Jan. 16 Issue

MEN’S BASEKTBALL

SUFFERS FIRST HOME LOSS SPORTS 5B Jan. 16, 2014

Volume 82, Issue 17

www.FlorAla.net

Student newspaper of the University of North Alabama

CONSTRUCTION

SCHOLARSHIP

Alumna donates $1M toward endowed scholarship PACE HOLDBROOKS

GOING UP

photo by ALLI OWNBY I Chief Photographer

Two construction crew members work on the upcoming Science and Technology Building on Wednesday, Jan. 8. The building is set to be completed by December 2014.

Science building construction remains on track JASMINE FLEMING ;\INN ?ZQ\MZ RTMUQVO(]VI ML]

The Science and Technology Building, which will replace Floyd Science Building, is on schedule to be finished by the end of 2014.

The new building is currently underway, said Paul Kittle,

chair of the biology department.

“The planned end date is December of 2014,” Kittle said.

“That is the scheduled end date.

Hopefully, we will be opening in the spring of 2015.”

One of the main reasons for the new building is to increase the amount of space for the science departments, Kittle said.

“I don’t know the exact num-

bers, but I do know we’re going to have a lot more space in the new building, and that’s important,” Kittle said. “There will be more space for the laboratories, more space for faculty offices and especially more space for research. We’ve run out of storage space, preparation space, research space and so forth (in Floyd).”

A larger building will make waiting for classes more comfortable, said freshman Haylee Strickland.

“The classrooms (in Floyd) are kind of small for the amounts of students that are in them,” Strickland said. “Also, the classrooms aren’t outside the build-

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An act of kindness extending across the ages — this is what university officials are calling a recent donation of over $1 million in endowed scholarship money from the estate of a recently deceased almuna of Florence State Teachers College (now UNA).

Although she passed away earlier last year, officials were notified in December that Mary Deeters, 96, had left over $1 million to the university, said Vice President for Advancement Dan Hendricks.

“The $1 million to $1.5 million donation will be added to the existing endowed scholarship (the Raymond F. and Mary Deeters Endowed Scholarship) and will generate significant funds annually in perpetuity,” Hendricks said. “That means that once we endow that (money) it literally will generate a certain amount of money every year that will be used to support student scholarships. Once you endow something, it’s there forever.”

”

WITHIN 18 MONTHS TO TWO YEARS, IT WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE MULTIPLE SCHOLARSHIPS.

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CONSTRUCTION

DAN HENDRICKS

Residence hall construction reaches design phase ASHLEY REMKUS

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As part of a multiphase replacement plan to construct new buildings on campus, construction of two new residence halls could begin as early as this spring, if the Board of Trustees approves.

INSIDE

this week’s paper

The building of the two residence halls would enact the first phase of a seven to 10 year plan proposed by Capstone Development to replace older buildings on campus with newer facilities, said Vice President of Student Affairs David Shields.

“The plan allows us to decide whether or not we want to move forward with each in-

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

dividual phase as the plan progresses,” Shields said.

The proposed residence halls will be located behind Hawthorne and Covington Halls and will house freshman, if the decision is made to begin construction, he said.

“Right now, phase one is in the works — in the design phase,” Shields said. “Prelimi-

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

nary work is being done now to put things in place so that we will be prepared, if we go forward with the plans to construct the two new residence halls.”

The construction on campus is worth the inconveniences that it could cause as long as the school, overall, is being upgrad-

VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADVANCEMENT As the money for the scholarship grows from interest and earnings, a spendable fund develops so more Raymond F. and Mary Deeters endowed scholarships will become available to students, Hendricks said.

“Within 18 months to two

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CHURCH AND STATE? ...1B

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Please recycle your paper.

2A NEWS

SGA

Jan. 16, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

DINING

Senate sets Sodexo anticipates student spending shift Higher Ed Day goal CORINNE BECKINGER

ASHLEY REMKUS

;\INN ?ZQ\MZ IZMUS][(]VI ML] The Senate branch of the Student Government Association is endorsing student attendance at Higher Education Day in Montgomery on Feb. 27.

Higher Education Day gives college students from Alabama’s public universities the opportunity to gather together and rally for funding for secondary education institutions, said Legislative Affairs Committee Chair Kyle Enloe.

Senate has set a goal of getting at least 100 UNA students to attend the event, he said.

“I’m pretty sure we can get 100 students that want to go and make their voices heard,” Enloe said. “This is our opportunity to make our case with the elected officials about educational funding.”

”

THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE OUR CASE WITH THE ELECTED OFFICIALS ABOUT EDUCATIONAL FUNDING.

KYLE ENLOE SENATE CHAIR OF LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS The money could affect scholarships, tuition costs and other college expenses, he said.

The one-day event is a statewide rally of college students aiming to get the attention of Alabama legislators, said Karli Creech, director of campus membership and student activities at Higher Education Partnership and a guest speaker at Senate’s Jan. 9 meeting.

The message is to get funding divided between the higher education sector and the primary education sectors more fairly, she said.

“We are asking for two-thirds of the education budget to be granted to Pre-K through 12th grade and for one-third of the budget to go to higher education at public universities,” Creech said.

Freshman Jeffrey Hodge, Jr. wants to see tuition lowered as a result of Higher Education Day, he said.

“It would be really cool if we actually got more funding for higher education out of this event,” Hodge said. “Tuition is very high, and I’d really be excited if it was lowered because of college students making their voices heard.”

SGA President Laura Giles sees Higher Education Day as the chance to fight for the students, she said.

“This is our chance to fight for our right to money that is collected from taxpayers — us,” Giles said. “We pay taxes and are able to vote, so we’re showing them what we as voters expect from them (elected officials).”

Higher Education Day is an opportunity to make sure government leaders know their services have a purpose, said Zach Young, a freshman.

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photo by ALLI OWNBY I Chief Photographer

The Commons’ Chick-Fil-A stand is near completion. The GUC food court could lose 30 percent in revenue to new eateries, said Sodexo Director Alan Kinkead.

-LQ\WZ 1V +PQMN MLQ\WZ(NTWZITI VM\ Sodexo expects up to a 30 percent loss of GUC customers with the arrival of the new eating areas in the Commons in February.

“I’m sure they will take somewhere from 20 to 30 percent of the business away from the GUC,” said Alan Kinkead, general manager of Sodexo. “I would say almost for sure that it would never come back. They might take even more than that at first, but then I think once the novelty wears off then perhaps it won’t be quite as much.”

The Commons will include national brands Chick-fil-A and Starbucks and local brand Frostbite.

Frostbite will not be associated with Sodexo so students will be unable to use their dining dollars there, Kinkead said.

“I haven’t used my mane card yet,” said Brittany Etherly, a freshman.

Etherly is planning to save her $135 in dining dollars for Chick-fil-A, she said.

For the 2012-2013 school year, roughly 71.5 percent of total revenue was spent at the GUC. To compare, World of Wings had 18.3 percent of the profits with Towers and the C-Store profiting 10.3 percent total, Kinkead said.

Kinkead expects customers from the university and the surrounding area to be especially drawn to Chick-fil-A and Starbucks because of their national appeal and the novelty they create, he said.

“There’s a lot of student oriented destinations (at the Commons) and, hopefully, that will keep that building busy all the time, and I’m quite sure it will certainly pull some business away from the GUC,” Kinkead said. “I don’t think it’s going to have a whole lot of effect on any of the other locations, but I think obviously at first it’s going to be, you know, it’s a

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CONSTRUCTION

OAC relocates due to potential construction ASHLEY REMKUS

;\INN ?ZQ\MZ IZMUS][(]VI ML]

The Outdoor Adventure Center has relocated to 216 W. Irvine Ave. to avoid a mid-semester move that could have resulted from the start-up of construction on two new residence halls.

All of the spring programs adventures, trips and activities will go on as scheduled.

“When we were told that construction was going to take place and that we would have to move eventually, we just decided to go ahead and beat them to the punch line and move now,” said McKenzie Martin, coordinator of outdoor adventures and special events. “We have done this to ensure that none of our programs or events will be hindered or cancelled because of a move during the middle of the semester.”

Staff member Patrick Shremshock saw the new location as an opportunity to get the center better visibility with the UNA community, he said.

“I think we’ll be more visible in our

photo by ROGER WANG I Staff Photographer

The Outdoor Adventure Center, moved to its new location at 216 W. Irvine Ave, to avoid a mid-semester relocation, said OAC Director Mackenzie Martin.

new location than we were in our old one,” said Shremshock, a graduate assistant at the Outdoor Adventure Center.

“Especially once we get a new sign put up.”

Student employee Christian Walker

found that the new building offered a better environment for students to come hang out, he said.

“I see the move as a fresh start to an already progressive program in a bigger

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NEWS 3A

Jan. 16, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

FINANCE

University unveils new textbook-charge option BLYTHE STEELMAN

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Despite the ever-rising costs of textbooks, students are still filling up local bookstores and looking for cheap, more affordable options to fit their budgets.

Students might have noticed the longer-than-usual lines in the campus bookstore last week, and bookstore manager Griffin Hite said employees have noticed the surge in traffic, too.

For the first time, university officials offered students the option of charging their textbook purchases to excess funds in their account before disbursement checks are issued for the semester, as long as purchases did not exceed $600.

“We’ve definitely seen a lot more traffic than usual for the first week,” Hite said.

Students were only allowed to charge their purchases through Saturday, Jan. 11, according to an email from Student Financial Services.

The rise could be due to students utilizing the new option, but university officials will not be sure how the service fared until after they see the final numbers. However, Hite said the bookstore typically sees a lot of traffic — just not all at once, like they have this semester.

“Usually, after disbursement checks go out, we see more students,” he said.

Waiting for a refund check is not always an option for some students,

photo illustration by MARIE KERERA I Student Photographer

A tower of textbooks looms behind an empty wallet. University officials allowed students to charge their purchases to their accounts, sparking more on-campus bookstore traffic, said Griffin Hite, manager of the university bookstore.

though.

“I pay out of pocket for my books, and then I reimburse myself with my refund check,” said senior Jordan Graham.

As a business major, Graham said

SCHOLARSHIP

Campus life scholarship criteria receive change KAITLIN CHAPPELL

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

The Office of Student Engagement offers the Contribution to Campus Life Scholarships to students each year to improve service and leadership. The scholarship requirements will be changing this year, said Bethany Oliver, coordinator of leadership and volunteerism.

Each year, one student is awarded the service scholarship and one student is awarded the leadership scholarship. In the past, in order to receive the scholarship, each student was required to plan a proposal to improve either service or leadership on campus. Once chosen, the student(s) would work to execute the proposal and earn the money he or she received.

Oliver has worked with Tyler Thompson, assistant director for programming, to revise the requirements for the scholarships this year, she said.

“We are not requiring proposals anymore,” Oliver said. “We will have an application process and an interview process. Students will still be required to work five hours a week in the Office of

Student Engagement.”

Students who receive the service scholarship will build relationships with the community and improve service between UNA and the community. Students who receive the leadership scholarship will encourage students to become more involved on campus, Oliver said.

“We want students to tell people about service opportunities and recruit students to participate. We hope for the winner to educate not only students, but community partners as well,” Oliver said.

For both the service and leadership scholarships, scholarship recipients will create surveys and questionnaires to find out what motivates students to serve and lead and get involved.

“Leadership recipients will learn how to excel in leadership, recruit students to get involved, assist in leadership data analysis, and focus on managing stress of student leaders,” Oliver said.

A big focus of this year’s leadership recipient will be finding new ways to help UNA’s student leaders handle stress and time manage, Oliver said.

Last year’s scholarship recipients were Erica Gholson and Matthew Jones.

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he usually has to purchase his textbooks way with most of the classes.” from the university bookstore.

But for those textbooks that could “(My textbooks) are UNA editions,” possibly be found cheaper, students are he said. “In the business major, it’s that ;MM *773; XIOM )

4A IMAGES

Jan. 16, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

A cold student stands in the rain on campus. While temperatures dipped into the single digits and teens, they quickly rose to above-freezing.

A thin layer of snow and salt coats the stairs outside the library. Campus maintenance officials took precautions and salted campus before the cold arrived.

Chunks of ice lay on a campus sidewalk before melting. Only a few snow flurries fell before the cold temperatures rose.

Frigid conditions heat up before snow appears ALLI OWNBY

+PQMN 8PW\WOZIXPMZ IW_VJa(]VI ML]

When I began thinking about this photo essay, I decided I was going to document the cold weather that seemed to take hold of the entire country. However, it warmed up almost as fast as it froze over!

I have lived in the South my whole life, and I cannot remember the last time the temperatures dipped into the single digits. This is completely foreign to me.

It’s the kind of weather your grandparents always said they had to walk to school in — uphill, both ways, of course.

I broke out the thickest jacket I own, a fur lined Carhartt hat used in the past only for extreme snow in the mountains and a pair of super-warm gloves for the perilous journey from LaGrange to Towers for supper. Thank goodness they have unlimited hot chocolate!

As soon as I had mentally and physically prepared myself for the Antarctic weather, it disappeared. Wednesday, the first day of classes, showed itself to be “warmer,” with temperatures in the 40s.

It’s sad when someone in Alabama considers that to be warm!

As the week went on, it got even

warmer. Over the weekend, there were a couple times I went outside without a jacket, and once or twice I wondered if I could get away with wearing shorts.

Maybe people up North are used to these weird winter conditions, but this Tennessee native sure isn’t. Don’t get me wrong — I love a good snow day. In fact, I’d love nothing more this season than to frolic around campus pelting my friends with snowballs. But I won’t truly be happy with the weather situation again until I can hang out by the creek in Wildwood A tree on campus stands without its Park, lie in the sun to read a book and leaves. The winter weather had sleep outside in a hammock. students across campus bundled up.

NEWS 5A

Jan. 16, 2014 • The Flor-Ala ;+1-6+- KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) ing, but there isn’t much space to wait for your teacher or wait for your classroom to get empty. I can’t wait for the larger classrooms in the new building.”

The Science and Technology Building will also feature newer technology and class spaces, said Brenda Webb, chair of the physics and earth science department.

“Current instructional technologies will be in place in classrooms, and computer labs will be available in all departments which will allow expanded uses of technology in many courses offered,” Webb said. “In the Department of Physics and Earth Science, some astronomy classes will be taught in the science

-6,7?-, KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) years, it will provide multiple scholarships,” he said. “It will grow as the years go by. The university benefits because the students benefit.”

Deeters’ donation, one of several donations the alumna has made over the years, is due to an incident that occurred years ago, when she was going to discontinue her studies at FSTC because of financial struggles, Hendricks said. The

,-;1/6 KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) ed, said sophomore Slaton Zills.

“Upgrading our campus is worth having the construction here, even if there are inconveniences that result from it,” Zills said. “And Rivers is so crowded that I hope the new facilities will help with that.”

The preliminary work being done includes looking into the quality of the land itself to see if it is suitable to build on, said Director of Facilities Administration and Planning Michael Gautney.

“Before we can build, we have to take into account several factors: the geology of the land must be considered to see if we can even build there, the affordability of the new housing must be considered and the amount of space available in the prospective areas must be taken into account,” Gautney said. “We have to make sure there is enough room to build there.”

Affordability is a condition for sophomore Lily Wallace’s approval of the construction of new housing, she said.

“If expenses of living on campus or tuition are raised, I think people are just going to end up at Division I schools,”

education lab space in addition to being taught in the planetarium. Biology, chemistry and physics and earth science faculty and staff will have modern offices, state of the art teaching spaces and research areas.”

Newer equipment would definitely help students in the science department, said Matthew Davenport, junior.

“A lot of the equipment in the current building is outdated by at least 10 years,” Davenport said. “Many drawers and cabinets in labs outside of the research labs are broken or stuck shut. Even many of the chemicals in storage intended for research and classroom labs have been on the shelf since the 80s or 90s and would no longer be viable for their intended purpose.”

There will also be a more relaxed at-

mosphere in the new building, partly due to the friendly staff and the aesthetically pleasing building, Webb said.

“Students will encounter familiar, welcoming faces of faculty and staff, but the new science and technology building will offer an attractive, modern facility that will be inviting to students,” Webb said. “Planned spaces reflect a studentcentered, learning-centered facility.

There are areas designed to specifically encourage students to spend time in the building and to interact with one another and with faculty.”

The Science and Technology Building will be an asset for future students, said Hailey Boeck, junor.

“I think the new building will definitely improve our science department,” Boeck said. “It will not only provide a

positive learning atmosphere, but it will also give more opportunities for undergraduate research. A better undergraduate research program will improve students academically by giving hands-on experience in their field, and this will give students more options for their college career.”

UNA is going in the right direction by creating this building, said Robby Thompson, senior.

“I’ve been in Floyd a few times to do things with my job, and I’ve noticed that it is a little outdated,” Thompson said.

“I’m excited to see UNA invest in a stateof-the-art facility for science. The science department is a key part of UNA’s culture and definitely deserves it.”

college’s president, Henry Willingham, would not allow Deeters to give up so easily, offering to find a way to fund her education if she agreed to stay and earn her diploma.

“Apparently, soon after she was able to graduate,” Hendricks said. “She said that from that day forward, if she had a chance and fortune smiled on here, that she would turn around and show her generosity and her gratitude to UNA, and she did. Last summer she passed away at 96 years old, and she left over $1 million to the university. She wanted to be able to

reach across the ages and help other students that came from modest families.”

The university currently offers one Deeters scholarship that is given out annually and is targeted at students graduating from Fairview High School in Cullman County, where Deeters was a teacher, who wish to attend the university, said Melissa Pettus, director of endowed scholarships. In the event there are no applicants from Fairview, the university scholarship committee is responsible for determining who will receive the scholarship.

“She wanted the scholarship to go to a good student that made good grades,” Pettus said. “That was her only request.”

The scholarship’s current recipient, Haley Cheyenne Johnson, did not attend Fairview High School, but was awarded the scholarship later last semester after having applied for several scholarships, Johnson said.

“It was unexpected and it took some weight off of my shoulders,” Johnson, a freshman, said. “I was really excited when it was awarded to me.”

Wallace said. “In that case, I think the construction would be a bad idea—especially since I had to move out of LaGrange because it was too expensive.”

Gage Prince, a junior, hopes the construction will not affect the operation of other campus facilities, he said.

“As long as none of the other campus facilities are negatively affected by the construction, I think that building the new dorms is a good idea,” Prince said.

Campus parking will not be negatively affected by the construction, Shields said.

“That area of campus does not have parking that will be lost to construction if we decide to build,” Shields said. “There will probably be some parking that comes with the buildings that is directly accessible to the entrances, but no major parking changes will come out of this.”

The building of the new dorms will complement the University Success Center Initiative and First Year Experience Program, Shields said.

“Although the new residence halls are going to house freshmen, we are not considering building them as part of the live-on requirement,” Shields said. “They will just complement that initiative.”

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

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6A NEWS

Jan. 16, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

SGA

Bill allocating snack funds for Faculty Senate passes ASHLEY REMKUS

;\INN ?ZQ\MZ IZMUS][(]VI ML]

The Senate Branch of the Student Government Association passed Bill 1401 and tabled Bill 13-22 at the first meeting of the semester on Jan. 9.

Bill 14-01, proposed by Legislative Affairs Committee Chairperson Kyle Enloe and ratified by the senate, was drafted to allocate $65 from the SGA miscellaneous fund to use for the purchase of refreshments to be provided to the Faculty Senate to thank them for their service.

About $45 is to be used for the purchase of Krispie Kreme doughnuts and approximately $15 is to be used to buy coffee.

The venue of the faculty appreciation refreshments will also be used to invite the faculty to Higher Education Day, an event that will be held at the state house in Montgomery on Feb. 27, Enloe said.

Karli Creech of the Higher Education Partnership spoke to the Senate about events that will take place at Higher Education Day and how students can get involved.

“Higher Education Day is the opportunity for college students from across Alabama to have their voices heard by the legislators,” Creech said. “At the event, students rally on the steps of the state capitol to ask for one-third of the education budget to be given to higher education institutions.”

SGA is working to get the student body involved in the event by putting on Hype for Higher Education Day, Enloe said in his committee report.

“We have set a goal of getting 100 students from UNA to Montgomery for Higher Education Day,” he said.

Bill 13-22 proposed that $1,000 from the SGA miscellaneous account be allocated to send five additional representatives to the Collegiate Legislature Conference, making 20 the total number of attendees.

According to the Alabama YMCA Collegiate Legislature’s website, “(the event) gives delegates the opportunity to draft, present and debate pressing, relevant bills on the floor of the Alabama House of Representatives.”

The need for the funds was questioned because the names of the students attending the conference could not be produced at the meeting.

Senator Jordan Graham proposed that the bill be tabled until the next meeting so that a list of attendees could be gathered and their plans to attend could be confirmed.

The bill was continued until the next meeting, where it will be opened for discussion again before a vote takes place.

photo by ROGER WANG I Staff Photographer

Christian Walker and Nathan Puckett race for a ball during a game of kayak polo, hosted by the Outdoor Adventure Club in Flowers Hall pool. The Outdoor Adventure Center’s relocation will be beneficial, said Walker, a member of the club.

7)+ KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) building with more space for students to just come hang out,” Walker said.

The staff wants to make the center a place for students to come between classes or when they just have a break in their schedules, Martin said.

The new building and the location of the Outdoor Adventure Center are a good match for the program, said Vice President for Student Affairs David Shields.

“Their new location is a great place and a great fit for them,” he said. “Because of the success of the (recreational) sports program here at UNA, we didn’t want to stop any of their programs or slow anything down, so we gave them

plenty of notice about the construction and got them moved.”

Members of the Outdoor Adventure Club like Alex Maxwell and Jonathan Powers considered the relocation a positive thing, they said.

“I liked the old spot, but I think the new one is going to be great once we get the painting scheme finished and get all of our calendars and stuff hung on the walls,” Maxwell said. “I think that more people will check it out now that it’s in a better spot, right next to where students park.”

Powers, who helped with the building set-up and painting, was excited about the opportunity to have a backyard garden at the new location, he said.

“I like the new spot and think it’s going to be very beneficial,” he said. “Hope-

fully we are going to be able to use the back yard for a gardening project.”

The new location is on the corner of West Irvine Avenue and North Pine Street beside the parking lot.

“I love change,” Martin said. “I always think it’s a good thing, especially in our case.”

More information regarding programs and events sponsored by the Outdoor Adventure Center may be found on the center’s Facebook page, by searching for Outdoor Adventure Center on the UNA homepage or at una.edu/recsports.

A full schedule of events and programs for the spring 2014 semester may be accessed there.

For questions about the OAC, McKenzie Martin may be contacted at mlmartin2@una.edu.

MAINTENANCE

Elevator certificates have ups, downs JASMINE FLEMING ;\INN ?ZQ\MZ RNTMUQVO(]VI ML]

Students who spend any time in campus elevators may occaisionally notice certificates indicating that the elevator is well past its inspection date. University maintenance officials indicate that there is often no cause for alarm.

The reason for this is usually due to paperwork, and does not reflect the elevator’s safety, said Mike Thompson, Assistant Director of Facilities Administration and Planning.

“There’s a very limited number of state inspectors, so there might be a short time between when the elevator is due for inspection and when it gets inspected,” Thompson said. “Also, there’s a lag between when the elevator gets inspected and when the new certificate comes in.

There might be a delay in paperwork because the state inspector has to sign it and send it back.”

Elevators with expired tags don’t seem safe, said Maggie Peake, sophomore. “(An elevator) might be broken, and no one knows,” Peake said. “There could be a hazard. I wouldn’t feel safe getting in that elevator.”

Expired tags are only an issue if they are long overdue, said Brett Burcham, sophomore.

“If it’s a year past due, that’s one thing,” Burcham said. “Elevator cables have to be checked often because they wear off pretty fast because they are elevator cables. But a few months past due doesn’t bother me.”

The elevators are safe enough to get a safety score of 100, Thompson said.

“There’s an elevator company that services most of the elevators in the state that does maintenance, repairs and inspections in addition to the state inspectors, so the elevator has been inspected more often than the date on the certificate,” Thompson said. “If there was something unsafe about the elevator, then it wouldn’t be running. Elevators carry the public, so they have to be safe for everyone.”

The elevators in Rivers are some of the worst, said Kelly Melton, freshman. photo illustration by ROGER WANG I Staff Photographer “For the first semester, the eleva- Brett Burcham illustrates apprehension while tors were ‘expired’ according to the using an elevator on campus. Burcham inspection sheet on the wall,” Melton believes elevators should be checked regu-

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larly, he said.

VIEWPOINTS 7A

Jan. 16, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

Toss out resolutions, set goals year round 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 WALTER HARTLEY KAYLA STINNETT ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES ALLI OWNBY CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER SARAH HOLLIDAY ROGER WANG STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS REBECCA WALKER ADVISER

ANNA GRACE USERY 7VTQVM -LQ\WZ WVTQVM(NTWZITI VM\

Black-eyed peas, hog jowls, collard greens and champagne are my favorite aspects of the New Year. It’s basically a time to eat, drink and be merry because who knows how long we’ll all be around to enjoy it, right?

While, of course, food and drinks are my favorite delights, abiding by a set of rules like

Copyright © 2013 The Flor-Ala All rights reserved.

First copy free.

Additional copies $1 each.

ing healthy food is a goal of the American people. Well, I hate to break it to the American population, but healthy foods from crops are produced year-round all over the world, especially in the United States. The New Year doesn’t bring an influx of fruits and vegetables that are gobbled up in two days — you can buy them at any time.

Last but not least, Americans aspire to drink less alcohol. Again, I don’t think the alcohol fairy only brings a select amount of booze to Americans per year. Alcohol is made and produced regularly. It will always be around. If you wanted to stop drinking alcohol, you wouldn’t binge drink all night New Year’s Eve and call it quits for 364 days.

Bottom line, setting goals whenever the creativity strikes is a goal you should set for

yourself for the New Year. Why plan all year long about what your New Years resolutions are going to be when you could set them for yourself right then and there? New Years resolutions are unrealistic plans to abide wholeheartedly by something, ultimately setting yourself up for failure.

Sometimes I believe New Year’s resolutions were created by the media to nudge the line of privacy to an inevitably deeper threshold of invasion.

Nonetheless, we Americans gobble it up. So, if you’re going to have a New Year’s resolution, my suggestion would be to set a resolution to not have resolutions. Simply set goals that fit your needs whenever the moment arises. The world is full of conformity. I challenge you to be different.

Students should change heart before judging appearance

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.

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Email: florala@una.edu.

• Phone: 256-765-4364

they’re a part of the Ten Commandments isn’t something I particularly care about sacrificing myself to. Which brings me to the point, why do we binge on setting goals for ourselves on one specific time of the year? Of course the tradition reigns hard, but why can’t we continuously set goals for ourselves throughout the year?

First, let’s think of the top New Year’s resolutions in the United States. The number one resolution in America is to lose weight. I find it amusing how a flux of people inhabit fitness gyms for $1 membership fees and $10 monthly fees only to end up spending exactly $11 on fitness for the year. The number two resolution is volunteering to help others. Wonderful. Because needy people only need help around Christmas and New Year’s. On down the list, eat-

KALI DANIEL

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Sweet, sweet misogyny. It is everywhere on this campus.

Within this past week a Facebook friend posted a link containing “22 Trends Men Hate and Why,” which included dark lipstick, sneakers and ball caps.

While I don’t blame the person who shared the article at all, I strongly admonish the person who wrote the article.

I’ve written before about the bias in this part of the country.

While there are so many registered liberals between the ages of 18 and 25, walking around on campus I would not recognize that. There is so much bitter hostility toward outward appearance that is not only unnecessary, but damaging to character.

When was the last time you saw a female stranger and said “She should not be wearing that” or “Her clothes are too tight”?

How about the last time

you saw a female stranger and said “She looks so confident” or “I never thought of wearing something like that before?” By changing your outlook, which you can impact, you will grow as a person rather than pointing the finger at something you cannot and will not change.

Scrolling through the comments, I see “Every man loves yoga pants, provided you have the body for them.” When I see this comment, I have to ask what constitutes “the body for them?” Are they in my size?

Are they comfortable? Do I feel happy and confident in them?

Then I believe I have the body for it. When men make these comments, it is intrusive on

women’s well-being and continues to stipulate social norms that prevent women from excelling in their work, home and school lives.

It’s cold outside. If a girl wants to wear leggings as pants, she has every right to. By not focusing on such trivial things, we can make ourselves stronger and realize that material appearance does not impact a person’s soul. Get to know the person before judging them for their appearance. If I’ve learned anything during my time in college it’s that beauty really is in the eye of the beholder and that if that beholder is constantly biased they will never recognize true beauty.

Congratulations to our Writer and Photographer of the Week!

Jasmine Fleming and Josh Brookover FOR THE RECORD...

We strive to get it right the first time, but when we donʼt, we are happy to set the record straight.

•

In the Jan. 9 issue, student writer Kadin Pounders wrote the “Lions fill holes in line up, prepare for upcoming season” story on 2B.

8A NEWS 01/0-: KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our leaders need to know what we want them to do, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s our responsibility to let our leaders know what we want,â&#x20AC;? Young said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t, then it defeats the purpose of electing them to represent us.â&#x20AC;?

The funding issue affects everyone, not just campus leaders, Giles said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This affects every single student, not just SGA members or other leaders, Giles said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why we want to get the student body engaged and help put faces with the voices, instead of just letting the (Higher Education Partnership) do the talking for us.â&#x20AC;?

Students can make the issue matter to

/=+ KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) novelty so everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to go check it out. Everyone loves Starbucks and Chick-fil-A, and at first I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to take a lot of the business from the GUC, but I think eventually things will settle in.â&#x20AC;?

Kate Partain, a sophomore, is hopeful the new eating areas will offer later hours than the current ones, she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think it will be especially busy if they stay open later hours,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know what the plan is for that, but it will give students another place to eat besides WOW.â&#x20AC;?

Freshman Juliet Willicott is also saving up her dining dollars for the incoming

Jan. 16, 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ The Flor-Ala +)58=; KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM )

the legislators, Creech said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We can make the funding issue matter to the legislators very easily right now because they are going to be running for re-election and we can vote,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What better way is there to get their attention than to parade and rally outside of their offices?â&#x20AC;?

Senate is working to spread the word about the event to students around campus, Enloe said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To get the word out and get the student body involved, Senate is hosting Hype for Higher Ed Day in the Guilliot Student Center, passing out informational flyers that list the top five reasons to attend the event, sending out campus announcements and going to speak to registered student organizations,â&#x20AC;? Enloe said.

Chick-fil-A, she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Although I love Starbucks, because my best friend works at the one in Huntsville and I get it for free, my dining dollars will be saved up for the Chick-fil-A,â&#x20AC;?

Willicott said.

Despite the appeal of the new eating areas freshman Jordan Gist doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know if saving his dining dollars will be worth it, he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The lines will just be outrageous,â&#x20AC;?

Gist said.

Partain plans to use her dining dollars after the busyness of the Commons has subsided, she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Personally, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m saving mine because I know once the Commons opens students will flock over there, and I plan to use mine after it has settled,â&#x20AC;? Partain said.

Gholson, a graduate student, received the service scholarship. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The scholarship has really helped me offset the costs of graduate school and provided me with the platform to unify students to serve a cause close to my heart â&#x20AC;&#x201D; at-risk youth mentoring,â&#x20AC;? said Gholson.

Gholson worked to set up a UNA Mentors Academy that matched UNA students with at-risk students at Florence middle school.

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

-4->)<7:; KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That, combined with the shaking and creaking, did not make me feel comfortable at all. One of the lights was out for most of the semester and the control panel in one was hanging off.â&#x20AC;?

Even though the elevators sometime have problems like getting stuck, they are still safe to ride, Thompson said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very high odds that someone would get hurt when stuck in an elevator,â&#x20AC;? Thompson said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When elevators get stuck, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s usually because a sensor has detected that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s at a floor, when itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not. When that happens, we have a plan in place to get it back working to let the folks out.â&#x20AC;?

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

*773; KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) looking to other options, such as the OffCampus Bookstore or a Facebook group called the UNA Student Book Exchange, which currently has more than 1,300 members. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I came from another university as a transfer student, and I joined (the Facebook group) because the UNA bookstoreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s buy-back rate is a joke,â&#x20AC;? said sophomore Traci Carr. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I would be lucky to get $30 from UNA. I will only buy from the UNA bookstore if I cannot find the book used, because Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m trying to save as much money as possible.â&#x20AC;?

Letting students utilize their financial aid so early in the semester could be a waste, Carr said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know about other students, but I do have those professors who donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t require that you buy the book, so I always wait until I have been to all of my classes the first week to buy books,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;By then, the offer to use financial aid is over and the checks are usually already issued, so it is a moot point for me.â&#x20AC;?

While repeated campus-wide emails were sent about the option, Graham said he was unsure of how the new payment option worked and preferred to wait and buy books on his own.

Even though lines have been longer at the university bookstore, traffic has not slowed at the Off-Campus Bookstore, located at the corner of Court and Irvine Streets.

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

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LIFE

SECTION B

Jan. 16, 2014• The Flor-Ala • Life Editor: Kali Daniel 256-765-5233

POLITICS

DIVIDED? Students question church, state separation MARI WILLIAMS

At a young age, children are taught the fundamentals of the separation of church and state. At an age where the typical college student questions everything, church and state lines in politics are not excluded.

“The First Amendment deals with freedom of religion,” said Tim Collins, associate professor of political science. “It says that Congress shall make no law that establishes a religion and it’s called the establishment clause.”

Though Congress has come to interpret it differently now, there are essentially two types of separation between church and state. The first type is the pre-exercise meaning Congress should not stop a person from exercising their religion the other type is the principle that Congress should not establish a state religion, Collins said.

The Lemon v. Kurtzmen case created the Lemon Test to decided if a case was violating the separation of church and state. It was a three-prong analysis of what the court used to decipher whether or not the state was creating an established religion, Collins said.

The court applied the test but as soon as they issued the test many courts immediately began to have cases where they departed from the Lemon test, and, in turn, they developed two subsequent tests, Collins said.

“One is an endorsement test which questions if the state is endorsing one religion over another,” Collins said. “After that they developed what they called a coercion test which meant that the state couldn’t coerce someone into a religious activity.”

As long as a citizen’s religious activities don’t privilege religious believers over another community they should be able to practice those religious activities, Collins said.

“For some people who are really religious I don’t know if they should necessarily have to full on believe that whole evolution theory,” said freshman Taylor Burns. “I know some people who are really offended by that are really religious, but they have to learn it though because its part of the class.”

They have to intermingle because religion is part of some people’s everyday life and a person is going to interact with people every day that aren’t religious and you cannot avoid it, Burns said.

“If you were to say that people can’t talk about their religion in society then that would be taking away your freedom of speech,” Burns said.

“They’re (church and state) going to have to intermingle. People can’t be so sensitive.”

photo courtesy of MorgueFile

IN THIS SECTION

LIFE Ramen becomes a delicacy

Greek policies dictate transgender involvement

See page 2B

See page 3B

SPORTS LLady ady LLions lose first home game

Faris achieves goals, pushes teamwork

See page 5B

See page 6B

City Hall photo by SARAH HOLLIDAY I Staff Photographer

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2B LIFE

Jan. 16, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

RECIPES

Ramen gets a makeover ANNA GRACE USERY

Stir Fry Ramen

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A staple in the great American college diet is undoubtedly the fried, freeze-dried, Styrofoam-like Ramen noodles everyone has drunkenly popped into the microwave after a rowdy karaoke night. These instant noodles come in a variety of flavors but seem to consistently taste like your older brother’s gym socks. Toss the spice packets over your shoulder, grab the spices your mother gave you freshman year and fire up the stove to defy all odds against the tasteless connotation associated with your twice a week, late night dinner.

Every time I go to the grocery store, I usually only need one ingredient. After I check out my grocery items and return home to cook, I realize I forgot that one item. It’s counterintuitive, but I’m sure half of you reading this are shaking your head ‘yes’ in agreement. (Almost) every

2 packa ges Ram en nood les, an 1 Steam y flavo ables v r e g e t able me 1 can c dley 1 hicken tbsp. L Salt an owry’s d peppe seasoni 1 tbsp. r, for ng salt butter taste 2 tbsp.

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college student has at least one package of Ramen noodles.

Whether they came in the care package your mother sent for Valentine’s Day or it is left over from the 100 boxes you bought when you were a freshman, Ramen is always available. If not, ask your upperclassmen friends.

They will deny buying

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and Ste directi amab ons. In a large les package a and mic ccordin ro p g Cook fo waved vegetab an, mix one t bsp. bu to les ove r four t r m ter i canned chicken nutes, stirri medium-high h e ng occa , for fou sionall at. r minut soy sauce and y . e R s ry’s se Add asoning , stirring oc amen noodles. casiona C salt. E o ok lly. Ad njoy! d Lowphoto b y SARAH HOLLIDA

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LIFE 3B

Jan. 16, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

HEALTH

Body dissatisfaction skews body image JOSLYN ABRAMS

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photo illustration by CHELSEA PARRISH I Student Photographer

The term “body image” refers to how someone feels about themselves, said Ernestine Davis, professor of nursing. The positive image you have inside projects outward, she said.

As you stare down at the latest issue of your favorite magazine and see the muscular, tanned, perfectly sculpted Adonis’s — the angular faces, and concaving stomach that lead into tree-like long, skinny legs on the size-zero fashion models — do you find yourself pinching those love handles you been meaning to eliminate? Nowadays we are bombarded with so many images of what is “in” and what is acceptable to society that our bodies are unintentional construction zones.

Body acceptance is not only a major issue today — it’s a movement. Groups all over the world are joining together to fight this epidemic affecting not only females but males worldwide.

The University of Florida has formed a coalition with its students to start the Body Acceptance Movement (BAM) which strives to increase the self-esteem and body image of UF students, faculty and staff and to promote positive health behaviors like fun physical activity and intuitive eating.

Seventy-five percent of college students are dissatisfied with their bodies. A large part of that percentage take to trend diets and sporadically dieting and exercising but five percent of that group use extreme methods like taking laxatives or succumbing to eating disorders to lose weight.

“Body image relates to how you feel about yourself,” said Ernestine Davis, professor of nursing, coordinator of the Presidential Mentors Academy and codirector of Project Open. “It’s not about your make-up, the clothes you wear or how good you look. It’s how you feel about yourself. It’s about the positive image you have inside of yourself that you’re trying to project outward.”

The media has been feeding images of perfectly primped people to society for years but whether or not we take that image as perfect is up to us as viewers, said Professor of Journalism and Communications Jim Martin.

“It’s really not a media issue, it’s a personal issue,” Martin said.

Celebrities are manipulated to look a certain way in media, said UNA’s current reigning Miss Black and Gold Brianna Locke.

“It’s very important to accept and love your body the way it is because no one looks like the celebrities you see on TV and in magazines,” Locke said. “Not even the celebrities.”

Body acceptance is not only a personal issue, it’s accepting other people’s bodies, too. In the world of social media we live in today it’s so easy to go online, tweet or post a status about someone’s body. While you anonymously post your comment under a photo or tweet your thought on a user’s body shape they could be struggling with their own body image issues.

“You have to accept people for who they are and how they look,” said junior Raven Southward. “Who’s to say your size is the right size?”

The answer to body acceptance and body image issues is simply accepting that yes, your body doesn’t look like your best friend’s, or Channing Tatum’s or even Kim Kardashian’s, but it’s perfect the way it is.

“Here at the University of North Alabama we have a very diverse student body,” Davis said. “Because people don’t look like each other they say, ‘Oh, that person isn’t beautiful,’ but when I look at a person I look beyond their physical body image. I look at the inner body image and souls of a person and that’s what constitutes body image to me.”

RSOS

Greek policies determine transgender membership KALI DANIEL

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As state laws begin to change and allow more liberties for members of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities, phenomenons regarding Greek life are sweeping colleges across the nation.

In cases such as Zeta Chi at Trinity University in Texas, a transgender was encouraged to join the sorority. While these situations do occur, there are important national aspects to understand about Greek life, said Director of Student Engagement Tammy Jacques.

“Nationally, the sororities and fra-

ternities are selective organizations,” Jacques said. “That’s the way it is with sorority recruitment and so-forth, so the university can’t tell them who to pick or who to select. It’s about a mutually selective process. The Greek organizations are a little different than our hundred and something other organizations (in that) they’re very selective in who they choose and that’s regardless of who they are.”

Should a transgender student choose to join a Greek organization, the response of the group reflects their education, said student and LGBT ally Corey Gray.

“I would hope with our unlimited access to information, people are either educated or want to educate themselves when

presented with the opportunity,” Gray said. “I realize we aren’t completely past the times of willful ignorance, but surely most would embrace the diversity.”

While there are no known cases of transgender students voicing interest in joining Greek life at UNA, they are encouraged to do so, Jacques said.

“If a transgender student came to us and said ‘I’m interested in going Greek,’ we’d begin having some of those conversations with some of those chapters and see if they’re interested,” she said. “If both parties don’t think it’s the right fit, there are actually national organizations that are Greek that are for LGBT students.

“If they wanted to start a Greek orga-

nization they could also do that,” Jacques said. “We would make sure to work with the chapters and make sure they’re following their national policies, as well as our federal policies, and make sure there’s an open communication and education with that.”

Greek organizations are just as important for non-heterosexual people, Gray said.

“They have a similar background or interests,” he said. “I do think (LGBT Greek organizations) offer a safety and understanding that a completely heterosexual sorority or fraternity cannot.”

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4B

Jan. 16, 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ The Flor-Ala

:)5-6 KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM * because of their newly found culinary expertise, microwaves, but will willingly fork over a couple of packs if you act particularly emaciated. Ramen noodles have yet another great purpose, besides being an unhealthy Japanese noodle.

Once when I was craving chips and salsa, I had a synaptic failure in the grocery store and walked out with chocolate and salsa. I admire creativity in the kitch-

7 1

en, but chocolate and salsa isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t appealing to anyone. So, I began to peruse the Internet for chip substitutes when I found copious raves and reviews about â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ramen chips.â&#x20AC;? Bored and hungry, I decided to try this unlikely concoction. Honestly, it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the best thing I have ever tasted, but isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t that what college is about â&#x20AC;&#x201D; enjoying mediocre food simply because you made it yourself? Anyway, if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re facing a situation similar to what I had, try out the Ramen chips.

Simply break up the noodles in the package, dip in salsa and munch.

Things to never say to a transgender person

So are you a guy or a girl?

How do you have sex?

Have you had surgery?

3

2 6

When did you become male/female?

So are you gay?

Should I call you an â&#x20AC;&#x153;itâ&#x20AC;??

What bathroom do you use?

5

4

7

*For an explanation of each, visit florala.net list compiled by KALI DANIEL I Life Editor

/:--3 KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM *

Living in a conservative state makes accepting transgendered people difficult, but not impractical, said student and LGBT ally Anthony Leggett. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I expect [acceptance] to be rough,â&#x20AC;?

Leggett said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Especially here, being that we live and go to school in the highly conservative parts of the south. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think Greek life is necessary for anyone, but if anyone wants to join or start one specifically for LGBT associates, then that shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be a problem.â&#x20AC;?

There is no doubt this phenomenon is occurring nationwide and organizations are learning how to address it, said Assistant Director of Student Engagement for Greek Affairs Julie Fletcher. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My national organization is preparing others like me to create an environment for students just to find a support group â&#x20AC;&#x201D; whether thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in a Greek community or in an RSO,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s baby steps being taken to it. They are educating advisers to have those types of conversations and encourage their students to just be more educated on (transgender involvement), so it is happening all over the country in different forms or types of discussions.â&#x20AC;?

In the event that a student is already involved in a sorority or fraternity and then transitions, the response is dependent on the individuals within the organization, Jacques said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nationally, organizations are revising (policies), educating themselves

and looking at those non-discrimination clauses and are being open to it, but I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know what the response (on campus) would be,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They are single-gendered organizations, but when a person goes through the change, they become the other gender so I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know how people would respond. We would respond accordingly and try to be educational, and my hopes are that they would be very open. If it became a major problem or issue then we probably would be involved with it and the chapter national headquarters to talk about education, being open (and) making sure that student is supported and gets all the support that they need.â&#x20AC;?

Between one-fourth and one in 100 people is transsexual, according to the National Center for Transgender Equality.

Given those statistics and last semesterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s enrollment numbers, there are between 173 and 693 transsexuals on campus. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Throw any preconceived notions out,â&#x20AC;? Gray said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Do research if you want.

Get to know a trans person. Realize that being trans doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t describe someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s personality or interests, (and) realize you probably already know trans people.â&#x20AC;?

The best way to encourage transgender students to engage in Greek life is to begin educating those who question, Leggett said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Educate yourselves,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I often find that those who are opposed to people of the LGBT community are opposed because they fear what they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t understand. And they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t understand due to a lack of knowledge.â&#x20AC;? *Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Note: Corey Gray is the significant other of Sports Editor Dallas Moore.

SPORTS 5B

Jan. 16, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

SCOREBOARD Jan. 6 - Jan. 13 Thursday, Jan. 9 MENʼS BASKETBALL

UNA vs. Valdosta State 97-69 Win

WOMENʼS BASKETBALL

UNA vs. Valdosta State 51-49 Win

Saturday, Jan. 11

MENʼS BASKETBALL

UNA vs. University of West Florida 77-75 Loss

WOMENʼS BASKETBALL

UNA vs. University of West Florida 67-52 Loss

Current Standings MENʼS BASKETBALL Season Total 9-5 Gulf South Conference 3-3

WOMENʼS BASKETBALL Season Total 8-4 Gulf South Conference 3-3

Upcoming Games

BASKETBALL

Lions take first home loss after close win MATT SULESKI

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UNA defeated Valdosta State University 51-49 last Thursday and fell to the University of West Florida 67-52 on Saturday.

A few stops down the stretch and some clutch free-throws preserved the win over Valdosta State.

“It wasn’t pretty, but we found a way,” said head coach Missy Tiber.

The Lions were held to 18 points in the first half, shooting just 24 percent from the field.

The first-half shooting also saw the Lions go 0-7 from beyond the arc.

“We’ve got to start making shots we should be making,” Tiber said.

Valdosta State did not fair much better in the half, shooting just 30 percent from the field, but Valdosta took a 22-18 advantage into the intermission.

“Our defense was good, but we had too many turnovers,” Tiber said. “Second-chance opportunities are crucial.”

Offensively, UNA played much better in the second half.

The Lions shot 41.7 percent from the field, while connecting on five of their nine three-point attempts.

Delisa Madry started to heat, scoring all 12 of her points in the second half.

“I tell Delisa all the time, it’s your job to make shots,” Tiber said.

Lauren Faris led all scorers with 15 points and played all 40 minutes for the Lions.

With just one minute remaining in the contest, the score was within two points.

Faris put the game away with two made free throws with 5.4 seconds left.

The Lions turned their attention to West Florida Saturday and came up short.

photo by CHELSEA PARRISH I Student Photographer

Senior forward center Nichelle Fillmore carefully dodges her opponent to score in Saturday’s game versus the University of West Florida. The Lions lost 67-52.

The Agronauts dominated the glass to the tune of 57 rebounds, holding UNA to only 36.

“There is something wrong when you give up 24 offensive rebounds,” Tiber said. “West Florida just out-hustled us, (and) our effort was not where it

needed to be.” it wouldn’t be quite as frustratWest Florida forced the Li- ing.” ons into 21 turnovers, while After being down 13 in the committing only 13 of their second half, UNA cut the lead own. to seven. Following some costly “The frustrating part was turnovers, West Florida was able that most of our turnovers did to extend the lead back to 13. not come off of their press,” Tiber said. “If they would have, ;MM *);3-<*)44 XIOM *

Thursday, Jan. 16 BASKETBALL

MENʼS BASKETBALL UNA @ Delta State

7:30 p.m.

WOMENʼS BASKETBALL UNA @ Delta State

5:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 18 MENʼS BASKETBALL UNA @ Christian Brothers 4 p.m.

WOMENʼS BASKETBALL UNA @ Christian Brothers 2 p.m.

F OLLOW U S FLORALA.NET/SPORTS @F L O R A L A S P O R T S

Men start week strong, end with 77-75 loss MATT SULESKI

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After a big win Thursday night, the Lions dropped their first home basketball game of the season Saturday.

A fast start set the pace for 97-69 blowout win over conference foe Valdosta State.

The Lions jumped out to a 20-5 lead in the first five minutes of action.

“The only other game we played this well against was Florida Southern,” said head coach Bobby Champagne.

The Lions looked to Junior Forward Calvin Dade early in the game as he connected on

four of his six first half attempts.

“He was really good,” Champagne said. “Tonight Calvin was a presence.”

UNA carried a 50-36 advantage into the half led by Dade with 10 points and Rashaun Claiborne adding 12.

There was no letting off the gas pedal as the Lions quickly extended their lead in the second half.

“We learned a valuable lesson at Shorter,” Champagne said. “We’ve got to compete all game.”

Dade continued to score in the second half, finishing the game with 24 points and 14 boards.

“I was just hungry tonight,” Dade said. “I was going after everything.”

Three other players finished in double figures for the Lions.

Claiborne added 18, while Wes Long scored 14 and Bruce Adams chipped in with 12.

“This game right here may go a long way in building their confidence,” Champagne said.

The Lions played the second of a back-to-back home stand Saturday against the last place team in the conference, West Florida.

“West Florida has played the toughest schedule (in the GSC conference),” Champagne said.

“I hope our players don’t look at

their record, because this will be a tough game.”

The 11-year veteran has seen this happen too many times and unfortunately for his group he was right.

West Florida got out to a fast start working the ball inside and dominating the glass.

“We can’t get outrebounded 54-32 and expect to win a ball game,” Champagne said.

The Lions finished the half on a 10-2 run to even the score.

“I thought we were lucky to be tied at the half,” Champagne said.

West Florida started the sec-

;MM 5-6; XIOM *

6B SPORTS

Jan. 16, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

PROFILE

Faris works hard, plays hard, shoots for top KAITLYN TEW

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“Everybody else first, self second,” is how women’s basketball head coach Missy Tiber describes Junior starting point guard Lauren Faris.

Faris, a junior from Louisville, Ky., started playing basketball at the age of six, she said.

“I went to a camp and it was ages six to 16,” Faris said. “I was the only six year old there, but I’ve loved it ever since.”

Faris played throughout grade school and then made her high school’s varsity basketball team, she said. She decided to play at UNA the summer after she graduated from high school.

“I didn’t know anything about this school until senior year, right in the middle, when the old graduate assistant at UNA was a girl that graduated from my high school,” Faris said. “She came to one of my games my senior year and saw me play. She contacted me about it and I looked up UNA.” Faris had planned on attending a different school, where she would not be playing basketball, until she got the opportunity to come to UNA, she said.

“I’m glad it all worked out for me, because I love it here,” Faris said.

Faris has been player of the week twice in her conference, but when she first received it, she would become embarrassed when congratulated, Tiber said.

STAYING 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

“She’s just beyond humble,” Tiber said. “Any personal honors, she personally considers them team honors. I think that’s what makes her so special and I knew that was going to be exactly how she was the very first time I ever talked to her on the phone.”

As a starter last year, Faris played 28 minutes a night and averaged 6.5 points per game. This year, she plays 35 minutes a night and averages 17.1 points per game, Tiber said.

“There (have) been times when she thought she played too much,” Tiber said. “Even though we need it, it’s hard for her because she’s so humble and wants everybody to have opportunities.”

In addition to the time she puts in on the court, Faris is in nursing school, Tiber said.

“She’s an unbelievably hard worker,” Tiber said. “Obviously she’s very intelligent, but she’s also basketball smart, too. When we have to tell her something, she picks it up immediately. Basketball intelligence and how hard she plays just makes her a great player.”

One of Faris’ goals her sophomore year was to become a team captain, but since she has achieved that, most of her goals are team-centered, she said. “(I don’t) necessarily have any individual basketball goals, but (I) definitely want to get out of here with a conference championship,” Faris said. “Then, if it gets as far as the NCAA tournament, I’d really like to get to the Elite 8.”

Faris takes her position as team cap-

ACTIVE AT

16

UNA 17

3:30 p.m. - Ab Attack

THURSDAY

18

Nothing Scheduled

FRIDAY

19

4 p.m. - Ab Attack

SATURDAY

3:30 p.m. - TRX and Ab Attack 4 p.m. - Zumba, XFit 6 p.m. - Yoga 7 p.m. - Tabata

20

SUNDAY

21

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 7 p.m. - UNA Disc Golf Course hosted by the OAC

MONDAY

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

TUESDAY

22

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

WEDNESDAY OAC = Outdoor Adventure Center Weekly pre-trip meetings for the OAC weekend outings are Tuesdays at 5 p.m.

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

photo by CHELSEA PARRISH I Student Photographer

Junior point guard Lauren Faris goes for a lay up during Saturday’s game versus the University of West Florida.

tain seriously, Tiber said.

“She wants to make sure that our team is good and that people are where they’re supposed to be, when they’re sup-

posed to be there,” Tiber said. “She takes charge of that kind of stuff. I’ve never

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SPORTS 7B

Jan. 16, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

PROFILE

Key player reflects on 4-year career, looks ahead AUSTIN SMITH

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Wes Long has been a key player for the men’s basketball team since the 20102011 season, when he was named the Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Year after being redshirted for the 20092010 campaign.

The 6-foot-2-inch, 210-lb. forward has seen time in every game over the last four seasons and started every game this season for the Lions as a senior.

Long came to UNA from Summertown High School in Summertown, Tenn., where he played both guard and forward and helped lead the Eagles to the state Final Four in his senior season. He was a finalist for the 2009 Tennessee Mr. Basketball award.

Long grew up on a dairy farm owned by his family. His grandfather milks over a hundred cows a day, and his father owns meat cows, he said. The family is used to putting in full days on the farm, and they have raised Wes to understand the value of work ethic.

Head coach Bobby Champagne said Long always comes to practice and works hard, and attributes this to his success.

“He’s always been a hard worker,” Champagne said. “I think he surpassed my initial expectations. He broke into the lineup a little earlier than expected, due to his willingness to get out there and do things that make the team better.”

Long also attributes his work ethic to his success, he said.

“I’m not the fastest guy or the strongest guy on the court, so I feel like I have to make up for it by working hard,

5-6; KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM * ond half on a 9-2 run and maintained a slight advantage for most of the half.

The Lions did cut the lead to three with 5.4 seconds left after West Florida traveled trying to break the Lions press.

“That was a great play by Tyler to force the turnover and give us a chance to tie the game.”

Marquel Darrington lost his dribble on the inbounds pass and gave it right back to the Agronauts.

After West Florida hit two foul shots, Nathan Spehr hit a half court shot to end the game.

“We could’ve used that shot a little earlier in the game.” Champagne said.

Rashaun Claiborne led the team in both scoring and rebounding finishing with 22 points and 11 boards.

Claiborne who is a 72 percent shooter from the charity stripe finished the game only 3-7 from the line.

I missed too many free throws,” Claiborne said. “I blame myself for that and I’ll be in the gym working on correcting that.”

The Lions travel to Cleveland, Miss.

Thursday, Jan. 16 to face Delta State University with tip-off scheduled for 7:30.

On Saturday, UNA will be on the road again when they play at Christian Brothers University.

and that’s what I do,” he said. “I just go out there and work hard and hope good things happen. That’s how I was raised.”

Long also credits his teammates for his success on the court, he said.

“I’m lucky to have a great group of guys around me that can go out there and make plays,” Long said.

Long is viewed as a great teammate by his fellow players and Champagne.

“It’s been pretty easy to coach Wes,” Champagne said. “He’s been consistent over the last five years. He’s a good teammate and he always has the best interests of the team in mind.”

”

HEʼS A GOOD TEAMMATE AND HE ALWAYS HAS THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE TEAM IN MIND.

BOBBY CHAMPAGNE MENʼS BASKETBALL HEAD COACH Over his four-year career, Long has only been called for 160 fouls and has never been disqualified from a game.

In addition to being a team player, Long has also earned a reputation for his scoring ability. He is feared around the league for his shot-making, and frequently leads the team in three-point baskets.

Long scored his 800th career point for the Lions Jan. 4 against Lee University, and he made his 200th three-point shot Jan. 10 against Valdosta State University.

A December 2013 graduate of UNA, Long was the only male to receive the prestigious honor of being named a 2013 Promising Alumni. Long cited his graduation as one of his proudest moments,

.):1; KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM * known her to ever step out of line other than to do what’s always right.”

Faris is a team player, said fellow teammate Alexis Pester.

“She makes everyone work really hard,” Pester said. “She sets a standard for the team. She wants to win more than anybody. She’s selfless, so she’ll do anything that the team needs her to do at the time.”

*);3-<*)44 KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM * The Lions would not threaten again and the Agronauts held on for a 15-point victory.

This marks the first home loss for Missy Tiber at UNA. The lady Lions take the road next week, where they will play Delta State University Thursday and Christian Brothers University Saturday.

Thursday night’s tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m., while Saturday’s game is slated for 2 p.m.

photo by SARAH HOLLIDAY I Staff Photographer

Wes Long focuses on practice for the Spring 2014 semester. Long is in his fifth year with the Lions and first year as a full-time starter.

and is now seeking a graduate degree at UNA. While he has not ruled out accepting a position as a graduate assistant and trying to coach at the collegiate level, Long’s ultimate aspiration is to teach physical education and coach high school basketball.

Faris said her work ethic came from her high school coaches.

“I learned very quickly when I was in high school how you have to have a lot of self-discipline,” Faris said. “My high school coaches were pretty hard on us, and I think it prepared me to be able to play basketball in college.”

Faris’ roommate and fellow teammate Delisa Madry said Faris is hardworking and caring.

“She works really hard at everything she does,” Madry said. “She’s a leader (and) she’s a really positive person.”

“As a fifth-year senior, my final goal is to go out on top,” Long said. “Just win.

Win a conference championship, win the region (and) win a national championship.”

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

”S

OME PEOPLE WANT IT TO HAPPEN, SOME WISH IT WOULD HAPPEN, OTHERS MAKE IT HAPPEN.

MICHAEL JORDAN

8B EXTRA

Tweets of the week

Jan. 16, 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.