January 11

Arts in the Shoals p. 2-5 Jane Doe update p. 6

StudentsĘź discuss President Trump p. 9 Flowers Hall revamped p. 11 January 11, 2018 Vol. 86, Issue 8

2 THE ARTS

DYLAN BAKER | Graphic Designer

Shoals offers variety of artistic locations MONDAY SANDERSON Editor-in-Chief editor@florala.net People know the Shoals area and Florence for its music scene. Whether it is the history of Fame Music Hall or the musicians at 116 E Mobile, the local area offers many forms of music.

However, there is more to Florence than the music. Scattered across the city are other forms of art which may interest people.

Ranging from acting to abstract artwork, Florence offers many different forms of art that will capture people’s attention.

1. Shoals Theatre

The Shoals Theatre was created in 1948 and will celebrate its 70th anniversary in October.

Located at 123 N. Seminary St., it began as a movie theater. Now, it is the “prime entertainment venue in downtown

Florence,” according to its website. While people can listen to music at the concerts it hosts, the Shoals Theatre is also known for its plays.

Acting is one of the oldest forms of artistic expression. With the aid of costumes and props, actors and directors can tell an entire story and transport the audience to different locations and time periods.

With content ranging from mysteries to classic literature, the Shoals Theatre does this throughout its season.

For students interested in acting, the theatre holds auditions for their plays. To find out more, visit theshoalstheatre.org.

2. Kennedy-Douglas Center for the Arts

In the April 20, 2017 Reader’s Choice edition of The Flor-Ala, readers chose the Kennedy-Douglas Center for the Arts as the second most popular art attraction to visit.

Located across from Wilson Park,

the Kennedy-Douglas Center for the Arts serves as Florence’s cultural arts center.

Separated into three buildings, the center hosts a museum, three art galleries and different programs. It is open Monday– Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Other than the daily operations, the center also hosts the annual event Arts Alive, a fine arts and crafts festival. The festival features artists and crafters from around the U.S. Students who create their own artwork can enter this festival no matter if it is pottery, paintings or photography. To apply, visit alabamaartsalive.com/artistapplication.

3. Allegory Tattoo

While some people may not consider tattoos as art in the conventional sense, others call them body art for a reason.

When it comes to getting tattoos in Florence, most people think of North Alabama Ink or Stay Bold Tattoo. Now, there is a new tattoo parlor in town.

Allegory Tattoo is Florence’s “best kept secret,” according to its website.

The owner, Ulyss Blair, is a Florence native, and he owns the shop with his wife Eva. Their goal is to provide customers a “one of a kind, unique, custom tattoo,” according to their website.

Since they are new, Allegory Tattoo is appointment based only. The parlor is located at 110 E Tuscaloosa St., and people can contact them at 256-366-7061.

4. UNA

All around campus, students can see and hear the influence of the arts every day. Whether it is the Pride of Dixie practicing before their next competition or sculptures displayed in front of the visual arts building.

Beginning fall 2018, the university will take the department of art, department of music, and the theatre program and form them into the UNA School of the Arts.

With this change, the arts will take a more prominent role at UNA.

Local restaurant features retro music HANNAH ZIMMER Managing Editor managing@florala.net As my friends, sophomore Melanie Brown and freshman Charles Gordon, and I walked into a quaint restaurant, Soul: Wingery and Records welcomed our senses with retro music and the delicious scent of fried food.

Located on South Poplar Street in downtown Florence, Soul: Wingery and Records has been a popular destination for students since the aesthetically pleasing shop opened last summer.

Although the restaurant is small, it is packed with personality. The walls are lined with vintage records for sale.

A boom-box next to the counter continuously plays today’s hits and yesterday’s favorites.

Although I heard throwback tunes like Michael Jackson’s “P.Y.T.” while there, I also heard newer songs. Soul featured a nice blended sound in their music choices.

Brown said she loves the restaurant and all the employees there are friendly.

“The sweetest people work there,” Brown said. “They are always so nice.”

I opted to order the renowned chicken and waffles. Although I stuck with water, there were creatively named drink choices such as Purple Rain and Beyoncé Lemonade that Brown described as “so yummy.”

We enjoyed listening to music and investigating the records while our food cooked. I concluded that music-lovers could find interesting records here, including those by the Commodores, Michael Jackson and many others.

Shortly after, my waiter presented me with a scrumptious waffle with wings sitting on top of it. My first thought was, “Will this be a good combination?” The answer is yes.

The wings had an appetizing seasoning on them and fell off the bone easily. Next, I tasted the waffle covered in powdered sugar. This sweet flavor was the perfect balance with the savory

wings.

Gordon ordered loaded fries covered in sauce and seasoning.

He said he enjoyed his meal choice. His plate was completely barren when we finished because he said the fries were “so good.”

My meal and experience were definitely worth the $10 I spent. The affordable prices of meals there will keep me coming back for more.

Overall, I give Soul four stars with my only complaint being the minimum seating available.

The food was delicious, the music was groovy and the prices were affordable. Not to mention, Soul is open from 11 a.m.–9 p.m.

Monday–Thursday, and 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Friday–Saturday.

These hours are ideal for college students.

Soul: Wingery and Records was good for my soul.

HANNAH ZIMMER| Managing Editor

Customers can enjoy chicken and waffles while listening to music at Soul. People are likely to hear retro bands while in the restaurant.

LIFE 3

ART AROUND THE WORLD NORTH AMERICA One well-known artist in North America is Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright is famous for his architecture in a style called organic architecture.

One of the buildings he designed is the Rosenbaum house in downtown Florence.

AFRICA Another group of art is African art. African art consists of masquerade, metalwork, sculpture, architecture, fiber art and dance. Something African art is known for is the use of masks. People use these masks for celebrations, ceremonies and war preparations.

Information compiled by CIERA GOLLIVER | News Editor

EUROPE Europe is known for being the origin of most art styles today.

Some well-known European artists include Pablo Picasso, Filippino Lippi, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael.

Some examples of European art include the Mona Lisa, The Statue of David, The Last Supper and The Creation of Adam.

ASIA One well known example of international art in the Western world is Manga and Anime. Both of these styles originated in Japan and are known for having exaggerated physical features. These characters are common in the Western world in comic books. One example of Japanese art is the character Hello Kitty.

DAVID J. SAN MIGUEL | Graphic Designer

4 THE ARTS

Professor brings creative vision to campus NATALIE BEE

Social Media Coordinator

online@florala.net

The College of Arts and Sciences welcomed Assistant Professor of Art Parkerson Seward to the department last semester.

Seward said he has always had an interest in art but did not become actively involved until his time at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.

He was originally a double major in psychology and art.

“I took an anatomical illustration class and the professor made such an impact on me that I decided to fully concentrate on art,” he said.

Seward said this was also the reason he became interested in teaching.

Senior Ragan Eaves took Painting 1 with Seward last semester. She said he made the class fun by interacting with the students in a lighthearted manner. “(He) wasn’t boring, which I appreciate,” she said. “Painting isn’t something I’d normally be interested in, but he made it fun. Over time, he

“

started to open up toward the students.

He was more fun, cracked more jokes and (became) more lighthearted toward the end of the semester.”

Seward said his work is in the style of hyperrealism, an advancement of photorealism, in which he creates paintings that appear to be highresolution photographs but also portray a false reality.

“The subject matter may be recognizable, but it’s pictured in a way in which it could never exist and in a way that couldn’t be seen by the naked eye,” he said.

Seward said he uses oil, acrylic and spray paint as his mediums for his paintings and his work focuses on the tools, surfaces and letter styles found in both street art and public art and its impact it can have on different communities.

Of all his achievements concerning his work, Seward said his greatest accomplishments are a recent solo exhibition and publication he had.

Seward also has a research project coming up soon for a few large-scale

Even if I never have (students) in a class again and they walk away having gained an appreciation for at while at the same time creating work that is honest to themselves, then I’m happy.

Parkerson Seward| Assistant Professor of Art

murals.

“Some of my students will be helping me which will be a great hands-on experience,” he said.

As a new addition to the UNA faculty, Seward said he hopes students learn to create work with both a technical and conceptual focus from his classes or to simply explore their creativity.

“Even if I never have them in a class again and they walk away having gained an appreciation for art while at the same time creating work that is honest to themselves, then I’m happy,” he said.

Eaves said she believes Seward fits in with the rest of the professors on campus.

Courtesy of Parkerson Seward

Pictured here is Kings of Steel, one of the paintings Assistant Professor of art Parkerson Seward has created. His artwork in the style of hyperrealism, which makes the work appear similar to a high-resolution photograph.

Films make 2018 a musical year in theaters TYLER HARGETT Life Editor life@florala.net While music lovers can enjoy songs through concerts and streaming, they may also listen to different pieces while watching a film.

In 2017, music-related movies seemed to take a backseat to the action flicks.

Even though there were some hits, including “Beauty and the Beast” and “Coco,” the anticipated “All Eyez on Me” and “Pitch Perfect 3” failed to gain overall praise from critics and audiences.

However, with Hollywood bringing more music to the screens over the next year, perhaps 2018 will be the time for musical films to shine once again.

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again July 20 This song-filled romantic comedy serves as the follow-up to the 2008 original summer hit, “Mamma Mia!” and draws inspiration from the play of the same name (which is based on the music of Swedish pop band ABBA).

Actress Amanda Seyfried plays Sophie, who announces her pregnancy to

her friends and family at the Greek villa once run by her now-deceased mother.

Because she is doubting her parenting abilities, her loved ones tell her the story of how her mother (played by Meryl Streep) faced pregnancy at a young age while managing both the villa and a female band.

Featuring the return of several actors, including Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Julie Walters, as well as the addition of Andy Garcia and Cher, the movie will come to theaters just in time for the 10th anniversary of the first film.

A Star Is Born Oct. 5 Remakes sometimes fall victim to criticism, so this fourth version of the 1937 Best Picture-nominated romantic drama will need to tread lightly with its source material.

However, with the starring roles going to singer Lady Gaga and actor Bradley Cooper, along with the production of actor and director Clint Eastwood, this story of an aspiring singer falling in love with a performer may live up or even surpass the former versions.

Each of the last three films received

multiple Academy Award nominations, which could also be the case for this movie.

Mary Poppins Returns Dec. 25 Some regard the 1964 Walt Disney film “Mary Poppins” as one of the greatest musicals, and films, of all time. Now, more than 50 years later, the iconic singing, flying and lesson-teaching nanny will make her return to the big screen.

Set 20 years after the first film, Mary Poppins visits the now grown-up Michael Banks and his family after a family incident. While actress Julie Andrews will not be returning to her iconic role (Emily Blunt will portray the character this time) actor and comedian Dick Van Dyke will come back to portray the son of Mr. Dawes, a character he played in the original.

Audiences are expecting magic and family fun when the movie arrives in theaters on Christmas Day.

Bohemian Rhapsody Dec. 25 While not a musical, this movie will focus on British rock band Queen, who, under lead singer Freddie Mercury, produced various hit singles and concerts through the 1970s and 80s before Mercury’s death in 1991.

The biographical film will focus on the band’s formation and early career.

To read about the actor portraying Mercury, visit florala.net.

DYLAN BAKER | Graphic Designer

THE ARTS 5

Former athlete balances passion of sports, music JACOB COLE Sports Editor sports@florala.net Former North Alabama tennis player Taylor Ausbon found a way to balance playing tennis and working with his other passion, music.

The senior entertainment industry major is no longer playing tennis for the Lions due to gaining an internship with a booking agency in North Carolina. He said he still remembers his time fondly, including some milestone moments for him.

“My best accomplishments would be making the NCAA tournament my sophomore and junior year,” he said.

“Specific matches, though, would have to be beating West Alabama my freshman year.”

Along with playing tennis, Ausbon also sings and plays guitar.

Ausbon said after he graduates he wants to continue with the entertainment business with either his passion for sports or music in some way.

“I love branding and designing things, so incorporating that into entertainment is the end goal,” Ausbon said. “The uncertainty is exciting though.”

Ausbon played three years with the Lions tennis team. In Ausbon’s last season with UNA, he finished with a 9-5 singles record including a 4-2 record in the Gulf South Conference.

Ausbon went 16-4 in doubles matches with partner, and now senior, Miguel Garcia. They went 8-1 in GSC matches.

He said the hardest part of balancing both passions was being tired most of the time.

“Trying to stay motivated doing one while being exhausted from doing the other (was difficult),” Ausbon said. “That can go both ways (with

tennis and music).”

Graduate student Taylor Goodwin said if anybody could manage the workload, it would be her friend Ausbon.

“I think there’s a lot of difficulty in balancing everything as a student athlete,” Goodwin said.“Taylor works harder than anyone I know to keep his grades up, put in effort for his team and stay involved on campus.”

Ausbon said both passions are something he will always treasure.

“With tennis, my favorite was the team atmosphere of literally being a family, because you spend every day together for 10 months out of the year basically,” Ausbon said. “With art and music, the power that (they have) to enhance emotion and the openness to interpretation is what makes it so special.”

Goodwin said Ausbon is equal in talent at both tennis and music.

“I don’t think I can say that he’s better at either music or sports,” Goodwin said. “He has a ton of talent and even more passion for the both of them. He puts so much time and effort in being his best in both areas.”

Even though Ausbon said he loves both, neither tennis or music go together too well.

“Tennis and music don’t really go hand and hand together besides a lot of noises,” he said.

Goodwin said Ausbon will be great in his next phase of life.

“I’m not sure where Taylor will be following his internship and graduation, but I know he will continue feeding his passion,” Goodwin said. “It will ultimately lead him to success in any field he pursues.”

Ausbon said that all of this work in college will prepare him for life.

Ausbon will graduate at the end of the spring semester this year in May to finish his degree at UNA.

Courtesy of Taylor Ausbon

Senior Taylor Ausbon tosses the ball up to serve during a match in his junior campaign. Ausbon is working at an booking agency internship, but he wants to work in the entertainment business with music or sports.

Military members enjoy different pastimes HANNAH ZIMMER Managing Editor managing@florala.net Just because military members know how to wield weapons does not mean they cannot also use paintbrushes.

When the military deploys men and women to foreign lands far from home, they must find ways to entertain themselves in their free time.

Senior Crystal DiBenedetto retired from active duty after serving in the Marine Corps for 10 years and the Army for 10 years.

Although DiBenedetto is now focused on obtaining her social work degree, she said she witnessed many interesting pastimes before retiring

from the military.

DiBenedetto served in different countries across the world, such as Japan, Australia and Iraq. The FlorAla put together a list of artistic pastimes that DiBenedetto said military members do to pass the time.

1. Listening to music This first pastime came as no surprise being that most people enjoy listening to music.

DiBenedetto said music is especially therapeutic to soldiers during missions. DiBenedetto said she always listened to music while she worked out while she was there.

2. Talent shows “During deployments, our battalion would usually host a talent

show for morale,” DiBenedetto said.

Most people would sing as their talent, she said.

3. Drawing/Writing Although she did not draw herself, DiBenedetto said she saw service members drawing to occupy their time. Similarly, other members wrote letters to their families and friends back home.

DiBenedetto said she wrote letters while she was at basic training.

4. Playing instruments DiBenedetto said the Marine Corps has a rich musical background.

“The Marine Corps has an awesome band,” she said.

Outside of the official band, there are also many service members who

play guitar, she said.

5. Tattooing “There were even a few (service members) that would do tattoos during spare time,” DiBenedetto said.

Musical art forms seem to be the most popular amongst service members, but just like other people, military members are diverse individuals with different skills and hobbies.

Some people may dehumanize service members and see them as only soldiers. However, people should remember military members are people too, who have other talents and interests outside of their profession.

They are just like everyone else, maybe even more talented.

6 NEWS

Update on Jane Doe lawsuit CIERA GOLLIVER News Editor news@florala.net UNA is starting the new year off with a fresh slate by moving to end the lawsuit with anonymous former UNA student Jane Doe. Lawyers for Jane Doe filed a case against UNA Aug. 9, 2017 claiming “sexual assault upon Plaintiff by a UNA professor and UNA’s deliberate indifference in response to the actions of the Professor in violation of Title IX.” The university claims the Jane Doe lawsuit failed to state sufficient facts of UNA, or any of the named defendants, violating the law on Jan. 4, said UNA Director of Communications and Marketing Bryan Rachal in a university press release.

During his employment, former UNA Marketing Professor David Dickerson led a group of four students to a UNA sponsored Intern Sales Conference/ Competition in Orlando.

At this event, Dickerson allegedly sexually assaulted Jane Doe. Rachal said Jane Doe alleged Dickerson was guilty of sexual misconduct more than 50 times in the lawsuit but failed to name Dickerson as a defendant.

Since the original lawsuit, Dickerson filed with the Alabama State Board of Adjustment and the

U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission claiming UNA wrongfully terminated his employment.

He filed this document Dec. 13, 2017. He said he does not feel he should have been fired at all, according to the press release.

Jane Doe alleged in the lawsuit the university allowed Dickerson to remain on campus and finish out his contract, according to the complaint she filed against UNA. A Title IX investigation found Dickerson violated policy Dec. 17, 2015, UNA President Kenneth Kitts said in a statement.

After the investigation found Dickerson guilty, the university placed him on administrative leave and banned him from campus.

“The University responded quickly and professionally throughout this process, complying with all applicable policies and laws,” according to UNA’s second official statement regarding the lawsuit. “The matter was investigated thoroughly and the University acted decisively to protect our students while also protecting the student’s right to privacy.”

Rachal said if the Jane Doe lawsuit continues, UNA is asking the court to require Dickerson to join the suit so the court can decide if he is responsible for injury to Jane Doe and so UNA can focus on one complaint at a time.

Courtesy of MSU Denver

David Dickerson, a former UNA marketing professor, filed against the university with the Alabama State Board of Adjustment and the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission for wrongful employment termination. UNA put Dickerson on administrative leave after he allegedly sexually assaulted Jane Doe, a former UNA student.

Senate Results

NEWS 7

Doug Jones 49.9% Roy Moore 48.4% Write-Ins 1.7%

Alabama gains first Democrat senator in 25 years CODY CAMPBELL Student Writer ccampbell11@una.edu Democrat Doug Jones secured a narrow victory over Republican Roy Moore in Alabama’s special Senate election to become the state’s first Democratic senator in 25 years.

College towns played a major role in the election with Jones winning the majority of votes.

Senior Kasey Knodson said she is happy with the election results.

“I’m just glad Roy Moore lost,” Knodson said. “Of course I voted for Doug Jones.”

The election is a big win for Democrats as Jones will help shift the Republican majority in the House to only a single seat. Jones’ election could have a major impact at the national level as Democrats gear up for the coming midterm elections, which could lead to a Democrat majority in the House and turn the tides on the current administration.

The campaign leading to the special election was swamped in controversy.

Several women accused Moore of having sexually assaulted them several years before.

A total of nine women came forward to announce Moore pursued inappropriate sexual relationships with them. Many of the women were teenagers at the time of the assault while Moore would have been in his 30s.

The Moore controversy had its effect on the election results, but it was not the only factor contributing to Jones’ victory. A vast majority of African-Americans voted for Jones, according to a poll CNN conducted Dec. 13, 2017.

This same poll also showed Jones took the majority of women votes and young voters. He also won the majority of the votes casted by voters registered as Independents.

The Republican party also contributed to the downfall of Moore’s campaign, with several prominent party leaders actively speaking out against Moore. Mitch McConnell, the Republican House Majority WHIP, a leader in the Republican party, and Paul Ryan, the Republican Speaker of the House, both denounced Moore following the announcement of the allegations made against him.

Many Alabamians felt the same because the election received more

Courtesy of Doug Jones for U.S. Senate Facebook

Doug Jones is the first Democratic Senator from Alabama in 25 years. Jones secured the position by beating out Republican candidate Roy Moore. than 22,000 write-in votes.

“Alabama has spoken,” Jones said on CNN’s State of the Union following the announcement of his victory.

“It was a close election. There’s no question about that. But now it’s time to heal. Now it’s time to move on and go to the next thing.”

8 NEWS Officials rename two buildings to honor alumni TYLER HARGETT Life Editor life@florala.net To honor two alumni, the Commons and UNA Science and Technology buildings will receive new names in 2018.

The Commons will become the Wendell W. Gunn University Commons in honor of Wendell Wilkie Gunn, the first African-American student of UNA (then Florence State College).

Despite having to have a court order to enroll, Gunn’s transfer from Tennessee State University went smooth. In spring 1964, he received the university’s Physics Achievement Award.

After he graduated the following year with degrees in math and chemistry, Gunn went on to serve under U.S. President Ronald Reagan as a special assistant and in the U.S Office of Policy Development as assistant director for commerce and trade. He also founded Gunn Solutions, an investment firm consulting business.

Gunn returned to UNA May 13, 2017 to speak at the spring commencement, where he received an honorary doctorate degree from the university.

“Gunn epitomizes the traits of perseverance and integrity that cross social, racial and cultural backgrounds,” said members of the UNA Board of

Trustees in a resolution.

The Student Government Association is also petitioning to honor Gunn with a statue on the lawn of Bibb Graves Hall.

“For many reasons, Wendell is a symbol of the determination and pursuit of scholarly achievement, which is at the center of this institution,” said SGA President Hugo Dante. “He strove and defeated every barrier put up against him.”

The UNA Science and Technology Building will change to the Mitchell Burford Science and Technology Building in honor of Alexander Mitchell Burford, Jr. Before coming to UNA, Burford enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Serving as a Medical Corpsman inspired him to study medicine, according to his obituary.

He enrolled at UNA (then Florence State Teacher’s College) after ending his military service to complete a degree in biology. He later went on to continue his studies at the University of Tennessee’s College of Medicine.

After becoming medically licensed, he worked as a pathologist at Eliza Memorial Hospital for 36 years. After retiring in 1996, he returned to UNA’s Institute for Learning in Retirement, which he had previously participated in during his college years, as an instructor in public health and world history.

The Flor-Ala File Folder

The Commons Building is a well-used area on campus for students to get food and hang out with friends. In 2018, university officials will re-name the building after Wendall Wilkie Gunn, the first African-American student to attend UNA. During his life, Burford also donated more than $4 million worth of financial gifts to the university, becoming the largest individual private donor in the college’s history. He passed away March 7, 2017, at the age of 87.

His estate gift supported the Science and Technology Building, which had its official grand opening Sept. 10, 2015.

“We continue to applaud and be

thankful for Dr. Burford’s philanthropic spirit,” members of the UNA Board of Trustees said.

Dante said renaming the building after Burford is the least UNA should do to honor him.

“He is the symbol of success and lifetime achievement, which all UNA students should strive to achieve,” Dante said.

LIFE 9 40%

48%

Decrease in inauguration attendance from 2013, according to Vox

Claims that are completely false, according to PolitiFact

39% Job approval as of Dec. 31, 2017, according to Gallup

Review of presidentʼs first year in office 2.11

46+

Million of jobs added in 2017

Millions of followers on Twitter DAVID SAN MIGUEL | Graphic Designer

Information compiled by TYLER HARGETT | Life Editor

How has President Trump done in his first year?

Glenn Anderson - Junior “I feel proud that he hasn’t done as well as he should, but sad that our President is not doing as well as he should.”

Sam Wong - Junior “I think that I understand a lot of Trump’s moves, because they fit the needs of the current American society.”

Will Johnson - Sophomore “I think Donald Trump is not quite the devil everyone says he is, but he basically is. If you look at everything he’s done, it’s two good things set against 100 bad things.”

Abbie Folk – Junior “He could use a few little tweaks, but who doesn’t? I think Donald Trump is doing a good job. If he didn’t tweet as much, he’d be so much better. The tweets are what really just get him.”

Information compiled by SARA HALEY | Student Writer

Claire Coggin – Freshman “If he’s going to say that he’s going to do something, he should have already done it.”

Maurice Elmore, Jr. – Sophomore “He’s trying to do something he wasn’t really put on this Earth to do. He’s in a leadership role, but he doesn’t have leadership. I feel like he should be impeached.”

CODY CAMPBELL | Volunteer Photographer

10 LIFE Interesting facts about Lions head football coach TYLER HARGETT Life Editor life@florala.net

(because) I sit around talking to my boys about who Michael Jordan and Larry Bird are, and they look at me like, ‘who?’”

Students on campus know head football coach Chris Willis is working to recruit and train this year’s UNA Lions.

However, many do not know about his history with glam metal and massive card collection. Like everyone else, Willis has hobbies, interests and personal beliefs that are not shared with everyone.

Here is a list of interesting facts Willis shared with The Flor-Ala.

2. Willis is a fan of The Avengers and classic horror movies.

1. Willis has a large sports card collection.

He said he remembers card collecting being more common in the 70s and 80s.

“I would go to card shows like people go to comic book shows,” he said. “(People) would put them in hotel lobbies.”

Willis said he would sometimes play imaginary sports games by moving the cards on his carpet at home.

His collection now consists of 12-15,000 cards, including baseball, football and basketball players.

He said despite having several valuable cards, he wants to keep them to possibly pass on to his children.

“I’m teaching my kids who these people are,” he said. “It’s funny,

Along with cards, Willis also collected Marvel’s Avengers comic books as a child.

Now that Marvel is releasing movies about them, he goes to see them with his children.

“I take my kids (to see them), but, to be honest, it’s probably just as much me wanting to go, too,” he said. “It’s pretty neat to be able to go at my age now, and it rehashes good memories.”

He said his favorite superhero has always been the Incredible Hulk.

Besides watching the live-action Hulk series with his family, his dad would also set up a theater-style projector, and they would watch old black-and-white horror movies “You wouldn’t think that somebody’s parents would let them (watch these films), but that type of horror back then wasn’t like the horror movies you see today,” he said. “It was not graphic, (and) there was hardly ever any blood.”

3. Willis grew up a fan of glam metal bands.

He said he loved all the glam metal bands growing up, including

Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard.

“I can’t tell you how many Def Leopard concerts (I went to),” he said. “They had some of the best music.”

Willis said, despite his love for the bands, he was not into headbanging.

He said as he has gotten older, his taste in music became subtler, but he still finds time to listen to different genres.

“I’ll play music in (my office) when I’m working and after hours,” he said. “My players like whatever music gets them fired up for a football game, so I listen to whatever they got going at the time.”

Willis said he occasionally still attends concerts, with a recent Eric Church performance in Nashville being one of the all-time favorite shows he has attended.

4. Willis enjoyed the simpler time before mainstream technology.

Willis said life went by “slower” before the introduction of a lot of today’s technological advances.

He said one major difference between his time as a child and today is, while he woke up on Saturday mornings to watch cartoons, there are now channels playing cartoons all the time.

“Today, kids have so much (entertainment) to choose from,” he

DAVID SAN MIGUEL | Graphic Designer

said. “There’s so much more on TV.” Willis said at home, his family puts their cell phones away to eat dinner. They also have game nights where they play board games.

“We want our kids to understand there was a time (before) iPads,” he said.

SPORTS 11 Scoreboard

Dec. 14 - Jan. 20 Women’s Basketball

MELANIE HODGES | Chief Photographer

Flowers Hall fills up during a volleyball game against West Florida Nov. 11, 2016. Flowers Hall has been home to the volleyball and basketball teams since it opened its doors in 1972.

Flowers Hall ready for renovations JACOB COLE Sports Editor sports@florala.net

Flowers Hall is preparing for a major upgrade in preparation for North Alabama’s Division I move.

With most of the bleachers and equipment getting older, the time for changes is now, according to UNA officials.

UNA athletic director Mark Linder said the improvements will be made to the hardwood floor, new seating, a hospitality area for donors, new video boards and Varsity locker rooms for each team.

The revamping of Flowers Hall has yet to start because of women’s and men’s basketball being underway, but Linder said the university hopes the entire project is finished by September 2018 in advance for the 2018-19 volleyball and basketball schedules.

Flowers Hall opened its doors in 1972, and it has been home to many teams and events over the years. It is the home arena for the UNA volleyball team and both basketball squads. Flowers Hall also hosts concerts, with names such as Tom Petty, J. Cole, Panic! At the Disco and many more over its history.

One of the objectives on the Lions’ agenda is to make Flowers Hall ESPN ready with the Division I move. A production room and the correct equipment will be required for the ESPN crews. Linder said the changes will benefit UNA. “We are currently looking at the design of Flowers Hall and how to keep it multi-functional, while creating a great atmosphere for our students and fans,” Linder said.

The floor is in need of the biggest change, Linder said, with the last installment of hardwood floor finishing in 2004. It is currently in its 13th season,

but it looks to be its last, with the project scheduled to finish in September 2018.

Senior Taylor Thaxton said the hardwood floor could be a danger to players if left for too much longer.

“After six to eight years, the hardwood floors start to become slick and are more likely to cause injury,” he said. “To prevent future injuries, the floor should be redone.”

The need for a new floor was in discussion to change before the Division I move to the ASUN was announced Dec. 6, 2016. The seating and floor are the main concerns, but Flowers Hall will have to support the growth of UNA athletics.

“Since basketball is such a driving force in Division I athletics, we also plan on creating a nice hospitality area for donors,” Linder said.

To continue reading about the renovation plans to Flowers Hall, visit florala.net.

Lions begin 2018 with near undefeated record JACOB COLE Sports Editor sports@florala.net The North Alabama women’s basketball team is entering the last half of their season with a near perfect 13-1 record.

The Lions moved back to second place in the Gulf South Conference after a close home loss to conference foe Union 65-62, but the No. 21 Lions still have more games left.

Lions head coach Missy Tiber

said the team stayed the course throughout the early part of the season.

“With social media, the girls hear about it and they understand where we are at,” Tiber said. “The great thing about our team this year is we have not had any letdowns no matter who we have played. We’ve been very consistent, which is what you want from your team.”

UNA has trounced their early competition with wins over Kentucky State by scores of 107-69 and 71-44 and

a big win over Fisk by a score of 11540.

The Lions handled GSC play, as well. UNA was 6-0 in conference play until the Lions fell to No. 25 Union Jan. 6. The conference wins included wins over West Alabama, Montevallo, Shorter, Mississippi College and Delta State.

The Lions also pulled out a thriller against Lee, with a last second freethrow to keep the Lions’ record at the time.

LIONS | 12

Dec. 14 vs. Shorter Win, 94-44 Dec. 18 vs. Lee Win, 63-62 Jan. 2 at Miss. College Win, 106-71 Jan. 4 at Delta State Win, 74-49 Jan. 6 vs. Union Loss, 65-62 Jan. 9 vs. Christian Bros.

Jan. 13 at West Georgia Jan. 15 at Auburn-Mont.

Jan. 20 at UAH

Men’s Basketball Dec. 14 vs. Shorter Win, 96-85 Dec. 18 vs. Lee Loss, 81-79 Jan. 2 at Miss. College Loss, 98-88 Jan. 4 at Delta State Loss, 61-55 Jan. 6 vs. Union Win, 82-78 Jan. 9 vs. Christian Bros.

Jan. 13 at West Georgia Jan. 15 at Auburn-Mont.

Jan. 20 at UAH Games continued at roarlions.com

12 SPORTS Men’s basketball prepares for last half of season JACOB COLE Sports Editor sports@florala.net The North Alabama men’s basketball team halted a three-game skid with a win over Union, but the Lions said they are looking for more consistency.

Lions head coach Bobby Champagne said before the Union win the two-game home stretch would be big.

“It has been frustrating the way we have been losing,” Champagne said.

“But the worst thing we can do right now is get down on ourselves. We are back at home for two games and we need to win them both, but it is going to be tough because we are playing two very good teams.”

The Lions fell into the bottom half of the Gulf South Conference standings with the three-game skid, but a win over Union got UNA going in the right direction.

Champagne said free throws need to improve in the coming weeks.

“We’ve struggled to make free throws in all of our losses this year,” Champagne said. “We have good free throw shooters, but we have to start making them in games and not just in practice.”

After the loss to Mississippi College, senior forward Sharwyn McGee said the team’s free throws need to be fixed.

“This is the second game we’ve lost this season because of free throws,” McGee said. “It was very frustrating,because we were missing free throws and they kept making them. We also turned it over too much, and they took advantage of it.”

The Lions have been streaky throughout the first part of the season.

UNA began the year with two losses in GSC/SSC Challenge in Tampa, Florida. The Lions proceeded to win eight of its next nine games including two conference wins against Montevallo and Shorter. UNA’s lone loss in the stretch was to rival West Alabama.

During the three-game skid, the Lions lost conference games to Lee, Mississippi College and Delta State before ending the losing streak with an 82-78 win over Union.

The Lions are tied for eighth place in the GSC standings with rival Alabama-Huntsville. The Lions sit at 8-6 overall, but a 3-4 GSC record through the midway point in the season proves to be a tough task.

UNA will face Christian Brothers at Flowers Hall Jan. 9 before traveling

for a three-game road stretch. West Georgia, Auburn-Montgomery and Alabama-Huntsville will be the GSC road games.

With 13 games left, the Lions

will need to stay in the top eight of the GSC standings to make the final tournament. A conference tournament bid will keep the hope of the NCAA tournament in reach.

MELANIE HODGES | Chief Photographer

Junior Tavaras Tolliver throws a pass in a game against Gulf South Conference foe West Florida Feb. 16, 2017. The men’s basketball team is currently tied for eighth place in the GSC with 16 games left in the regular season.

LIONS, continued from page 11 The women’s team broke records in the 2017-18 season, with two of the Wallen triplets setting records in the win against GSC foe Mississippi College.

Sophomore Emma Wallen set the school record of three-pointers in a game with 10. Wallen scored 34 points and hit 10 of 16 shots from the three-point line. Emma Wallen said when she hits shots, it opens up the offense.

“I got it in my head to be strong because I had not played well here in the past,” she said. “The good thing is I was able to hits some shots early, and that helped open things up for Brittany (Panetti) inside. When we get the inside and outside game going together, we are really good.”

Emma’s sister Ivy broke the GSC assists record with 20 in a game in the same game against Mississippi College.

Ivy Wallen is leading all of Division II with 10.3 assists per game.

With 13 games remaining, all of which are GSC games, the Lions sophomore forward Brittany Panetti said the team knows the challenge ahead of them in the remaining games left.

“We pay attention to the scores around the league, so we know we are in for a battle,” Panetti said.

The Lions will play Jan. 9 at Flowers Hall against Christian Brothers before traveling for a threegame road GSC game stretch starting Jan. 13.

OPINION 13

Living in residence halls expensive for students

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MONDAY S ANDERSON MANAGING EDITOR H ANNAH ZIMMER NEWS EDITOR CIERA G OLLIVER LIFE EDITOR TYLER H ARGETT SPORTS EDITOR JACOB COLE SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR NATALIE B EE BUSINESS MANAGER KARA D UCKETT CIRCULATION MANAGER ALLEN CHILDERS GRAPHIC DESIGNERS D YLAN B AKER D AVID SAN MIGUEL CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER MELANIE H ODGES STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS ANDREA B ELK CALEB COLE ADVISER S COTT MORRIS

TYLER HARGETT Life Editor life@florala.net Most students know college is expensive. With tuition, books and other expenses, there is not always a lot of extra cash left after payments are due.

However, one of the most expensive costs students worry about is living in a residence hall or apartment.

Prices vary on upon location, and certain students must live in specific halls based off their classifications.

If students are freshmen, they must stay in either Mattielou, Olive or Rivers Hall. A double occupancy in

The Flor-Ala is distributed biweekly on Thursdays at 70 locations on campus and off.

Corrections The staff strives to maintain the integrity of The Flor-Ala through accurate and honest reporting. To report an error, call 256-7654364 or email editor@florala.net.

Letters to the editor should be mailed 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.

45 minutes and results in me having to fill up my gas tank every week or so. However, this only adds up to between $400 to $500 per semester, which means it is still much cheaper for me to live at home than at UNA. While it will probably never be more affordable to live on campus than at home, I believe it can be better. After students graduate, they will pay a monthly rate for a home or apartment, and one could argue their time at college helps them prepare for this. However, the cheapest living option is still well over $1,000.

One could almost pay for two whole classes for that price.

Beginning in the spring 2018 semester, if students earn institutional scholarships with an amount exceeding their tuition cost, they will not receive any refunded cash. This will make it even harder for resident students, as some use their refund checks to pay bills.

For future and current students concerned about this issue, they should contact Student Government Association to discuss ways they can raise awareness to the university.

Students already deal with high tuition, book and food costs.

Expensive living on campus is another high price students do not need.

Division I move poses risk to athletics

COVER PHOTOS BY H ILLARY TAYLOR MELANIE H ODGES THE FLOR-ALA FILE PHOTO

Letters Policy

Mattielou or Olive is $3,000, while a single is $3,800, both per semester, according to UNA’s website.

While these students chose to come straight to UNA instead of attending college somewhere else first, this does not mean all of them received scholarships of a large amount. If the university wants people to come to it first, perhaps its residence prices should be more competitive.

As for the five upperclassmen halls (excluding Lafayette, which is for UNA Honors members), four of them range from $2,900 for a double occupancy to $5,000 for a double as a single. Rivers Hall, however, keeps its prices lower, only going as high as $2,750.

In the case of apartments around campus, students do not have to worry about their academic year, but this does not mean the price is always better.

Among the university’s three apartment complexes, one of the lower-priced areas is Twin Oaks’s single bed space at $1,785. Meanwhile, the highest-priced complex is an entire unit with 1,100 square feet at Twin Oaks, which runs at $4,000.

I do not live on campus because of these prices. Instead, I commute from home every day, which takes about

JACOB COLE Sports Editor sports@florala.net While some consider transitioning to Division I an improvement for the University of North Alabama, staying Division II is the move UNA should have made.

The risks far outweigh the rewards for UNA to move up a level, and the students will be the ones to suffer in this decision.

As one of Alabama’s most affordable colleges, this is one of UNA’s strongest selling points, according to WalletHub. With tuition increasing

every year, the move to Division I will increase tuition even more.

A tuition increase is inevitable, but with enrollment stalling out in the past two semesters, this could be cause for concern. The move to Division I will need to be matched with enrollment to progress upward as a Division I school.

UNA has a lot to offer students, but with tuition costing more every semester perspective students choose more affordable schools instead of UNA. For the athletics at UNA, this looks like a positive move. With the promise of Division I, athletics causes a stir for fans and players alike.

With the Division I move, students and fans should know the consequences.

UNA will undoubtedly go through hard times early on after the transition. With the move to Division I, athletics must wait four years to compete for a conference title and make a post-season playoff play.

The margin for error in Division I is slim. One misstep in conference tournament play will result in no chance for a national tournament.

With a big, shiny promise of March Madness bids and football playoffs

comes a long wait for UNA. If UNA can garner any success in the future, it will come after long years of losing and waiting for its chance to shine.

Ticket sales will always be a problem for UNA with other options available for fans. With Alabama, Auburn and the Southeastern Conference sports holding higher regard in this area, UNA will have to compete on Saturdays with two of college football’s best schools.

UNA must also start selling more tickets to sporting events. Rather than opting to stay home and watch SEC teams, people must attend UNA games more often. If ticket sales stay the same or drop, the athletics programs will be in trouble.

Staying up to par with the other FCS Division I schools will be vital to staying relevant.

Keep cheering the Lions on and continue to support this school, but also make sure to check up on the leaders of this school so the move to Division I does not fail.

Only time will tell if the move will be successful or a failure. With the transition starting in the 2018-19 athletic season, the experiment will begin for UNA.

CONGRATULATIONS WRITER AND PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE WEEK! CODY CAMPBELL AND MELANIE HODGES

14 PHOTOS CALEB COLE Staff Photographer ccole4@una.edu Bad weather and prior obligations thwarted countless previous attempts to experience Sipsey Wilderness National Forest. But this time, my friends and I were going to find the largest poplar tree in Alabama.

Located just south of Moulton along Route 33, Sipsey is a 24,922-acre wilderness area within the Bankhead National Forest.

Known for its impressive sandstone bluffs, stands of old-growth and second growth trees and its numerous waterfalls that cascade dramatically over expansive caverns and high cliffs, the Sipsey is the most visited wilderness area in the state.

Readers familiar with Sipsey know this forest is a force to be reckoned with.

It is a remote wilderness that requires proper planning, supplies and equipment, especially for overnight camping.

With that in mind, my friends and I sauntered off in the forest to find the “Big Tree”, as it is commonly known. Entering from the Thompson Creek Trailhead, we took Trail 206, which follows alongside Thompson Creek.

Trail 206 contains many stunning features, such as Ship Rock and Needles Eye, as well as magnificent sections of the creek that are strewn with enormous

boulders that fell eons ago from the high cliffs that surround the trail.

After a few hours of hiking, we eventually came to Trail 209, which led us to the start of the Bee Branch Loop, where the Big Tree is located. We decided to set up camp there for the night and quickly built a fire. Once the sun went down, we huddled around a fire and realized what a remote place Sipsey is. Stars shone brightly through the branches of the trees and coyotes howled in haunting unison, which created a cacophony of screams that echoed through the forest.

When morning came, we packed up camp and set out to find the Big Tree. The Bee Branch Loop is a rough trail, but its scenery is stunning.

Finally, once we reached the end of the trail, we were rewarded with an unmistakable view of the Big Tree, standing at approximately 150 feet tall with a circumference of 26 feet. To put that in perspective, it would take 4-5 adults to encircle the tree. No picture can do it justice. It must be seen to be believed.

If readers are interested in going to the Sipsey Wilderness, take the time to visit the UNA Outdoor Adventure Center before leaving. There, people can find a knowledgeable staff that can help with trail maps, equipment rentals and general knowhow for an adventure in the woods.

Chasing waterfalls Sipsey Wilderness National Forest is home to numerous waterfalls. Hikers can see this one that cascades over a cavern.

Alabama’s wilderness Most people come to the Sipsey to witness “The Big Tree.”

Others come just to enjoy the foliage.

Big and tall Standing at 150 feet, “The Big Tree” has an appropriate name. It takes more than four people to encircle the tree.

Peeping through the trees The Sipsey features many hiking trails, some of which are difficult to maneuver. Some hikers visit the Outdoor Adventure Center before hiking to rent gear for their quests.

CALENDAR 15 Thurs., Jan. 11 What: Allocations Training When: 3 p.m.

Where: GUC What: Senate Meeting When: 3:30 p.m.

Where: Student Engagement What: Writer’s Meeting When: 4:30 p.m.

Where: Student Publications Building What: Introduction to Korea & K-pop When: 5:30 p.m.

Where: Florence-Lauderdale Public Library

Fri., Jan. 12 What: Katie Buxton / Hayden Scott / Caleb Welsh concert When: 7 p.m.

Where: 116 E Mobile

Sat., Jan. 13 What: UNA Honor Orchestra When: 7 p.m.

Where: Norton Auditorium What: Ratobaby / Furniture / Lasting Impressions When: 7 p.m.

Where: 116 E Mobile What: Velcro Pygmies concert When: 10 p.m.

Where: Flobama

Sun., Jan. 14 What: Get Out of Town: Alaska When: 2 p.m.

Where: Florence-Lauderdale Public Library What: Sunday Funday Fitness Bike Ride When: 2 p.m.

Where: Singin’ River Brewing Co.

Mon., Jan. 15 University closed for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

What: MLK Service Day When: 10 a.m.

Where: GUC Banquet Halls

MELANIE HODGES| Chief Photographer

Students, faculty, staff, and Shoals community members at the third annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Service Day in 2017 in the GUC Banquet Halls. A total of 30,000 meals were packaged for local food pantries in the Shoals community.

Tues., Jan. 16

Sat., Jan. 20

Tues., Jan. 23

What: Tail-Wagger Tuesday When: 4 p.m.

Where: Singin’ River Brewing Co.

What: Victory Bridal’s Modeling Contest When: 3 p.m.

Where: Victory Bridal’s and Alterations

What: Tail-Wagger Tuesday When: 4 p.m.

Where: Singin’ River Brewing Co.

What: Singin’ River Running Crew When: 5:30 p.m.

Where: Singin’ River Brewing Co.

Thurs., Jan. 18 What: Senate Meeting When: 3:30 p.m.

Where: Student Engagement

What: Writer’s Meeting When: 4:30 p.m.

Where: Student Publications Building

Fri., Jan. 19 What: Belle Adair Album Release Show When: 7 p.m.

Where: 116 E Mobile

What: Gatsby Swing Dance When: 7 p.m.

Where: GUC Banquet Halls

What: Grand Ole Opry Impersonation Show When: 7 p.m.

Where: Florence-Lauderdale Coliseum

Sun., Jan. 21 What: Get Out of Town: Africa with IFDC When: 2 p.m.

Where: Florence-Lauderdale Public Library What: Sunday Funday Fitness Bike Ride When: 2 p.m.

Where: Singin’ River Brewing Co.

Mon., Jan. 22 What:UPC Meeting When: 3:30 p.m.

Where: Student Engagement

What: Singin’ River Running Crew When: 5:30 p.m.

Where: Singin’ River Brewing Co.

What: Florence Sushi Class When: 6:30 p.m.

Where: Singin’ River Brewing Co. What: Movie Night: Happy Death Day When: 7 p.m.

Where: GUC Performance Center

Wed., Jan 24 What: The Big Chill When: 7 p.m.

Where: GUC Performance Center

Check online at una.edu/calendar for more events and updates.

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