Oct. 20, 2022

Lauderdale County reports increase in fentanyl overdoses

by KELLEY PETERS Sta Writer

Rates of fentanyl overdoses have been spiking across the nation. As a result, Ala bama politicians and law enforcement are calling for increased awareness and safety measures, especially for children, teenag ers and college students.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse at the National Institutes of Health, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is comparable to morphine but is 50 to 100 times stronger. It is normally prescribed by doctors for patients in severe or chronic pain, especially when patients have be come tolerant to other opioids.

Like other opioid drugs such as heroin, fentanyl binds to the body’s opioid recep tors in the areas of the brain that are re sponsible for controlling emotions and pain. Addiction can follow if opioids are taken repeatedly and the brain’s sensitivity to opioids is lessened, making it harder to feel pleasure without the aid of drugs.

“Synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, are now the most common drugs involved in drug overdose deaths in the United States,” the NIDA said.

Chuck Hearn, investigator at the Flor ence Police Department and Director of the Lauderdale County Drug Task Force, has been a rsthand witness to the increase

in fentanyl overdoses and the ways that the drug is being disguised.

“We have seen an increase in fentanyl overdoses,” Hearn said. “We’ve seen Fen tanyl mixed with other substances, like meth and cocaine, and now we’re seeing counterfeit oxycodone pills that are actu ally fentanyl pills instead. All of those have increased our overdoses and overdose deaths.”

e most common way that Hearn has seen fentanyl being distributed recently is by itself or when presented as counterfeit oxycodone pills. He believes this rise in overdoses can be linked back to the sheer amount that is available.

“I know at the Lauderdale County Drug Task Force, from about April to present, we’ve seen over 17,000 fentanyl pills, and that’s just what we have been able to ob tain, so we know that there has been more that has been around here,” Hearn said.

is increase in availability of fentan yl has led to a dramatic increase in the numbers of fentanyl overdoses and deaths in the state of Alabama. According to AL.com’s reporter John Sharp, Richard Tucker, a former special agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and a con sultant with the Drug Education Consult ing Group, said that Fentanyl deaths in Al abama surged by 136 % between 2020 and 2021, with more deaths predicted this year.

Fentanyl has also been found in bright ly colored pills that look like candy, called “rainbow fentanyl,” which is concerning for politicians, law enforcement and par ents alike. e colorful drug, though not found in Alabama yet, has been seized by authorities in 18 states so far. It is thought to be marketed toward children, teens and young adults, making parents wary of the upcoming Halloween holiday.

Alabama lawmakers have been propos ing solutions to deal with overdoses and deaths.

Republican politicians feel that harsher sentences should be placed on those who tra c the drug to create stronger penal ties and discourage the further sale and distribution of fentanyl. In a proposal laid out by State Representatives Matt Simpson and Chris Pringle, mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines would apply to the weight of fentanyl found in the state, which could lead to one of the harshest laws against fentanyl in the nation. Under this proposal, tra ckers caught with more than 8 grams of fentanyl could face a life sentence.

Democratic politicians, such as Ala bama State House Minority Leader An

Jump, See Fentanyl page

UNA enrolls over 10,000 students

by TRENEDY PARKS Sta Writer

e University of North Alabama’s en rollment has broken 10,000 students for the rst time since its founding in 1830.

“Our growth strategy is intentional, and this historic enrollment of more than 10,000 is evidence that our academic pri orities around workforce development resonate with learners of all types,” said UNA President Dr. Ken Kitts.

University Director of Media and Pub lic Relations Michelle Eubanks went into further detail about UNA’s “intentional and diversi ed enrollment strategy” men tioned in the article.

“It’s an opportunity for the University to seek out learners of all types, whether those are rst generation, the tradition al rst year student, or transfer students from two year or community colleges who are looking to nish their degree. But it’s also for the adult learner, the workforce development learner, our international student population,” said Eubanks. “It’s an opportunity for these programs, say in el

ementary education or in nursing, to seek out learners who are maybe looking to get ahead in their workplace, people who are looking to get their rst degree, their sec ond degree, or even their masters degree.”

Kitts said the university has listened to the local and state legislators’ needs for academic programs that prioritize jobs in the Shoals, the region, and in Alabama.

“A lot of the programs: computing, mathematics, health professions, and education are all jobs and programs that we know there’s a de nite need for in the workforce now,” said Eubanks. “In looking at where we are, as a state and as a region, we know that those jobs - like healthcare, engineering, computing, and mathematics- are incredibly important not just for jobs but also for our future as a state. As we continue to grow and be come a more relevant entity within our country.”

e workforce program is just part of what is bringing students towards the university. ere are other programs and partnerships that bring in new students.

“In addition to the enrollment growth

among freshmen, transfer, international, online, and graduate cohorts, more than 250 students have enrolled with UNA through a partnership in engineering and technology with Guizhou University-Uni versity of North Alabama International College of Engineering and Technology in Guiyang, China.” said Eubanks.

UNA’s enrollment number has not been published. Since enrollment uctuates, the enrollment census date will close at the end of this month.

“We will not have that exact gure un til the very end of this month. When we hit that 10,000, though, we knew we hit that earlier in the month because of dif ferent hallmarks and benchmarks that we reached.” said Eubanks. “We know that number will go up even more as we get closer to that enrollment deadline, and that will happen around Halloween.”

Due to this record-breaking enrollment, UNA has now moved into the “large uni versity” category. e small category is up to 4,999 students, medium is up to 9,999 students and the large category is 10,000+ students.

CRAWL

UNA’s ghosts remind Florence of its history

by EMMA TANNER News Editor

Having been in the Florence area since 1855, UNA is destined to be subject to a rich folklore regarding the supernatural. Whether it was o andedly mentioned in a campus tour or used as an excuse for faulty lighting, most students have heard about the ghosts that roam the halls of many UNA buildings. UNA has history etched into nearly every wall and stone.

“When we talk about UNA being haunt ed, it’s not an uncharacteristic thing for buildings on a historic campus,” said Uni versity Historian Dr. Je rey Bibbee. “We’ve been here since 1855. ere are buildings on the campus that are even older than that that have become part of the university. It’s not a shock that there would be stories and legends and myths tied to those buildings.”

To show o UNA’s haunted history, the UPC hosts a Ghost Walk yearly to tour campus’ most haunted sites.

Guillot University Center

Perhaps UNA’s most famous (or infa mous) ghost is Priscilla, who is said to haunt the Guillot University Center. When the stories of her haunting began, the GUC was O’Neal Hall. O’Neal Hall was the women’s dormitory when UNA was still called Florence State College. e building was erected in 1913 and was replaced by the GUC in 1986.

Priscilla’s origin story varies by storytell er, but the one consistency among each tale is that she took her own life in an elevator sha . Some say she was distraught over low grades or an unrequited love. ere is no concrete year in which her hauntings began, but according to local author Debra Glass, reports go as far back as 1984.

She is a mostly benevolent spirit, as her cries only serve to spook those who hap pen to hear them.

Wesleyan Hall

Another common haunting spot is Wesleyan Hall, which houses the Depart ment of Psychology and Sociology and the Department of Foreign Language. Wesleyan has been a part of the university since 1856. It served as the main hub of the university. At one point, it included a library and served as an administration building for 10 presidents. During the Civil War, the lecture hall was overtaken by Union troops led by William T. Sher man.

Nicknamed Turris Fidelis to some, the ghost that haunts Wesleyan Hall has an ambiguous past. Some allege he is the son of a Confederate soldier, others suggest he may be a soldier or even Sherman him self.

e most popular story is that of Jer emiah, a young boy who was either a drummer boy or the son of one of Sher man’s o cers. Young Jeremiah went for a swim in Cyprus Creek and drowned. Some allege that his watery footprints can still be heard on the second and third oors of Wesleyan. His form has also been seen by some.

Another version of the story involved Florence citizens kidnapping the boy in the hopes of deterring Sherman from burning the city. He was returned un harmed a er Sherman threatened to burn the city anyway. In relation to this story, it is theorized that Turris Fidelis is the Sher man or boy’s father exacting revenge on those who kidnapped Jeremiah.

In a Flor-Ala article from the 1950s, writer Joanne Harvey claimed to see Sher man’s ghost in the lecture hall. She went to Wesleyan alone at night to nd Sherman in a third oor o ce. ey had a short conversation in which Harvey revealed she was a writer doing research. Sherman claimed to be doing research of his own, attempting to locate who kidnapped the boy. Harvey hastily le

(Above) The entrance to the Guillot University Center. (Below) The elevator shaft that is said to be haunted.

Treasure Franklin | Sta Photographer

Treasure Franklin | Sta Photographer

Treasure Franklin | Sta Photographer

The Off-Campus Book store (Library Storage)

The former Off-Campus Bookstore, which now serves as off-campus stor age for Collier Library, sits at 472 North Court Street. It formerly served at the Kappa Sigma Fraternity house but un derwent renovations in the 1980s to be come a bookstore.

The usual story goes that a young girl named Molly was residing with her family in the home. Her dog was rabid and bit her small hand, infecting her with rabies. Another version goes that she and her dog were in the street and she was struck down by a car.

Molly may be one of the most ac tive ghosts near campus. She has been spotted as far back as the 30s, waving to students during a homecoming pa rade. Some have reported encountering her. She always seems to have the same question, “Have you seen my dog?”

Bookstore workers have also noted that candy seemed to go missing from the candy jar.

She seems to be a fairly benevolent ghost, as most encounters only report slight mischief at most.

Coby Hall

Coby Hall was originally known as Courtland Mansion. It was built in the 1830s for John and Margaret Simpson.

The couple quickly became an integral

part of the community and were known to throw lavish parties. During the Civil War, while the home was owned by the Irvines, both Confederate and Union troops occupied the mansion. In the 1990s, the home was donated to the university. Coby Hall now houses UNA Admissions and Recruiting.

Author Debra Glass says the folklore behind the ghost story usually involves a university professor, Dr. Harrington, developing a deep crush on Margaret Simpson after dancing with her. Marga ret’s brother, John, took offense to his affections and sought him out. The in teraction ended in John’s death.

The ghost that is often associated with Coby Hall is a woman in a while blouse and navy skirt. She is benevolent as well, however she enjoys entertain ment and is apparently particular on how the house is kept. Some think the ghost is Margaret, the original lady of the house.

Norton Auditorium

Norton Auditorium was built in 1968, making it one of the more recent addi tions to UNA.

Despite its newness, it is not without its own lore.

The ghost of Norton has no real back ground and he was named by students.

George is a mischievous spirit, often causing malfunction in lights or ee rie footsteps on the catwalk above the

stage.

Some believe he was a construction worker who died while working on Nor ton, but he could very well be a former resident of one of the homes that was torn down to make room for the new auditorium.

Willingham Hall

Willingham Hall is somewhat of an underdog in comparison to the other haunted spots on campus. It was orig inally the site of the Locust Dell Acad emy, an all-girls school, from 1834 to 1843. In 1939, it served as a men’s dor mitory. Nowadays, it houses the De partment of English, the Department of History and the Department of Politics, Justice, Law and Philosophy.

Its haunting has no real name or cre ative character to it, but faculty have reported that hearing footsteps and pounding while alone. Some report see ing a little girl running in the corridors, which may be tied to Willingham’s Lo cust Dell days.

Bibbee is aware that folk tales can sometimes simply be folk tales. The sto ries become easily conflated and twist ed with every storyteller. Many of the ghosts and their subsequent backstories cannot be confirmed.

“These buildings often had a life be fore they were part of UNA,” Bibbee said. “We think of places like Rogers

Hall and Coby Hall, [they] were homes where families lived. They have stories that tie not just to the institution’s his tory but to their previous existence.”

For skeptics, many of these appar ent ghosts can be dismissed as simply a noise in the night or creaky floors in an old building. The history of the buildings add to the “spookiness” of the stories. Places with rich history tend to be subject to folklore and ghost stories.

“There are lots of people that have walked this campus and lived in these buildings and been part of what we think of now as UNA,” Bibbee said. “This is just a little way of keeping their memories and stories alive.”

UNA’s buildings have developed a personality of their own. With its long history, an endless amount of stories have taken place within the walls of each building on campus. Thousands of people have walked along Cramer Way with the hopes of furthering their edu cation and leaving a mark somewhere.

“Think of everybody who’s walked those floors and everybody that’s stressed over an exam,” Bibbee said. “Everybody who has celebrated, wheth er it’s graduation or special moments in their lives. Exciting things have hap pened and maybe even sad things. [Stu dents] have formed a community that’s celebrated and mourned together. We don’t want to ever forget that these are living and breathing places.”

(Above) The O -Campus Bookstore when it was operating. (Below) The sign of Norton Auditorium.

Photo courtesy of Flor-Ala archives

Photo courtesy of Flor-Ala archives

Fentanyl

From Page #1

thony Daniels, feel that lawmakers should take more action to stop the sale of fentanyl and a more comprehensive approach should also be implemented to help those struggling with addiction. ey feel that supplying aid, such as mental health treatment, to those with substance abuse disorders could help address the state’s overcrowded prison sys tem.

To prevent overdose deaths on an individ ual level, those on the scene of an overdose can use the opioid blocker naloxon. It is com monly referred to as the brand name Narcan, which reverses the e ects of an overdose and allows breathing rates to return to normal.

AL.com’s reporter Savannah Tryens-Fer nandes found that many schools and house holds are now keeping naloxone for emer gency situations such as a fentanyl overdose. Fentanyl testing strips, which were previous ly illegal in Alabama, are now provided by some county health departments to citizens who wish to test their drugs and prevent an overdose.

Investigator Hearn believes that the best way to prevent overdoses is education.

“Especially for younger, college-aged kids, there’s no experimenting with these types of drugs,” Hearn said. “One time can kill some body, whether that’s straight fentanyl, some thing that’s laced with fentanyl or something that’s counterfeit and contains fentanyl. Peo ple need to know the dangers that exist from that. We’re educating as many people as we can.”

Casey Kula | Chief Photographer

Seven Points hosts 8th annual art crawl

by TRENEDY PARKS Sta Writer

by WHITNEY VEAZEY Sta Photographer

Seven Points is quickly becoming a hotspot for local restaurants, shops and art studios.

In this neighborhood, artists are given the annual opportunity to set up exhibits and installations within the various store fronts and highlight their work through a self-guided tour – the Seven Points Art Crawl.

is year, the business participants in cluded Abraham Rowe Photography, Black Owl Trading Company, Southern Native, Salt & Light, Ernest Barber, Yoga House, Mom’s, Black Owl Ally, Flori Design Com pany, North Wood Social, and 7 Points. Each of these small businesses hosted a lo cal or small artist.

Byron Sonnier, a visual and musical art ist based in Birmingham, was hosted by Southern Native. His visual works consist of a southern-gothic aesthetic with themes of Christianity, American history, and con ict.

Anna Propst, hosted by Yoga House,

creates both landscape and textural visu al pieces using earthy tones which bring a sense of nature into their display areas.

Natalie Wester, also hosted by Yoga House, is both a photographer and ab stract artist. Her dreamy abstract works consist of pale blues, pinks, and yellows. Her photography highlights minimalism and features some of her paintings as well.

Andrea Belk, at Mom’s, is a photogra pher based in Florence, AL. e majority of her work is portraits, which she high lights with neutral tones. She captures local festivals and bands, as well as body positive and progressive ideals.

Laura Renfroe, hosted at 7 Points is an abstract artist who displayed her work “Gentle Warrior” at the event. Renfroe’s works, such as “Becoming” and “ e Dawn” primarily consist of wooden pieces painted with acrylic and spray paint, leav ing swiping trails of blue snaking across the board between dripping orbs of white.

Faye Holladay – a.k.a Costume Cowboy – cultivates a vintage fashion collection inspired by the bold vibrancies of the 60s and 70s. Her business puts an emphasis on sustainability, and giving new life to old clothing.

Other artists featured included Mar co Ruiz and Seth Crocker at Ernest Bar ber, Alyssa Mitchell at Salt & Light, Tyler

Young and Michael Parker at Abraham Rowe Photography, Andrew Sutherland at Black Owl Ally, June Stein at Flori De sign Company, Katie Barrier at Black Owl Trading Company.

e art crawl began in 2014 when Abra ham Rowe, of Abraham Rowe Photogra phy, and his wife --Susan Rowe of Flori Design Co.-- decided they wanted a reason to bring more people to Seven Points.

“[Various artists in Seven Points] had these businesses that weren’t retail, so there was really no reason for people to come in,” said Rowe. “So, we wanted to give these people a reason to come in and see what we do and show o our work.”

ey came up with the idea of a business to host a local artist. In order to get in volved a business reaches out to coordina tors in order to nd an artist to match with.

“It’s kind of a mutually bene cial re lationship - the shops host the artist and the artist brings people to the shop,” said Rowe.

Seven Points is a growing area of Flor ence, largely due to the involvement of the people who live there. e art crawl is an event created to bring people out to walk the streets of Seven Points and see local artists.

“Seven Points is very walkable. When this business district was designed, it was

designed for more pedestrian tra c,” said Rowe. “It’s fun to engage with these busi ness districts the way they were designed to live in.”

Rowe wants to keep the art crawl alive because he would like Seven Points to be a more lively space for people to live and work in.

“I live and work in Seven Points,” said Rowe. “One of the reasons I want to keep it going and put energy into it is because we want our neighborhood to be interest ing and eclectic. We want it to re ect local people and I strongly believe in rebuilding the community through the arts.”

Rowe also expressed an interest in fea turing more UNA students and their work in future art crawls and other events. He said he hopes that more small artists get a chance to be seen through this event.

“In regards to UNA, I want more stu dents to come to the art crawl and be en gaged, because it’s basically their neigh borhood. I’m about the students having a place to show their work,” said Rowe. “ e Shoals is an artistic place, and I think the visual arts is pretty low on the hierarchy of all that. ere are so many talented paint ers, photographers, and graphic designers. So, another function of the art crawl is to give these small artists a place to show their work.”

(Above left) Artwork hangs outside a building in Seven Points during its 8th annual art crawl. (Above right) Laura Renfroe poses with a work-in-progress. (Below left) One of the Seven Points hands gestures towards the art. (Below right) A tarot card reader provides services outside of a storefront.

Colby Green | Sta Photographer

Colby Green | Sta Photographer

Colby Green | Sta Photographer

Colby Green | Sta Photographer

Review: “The Folklore Project”

by EMMA TANNER News Editor

The Cinematic Arts and Theatre Department’s fall show, “The Folk lore Project,” debuted on Oct. 6 in the George S. Lindsay Theatre.

The show marks director Abigail Dil lard’s first show at the university. She was asked to create a piece for her de but and wanted to focus on the area she was new to, Florence. The local com munity explained to her some of the more prominent folk tales surrounding the Shoals. She and her creative team decided to settle on an anthology-like series of stories surrounding the area. The creative team and Dillard used a method called devised theatre in which the team collaborates to create a show. Auditions were held in late August.

“The Folklore Project” is described as “a folktale that incorporates seven theatrical stories inspired by North Al abama folklore.” The show follows the character of Elsie (Star Corder), a young woman from the ambiguous 1800s.

She and her sister Lillie (Ivy Johnson) reside in Florence, Ala. The girls dis cover a journal on their family’s dock revealing the existence of people who can hear the river’s voice (dubbed the “honored ones”). All of the honored ones, save for one, have been wiped out by a jealous king who wishes to harness their power. The girls deduce that the survivor has to be their mother, as they also hear the river.

Their excitement is short lived, how ever, as Lillie is ripped away from Elsie and assumed to be dead. Elsie’s grief over her lost sister leads her on a jour ney through time. She meets an assort ment of unique characters who all serve to teach her a lesson: Annie (Kennedy

Edwards), Chuck (Jarrod Stocks), Mar cus (Zachary Baldwin), Sylvie (Saman tha Davis), Julianna (Ella Neal) and Florence (Ivy Johnson).

With the small cast, each actor (save for Corder) also plays an ensemble role. Both Corder and Johnson do a good job of portraying their characters. Being a constant throughout the show, Corder specifically is able to show off her skill.

Though Elsie seems to lack a distinct personality, Corder is still able to make her a likable protagonist. Johnson’s scenes are rather brief, but she is a char ismatic performer and her characters have a Southern charm to them.

The show had a likability to it, how ever the storyline was somewhat mud dled. It took me a minute to figure out what exactly was happening. It was never fully explained how exactly Elsie managed to time travel, which is one of many plot holes. The characters also do not seem to intertwine other than their connection (however brief) with Elsie.

Annie is the first character intro duced. She is a young woman who stops at a store on Pine Street. There she meets the store clerk, who she eventually mar ries. The two have a daughter named Elizabeth. Elizabeth (Ivy Johnson) goes on to follow in her mother’s footsteps, as she meets her future husband while working at the little store. Elizabeth’s daughter then goes on to attend UNA.

Elsie remains throughout the storyline, posing as a close family friend of Annie.

I originally assumed the location was what would connect these stories, but the thought was dashed with the intro duction of astronomer Chuck. Chuck’s storyline strays away from the Florence setting and is instead at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.

The story seems to stick out, as it is the only one that is not in the Shoals

area. His is one of the more comical stories, with Neal arriving on stage in a fake mustache and oversized lab coat. It was the segment I found myself laughing the most at. Stocks portrays his character perfectly, especially con sidering the show is the freshman’s first UNA performance. His performance especially stuck out to me, as he seemed immersed in the character.

The third story is Marcus. Marcus is a Vietnam veteran who feels as though he has not done much with his life. It is his 60th birthday, but he solemnly sits on the dock. Elsie creeps into the back ground, trying to slyly steal the journal that is in his boat. Marcus decides to take the boat out on the turbulent water, citing that he has never done anything adventurous in his life. He is eventually struck down by lightning.

The story takes the audience back to Florence on a similar dock to the one Elsie grew up on. It is not confirmed as to whether it is the same exact one or not. Baldwin was able to alternate be tween heartfelt soliloquy and hilarious comments. He really shined in this par ticular performance and I was happy to see him solo.

Sylvie is the fourth character intro duced. She is a 10-year-old girl that is confined to her room due to a case of the flu. However, she is excited by the fact that she can play with the older children. She decides to take a chance and asks to hang out with them. Elsie is among the group of playing children.

Davis does an excellent job of playing a small girl with big anxieties. I saw a lot of myself in the character, as I was once an awkward preteen girl with a desperate need to fit in. Her story was relatively short compared to some of the others, but it was a cute one none theless.

The fifth character is Julianna. Juli anna comforts Elsie after her journal is stolen by two boys. She introduces Elsie to the Rosebud Girls, a ragtag group of girls who relax and unwind with music and cigarettes. They initiate Elsie to the group by performing a whimsical dance and are eventually successful in getting the journal.

The Rosebud girls had their own unique feel to their story. I honestly would have loved more elaboration on them, but within the bounds of the sto ry, it was alright to see it in only a seg ment. They were charming. Neal played a good ring leader. She does a good job of playing particularly feisty characters (as she did in Little Women last spring), so she shines in those roles.

The last -- and perhaps most import ant -- character is Florence, whose story takes place in the 1920s. She discovers the journal on her father’s dock. She recites the mantra that Lillie and Elsie recited at the beginning of the play.

When Elsie arrives, she explains that she is looking for her journal and des perately needs her help finding it. Flor ence lies and says she does not have it but will look for it. When Elsie lies down to rest, Florence reads the journal and discovers the stories written within it. She also finds that she can hear the river. Elsie awakes and finds her with the journal. Through deduction, the girls discover that Florence is actually Lillie. She and Elsie team up and take down the King (played by Baldwin).

All of the actors portray their respec tive characters well. There were a few instances of tripping over words, but it could easily be amounted to first perfor mance jitters. You can truly tell the ac tors feel a connection to the characters, which could be due to the collaborative process that went into the writing.

Bre Goodwin | Graphic Designer

Ethan Sak drops debut album “Blue”

by MARY STELLA MANGINA Arts & Entertainment Editor

Everybody knows the Shoals area produces authentic music well. From the rock and roll pioneers born out of Florence Alabama Music Enterprises (FAME) Recording Studios to the underground singer-songwriters of today, Florence, Muscle Shoals and Sheffield have been recognized time and again for generating talented acts.

Worth mentioning among the small cities’ claims to fame is young troubadour Ethan Sak. Currently based out of Los Angeles, Sak released his first composite album, “Blue,” on Sept. 30. “Blue” consists of 13 songs, all of which deal with heavy yet relevant themes, like depression, grief and suicide.

The album, prior to its mass circulation, was in the works for years, as Sak began writing and composing it while still in his senior year at Florence High School. The singer-songwriter’s new work was largely a singular effort, seeing as he arranged, composed and performed it on his own.

Although he attended Florence City Schools for the majority of his life, Sak spent a few of his formative years at St. Joseph Regional Catholic School, a private institution partnered with St. Joseph Catholic Church. Sak is not Catholic, but in the songs making up “Blue,” he delves into notions of religion and spirituality.

“‘Blue’ has multiple songs that were very directly influenced by my own spiritual journey,” Sak said.

If one were to compare “Blue” with Sak’s debut EP, “Yellow,” they would see little similarities, at least content-wise. The former dropped in 2020, when Sak was only 16. It was lighter and loftier than the latter, which is a look into the human soul’s capacity for pain. Beyond its emotionally raw lyrics, the visceral listening of “Blue” is attributed to its musical incorporation of earthly sounds. Coupled with Sak’s sweeping piano-playing and vocal stacks, this terrestrial ambiance solicits sensations in listeners unparalleled by other adult contemporary endeavors. The first track on the release, “The Beauty of Grief,” for example, is backed by the intertwining tranquility and turbulence of a swelling rainstorm.

“All my albums are based on colors.

My first project was ‘Yellow.’ The new one’s ‘Blue.’ I don’t know what’s next; it might be ‘Red’ or ‘Purple.’ I do know that all my albums will have different sounds, and this is in reference to the fact that I have synesthesia. I ascribe music to colors,” Sak said.

Synesthesia refers to a cognitive phenomenon wherein someone associates one perception with another. A person with synesthesia may, for instance, hear a certain noise and associate it with a shape.

Sak is known by folks throughout North Alabama. Since he was playing

piano and singing by age 7, he was able to make a name for himself. Additionally, in 2019, he toured the easternmost part of the United States, hitting 40 different venues while remotely completing his junior year of high school. Now he is broadening the scope of his artistic outreach, recording and booking gigs across Los Angeles.

Studying music production at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, Sak has access to numerous musical resources, not to mention exposure to a diverse community of aspiring performers.

Sak described his favorite show he has played so far in the City of Angels, an intimate set performed in a USC dorm room. The concert, a play on National Public Radio’s famous Tiny Desk Concerts dubbed Tiny Dorm, saw nearly 50 students in a single bedroom, closely gathered to watch Sak headline. The songwriter liked the venue’s up-closeand-personal atmosphere. From his point of view, the congenial tightness of the room allowed him to fully connect with his audience.

“I was sitting on a bed. I had a full band, with a drum kit and everything, but we were all crammed into this tiny space,” Sak said. “It was so intimate that I could’ve reached out and touched the people in the crowd. They were sitting on the floor, right in front of me. I remember, I’d opened with a sad song, a powerful acoustic ballad. By the end of it, I noticed a girl in the crowd, so close to me, was crying her eyes out, and I thought, ‘times like these are why I play music- moments where I can truly connect to people through song.’”

Shoals locals interested in seeing and hearing more of Sak need not worryhe visits his hometown as often as possible and tends to make professional appearances in the region whenever and wherever he can. In August, he performed at Lava Room, the newest bar and music venue in downtown Florence. He was backed by well-known local musicians and in the company of Corey Curtis and The Chalkdowns. His latest project, “Blue,” is available now on Spotify, Apple Music and other major music platforms.

In “Blue,” Ethan Sak delves into the intricacies of mental health, dealing with themes like love, loss and self-discovery.

Photos courtesy of DNT Entertainment

Stream Ethan Sak’s “Blue” on Spotify, Apple Music and other music platforms now.

Wanda Band set to release new album soon

by MARY STELLA MANGINA Arts and Entertainment Editor

Another signi cant emerging art ist with ties to the Shoals is Wanda Wesolowski. e 27-year-old dyna mo in the Southern indie rock scene was not born in Florence or Muscle Shoals. She lived in Florence for a spell while attending the Universi ty of North Alabama, a time during which she performed frequently at local venues.

Even though she lives in her na tive Huntsville, her native town, Wesolowski continues to make trips to Florence and regularly makes noise at local live produc tions. As a matter of fact, she was one of the many acts chosen by GRAMMY-winner Jason Isbell to play at 2022’s ShoalsFest, in Flor ence’s McFarland Park. Produced by Isbell, ShoalsFest has been a must-go event for three years. It was a veri able success. Wesolows ki’s involvement in it drew in loads of young music lovers. She played, like she usually does, with the sup port of her crew, the Wanda Band.

Two years out from their 2020 re lease of album “One-Hit,” the Wan da Band has several projects in the works. On Oct. 15, they did a set at the 51st Kentuck Festival of the Arts in Northport, a venerated out door fair held yearly in celebration of folk art. Other artists who graced the stage at the Kentuck Festival in cluded John Paul White and Billy Allen and the Pollies, both of whom also participated in ShoalsFest.

Wesolowski said the band plans to drop a never-before-heard song called “Gotcha” at the end of Oc tober. Described by Wesolowski as a “spooky song,” the single will be available for listening just in time for Halloween, on streaming plat forms Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube Music. What is more, the Wanda Band is at this time develop ing their second full-length album, the name of which will remain a mystery until further notice.

“I’m really excited about the proj ect,” Wesolowski said. “I think it’s gonna be big for the band. It speaks to us, so that means something, and we’re all proud of it, which means a lot to me.”

Wesolowski admits that while “One-Hit” was music t for a break up, her band’s new album will help

listeners through identity crises and subsequent confusion. “It’s more personal [than “One-Hit”] in that it deals with my inner world and my thoughts on life and loss. My rst album was my way of pointing a nger at the person who’d hurt me. is album is my way of looking in the mirror.”

In a rapidly developing world with an uncertain future, We solowski feels it is necessary that people practice introspection. A er all, it is only through knowing one self that one can be fully comfort able with their neighbors. Not only is self-re ection important in We solowski’s daily life; it also plays a big part in the songwriter’s creative process. She said that along with internal meditation, the process through which she writes lyrics is

strengthened by trial and error.

Comparing songwriting to the popular art of thri ing, Wesolows ki said, “Sometimes you’ve got to hit ve thri stores before nding a jacket that changes your life. You have to pick up every garment. Songwriting is the same way. When I write something and decide later that I don’t fully feel it, I jump ship.”

Part of what makes the Wanda Band’s music so meaningful is the platforms it gives ambitious and undiscovered artists. e album cover of “One-Hit” was designed by a young woman who, at the time of its release, was a high school stu dent. Now in college, the designer will also create art to accompany the Wanda Band’s forthcoming sin gle, “Gotcha.” e picture that will follow the group’s second album

will be a product of Gaby Wolodar ski, a professor at the University of Montevallo who Wesolowski met over the course of her time as a stu dent at the school.

e Wanda Band’s music videos are recognized by their low-key, simplistic yet aesthetically-pleasing frames depicting band members jamming with laid-back enthusi asm. ey have come to be with help from videographer couple Taylor Provecher and Alicia Eid saune, friends of Wesolowski.

Wesolowski thinks regional art ists’ visibility is of immeasurable importance at the moment. With Huntsville, the city where she was born and raised, growing at break neck speed, she worries the city is causing artists to be priced out of their homes.

“Local artists are not the ones [the city] cares about right now be cause we’re not the ones who can a ord to pay $2,000 worth of rent every month,” Wesolowski said. “ ose people are the people who Huntsville is currently building it self around.” In Wesolowski’s opin ion, those overseeing Huntsville want to solidify its place on the map as a music city, but they turn a blind eye to those trying to do so on a local basis. She said, “ at’s the reason why I moved back to Hunts ville- my friends and I are working to create an organic arts scene on a grassroots level.”

The Wanda Band poses for a picture in front of the Wanda Van.

Photo courtesy of Aaron B. Anderson

Wanda Band performs live on stage.

Photo courtesy of Andrea Belk

“Look Within”

by Treasure Franklin Sta Photographer

How can we improve student counseling?

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AUDREY JOHNSON

NEWS EDITOR EMMA TANNER

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR MARY STELLA MANGINA

SPORTS EDITOR NOAH CATCHINGS

CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER CASEY KULA

ONLINE EDITOR VICTORIA HAMILTON

STAFF WRITERS

TRENEDY PARKS

KELLEY PETER

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

ANDRÉA ARROYO BRE GOODWIN

COLBY GREEN

GAVIN VAN DEVENDER

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS TREASURE FRANKLIN WHITNEY VEAZEY

CIRCULATION MANAGER MATT JONES

BUSINESS MANAGER HEATHER DAY

INTERIM ADVISER CATHY WOOD

Editorial Policy

Content is determined by the student editorial sta of The Flor-Ala and has not been approved by the university.

Corrections

The sta strives to maintain the integrity of The Flor-Ala through accurate and honest reporting. To report an error call 256-7654364 or email ajohnson34@una.edu.

Letters Policy

Letters to the editor should be emailed to ajohnson34@una.edu or mailed to:

The Flor-Ala UNA Box 5300 Florence, AL 35632

Letters must include name and telephone number for veri cation. Please limit letters to 500 words. The editor reserves the right to edit or refuse to publish a letter.

by MARY STELLA MANGINA Arts & Entertainment Editor

During an age in which the public is becoming incrementally more aware of ailments relating to the mind, I often worry that mainstream dialogue sur rounding mental health awareness is both a blessing and a curse. While I am glad that issues with ties to society’s cog nitive wellness are undergoing destig matization, I am disappointed to see that the reality of their widespread nature is rarely handled in the most appropriate way.

According to research conducted by Boston University, mental health disor ders among American college students are spiking in prevalence. University undergraduates in the United States are subject to a number of high-stress situa

tions, but our struggles do not go unrec ognized. Nobody is contesting the reality of college-age students’ collective grap ple with anxiety. If one is unsure as to whether or not psychological problems find disproportionate prominence on college campuses, they need only look to the facts- three-fourths of lifelong cerebral difficulties manifest in victims when by the time they are 24 years old.

Unfortunately, awareness of mental illnesses does not automatically equal proper care. It seems to me that college counseling clinics across the U.S., that of the University of North Alabama includ ed, should be more comprehensive in their attempts to assuage students’ psy chological unrest.

Considerable is the amount of stu dents who have expressed to me their disappointment with Student Counsel ing Services at UNA. They do not think their needs are being considered to the fullest extent, but they attend sessions with UNA professionals regularly be cause they see doing so as the only alter native to costly clinical therapy.

In my experience, counseling, espe cially when it concerns adolescents, is characterized all too often by a one-sizefits-all approach to therapeutic practices. It is as if those whose jobs it is to help us manage our stress levels view our men tal states as existing on a sliding scale. If a student’s troubles lie somewhere in

between nonexistent and textbook atyp ical, counselors are unable to effectively combat them. Unfortunately, distur bances in our emotional well-beings can not be pinpointed and purged so easily.

What constitutes a mundane Monday af ternoon for a peer of mine may seem to me insurmountably overwhelming.

Sometimes I feel as if my insecurities mature as I age. The girlish notion I have always had that I will not be valued un less I look attractive is evolving into the more womanly idea that my surface-level intelligence, as soon as it’s been engaged, gives way to vapid single-mindedness.

I refuse to let my anxieties be tossed into the all-encompassing basket of gen eral low self-esteem, only to be remedied with a kitschy list of the things I like about myself. Young women’s self im ages are influenced by an abundance of internal and external factors. The non sensical notions we are socially condi tioned to live by must be taken into ac count by those who wish to understand our psyches, as must our individualized traits, trials and traumas.

Details of the phrenic fuel that makes people tick are hazy. Therefore, it does not make sense that our mental health disorders should be treated in the same manner as our broken arms; there is no such thing as a metaphysical cast. Treat ment, as it pertains to mental health, needs to be highly personalized.

What is music to me?

If you know me, you know that I always have my headphones practically glued to me. Literally. I have these things on me like I would die if I didn’t. It’s one of those things that you feel naked if you don’t have it. I would rather be late to class than walk there with no music.

Boy.

Fall Out Boy is de nitely the artist I most enjoy listening to. ey have music that ts every mood. In all honesty, their music is made for the angsty and the re bellious. But hey, who’s to say we aren’t all angsty and rebellious.

by TRENEDY PARKS Sta Writer

Did you know there are actually ve things needed to survive? Air, food, wa ter, shelter, and music. Music is one of earth’s most valuable resources. It has so many purposes. Parties have it, you play it in your car, you play it even while you’re sleeping. How could we survive without it?

As I walk around campus, there is rarely a person who doesn’t have headphones in while they are walking to class. You can’t drive around and not hear a car blasting some song with incredibly heavy bass.

Every restaurant I go to even has music playing. My point is that everyone listens to music. It’s what gets us through our dayto-day activities.

Music has always been a huge part of my life. It’s been a way for me to express my self as I was growing up, especially during my teenage (angst) years. I use music in the same way that everyone else express es their emotions; happy music when I’m feeling good and not-so-happy music when I need to get out my not-so-happy feelings.

To me, it’s always been an escape, a way of running away by never leaving my bed. e perfect song just had a way of whisk ing me o to a place where there were no troubles in my life. Where I could just be in the moment.

Growing up, my parents educated me in the world of music. My Dad listened to your stereotypical dad rock and heavy metal bands. Artists like Five Finger Death Punch and AC/DC eventually worked their way into my regular playlist. And my Mom listened to the “emo” genre of music. She listened to Linkin Park, Panic! At the Disco, and Green Day. She also introduced me to my favorite band of all time-Fall Out

I say I have a favorite band, but does anybody, really? I listen to whatever comes on, and rarely do I not enjoy what’s play ing. I really just like music in and of itself. I like how the rhythm feels and how heavy bass scratches that one part of my brain I can never quite reach.

I’m the type of person that learns every lyric to every song. Half because I like the lyrics and the other half purely because I like to impress people with the ability to sing four songs in a row and not miss a beat. I will always have more room in my brain to learn new lyrics, even if it means that I can’t remember my English vocabu lary words or the name of that one teacher I had years ago.

But seriously, what does music mean to me? It means being able to dance and sing. A tool to escape. It’s also something that can help me focus (I’m listening to music as I write this). I like to think that it’s a necessity to survive. Kind of like air. If it’s anything, it’s something I cannot live without.

Thursday, Oct. 20

3rd Annual Shoals Designer Showcase 6:30 p.m. Connie D. McKinney Center

Sunday, Oct. 30

Phi Mu Miles for Miracles 8 a.m. McFarland Park

Friday, Nov. 11

UNA Opera: Brush up your Shakespeare 7:30 p.m. Norton Auditorium

Monday. Oct. 24 Leo’s Haunted Ghost Walk 8 p.m. Norton Auditorium

Tuesday. Oct. 25 Domestic Violence Awareness Month 11:30 a.m. Mitchell-West Center

Presidents Round Table 7 p.m. GUC Performance Center

Thursday, Oct. 27 Pumpkin Bash 4 p.m. Entrance of Keller Hall

Camp Cooking 7 p.m. Outdoor Adventure Center

Monday, Oct. 31 Halloween Party 5 p.m. Lion’s Den Game Room

Friday, Nov. 4

Halloween in Hawthorne 7 p.m. Hawthorne Hall

OAC Camping 2 p.m. Cane Creek

Tuesday, Nov. 8

Vesna Duo

“The Rite of Spring” 7:30 p.m. Music Building Recital Hall

FSL Honor Society Inductions 6 p.m. GUC Performance Center

Wednesday. Nov. 16 Tie Dye-Versity 12 p.m. Amphitheater

Thursday, Nov. 17

Friday, Nov. 18

Jeopardy Night 6 p.m. TBH Rock On Bon re 7 p.m. Outdoor Adventure Center

A Christmas Carol 7 p.m. George S. Lindsey Theatre

A Christmas Carol 7 p.m. George S. Lindsey Theatre

Miss UNA Opening Number Rehearsal 4 p.m. SRC Aerobic Room

Photo courtesy Flor-Ala archives

#ThrowbackThursday: 42nd President of the United States Bill Clinton takes a photo outside of Rodgers Hall.

Lions fall 47-31 against Jacksonville State at Toyota Field

by NOAH CATCHINGS Sports Editor

COLUMN

e Lions played in their most popular game of the year on Oct. 15. ey faced their rival, the Jacksonville State Gamecocks, at Toyota Field, home of the Trash Pandas mi nor league baseball team, in Madison, Ala. e game struck controversy among fans of both sides because the game could only be played in one direction.

Whenever a team played o ense, they went in the same direction. Meaning every time a turnover occurred, the teams would have to reset and play in the same direction.

e rules only made exceptions for some thing like an interception or a kick return. Some fans believed that this was not a good place to have a football game. Why a base ball eld? Fans on the other end zone would also have a terrible view the whole game. It was said for safety reasons teams had to play in the same direction for o ensive drives. But why still have the game at the stadium if we were not allowed to play the game how it was meant to be played? Al though the game was not what people ex pected, for nancial reasons, it was a win considering the game sold out.

Anyways, a er festivities were over, the game began. Within the rst quarter, JSU scored two running plays and a passing play with all good kicks while holding the Lions to make the score at the end of the rst quarter 27-0.

A little into the second quarter the Li

College Football

Eastern

Western

ons begin picking things up a little. Corson Swan received a 9-yard pass from quarter back Noah Walters with kicker Sam Con torno following up with a kick to make the score 27-7. Shortly a er JSU scores a kick and a run making the score 31-7. Receiver Takieree Kenebrew catches a 12 yard pass from quarterback Noah Walters for the touchdown. Sam Contorno follows up with a kick and makes the score at hal ime 3114.

e Lions picked up their pace in the third quarter. Running back ShunDerrick Powell who has been doing really well this season completes a 52-yard run for the touchdown and Sam Contorno follows it up with a good kick. e score is now 31-21.

A few minutes later Demarcus Lacey received a pass from Noah Walters also fol lowed by Sam Contorno to make the score 31-28. e pace is picking up and the Lions are putting up a good ght at this point. JSU also picked up the pace scoring a eld goal as well as a 60 yard run making the score 41-28.

A few minutes into the fourth quarter kicker Sam Contorno scores a eld goal making the score 41-31. is will be the last points the Lions score. JSU responds with two more eld goals making the nal score 47-31.

A er this game, the Lions are now 1-5 overall. With everything the University has been advertising about us nally being es tablished into Division I, we are not holding up to it in football as of right now.

e Lions did put up a good ght and you can tell looking at the plays that they did not give up at any point throughout the

game. We have the determination for Di vision I, we just need the wins to prove it. We have a lot of young guys who are being mentioned a lot on the scoreboard which is a good thing and will bene t the Lions in

the future. We also need supportive fans in order to get us a winning season and prove something.

Noah Catchings Sports

Audrey Johnson Editor-in-Chief

Emma Tanner News Editor

Gavin Van Devender Graphic Designer

Trenedy Parks Staff Writer

e Lions next game will be at Eastern Kentucky on Oct. 22 at 2:00 p.m.

Photo courtesy @una_football

Photo courtesy @una_football

Kellett discovers kinship far om home

by KELLEY PETERS Sta Writer

Charlotte Kellett, a women’s soccer play er at the University of North Alabama, nds community and friendship within her team.

Originally from Colchester, England, Kellett started playing soccer at a early age.

“I’ve been playing football since I was four,” Kellett said. “My twin brother played, and I wanted to be better at ev erything than him. He was playing, so I started playing. At lunchtime, I’d go play football with the boys.”

A er playing soccer throughout school, Kellett decided to come to UNA in 2019 and pursue a degree in exercise science. She is working to earn her master’s degree in May. With this degree, she hopes to be come a teacher or coach at a high school or college. Before beginning work, Kellett plans to go home and try to nd opportu nities to continue playing soccer for a bit longer.

Kellett chose UNA because of the diver sity of the coaches and team.

“ e coaches were all English at the time, so they ew over and watched me play,” Kellett said. “ ere was also another English girl here, so that was familiar. You don’t really want to go somewhere where they don’t have any international students. It also seemed very family-oriented and looked like a good program. e campus is really pretty, and Florence is a nice town.”

With seven international students on the team, Kellett feels that those who come from other countries to play soccer at UNA feel more at home than they would elsewhere.

“I think that, to an extent, the interna tional students group together,” Kellett said. “We talk about football at home. e [European Championships] just hap pened. Malin’s from Sweden, while four of us are from England, and we played each other in the nals. Kira was also a part of that because she’s from Germany, and we played them. It was funny to banter back and forth because England won. We do group together, but then the Americans take you in as family. I think that everyone has their close-knit groups.”

e team environment and the relation ships between team members and coaches have been the key determiners in how the season has gone thus far. Kellett has high hopes for the remainder of the season and, hopefully, the conference tournament.

“We started o really good, and then with conferences, it was hard,” Kellett said. “ ere’s never an easy game. We opened up with two draws, and we lost a couple games, but we brought it back. We’d be playing well and just didn’t get the result [we wanted]. It doesn’t always go your way. Even if you’re the better team, you don’t always win. We just had a really success ful weekend. We had two wins, which was great. Hopefully we can keep that going, get two more wins and make the confer ence tournament. e coming weeks are really important for us.”

As a forward, Kellett has played in 61 career matches and has started in 45, with six goals scored. She takes pride in being a hard worker and a good communicator with her coaches and teammates.

“I always want to be better than the day before, so I work really hard,” Kellett said. “I’m also quite aggressive and strong with the ball.”

During her time at UNA, Kellett feels that her shots have gotten better. rough work with her coaches, she has practiced ball placement when shooting, as well as building strength and aggression during games.

Putting in the work needed to constant

ly improve can be challenging, especially while pursuing a master’s degree.

“We travel a lot,” Kellett said. “ is year, we had a bunch of ve-day trips, which was hard because in grad school, you have su per long classes. If you miss a class, you’ve missed around three hours of content. at’s been hard, but they’ve really worked with us. We tend to be away on ursdays, so we miss [that day’s] class a bunch, but our teacher worked with us and recorded it on Zoom, which was really helpful. e long days and traveling, especially getting back late on Sundays, is di cult.”

Having played soccer while attending college for years, Kellett has had a chance to adjust to the gradually increasing work load. She has found that her friends, boy friend and parents at home keep her moti vated to keep going.

In her free time, she likes to go walking on trails around Florence. Because she grew up participating in water sports with her family, she also enjoys nding time to do water activities with friends and team mates.

rough adjusting to life in America, Kellett has found a place she feels at home: with her team.

“It’s such a family,” Kellett said. “We al ways hang out or grab food together. It’s a good atmosphere. We have a really good team dynamic at the moment. We’re al ways laughing with the coaches. Obvious ly, we’re serious when we need to be, but it’s always fun. As long as you keep it fun, you’re always going to enjoy it.”

Upcoming UNA Sports Schedule

Football

Oct. 22 at Eastern Kentucky 2 p.m. Richmond, Ky.

Oct. 29 at Central Arkansas 4 p.m. Conway, Ark.

Volleyball

Oct. 21 at Austin Peay 6 p.m. Clarksville, Tenn.

Oct. 22 at Lipscomb 6 p.m. Nashville, Tenn.

Men’s Tennis

UTC Steve Baras Classic Oct. 28-Oct. 30 Cha anooga, Tenn.

Women’s Tennis

Bellmont Fall Invitational Oct. 28-Oct. 30 Nashville, Tenn.

Men’s Basketball

Nov. 7 vs Oakwood 7:45 p.m. Florence, Ala.

Women’s Basketball

Nov. 7 vs Christian Brothers 11 a.m. Florence, Ala.

Soccer

Oct. 26 vs Central Arkansas 6 p.m. Florence, Ala. Oct. 22 vs Jacksonville 1 p.m. Florence, Ala.

Women’s Golf

Terrier Intercollegiate Oct. 24-Oct. 25 Spartanburg, S.C.

Cross Country

Atlantic Sun Conference Oct. 29 at 8:45 a.m. Huntsville, Ala.

A portrait of Charlotte Kellett.

Photo Courtesy of UNA Athletics

“It’s such a family... We have a really good team dynamic at the moment. We’re always laughing with the coaches... As long as you keep it fun, you’re always going to enjoy it.”

- Charlotte Kellett

B y BRE GOODWIN Graphic Designer

Gavin Van Devender | Graphic Designer