Jan. 23 Issue

SOFTBALL GEARS UP FOR SEASON SPORTS 3B

Jan. 23, 2014

Volume 82, Issue 18

www.FlorAla.net

Student newspaper of the University of North Alabama

REMEMBERING A MENTOR photo pho p o co contr ntributed by y NOE NOEL O LG OE GEIG GER R

photo ho c contr bute ted ed by NOEL GEIG GER

pho o co phot contri ntributed by ASH ASHTON TO HEN TON HENSLEY

photo phot p o contri contr bute butted d by y SAM SAMANTH A A FOTOVITCH

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photo by p y SHANNON WELLS I Univer ers rsity ity ty yP Ph hot h ottog o ogra grrra gra g ap pher he err

phot pho p oto o co ontriibute ed by yA AS ASH SHTTO SH TON O ON NH HEN NSLEY NS EY Y

phot ph p hot ho h o otto c co o on ntrib buted by KA AITLI TLIN TLI N CHAPP APPE ELL

phot p oto o co contri ntribute ntri buted by buted y ASH ASHTON TON HEN HE LEY HENS photo phot oc contr ntribute buted d by CHE HE ELLS SEA S EA K EA KEE KE EE EEN NUM NU M

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photo co c ntriib buted bute d by KA KATHLE THLEEN EN BOYD BOYD

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by N NOE OEL GE GEIGER GE ER ER

Campus, Shoals community celebrate professor’s life BLYTHE STEELMAN

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“It’s a beautiful day here at North Alabama. It’s very nice to see your very beautiful selves on photo contributed by CHELSEA KEENUM this very beautiful day,” was the opening line for each of Larry Nelson’s courses during his 30year tenure as a history professor.

INSIDE

this week’s paper

Nelson died Tuesday, photo contri p ibuted d by y CHE ELS SJan. SEA EA KE KEE E14 NUM M after battling stage-four Glioblastoma brain cancer, which he was diagnosed with in May 2013.

“He was in his 30th year of teaching, and he impacted a lot of students during his time,” said Chris Maynard, chair of the Department of History. “By choice, he always had a heavy teaching load, particularly with freshmen pho o contrib photo con ri contri r buted bu but b uted by uted y LAUREN LA EN HULSEY HUL HU ULS U LSEY LS SEY Y

NEWS................2AA NELSON.............5A VIEWPOINTS.........7A

courses. He always wanted to teach as many kids as he could.”

President William Cale delivered remarks at the funeral on behalf of the university, and he spoke of Nelson’s impact.

“Ask anyone at UNA to name our finest professors and with 100 percent certainty, Larry Nelson’s name comes forward,” Cale said. “Deep in Larry’s heart were equal measures for his passion

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

— teaching — and caring for his students. The life of a great educator like Larry lives on not only through family friends, p his phot photo o co ontrib ntribu but b u ute tted ed by band KATHLEEN KATHLE HLEE HLE HLEEN EN E N BOYD BOYD but through the students he has touched.”

Graduate student Clint Alley took Nelson’s “History of the South” course in 2007 as a graduate student. He had known phfor o co ontri ttri rib ibute bu dyears,

by KA by KATIEand DAY Nelsonphot several he said his future was chal-

lenged during a conversation one afternoon inontNelson’s office.AY p phot o co trib buted by KATIE DA “He asked what my plans were after graduation,” Alley said. “I told him that I would be a high school teacher. He nodded his head and said, ‘Oh yes, we need good people in that field. But have you ever thought about teaching on the university

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photo by SHANNON WELLS I University Photographer

MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE ...1B

Please recycle your paper.

2A NEWS

Jan. 23, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

RESEARCH

WEATHER

Recent study confirms low freshmen applicant attendance

Why should students care about

JASMINE FLEMING

;\INN ?ZQ\MZ RNTMUQVO (]VI ML] A recent study conducted by the Office of Institutional Research, Planning and Assessment showed only 34 percent of accepted freshman attended UNA in the 2013 fall semester.

The lower enrollment number was not unique to UNA, said Kimberly Mauldin, director of admissions. “Most of the universities (in Alabama) had large application rates, but we didn’t have the percentage yield,� Mauldin said. “We usually yield about 40 percent of our new freshmen applications, so we were all expecting to have great numbers. Our yields were all less than we expected.�

The study, called Where Did They Go: An Analysis of Why Admitted Students Did Not Enroll in UNA, also showed 46 percent of the students that did not attend UNA went to community colleges. This is probably due to the financial strain, Mauldin said.

�

WE USUALLY YIELD ABOUT 40 PERCENT OF OUR NEW FRESHMEN APPLICATIONS, SO WE WERE ALL EXPECTING TO HAVE GREAT NUMBERS.

KIMBERLY MAULDIN DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS “I think students perceive the cost of UNA exceeding what they can afford,�

Mauldin said. “They don’t look at the value of the education they are getting.

When they look at $2,000 a semester, versus $4,000 or $5,000 a semester, it becomes a financial decision for many students and their families.�

UNA seems like a better option than a community college, said Brandon Crowder, a freshman. “I had scholarships, and I had a pell grant to pay for (UNA),� Crowder said. “That helped me choose this over a community college. Here, you get your money’s worth, and you get more time with the professors — with it being more personal.�

The study also showed 22 percent of the students that went to universities offering master’s degrees went to private universities, said Andrew Luna, director of the Office of Institutional Research, Planning and Assessment. “We know that some of these are faithbased institutions that they went to, like Samford and Freed-Hardeman,� Luna said. “We know that some of them are, what we call, historically black colleges or universities like Tuskegee and Miles College, but we aren’t exactly sure why they

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

Baby, it’s cold outside, or at least it’s significantly colder for Alabama standards. In light of the recent drops in temperature, media outlets, scientists and celebrities across the country have taken the opportunity to utilize certain weather buzzwords like “big cold� and “Polar Vortex.� The comments suggest the cold weather is part of global warming. “Cold enough for ya’?� Bill Nye, (@TheScienceGuy) asked his followers on Twitter. “-40 is cold F or C. What if this dipping polar whirlwind is the future?

What if these big temp swings become normal?�

Kelsey Varner, a sophomore, said she does not think she would mind more of the colder weather, though she does not believe many students agree with the concept of global warming. “I really wouldn’t mind if the low temperatures were the norm,� Varner said. “I personally like cold weather.�

Regardless, the questions on climate

Cold?

Vortex and will be pushed by air currents change may seem alarming to those of us to lower parts of the Northern Hemiwith limited knowledge on weather pat- sphere. The “big cold� we have recently experienced is an arctic air pattern that terns like the Polar Vortex.

What is the Polar Vor- has been pushed south, Gossage said.

The occurrence is not new, though it tex? “National media certainly took the op- doesn’t always happen in America, Gosportunity to latch onto another buzzword sage said. “It’s nothing new or unprecedented to try to explain what was occurring, but in a larger sense,� Gossage said. “It just in doing so, they really hyped up the polar does not happen to one particular area on vortex into a lot more than it really is,� a frequent basis, and the kind of cold it said Fred Gossage, chief forecaster at looften brings is even more infrequent for cal meteorology service Shoals Weather. our area because of our more southern “The Polar Vortex is a permanent low latitude, compared to other locations in pressure area in the upper-levels of the the United States.� atmosphere, found near the North Pole.

How has the recent cold It is always there, and it has always been from the vortex affected there, every day of the year.�

According to the American Meteoro- us? “There were no daily record lows brological Society’s Meteorology Glossary, the vortex “is strongest in winter when ken at the official reporting station for the the pole-to-equator temperature gradient Shoals, the Northwest Alabama Regional Airport in Muscle Shoals, during the big is strongest.�

How does the Polar Vor- cold wave,� Gossage said. “That means tex reach us? that on an individual daily basis at some Sometimes a piece of the weather ;MM +74, XIOM ) event will break off from the main Polar

NURSING

College of Nursing receives name change JASMINE FLEMING

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The Board of Trustees voted in favor of renaming the College of Nursing and Allied Health to the College of Nursing at their Dec. 16 meeting.

The name change to the College of Nursing is a reversion of the previous name, said Birdie Bailey, dean of the college of nursing. “The reason it changed about 10 years ago to the College of Nursing and Allied Health was because there was a proposal to add a physical therapy program, and it was going to be housed in the college of nursing,� Bailey said. “So, because physical therapy is not a nursing program, but rather an allied health program, it was deemed then that the college should change it’s name to the College of Nursing and Allied Health, in order to

house the physical therapy program.�

However, the physical therapy program never came to fruition, Bailey said. “We continued the College of Nursing and Allied Health because there may have been some possibilities for other allied health curriculum to come that we could support,� Bailey said. “But over time, the College of Nursing and the nursing programs themselves have grown so much.

Just keeping up with the nursing program really and truly would not have allowed us to add an allied health piece.�

The current name does not accurately describe the nursing program, said Zack Hillis, a sophomore. “I think (the name change) would be a solid idea,� Hillis said. “They intended well with the current name, but they obviously never added in the allied programs.

It would be a clarification of things and, in my opinion, a great idea to change it.�

The allied health name could im-

ply different programs, said sophomore Brandi Krout, sophomore. “With the allied health name that could be confusing to people,� Krout said. “Allied health could mean a lot of different things, and nursing is the only program in the department.�

The College of Nursing has added many new programs of its own, Bailey said. “Since (the first name change), we’ve added the online department,� she said. “We’ve added a fuly online Resident Nurse (RN) program to the Bachelors Resident Nurse (BSN), an RN to Masters Resident Nurse (MSN) program, and an (online) MSN program. Our traditional program has grown significantly over that same period of time, and we’ve added the accelerated program to that program as well.�

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

NEWS 3A

Jan. 23, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

SGA

VOLUNTEER

Freshman Forum closing in on service goal Alternative Break signups due CHAMBLEE SMITH

photo by SARAH HOLLIDAY I Staff Photographer

Freshman Forum Adviser Brittany Jordan presents new information during their meeting held on Jan. 15. The forum has 216 service hours left to meet their goal of 1,830 hours for the school year, said Service Chairwoman Erica Blackstock.

DERRICK FLYNN

;\INN ?ZQ\MZ LNTaVV(]VI ML] From volunteering to setting up student events, Freshman Forum is starting 2014 off with a bang. Their goal of 1,830 service hours to commemorate the found-

ing of the university in 1830 is looking closer that ever, coming in at a total of 1,614 hours. This leaves them with 216 hours left to complete.

“We have events that are still being planned, but we hope to do three or four service events,” said Service Committee Chairwoman Erica Blackstock. “There is

CAMPUS

Miss UNA pageant reaches 40th anniversary this year ANNA GRACE USERY

7VTQVM -LQ\WZ WVTQVM(NTWZITI VM\ A crown studded with jewels, a ring of her choice and full tuition are a few perks this year’s 2014 Miss UNA will be taking home.

This year’s pageant marks the 40-year-anniversary of the first Miss UNA pageant in 1974, formerly Miss FSU for Florence State University. The theme of the competition will be “Miss UNA Celebrates 40 Years by Rocking Through the Ages.”

The first 21 girls to apply for the competition are guaranteed to get in, said Tyler Thompson, assistant director for programming.

“There will be 16 girls competing in the competition and all are from a varied array of majors,” Thompson said.

Each contestant will go through a private interview process, which the audience will not see. Then, they will perform an opening number, act out a talent, participate in the lifestyle and fitness (swimsuit) portion and take part in the eveningwear finale, Thomspon said.

Each act counts for a certain percentage of the overall 100 percent, Thompson said.

Music education major and Miss UNA contestant Meredith Hamner believes a contestant’s platform should be

her biggest endeavor, she said.

“I am very passionate about music education and mentally handicapped children,” she said. “They deserve to have the right to a music class despite any disabilities.”

Miss UNA will be awarded a variety of different prizes donated by local establishments in the Shoals area, Thompson said.

“Apart from the crown, the winner will receive full tuition, a custom ring from Creative Jewelers, hair care for a year from Salon Mod, a voice lesson from Linda Young Studio, and a dress allowance from Proms and Promises,” Thompson said.

The Miss UNA competition is one out of over 50 official preliminary competitions for Miss Alabama in the state, he said.

The winner of the Miss UNA competition will go on to compete in the Miss Alabama competition in November, Thompson said.

Susie Vaughn Raney, 1975 Miss Florence State, said there is a deeper meaning behind this pageant.

“Do not think of this as a beauty pageant,” she said. “That’s why talent and scholarship are included.”

Raney encourages the contestants to enjoy friendships and discover how

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not a planned date for these events, but we want to do at least one event each month.”

The forum is already in the process of planning two events for the spring semester — a community-wide barbecue and a

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;\]LMV\ ?ZQ\MZ K[UQ\P (]VI ML] Springtime is fast approaching, along with opportunities for students to give up some of their spring break to help those in need. Students interested in making a difference may want to check out the Alternative Break program, with sign-ups ending on Jan. 31. “(This year) we are sending two groups of approximately 15 students to New Orleans and Atlanta,” said Coordinator of Leadership & Volunteerism, Student Engagement Bethany Oliver, who will be leading the Atlanta group.

The Atlanta group will be working with different Human Trafficking Awareness Organizations, The New Orleans group will be helping in the reconstruction effort and will also focus on child education, Oliver said.

The Alternative Break Board is also offering one free trip to a student who applies by Jan. 29th. Students may apply on paper or by visiting the Alternative Break page on OrgSync, Oliver said. “(Choosing to participate in Alternative Break) sounds like a great way for UNA students to get involved,” said Whitney Johnson, a senior.

4A IMAGES

Jan. 23, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

LION

AROUND

Students photograph, explore different university statues JOSH BROOKOVER AND CHELSEA PARRISH

;\]LMV\ 8PW\WOZIXPMZ[ NTWZITI(]VI ML] There are many wonderfully sculpted statues on our beautiful campus. UNA is so well decorated in greenery and fine stonework to complement such. At times it can even take your breath away.

Among these magnificent statues that have been placed around campus are those symbols meant to inspire pride in academic excellence, such as “Pride of Lions,” or the “Japanese Lantern,” which encourages an enlightened quest for truth. These are great motivational pieces of art.

Along with the many donations of our alumni, many statues are placed on

The “Laughing Lions” statue, which was contructed in 2004, is dedicated in loving memory of Gordon and Margaret Howard, who cherished nature and loved their family.

campus in remembrance of students who once attended UNA and have passed away, whether after or during attendance.

There are also statues that encourage students to do well during their time at UNA. The Harrison Plaza Fountain symbolizes a “good luck charm,” where first-time freshmen dip their pencils into the water of the fountain before their first test for luck. It is said to give students

a peace of mind before the ever-stressful first test.

The work that went into these statues will not go to waste and many generations to come will adore taking strolls around campus and admiring them. These memorials, symbols of success and pride shall remain a part of every student’s memories of our amazing college.

The “Pride of the Lions” is a statue donated to UNA by Gordon and Margaret Howard, with the hope that it will inspire students to take pride in achieving academic excellence.

The “Champion Fountain” is a carved Italian limestone fountain constructed in memory of Jasper “Jap” Knight Champion. It was given to UNA by his family in 2004 as a celebration of his life.

Two lion statues sit at the entrance of Leo III and Una’s habitat. Leo III and Una reside next to Willingham Hall.

NEWS 5A

Jan. 23, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

What students are saying on Twitter:

photo by MICHAEL REDDING I Senior Staff Photographer

History professor Larry Nelson performs with other faculty and staff members for Step Sing 2013. Nelson died on Tuesday, Jan. 14 after battling stage-four Glioblastoma brain cancer.

6-4;76 KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) level? You’ve got what it takes.’ I was flattered, humbled and confused at the same time. In his gentle way, he was telling me that I was selling myself short, and that I was capable of far greater things than I had planned.”

Challenging Alley was something Nelson did quite a bit of, he said.

“He was the first college professor to truly show me that he believed in me, and I knew that he was rooting for me,” Alley said. “He challenged me to think about history differently. He challenged me to set my sights higher. He challenged me to elevate my standards for research. And most of all he challenged me to achieve the potential that he saw in me.”

Nelson took a holistic approach to teaching, Maynard said.

“He really did believe in community,” Maynard said. “He believed in academics and doing well, but he also believed in helping the student succeed in life. And he didn’t see teaching as a job — it was a calling. His faith impacted the way he taught. He saw the opportunity to invest in students.”

Student Kayla Braidfoot’s college experience has been transformed because of Nelson’s teaching, she said.

“I went into my college career knowing that I had to take Dr. Nelson,” she said. “I didn’t know why, or what all the hype was about, but I knew I had to take him. Someone made the comment to

me, ‘If you don’t have a Nelson class, you don’t have a true UNA experience.’ So, the first day of class, I went into (Bibb Graves Hall) room 314, sat at a desk beside Mrs. Verlie (Nelson) and waited for class to begin. My entire life changed in those 50 minutes. He was the most intelligent, respectful and compassionate man I have ever met. He was so on fire for history you couldn’t help but pay attention.”

Senior Amanda Daniel, one of Nelson’s advisees, said Nelson helped her plan for graduate school last year.

”

AT UNA HE LOVED HIS STUDENTS, HE

LOVED HIS COLLEAGUES AND MY GOODNESS HE

— AND WE ALL LOVED HIM BACK.

EVEN LOVED THE ADMINISTRATION

WILLIAM CALE

UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT

“He said, ‘I believe you can do great things! You can do anything you set your mind to,’” she said. “We were both looking forward to spring graduation, (and) I was hoping he’d be there to call out my name as I received my diploma.”

Nelson and his wife Verlie often opened their home to students, and student Lauren Hulsey said there is one particular gathering she will always remember.

“Dr. Nelson knew I wasn’t going to be able to spend my birthday with my fam-

ily and I wasn’t excited about it, so he and Mrs. Verlie threw me an ‘edifying gathering’ at their house, complete with Verlie cake and a home cooked meal,” she said.

“The only promise we had to make was that when we left we would be more enlightened and edified than when we came, which was no challenge.”

Not having time for someone was something Maynard said he never saw from Nelson.

“He’s been a mentor to me and good counsel,” Maynard said. “But that’s just the kind of person he was. He was an outstanding colleague, but a better friend.”

Having Nelson as a mentor made a difference in alumnus Will Riley’s life, he said.

“Dr. Nelson started out as an honorary initiate of ATO at UNA,” Riley said.

“Despite his son being a Sigma Chi at UNA, he always connected really well with ATO. It really didn’t matter — he just loved Greek life.”

Riley and other members of the fraternity reached out to Nelson in 2009 and asked him to begin leading a Bible study at their fraternity house, he said.

“He focused the first couple of years on Biblical knowledge, but then moved to practical guidance and application,” Riley said.

The study group expanded, and what started out as Nelson leading four men each week turned into more than 70 students from across campus, Greek and non-Greek students alike, Riley said.

“I was honored to execute that with him,” he said. “And then the little things he did that made an impact — his Larry-

isms, like ‘Less Larry, more Jesus,’ and if you were ever reading scripture with him, he made it very apparent that those weren’t his words. He would always start with, ‘Hear the word of the Lord.’ That’s the one thing that I will always remember and do, to hold to on to something from him.”

The impact Nelson had on his students lasts beyond graduation day, said alumnus Tyler Edgeworth.

“I will never forget Dr. Nelson calling out my name as I walked across the stage and the joy I felt when my mentor recognized me when I received my diploma for a B.S. degree in history and criminal justice,” Edgeworth said.

“What would Dr. Nelson do?” is the new question Braidfoot said she will ask herself throughout the rest of her life.

“His one class changed not only my entire outlook on history and education, but life as well,” she said.

Though he will miss him greatly, Alley said he is confident about the life Nelson lived.

“I can say with confidence that my own life is better for having known him, and I am thankful that while he was on this earth, I was given the chance to call him ‘teacher,’” Alley said.

Cale offered multiple anecdotes and memories of Nelson during his remarks at the funeral, but said — in the end — it all came down to love.

“At UNA he loved his students, he loved his colleagues and my goodness, he even loved the administration,” he said.

“And we all loved him back.”

To view more student photos and memories of Dr. Nelson, please visit florala.net

6A NEWS

Jan. 23, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

VIEWPOINTS 7A

Jan. 23, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

Campus mourns loss, recollects memories 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

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• Address correspondence to The Flor-Ala. UNA Box 5300, Florence, AL 35632.

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

We arrive at this issue of The Flor-Ala with heavy hearts. Our campus’ beloved Dr. Lawrence J. Nelson has, as he would say, left the planet.

Since we learned of his diagnosis, the campus community has had the opportunity to watch the professor show his strength and willingness to fight.

Truly, I am glad he did. I’m glad that we all got a chance to say goodbye in one way or another, whether or not we realized it at the time.

My final conversation with Dr. Nelson took place in late November, outside of the classroom where he taught all of his classes.

He sat down on the bench

with me outside of Bibb Graves room 314 and began asking me about my plans after graduation. He knew that I wanted to work in ministry in the future, so he asked me if I’d made any big decisions.

I told him I hadn’t, that I didn’t know where to start and was scared to death.

“Well, Tulip,” he said (Tulip was his nickname for me), “You don’t have to have your tickets until you get on the train.”

He meant there was no sense in worrying, that things would work out and all I had to do was pray and get ready for whatever may come.

I had known the guy for about a year and a half, and here he was talking to me like he was my mentor. In many ways, he was. I think many students on this campus felt the same way.

It wasn’t that he spent his time trying to involve himself in the lives of people — people just felt comfortable going to him.

Why was this? Probably because he was one of the kindest souls this university has ever seen.

Larry Nelson lived his life like it mattered. He acted as if he’d been forgiven of some

great debt he could never pay and was eternally grateful, because that’s what he believed.

That’s where the “More Jesus, less Larry” slogan came from. If you attended a bible study or complimented him on anything, the phrase would inevitably pop up because it reflected how he viewed his faith.

In my eyes, the faith that he lived out made him the poster boy for authenticity. He knew he wasn’t perfect and would tell you that. He didn’t have to rely on his own confidence. He instead put his confidence in his faith.

It may be important to think upon the character and integrity his faith inspired.

Since Dr. Nelson’s passing, I’ve gone through the countless tests, papers and assignments he had graded for me. Each page features comments and markings that show a unique attention to detail, like each assignment was the most important.

In class, he addressed each and every student like he or she was a friend, making sure that everyone felt included. Outside of room 314, he was always willing to stop and chat, even if just for a moment.

It was this love for his work

and for people that made him one of the greatest men that many of us will ever meet.

Whether students met him in the classroom, in the fraternity house, in the sorority dorm, at a university function or just out and about on campus, everyone who knew the man had to love him by default. He was just that great.

While thinking of the impact he had on me and countless others, I’ve been wondering: Why couldn’t more people be like Dr. Nelson?

They’d have to value others more than themselves. They’d have to be willing to give up a little bit of their comfort and treat everyone fairly. They’d have to consider if they were living for things that truly mattered in the grand scheme of things. Ultimately, they’d have to be agents of love rather than agents of self.

It’s a tall order to expect college students to behave this way. In that case, is it too much to think that my fellow students and I could at least learn from Larry Nelson’s example?

As Dr. Nelson would say when ending a lecture with a cliffhanger, “I guess we’ll just have to wait and see...”

Make contribution to UNA, leave your legacy

BLYTHE STEELMAN 5IVIOQVO -LQ\WZ

UIVIOQVOMLQ\WZ(NTWZITI VM\

As graduation quickly approaches for me, I have grown accustomed to the predictable set of questions I am forced to answer.

“What’s next?”

“How are you ever going to find a job in journalism? Don’t you know that’s a dying field?”

“Are you ready for the ‘real world?’”

I almost feel robotic when answering them — same questions, same old answers.

The truth is simple: I don’t know what comes next. I wholeheartedly believe journalism isn’t dying, but the field is just changing everyday. And if I’m not already living in the “real world,” then I can’t imagine how much more real things

can get.

I’ve been counting down the days to graduation since last July. To say I am ready for the next adventure my life holds would be a vast understatement.

But as the spring semester started, I was struck with an overwhelming sense of worry and one prevailing thought — has my time at UNA been worthwhile?

We joke around in our office a lot about being ready to be done with our jobs and graduate (at least the ones of us who are preparing to graduate), and while it may hold some truth, I am only just starting to reflect on the time I’ve spent here.

I remember my first day of class here — I was in a marketing class with Dan Haddock. I was younger than anyone else, and it took me almost the entire class period to realize I was in the wrong class.

I’ve sat in many classrooms since then, and I’ve been part of many things on campus. I, like many of you, have had the opportunity to watch the university celebrate successes and struggle through difficult times.

Construction has been a constant, and parking will forever be the bane of any student’s existence.

So, in the midst of all of the

history taking place around us, I don’t find it to be any coincidence that ‘legacy’ has been coming up a lot lately in my life. Be it someone I’m having a heart-to-heart conversation with or just something that comes up briefly with friends, there’s one more question I’ve been asked recently.

“What will your legacy be?”

I don’t have an answer for that one. It’s nerve-wracking, to be honest. What if I’m remembered forever by my fellow editors for being too hard on them? What if my professors only remember me as the girl who couldn’t show up to class without a cup of coffee and was usually late?

While I will never be able to change lives or have the sort of impact that others do, I want to know that my time here has been worthwhile and meaningful. I want to inform, inspire and educate others on this campus. I want to know that what I’ve done has been a foundation for future students at The FlorAla and that my “legacy” will be something to look back on with pride, rather than regret.

So, for those of you who are preparing to graduate in 107 days — and even those who aren’t — I encourage you to begin thinking about your

own legacy. What will you contribute to the university? What sort of memories do you hope people have when your name comes up in conversation five years from now?

It’s scary and exciting to think about, but 107 days go by quickly. Four years goes by quickly. Take every chance, have no regrets and leave your legacy as part of the history being built here every single day.

Congratulations to our Writer and Photographer of the Week!

Austin Smith and Chelsea Parrish

8A NEWS ;-:>1+- KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) campus paint party.

The forum discussed the planning of a barbecue party to attract members of both the UNA and Florence community to bring them together through a social gathering. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are a lot of permits we have to get involving food and safety,â&#x20AC;? said Finance Committee member Dylan McKelvey. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For instance, the location of the festival and whether we can have it in a public or private domain.â&#x20AC;?

McKelvey is currently speaking with the finance committee to prepare to set up with the Alabama Department of Public Health, he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have to be certified, to an extent, with regulation and food safety,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So far nothing is set in stone, although a tentative date is preferably set for the third week in April.â&#x20AC;?

A paint party is being planned to help fund money for various charities on campus, said social committee member Parrish Tuggles. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The paint party is going to be Freshman Forumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s way of doing Rave to Raise,â&#x20AC;? he said.

The paint party is Freshman Forumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s way of adding something new to old traditions previously held on campus and will replace the annual Rave to Raise event, Tuggles said.

The forum is currently looking into other details for the paint party, such as the location and date. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We want to do the paint party in the warmer months so sometime in April,â&#x20AC;?

Tuggles said.

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

Jan. 23, 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ The Flor-Ala .:-;05-6 KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) chose private universities, which cost considerably more.â&#x20AC;?

Freshman Frances Boley was attracted to the unique programs at UNA, she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;UNA had the culinary arts program,â&#x20AC;?

Boley said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Not a lot of colleges around here have that. I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have enough money to go to the Art Institute, so I decided on UNA.â&#x20AC;?

UNA has taken a number of steps to increase enrollment for next year, Mauldin said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have increased our presence at some of the high schools that are down

+74, KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) point in history, it had been colder than the cold wave we recently dealt with.â&#x20AC;?

However, weather observers should not discount the intensity and potential danger caused from cold waves like the recent ones, Gossage said.

What connection does this have to global warming?

The National Aeronautics and Space Administrationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Goddard Space Flight Center indicates that the patterns the Vortex follows have altered, sometimes drastically, as the world heats. The primary effects are shown in the Polar Vortex that appears in the Southern Hemisphere, according to the GSFCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s article â&#x20AC;&#x153;What is the Polar Vortex?â&#x20AC;? found on their website. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Of special interest is the Southern Hemisphere vortex in 2002,â&#x20AC;? the ar-

toward the Birmingham area by going to visit them,â&#x20AC;? Mauldin said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In years past, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen them at college fairs, but weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve made a real strong effort of getting into those high schools. In the past, we may not have done that outside of this 60mile radius.â&#x20AC;?

There will also be new financial options for students to consider, Mauldin said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Financial Services Office came up with a reallocation of some of our scholarship dollars for the (high school) class of 2014, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve created some new scholarships,â&#x20AC;? Mauldin said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re called Vanguard Scholarships, and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re for students with 23 and 24 ACT scores.

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re also going to award some scholticle reads. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That year had the first major warming observed in the Southern Hemisphere stratosphere. It was a wave2 warming and the vortex split into two parts.â&#x20AC;?

It is important to remember that weather patterns like the vortex have appeared before, but the confusion comes from the fact that they do not happen in the same area consistently, Gossage said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Regardless of what your personal stand is on the idea of man-made global warming, it is undeniable that such patterns have happened over and over and over again,â&#x20AC;? Gossage said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To be frank, some of our largest cold outbreaks in United States weather history happened before our â&#x20AC;&#x153;carbon footprintâ&#x20AC;? became of significant importance to the mainstream media. And some of the coldest periods in the past few hundred years of weather history around the globe happened before the main period of industrialization. â&#x20AC;&#x153;

arships for non-resident students who live outside of our market of Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama, who are being charged the out-of-state fee.â&#x20AC;?

Scholarships play a role in where students decide to go to college, said Savannah Thompson, a freshman. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I got a lot more (scholarships) from UNA than I did from anywhere else,â&#x20AC;?

Thompson said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It has helped me save a lot more. However, if there was more money to be saved by going somewhere else, then I probably would have.â&#x20AC;?

UNA is worth the cost, said Anthony Fleming, a freshman. â&#x20AC;&#x153;(UNA is) close to home, and I felt like the environment here was right,â&#x20AC;?

Fleming said.

8)/-)6< KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) good it feels to help fellow contestants do their best, too, she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whether you win or not, you can find what you have to â&#x20AC;&#x153;ownâ&#x20AC;? to succeed in life by just competing,â&#x20AC;? Raney said.

A new community service award will be awarded to the contestant with the most significant community service. The UNA bookstore is sponsoring the $50 award. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This award is all about service,â&#x20AC;?

Thompson said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The goal is to make that award even bigger next year.â&#x20AC;?

The Miss UNA pageant will be held Saturday, Jan. 25 in Norton Auditorium starting at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $12, but students can pick up free tickets with a mane card in the Office of Student Engagement.

Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s note: For updates during the pageant, follow us on Twitter at @UNAFlorAla.

MENTAL HEALTH

BEHIND THE BRAIN TRUST

SECTION B

Jan. 23, 2014• The Flor-Ala

ories

ront

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l the e or

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e l fi o r P d n e b r e Riv

h c r a e s e R Student

r e w o P n i a r B t s o o B o Foods t

IN THIS SECTION

Lions step up to plate for softball season

Students sound off on what “Lion” means to them

See page 3B

See page 4B

Colds plague students

Polygamy serves as social norm

See page 5B

See page 6B

2B MENTAL HEALTH

Jan. 23, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

HEALTH

Local center offers counseling, treatment for students ASHLEY REMKUS

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

Riverbend Center for Mental Health, located at 635 W. College St., Florence, is the facility designated to treat residents of Lauderdale, Colbert and Franklin counties who are diagnosed with mental illnesses, substance abuse or emotional conditions.

Anyone who walks in the door or otherwise contacts Riverbend can get some form of help, said Riverbend Clinical Director Liz James.

“No reference is required from another physician to get treatment here,” James said. “However, there are state requirements that all patients must meet to be considered mentally ill and to receive treatment.”

Hallie Brown, a freshman, is pleased to know that a mental health center is located conveniently near campus, she

said.

“I think it’s great to have a place like that so close by because it makes it easier for students to get help when they need it,” Brown said.

Typically, college-aged students who are treated at Riverbend are seen for substance abuse, anxiety disorders and mood disorders, such as depression, James said.

Substance abuse among college students usually involves marijuana, alcohol or prescription pain medicine.

“Most of the UNA students that we see are experiencing problems that require more than what the on-campus counseling service is able to provide,” James said. “College is a time of adjustment, and sometimes students just get overwhelmed.”

Student counseling services typically refers students to Riverbend when it is clear that the patient needs to be evaluated by a psychiatrist because they don’t have one on campus, said Lynne Martin,

director of student counseling services.

“We often refer students to the appropriate resource when they are experiencing problems with one of three things,” Martin said. “If the student is struggling with drug or alcohol abuse, if he or she needs specialized, long-term care or if a psychiatric evaluation is needed, we will refer a student to another facility, such as Riverbend.”

Treatment options vary and depend on the patient and his or her symptoms and diagnosis, James said.

“Both group and individual therapies are available for students experiencing problems or going through a rough patch,” James said. “Counseling, medication or a combination maybe used to treat anyone diagnosed with a mental illness.”

The ideal situation would be that the patient seeks counseling services and, if needed, takes medication, she said.

Senior Taylor Davis thinks that Riv-

erbend is a good place to have near the university, he said.

“I think that it’s good to have a mental health center so close to campus because when somebody needs help, they have it right here,” Davis said. “It also gives students who are going to school to work in the mental health field a place to study and intern.”

Riverbend’s employees have a variety of education levels, ranging from doctorate degrees to certifications. Master’s level employees perform initial psychiatric evaluations to determine if a person meets state requirements for treatment, James said.

“Rigorous credentials processes are used during the hiring process, so we don’t really staff any volunteers,” James said.

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

photo by ROGER WANG I Staff Photographer

The dawn breaks on a cold January morning, casting light upon the Riverbend Center for Mental Health. Located only a few blocks from campus, Riverbend offers a variety of counseling and treatment options to residents of the Shoals community, including UNA students, said Riverbend Clinical Director Liz James.

ACADEMICS

Psychology professors prepare for new research projects DERRICK FLYNN

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

Imagine sitting in a closed white room with a few common household objects scattered across a table in front of you.

Suddenly, out of the corner of your eye, you make out a forbidden object — a Ouiji board.

‘Forbidden’ objects, like this Ouiji board, are just one of many subjects the psychology department will be studying in 2014.

Professors of Psychology Larry Bates and Richard Hudiburg are working on seven projects this year, with selected students to head each project. Three of the projects focus on religion and how it can cloud our judgment as human beings.

“Research has always been an area I was interested in, but working with Dr. Bates and Dr. Hudiburg has provided me with an opportunity to learn how to design and conduct a research study on a very interesting topic,” said Sarah Schiavone, who is involved with the program.

“I greatly enjoyed the process and work involved, but it has also given me valuable experience that will better prepare me for graduate school.”

The first project, Religion, Aesthetics and Value, headed by Schiavone, a senior, focuses on how certain objects can affect someone depending on his or her religion.

“We’re trying to look at fundamentalism and fear,” said Bates. “If we know it

is fear, it can help us understand this kind of more benign form of fundamentalism.

We can understand more extreme problems like terrorist attacks and things of that nature. But if it’s not fear then scientists need to stop using the word, because we’re just bumping it around and impeding the implication without helping it.”

The second project, directed by senior Kayla Bales, is called Religion, Quality and Value.

“We’re actually getting people to rate the quality of the product based on the label,” Bates said.

This project is similar to the first one, but focuses on the actual value of a product based on religion rather than how pleasing each item is.

The third project by Bates and Hudiburg also ties in religion, but with a twist.

It will focus on how religion can affect someone’s cognitive skills.

“We’ll have a maze where one will help Joe find his keys and the other maze will help Joe find his pot,” Hudiburg said.

We want to know if people who are religious have inner fears that should interfere with their performance.”

The professors believe people who are religiously fundamental will have a longer time getting through the maze versus other who are not so religiously inclined, Hudiburg said.

“Inhibiting a response to a resource will tend to slow it down,” said Hudiburg.

“People who are religiously fundamental will take longer to respond and make

more errors in their response like in a maze.”

In addition to these three projects, Professor of Psychology Ryan Zayac is also contributing to the department by conducting a special project this year at Kilby Laboratory School.

Zayac has been greatly interested in teaching and promoting learning since he started his career, he said.

“I developed an interest in the scholarship of teaching and learning,” said Zayac. “As part of this interest, I have been working on several projects related to evidence-based, behavioral teaching

Got Issues?

We can help!

555 Oakview Circle (In the white house behind Kilby School)

methods that are designed to improve student academic performance using wellestablished learning principles.”

“Inter-teaching has been shown to be extremely effective in improving college students’ exam scores,” Zayac said.

“However, there have been no published studies examining its effectiveness on younger students’ performance.”

Zayac wishes to model the interteaching method and apply it to his research conducted at Kilby, he said.

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

STUDENT COUNSELING SERV VICES All services for actively enrolled UNA Students are covered by payment of the Student Wellness Fee: x Assessment/Intake Evaluations x Personalized treatment planning x Individualized Counseling/Support x Referral as needed Regular Off ffice Hours ff rs s: Monday—Friday 8:00am-4:30pm (Later appointments by request) For appointments s call: 256-765-5215

Building New Beginnings

SPORTS 3B

Jan. 23, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

SCOREBOARD Jan. 14 - Jan. 20 Thursday, Jan. 16

MENʼS BASKETBALL

UNA @ Delta State University 84-72 Loss

WOMENʼS BASKETBALL

UNA @ Delta State University 63-59 Loss

Saturday, Jan. 18 MENʼS BASKETBALL

UNA @ Christian Brothers University 96-89 Win

WOMENʼS BASKETBALL

UNA @ Christian Brothers University 75-62 Loss

Current Standings MENʼS BASKETBALL

Season Total 10-6 Gulf South Conference 4-4

WOMENʼS BASKETBALL Season Total 8-6 Gulf South Conference 3-5

Upcoming Games Thursday, Jan. 23

MENʼS BASKETBALL UNA vs. University of West Alabama

8 p.m.

WOMENʼS BASKETBALL UNA vs. University of West Alabama

6 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 25

MENʼS BASKETBALL UNA vs. University of Alabama at Huntsville

3 p.m.

WOMENʼS BASKETBALL

UNA vs. University of Alabama at Huntsville

1 p.m.

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

PREVIEW

Lions softball prepares for swinging start MATT SULESKI

;\INN ?ZQ\MZ UU[]TM[SQ(]VI ML]

After winning 40 games last season, the Lions look to stay competitive this season under first-year head coach Ashley Cozart.

According to Sports Information, Cozart comes to UNA from Lindsay Wilson College, which competes under the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Cozart compiled a record of 191-45 while leading her team to four straight regular season and tournament conference titles.

She was also recognized as coach of the year three years in a row in the Mid-South Conference.

“We are so excited to have Ashley join our staff,” said Athletics Director Mark Linder.

“She brings excellent recruiting to the state of Alabama and we are ready for her to lead our softball program.”

The Lions have four returning starters and will be led by lone senior Shelby Goodman.

“It’s important for me to play hard and to have a good attitude,” Goodman said. “As a senior on this team, I need to always lead by example.”

Holly Barkley will move from second base to shortstop this coming season and is ex-

pected to play several innings for the Lions.

“She’s always the girl that’s going to be on base and have the most dirt on her,” Cozart said.

“She just plays so hard.”

Junior college transfer Bree Blevins comes in after being part of a national championship team at Wallace State Community College.

Blevins should give the Lions a solid starter in the rotation, Cozart said.

“Bree is a competitor who has great determination and throws the ball so well,” Cozart said. “I think she will give us a big lift this year.”

The Lions will look to the newcomers to give the team a boost this season, Cozart said.

“We’re going to need everyone’s contribution this year,” Cozart said. “To be successful, everybody has to play their part.”

The Lions open their season with a doubleheader at home Saturday, Feb. 1 against Young Harris College.

The following week, the Lions will turn their attention to the University of Alabama-Huntsville Charger Chillout Tournament.

The tournament schedule starts Friday, Feb. 7 and ends Sunday, Feb. 9.

The Lions will face six different opponents spanning three days.

photo by MICHAEL REDDING I Senior Staff Photographer

Callie Steadman warms up her swing before taking her turn at bat in a spring 2013 game against Union University.

“I believe we can be extremely competitive this year,” Cozart said. “If we can stay healthy and

win the big games at the right time, we should be in the mix for a conference championship.”

BASKETBALL

Lions still on top despite tough season AUSTIN SMITH

;\]LMV\ ?ZQ\MZ I[UQ\P (]VI ML]

Basketball season is well underway, and both the men’s and women’s teams are enjoying their fair share of success.

The men’s team beat Christian Brothers University on the road this week to improve their record to 10-6 overall and 4-4 in the conference.

While that record is not as impressive as it was at this point last season, there is no reason to believe the team cannot win games, said senior forward Wes Long.

Of their six losses, four have been by less than 10 points.

“The team this year just hasn’t been able to pull out the close games like we did last year,” Long said. “It’s been tough.”

The Lions have had to overcome several other challenges this season, but have done so due to players stepping up and making a difference.

Junior guard Nathan Spehr took over the role of starting point guard in the wake of senior Marquel Darrington’s knee injury. Spehr has been putting up

photo by CHELSEA PARRISH I Student Photographer

Senior Wes Long jumps to score during a spring 2014 game versus University of West Florida. The Lions lost 77-75 to West Florida.

solid scoring numbers for the Lions and is currently leading the Gulf South Conference in threepoint accuracy.

This year’s team is experienced, featuring five seniors on the roster. Most of the team previously played in the postseason on last year’s team. Only three

of the Lions’ eight conference games to date have been played in Florence, meaning the Lions will get to face most of their conference rivals in Flowers Hall late this season.

“We’re just going to have to come in every day and play as hard as we can and put ourselves

in a position to be successful at the end of the season,” Long said.

Wins like CBU could be critical for the men’s team.

“With some big wins already this season, UNA has shown its potential to be one of the best

;MM 4176; XIOM *

4B SPORTS

Jan. 23, 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ The Flor-Ala

QUOTE OF THE WEEK â&#x20AC;?THE STRENGTH OF THE TEAM IS EACH INDIVIDUAL MEMBER. THE STRENGTH OF EACH MEMBER IS THE TEAM.

PHIL JACKSON

4176; KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM * teams in the GSC and the South Region,â&#x20AC;? said Assistant Sports Information Director Shane Herrmann. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The big win at Christian Brothers on Saturday could be the turning point to a special season.â&#x20AC;?

The womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team has also faced challenges this season, but has still managed to post an 8-6 record so far. Firstyear head coach Missy Tiber has significantly changed the system of play for UNA, increasing the tempo and utilizing a fast-paced offense. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our whole mindset is different now in the way we approach a game,â&#x20AC;? said junior guard Lauren Faris.

The Lions are still struggling to achieve consistent play in the new system. While the transition may be a weakness for the team, they are not without

STAYING

their strengths, she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think the team chemistry is what makes us so great,â&#x20AC;? Faris said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We really all get along so well, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll do anything for each other.â&#x20AC;?

The season is far from over for the womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team, though, she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Lions have lost some close games and proven they can play with anyone,â&#x20AC;? Herrmann said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is still time for the team to gel and the pieces to fall in the right place. If UNA peaks at the end of the year, they could make a deep postseason run.â&#x20AC;?

If both teams can capitalize on the upcoming five-game home stand and play consistently, a championship season could be in the works.

Both teams will take on the University of West Alabama Thursday, Jan. 23 in Flowers Hall. photo by CHELSEA PARRISH I Student Photographer

Senior Tyler Pritchard jumps to make a lay up and avoid his defender in a 77-75 loss to University of West Florida.

ACTIVE AT

23

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

UNA 24

3:30 p.m. - Ab Attack

THURSDAY

25

Nothing Scheduled

FRIDAY

26

4 p.m. - Ab Attack

SATURDAY

27

3:30 p.m. - TRX and Ab Attack 4 p.m. - Zumba, XFit 6 p.m. - Yoga 7 p.m. - Tabata 7 p.m. - Backcountry cooking at the Outdoor Adventure Center

â&#x20AC;?

STRENGTH AND COURAGE. JOSH HOLLAND

â&#x20AC;?

I THINK DEDICATION BECAUSE WHETHER WE WIN OR LOSE WEĘźRE LIONS. EMILY CHRISTMAS

28

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

Deadline - Intramural Basketball Registration

â&#x20AC;?

BEING PROUD OF WHAT YOU DO. BEING FEARLESS, AS LONG AS YOUĘźRE PROUD OF WHAT YOU DO. DEAN HILL

â&#x20AC;?

TUESDAY

SOMEONE WITH HEART, COURAGE (AND) PERSEVERANCE TO BE ANYTHING.

29

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.

A Lion is...

SUNDAY

MONDAY

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

MAN ON THE STREET

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

PATRICK MCCABE

â&#x20AC;?

TO HAVE POWER AND LEADERSHIP. TONY JAMISON

LIFE 5B

Jan. 23, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

HEALTH

Cold, Colder, Coldest Colds plague students throughout fall, winter MARI WILLIAMS

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

With a continuum of colds and flus and the weather’s inconsistent games, students must strive to keep good health.

“I don’t notice anything different before I get a cold,” said junior Kendall Jackson. “It’s kind of random for me, but usually I can feel something coming on when I get a sore throat.”

Symptoms of a cold are caused by pathogens attacking the various cells, said Melissa Ward, nurse practitioner at Bennett Infirmary.

“Colds are caused by a virus,” Ward said. “There are currently over 200 types of viruses. What happens is that the virus attaches to the cells that line the throat and nose, and it causes the symptoms that you see, such as a sore throat and aches.”

Usually the most diagnoses for colds are around fall as well as the

winter season, Ward said. There is a high probability that it is most likely because students are out in the elements more and are also around many other sick people, she said.

“We probably average 30 to 35 visitors a day,” Ward said. “I would say that probably 85 percent are from colds.”

Freshman Alex McKay said her weak immune system often puts her in the infirmary with a cold.

“I get frustrated (when I feel a cold coming on) because they hinder me from being able to go about my daily life as I please,” McKay said.

To prevent colds, Jackson said he usually tries to eat citrus and drink plenty of fluids.

“I try and shower as much as I can, and I try to get as much rest as I can because that’s what usually causes it,” McKay said. “If I start feeling it come on, I drink a lot of orange juice.”

When trying to prevent colds, freshman Avery Woods said he avoids people completely, especially if they just look sick or are coughing, hacking or sneezing.

The first thing to do when feeling a cold coming on is to spend some time with yourself and get away from the rest of the world, according to health.com. The website also cites drinking generous amounts of fluids and throwing away any used tissues with help for a speedy recovery.

“The number one way to prevent colds is hand-washing,” Ward said. “You should also cover your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze.”

For more ways to avoid colds, visit nih.gov.

If showing signs of a cold, visit Bennett Infirmary during the week between 8. and 11:30 a.m.

photo illustration by JOSHUA BROOKOVER I Student Photographer

When students feel a cold coming on, they should rest and drink generous amounts of fluid, according to health.com. Students can also visit Bennett Infirmary, located on Circular Road.

PSYCHOLOGY

Unhealthy, irresistable obsessions interfere with life MARI WILLIAMS

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

Everyone has at least one obsession — the one thing they say they cannot survive without. Whether it is an obsession with food or an embarrassingly guilty pleasure for a boy band that is so obsessive you cannot even remember how it started.

“It’s a kind of urge, image or thought that we find difficult to resist,” said Larry Bates, associate professor of psychology. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be a thought itself. Sometimes it’s just an urge.”

One-third of adults with obsessive compulsive disorder say their symptoms began in childhood, according to healthcentral.com.

“We do know that people that tend to have obsessions tend to be a little bit more perfectionistic (and) generally, were wound a little bit tighter than people that don’t have obsessions,” Bates said. “Some people are kind of born with a hard wiring to develop an anxiety disorder or to develop an obsession or something like that, but it may show itself up in different ways — it may be a phobia or in panic attacks.”

Anxiety disorders, including panic disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and phobias, are the most common class of disorders present in the general population, according to a study done by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

“I think its (obsessions) probably been around for a long time — it’s just that we are much more aware of it now,” Bates said. “Instead of calling people crazy or something like that, we have an actual diagnosis for disorders. But on the other side of that, we actually know how to treat those things and make it go away, too.”

Today it is much easier to self-diagnose a person by looking up symptoms and watching television shows, but obsessions can become unhealthy.

“Literally when we call it a diagnosis (is when it becomes unhealthy) and the line that you cross when it begins to interfere with your daily life,” Bates said.

“It can be social, it can be occupational, academic life, physical life or health — any of those major life areas.”

An obsession can be healthy, but it cannot really be positive because when you are willing to harm others to get what you want that is not right, said soph-

omore Alex Byam.

“When an obsession begins to interfere with your life it is unhealthy,” Bates said. “For instance, not going on a date because you’re worried about germs from kissing or not going to school because you’re afraid of germs on a desk. Otherwise it’s just an eccentricity that we all have.”

Someone having an obsession says that they are human, and everyone has something they do not think they can live without, said freshman Sydney McLemore.

6B LIFE

Jan. 23, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

MARRIAGE

Polygamy serves as international social, religious norm MARI WILLIAMS

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Monogamy is such a uniform element of our daily lives that we do not consider the possibility of any other form of partnership.

With polygamy and its supporters recently stepping into the limelight and offering a glimpse into their once-covert home lives, it would seem the question at hand is whether or not Americans will turn their backs on traditional values and accept polygamy and other contemporary practices into modern society.

“When most people think of monogamy, the first thing they think about is (monogamy) in a sexual sense,” said Amber Paulk, assistant professor of sociology.

“But it really just means two partners to the exclusion of a third partner. But legally monogamy really is classically one man and one woman. That is changing, but even within that context we still have no state in the United States that has a law allowing multiple partners of any gender.”

Often times in cultures around the world monogamy is not practiced. If a family can afford it, polygamy is the predominant social norm, especially in Islamic cultures, Paulk said.

“If you go back 100 years to where it was practiced legally and openly, you would see one man, typically in a society where women didn’t work, trying to support multiple families,” Paulk said. “It led to a lot of social problems, in terms of those people living in poverty, or needing assistance from the state in some way.”

Our country’s history with monogamy is one of the reasons officials have issues with large communities of polygamists.

The vast majority of individuals in those family structures take some sort of assistance from the state, Paulk said.

“It’s actually interesting, one of the ways we practice monogamy in the Unit-

TV show “Sister Wives” is about a family with one man and four wives with a total of 17 children

ed States is something more aligned with a term called serial monogamy,” Paulk said. “Most people, when they think about monogamous relationships, are thinking about marriage, and they’re thinking about marrying one person.”

Monogamy might be popular because of religion, but at the same time it is human nature and monogamy comes naturally to some people, said freshman Ellen Scott.

“At least in Jewish and Christian traditions monogamy can be dated back to about the Middle Ages,” said Carl Gebhardt, adjunct professor of history. “Prior to that, monogamous relationships had more to do with expediency and economics — for a man to have more than one wife, he had to have the wherewithal to support her. The preponderance of Christianity probably has an awful lot to do with us today taking monogamy for granted.”

The U.S. has laws which govern monogamy, and they will be tested in court over the coming years — almost entirely — because of the growing feeling there is excessive government invasion in citizens’ lives as of present, Gebhardt said.

“America is beginning to accept bigamy, and there are also 16 states that allow gay marriage, so I think there will be eye photo by JOSHUA BROOKOVER I Student Photographer opening experiences later on,” said soph- In cultures around the world monogamy is not often practiced, said Amber omore Michael Stewart.

Paulk, assistant professor of sociology. If a family can afford it, polygamy is the Balance will be what the court sys- pre-dominant social norm, she said. tems will have to look to in the coming years.

“Religious freedom, as a fundamental precept of the U.S., is being challenged by both the Mormon polygamist and by other religions that have come to the United States, where restricting is actually denying them religious freedom in their minds,” Gebhardt said. “So, our court system is going to be challenged with lawsuits that require some sort of judgment about balancing their religious freedoms with what the norm has been in the United States.”

polygamy is illegal in Nevada, where they live

3 of the partnerships are spiritual unions

MENTAL HEALTH 7B

Jan. 23, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

FOOD

5 Foods to Boost Brain Power Olive Oil

Beets

Olive oil is considered a good fat, which means that, in moderation, it can lead to better memory and clearer thinking. You can use olive oil to make pesto sauce by processing salt, garlic, basil and pine nuts.

Add olive oil until the pesto is the consistency that you prefer and serve it over your favorite pasta.

Beets have natural nitrates in them, which can cause improved blood circulation and lead to improved mental function. A delicious way to enjoy beets is to combine boiled, sliced beets, and a sauteed onion and continue to sautee, adding salt and garlic to taste.

Information gathered by JASMINE FLEMING I Staff Writer

Spinach Spinach is full of vitamins — including V, K and folate — that help fight dementia, or a loss of brain function. One way to get more spinach in your diet would be to add it to smoothies, where the taste is undetectable. Fill a blender halfway with orange juice and add some of your favorite fruits, along with a handful of spinach.

Blueberries Blueberries help to protect the brain from oxidative stress, a condition that can lead to Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia by weakening the brain’s defenses against antioxidants. Blueberries can easily be added to some of your favorite breakfast foods or snacks, including cereal, frozen yogurt, pancakes or muffins.

PUZZLE

Have fun and good luck racking your brain to figure out these words associated with mental health! Check florala.net for the answers.

1

Eggs Similar to spinach, eggs have a large amount of folate, which help neurotransmitters in the brain send messages, improving both memory and general brain function. A faster way to make fried eggs is to crack one or two eggs in a round bowl, stir and microwave them for one to two minutes. You can either eat them alone or add them to a breakfast sandwich.

2

12 11 3

5 13

9 4 6

7

8

Information gathered by BLYTHE STEELMAN I Managing Editor

10

Across:

Down:

1 — One in ____ American adults lives with mental illness.

3 — Combat, assault or natural disasters can leave individuals with Post Traumatic _______ Disorder, or PTSD. 4 — Recovery and treatment options are ______ for each individual, since people live with varying levels of illness.

6 — _______ disorders, like anorexia or bulimia nervosa and binge eating, are often some of the most challenging mental illnesses.

8 — Major depression affected 14.8 ______ Americans last year.

10 — One-______ of all chronic mental illness begins by the age of 14.

11 — ______ disorder is a chronic illness with recurring episodes of mania and depression that can last from one day to months.

13 — Symptoms of Seasonal Affective ______, or SAD, usually begin in October or November and last until March or April.

2 — _______ Compulsive Disorder, or OCD, is often called a “disease of doubt.”

5 — Approximately 13 percent of children ages 8 to 15 experience _______ mental disorders each year.

7 — Suicide is the _______ leading cause of death in the United States.

8 — _____ is Mental Health Awareness Month.

9 — Psychosocial treatments can provide ________, education and guidance to people living with mental illness and their families.

11 — Serious mental illness costs America approximately $193.2 _______ in lost earnings per year.

12 — _______ is the nationʼs largest grassroots mental health organization (abbreviation).

8B EXTRA

Jan. 23, 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ The Flor-Ala

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