiny is going to come,” Shields

said. “The future’s coming. We have the opportunity, through a strategic plan, to chart out destiny or have our destiny chart us. I think the next 10, 15, 20 years of this institution are going to be very, very exciting years.

“UNA is in a very, very good position to become a stronger institution. We have an outstanding faculty, a tremendous staff — our student body is active and growing, we have a strong connection to our community, and we have a lot of friends and donors and supporters. President Cale, the administration, along with the faculty, staff and students, has laid a good foundation on which to build.”

6A NEWS

Oct. 11, 2012 • The Flor-Ala

STUDENT RESEARCH

Group teaches projectile motion with rockets

photo courtesy of Cynthia Stenger

Research group adviser James Jerkins holds the rocket’s flight computer with members of the undergraduate research group. The group is divided into two teams: one that will design a computer simulation and another that will study alternative methods of teaching projectile motion.

PACE HOLDBROOKS

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A group of UNA students launched a small rocket last week, marking the beginning of a joint undergraduate research

project by students majoring in math, education and computer science.

“The project consists of two undergraduate teams that are studying alternative ways to teach projectile motion to high school and college students,” said Atticus Wright, a senior computer sci-

ence major. “We are in the early stages of the project; the launch gave us some real-world data to work with.”

Wright said the project began when he and Patrick Lindsay, also a senior at UNA, asked their professors about doing an honors capstone project.

“Our professors realized we had several students looking to do some research, so we decided to combine them,” Wright said, “I’ve never been involved with a project like this. I’m learning a lot about research methods.”

While one team designs a computer simulation to teach projectile motion to calculus students, the other will create a lesson plan for Algebra 2 students, using model rockets, Wright said.

“We were discussing how a lot of our students didn’t notice the relationship between math and computer science,” said Cynthia Stenger, interim chair of the UNA Department of Mathematics. “On each team we have a math major, a computer science major and a math education major.”

All members are responsible for their own area but closely rely on their team to complete the research and build a lesson plan, Stenger said. The goal of both teams is to determine the benefits of teaching projectile motion to students through alternative means.

“Undergraduate research, in general, is good experience, but this project is good in particular because (students) get exposed to how several different areas all work together,” Stenger said. “You get to interact with people you wouldn’t otherwise interact with — who have a different viewpoint. It’s been a blast for us.”

James Jerkins, instructor of computer science, said the students were handpicked for the project, although all students should consider doing undergraduate research.

“You need to be able to think clearly, carefully and creatively,” Jerkins said.

“Developing those skills comes from the process of scientific inquiry.”

Jerkins said the team will be attending an undergraduate research conference in two weeks to present their initial findings, but this is only the beginning.

“Next semester we plan to scale this up with a bigger rocket, our own flight computer with software we are designing ourselves, actual high school students to test our lesson plans on and a conference with more than just undergraduates,” Jerkins said.

Stenger and Jerkins said they intend for the results of the project to encourage more students to get involved with undergraduate research at UNA.

MUSIC

MEISA to hold third annual music showcase LUKE SMITH

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The UNA Music and Entertainment Industry Students Association (MEISA) will hold its third annual music showcase Nov. 8 at 6:30 p.m. in the entertainment industry department’s new location on Pine Street.

Auditions for the showcase will be held Oct. 16 and 17 from 3 to 7 p.m. in the GUC performance center.

“They do it every year,” said Bob Garfrerick, chair of the Department of Entertainment Industry and MEISA adviser. “They have preliminary open auditions, and whoever makes the cut plays in the actual show. It’s been well-received.”

Members of MEISA are hoping for a strong turnout of talent at the auditions and the showcase.

“This is our third annual UNA music showcase,” said UNA student and MEISA president Katie Swann. “It’s kind of like ‘American Idol.’ We have a bunch of people audition, and whoever makes it through the auditions will get to compete in the actual showcase on Nov. 8.

“We’ll have a panel of judges who are from the entertainment industry. We haven’t gotten all of them nailed down yet. Hopefully, we’ll have some good people, and it will be good for people to perform in front of them and get exposure.”

Swann said people who audition have several options.

“What they’ll do is play one song.

They can do it a cappella, or bring in a CD or guitar. It can be an original or cover song. They’ll audition in front of the MEISA officers, and then we’ll pick who will compete in the actual showcase.

”I ʼ

T S OPEN TO THE CAMPUS

— ITʼS NOT JUST A CAMPUS EVENT.

AND THE COMMUNITY

KATIE SWANN “The first-place prize winner will get a four-hour recording session at Noiseblock studio, which is downtown, and that’s really huge. There will also be second- and third-place prizes.”

Swann said the auditions are open to everyone.

“We want to get as many people as

possible to audition,” Swann said. “We want a lot of good talent. It’s open to the campus and the community — it’s not just a campus event. We want really good people to audition so we can get a good winner and have them record one of their songs or a cover song.”

The group members are excited about this year’s competition, said UNA student and MEISA member Olivia Tennant.

“We’re really excited about this year because Gary Baker is a judge,” she said.

“We’re advertising on radio stations in Florence and the Shoals area, and we’re putting up flyers around campus. It’s good exposure, even if you don’t win.”

MEISA can be found on Facebook by searching for “MEISA: University of North Alabama Chapter.”

Expires: 10/31/12

VIEWPOINTS 7A

Oct. 11,2012 • The Flor-Ala

Reporting seeks full truth STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA

THE

JOSH SKAGGS EXECUTIVE EDITOR ALEX LINDLEY NEWS/MANAGING 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 ALLI OWNBY 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

Copyright © 2012 The Flor-Ala All rights reserved.

First copy free.

Additional copies $1 each.

JARED MCCOY

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Recent events both local and worldwide have pushed me into thinking more about the First Amendment freedom of speech and what it means to me on a personal level.

Journalists often get a bad rap for spreading an area’s or institution’s shortcomings to the masses.

The fact of the matter is that only bottom of the barrel journalists actually intend for their stories to be negative — or positive, for that matter.

A printed news story is simply a set of inkblots on a page; it is morally neutral until reached by an audience to interpret it one way or another.

Last week’s article regard-

ing errors made by campus police served no personal vendetta against any UNA officials being criticized in the piece. It did not serve this purpose because no such vendetta exists against UNA officials.

It is not the business of a proper reporter to mar another person’s reputation just for the sake of being sensational or for shock factor. After all, what’s to stop another reporter from writing the same kind of personal attack about me or any of the staff at The Flor-Ala? A proper reporter collects facts and quotes related to a particular topic and lets the readers know the sources of such information so that they may check the reporter’s validity, if necessary.

In such a context, the story becomes less about a positive or negative depiction of a person or event and more about how accurate or inaccurate the depiction is.

Recent First Amendment arguments have shown just how lenient the legislation can be, especially in concerns of creative and artistic speech endeavors.

Just recently, one of my

classes assigned me to read and review a book related to speech or publication law, so I started reading Salman Rushdie’s book, “Joseph Anton: A Memoir.”

The memoir details 10 years of Rushdie’s life spent in hiding after receiving a fatwa death sentence from Iran’s supreme leader, the Ayatollah Khomeini.

The ayatollah gives this decree in response to Rushdie’s novel “The Satanic Verses,” a work the ayatollah and many Muslims worldwide viewed as being blasphemous toward Muhammad and Islam as a whole.

While I certainly can’t relate to being hunted for assassination and don’t mean to imply that I feel that way, as a writer I understand how important it is to be able to hand out ideas and information that officials do not want spread.

If an unpopular statement — especially a truth that might not reflect upon a person or group favorably — remains untold, the population of readers learns nothing and potentially suffers at the hands of an embarrassed party’s desire to look presentable in public.

Seek positive stress relief

ANN HARKEY

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The weather has turned cool, the scary movies are coming out in theaters by the dozens, and Arx Mortis is up and running. This means only one thing: midterms are here (thought I was going to say Halloween, huh?).

Where did this semester go?

It is bad enough I am responsible for an entire section of the paper each week, enrolled full-time, work at a law firm and now I have to study for midterms? I realize I’m whining, but I am just so stressed out all the time.

Midterms are the time I stress the most. This semester

will be the worst yet. Not only will I be putting my nose in a book from now until next week, I will be getting everything together for graduation, applying for possible spring internships, freelancing for websites, budgeting my slowly-dwindling supply of money and trying to plan some gifts for Christmas.

I do have a foolproof method of de-stressing each week, however. Every Sunday evening — which is the only time I am free — I sit in front of my TV with a cup of coffee and watch my shows I’ve missed during the week. I take this time to let my scattered brain settle and mellow out.

“Doctor Who,” “Wilfred” and “Adventure Time” are the best therapists out there.

Why do I make this point?

Stress management is crucial for college students — actually everyone — to master early in life. The college experience is all about learning life skills, and this is a biggie.

I know how I can be when I don’t allow myself the time to de-stress. I become irritable, forgetful and anxious.

There is no telling what it is doing to my health; when I am stressed, I lose sleep and eat the greasiest, most artery-clogging fast food available.

My looks suffer, too. My skin breaks out, my hair won’t fix right and I often bite my nails to the quick. It is almost a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde type of transformation.

There are moments where I feel the need to chill out by having a beer or the occasional cigarette. This can become a slippery slope for most people, which is why I stay true to my Sunday routine as my main source of stress management.

My word to you, lovely readers, is to find a routine, activity or hobby that calms you down, chills you out and cheers you up.

Some people exercise, some people paint and those people make me look bad, but I digress. Everyone can get stressed. Some people work better under it.

However, staying stressed is not healthy. Take the time to unwind and see how much better your life can become.

Interested in writing or taking photos for The Flor-Ala? Come to our writers meeting every Monday at 6 p.m or photographer meeting Tuesday at 5 p.m. Take a story, shoot a photo and get involved.

PAWS UP, PAWS DOWN

Calling it like we see it UNA junior defensive back Caleb Massey was named GSC Defensive Player of the week after his performance in Oct. 6’s game against Texas A&M University-Kingsville.

The current outbreak of fungal meningitis has infected 119 people and killed 11, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

C a m pus officials hosted open forums to discuss safety at UNA with students. These forums were hosted by UNA police Chief Bob Pastula and Vice President for Student Affairs David Shields.

A judge sentenced Jerry Sandusky to only 30 years in prison. Sandusky was convicted of sexually abusing several young boys at Penn State University.

SHOUTOUT! Congrats to James Dubuisson for being named Writer of the Week for The Flor-Ala.

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

@joshskaggs @TheFlorAlex @jmccoy90 @annharkey1 @bksteelman @FlorAlaSports

8A NEWS

Oct. 11, 2012 • The Flor-Ala

HEALTH

Alabama has 4th highest rate of obesity

photo by CHRISTINA COVINGTON I Staff Photographer

McDonald’s recently began posting calorie counts next to its menu items. Many restaurants take measures to be more transparent with their food’s nutrition.

YU FU

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Thirty-two percent of adults in Alabama are obese, defined as a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or greater, according to a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Alabama ranks fourth among all states with the highest obesity rates.

27.5 percent of men were ruled obese from 1999 to 2000, and the frequency had increased to 35.5 percent from 2009 to 2010, according to a National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Among

women, 33.4 percent were ruled obese from 1999 to 2000 with no significant change in 2009 to 2010 (35.8 percent).

“There are many factors that cause obesity, such as food with high calories, lack of activity, genetic factors and environmental reasons,” said Jill Englett, instructor of human environmental sciences.

Obesity is linked to increased risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, certain cancers and other chronic conditions, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).

Alabama has the highest rates of hy-

pertension in the South, according to the CDC’s report.

“I think it really depends on your lifestyle,” said Olivia Melvin, UNA student.

“Some people can diet to lose weight; others need to work out.”

If current trends continue more than 44 percent of adults could be obese by the year 2030, according to the National Heart Forum.

“I would drink green shakes and work out if I’d like to lose weight,” Melvin said.

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services discourages eating meals or snacks while watching TV. Cutting down on the amount of fat and calories in your family’s diet is a good way to maintain healthy weight.

Limiting fast food and being more active would help people to lose weight, Englett said.

“Eat healthier, at least five fruits and vegetables each day; decrease your screen time,” Englett said.

Screen time at home should be limited to two hours or less a day, unless it’s work- or homework-related, according to the NHLBI. The time spent in front of a screen could be better spent being more physically active.

“If you lose more than one or two pounds per week, it is very unhealthy behavior,” said Joyce McIntosh, associate professor of health, physical education and recreation. “You need to plan your physical activity.”

Adults need 105 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity and two or more days on muscle-strengthening ac-

tivities per week, according to the CDC. Busy students can break up 105 minutes into smaller chunks of time during the day, as long as the activity is at a moderate or vigorous effort for at least 10 minutes at a time.

McIntosh said exercise as well as dieting would be a better approach to losing weight.

“Pick up exercise you like and don’t stop,” she said.

?)44 KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) speculating that if it lacked demand for recreational use, it would be used by the personal training program at the SRC. A resolution for the purchase of multiple rotating rock walls came to the SGA senate floor three times, the maximum number of times any proposal can be submitted to the senate. This means a new resolution can be submitted, but it would have to be “completely redone” and “from another author,” Brasher said.

Pennington said he thinks there’s certainly demand for a rock wall on campus and thinks the resolution would be “worth considering again.”

“The purchase of a rock wall would have to be brought up again,” Riley said.

“Most senators that are here now were not in the senate last year. These are completely new faces that think different.

“We’re currently not pursuing it.

That’s not to say it couldn’t come up again, but it is not currently on the 2012/13 agenda at this time.”

LIFE

SECTION B

STUDENT PROFILE

Student expresses herself through art

Oct. 11, 2012 • The Flor-Ala • Life Editor: Ann Harkey 256-765-5233

MENTAL HEALTH

How to heal

MARCUS BICE

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This past week’s senior exhibition at the Art Department featured the artwork of UNA senior art student Anna Lyle.

Although Lyle practices several forms of artistic LYLE expression, her primary form of expression is through photography and the story that she can tell through those photos.

Lyle’s father is an alcoholic. She said she has never really talked about this part of her past, but now uses her art to put it out for others to see.

“It’s a burden I have, and it’s something I have to get out,” Lyle said. “The whole body of work is about me dealing with my father’s alcoholism.”

Many people have seen and reacted to Lyle’s work in the exhibition. She said there have been quite a few people who came up to her and told her of their own story of loved ones who struggled with alcoholism.

“You find your own way of dealing with it; I am an art major, so this is mine,” Lyle said.

Suzanne Duvall-Zurinsky, associate professor of art, has each of her art appreciation classes look at all the exhibitions done in the department. She said she has especially enjoyed this exhibition.

“This is the first senior exhibition of the semester, and I think that it is a strong, powerful show to start off the semester,” Duvall-Zurinski said.

Lyle’s photography professor, Wayne Sides, also enjoyed the exhibition. Sides has been instructing Lyle for the past four years.

“It’s one of the better exhibitions of photos that I have seen out there — kind of sci-fi meets horror film — but it is really quite beautiful,” Sides said.

Sides also said he felt like Lyle always had a lot of potential and that she was always a curious student and trying new things. He even said that all of the students liked Lyle’s exhibition, and that does not usually happen.

“I want her to take what I teach and use it to open her own path,” Sides said.

Lyle is going to graduate at the end of this semester with a bachelor’s in fine arts.

Since she is a senior, she had to do this work to graduate, but she said she would have done it anyway.

“If it helps somebody with dealing with this then I have done my job,” Lyle said.

As for future plans, Lyle said she will probably not continue doing this narrative in her photography, but she will do freelance work.

“As long as there is a camera in my hand and I have that skill, then I will be happy,” she said.

The Flor-Ala I File Photo

According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, rape has decreased more than 60 percent since 1993.

Experts: rape can cause trauma to brain, mental health issues ANN HARKEY

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Each year, there are approximately 207,000 victims of sexual assault according to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network.

Rape is a source of trauma and can have long-lasting mental implications, said Selena Rachelle, victim services coordinator of Rape Response in Florence.

“Abuse causes trauma to the brain,” she said. “It is a complete rewiring of the brain.”

This rewiring of the brain is related to the hormone cortisol, she said. Cortisol is produced by the adrenal gland as the body’s natural response to stress. In large doses, cortisol can impair cognitive performance and damage the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain responsible for memory, according to information gathered by Rape Response.

“It is not uncommon for us to get a report from victims who are unable to identify their victims at all (because of trauma to the brain),” she said.

According to Rape Response’s information, too much cortisol can be the building blocks of post-traumatic stress disorder. If this happens, the victim may develop known and unknown triggers that can cause flashbacks, panic attacks and anxiety.

“Triggers can be things you aren’t even aware of during the time of the rape,” she said. “Be aware that you (the victim) are not aware of all your triggers.”

Along with the damage caused by cortisol, a victim may also dissociate during the assault, which is a natural protective response to traumatic events, allowing a victim to block out the event, she said.

Rape Response provides free individual counseling. While each victim’s cases are individualized in what therapy is needed, Rachelle uses normalization and disclosure response, healing through having someone listen, as her main form of therapy.

“Disclosure response is one of the most important parts of healing,” she said. “We don’t make suggestions on how to heal. We haven’t walked their path so we don’t push people into what they need to do. We don’t tell people to get over it, we tell them they have to learn to live with it now.”

UNA Counseling Services also provides individualized counseling for victims of sexual assault.

“It has to be individualized,” said Lynne Martin, director of Counseling Services. “There are stages, from observation, when the individual kind of comes to grips with what happens. (Usually) that initial response is a shutdown

and they need an advocate for this posttrauma time.”

According to Rape Response, there are steps victims need to take after a sexual assault.

“If possible, victims need to first call law enforcement,” Rachelle said. “It is also important they have support from family and friends.”

However, because of the memory impairment that can happen from trauma, victims should be aware they don’t have to sign their police report immediately, she said.

The next step should be to visit the Rape Response exam room or the emergency room to have a forensic rape kit performed, she said.

“We have an exam room, but we only have one full-time nurse,” she said. “As long as our nurse is on call, the exam room is open.”

The victim should avoid bathing, urinating, douching, eating and drinking before the medical exam, according to Rape Response. Clothing should also not be changed.

Victims of sexual assault need to be aware that, even if they engaged in risky behavior, it is not their fault, she said.

“I try to work on alleviating shame or self-guilt,” she said.

For more information, contact Rape Response at 256-767-1100 and UNA Counseling Services at 256-765-5215.

2B LIFE

Oct. 11, 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ The Flor-Ala

CAMPUS

The Shoals Symphony opens concert season this month

file photo by KAYLA SLOAN I Chief Photographer

The Shoals Symphony will start the concert season Oct.14 in Norton Auditorium.

LYNN ECCLESTON

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The Shoals Symphony at UNA will be opening the 2012-2013 season with â&#x20AC;&#x153;Music & the Musician Extraordinaireâ&#x20AC;?

Oct. 14 at 2 p.m. in Norton Auditorium, featuring renowned guest pianist Yakov Kasman, Silver Medalist in the Tenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, according to UNAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website.

Viljar Weimann, music director/conductor of the symphony, said the title â&#x20AC;&#x153;Music & the Musician Extraordinaireâ&#x20AC;? refers to the absolute best. It is â&#x20AC;&#x153;a concert not to be missed,â&#x20AC;? Weimann said. People coming to the concert should anticipate exceptional, powerful playing, he said.

The concert will feature Tchaikovskyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64, and Kasman playing Rachmaninoffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini,â&#x20AC;? Op. 43, according to UNAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website. Tchaikovsky had the gift of taking the audience places with music, Weimann said. Each of the four movements has numerous magnificent melodies, and the sheer volume the orchestra is going to produce should be extraordinary,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Weimann has known Kasman for about 10 years and said Kasmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s playing is top-notch with special clarity and fast finger speed during runs.

In addition to â&#x20AC;&#x153;Music & the Musician Extraordinaire,â&#x20AC;? the 2012-2013 season is comprised of three more concerts â&#x20AC;&#x201D; including a concert Dec. 9 that celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Shoals Symphony.

A brand new symphony, composed

by Florence native and international composer and conductor Roger Briggs, has been commissioned for the Celebration Concert. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is a huge honor, joy and privilege to give a world premiere of that symphony,â&#x20AC;? Weimann said.

The Celebration Concert also includes Berliozâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Le Corsaireâ&#x20AC;? Overture, Op. 21; Leoncavalloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Prologoâ&#x20AC;? from â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pagliacci;â&#x20AC;? Pucciniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Si mi chiamano Mimiâ&#x20AC;? from â&#x20AC;&#x153;La Bohemeâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;O mio babbino caroâ&#x20AC;? from â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gianni Schicchi.â&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Family Concertâ&#x20AC;? will be held on March 10 at 2 p.m. that features Brittenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Young Personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Guide to the Orchestra,â&#x20AC;? Op. 32. The concert will also consist of Gershwinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cuban Overture,â&#x20AC;?

Webberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Phantom of the Operaâ&#x20AC;? and Berlinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Symphonic Portrait.â&#x20AC;?

May 4 at 7:30 p.m., a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Choral Extravaganza!â&#x20AC;? has been scheduled to close the season; it will involve Schubertâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Symphony No. 8 in B minor â&#x20AC;&#x153;Unfinishedâ&#x20AC;? and Orffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Carmina Burana.â&#x20AC;?

Soprano Tiffany Bostic-Brown, voice lecturer in the Department of Music & Theatre, will be singing with her husband in both the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Celebration Concertâ&#x20AC;? and the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Choral Extravaganza!â&#x20AC;?

Bostic-Brown said she enjoys being able to communicate emotion and share with audience members through music. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everybody can find something to relate to out of any piece of music,â&#x20AC;? she said.

Bostic-Brown is â&#x20AC;&#x153;known for her â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;sweet and ethereal voice,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? according to UNAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website. Before a performance, she does a lot of deep breathing and tells herself that she trusts her technique, she said.

Being nervous maintains the humble side of being a performer, Bostic-Brown said. Nerves prevent performers from thinking that they are â&#x20AC;&#x153;greater than the art itself.â&#x20AC;?

Students make up about 50 to 60 percent of the symphony, depending on the concert, Weimann said. Jennifer Hager, a violin player and English major, is now in her fifth year playing in the symphony. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My favorite part is the feeling of being in something so important, both to the community and to me personally,â&#x20AC;?

Hager said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The concerts are an amazing part of it, too. They are the pinnacle of what we do as a symphony orchestra.

To be able to give the community something they can appreciate and enjoy is such a good feeling.â&#x20AC;?

Tickets are available at the door, priced $5 for students and $15 for adults.

Concerts should be about an hour and a half long, and are all held in Norton Auditorium. More information can be found at www.una.edu/shoals-symphony

Visit any of our Lauderdale County locations: â&#x20AC;˘ 1155 North Wood Avenue, Florence â&#x20AC;˘ 101 Highway 72 East, Rogersville â&#x20AC;˘ 306 Cox Creek Parkway, Florence â&#x20AC;˘ 1001 Highway 72 East, Killen â&#x20AC;˘ 3138 Cloverdale Road, Florence â&#x20AC;˘ 1505 Florence Boulevard, Florence

FREE

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FREE

%DFRQ (JJ &KHHVH %LVFXLW %UHDNIDVW 6DQGZLFK With purchase of same at regular menu price.

*excludes Dollar Menu sandwiches Expires 10/1/12. Valid at all McDonaldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s locations in Lauderdale County, Alabama. Prices may vary. Not valid with any other offer, discount, coupon or combo meal. Cash value 1/20 of 1 cent. Limit one coupon per person per visit. Tax may apply. Price of required purchase posted on menu board. Coupon may not be transferred, auctioned, sold, copied or duplicated in any way or transmitted via electronic media. Valid when product served. May not be valid for custom orders. Š2012 McDonald´s

Expires 10/1/12. Valid for product of equal or lesser value. Valid at all McDonaldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s locations in Lauderdale County, Alabama. Prices may vary. Not valid with any other offer, discount, coupon or combo meal. Cash value 1/20 of 1 cent. Limit one coupon per person per visit. Tax may apply.

Price of required purchase posted on menu board. Coupon may not be transferred, auctioned, sold, copied or duplicated in any way or transmitted via electronic media. Valid when product served. May not be valid for custom orders. Š2012 McDonald´s

FREE

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6PDOO 0F&DIp 5HDO )UXLW 6PRRWKLH Â&#x160;

Â&#x160;

4XDUWHU 3RXQGHU ZLWK &KHHVH 6DQGZLFK

With purchase of same at regular menu price.

With purchase of same at regular menu price.

*excludes Dollar Menu sandwiches

*weight before cooking 4 oz. (113.4 gms)

Expires 10/1/12. Valid for product of equal or lesser value. Valid at all McDonaldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s locations in Lauderdale County, Alabama. Prices may vary. Not valid with any other offer, discount, coupon or combo meal. Cash value 1/20 of 1 cent. Limit one coupon per person per visit. Tax may apply.

Price of required purchase posted on menu board. Coupon may not be transferred, auctioned, sold, copied or duplicated in any way or transmitted via electronic media. Valid when product served. May not be valid for custom orders. Š2012 McDonald´s

Expires 10/1/12. Valid for product of equal or lesser value. Valid at all McDonaldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s locations in Lauderdale County, Alabama. Prices may vary. Not valid with any other offer, discount, coupon or combo meal. Cash value 1/20 of 1 cent. Limit one coupon per person per visit. Tax may apply.

Price of required purchase posted on menu board. Coupon may not be transferred, auctioned, sold, copied or duplicated in any way or transmitted via electronic media. Valid when product served. May not be valid for custom orders. Š2012 McDonald´s

FREE

FREE

6RXWKHUQ 6W\OH &KLFNHQ 6DQGZLFK RU %UHDNIDVW %LVFXLW 6DQGZLFK

Â&#x160;

%LJ 0DF 6DQGZLFK With purchase of same at regular menu price.

With purchase of same at regular menu price.

Expires 10/1/12. Valid for product of equal or lesser value. Valid at all McDonaldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s locations in Lauderdale County, Alabama. Prices may vary. Not valid with any other offer, discount, coupon or combo meal. Cash value 1/20 of 1 cent. Limit one coupon per person per visit. Tax may apply.

Price of required purchase posted on menu board. Coupon may not be transferred, auctioned, sold, copied or duplicated in any way or transmitted via electronic media. Valid when product served. May not be valid for custom orders. Š2012 McDonald´s

Expires 10/1/12. Valid for product of equal or lesser value. Valid at all McDonaldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s locations in Lauderdale County, Alabama. Prices may vary. Not valid with any other offer, discount, coupon or combo meal. Cash value 1/20 of 1 cent. Limit one coupon per person per visit. Tax may apply.

Price of required purchase posted on menu board. Coupon may not be transferred, auctioned, sold, copied or duplicated in any way or transmitted via electronic media. Valid when product served. May not be valid for custom orders. Š2012 McDonald´s

LIFE 3B

Oct. 11,2012 • The Flor-Ala

What scares you the most?

EMILY HODGE

MOLLY ODOM

HUNTER ABRAMS

COURTNEY WATKINS

STUDENT REVIEW

ʻHouse at the End of the Streetʼ doesnʼt meet expectations BLYTHE STEELMAN 7VTQVM -LQ\WZ J[\MMTUIV(]VI ML]

”

CLOWNS. THEYʼRE TERRIFYING. I LITERALLY DRUG

”

SPIDERS AND INSECTS THAT JUMP.

SOMEONE THROUGH A HAUNTED

”

CHUCKIE DOLLS SCARE ME. CHUCKIE IS SCARY. THIS IS EMBARRASSING.

”

TRAIN WHISTLES. NOT THE TRAIN THEMSELVES, BUT THE WHISTLES.

HOUSE BECAUSE THEY WERE DRESSED LIKE CLOWNS.

SHANE PARKER

”

ELEVATORS, SPECIFICALLY

THE ONES ON CAMPUS BECAUSE

BREAUNA DUFF

”

CRAZY PEOPLE DRESSING UP WITH FACE MASKS.

IʼVE GOTTEN STUCK IN THEM TWICE.

KAITLIN ASHLEY

JESSICA ORR

”

GHOSTS. THEYʼRE WHY

I LEAVE MY LIGHTS ON AT NIGHT.

”

I DONʼT LIKE METAL DETECTORS. THEY MAKE ME NERVOUS.

*Information gathered by Haley Wright

CULTURE

Chinese Moon Festival brings authentic Chinese food to campus KALI DANIEL

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UNA students received an opportunity for intercultural experience in the form of the annual lunar harvest holiday, the Chinese Moon Festival, held in the GUC Atrium Oct. 4. Students were exposed to various rituals and authentic Chinese foods such as sushi, tempura and moon cakes.

Students were welcomed by the hosts in both Chinese and English and were given hope for a free-spirited night. Soon after, a cultural dance was performed, followed by numerous welcomes and skits.

The audience became directly involved

with the events when a game involving a tossed ribbon made its way through the crowd. As music played, students were to throw the red ribbon up in the air. When the music stopped, whoever was holding the ribbon was to go on stage and try a mystery food.

Freshman computer science major Tyler Yasaka participated in this unique tasting, feeling fairly confident based on his upbringing in a Japanese household.

He began to eat his mystery food, describing it only as “crunchy” and “good.”

The host then announced to the crowd that Yasaka had just eaten the delicacy of chicken feet. Next, Yasaka indulged in a pepper that the host referred to as “the hottest pepper in China — you are now a

real man.”

Despite Yasaka’s burning mouth for the next 20 minutes of the evening, he said he truly enjoyed the event and plans to go again next year.

“I think it’s important to have intercultural experience,” Yasaka said. “It’s important for us to learn to interact with people who may not share the same background as us and to learn to appreciate the differences among cultures.”

Numerous students on campus currently participate in the Language Partner Program offered by the Office of International Affairs to help international students become better acclimated to stark

;MM 07=;- XIOM *

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I will be honest and admit scary movies aren’t my thing — I’m not ashamed of that fact. I thought trying something new this Halloween season would be good for me, so I agreed to go see “House at the End of the Street.”

Seeing as how the lead character, Elissa, is played by Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss of the award-winning movie “The Hunger Games”), I had high hopes for the film.

The first five minutes of the movie led me to believe I would spend the rest of the movie with my face buried in my jacket, with two less-than-pretty murders taking place and the sadistic child of the murdered on the loose.

However, the drama slows when Elissa and her divorced mother (Elisabeth Shue) move from Chicago to a house in a small, rural town, next door to the house where the murders took place years earlier. Though the two are told no one lives in the house anymore, they soon find out the older son of the dead parents actually lives there.

Continuing the predictable plot, Elissa’s mother doesn’t want her to spend time with the son Ryan (Max Thieriot), yet Elissa goes against her mother’s wishes and does so anyway.

He’s the outcast of the town and rocks the whole misunderstood, brooding, mysterious guy act, so naturally rebelhearted Elissa is drawn to him.

The viewer soon finds out that shybut-nice guy Ryan isn’t so nice at all, with keeping his crazy — and presumed dead — sister locked in the basement.

Naturally, things go awry when Elissa (the typical dumb girl in scary movies) decides to have a peek in the basement for no apparent reason. A couple of twists, a few sub-par murder scenes and one great escape later, and we can

Mon. - Fri. 10:30 - 5:30 Sat. 10:30 - 3:00

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.

4B LIFE

Oct. 11, 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ The Flor-Ala

GREEK LIFE

ZTA brings awareness to breast cancer JESSIE RODGERS â&#x20AC;? ;\]LMV\ ?ZQ\MZ RZWLOMZ[ (]VI ML]

photo by ROGER WANG I Student Photographer

Zeta Tau Alpha sorority hosts its Pink Party on Mobile Plaza in downtown Florence.

07=;- KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM * all say â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thank God for â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Hunger Games,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? or else Lawrenceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s character might not have made it out alive (Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m joking, of course).

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s obviously more to the movie, but in the interest of not giving away too

5776 KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM * cultural changes, with emphasis on a comfortable setting for learning English.

Yao Zhang, a freshman at UNA, said the

BREAST CANCER CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE. IĘźM PROUD TO HELP WOMEN BECOME MORE AWARE.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great to see the community come out to Pink Party to get involved and enjoy their time promoting breast cancer awareness,â&#x20AC;? said Avy Stansbury, president of ZTA. T-shirts, breast cancer awareness bows and cupcakes were sold during the Pink Party. All money made during Pink Week will be sent to the Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation and Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Pink Party was a great turn out,â&#x20AC;? said Candace Crane, Pink Party chair with ZTA. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We sold almost all of the girls T-shirts and cupcakes.â&#x20AC;?

They will continue to raise money and promote awareness throughout the month of October, she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I enjoyed how many questions people had about raising money,â&#x20AC;? Crane said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It made me realize why weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing this.â&#x20AC;?

UNAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority hosted its annual Pink Week events, marking the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Throughout the month of October, ZTA partners with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation to help raise money for breast cancer research, education and advocacy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Breast cancer can happen to anyone,â&#x20AC;? said Brittany Champion, vice president of ZTA. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m proud to be able to help women become more aware.â&#x20AC;?

In addition to events, ZTA will â&#x20AC;&#x153;paint the town pink.â&#x20AC;? Sorority members will spread pink decorations across campus and also sell pink bows to businesses

throughout Florence to display outside their buildings as a symbol of breast cancer awareness.

Champion said selling the breast cancer awareness bows to the community is a great way for ZTA to reach out beyond the campus.

Members of ZTA hosted their annual Pink Party Oct. 5 for students, faculty and community members to participate in. The Pink Party gives ZTA a great opportunity to raise money and spread awareness, she said.

many details or spoiling scenes, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll stop there.

Honestly, I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t find the movie to be scary at all. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not to say there arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a couple of make-you-jump-in-your-seat moments, but they are few and far between, and even then I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t that scared.

I spent the majority of the movie trying to figure out just how stupid Lawrenceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s character could be while also trying to

psychoanalyze Thieriotâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s character.

All in all, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your typical wannabe scary movie. The plot is laughable, though there were a few twists I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see coming. The ending is predictable, and while Lawrence was superb in â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Hunger Games,â&#x20AC;? even she canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make this movie worthy of being watched more than once.

If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for a truly scary

movie this fall, â&#x20AC;&#x153;House at the End of the Streetâ&#x20AC;? isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t it â&#x20AC;&#x201D; thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something to be said for someone who hates scary movies not being the least bit scared by something that claims the horror movie genre.

I would advise not wasting your money to see it in theaters, but wait for it to show up in Redbox or on Netflix.

intercultural events offered on campus help better the community. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Part of the reason I came to America was to experience a different culture,â&#x20AC;?

Zhang said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have always been very interested in Western culture and films, and such American traditions as Christmas

and the idea of Santa Claus are very different from what we experience in China.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a very special thing to be able to experience another culture.â&#x20AC;?

With the close of the festival, students were brought together through photos, a dance party, karaoke, three consecutive

playings of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gangnam Styleâ&#x20AC;? and the hopes all would come again next year for not simply food and fun but for the opportunity to explore and navigate through a collectively cultural encounter.

BRITTANY CHAMPION

SPORTS 5B

Oct. 11, 2012 • The Flor-Ala

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Keepinʼ up with the Lions

This weekʼs UNA scores, stats and other tidbits VOLLEYBALL (5-10, 3-3) The Lions achieved home wins over Union and the GSCʼs Christian Brothers Oct. 5 and 6. The team swept Union with three set wins. Against Christian Brothers, the Lions split the first four sets before pulling out the match-winner in the fifth.

CROSS COUNTRY Women - 3rd place of 5 Men - 4th place of 5 The teams competed against mostly Division I teams in the Tennessee Tech Invitational Oct. 5. Olivia Brady led the women with a 10th place overall finish while Fabian Cortez led the men. The Lions travel to Tuscaloosa Oct. 13 to compete in the Crimson Classic Invitational.

GOLF After taking the lead in the first round of the Indian Bayou Classic, the Lions host the Tennessee Valley Credit Union Classic in Killen Oct. 15 and 16.

FOOTBALL (5-1, 2-0) UNA - 21 TAMUK - 16 The Lions held the Javelinas from gaining a third-quarter lead when Caleb Massey intercepted Nate Poppell and returned the ball a recordsetting 93 yards for a touchdown. The Lions host Valdosta State Oct. 13 at 7 p.m.

SOCCER (8-1-1, 3-1-1) UNA - 3 Union - 1 The Lions defeated the Bulldogs with goals from Jennifer Osmond and Jo Chubb.

Beginning Oct. 8, the Lions start a week-and-a-half-long road stretch before returning to the home turf to host GSC rival UAH Oct. 20 at 7 p.m.

RUGBY (2-1) Memphis - 42 UNA - 8 The UNA rugby team lost its home opener to Memphis Oct. 6. The Lions host Lee Univeristy Oct. 13 at 1 p.m.

SOCCER

Soccer takes worst loss of season MATT WILSON

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UNA’s win in its inaugural Pink Game Oct. 5 at home to Union preceded their worst loss of the season at Georgia College & State Oct. 8.

Senior Nikki Brown had a hand in all three goals Oct. 5 for the Lions as she recorded three assists.

Jennifer Osmond scored in the first half from Brown’s cross to put the Lions in the lead. Osmond’s second goal of the night came early in the second half when Brown put a through pass onto her feet.

“Jenn’s first goal was a result of us keeping the ball wide and giving her time to get into the box,” said coach Graham Winkworth. “Her second goal was just a class move — holding off the defender and slotting it back across the goal.”

Shortly after Union had pulled a goal back, Jo Chubb put the game out of reach with a 25-yard blast that beat the Union goalkeeper before ringing off the post and into the net.

Striker Chloe Roberts sat out with an injury against Union.

Winkworth said it shouldn’t be too serious.

Union had most of the possession during the game, but Winkworth said that’s not always a threat.

“They probably had us beat

60-40 in possession, but they were comfortable keeping it in their back four,” Winkworth said. “We defended well in the important parts of the field.”

Going forward into the conference and national tournaments, Winkworth said a team that plays like Union could be dangerous.

“We went up a goal early. which was good, but if we go down a goal to a team that possesses the ball well, we would have to change things,” Winkworth said. “We would have to go win the ball and get it back.”

The Lions suffered their worst defeat of the season on the road Oct. 8 at Georgia College & State falling 6-1. UNA gave up five goals in a 25-minute period during the second half, which saw a UNA equalizer disallowed and an ejection of Winkworth after a disputed call.

“We went down a goal early and decided to open things up in the second half,” Winkworth said. “We equalized early in the second half and thought we got it right.”

Georgia College went ahead again before UNA’s equalizer was called back after being deemed out of bounds by the official.

“That equalizer would have changed the game for us, and I feel like the ref got it wrong,” Winkworth said.

UNA outshot the Bobcats 20-15 but could only find the

photo by CHRISTINA COVINGTON I Staff Photographer

Chloe Richards takes a swing and a miss at the Union goal during the Lions’ Oct. 5 Pink Game. The team went on to win 3-1 with goals from Jennifer Osmond and Jo Chubb.

net once.

“Everything just kind of went their way today,” Winkworth said. “Our team could have started bickering amongst themselves, but they didn’t.

They stayed classy and kept their composure.”

The Lions continue their

CLUB SPORTS

Rugby drops home opener to Memphis MALISA MCCLURE

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The UNA Rugby Club lost its Oct. 6 home game (42-8) to Division I Memphis University after failing to contain the Tigers in the first half.

“They did all their scoring in the first half,” said UNA rugby player Michael Cole. “In the second half, we settled down and didn’t let them score until the last five minutes.”

The Lions came out with an early lead behind a field goal by Forrest Lyon, making the score 3-0. The only try scored by the Lions was by Landon Whaley and was also scored in the first half.

After the Lions scored in the first half, the Tigers “got on a roll,” scoring five times within a 10-minute span, Cole said.

In the second half, however, the Lions kept the Tigers from scoring until the final minutes of the game.

“We played good defense the entire second half,” Cole

said.

The Lions will now turn their attention to Lee University, who they will play at home Oct. 13 at 1 p.m. Current UNA rugby coach Eddie Roberts used to coach at Lee University.

“Lee will be a team that is very similar to us,” Cole said.

“It’s always a good-fought game (when we play against Lee).”

Cole said the lesson the

Lions learned in the Memphis game is that the team needs to work on conditioning.

“We really learned we have to be in better shape by the end of the season or we’re not going to make it very far in (conference play),” Cole said.

Conference play for the Lions starts Nov. 10 and will include games against Harding, UT-Martin, Freed-Hardeman, UAB and Murray State.

photo by ALLI OWNBY I Staff Photographer

Caleb Aldridge breaks a tackle from Memphis player Josiah Shipley during the rugby game Oct. 6.

current road stretch Oct. 12 at Columbus State before continuing on to road conference matches at Shorter and Christian Brothers.

“We have a classy team; we’ll bounce back,” Winkworth said.

CROSS COUNTRY

Lions succeed at Tennessee Tech Invitational BEN ELLIOTT

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The UNA cross country team ran at the Tennessee Tech Invitational in Cookeville, Tenn., Oct. 5, placing fourth overall in men’s and third overall in women’s on the Southern Hills Golf Course.

UNA’s Fabian Cortez, a sophomore who placed 27th in the men’s 8K, and Olivia Brady, a freshman who placed 10th in the women’s 5K, were the leaders for UNA. “It was a tough course, probably the toughest I’ve ever ran,” said Roger Good, a junior.

“But it was nice to see the team compete hard and finish in the places we did.”

Cortez finished at 29:36:13 for 27th place with Zeke Nichols, a senior, placing close be-

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6B SPORTS

Oct. 11, 2012 • The Flor-Ala

LIFE SPORTS

Caddyshack campus Students turn UNA into frisbee golf course MARCUS BICE

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Students have been playing Frisbee golf on campus at night for at least three years, though not many people know about it, said students who play on campus.

“Every fraternity has at least one course, and there are a few student courses on campus that only a few students know about,” said Rob Tyree, UNA student and Delta Chi brother.

Delta Chi brothers Marshall Hess and Justin Allen Pipkins decided in fall 2009 to make the first 18-hole Frisbee golf course on UNA’s campus, called the Cardinal Blue Course, Hess said.

Hess said they made this course so they would not have to drive to Veterans Park if they wanted to play a game. It took them about two weeks to make the course, which included deciding where the holes would be and playing it until they worked out all of the kinks.

Playing Frisbee golf on campus involves hitting goals that include various campus buildings. One of those build-

ings is Lafayette Hall, said honor student Molly Lynn, who used to live in the residence hall.

“I can say your reflexes improve,” said Molly Lynn, a junior at UNA. “The minute you step out the door (at Lafayette Hall) at night and hear someone yell, you better duck or get beaned by a Frisbee.”

Lynn said she remembers some close calls she had with on-campus Frisbee golfing. “(There’s) nothing better than walking — then suddenly out of nowhere — a Frisbee whizzes past your face and slams into a light pole” she said.

Amy Brown, a junior at UNA has also seen people practicing the sport.

“I’ve seen a lot of groups out behind Lafayette at night,” Brown said. “I’ve seen maybe two or three groups during the day the whole time I was there (two years).”

Some students said they never knew about people playing on campus but had heard rumors about it.

Mark Bryant, a senior at UNA, said he has never seen anyone playing Frisbee

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE CENTER

Students enjoy weekly oncampus slacklining events MATT WILSON

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There’s a new student activity going on weekly on campus this semester: slacklining.

The Outdoor Club, headed by UNA alumna McKenzie Martin, has been hosting weekly on-campus slacklining events. So, what is slacklining?

According to slackline.com, slacklining has long been a part of the athletic world. From tightrope walkers in the cir-

cus to the gymnastics balance beam, the central theme of balance is not new.

“Slacklining has been pretty popular since the ‘60s or ‘70s,” Martin said. “It’s kind of a hippie activity, but it’s good exercise and laidback.”

Jonathan Oliphant, while slowly making his way between trees on the thin, flat slackline, said he enjoys doing it because it is very relaxing.

“It is a fun workout and challenging,

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photo courtesy of Jonathon Oliphant

Clark Greer tries to maintain his balance on the slackline near the amphitheatre on campus Sept. 18.

photo illustration by CHRISTINA COVINGTON I Staff Photographer

A UNA student plays frisbee golf on campus, aiming for a light pole near Willingham Hall.

golf on campus but that older students would always tell him about it.

Frisbee golf on campus is not illegal.

“As long as your course does not go

inside of a building or you don’t hit a building, then the cops don’t care,” Tyree said.

This week on Twitter Take our poll of the week!

Will the @Roarlionsvb_UNA (UNA Volleyball) team keep up their winning streak at home this weekend against Kent State and West Alabama?

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

Also, make sure to follow us throughout the weekend for updates on the @UNAFootball, @Roarlionsvb_UNA and @UNARC games.

SPORTS 7B

Oct. 11, 2012 • The Flor-Ala

SNAPSHOT The UNA Volleyball team won both its weekend home games against Union Oct. 5 and Christian Brothers Oct. 6.

The Lions swept Union with three straight victories (25-13, 25-14, 25-16).

Priscilla Massengale had six kills in the opening set, and Cara Gregg had seven in the second.

Though the Lions trailed Union early in the third game, the team caught up with four straight points and didn’t trail again.

Hope Rayburn had five digs in the game, and 13 in all three games.

Oct. 6, the Lions split the first four matches with Christian Brothers before triumphing in the fifth to win the match.

In the game, the team achieved a season-high of 70 kills.

Defensively, Jessica Ronyak led the team with 24 digs.

The Lions are now 5-10 overall and 3-3 in the GSC. They host Kent State Oct. 13 at photo by MICHAEL REDDING I Staff Photographer 1 p.m. and West Alabama Oct. 14 at 1 p.m.

UNA middle hitter Taylor Chapman puts the ball over the net against Union Uni*Match statistics compiled by Sports versity Oct. 5 at Flowers Hall. The Lions went on to win the game and also won Editor Malisa McClure using roarlions. their Oct. 6 game against Christian Brothers. com

WANT

;4)+341616/ KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM * but its very relaxing,” Oliphant said.

Martin pointed out that there are different types of slacklines.

“Some can be used for different tricks and some are just for balancing and walking,” Martin said.

The slackline is anchored around two trees with protection for the trees, such as sleep pads.

“We are looking to install some old telephone poles down at the OAC so we can set up a permanent slackline,” Martin said. “That way we don’t have to worry

about damaging any of the trees on campus.”

Students who are interested in participating must fill out a waiver each time they want to try their hand at balancing.

Martin said that so far they have had 53 students try it out.

“We have some regulars now that come out each Tuesday,” Martin said.

“We have been doing this since early September and plan on continuing it every Tuesday for the rest of the semester.”

TO GIVE

SLACKLINING • THE OUTDOOR

A TRY? CLUB IS HOST-

ING SLACKLINING EVENTS EVERY

TUESDAY

FROM

2-4

P.M. IN THE AREA NEAR THE

AMPHITHEATRE

AND

LIBRARY.

ALL STUDENTS ARE WELCOME TO JOIN.

+:7;; +7=6<:A KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM * hind him in 33rd and Good in 36th place.

The rest of the men’s team followed closely, giving Clay Oden 37th place and Colby Phillips 39th.

The UNA men’s team finished up with Matthew Cooper (34:22:39) giving the UNA men’s team the fourth place spot with an overall score of 117, making them the highest ranked Division II team.

”

It was a tough course, probably the toughest Iʼve ever ran. But it was nice to see the team compete hard and finish in the places we did.

ROGER GOOD The UNA women’s team stuck close together, Brady leading her teammates by only a few spots.

She was followed closely by Victoria Acocella, (junior, 13th); Kenley Crouch (freshman, 15th) and Katherine Steinman (sophomore, 17th).

The rest of the girls finished within four minutes of Brady.

“It was not necessarily pack running, but (the girls were) definitely close to each other,” Cooper said. “When a few girls finish within 45 seconds of each other in a 5K, they’re all pretty close together.”

The women’s team scored an overall 74 points to secure a third-place win.

UNA’s next cross country meet is Oct. 13 at the Alabama Crimson Classic in Tuscaloosa.

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8B EXTRA

Oct. 11, 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ The Flor-Ala

Tweets of the week

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.

Miss UNA 2013 Interest Meeting October 16 5:00pm GUC 200 For more information visit: www.una.edu/ missuna

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