FLOR - ALA The
March 24, 2016
Volume 84, Issue 26
www.FlorAla.net
SAFETY GADGETS PAGE 8
Student newspaper of the University of North Alabama
SPRING BREAK
INSIDE
this week’s paper
JACKIE WILLIS I Junior Graphic Designer
NEWS . . . . . . . . 7 VIEWPOINTS . . . . 10 LIFE . . . . . . . . . 11
SPORTS . . . . . . . 13 CALENDAR . . . . . 15 EXTRA . . . . . . . . 16
HIV RUMORS ................ 11
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2 Spring Break
March 24, 2016• The Flor-Ala
Athletes sacrifice break for events MIKE EZEKIEL
UNA Athletics Spring Break Scheduled Events
Sports Editor sports@florala.net
Spring break is almost here, but not everyone will have the luxury of a week off. With athletic sports such as baseball, softball, women’s track, tennis and golf still in season, many athletes will find themselves either in Florence practicing or on the road competing next week. The baseball and softball teams, for example, will compete in Huntsville April 2-3, each having a three-game conference series. With UAH being a rival and Gulf South Conference opponent, practice is a must, said senior softball player Madeline Lee. “This year, we actually get the first half of the week off for spring break,” Lee said. “Seeing the bigger picture helps with having to practice on our spring break because we want to get better and get (championship) rings in the end.” From an athlete’s perspective, although it would be nice to use that week to visit family or take a vacation, the break provides a week away from classes. This gives the athletes more time to focus on their sport, Lee said. “Yes, we still wish we could (enjoy spring break) like non-athletes, but this is our job,” she said. “It’s what UNA is paying us to do with our (scholarship). We love the game and strive to get better everyday and use the skills God has given us.” The tennis team hosts Lee University April 1 at the UNA tennis complex. The women’s track team’s next event is not until April 15, which potentially allows the team time off. The golf team hosts the UNA Spring
March 28-29: UNA Golf Spring Invitational April 1: Tennis vs. Lee April 2-3: Baseball at UAH April 2-3: Softball at UAH
JACKSON TOWNSEND I Staff Photographer
Senior first baseman Brooklyn Clark slides under a tag against West Georgia Feb. 20. The UNA softball team are one of four campus sports who have games during spring break.
Classic at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Ford City March 28-29, the Monday and Tuesday of spring break. Athletes and coaches are not the only ones taking time out of their break,
as administrators and members of the athletic department also plan to work events as needed, said game operations coordinator Matt Daniels, who will facilitate the golf event March 28-29.
Daniels said while it can be a hassle giving up time to visit family for the administrators, he looks at matters from the athlete’s point of view. “(Athletes) don’t get the benefit and luxury of going home or on vacation, but it’s time they don’t have to worry about school as much, but rather more time together as a team,” he said. The five sports in the midst of an offseason — football, basketball, soccer, volleyball and men’s cross-country — give the coaches a little more leeway for time off during the break than the five aforementioned teams. The football team had spring break in mind when scheduling its spring practices, said UNA offensive coordinator Steadman Campbell. “It’s worked out well the last couple of years,” Campbell said. “We feel like it’s turned out for the better this year, too. I’m sure the players enjoy being done with spring ball early. We like for them to use that week to see some family and kind of relax before our last four weeks of weights.”
Heart of Dixie offers intriguing adventures JASMINE FLEMING
Managing Editor managing@florala.net
Over the break, students and their friends, families or significant others might travel out of the state to spend quality time. For those without the ability to travel out of state, there are still many cost-efficient places in Alabama to go for a short spring break trip. 1. U.S. Space and Rocket Center For those in the northern region of Alabama, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville offers an easy location to learn more about Alabama’s role in space exploration. It is the largest spaceflight museum in the world, according the U.S. Space and Rocket Center website. Those who visit it will see many artifacts including the Pathfinder, the world’s only full-stack space shuttle and the National Historic Landmark Saturn V Moon Rocket. The museum also has the Apollo 16 Command Module.
Wernher von Braun, who helped build the rocket that sent the Apollo astronauts to the moon, advocated for this center to “showcase the hardware of the space program,” according to the website. After advocating for the project’s funding in 1968, von Braun saw the center’s completion in 1970. 2. Moundville Archaeological Park For western residents looking for a scenic location to visit, Moundville Archaeological Park in Moundville offers just that. The park offers a glimpse into history, as native Mississippians occupied the land from 1000 to 1450 A.D., according the park’s website. The site contains 26 large, earthen mounds that residents used for housing areas and other buildings for community use, according to the site. Tours of the park last about 2 – 3 hours, and visitors to the park can also visit their museum, gift shop and café to make the trip complete.
3. Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Those close to central Alabama can spend a day at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. The goal of the institute is to inform each generation about civil and human rights and the importance of both, according to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute website. The institute has many historical exhibits, including the bars and door from the Birmingham jail cell where Martin Luther King Jr. wrote “Letters from Birmingham Jail.” There are also photo and artifact galleries throughout the institute. 4. Chewacla State Park This 696-acre park, in Auburn, has many accommodations for visitors in eastern Alabama. The park has a lake and two creeks, all of which are available for swimming or fishing for bream, bass, crappie and catfish, according to the Alabama State Parks website.
There are also six stone cottages visitors can rent at any time and 36 camping sites with electrical hookups and 10 primitive sites, all with showers, according to the website. Visitors to the park also have the option of using hiking and mountain biking trails. 5. Dauphin Island Park and Beach The Dauphin Island Park and Beach in Mobile offers southern Alabamians many outdoor options for spending the break. The area has a public beach, as well as areas for kayaking and boating, according to the Dauphin Island Park & Beach website. They also have over 151 camping sites, comprised of 99 full hookup sites and primitive sites, and they also have picnic and biking areas, according to the site. Visitors can also enjoy birdwatching at the Audubon Bird Sanctuary and additional wildlife in the maritime forest, marshes and dunes.
Spring Break 3
March 24, 2016 • The Flor-Ala
Tennessee Valley offers affordable break options this is a great place to enjoy a picnic and an afternoon in a hammock.
ANNA BEAHM
News Editor news@florala.net
Not every UNA student gets the privilege of a week away for spring break, but we all have five days free of classes. In addition to spending the break binge-watching Netflix or sleeping past noon, there are many ways to have fun in the Shoals without breaking the bank. 1. The great outdoors There are many places to enjoy Alabama’s beautiful scenery in the Shoals. Colbert County, which is just across the Tennessee River, is home to Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve. Cane Creek is in Tuscumbia, about 30 minutes from campus. It is a popular place to hike and provides beautiful photo opportunities. To stay closer to home, visit the Tennessee Valley Authority Reservation Rock Pile trail. The trail is part of the Alabama Birding Trails and offers a beautiful view of the Tennessee River. With a three-mile drive from campus,
2. Take a day trip Overnight trips are fun, but they get expensive very fast. Who said a day trip is not just as fun? Florence is about two and a half hours from Nashville, two hours from Tupelo, two hours from Birmingham and about an hour from Huntsville. Taking a day trip with friends to one of these bigger cities satisfies the need to escape the every day without sacrificing the bank account. Exploring the Johnny Cash museum and the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, shopping in Huntsville and visiting the Birmingham Civil Rights institute are just a few things to do.
are 116 Mobile and the end. in Florence and Warehouse 414 in Sheffield, just across the river. These venues have shows the first weekend of spring break and several days throughout the break. Seryn and the Bear and the Bride will perform at 116 Mobile March 24 at 9 p.m. Sailour and The Sun. The Moon. will perform at Warehouse 414 March 27 at 9 p.m., and Sustainable Differences will have an April Fool’s Day show at the end.
5. Networking Anyone in the office of Career Planning and Development will say networking is key to finding a job after graduation. Take some time over spring break to contact businesses and companies and learn more about how to get involved. Spring break is a good time to learn more about internship and freelance opportunities within your field. Networking over the break ensures time away from class does not go to waste.
3. Catch up with friends and family College is busy. Sometimes students do not have time to catch up with friends and family. Taking a friend, or parents, out on a short day trip or a hike is one way to reconnect and turn free time into quality time. Eating dinner at one of the many restaurants in downtown Florence or kayaking on Cypress Creek would be a great way to spend time with family and have fun, too. 4. Experience local music There are several music venues and local bands in the Shoals. Some of these
photo courtesy of the end.
Local improv comedy group Sustainable Differences members Kasaundra Couch and Emily Stephenson perform at the end. June 6, 2015. They will perform an April Fool’s Day show at the end.
Program provides student-led service opportunities MELISSA PARKER Life Editor life@florala.net
Some students opt to spend their break volunteering instead of relaxing at the beach. The Alternative Breaks program provides students opportunities
to spend school breaks helping others. This time, one group will travel to New York City and another to Desab, Haiti. The New York group will work with the Junior Achievement organization to provide information and materials on beginning budgeting for first and
photo courtesy of Alternative Breaks Facebook page
Students interact with children during the Alternative Breaks trip to Haiti in November 2015. The group will return to Haiti during spring break.
second graders, said Assistant Director of Student Engagement Bethany Green. Administrative Assistant for the Human Environmental Sciences department David Johnson, who was instrumental in starting the campus Alternative Breaks program, is a site leader on the New York trip. Student site leaders help plan trips, decide what social issue to focus on, recruit students and connect with organizations to work with, Green said. Volunteers will work with children in a Bronx elementary school, Johnson said. Many of them are English as a Second Language students, and more than 90 percent are at the poverty level. “We’ll be doing simplified programs,” he said. “We’ll give them a job, and we’ll give them Monopoly money.” The children will learn basic money skills as they spend their money in a make-believe town, he said. This will be the program’s third trip to Haiti. Desab’s situation is unique, Green said. For more than 30 years, one American woman provided funds for the community. She never filed taxes, however, and now she is in jail. Desab is rural, she said. People often walk five to 10 miles to town to attend school or visit the medical clinic, volunteer space and bakery.
More than 150 students attend the school, she said. Keeping it open is a financial struggle for the community. “Us going in and actually teaching becomes a little bit more meaningful to them when they are having to release their teachers and basically figure out another way to educate their kids,” Green said. English as a Second Language Instructor Mary Beth Willis traveled to Desab twice and is returning as a faculty representative. “This past trip (Thanksgiving), we took a lot of dental supplies, and we’re taking those again,” she said. “We also noticed a huge need for basic medical supplies.” Groups add issues to improve for every trip, Green said. This time, the Haiti group will learn basic first aid, and in turn, will teach community members. The clinic is open one day a week, Willis said. For villagers living on $1 or $2 a day, the $15 fee may take away the option of seeking medical care. “If we can get the basic stuff, especially antibiotic creams, that can help a ton,” she said. “A lot of their infections start as the little cuts that we don’t even think about because we have basic supplies.” To read the rest of the story, visit florala.net.
4 Spring Break
March 24, 2016• The Flor-Ala
What is your most memorable spring break? ”
My 16th birthday I went to California with my family. At my family birthday party I got a car key, and when I came home I got my car.
”
I went to Panama City with a group of friends in 2013 and 2014.
Stacy Moore
My best spring break was six years ago, and it was with all of my friends. We went to the beach in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Sofia Martinez Junior
I went to Panama City one time. It was pretty fun.
Evan Lott Senior
I just came here in August. This is my first spring break. We plan to go to Miami.
ago. That was my first time to go there.
Hiroto Nakamura
Bella Zhang
Sophomore
Senior
”
”
I went to L.A. two years
Trey Abernathy
Senior
”
”
Freshman
”
”
When I was in high school, me and my family went to Disney World. We stayed there for eight days.
We went to Gatlinburg. I
had my whole family there.
It was really special to me.
Genny Grace Tucker
Chris Gorbatoff
Junior
Freshman
SHAY REDD I Staff Photographer Information gathered by EMILY KAZUNGU | Online Editor
Faculty, students discuss social media behavior KAITLYN DAVIS
Associate News Editor news@florala.net
Posting compromising spring break photos might have a negative impact on students’ futures. Students should think before they post during the upcoming break, said Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Title IX Coordinator Tammy Jacques. “What are people going to perceive about you?” Jacques said. “What are employers potentially going to perceive about you when you post pictures of yourself in compromising situations?” Students need to keep these questions in mind when posting on their social media accounts over spring break and any other time, she said. There is a difference between what is appropriate and what is not, she said. “If you’re of age, have a beer and have a picture with a beer can, that’s different than being in a situation where you’ve got 20 different liquor bottles (surrounding) yourself,” Jacques said. Students should think about the
influence they have on others, said freshman Jessica Luna. “I definitely think they shouldn’t post pictures of drinking and promiscuous activity because that sets a bad example for everyone else,” Luna said. Director of Career Planning and Development Melissa Medlin takes a stricter approach to posting on social media. “To be quite honest, when I think about stereotypical spring break activities, my best advice is to stay off of any social media,” she said. “(Employers) look at everything. They check out people to see what they’re posting, and it’s a matter of whether or not people have good judgment.” Posting compromising photos on social media comes with a high price, Medlin said. “(Career Planning and Development) has a story of a student a few years ago who had actually been offered a job and was in the final phases of signing contracts,” Medlin said. To read the rest of the story, visit florala.net.
2
3
Status
Photo
Check In
Joe Smith Today at 6:30 PM
Who’s ready for some Beer Pong?!!
Like
Comment
15
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Sally Jones Today at 6:30 PM
Hanging out by the beach, gettin’ drunk. Greatest spring break EVER! design by PEYTON LAWLER I Graphic Designer
March 24, 2016• The Flor-Ala
SPRING BREAK 5
Maybe this..
What if we run an ad that looks so strange people look at the bottom to see who in the world did it?
/UNA_CAMPUS
www.unacampus.com
6 SPRING BREAK
March 24, 2016• The Flor-Ala
Top 4 movies to watch over break MONDAY SANDERSON Associate Life Editor life@florala.net
Some students will go to the beach or other fun places for spring break, but others will spend their week off at home. Watching movies is one of the best ways to spend this time. While some of these movies have reused plot points, some are perfect examples of spring break. Honorable mention goes to the thriller movie “Piranha 3D.” It is a spring break movie that follows the classic horror movie formula. The plot is reused, but it is good to get jumps out of friends. Dishonorable mention goes to the musical “From Justin to Kelly.” This acting is cringeworthy and the singing is annoying. Photos courtesy of Amazon
1. Spring Breakdown (2009) — “Spring Breakdown” is a comedy featuring comedic heavyweights Jane Lynch and Amy Poehler. The movie follows three “uncool” women on their first spring break. The main character’s name is Becky, and she must follow her boss’s daughter on spring break. Becky’s two friends decide to follow her on this trip, and the rest of the movie follows their antics. This movie is my No. 1 pick because it is hilarious. The audience can tell the actors are not taking themselves seriously, and that is the point. It is a movie the audience can lose themselves in. My favorite part is when one of the characters offers free keychains to the college students and the students go crazy.
2. Spring Breakers (2012) — The movie stars Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Benson as college students who decide to rob a bank to go on spring break. After the police arrest them, a drug dealer bails them out. While the plot is ridiculous, it has an interesting spin on spring break. This movie shows the length some people will take to do different things and to be someone different. It answers the question, “What if I did all the crazy activities I thought about?” This is why I gave it the second spot. It is good to watch for fun and to watch Disney stars act differently than normal. While I do not have a favorite part, I did enjoy some of the music which the producers featured on the soundtrack.
3. Scooby - Doo (2002) In their first live-action film, Scooby-Doo and the gang reunite to solve a mystery on Spooky Island during spring break. The group must solve the mystery revolving around the island, which includes demons and wrestlers. This movie comes in third because it has an interesting plot, but I did not know it took place during spring break. The audience can only tell when the gang first gets to the island, but after this point, the audience can forget this detail. However, I do find this movie enjoyable. My favorite part of the movie is when the souls of each character swap bodies. It is a funny scene that provides interesting character dynamics.
4. Girl Happy (1965) This Elvis Presley rom-com is a whimsical product of its time. The movie is a basic romance story. Presley’s character, Rusty, must shadow his boss’s daughter, Valerie. While they start to develop feelings for each other, Valerie discovers her dad is paying Rusty to be near her, so she decides to date a womanizer. Despite the simple plot, the movie can be interesting for people who like musicals. Since this is an Elvis Presley movie, the producers showcased his singing any chance they could. While some of the songs were annoying, it was still enjoyable to listen to the singers. This movie earned the fourth place spot because of its simple plot, but it still showcases the fun of spring break.
Healthy fruits star in quick, easy recipes Carrot and Apple Salad
KALI DANIEL
Editor-in-Chief editor@florala.net
Ingredients
10 flour tortillas Cooking spray 1/3 cup sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon 2 Granny Smith apples 1 lemon
Ingredients 1 bottle sparkling white grape juice 2 cups lemon lime soda 1 cup lemonade 1 small watermelon
Ingredients 3 carrots, peeled 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled 1 lemon 3 tablespoons sunflower oil 1 teaspoon sugar Salt and pepper, to taste
Directions Grate the carrot and set aside. Grate apple and cover with juice squeezed from one lemon. Add sunflower oil and sugar to apples. Add salt and pepper to taste, then add carrots.
Fruit Salsa
1 cup kiwi 1 lb strawberries 1/2 lb raspberries 4 tablespoons strawberry preserves (raspberry also works)
Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine cinnamon and sugar. Spray both sides of tortillas with cooking spray, then coat with cinnamon sugar mixture. Cut each tortilla into four wedges and bake in the oven for 10 minutes or until crisp. For the salsa, zest the lemon and set aside. Peel and chop the apple and squeeze 2 teaspoons of lemon juice over the apple. Finely chop strawberries and kiwi and mix all of the fruit together.
Melon Ball Punch 1 small cantaloupe 1 small honeydew mint leaves, to taste 2 limes
Directions Stir together grape juice, soda and lemonade in a pitcher and let chill in a refrigerator. Using a melon baller, scoop out pieces of watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew and place on a baking sheet. Place in the freezer. Once the balls are frozen, place them in the pitcher with mint leaves and slices of lime, then stir. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to blend. Add remaining melon balls as ice cubes.
March 24, 2016 • The Flor-Ala
The Call of Duty
NEWS 7
Michael Meigs I GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Panic button might University police seek increase campus safety grant for body cameras NOEL GEIGER
Police Beat Writer nmiguel@una.edu
The UNA Police Department started a pilot study on a new safety device for students March 21. After meeting with Peace of Mind Company, the department was ready to test out the Peace of Mind Panic Button, said Chief of Police Kevin Gillilan. The Peace of Mind Panic Button is a pocket-sized device that sends a silent call to campus security with a one-button push. It is ideal for emergency situations that require a discreet, silent call for help between campus security and the user, according to the Peace of Mind Company website. The company is dedicated to solving personal safety problems and providing peace of mind for parents, students and families. The company was founded on the belief that they can do something greater to protect the people they love, according the website. “I invited this particular company to campus, and they brought a sample of their product,” Gillilan said. “I actually pulled together a team of myself, (Vice President of Student Affairs) David Shields and (Director of Residence Life) Kevin Jacques. We sat through the demo and agreed to do a pilot study on it to see if it was a technology that was going
to be feasible on campus and one that would suit our students well.” Students would register the device online, create a personal profile and connect the POM with their smartphone app. The user’s profile will appear on a computer monitor, giving campus police the ability to detect a student’s realtime location in an emergency situation, according to the website. Senior Hannah Booker said she believes in the product’s ability to carry out the job. “The POM system is definitely something I would purchase and carry with me,” Booker said. “College campuses can be generally unsafe, and the POM seems like a wonderful and effective addition to campus security.” The one-button push gadget is designed to stay active for 10 to 14 days and goes to “sleep” to preserve battery life after the charge gets low, according to the website. The device can also record any audio presence and calls made to and from the POM device. The idea came after the police department held several meetings on improving campus safety with the Student Government Association. To read the rest of the story, visit florala.net.
NOEL GEIGER
Police Beat Writer nmiguel@una.edu
UNA Police are searching to identify federal grant opportunities to acquire body cameras for university police officers. Chief of Police Kevin Gillilan said many states have mandated police agencies utilize body cameras in order to increase the transparency and accountability of police activity. “The use of body cameras may help prevent and de-escalate confrontational situations between officers and civilians or capture valuable evidence for use in criminal investigations,” Gillilan said. “We are currently working on a federal grant through the Department of Justice which requires a 50 percent match of any federal funds acquired. We will have to demonstrate the sustainability of the program at the conclusion of the grant period in order to receive consideration.” Gillilan said the police department will require sworn officers to wear the cameras while on active duty. “Based on existing research, the best position for the cameras to be worn are chest level and line of sight (attached to eyewear),” Gillilan said. “Each camera provides a wide radius and audio in order to provide the best representation of the event possible. Unfortunately,
cameras are limited and do not provide a 360-degree view of events.” The university and police department have not determined a time for a pilot study, but several distributors of body cameras have shown interest.
”
THE USE OF BODY CAMERAS MAY HELP PREVENT AND DE-ESCALATE CONFRONTATIONAL
SITUATIONS BETWEEN OFFICERS AND CIVILIANS OR CAPTURE VALUABLE EVIDENCE FOR USE IN CRIMINAL
INVESTIGATIONS.
KEVIN GILLILAN CHIEF OF POLICE
“I have received quotes from a myriad of vendors and am continuing to research which technologies are most functional for the UNA Police Department,” Gillilan said. “Several vendors have offered to provide demonstrator models for short term use so that we can assess the quality of service they provide.” Gillilan said he believes the body cameras would ensure protection to students and campus police. “Personally, I feel like it’s a good idea,” said freshman Jonathan Crosby. To read the rest of the story, visit florala.net.
8 NEWS Secretary-elect enjoys teaching, cupcakes March 24, 2016 • The Flor-Ala
KAITLYN DAVIS
Associate News Editor news@florala.net
The Student Government Association Secretary-elect Jessica McAlister is a strong shot of honesty with a soft spot for cupcakes. McAlister’s straightforward personality is a quality her friends appreciate. “(McAlister) is always looking at the bright side of things, but she’ll tell you like it is if she needs to,” said Vice President of Senate Nicole Gallups in an email. McAlister is feisty and blunt in a good way, said SGA President-elect Sarah Green. “She’s one of those friends you want around because she’s not afraid to tell you ‘you’re doing something stupid,’” Green said. Being a dependable friend is what McAlister prides herself on, she said. “If one of my friends calls me in the middle of the night needing something I will get up, no questions asked, and help them out,” McAlister said in an email. While dependability and honesty are her strengths, cupcakes are her weakness, McAlister said. When she is not indulging in the occasional pastry, students can find McAlister outdoors or with her nose in a history book. “I love to be outside, but I don’t own an Eno,” McAlister said. McAlister is a history buff who hopes to share her knowledge with others by teaching 11th grade U.S. history. “I think that high school kids have a lot to offer to this world, and I want to show them and help them realize their potential,” McAlister said. “I want them to know that they are more than what they think they are or what someone says they are.”
While teaching history lessons is in McAlister’s future, teaching dance lessons is not. McAlister’s and Green’s friendship blossomed when they found common ground in their lack of dancing ability, Green said. “We started getting close in 2014 at Step Sing practice where we were both in the very back row,” McAlister said. This behind-the-scenes position created a one-of-akind friendship between the two sorority sisters. “We bonded over being in the back row together,” Green said. “We always called each other ‘backrow besties.’” McAlister and Green got creative during their time at Step Sing, perhaps scoring a win for their sorority. “We were just making up our own moves in the back of Step Sing,” Green said. “But (Phi Mu) won that year, so maybe it was me and Jessica that pulled it through. Probably not.” What McAlister lacks on the dance floor, she makes up on the SGA senate floor. “Over the past year she has done a lot on the Legislative Affairs committee to help the university advocate for more money from the state,” Gallups said. McAlister has a diligent work ethic and works well with others, said SGA Secretary
Jensen Joiner. “She has a funny sense of humor that makes it easy for people to work with her,” Joiner said. McAlister has created many great memories in SGA, she said. “The Voters’ Registration Drive last fall was definitely special,” McAlister said. “A girl had just gained her citizenship to the United States, and she was registering to vote.” To read the rest of the story, visit florala.net.
JACKSON TOWNSEND I Staff Photographer
Student Government Association Secretary-elect Jessica McAlister listens during a Senate meeting March 17. “(McAlister) is always looking at the bright side of things, but she’ll tell you like it is if she needs to,” said Vice President of Senate Nicole Gallups in an email.
News 9
March 24, 2016 • The Flor-Ala
Board approves nursing initiative JASMINE FLEMING
Managing Editor managing@florala.net
The board of trustees approved a resolution March 17 to establish the Bridge to Bachelor of Science in Nursing Initiative, which could bring more nursing students to UNA. The B2BSN Initiative allows the College of Nursing to develop academic partnerships with about 15 community colleges and health care facilities. It also encourages nurses with an associate degree to earn their bachelor’s degree online from UNA. Students participating in the program would receive an almost 20 percent reduction in the distance learning fee and an 18 percent reduction in tuition, said Vicki Pierce, dean of the College of Nursing. Students taking the six required RN to BSN courses will pay approximately $7,768, according to the resolution. This saves the student $1,762 in tuition and fees. However, only courses in the program qualify for reduced tuition, and students needing other courses to meet graduation requirements for the university and the College of Nursing must pay full price
for them, Pierce said. “(Students) will have to meet the same standards for admission and graduation at the university that all of our students would,” Pierce said. “So, we will look at each of their individual courses, and we will accept transfer credit. We will look at what classes they’ve taken and evaluate what courses they need to take.” Students in the program will have two years to complete course requirements through the initiative, according to the resolution. After that, the cost for all remaining courses will be standard tuition and fees. The College of Nursing will offer the initiative as a pilot program in summer 2016 to Northwest Shoals Community College students. There are currently three students committed to the pilot program, said Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost John Thornell. “We will know more in August whether or not (our marketing and advertising) has been successful or not,” he said. The program will be a benefit for students who want to work and attend school simultaneously, said Michalia Lewis, a NWSCC student.
photo courtesy of Shannon Wells
Board of trustees member Joel Anderson, Pro-Tempore Marty Abroms and University President Kenneth Kitts discuss a resolution in their March 17 meeting. The B2BSN resolution will encourage nurses with an associate degree to earn their bachelor’s online from UNA.
Lewis said she is considering the program. “I am already looking at what I need to do to receive my bachelor’s at UNA, and the fact that it will save me money is a plus,” she said. In a 2015 board of trustees meeting, the board discussed using a marketing
firm to help advertise the online nursing program, but decided the university should “give it a try ourselves first,” said Trustee Libby Jordan. To read the rest of the story, visit florala.net.
Program to build female students’ leadership skills MELISSA PARKER Life Editor life@florala.net
The Alabama Association of University Women, the UNA College of Arts and Sciences and the Center for Women’s Studies are partnering to bring an event focused on female leadership skills to campus. UNA is hosting the AAUW State Convention April 9 and 10 in the Guillot University Center. The weekend kicks off April 8 with a free event, the Alabama Women Student Leaders Conference (ALA-WSL). Doors open at 8 a.m., and the event ends at 6 p.m. Speakers will lead workshops on topics such as resume writing, feminism, body language, activism and leadership skills, said Coordinator for the Center for Women’s Studies Emily Kelley. Attendees can register at the door, but a light breakfast and lunch are included
Event
and
”
I think it’s an important enough
program that we needed to be involved here at
UNA and in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Carmen Burkhalter
Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
for those who register by March 31. The AAUW, the College of Arts and Sciences and the Center for Women’s Studies are partnering to bring the event. The College of Arts and Sciences is helping fund the program through private donations and a conference and special projects budget, said Dean Carmen Burkhalter, a member of AAUW. “What we’re hoping to be able to
Registration Information
• Registration deadline: March 31 • Event dates: April 9 - 10 • Location: Guillot University Center • Register online at aauw-al.aauw.net
accomplish in sponsoring this program on that Friday is for female students to participate in a program that will strengthen their leadership capabilities,” Burkhalter said. “I think it’s an important enough program that we needed to be involved here at UNA and in the College of Arts and Sciences.” Kelley, also a member of AAUW and a campus liaison, said the event begins in the GUC Performance Center with the workshop “Stories and Teasers — Selling Your Skills in a Tight Market.” Carolyn Lord, programs co-chair for the AAUW Huntsville branch, will teach attendees how to use their own stories to craft an effective resume. “They will discuss how to link resume highlights to memorable interviews,” Kelley said. Speakers from UNA include Director of the Center for Women’s Studies Lynne Rieff, Title IX Coordinator Tammy Jacques and Speech Communication Instructor Stephanie Montgomery. Rieff, a member of AAUW and a campus liaison, said she will discuss how young women today can connect to the feminists from the suffrage era and the 1960s and 1970s. “The point is to remind ourselves historically, ‘What did these women accomplish, and what goals did these women set in their lifetime?” she said. “What goals did they succeed in meeting, and which of their goals are still left for us in the 21st century, particularly students who are in college?”
Freshman Maggie Hiser is on the conference planning committee. “It’s just something I wanted to be a part of,” Hiser said. “It’s really important topics that they’re going to cover. They are things that apply, not only to women, but these are things men need to know too, and I think that it’s something all students should be aware of because it’s something that’s affecting everyone in our community.” The lunch speaker, Suzanne Martin, will lead a workshop called “Our Story —Adding Your Voice.” “She is one of the best, most invigorating speakers I have ever encountered,” Kelley said. “She’s going to be talking about how to integrate all of our voices into our story. She’s all about creating change.” The event ends with keynote speaker Elizabeth Hendrix who is the AAUW delegate to the United Nations. The title of Hendrix’s workshop is “The Journey for Gender Justice.” Kelley said she urges students to attend any workshops they can. “Come one, come all,” Burkhalter said. “I would like lots of students to sign up. This is a unique opportunity for our campus, and we want to show the rest of the state that we have a passion for this topic. One of the reasons that I made the financial commitment from the college was so we could show that we are committed to helping shape the next generation of leaders in this state, region and in our country.”
10 News
March 24, 2016 • The Flor-Ala
University prioritizes freshman comfort FLOR ALA The
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kali Daniel
MANAGING EDITOR Jasmine Fleming NEWS EDITOR Anna Beahm ASSOCIATE news EDITOR Kaitlyn Davis LIFE EDITOR Melissa Parker ASSOCIATE LIFE EDITOR Monday Sanderson SPORTS EDITOR Mike Ezekiel ONLINE EDITOR Emily Kazungu ASSOCIATE ONLINE EDITOR Madi Winkler BUSINESS MANAGER Jordan Byrd GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Peyton Lawler Michael Meigs Kelsey Weathers JUNIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS David San Miguel Jacqueline Willis CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER Kaitlin Douglass STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Amandalyn Dorner Shay Redd Jackson Townsend ADVISER Scott Morris
Editorial Policy
JASMINE FLEMING
Managing Editor managing@florala.net
Representatives of the University of North Alabama made their priorities clear at the March 17 board of trustees meeting: Upperclassmen residents are second-class citizens when compared to freshmen residents. At the meeting, Vice President of Student Affairs David Shields gave an update on campus housing and the current issues the university faces. “Folks have been asking me about where our freshmen are going to go next year,” Shields said. “(They’re asking) what’s going to happen to the current students who are in Mattielou and Olive.” Shields said the plan is to use Appleby East and West, Hawthorne and Covington to house current freshmen next year. He suggested these
Corrections
Letters Policy Letters to the editor should be emailed to editor@florala.net or mailed to: The Flor-Ala UNA Box 5300 Florence, AL 35632 Letters must include name and telephone number for verification. Please limit letters to 400 words. The editor reserves the right to edit or refuse to publish a letter.
retention of them in the residence halls, but also at the university. To fully understand the housing concerns of students, Shields said the university recently polled freshmen. “There’s an interest to live on campus longer, but they’d want accommodations like they currently have,” he said. “They don’t want to move into a building where they have to share a shower with 45 of their best friends. They really have enjoyed their single bathrooms.” As a Rice Hall resident, I can say that, more than communal bathrooms, I have found issue with the roaches and ladybugs in the building, limited shower temperature control, fallen ceiling tiles, extreme room temperatures and windows surrounded with duct tape. In addition, the limited handicapped-accessibility of many upperclassmen halls should be a larger concern than students sharing bathrooms. I also don’t understand why only freshmen took the survey, and why upperclassmen were not able to give our input on campus housing. There are 689 first-time freshmen on campus and 547
upperclassmen, according to University Residences. Although freshmen outnumber upperclassmen, no group should have priority on a safe, enjoyable living space. At the meeting, Shields also said the university has considered building a new residence hall or updating Rice and Rivers halls to accommodate the freshmen when they are upperclassmen. Although many board members commented on this housing issue as a concern, it was not until the Student Government Association President Nick Lang spoke that I felt anyone remembered there are currently upperclassmen on campus. “I think if we implement housing for upperclassmen, we will retain a lot of students, and we will continue to see this environment continue to grow,” Lang said. “I really do support the upperclassmen housing.” I do appreciate our SGA president providing commentary on behalf of upperclassmen. I only hope that the board of trustees will realize we have opinions on housing as well, and I hope they consider us when discussing student needs.
Young adults should be confident in decision-making
Content is determined by the student editorial staff of The Flor-Ala and has not been approved by the university.
The staff strives to maintain the integrity of The Flor-Ala through accurate and honest reporting. To report an error, call 256-765-4364 or email editor@florala. net.
buildings because, as cluster halls, “they are the buildings that are most like the buildings that our current freshmen are in.” The issue is that there may not be enough room in these buildings in the 201617 year to house current upperclassmen and this year’s freshman class. However, Shields said there is “plenty of space” to house students on campus. Students will first fill Rivers Hall, and if they need more space, they can live in Rice Hall. The university will even open LaGrange Hall if necessary. Shields said he does not want to use these traditional halls for current freshmen next year because “they’re not the desirable spaces that students want.” As someone who lived in LaGrange for two years, and who is a current Rice Hall resident, I wonder why officials never seemed concerned with whether I or other upperclassmen found these halls “desirable.” Shields said he is concerned that not having the same level of comfort and amenities for current freshmen next year will not only affect
ANNA BEAHM
News Editor news@florala.net
When I became engaged to my now-husband Ty on Christmas Eve 2014, people reacted in many different ways. Close friends squealed in excitement with me and began helping me plan my big day. Old friends and high school classmates sent those awkward, “Hey, are you pregnant?” texts. But, the most interesting response I got from many types of people was, “Why would you limit yourself like that?” While being married
certainly limits my game in the dating scene, marriage was not limiting for me. Rather, it was a challenge to work harder, achieve more and grow as an individual more than ever before. Instead of losing my identity or freedom, I gained the strength of a person who knows me better than I know myself — a partner who will support me no matter what challenges life throws my way. Ty does not limit me. He pushes me to go further. Another common response was, “How do you know what you like, or that he is ‘the one?’” I know Ty is the one for me not because he fits my preferences, but because I like who he is. Scoping out a possible partner with a laundry list of requirements will only leave you disappointed. When I was in high school, I wrote a list of attributes for the “perfect” husband. Does Ty fit that list? No, he does
Congratulations to our Writer
not, and I highly doubt anyone ever will. There are some aspects of him that differ vastly from me, but even those parts have challenged me to grow as an individual. That is how I knew he was the one for me. He challenges me. I understand everyone has their own approach to relationships. Some people want to date lots of different people before settling down. Others want a longterm relationship shaped by commitment and trust. I happily put myself in the latter crowd. I met Ty during a key point in both of our lives. We were both seeking our purpose and passion, and through that journey found each other and our passions, intertwined. We have had the privilege of sharing many “first experiences” and difficulties throughout the years we have been together. I cannot say it has been easy, because it has
of the Week!
not, but I am so glad I chose to have those experiences with him and him alone. Even though I married before I could have my first legal drink, I believe my commitment was the best for me and for Ty. For me, committing my life to our relationship at the time we did was nothing but logical. Our marriage did not steal my identity, limit my ability to succeed or my freedom. Rather, it gave me a new line of support and motivation to push me to be my best, not a limited version of myself. When you find what is best for you, go with it. At every stage in life there will be someone giving tips, advice and suggestions, sometimes unsolicited. Only you know what you need and want. Whatever you choose in any situation, remember the choice is yours and no one else’s.
TIFFANY MCDANIEL
LIFE 11
March 24, 2016 • The Flor-Ala
HIVin the
U.S.
1,218,400 people ages 13 and up have HIV.
HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It weakens a person’s immune system by destroying important cells that fight disease and infection. No effective cure exists for HIV. But with proper medical care, HIV can be controlled. Some groups of people in the United States are more likely to get HIV than others because of many factors, including their sex partners, their risk behaviors and where they live.
FACT
MYTH
HIV IS SPREAD BY
HIV IS SPREAD BY
• ANAL SEX (HIGHEST-RISK SEXUAL BEHAVIOR) • VAGINAL SEX (SECOND-HIGHEST-RISK SEXUAL BEHAVIOR) • SHARING NEEDLES OR SYRINGES WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS HIV • BEING STUCK WITH AN HIV-CONTAMINATED NEEDLE
vs
OR OTHER SHARP OBJECT
• RECEIVING
BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS, BLOOD PRODUCTS
OR ORGAN/TISSUE TRANSPLANTS CONTAMINATED WITH
What is HIV?
HIV
• CONTACT
BETWEEN BROKEN SKIN, WOUNDS OR
MUCOUS MEMBRANES AND
HIV-INFECTED
BLOOD-CONTAMINATED FLUIDS
• • • • • • •
MOSQUITO, TICKS OR OTHER INSECTS SALIVA, TEARS OR SWEAT HUGGING SHAKING HANDS SHARING TOILETS OR DISHES CLOSED-MOUTH OR “SOCIAL” KISSING BREATHING THE SAME AIR AS SOMEONE HIV-POSITIVE • DRINKING FROM A WATER FOUNTAIN
BLOOD OR
WHO IS
design by PEYTON LAWLER I Graphic Designer Information compiled from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Avert
Rumors demonstrate stigma of HIV MONDAY SANDERSON Associate Life Editor life@florala.net
Yik Yak is an anonymous app primarily for college students. Due to the anonymity, it is easy to create rumors without finding out who started them. This is the case when rumors of 11 students infected with HIV circulated on the app in early March. “Even though I’m not part of the generation which uses this app, I have still heard the rumors,” said Director of University Health Services Teresa Dawson. “Rumors like that can cause a lot of harm to people. (They) cause a lot of damage, and they cause a lot of unnecessary fear.” People would talk about the rumors in person, said sophomore Rosie McClendon. “I haven’t read anything on Yik Yak because I don’t have it, but someone told me in person about 11 people on campus having HIV,” she said.
Dawson said it seems like a person who knows nothing about HIV started the rumors. “We don’t use terms such as ‘outbreak’ when discussing HIV,” she said. “It’s not like the flu where you can sit next to someone coughing and you pick it up.” She said HIV is a bloodborne virus and only contact with blood or blood products can transmit the disease. “While there are several ways to transmit the virus, the majority of the cases are because of unprotected sexual intercourse,” she said. People who are between ages 13 and 24 accounted for 26 percent of new HIV cases in 2010, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is not shocking, said freshman Matt Thompson. “I expect people under the age of 20 to have high cases of HIV,” he said. Dawson said this is due to
casual relationships. “The education is there to tell you not to casually engage in sexual relationships,” she said. “You don’t know your partner in a casual sexual relationship. However, it is still done. You need to have protected sex primarily through the use of condoms. There are male condoms and female condoms. Dawson said when she first started working at a university she discovered how little some college students knew about sexually transmitted illnesses. “One of the things which surprised me when I started working in a university setting is the number of people who do not know that they can contract STIs from oral sex.” McClendon said it is disappointing that college students are not well educated on this subject. Thrive is a group in Florence that provides education about HIV, Dawson said. “They are a federally and
grant funded organization, and they provide education, testing and treatment,” she said. “They are part of a program to educate the public and help in high risk populations to get past the stigmas revolving around HIV.”
”
ITʼS NOT LIKE THE FLU WHERE
YOU CAN SIT NEXT TO SOMEONE
COUGHING AND YOU PICK IT UP.
TERESA DAWSON
DIRECTOR, UNIVERSITY HEALTH SERVICES Thomas said this organization will help many people. “I don’t know much about HIV, so having this organization is amazing.” McClendon said she has visited Thrive with friends. “I think Thrive is a wonderful group,” she said. “They have
so many resources, and they’re easily accessible.” Thrive offers free, confidential HIV tests with no appointments necessary, according to thrivealabama.org. Dawson said it is important for students to go to any health services to get tested. “The CDC recommends that people who engage in high risk behavior get tested every three to six months,” she said. “They also recommend that everyone gets a baseline test. Even if you’re not exposed to risky behaviors, it’s good to see if you have the infection.” She said there are many stigmas surrounding HIV, and others have to address them. “I think what we all have to realize is that HIV is in the general population,” Dawson said. “We pass people in WalMart, we sit by people in church and likely pass people on this campus who can have it. There is no way to know who has HIV by just looking at them.”
12 LIFE
March 24, 2016 • The Flor-Ala
Moments App beneficial for sharing photos MELISSA PARKER
Students behind the podium
Life Editor life@florala.net
A series on critical language partners SHAY REDD I Staff Photographer
Graduate student Abdullah Alwafi teaches his Elementary Arabic class. “He is very calm, encouraging, patient and understanding as he works with students to help them master the material,” said Director of the Critical Languages Program Craig Christy.
Language partner dedicated to studentsʼ learning MONDAY SANDERSON Associate Life Editor life@florala.net
Abdullah Alwafi is a graduate student studying for his master’s in English as a Second Language who graduates this semester. He is also the Arabic critical language partner. Alwafi said he became a critical language partner because he likes to teach. “I’m interested in working with other languages and teaching languages,” he said. “It’s also important to learn another language. I like to help students with this.” Alwafi said the previous Arabic language partner, Ali Alnasar, recommended him for the job.
Students who receive a recommendation from a previous language partner go through the same hiring process as the others, said Director of the Critical Languages Program Craig Christy. “(They are all) asked the same questions and given a set of guidelines for Critical Language Partners along with the Critical Language syllabus,” he said. “Clearly recommendations are valued, but to be a successful candidate requires that the native speaker serving as a language partner match up with the (criteria).” Alwafi said he has two different teaching styles. “Normally, when I teach, I just go over vocabulary and grammar,” he said. “I don’t go as deep in the
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explanations. I am just a critical language partner. If the student has any questions, then I answer it. I don’t assign any homework.” He said he structures his class with senior Kali Daniel as a regular classroom setting. “She asked me to teach her,” he said. “So, I worked more in-depth with her and gave her assignments, but without grades. Now, when I ask her to open a book and read, she’ll read in Arabic. If I give her a word, she can write it.” Christy said Alwafi works well with his students. “He is very calm, encouraging, patient and understanding as he works with students to help them master the material,” he said. He is an interesting teacher, and this makes it easier to learn in class, said senior Monica Hannon. “He is like Mario from Super (Mario) Kart,” she said. “(He is) energetic and always telling us interesting things. He goes over stuff until we really know it.” Since Alwafi is a college student he stays updated with new information, she said. Alwafi said when he is not working or studying he reads books about technology. “Technology is important to use in the classroom,” he said. “I take what I learn in the books and apply it to my teaching.” He said he has used the app Snapchat to help his students practice speaking Arabic. “One of my students spoke some Arabic, and this was how she practiced speaking,” he said. To read the rest of the story, visit florala.net.
My daughter’s boyfriend recently shared Christmas pictures with me through the Moments app. Messages on Facebook and the Messenger app prompted me to download Moments in order to view the pictures. I thought, “Great, another photo app,” but this one seems pretty useful. We all know the struggle. There is an event and one person is trying to take the same photo with multiple phones. Friends take photos and promise to share later, but never do. Or, someone has gone on an amazing vacation while you stayed home. Those days are over, according to the Moments app. This app, available for iPhone and Android users, allows people to share photos and videos with friends who have the app, and a Facebook account, and save them in a single, private location. Moments groups photos based on date and who is in them. This makes it easy to find photos of yourself. The app allows users to like and comment on photos in Moments, as well as add photos to multiple moments. For example, since my daughter’s boyfriend has already shared pictures with me in an album titled “Town Creek,” I can add my own pictures to the album, and everyone connected to that album can see them. Users can share the pictures to Facebook, Instagram and Messenger, or just leave them on the Moments app. Friends can share photos already on their phone. When someone opens the Moments app, recent photos appear on the screen grouped based on the ones they, and friends, are in and when they took them. Users can select a title for that moment and which photos and friends they want to include in it. If a friend does not have the app, they will receive messages on Facebook and the Messenger app showing a preview of the photos and a link to install Moments. Since this is a Facebook app, users do have the ability to stop Moments from recognizing them in photos. Setting tag suggestions on Facebook to “no one” will prevent the app from recognizing users in photos in the app. Like any other social media app, there are risks. To read about the risks associated with the app, visit florala.net.
Sports 13
March 24, 2016 • The Flor-Ala
Poire brings spark to tennis team
Scoreboard
March 19-21
XAVIER WHERRY
March 19
Staff Writer xwherry@una.edu
Softball at West Alabama (DH) 20-4 Win, 13-2 Win Baseball at West Alabama (DH) 8-6 Loss, 6-3 Win UNA Spring Football Game White 28, Purple 7
March 20 Softball at West Alabama 17-5 Win
Baseball at West Alabama 8-4 Loss
March 21
Men’s Tennis vs. Miss. College 8-1 Win Women’s Tennis vs. Miss. College 8-1 Win
Upcoming Softball
March 25-26 vs. Delta State April 2-3 at UAH April 7 at Miles College April 9-10 vs. Miss. College
Baseball
March 25-26 vs. Delta State March 29 at Trebecca Nazarene April 2-3 at UAH April 6 vs. Spring Hill (DH) April 9-10 vs. Miss. College
Tennis
March 25 vs. Shorter April 1 vs. Lee April 3 at Valdosta State April 6 at Tuskegee April 7 at Alabama A&M
Golf
March 28 UNA Spring Classic Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail
Track
April 15 Mountain Laurel Invitational Sewanee, Tennessee Games continued at roarlions.com
JACKSON TOWNSEND I Staff Photographer
UNA offensive coordinator Steadman Campbell calls a play during the team’s Purple and White Spring Game March 19. Campbell accepted the coaching promotion March 14.
Spring ends, coaching staff complete MIKE EZEKIEL
Sports Editor sports@florala.net
With spring training officially over and a complete coaching staff in place, the UNA football team is ready for action next fall. The Lions, coming off their third straight Gulf South Conference championship, competed in their annual spring game March 19. The players and coaches split into two teams, purple and white, for a competitive matchup. UNA defensive coordinator and assistant head coach Chris Willis, along with backup quarterback Blake Hawkins, led the white team to a 28-7 win. “I thought the competition was great,” said head coach Bobby Wallace. “I thought the preparation for the game was great. The crowd for UNA was a big winner. It was a lot of fun for the players, coaches and everybody involved.” The attendance for the spring game was over 3,100, according to Sports Information. “It was a lot of fun for our guys to play in front of such a good crowd, which I think was a record for our spring game,” Wallace said. While the game allowed athletes to emerge, it also gave the team’s new coaching staff a
chance to make a game plan and evaluate the roster. With former offensive coordinator Cody Gross leaving the Lions for the head coaching job at Athens High School, Steadman Campbell accepted a promotion to replace Gross. Campbell, who has been an assistant with UNA for nearly a decade, said it was humbling for Wallace to even consider him for the job. “This is a very big opportunity,” Campbell said. “It’s a big responsibility and one that I don’t take lightly. Coach Wallace obviously has a great record and great reputation at UNA, and we have the greatest fans in the world. They’re going to expect our offense not to fall off.” Campbell said he plans to implement many of the things Gross did, but might make a few adjustments in the fall. With Campbell vacating the wide receivers coaching position, Wallace hired former Auburn offensive graduate assistant Ryan Aplin. Aplin, who played quarterback at Arkansas State from 2008-12, was the Sun Belt Conference player of the year in both his junior and senior seasons. Aplin played and coached under Southeastern Conference coaches Hugh Freeze and Gus Malzahn before arriving in Florence.
“I’ve never had my own office, so I’m excited,” Aplin said. “I’m very lucky to be here and work with some great coaches. It’s all about working with good people and having fun and helping these kids. I enjoy that camaraderie.” Aplin, who is 25 years old, said earning his first full-time coaching gig as a young coach helps him connect with his players. “I can relate to them, which I think is something that helps,” he said. “I played three years ago, I’ve been to study hall, I’ve had to go from one class to another with 10 minutes in between. That’s good for me.” Becoming significant in a player’s life is important, Aplin said. “Going to the coaching side, I enjoy getting a chance to meet these players and find out their story,” he said. “I want to be the guy they call when they get married and engaged.” The players are receptive to the coaching moves, said senior wide receiver Coty Spurling. “Coach Campbell is a great coach that gets along with all the players,” Spurling said. “I feel like he’ll just fit in like he was already the (offensive coordinator). (Aplin) seems like a great coach. He’s only been here a few days, but I feel like we’ve worked to get better. The sky is the limit for us this year.”
Since flying in from France in 2014 with high expectations, graduate student Benjamin Poire, a member of the UNA tennis team, appears to be living up to the hype. Poire is on an individual sixgame winning streak, carrying a 7-2 overall record for the Lions. He is 5-1 against teams from the Gulf South Conference. Poire has bounced between the third and fourth seed in the lineup this season. After suffering an ankle injury against West Florida Feb. 13, Poire was bumped down to No. 4. “It doesn’t matter to me (what seed),” Poire said. “I just want to win every match and help my team any way I can.” Poire was hard to scout before joining the Lions but has been successful, said UNA coach Brice Bishop. “My expectations of all of the international players are the same,” Bishop said. “The moment they step off the plane, I hope they are the quality player that I thought they would be. My expectation for him was he would be toward the top of the lineup, and he has held true to that.” Returning after his senior year with eligibility left, Poire’s selfless attitude fits the team’s desired philosophy, Bishop said. “What impresses me the most about Benji is he could’ve started his life after college back in France, but he came back here to help this team,” he said. “He put his life on hold to help this team be successful. He’s such an unselfish guy.” As a doubles player, Poire holds a 4-0 record partnered with junior Max Druppel. His leadership helps the team tremendously, said sophomore Taylor Ausbon. “(Poire) has made a huge impact to our team since coming back,” Ausbon said. “He gives us solid wins at a high spot on the team. His experience gives him the edge in winning tight matches.” As for his post-college life, Poire said he would consider coaching tennis, but his ultimate goal is to stay in the United States for a little longer. “I want to live here for at least one year so I can get my parents out here and so they can experience America for the first time in their lives,” Poire said.
14 SPORTS
March 24, 2016 • The Flor-Ala
MICHAEL MEIGS I Graphic Designer
(From left) Student Writer Justin Jefferies, Sports Editor Mike Ezekiel, Business Manager Jordan Byrd and Staff Writer Xavier Wherry discuss their busted brackets in Flowers Hall. The four “experts” decided to redeem themselves in the Sweet 16 round.
March Madness maestros attempt bracket reassessment JUSTIN JEFFERIES Student Writer jljefferies@una.edu
VILLANOVA
MIKE EZEKIEL
Sports Editor sports@florala.net
KANSAS
JORDAN BYRD
XAVIER WHERRY
KANSAS
KANSAS
Business Manager advertise@florala.net
Staff Writer xwherry@una.edu
Villanova is collegiate basketball’s version of the Golden State Warriors in that they shoot three’s and shoot them often. They cruised through the first two rounds despite being undersized. I like them to shoot their way to victory in the regional final.
The Jayhawks had early exits the last two seasons, but this year’s team is more experienced with senior Perry Ellis and junior Frank Mason III. Maryland, Miami and Villanova present a tough road for Kansas, but I think “Rock Chalk” gets to Houston.
Bill Self might have his most talented Kansas team since his last championship in 2008. The Jayhawks have not lost since January against Iowa State, who is still in the tournament as a four seed. Expect to see this team in the Final Four.
To mark this team as “wellcoached” is an understatement. Kansas has the depth and the seniority (especially with the elderly Perry Ellis) to make a deep run in this tournament. I believe the Jayhawks will take care of business in the South Region.
OKLAHOMA
OKLAHOMA
OKLAHOMA
OKLAHOMA
What scares me about the Sooners is their inability to put teams away. They jump out to big leads, but struggle to close teams out. However, they have Buddy Hield, the Wooden award favorite and the best pure scorer in the country.
Texas A&M squeaked by Northern Iowa to get to the Sweet 16, but it’ll be tougher against the team across the northern border. Senior guard Buddy Hield is top-notch talent, and I like him to help the Sooners settle in Texas April 2.
Without a doubt, Buddy Hield is the premier talent in this year’s tourney. Also, Hield’s sluggish start against VCU proved how good the Sooners supporting cast is, as Oklahoma built a large first half lead. I’ll take the Sooners.
Buddy Hield, better known as “Buddy Buckets,” is absolutely sensational at putting the ball in the hoop. He can score from anywhere on the court and is capable of catching fire, given he scored 29 in a half.
NORTH CAROLINA
INDIANA
NORTH CAROLINA
NORTH CAROLINA
In my opinion, the Tar Heels have the toughest road to Houston, but have the most talent. They can push the pace on anyone, and they are almost impossible to keep off the offensive glass.
I initially had Kentucky here, but the Hoosiers were my second choice. I like Tom Crean and company to upset North Carolina and fight their way into the Final Four with its physical style of play.
Forget Duke. I pick the other team in blue this year to represent the ACC. The Tar Heels have the easiest path to the Final Four, and Roy Williams seems to have his team peaking at the right time.
Truth be told, I was not a big fan of this team all year. UNC was the preseason favorite, and I was never sold on that. I’m here to admit I was wrong. It was comical of me to ever count out Roy Williams.
GONZAGA
GONZAGA
VIRGINIA
VIRGINIA
Mark Few has his team playing extremely well the last two weeks. They may be an 11 seed, but they have the looks and talent of a three or four seed. Kyle Wiltjer is playing as well as anyone in the country.
Since the Michigan State Spartans forced me to feed my bracket to the paper shredder, why not go with the Zags? After a dominant 82-59 win over Utah, this 11 seed looks primed for a Cinderella run.
Malcolm Brogdon leads the Cavs, who look to capitalize on a successful run. Iowa State will present a tough test in the Sweet 16, but I like Virginia to charge into Houston for the Final Four in this region.
Virginia has what might be the easiest road to the Final Four with only Iowa State and Gonzaga or Syracuse in their way. I like this defense’s chances of putting the clamps on these teams.
FINALS:
FINALS:
FINALS:
FINALS:
UNC
OVER
OU
KAN
OVER
IND
OU
OVER
UNC
KAN
OVER
UNC
EXTRA 15
March 24, 2016 • The Flor-Ala
Thurs., March 24 3:30 — 5:15 p.m. SGA Senate Meeting GUC 200 4 — 5 p.m. Circle K Meeting Stone Lodge 8 p.m. Seryn and the Bear and the Bride 116 E. Mobile
Fri., March 25 UNIVERSITY HOLIDAY 1 p.m. UNA Tennis vs. Shorter UNA Tennis Complex 1 and 4 p.m. UNA Baseball vs. Delta State Mike Lane Field
JACKSON TOWNSEND l Staff Photographer
Tennis player Benji Poire (featured on Page 13) prepares to backhand a shot in UNA’s match against Delta State Feb. 28. The tennis teams, along with the baseball, softball and golf teams, will each participate in games during spring break.
Mon., March 28
Sat., April 2
Tues., April 5
TBA UNA Spring Classic Golf Invitational Rovert Trent Jones Golf Trail
1 and 4 p.m. UNA Baseball at UAH in Huntsville
11 a.m. — 3 p.m. SGA Taco Tuesday Amphitheater
2 and 4 p.m. UNA Softball at UAH in Huntsville
Wed., April 6
Tues., March 29
TBA 1 p.m. UNA Spring Classic UNA Softball vs. Golf Invitational Delta State Rovert Trent Jones UNA Softball Complex Golf Trail
Sat., March 26 1 p.m. UNA Baseball vs. Delta State Mike Lane Field 1 p.m. UNA Softball vs. Delta State UNA Softball Complex
Sun., March 27 EASTER
Thurs., March 31 11:30 a.m. — 12:30 p.m. Get Dirty (gardening) at the Library Florence-Lauderdale Public Library
Fri., April 1 1 p.m. UNA Tennis vs. Lee UNA Tennis Complex
Sun., April 3 1 p.m. UNA Baseball at UAH in Huntsville
2 and 5 p.m. UNA Baseball vs. Spring Hill Mike Lane Field
2 p.m. UNA Softball at UAH in Huntsville
4:30 — 5:30 p.m. Freshman Forum GUC 200
Mon., April 4
4:30 p.m. SAFE Stone Lodge (Upper)
10 a.m. — 2 p.m. Campus Outreach GUC Atrium 3:30 p.m. SGA UPC Meeting GUC 200 8 p.m. Fellowship of Christian Athletes Commons 330
6 — 7 p.m. JUMP! Stone Lodge (Upper) 8 — 9:30 p.m. ENCOUNTER Stone Lodge (Upper)
16 EXTRA
SOCIAL MEDIA OF THE WEEK
March 24, 2016 • The Flor-Ala