FLOR - ALA The
Jan. 21, 2016
Volume 84, Issue 17
www.FlorAla.net
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Student newspaper of the University of North Alabama
“WE SHALL
OVERCOME“
SHAY REDD I Staff Photographer
Students, faculty and staff members and volunteers march from the Guillot University Center to the Baptist Campus Ministry center Jan. 18. The event included a service day project, march in memory of Martin Luther King Jr. and a special guest speaker the Rev. Alvelyn Sanders.
Over 200 participate in MLK Jr. Day event ANNA BEAHM
News Editor news@florala.net
The cold silence of a chilly Monday was broken with the soft singing and roaring cheers from campus. The 2nd annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Service Day and March drew in over 200 students Jan. 18. “We moved the march to Martin Luther King Jr. Day instead of the Friday before that weekend,” said Assistant Director of Student Engagement
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Bethany Green. “From what I’ve seen, we’ve had better participation in all of it. We doubled our numbers from last year.” The students suggested adding a day of service to the Martin Luther King Jr. Day events last year. Director of Diversity and Institutional Equity Joan Williams said she thinks it is important the university celebrate not only with an event in memory of Martin Luther King Jr., but also with a day of service.
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WE MOVED THE MARCH TO MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY INSTEAD OF THE FRIDAY BEFORE, AND FROM WHAT IʼVE SEEN, WEʼVE HAD BETTER PARTICIPATION IN ALL OF IT. WE DOUBLED OUR NUMBERS FROM LAST YEAR.
BETHANY GREEN
ASSITANT DIRECTOR OF STUDENT ENGAGEMENT
LIFE . . . . . . . . . 9 SPORTS . . . . . . . 12 EXTRA . . . . . . . . 16
“He also stood for service to mankind, so I think it’s important for our students to be involved with helping people,” she said. The university used Numana Inc. for the service day project. Numana hosts food packaging service events then sends that food across the world to help feed the hungry and those in need. Volunteers packaged bags of soy, rice, beans and dried vegetables, then sealed and boxed them, said freshman Amanda Schofield, who helped
lead the event. “I think volunteering is important because it shows how much we can give back,” she said. Green said a list of meals people can make with the food is also included in the bags. “This is basically a dried, base meal that can be paired with a lot of different things,” Green said. Green said the goal was 150 students to participate, but student turnout exceeded their expectations.
See MARCH, page 8
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2 NEWS
Jan. 21, 2016• The Flor-Ala
TORI PATTERSON I Staff Photographer
Junior Sumit Kapoor (left) and freshman Tyrone Yarbrough shoot pool in the common area of Olive Hall Jan. 19. Residents enjoy spacious common areas, free cable television access, video games and Wi-Fi in the residence halls.
Students enjoy residence hallʼs ʻhotel-likeʼ amenities KALI DANIEL
Editor-in-Chief editor@florala.net
With the completion of the second freshmen-only residence hall, Olive, over the semester break, freshmen like Greg Wright and Katherine Earnst are able to live in what they call a “hotel” experience. After freshmen filled the capacity of Mattielou Hall at the beginning of the school year, all other freshmen moved into Rivers Hall until the completion of Olive Hall. Earnst takes this difference in stride. “I got the Rivers experience which
MATTIELOU • • • • • • • • •
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was a little bit of a different animal than living in a really nice residence hall,” she said. “So, I get to appreciate everything in Olive. Everyone in Mattielou was spoiled with everything.” Rivers Hall, like Rice Hall — an upperclassmen dorm — features communal bathrooms, study rooms on every odd-numbered floor and an area with a kitchen, television and pool table called the Mezzanine, more commonly known to residents as the “Mezz.” Transitioning from these features to Olive’s seemed luxurious, Wright said. “We don’t have to wear shower shoes,” he said. “It’s so weird. And it’s something as simple as waking up
OLIVE HALL FEATURES
EACH ROOM COMPLETE WITH PERSONAL BATHROOM ADA-APPROVED ROOMS AVAILABLE REMOVABLE CARPET TILES FOR EASIER, CHEAPER MESS CLEANUP DOUBLED LAUNDRY UNITS HVAC SYSTEMS OUTSIDE OF ROOMS FOR STUDENT COMFORT OPEN-CONCEPT, GROUP-FRIENDLY STUDY ROOM VIEWS OVERLOOKING FOOTBALL AND BASEBALL FIELDS LOUNGE AREAS ON EACH FLOOR TWO WINGS WITH ONE RESIDENT ADVISER ON EACH WING
when you’re cranky and tired and not having to see everybody walk into the same bathroom and enter your personal space. You can just be by yourself. It’s so different. It’s like staying at a hotel.” Despite upperclassmen wishes for residence halls like Mattielou and Olive, Senior Resident Advisor Kate Partain said there is a reason freshmen receive this luxury. Many students have questioned why freshmen got to use the new dorms instead of upperclassmen, she said. “It’s because university residences implemented the freshman live-on requirement for the first time,” Partain
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I GOT THE RIVERS EXPERIENCE WHICH WAS
A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT ANIMAL THAN LIVING IN A REALLY NICE RESIDENCE HALL. SO I GET TO
OLIVE. EVERYONE IN MATTIELOU WAS SPOILED WITH EVERYTHING.
APPRECIATE EVERYTHING IN
KATHERINE EARNST FRESHMAN said. “We wanted to give them incentive to. They deserve a better space if it’s going to be a requirement.” Junior and Olive Hall Resident Advisor Jake Davis said he is most excited about the lobby.
“On the Mezz floor (in Rivers), no one went there,” he said. “All that’s there to do is to watch television. Now, we have this whole game area. We’re going to have arcade machines put in some time. People are going to be able to socialize and hang out downstairs, which kind of takes away from people being loud or rambunctious up where the rooms are.” But Olive is no different in terms of regular complaints the RA’s hear, Partain said. “The building (is) getting used to having people in it,” she said. “It’s the same (complaints) with Mattielou at first.” Partain said regulating the water temperature, air conditioning and getting the Wi-Fi running is part of making the building livable for students. Wright and Earnst are also learning the ropes on what to and what not to bring to their new home. “Don’t waste your money on Command strips because you can’t use them — they’ll strip the walls,” Wright said. “And don’t try to sneak in a (Glade PlugIn) because all the outlets are upsidedown. They got smart with that.” As for making the room feel more at home, Earnst said the more light-weight the better. “Bring things that are really light to hang, otherwise it will fall on your head in the middle of the night with painter’s tape on the wall,” she said.
News 3
Jan. 21, 2016 • The Flor-Ala
UPC secures funding for ice rink, month of events ANNA BEAHM
News Editor news@florala.net
The University Program Council hopes to break up the winter monotony this semester with a series of new events on campus. Snow Daze is a month of events during the end of January and early February, said Vice President of UPC Adam McCollum. The events include a Registered Student Organization fair, community service day, ice skating rink and formal dance. “The whole idea behind it was that people are miserable in the winter,” McCollum said. “Like now, it’s just a ‘blah’ time. We wanted to have an actionpacked month of events that got people fired up to be (on campus).” Amanda Areostatico said UPC
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The whole idea behind it was that people are miserable in the winter. Like now, it’s just a ‘blah’ time. We wanted to have an action-packed month of events that got people fired up to be (on campus).
Adam McCollum
Vice President, University Program Council
wanted to give UNA students a chance to join RSOs, give back to the community and enjoy something fun and “get fancy.” The Big Chill, an RSO fair similar to the Big Deal, will kick off Snow Daze Jan. 28 in the Guillot University Center banquet halls. McCollum said this is the first time UPC has held an RSO fair during the spring semester. The event will help transfer students, or students starting during the spring semester, learn about organizations they can get involved in on campus, he said. Despite many questions and financial concerns, UPC was able to fund a temporary ice rink on campus. The rink will be open Feb. 12 and 13 to both students and community members. Students receive free admission with a Mane Card, and community members pay $5. Artificial Ice Events will provide skates for the two-day event. McCollum said the rink will either be in Lot K behind the GUC or in Lot B in front of The Commons. “All the events excite me, but I can’t wait for the ice rink to be on campus for a couple days,” Areostatico said. Originally, UPC planned to raise funds to pay for the rink but found additional funds in the budget to cover the $14,000 needed for the event. “We ended up figuring out that we had an extra $25,000 in our budget,” McCollum said. “It came directly from the increase in students. We really
want to push that this wouldn’t have happened if we didn’t have the increase in enrollment. “The university has been pushing that we get more students. It paid off for us.” For those interested in community service, UPC is holding a service day Jan. 30. Students can serve at a soup kitchen or at the Florence-Lauderdale County Animal Control Shelter on Tennessee Street. “Those are two things we’re wanting to do to give the students an opportunity to give back,” he said. The event begins at 8:45 a.m. in the parking lot behind the GUC, McCollum
said. He said all students have to do is show up ready to work. No registration is required. For students who want to dance the night away, the final Snow Daze event is the Snow Ball, a semi-formal dance open to all students. “We just wanted to give students the opportunity to do something even if they’re not Greek,” he said. “We wanted to open up a formal that is open for every student to come with a date or without one.” To read the rest of the story, visit florala.net.
photo courtesy of Artificial Ice Events
Children enjoy an artificial rink from Artificial Ice Events in Orlando, Florida. The two-day artificial rink coming to UNA will cost about $14,000, said Vice President of University Program Council Adam McCollum.
Nursing department continues planning for new building JOHN ED DEARMAN Student Writer jdearman@una.edu
As Floyd Hall will soon fall, the new home of nursing will rise from its ashes. Department chairs, professors, students and the dean have already begun planning for the new technology and
layout of the building. “We have visited several colleges of nursing, which have brand new buildings, to make sure that ours is every bit as current and up-to-date as it should be,” said Dean of the College of Nursing Vicki Pierce. “The plans are that Floyd will start coming down during the summer, but it might not happen until the
photo courtesy of Shannon Wells
Nursing students practice caring for a patient in the simulation lab in Stevens Hall. Dean of the College of Nursing Vicki Pierce said the new nursing building will have more realistic hospital situations and technology.
fall.” She said the new building will likely take 18 months to complete. Before the demolition of Floyd can begin, all the departments which are still in the building must move out, she said. While all the other sciences have moved into their new building, the Science and Technology Building, the department of Human Environmental Sciences is still in Floyd. Pierce said moving HES out is the last step before demolition of Floyd can begin. She said funds have started coming in for the building. “We have some donors that give us money in increments,” she said. “They don’t just give it to us all at once. Some of that has already been coming in, and we will be getting more of it in the next months.” She said they have already worked with an architect to create the designs. Pierce said the architect has been looking at the designs of the other buildings on campus to get a better idea of what the building should look like. “UNA has beautiful architecture,” she said. “We just want to make sure our new building has the same look and feel as the rest of campus just so it doesn’t stand out too much.” She said the nursing building will
have many new features it does not have now. “Currently, we only have one-anda-half floors in Stevens Hall for our whole entire department,” she said. “That doesn’t leave much room for our students where they can group together. With this new building, we will have a lot more meeting areas and study rooms specifically for our students to use.” She said the simulation lab will have more advanced technology to better represent a real-life hospital atmosphere. “We will have eight simulation rooms all in one section of the building,” she said. “Our desire is to have it as much like a hospital as you could imagine, so you could walk in and forget that you were in an educational environment.” Senior Austin Fuller, who is a nursing major, said he thinks new technology would improve the learning experience for students. “All the nursing equipment we use now is so old and outdated, and we keep on using it and using it and it really wears it down,” he said. “I think if it was newer and more modern it would feel less like we were in class and more like we were in a real world situation.” To read the rest of the story, visit florala.net.
4 IMAGES
Jan. 21, 2016 • The Flor-Ala
SHAY REDD
Speaker
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Keynote speaker the Rev. Alvelyn Sanders read a poem to the campus community. The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. commemoration program honored King’s dedication to the fight for equality.
How did you spend your Martin Luther King Jr. Day? Did you stay in the house all day or maybe just catch up on schoolwork? For most people, it was just a regular offday, but to some students, staff members and people around the community, it was a day to remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. As we all know, King stood up for what was right for all people, and without him, we would not be where we are today. We all need to play a part to ensure his legacy continues. Volunteers not only had a day off from school or work, but also gave their time for a great cause to give back to those in need. Just as King helped people, the volunteers at the UNA MLK Service Day did the same, making 30,000 meals to give to pantries around the Shoals. After working for nearly two hours, they later marched, beginning at the Guillot University Center and ending at the Baptist Campus Ministry Center. Following the marching, there was a commemoration program with this year’s theme, “Making a Difference in the 21st century.” Shannon Tally, a volunteer speaker, read one of her poems titled, “An Apology for Dr. King.” Keynote speaker the Rev. Alvelyn Sanders spoke to the students and staff about making a difference and being the change they want to see. During the program, senior Lauren Blue gave a dance performance. However, this was not just about the march and listening to guest speakers, but more of people coming together and working hand-in-hand to make a change in others’ lives. You do not have to wait until the next MLK Day to make a difference. Start making that difference today.
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Staff Photographer sredd@una.edu
Volunteer time
SHAY REDD I Staff Photographer
Freshman Kierra Groce (left) pours rice into a bag, while team leader and junior Sarah Roberts watches. Students and staff packaged food for the Shoals Area in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Community service
Participants in the service day gather around their packed meals. Students and staff helped package 30,000 meals to give to the Shoals Area.
News 5 Wammack reflects on year as Miss UNA Jan. 21, 2016• The Flor-Ala
ANNA BEAHM
News Editor news@florala.net
After a year of wearing the crown, Miss UNA will pass her torch to the next woman Jan. 23 at the Miss UNA Scholarship Pageant. Rachel Wammack accepted the crown with shock and awe last year. “This has been the best year of my life partially because I was Miss UNA and because I’ve met people that have poured into my life,” Wammack said. “Also, I’ve just had a lot of selfevaluation being a senior. I was just thinking, ‘Why am I living? What is my purpose?’” Throughout her time as Miss UNA, Wammack said she focused on making a positive impact on people, even if she only meets that person one time. “We come in contact with a lot of people throughout the year,” she said. “You have a lot of random encounters and experiences. One encounter with someone can change their life dramatically.”
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This has been the best year of my life partially because I was Miss UNA and because I’ve met people that have poured into my life.
Rachel Wammack
Miss UNA 2015
The Flor-Ala file photo
Miss UNA 2015, Rachel Wammack, makes her first walk at the Jan. 24, 2015, pageant in Norton Auditorium. Wammack will crown Miss UNA 2016 Jan. 23.
The Flor-Ala file photo
Wammack plays the marimba and sings a rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” at the 2015 Miss UNA Pageant. She said she will play the marimba during the opening act at the 2016 pageant Jan. 23.
She said she has spoken to many school groups about self-identity, a positive outlook and believing in people. Throughout her life, Wammack said she has tried to treat all people with kindness because of her dad’s influence on her life. “When I was younger, my dad would tell me, ‘Rachel, you be a peacemaker, no matter what situation you’re in,’” she said. “It’s important the way we treat other people. I think we get caught up in the day-to-day life and we can get sarcastic, sassy or just prideful about ourselves.” She said she got the opportunity to speak at an anti-bullying rally for sixth graders in Lauderdale County. “I got to talk about being a peacemaker (while I was there), which was something that’s really important to me,” she said. “I know sixth graders deal with a lot of bullying and self-image issues.” Aside from winning Miss UNA, Wammack also won the talent portion and Miss Congeniality at the Miss Alabama pageant in June, taking home over $3,000 in scholarships. “I literally just cried when I got Miss Congeniality,” she said. “That’s not the biggest scholarship, but it’s just cool. You’re very tense, and you’re very nervous (at the pageant), and for them to like me through that was an honor.” She said competing at Miss Alabama
was one of the “most new” experiences she has had as Miss UNA. “Not that it’s all about Miss Alabama, but she did really well at Miss Alabama,” said Director of Student Engagement Tyler Thompson. “She won talent portion of the preliminary pageant, so that’s huge. It’s been a few years since we’ve gotten awards at Miss Alabama. She also won Miss congeniality. To me, that’s really important and special.” Aside from her pageant victories, Wammack also has won several awards as a musician. She won the 2012 UNA Music Entertainment Industry Student Association Music Showcase and performed at Lion Night and Take Back the Night in 2014. She released her first album, “Pass it On,” when she was a freshman in 2013, and her second, “Lavender,” debuted December 2014. She said she plans to go on tour in Alabama this July with former student Jordy Searcy, who competed on The Voice, and local singer-songwriter McKenzie Lockhart. “My degree is going toward being a professor, but I have this other dream of playing music,” she said. “I just want to go for it while I’m young. Why not?” Thompson said he thinks Wammack was unique as Miss UNA because she carried a name for herself outside the pageant because of her music. “She already kind has a fan club,” he said. “There were more requests to have her perform and do some different things. She carries a crowd.” After she returns home, Wammack said she plans to begin her graduate degree in English at UNA in August. She said she will play the marimba and the piano at the pageant this year. She will also play an original song she recently wrote. Overall, Wammack said she would encourage any woman at UNA considering the pageant to just “go for it.” “It’s five peoples’ opinion of you in one night,” she said. “You can’t let what anyone thinks of you define you. As girls and as guys, we can be people-pleasers. We think, ‘well, if this person doesn’t like me, then I need to change this.’ You need to decide who you want to be.” She said her experience in the pageant taught her many things about being professional and having a positive outlook on self-identity and purpose. “I think there’s a level of superficialness that we have, even has young people,” she said. “We want to look good on paper but sometimes we’re not that transparent with the real world. We’re not even transparent with ourselves. Now, everyone knows where I’ve come from, where I am and where I am going.” Tickets for the 2016 Miss UNA Scholarship Pageant are free for students to pick up at the Student Engagement office in the GUC. The Student Engagement office said the number of tickets is limited.
6 NEWS
Jan. 21, 2016• The Flor-Ala
Bibb Graves chimes are ʻringing inʼ new semester ANNA BEAHM
News Editor news@florala.net
After over a decade of silence, the digital chime system sings again on UNA’s campus. University officials decided to repair the chimes this semester to bring back another campus tradition, said Vice President for Student Affairs David Shields. The chimes have been ringing since Jan. 13 at 7 a.m.
“(The chimes) broke, and the university never fixed them,” Shields said. “They became sort of a forgotten thing.”
photo courtesy of Shannon Wells
The chimes are set up to start ringing at 7 a.m. and to turn off at 10 p.m., Shields said. They chime on the hour, every hour and every half hour. At noon, the chimes ring the hour and then play the Westminster Chimes, the same notes used on the clock in the University Church tower of St. Mary Cambridge, England, he said. The bells do not play throughout the evening and night so they do not prevent campus residents and those living close to UNA from sleeping. “It’s not overly loud and it’s not an obnoxious thing, but if people are sleeping or you have young children (it could be),” he said. Junior Chelsey Flurry said the chimes add another element of school pride to campus. “We have a victory flame that burns, so why not add chimes?” she said. “(I think) it adds to the history of the university. While the chimes are mostly used to tell time on campus, Shields said the university will use the chimes for other purposes, too. Because the chimes are digital, not real bells, the
Bibb Graves Hall is the only building on campus equipped to house a digital chime system. The system previously installed in the building is up and running again after over a decade of silence.
system can broadcast other alert tones and information. Shields said the police department might utilize the system to broadcast alert tones in case of a campus emergency. “Throughout the county, when there is a tornado warning, sirens go off all over the county,” Shields said. “If (the storm) is close to UNA and we think that we need to be taking extra precaution, we might set off a separate tone. When the tone goes off, people will know, ‘wow, it’s really close to UNA. We really need to do something.’”
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(THE CHIMES) BROKE, AND THE UNIVERSITY NEVER FIXED THEM. THEY BECAME SORT OF A FORGOTTEN THING.
DAVID SHIELDS
VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS Once the alert tone is picked, Shields said the university will probably do multiple tests to ensure the campus community can hear the tone clearly. Besides emergency situations, the university can use the chimes to celebrate game days and holidays on campus. Shields said the university might program a Christmas song to play at noon during the holiday season. To read the rest of the story, visit florala.net.
SGA continues quest for lighting replacements, improvements WENDIE ROBINSON Student Writer wrobinson1@una.edu
Lighting on campus remains an ongoing issue, but the Student Government Association is working toward a solution. Chair of the Rules and Regulations Committee Dayton Tenney said SGA has received information from campus officials and is still figuring out their plans to continuously secure the lighting issue. SGA conducted a survey last fall to see if students thought there was a lighting problem on campus, and over 400 students said there is, according to the survey results. SGA President Nick Lang said the survey asked students which areas they thought needed more light. Lang said the lack of lighting around the library gained a lot of concern from students. Another area, he said, was the broken lights outside Rivers Hall. He said the university fixed most of the broken lights in front of Rivers Hall and Collier Library, but installing new lights is a different matter. “Some actions have already been taken,” Tenney said. “Lights have been
replaced for those reported. Not all lights have been replaced as there could (have) been a deficiency for that (specific) light.” Lang said campus officials are looking into additional lighting, but the process of ordering and installing new lighting will take a considerable amount of time and money. Lang said he has spoken with Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs Clinton Carter and Assistant Vice President for Facilities Administration and Planning Michael Gautney about this issue and plans on following-up with them soon. “In some areas, yes, (lighting is an issue), but mainly toward the Commons and around the Amphitheater,” said freshman Erin Merriman. Sophomore Jake Harding said he has never had any bad experiences walking on campus at night, but he also said that does not mean other people have not. “It’s easy for the imagination to run wild in the dark,” Harding said. He said he would not mind having more lights on campus at night. Merriman said she goes running a lot at night, and said she thinks it is safe. “I’m not really concerned,” she said. “I just try to stay in well-lit places. I
The Flor-Ala file photo
Many of the lights around the Memorial Amphitheater no longer work, leaving students leery of the area. Facilities replaced many of the broken lights last fall, but students still want more lighting on campus.
haven’t seen (anything) suspicious.” Harding said SGA has a lot on their plate with other issues, but lighting should be a top priority.
“It should probably be their number one priority,” he said.
See LIGHTING, page 8
Viewpoints 7
Jan. 21, 2016 • The Flor-Ala
Review
Campus lighting should be a priority
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kali Daniel MANAGING EDITOR Jasmine Fleming NEWS EDITOR Anna Beahm LIFE EDITOR Melissa Parker ASSOCIATE LIFE EDITOR Monday Sanderson SPORTS EDITOR Mike Ezekiel ONLINE EDITOR Emily Kazungu BUSINESS MANAGER Jordan Byrd GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Peyton Lawler Michael Meigs Kelsey Weathers CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER Kaitlin Douglass STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Amandalyn Dorner Shay Redd Jackson Townsend
KALI DANIEL
Editor-in-Chief editor@florala.net
Sometimes, I get freaked out when I walk in front of the library. I’ll be walking to my residence hall from the Student Publications Building and pass by Collier Library and the Memorial Amphitheater thinking about what work I have to do, what I’m going to have for dinner, what I need to take to class tomorrow — then
Content is determined by the student editorial staff of The Flor-Ala and has not been approved by the university.
Corrections The staff strives to maintain the integrity of The Flor-Ala through accurate and honest reporting. To report an error, call 256-765-4364 or email editor@florala. net.
Letters Policy Letters to the editor should be emailed to editor@florala.net or mailed to: The Flor-Ala UNA Box 5300 Florence, AL 35632 Letters must include name and telephone number for verification. Please limit letters to 400 words. The editor reserves the right to edit or refuse to publish a letter.
lights are still out. I know Rome wasn’t built in a day, but as we do our best to enlighten students about how to stay safe, the university needs to hold up their end of the deal. Campus lighting is not something the university should waitlist, as on any given day students come from all-around campus, and even off campus, to use Collier’s resources. We have built elevators. We have invested in new parking lots. We are creating new buildings. But we are still seeing an issue with maintaining what we already have. In this week’s story on page 3, SGA President Nick Lang said Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs
Clinton Carter and Assistant Vice President of Facilities Administration and Planning Michael Gautney are “looking into additional lighting, but it may take a while because it is a process and it takes money.” I acknowledge some lights have been replaced and that it is a costly endeavor to update some lighting structures, but I am afraid we will see the end of the year and no lighting changes on campus. I want better parking as much as the next student. If I were in the nursing program, I would wait excitedly for the new building. But for a university pushing campus safety and Title IX awareness so heavily, shouldn’t there be more security provided for students now, not later?
Spring semester offers chance for Snow Daze craze
ADVISER Scott Morris
Editorial Policy
it hits me. “Wow, it is really, really dark in front of Collier Library.” I quicken my pace as every scary movie I’ve ever seen comes to mind. Chainsaws, knives, hammers, you name it — I’m afraid the squirrels, or worse, have possession thereof. University administration and UNAPD have tried to make our campus as safe as possible, but that doesn’t alleviate general paranoia when walking through a large area with no lights. In the Oct. 8 issue of The Flor-Ala, the Student Government Association revealed survey results that 56 percent of students felt there needed to be better lighting in front of Collier Library. Three months later, these
NICK LANG
SGA President nlang@una.edu
On behalf of the Student Government Association, it is my pleasure to welcome you back to the University of North Alabama for the spring semester. Your SGA representatives are extremely excited about the activity-filled semester that is ahead of us. As the students left to
go home for the break, a group of University Program Council delegates and other SGA representatives started planning a two monthslong schedule of activities that they call “Snow Daze.” The activities planned for Snow Daze are winter themed and include some events new to UNA. The very first event for Snow Daze is the Big Chill Jan. 28 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Guillot University Center Banquet Halls. This event is somewhat similar to the Big Deal that takes place in the fall semester because, as a student, you are able to walk around and browse the different registered student organizations. I truly believe
it is important for all students to join an organization to be a part of something bigger than themselves. Also, this will provide a place for all the students to catch up and get ready for the upcoming semester. There will also be a day of service during Snow Daze Jan. 30. In February, UPC will spruce up the Snow Daze activities by bringing an ice skating rink to campus. The ice skating rink will be on campus for two days and will be free of charge for all UNA students. Come out Feb. 12-13 to skate with your friends. UPC will provide everything you need to skate. Lastly, UPC will host a Snow Ball Formal as the
If you want to gain experience as a writer, editor, photographer or designer,
last signature event of the first inaugural Snow Daze. The Snow Ball Formal will be Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. in the GUC Performance Center. It will feature entertainment by Rachel Wammack and DJ C. Battle. UPC will provide food and drinks for the students in attendance. SGA encourages everyone to grab a date and come out to what is sure to be a memorable night. As always, SGA is here to serve the students and ensure they have the best college experience possible. Please feel free to email us at sgafeedback@una.edu for any additional information regarding any of the SGA Snow Daze events.
The Flor-Ala
Congratulations to our Writer and Photographer of the Week!
Join us Sundays at 4 p.m. in the Student Publications Building or contact us at editor@florala.net for more information.
Kaitlyn Davis & Amandalyn Dorner
is the place to be.
8 News
Jan. 21, 2016 • The Flor-Ala
SGA
in
Review
• Freshman Forum - First meeting of the semester will be Jan. 25. • UPC - First Movie Monday of the semester is Jan. 25 playing “Selma” in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. “The Big Chill” Snow Daze kickoff Jan. 28 in Guillot University Center banquet halls. The Flor-Ala file photo
Construction continues on O’Neal Bridge. While the Christmas Day flooding did not cause any damage to construction equipment, Florence Traffic Division Motor Officer Nick Brown said drivers should still be cautious of water and ice on the bridge during winter months.
Police: Bridge construction on schedule despite flooding KAITLYN DAVIS
Student Writer kdavis16@una.edu
As the temperature continues to decrease, so do precautions on O’Neal Bridge. Drivers need to be cautious on all bridges, especially those over water, because in the winter months they tend to ice easily, said Florence Traffic Division Motor Officer Nick Brown. Brown said people should pay more attention when crossing O’Neal Bridge because of the ongoing construction. “The big thing is make sure you’re obeying the speed limits and make sure you’re paying attention when you go across the bridge because when you’re down to one lane it does make traffic a little bit more difficult,” Brown said. He said none of the Christmas Day
flooding in Florence affected the bridge. Brown said luckily the construction equipment was not on the bridge, and the water did not get high enough to damage anything. The flooding reached Savannah Highway Christmas Day, causing many traffic complications, but no harm to the construction machinery. He said since the construction started, the speed limit has been changed to 25 mph. Brown said construction on the bridge began March 19, 2015, and is expected to be completed December 30, 2017. “They’re about 37 percent complete with phase one,” Brown said. He said phase one consists of sandblasting, a technique to remove rust, and repainting. The rest of the project includes reconstruction and concrete work.
MARCH, continued from page 1 Not only did they surpass the participation goal, they also surpassed the packaging goal. The goal was to package 30,000 bags of food, but the volunteers packaged over 33,000 bags. She also said the number of students who participated in the march also grew this year. Not just students, but faculty, staff and other volunteers and community members participated in the event, Green said. Freshman Peyton Sockwell said the entire baseball team and every coach came participated in the event. “We always do different volunteer projects throughout the year,” Sockwell said. Despite the sub-freezing temperatures, students, faculty, staff and community members marched from the Guillot University Center to the Baptist Campus Ministry center in memory and honor of Martin Luther King Jr. As they marched, students sang the words, “we shall overcome,” casting a solemn mood over the whole group.
Senior Tiffany McDaniel said she participated in the march last year, but she worked with Alpha Kappa Alpha to document the march this year. After the march, students enjoyed a free lunch and guest speaker, Rev. Alvelyn Sanders at the BCM. Sanders helped produce the film, “Foot Soldiers: Class of 1964.” She is also the pastor of Greater St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church in Florence. “I enjoyed it very much,” said senior Danielle Stokes. “I left the events inspired.”
”
He also stood for service to mankind, so I think it’s important for our students to be involved with helping people.
Joan Williams
Director, Diversity and Institutional Equity
Since tractor-trailers are too big to cross the bridge and pose a hazard to construction workers, they are not allowed on the bridge. Brown said officers have to escort these vehicles off of the bridge when they attempt to drive over it. “It’s difficult, it has to be slow and it has to be precise to get (the tractortrailers) through there,” Brown said. He said the tractor-trailer problem is not as dangerous right now because there are not any construction workers working on top of the bridge. He said Wilson Dam and Singing River Bridge are alternative routes drivers can take if they notice traffic congestion on the bridge. Senior Sally Stone said she has had trouble crossing the bridge due to “minor traffic delays because of the tight lanes.”
LIGHTING, continued from page 6 Lang said he thinks more students will feel comfortable walking around at night because of the increase in light and the number of people out at night on campus will increase. “I think campus is pretty safe at night, but maybe more lighting can help,” said sophomore Merri Beth Stanfield. She said she thinks having additional security on campus will make students feel safer on campus. “I think campus is fairly well-lit, but I think it would make students feel safer if Student Nighttime Auxiliary Patrol was standing by because people usually don’t like to call.” Senior and member of the Rules and Regulations Committee Matt McGinnis said he thinks the increased lighting could help campus nighttime security. “Better lighting will also help out the SNAP program, making sure they don’t run over anything when they drive,” he said in a previous article.
• Senate - First meeting of the semester will be Jan. 21.
For Meeting Briefs and Updates on the Student Government Association, Please visit florala.net
Campus Crime Log • Jan. 10 Harassing Communication Circular Road • Jan. 10 Theft of property Olive Hall • Jan. 9 Minor in possession of alcohol Olive Hall • Jan. 5 Harassment Twin Oaks • Jan. 4 Theft of property Lot A
Full crime log available at una.edu/police/crimelog
LIFE 9
Jan. 21, 2016 • The Flor-Ala
photo courtesy of Francis Koti
Geography Department Chair Francis Koti sketches for now-alumni Jess Morgan (left) and Alison Brackin during the 2011 Tanzania study abroad program near Arusha, Tanzania. “In today’s globalizing world, you need to be able to learn how to interact with people from different places,” Koti said. “What is a better way to learn than to go to that country?”
Studying abroad experience provides opportunities for personal growth MONDAY SANDERSON Associate Life Editor life@florala.net
The university is ahead of the trend when it comes to students studying abroad. Two percent of UNA’s student population is studying abroad, which is higher than the national average of 1.5 percent, said Director of International Affairs Craig Christy. Christy said experiential learning, which can be an internship or studying abroad, is the cause of this increase. “In fact, employers value experiential learning higher nowadays than they do (grade point average),” he said. “It shows that you got your hands dirty and that you actually worked in the real world.” Studying abroad will stand out on a resume when it comes to finding a job, said Francis Koti, department chair of Geography. “In today’s globalizing world, you need to be able to learn how to interact with people from different places,” he said. “What is a better way to learn
than to go to that country?” In an email, senior Daylan Pellum said studying abroad could help students with future jobs. “The trip will help you with career choices as you will deal with many instances of things that are used, made by or tailored to jobs that are offered at UNA,” he said. Senior Miracle Osborne said studying abroad in Spain helped expand her knowledge of the language. “Since I’m a language major, there was no better way to practice my Spanish or advance my Spanish skills than being forced to be immersed in it,” she said. Pellum said his trip to Peru changed his ideas about the world. “We as humans differ in many ways but yet are all still the same,” he said. “My eyes were opened to the fact that no matter what language, or tongue, food is a universal language that can be understood and accepted by all.” Students can either study
abroad by going on a faculty-led trip or a semester abroad trip, Christy said. Assistant Professor of Counselor Education Miranda Parries said she is leading a trip to Italy this summer. “This is the first faculty-led trip to Italy this department has had,” she said. “As of right now, only students who are taking classes in our program can join the trip.” Parries said she is currently looking to see if she can open the trip up to other majors. Koti said his trip to Tanzania during the summer is open to anyone. Osborne said she is going to Cuba through the University of Alabama at the end of January. The semester abroad trip to Cuba first began in Spring 2015 due to a partnership between UNA and UA, according to the department of foreign languages’ newsletter Global Talk. Students will learn from lectures but also peers during their study in Italy, said Parries. “The students will be
exposed to other universities’ and states’ teaching styles because they will be spending two weeks with those students,” she said. “Every job field we have here they have. The students will get to learn the different methods found in other countries.”
Osborne said engaging with other people will make a difference. “It doesn’t matter if they’re locals or from the same country as you, just engage them because you never know what life lesson you’re going to learn from that moment,” she said.
photo courtesy of Francis Koti
From left to right, now-alumni Christina Dorough, Niell Jobe, Alison Brackin and Jess Morgan take a 3-mile hike to a waterfall in Ng’iresi Village near Arusha, Tanzania. Applications to study abroad in Tanzania this summer are open to anyone in the community, Koti said.
10 LIFE Adventure, service focus of new nonprofit Jan. 21, 2016 • The Flor-Ala
MELISSA PARKER Life Editor life@florala.net
TORI PATTERSON I Student Photographer
Bethany and Tucker Green study a map as they plan trips members of their nonprofit, High Tide Adventure, will take. The couple plans to take high school students on trips focused on service and adventure.
Assistant Director of Student Engagement Bethany Green and graduate student Tucker Green, who is pursuing a master’s in Geospatial Sciences, share more than just a last name and a home. The married couple shares a vision to offer local high school students, ages 14 through 18, opportunities to grow and become the best people they can be through their nonprofit High Tide Adventure. “We are trying to create unique opportunities for personal growth,” Bethany Green said. “The way we’re doing that is through service and adventure.” The couple will spend the summer planning future trips, she said. “We’re taking high school teens on trips over the summer break and during other school breaks,” she said. “They’ll be focused on a specific social issue, and they’ll do hands-on service work in the community that we travel to.” The trips will also include some aspect of adventure like rafting, overnight camping and possibly skiing, she said. “During the trip, along with the adventure and service, we’ll have daily reflections so they can process everything,” she said. “When we come back, we reorient them back into the community. One of the most important pieces is to help get them connected in
their own community and follow up (with them).” Sophomore Leah Johns said she thinks the organization would be beneficial to high school students. “Students in high school are selffocused that they’re not as versatile as they can be,” she said. “I feel like it would be good for them to be exposed to different things outside of themselves.” Bethany Green said fundraising efforts helped them finish paperwork to set up the nonprofit organization and jump-start trips with the teen program at the Florence Lauderdale Public Library. “We’re still trying to figure out what works and what doesn’t,” she said. She said she began thinking about what she wanted to do with her life and realized how much she enjoyed Alternative Breaks at UNA. The passion she has for the high school age group gave her the idea for High Tide. Tucker Green said the idea expanded after the couple met and began talking about their own interests. He is more adventurous, and she is more service-oriented, Bethany Green said. Society bombards this generation with information, and people tell them they can be anything without providing them the means to do so, Tucker Green said. To read the rest of the story, visit florala.net.
Chocolate lovers ʻcrawlʼ to downtown Florence event MELISSA PARKER Life Editor life@florala.net
Anyone with an affection for sweet chocolate confections should check out the Downtown Chocolate Crawl Feb. 6. Florence Main Street is hosting the event and tickets are going fast. During the event, more than 30 local businesses will offer different chocolate confections to 350 ticket holders. General Manager of the Shoals Theatre Steven Price said the theatre participated in the crawl last year. Crawl attendees chose their chocolate sample, tiny chocolate mice, to represent their current play, “Of Mice and Men,” as the crawl favorite. This year’s confection will be a foilcovered casino chip representing the upcoming play, “Tuna Does Vegas,” he said. While the theatre does not offer anything for sale like most of the participating businesses, Price said he hopes people will stop by. “We just want to get people in those doors and let them fall in love with the theatre like we all have,” he said. Tickets for this year’s event, running from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.— or until the chocolate runs out — went on sale Jan. 18 and cost $10. Tickets are available
through the Florence Main Street office. Registration for the event takes place at Wilson Park where participants will receive a wrist band that allows businesses to know who to give chocolate to, said Events Coordinator of Florence Main Street Molly Austin. Ticket holders will receive a map and a list of participating businesses, said Executive Director of Florence Main Street Teryl Shields. They can choose which businesses they want to visit first. T-shirts, something new this year, will be available for purchase for $20 if ordered before Feb. 5 and $25 the day of the event, she said. “It’s going to be chocolate-brown with a four-color Willy Wonka candythemed image on it,” she said. In addition to the chocolate treats, businesses will offer a 10 percent discount to all ticket holders that day, Austin said. “The idea is, it’s our job as Main Street to bring people into downtown,” Shields said. “We’re going one step further with this particular event by actually getting them to go into the businesses. It is hoped that it is a shopping event for the downtown businesses.” The Chocolate Crawl, and other Florence Main Street events, raises money to attract more people to downtown Florence, Shields said.
photo courtesy of Florence Main Street
The chocolate mice from the Shoals Theatre were voted as the favorite confection by Chocolate Crawl attendees last year. This year, more than 30 businesses will participate in the second annual Chocolate Crawl in downtown Florence.
“(Last year) was phenomenally successful,” she said. “We sold out 200 tickets in a very short period of time.” UNA alumna Sarah Hood, who won tickets to last year’s event and plans to attend again this year, said her and her husband’s favorite treat were the chocolate mice the Shoals Theatre gave away.
“We were really impressed with all of the stores’ different chocolate goodies, and especially the creativity,” she said. “None of the stores had the same thing, so that was a feat considering how many places there were offering sweets.” To read the rest of the story, visit florala.net.
Jan. 21, 2016 • The Flor-Ala
LIFE 11
Diversity lacking in Oscars once again MELISSA PARKER Life Editor life@florala.net
The hashtag #OscarsSoWhite made its first appearance after last year’s Oscar nominations and is back with a vengeance. The majority of nominees in 2015 were white males, and this year does not look to be much different. Neil Patrick Harris, the host of the 2015 Academy Awards, opened with a jab at the lack of diversity by saying, “Tonight, we honor Hollywood’s best and
whitest, sorry brightest.” Chris Rock, this year’s host, tweeted a short promo dubbing them “#Oscars — The White BET Awards.” There are 6,000 voting members in The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, with 93 percent of them being white, leaving 7 percent as people of color. Of that 6,000, an overwhelming 76 percent is male, and the average age is 63, according to a study by Lee & Low Books. Assistant Professor of film and digital media production Jason Pangilinan said he thinks the demographics of the Academy influence the nominee selections. “There’s good work out there being
done by women and minorities,” he said. “Maybe as a culture we’re just not at that place yet.” “Straight Outta Compton,” a story about the Compton, California, hip-hop group N.W.A, was not nominated, but the film’s two white screenwriters were, he said. “It’s like a slap in the face,” Pangilinan said. The Academy failed to nominate “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” for best picture, even though it broke numerous box office records. “The Oscars are making themselves irrelevant when they ignore the general movie-going public,” he said.
”
I THINK ITʼS DEFINITELY TRUE. JUST LOOK AT SOME OF THE ENTRIES THAT DIDNʼT MAKE IT. “STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON” HAD A BIG
”
AS LONG AS YOUʼRE DOING IT FOR THE RIGHT REASON, IT DOESNʼT MATTER. YOUʼVE MADE YOUʼRE MONEY AND GOT THE AUDIENCE INVOLVED. I THINK THATʼS ALL YOU NEED. I DONʼT THINK THE OSCAR VALIDATES ANYTHING.
AND IT WAS A TRENDING TOPIC. ITʼS KIND OF
KENDRA WALLACE
SOPHOMORE
MOVEMENT SURROUNDING THE MOVIE WHEN
IT CAME OUT, IT DID WELL AT THE BOX OFFICE DISAPPOINTING.
RAHSAUN FLETCHER
SOPHOMORE
”
”
I JUST FEEL LIKE ITʼS GOING TO BE A TOPIC THATʼS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM FOREVER. PEOPLE ARE FINDING LITTLE TOPICS, LIKE THE OSCARS, TO TALK MORE ABOUT IT. I DONʼT THINK IT WILL EVER GO AWAY.
“I REALLY DONʼT UNDERSTAND IT. THERE
ARE A LOT OF ETHNICALLY DIVERSE PEOPLE WHO
ARE FABULOUS ACTORS AND ACTRESSES. IT
DOESNʼT EVEN HAVE TO BE CONSTRICTED TO THE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN CATEGORY. EVEN HISPANIC AND INDIAN PEOPLE HAVE GREAT TALENTS, BUT THEY ARENʼT BEING RECOGNIZED FOR IT.
DANNI DONG SENIOR
CHELSEY FLURRY
JUNIOR
”
IʼM A HUGE FAN OF DIVERSITY IN THE
FILM INDUSTRY, BUT I THINK IT MIGHT JUST BE
HAPPENSTANCE THAT THERE ARE NO AFRICAN-
AMERICANS NOMINATED. THERE ARE A LOT OF
GREAT PERFORMANCES OUT THERE. THE ACADEMY
”
A LOT OF THE LEAD CHARACTERS IN LEADING MOVIES NOWADAYS ARE ALSO MALE AND WHITE. IT JUST SHOWS HOW NON-DIVERSE THE INDUSTRY IS. I DO THINK IT IS A PROBLEM, BUT IʼM NOT
HAVE A STRICT CRITERIA WHEN IT COMES TO
SURE HOW TO FIX IT WITHOUT ACTUALLY GIVING
SHOULD DO BOTH CRITICALLY AND COMMERCIALLY
NIKKI LOWERY
BEST PICTURE. I THINK FOR BEST PICTURE YOU
SUCCESSFUL (FILMS). I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE DOMESTICALLY SUCCESSFUL FILMS.
MORE LEAD ROLES TO MINORITIES.
JUNIOR
AUSTIN PEACOCK
SENIOR
design by PEYTON LAWLER I Graphic Designer photo courtesy Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images
12 Sports
Jan. 21, 2016 • The Flor-Ala
Scoreboard Jan. 9-16 Jan. 9
Women’s BB at Christian Bros. 81-69 Loss Men’s BB at Christian Bros. 82-64 Win
Jan. 11
Women’s BB at Union 79-55 Loss Men’s BB at Union 95-83 Loss
Jan. 12
Harlem Globetrotters vs. World All-Stars (Flowers Hall) 90-86 Globetrotters Win
Jan. 16
Women’s BB vs. UAH 63-55 Loss Men’s BB vs. UAH 119-103 Win
Upcoming Basketball Jan. 21 vs. West Florida Women Tipoff @ 6 p.m. Men Tipoff @ 8 p.m.
Jan. 23 vs. Valdosta State Women Tipoff @ 1 p.m. Men Tipoff @ 3 p.m.
Jan. 28 at West Alabama Women Tipoff @ 6 p.m. Men Tipoff @ 8 p.m.
Softball
Jan. 29-31 GSC/Peach Belt Challenge Columbus, Georgia Feb. 5 Eckherd College Invitational UNA Softball Field @ 1 p.m.
Baseball
Feb. 6 vs. Miles College (DH) Feb. 7 vs. Stillman (DH) Games continued at roarlions.com
JACKSON TOWNSEND I Staff Photographer
Tay “Firefly” Fisher (left) tricks a defender during the Harlem Globetrotter’s performance in Flowers Hall Jan. 12. The world-famous group is in its 90th year of entertaining audiences across the globe with remarkable basketball skills.
Harlem Globetrotters perform in Florence MIKE EZEKIEL
Sports Editor sports@florala.net
It is a rare occasion when a world-famous group visits the small town of Florence, but when it happens, the community supports the event. The Harlem Globetrotters made an appearance in Florence Jan. 12 on their 90th annual world tour. The team performed in front of a capacity crowd against their archenemy, the World All-Stars. The Globetrotters formed in 1926, performing for crowds in North and South Dakota, Montana and Iowa. The team started gaining popularity in the late-1930s after incorporating comedic routines, making the events entertaining for the whole family. The Globetrotters, as expected, displayed skill and showmanship, hoodwinking their way to a 90-86 victory and continuing their winning streak of over 3,500 games. A plethora of Globetrotter fans lined up for post-game autographs. One of the widely known Globetrotters is Tay Fisher,
but fans know him better as “Firefly.” Fisher said traveling with the Globetrotters can be demanding but is worth it. “I’ve been doing this for seven years,” Fisher said. “I love my job, and it’s been an amazing experience. I love putting smiles on peoples’ faces, and we have the power to do that, no matter what they are going through.” Fisher, who played college basketball for Siena College in Albany, New York, said the Globetrotters drafted him in 2008, but he did not officially make the team until the following year. “We (Siena) made it to the NCAA tournament and beat Vanderbilt in the first round,” Fisher said. “Being able to perform on national TV helped them find me. “(The Harlem Globetrotters) followed my career, and they gave me an opportunity back in 2008. I didn’t make it the first time I tried, but I came back in 2009 and did even better.” Fisher said he has traveled to 52 countries since joining the Globetrotters. The team stays on the road roughly eight months out of the year, he said.
“We leave Christmas morning and don’t come back home until May when we do our North American tour,” he said. “Any time in between that, we are out of the country doing things. Personally, I may play 150 games a year. It’s a pretty demanding schedule.”
”
I love my job, and it’s been an amazing experience. I love putting smiles on peoples’ faces, and we have the power to do that, no matter what they are going through.
Tay “Firefly” Fisher
Harlem Globetrotter
UNA Senior Administrative Assistant for Events Gigi Broadway said she had full confidence the event would be an overall success. “My phone was ringing off the hook,” Broadway said. “Everyone has been asking what
time they could get in to see the Globetrotters. We sold quite a bit of tickets, and it was a huge success.” UNA Game Operations Manager Matt Daniels said it was a childhood dream come true not only to work the event, but also watch a team he admired in his youth. “It’s a great event that the community really gets excited about,” Daniels said. “My dad took me when I first fell in love with basketball. As a kid, it’s mesmerizing to watch what they can do with a basketball.” Junior Jeb Millender, who attended the event the day before classes resumed, said the event helped him hit the ground running coming into the spring semester. “I thought it was a really good way to start the year,” Millender said. “It put a smile on everyone’s face before having to come back to school. I thought it was nice to see a bunch of kids smiling and laughing. It was just a good all-around experience.” Fans can access the team’s schedule on the official Harlem Globetrotters website, harlemglobetrotters.com.
Sports 13
Jan. 21, 2016 • The Flor-Ala
Men’s team earns victory, bragging rights MIKE EZEKIEL
Sports Editor sports@florala.net
Almost every athlete dreams about playing in a deafening arena full of passionate fans. On a small scale, Flowers Hall fit the bill Jan. 16. Many in a crowd of 1,328 seemed to hang on every play as the UNA men’s basketball team (10-7, 7-4 Gulf South Conference) nearly eclipsed a school record for points scored in a single game, beating rival Alabama-Huntsville 119103. The record for most points in a game remains 127. UNA head coach Bobby Champagne said this was not an expected result. “You never expect (a blowout) in this game,” Champagne said. “You expect both teams to play well and play with some energy. That’s what this rivalry is all about. It was a lot of fun. To be up 22 points with four minutes to go, I didn’t expect that.” The arguable climax of the crowd’s excitement came just before the final buzzer as Lions fans knew the victory was well in hand. The final score came on an electrifying dunk by UNA’s junior forward Austin Timms. “I’ve been waiting on one of those dunks all season,” Timms said. “I had the opportunity, so I just jumped. It felt like
I was floating and never coming down. The crowd was in it the whole game, and it felt great.” Senior guard John Fletcher, who led the team in scoring with his season-high 32 points, said multiple aspects from the game inspired his performance. “(This win) means everything,” Fletcher said. “It’s my senior year, and it was a good opportunity to get a win against UAH for the last time at home.” Nine of the 10 players registering minutes for UNA contributed at least six points in the win. The UNA bench players accounted for 32 points. While many perceive the rivalry to be filled with hatred, Champagne maintains a strong, 15-year friendship with UAH head coach Lennie Acuff. “Once the season starts, we probably talk once or twice a week,” Champagne said. “I’d say it’s a friendly rivalry. He wants to beat us really bad, and I want to beat them really bad. When the game is over with, it’s over with. There’s nothing personal about it.” The Lions hold a successful 8-1 record when playing in Flowers Hall this season. Likewise, the Chargers are 7-1 at home inside Spragins Hall and will try to return the favor in front of their home crowd when the Lions visit Feb. 27.
See MEN, page 14
JACKSON TOWNSEND I Staff Photographer
Junior guard Jeff Hodge (right) draws contact during UNA’s 119-103 win against Alabama-Huntsville Jan. 16 in Flowers Hall. Over 1,000 fans were in attendance to watch the rivalry take place.
Alabama-Huntsville steals victory in closing moments XAVIER WHERRY Student Writer xwherry@una.edu
JACKSON TOWNSEND I Staff Photographer
Sophomore guard Jaclyn Heath dribbles up court against Lee University Dec. 17. Heath and the Lions fell just short against the Alabama-Huntsville Chargers, losing 63-55 Jan. 16 in Flowers Hall.
A rivalry rekindled Jan. 16 as the UNA women’s basketball team faced Alabama-Huntsville in this year’s first meeting. An injury-plagued Lions team put up a fight but fell just short, losing 63-55. UNA (2-14, 1-10 Gulf South Conference) had momentum going into halftime and took the lead in the third quarter. After losing their 49-46 third quarter lead, the team struggled to score points in the fourth. UNA assistant head coach Adrianne Harlow filled in for head coach Missy Tiber, who was out of town for personal reasons. Harlow said UNA had success driving to the basket in the first half as the team did a good job at drawing foul calls. However, in the second half, UAH made the proper adjustments. “We did not adjust,” Harlow said. “I think that’s because of nerves and inexperience, maybe a lack of execution in a way. They have a team with upperclassmen, and those girls are the ones that pulled it out for them.” Sophomore guard Keke Gunter, who came off a recent injury, said despite the loss, she was happy with the fan turnout. Gunter finished with 12 points and a team-high seven rebounds. “When a lot of people come to the game, it gets us really energized before the game,” Gunter said. “We’ve been
lacking that energy the last couple of games, so today, we were really pumped up. Even though we lost, we were playing a lot harder than we had been playing. We definitely feed off of the crowd’s energy.” Gunter said each player knows the rivalry has a huge meaning. “Even though I’m only a sophomore, I’ve seen that every time we play, it’s going to be aggressive,” she said. “It’s going to be a dog-fight and sometimes dirty play. We just have to fight through it and be aggressive.” Freshman Elise Holden, who led the Lions 15 points, said the team not only wanted to beat its rival, but honor their head coach in the process. “We wanted to win the game for (Tiber),” Holden said. “We had a meeting a couple of days ago to talk about turning our team around and how to start winning games. It was hard to not win tonight, but we fought hard until the very end.” UNA hopes to have a full roster in their next game at home against West Florida Jan. 21. Harlow said the Lions are excited to see what kind of team they have when almost everyone is healthy. “Next week, barring anything crazy this week, we will finally have a fullcompliment 13 (players),” she said. “Hopefully, we will be at 100 percent for the first time all year.” The Lions and Argonauts are scheduled to tip off at 6 p.m. in Flowers Hall. Following that game, UNA closes out a three-game homestand against Valdosta State Jan. 23.
14 Sports
Jan. 21, 2016 • The Flor-Ala MEN, continued from page 13 “They will have another electric crowd,” Timms said. “We just have to feed off the energy and feed off each other. If we can make shots like we did today, I feel like we can beat anybody anywhere.” UNA, who is jockeying for position toward the top of the GSC standings, narrowed the gap between UAH, Delta State and West Georgia. The three teams are tied for first place with an 8-3 conference record, while UNA and Valdosta State are slightly behind at 7-4. Going into the second half of the conference schedule, the Lions host West Florida Jan. 21 and Valdosta State Jan. 23, both of which handed the Lions losses to begin conference play. “I think we’ve gotten better (since the first two conference games),” Champagne said. “I think our guys understand that on any given night, if you don’t come to play, everybody in this league is good enough to beat you.”
Athletes honored for academic achievements
UNA placed 14 student-athletes on the 2015 FireSeeds All-Academic Gulf South Conference team. In addition, the Lions placed 63 student-athletes on the GSC Honor Roll.
AMANDALYN DORNER I Staff Photographer
Junior Aubrey Champion prepares to issue T-shirts to the football team for their upcoming spring training. Champion, the head equipment manager for the team, is one of many student workers in the UNA athletic department.
Athletics provides opportunities for student workers MIKE EZEKIEL
Sports Editor sports@florala.net
Running an athletic program can be overwhelming for coaches and administrators, especially on the collegiate level. For this reason, the UNA athletic department hires students to help in the operation. This provides opportunities for students as managers, trainers, film crew members or student workers for the administrative staff. “The student workers fill in where there is a gap,” said Jacinta Mastin, the administrative assistant for the Hal Self Field House on campus. “They are working and learning at the same time because most of our student workers want jobs in the athletic field.” The UNA ticket office and the football team receive the biggest bulk of student help — up to 20 students may help each department. Other sports usually feature five or fewer student workers. A student worker in athletics can work strange hours, taking on duties such as answering phone calls, delivering mail, doing laundry, setting up practices and facilitating early-morning and latenight workouts. “(The students) are all great workers, and without them, the coaches would be pulling their hair out,” Mastin said. “The
coaches and administration rely on them to help with a lot of things, as well as the ones that help in the ticket office.” Junior Aubrey Champion, the UNA football team’s head manager, said his hours are equivalent to having multiple jobs, excluding the hours he spends as a student. “I’ve calculated that during a normal fall week I probably work 70-80 hours of football,” said Aubrey Champion, a junior UNA football equipment manager on scholarship. “It’s like having two fulltime jobs, but it’s definitely worth it.” While some student jobs in athletics provide scholarships, many of the workers start as volunteer underclassmen before receiving that benefit. “Honestly, this is a job that I would do for free,” Champion said. “My passion in life is football, and I have to have some connection to that.” Champion said he hopes his role as a student equipment manager can lead to a future career in coaching. “I want to be a college football coach one day,” Champion said. “I wasn’t really good enough to play in college, so I have to find another way to get to where I want to be. If that means doing the dirty work now, I’ll do that as long as I need to.” Senior Katie Foster, an intern with the UNA ticket office, said the athletic field is a solid foundation for a future career. “My whole family is extremely
sports-oriented,” Foster said. “When my original plan of (veterinary) school didn’t work out, I went back to my roots, and I love it.” Foster said it is rewarding to see the fans appreciate the events she helps organize beforehand. “I really enjoy the ticket office because I get to help put the magic together,” she said. “I like setting up, creating and watching my hard work being enjoyed.” Senior Shaquielle Shoulders, a UNA basketball manager, worked as a volunteer before receiving a scholarship last fall. He previously volunteered for the men’s team while being a full-time student. “To be a good manager you have to enjoy the sport and at the same time enjoy helping people,” Shoulders said. “That means doing all of the little things and giving the coaches and players less to stress about.” Shoulders said it feels good when the coaches and players appreciate his hard work. “I’m not there just for a scholarship,” Shoulders said. “I’m there because I enjoy helping out. The players and coaches treat me like I’m family to them, and they are like family to me.” Students interested in working for athletics can go to roarlions.com for more information.
FOOTBALL
• Ryan Harper GPA: 3.97 • Lee Mayhall GPA: 3.95 • DeAndre Harrison GPA: 3.55 • Hagan Scott GPA: 3.50 • Lawrence Carmichael GPA: 3.48 • Luke Wingo GPA: 3.38 • Jacob Tucker GPA: 3.35
SOCCER
• Beatriz Fernandes GPA: 3.84 • Chloe Richards GPA: 3.53 • Ele Costello GPA: 3.23
CROSS-COUNTRY
• Olivia Brady GPA: 3.88 • Matt Cross GPA: 3.69 • Clay Oden GPA: 3.31
VOLLEYBALL
• Natasha Fomina GPA: 3.88
EXTRA 15
Jan. 21, 2016 • The Flor-Ala
Thurs., Jan. 21 3 p.m. Active Minds @ Stone Lodge (Lower) 4 p.m. Circle K Meeting @ Stone Lodge (Upper) 6 p.m. Women’s Basketball vs. West Florida Flowers Hall 8 p.m. Men’s Basketball vs. West Florida Flowers Hall
The Flor-Ala file photo
Rachel Wammack is crowned Miss UNA 2015 Jan. 24, 2015. Young women compete in five stages of competition including interview, on-stage question, lifestyle and fitness, talent and evening wear. The 2016 pageant is Jan. 23 at 7 p.m.
Fri., Jan. 22
Sun., Jan. 24
Tues., Jan. 26
Wed., Jan. 27
9 p.m. Sailour and The Sun. The Moon. the end theatre
6 p.m. X-Files Premiere Party Florence Lauderdale Public Library
4:30 p.m. Hispanic Culture Organization Stone Lodge (Upper)
4:30 p.m. SGA Freshman Forum GUC 200
Mon., Jan. 25
6:30 p.m. UNA Swim Club GUC 200
8 p.m. ENCOUNTER Stone Lodge (Upper)
Sat., Jan. 23 10 a.m. OAC Basketball Chili Cook-off OAC 1 p.m. Women’s Basketball vs. Valdosta State Flowers Hall 3 p.m. Men’s Basketball vs. Valdosta State Flowers Hall 7 p.m. Miss UNA Norton Auditorium
3:30 p.m. SGA University Program Council GUC 200
8 p.m. Fellowship of Christian Athletes Commons Rm 302
Have an event? Send the title, location, date and time to: editor@florala.net
16 EXTRA
SOCIAL MEDIA OF THE WEEK
Jan. 21, 2016 • The Flor-Ala