November 19 issue

FLOR - ALA The

Nov. 19, 2015

Volume 84, Issue 14

www.FlorAla.net

Local shelter makes room for homeless MELISSA PARKER Life Editor life@florala.net

Students and Shoals community members are finding new ways to care for and support those int he area who cannot support themselves.

Now in its second season, Room in the Inn Shoals is a shelter supported by partnerships with local organizations to ensure the homeless have a warm place to sleep through the winter months.

Senior Caroline Bobo, a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, one of the organization’s first church partnerships, said she helps with the program at her church and sees it working.

“When Dr. (Beth) Garfrerick said my campaigns class needed a client to do some PR work for, Room in the Inn Shoals immediately popped into my head,” Bobo said.

The Public Relations campaigns class revamped the organization’s website and approached UNA’s Film Club about making an informative

video to share with others.

Senior Kahri Bolden said he was part of the group responsible for making the video.

Bolden said they contacted fellow UNA student Hunter Nicholson about shooting the video and lined up interviews for it.

Nicholson, a senior, said he knew he wanted to help after meeting Manchester.

Nicholson asked other members of the Film Club to join him.

“I’ve never really talked to anyone that was homeless,” he said. “Their life isn’t what we think it is. A lot of them have jobs, but they have jobs that don’t provide them enough money to live.”

Bolden said getting the message out about Room in the Inn and the homeless population is important.

Room in the Inn Shoals began in January 2015 after friends Manchester and Beth Howard witnessed homelessness in the Shoals.

See SHELTER, page 3A

KAITLIN DOUGLASS I Chief Photographer

Kim Dutton refills the coffee pots at Room in the Inn Shoals.

The shelter provides services during the winter months for the homeless community in the Shoals area.

INSIDE

this week’s paper

NEWS . . . . . . . . 2A VIEWPOINTS . . . . 4A LIFE . . . . . . . . . 5A

SPORTS . . . . . . . 7A SPECIAL . . . . . . . 1B EXTRA . . . . . . . . 8B

CAMPUS ICONS SECTION B

Student newspaper of the University of North Alabama

SGA conducts smoking survey ANNA BROWN

News Editor news@florala.net

The Student Government Association might implement a non-smoking policy at UNA, but they want student opinion before writing a resolution.

The Senate worked with officials in the Department of Institutional Research, Planning and Assessment to build a student survey about UNA’s current smoking policies, said SGA president Nick Lang.

“Every student is very important,” Lang said. “By taking the survey, they’re telling SGA, ‘Here’s what we want,’ and that helps us to make sure that the students have the best college experience at UNA as possible. What the students want is what the students get.”

The Department of Institutional Research, Planning and Assessment sent a link to the survey to every student in a campuswide email Nov. 3, said director Andrew Luna.

A link to the student survey is also available on SGA Senate’s Twitter and Facebook pages.

“The goal of the survey is to receive as many responses as possible for students’ voices to be recognized,” he said.

Lang said he is waiting on an update from the survey committee to determine when it will close.

A certain number of students must respond to the survey in order for the results to be valid, Luna said.

“Based upon this formula, we’ve got around 7,100 students, so we’re going to need 364 responses in order to generalize the answers of the survey to the general population of UNA,” he said.

As of Nov. 12, Luna said the department has nearly received enough surveys to meet that quota.

To read the rest of the story, visit florala.net.

LIONS HEAD TO PLAYOFFS ...7A

FLOR - ALA The

Please recycle your paper.

2A News

Nov. 19, 2015 • The Flor-Ala

JACKSON TOWNSEND I Student Photographer

Veterans and active duty soldiers stand at attention as Katherine Canlas Richey, UNA alumna and retired U.S. Army staff sergeant, speaks at the annual Veteran’s Day Commemoration Ceremony Nov. 11. Instructor Wayne Bergeron said around 300 students attending UNA currently serve or have served in the military.

Veteran’s Day program draws record number of students SPENCER BROOKS Staff Writer sbrooks2@una.edu

The campus community showed its overwhelming support for our current and former student veterans this Veteran’s Day. UNA saw the highest attendance recorded at its annual Veteran’s Day Commemoration Ceremony Nov. 11.

Past and current veterans, students, faculty and staff gathered at 11 a.m. to honor those who served.

“This is the largest attendance for the ceremony we’ve had in five years, and the largest student attendance to date,” said department of politics, justice and law instructor Lt. Col. Wayne Bergeron.

A ribbon cutting for the new Military and Veteran Support Center followed the ceremonies, providing food and beverages for veterans on campus. The Center is on the second floor of the Guillot University Center across from the Performance Center.

“It’s a space for veterans to get together and help each other with the transition from service to college,” said Student Government Association President Nick Lang.

Bergeron said around 300 students attending UNA currently serve or have served in the military. “(The Military and Veteran Support Center) is a place for military veterans to come and see what they need, whether it be health concerns or financial aid,” he said.

Bergeron said he hopes the university will establish a veteran office to help staffed with veterans in the future.

Although Bergeron said he does not want to duplicate services already offered at UNA, he said he wants the office to cover services specifically for

military veterans.

“We would like to see recruiting for military veteran students who are not in school to enroll and students or anyone interested in joining the military and earning their degree,” Bergeron said. “Having a place on campus where military veteran students can call their own and share experiences is a good start.”

Junior Reid Sherrod said he is proud UNA made a place for military veterans to congregate and feel comfortable.

“What they do allows us to be college students and pursue our dream careers,” he said. “The least they deserve is a place of their own.”

Katherine Canlas Richey, UNA

alumna and retired U.S. Army staff sergeant, spoke at the event. SGA and UNA Military and Veteran Alliance cosponsored the day’s activities.

“It’s a very important day, especially for students to recognize veterans,” Lang said. “Because of them, we have the freedom to be students and take classes at UNA.” Junior Amanda Hilliker said she appreciates the recognition UNA is giving veterans by honoring those, including her parents, who have served and are currently serving.

“Seeing everyone, even people walking around, stopping when ‘Taps’ was being played was amazing and so respectful,” Hilliker said.

”

This is the largest attendance for the ceremony we’ve had in five years and the largest student attendance to date.

Wayne Bergeron

Instructor, Department of Politics, Justice and Law

JACKSON TOWNSEND I Student Photographer

Retired Staff Sgt. and UNA alumna Kathrine Richey addresses attendants as the guest speaker at the Veteran’s Day Memorial Service Nov. 11. at 11 a.m. Veterans, students, faculty and staff gathered to honor those who served and celebrate the opening of the Military and Veteran Support Center in the Guillot University Center.

News 3A Campus safety: There’s an app for that!

Nov. 19, 2015 • The Flor-Ala

JASMINE FLEMING

Managing Editor managing@florala.net

The UNA Police Department is currently working to bring a new three-inone smartphone application to students.

The app, through the safety and mass notification software company 911 Cellular, would be primarily for campus safety, but it would also provide options to track campus buses and to replace the old parking vendor software, said Kevin Gillilan, chief of University Police.

The safety portion of the Android and iOS app would let students, faculty or staff request a campus police escort, he said. They can also choose to have an officer or contact from their phone monitor their trip through campus via GPS, making sure they arrive at their destination safely.

“If you get there, you can send a message saying, ‘I made it safely,’” he said. “If you forget to send that message, the system automatically notifies the person that you made it.”

On their routes, students can press a button that notifies police if they feel unsafe.

If they are on campus, the app contacts UNA police. If they are off campus, it

contacts the nearest police station.

“It basically turns a smartphone into a blue-light safety phone pole,” Gillilan said.

Freshman Terence Humphrey said he plans to download the app when it is available.

“It will be easier to let people know that you made it home safe,” he said.

“I think it would be much safer (to let someone monitor my route) than just walking around where I live now.”

About a month ago, Gillilan began discussing the app with the Senate branch of the Student Government Association, said SGA President Nick Lang. Although SGA supports the app, there is a holdup to purchasing it.

Since the app also allows users to track the UNA buses, it would replace the TransLoc bus tracking software SGA purchased in 2012, Lang said. UNA is still in a contract with TransLoc, so they would have to follow through with the agreement before switching over.

“Our university lawyers and Chief (Gillilan) are working on taking care of that contract,” Lang said. “Once that contract is removed, then we, as SGA, can grant them access to changing the app over.”

Lang said he supports the app because

of its added safety features.

“The app can actually track students into what classroom they’re in, so if there was an active shooter on campus, someone could press the button on their app, and the police would know where they are,” he said.

Gillilan said UNA is in year three of five with the TransLoc contract.

However, he said the Cellular 911 app is a better option for bus tracking because it will allow UNA students to track all buses instead of just the four available with TransLoc. He said Cellular 911 is also more cost efficient.

“Currently, we’re paying approximately $20,000 a year for just bus routing,” he said. “This application provides additional functionality that we’re not getting, and it’s comparable in price.”

In order to work around the contract restrictions, Gillilan said he is talking with 911 Cellular to see if UNA can use and pay for all features except for bus tracking.

For anyone nervous about having an app that uses GPS location, Gillilan said this app will not infringe on user’s privacy.

“The whole process would be

initiated by the student, so there would be no privacy concerns,” he said.

To read the rest of the story, visit florala.net.

App Features • Tracks

location of campus

shuttle buses

• Contacts

police for

emergency escort service

• Notifies

friends when a

student arrives safety at his or her destination

• Tracks

student location so

police can find the student in case of an emergency

SHELTER, continued from page 1A Howard was helping some of the homeless she saw near her church in Florence, and Manchester was helping a young man she stumbled across in Seven Points.

Each January, the federal government requires a count, the Point-in-Time count, of the homeless population across the country, she said. In January 2015 there were 246 homeless people in Lauderdale, Colbert, Franklin, Lawrence, Winston and Marion counties combined.

”

Anybody that needed food and shelter in the winter, we were going to make food and shelter available for them.

Kristy Manchester

Director, Room in the Inn Shoals Last year, one guest, a UNA student, told Manchester many students were on the verge of homelessness, she said.

After paying tuition, many of them could not meet housing costs.

“That was eye-opening to me in a sense that trying to juggle college while being homeless would be really hard,” she said. “It prompted to me to do a lot of research and see that it’s a rising issue.”

They need to know someone is there to help, she said.

“I had met a kid named Nick who was 19 and living behind a dumpster behind Rice Box,” Manchester said.

Realizing they needed to do something, Howard and Manchester searched for others concerned about the homeless.

With the opening of the Warming Center at First Presbyterian Church in Florence, they were able to fulfill some needs, but wanted to do more.

“We started just really brainstorming how we could open a homeless shelter here,” she said.

Manchester said she and Howard wondered how a couple of moms with no experience in running a shelter could do so.

They traveled to Nashville that summer to meet Charles Strobel, the priest who started the national program Room in the Inn, to ask how they could start one in Florence.

After numerous early morning Starbucks meetings and talks with friends, they opened the doors of Room in the Inn Shoals, she said.

“Anybody that needed food and shelter in the winter, we were going to make food and shelter available for them,” she said.

“Having that security of knowing all winter long, (that) ‘I know where I’m going to stay’ helps a lot,” she said.

Manchester said educating the community is important to her, and having the support of UNA students is wonderful.

“UNA has stepped up,” she said. “It says a lot to me when our young people care and are engaged.”

If college students can take the time to help, everyone can, she said.

4A Viewpoints

Nov. 19, 2015 • The Flor-Ala

Smoke-free campus needs heavy consideration

Review EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kali Daniel MANAGING EDITOR Jasmine Fleming NEWS EDITOR Anna Brown LIFE EDITOR Melissa Parker ASSOCIATE LIFE EDITOR Monday Sanderson SPORTS EDITOR Mike Ezekiel ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR Kadin Pounders ONLINE EDITOR Emily Kazungu BUSINESS MANAGER Jordan Byrd GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Peyton Lawler Michael Meigs Kelsey Weathers CIRCULATION MANAGER Alan Kimbrel CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER Kaitlin Douglass STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Amandalyn Dorner Katlyn Shannon Shay Redd ADVISER Scott Morris

Editorial Policy

JASMINE FLEMING

Managing Editor managing@florala.net

The Student Government Association is currently working with the Department of Institutional Research, Planning and Assessment to discuss results of a survey asking students to give their opinion on our smoking policy and a possible smoke-free campus (see page 1A).

Based on these results, SGA will decide whether or not to create a smoke-free campus resolution.

I personally hope students look at the possibility of a smoke-free campus from multiple angles before choosing a side to support.

There are many reasons why a smoking ban could seem like a positive move for our campus, but each of these perceived positives has a counterpoint we should consider as the student body.

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.

health risks.

Smoking can have adverse affects, including compromising the immune system, reducing bone density and heart health and leading to over 18 types of cancer, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Although there are plenty of risks associated with smoking, why does that give the university the right to monitor it?

At least one in four Americans eats fast food daily, according to dosomething. org. Eating fast food regularly can lead to weight gain, cardiovascular conditions and increased chances of developing Type 2 Diabetes.

Still, even though highcalorie foods can have negative health effects, they are not banned on campus. I personally believe, even if a substance poses health risks, adults should be able to make their own decision about using it.

3. Second-hand smoke affects those who do not make the decision to smoke.

Secondhand smoke, or the smoke non-smokers inhale from others, can lead to similar health conditions as

smoking, including coronary heart disease, strokes and lung cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As it is a completely valid concern, I suggest the university create smoking zones, or designated areas on campus where people can smoke. With smoking zones, people who wish to avoid smokers can stay away from these areas, and people who wish to smoke do not have to leave campus to do so.

University of Washington, along with other U.S. universities, designates smoking areas, so it is a plausible option for a university. They list the locations on their website, along with images of them and a campus map to locate them.

Although I do believe smoking can be harmful to smokers and potentially those around them, I think we, as adults, should have the right to do so on campus if we choose.

I also hope when the time comes to make this decision, SGA and students consider smoking from all sides: smokers and non-smokers, on and off-campus students alike.

Only then can we reach a fair decision.

Avoid procrastination to manage personal stress

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.

1. Many college campuses are smoke-free.

There are 1,130 smoke-free college campuses in the U.S., according to the Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights.

Over 24 college campuses (including community colleges) in Alabama are smoke-free, according to the organization. This includes local Northwest-Shoals Community College campuses and Calhoun Community College campuses. The University of Alabama, a more prominent state university, made the decision to go smoke-free Jan. 1.

With so many other campuses in Alabama making the change, it may seem like the best choice.

However, my initial reaction to non-smoking campuses is this: for students who live on campus, telling them they cannot smoke on campus is telling them they cannot smoke at home. I cannot imagine what it would feel like to UNA students, and what it feels like to students already at smoke-free universities, to have to either walk off campus or drive to another location just to smoke a cigarette.

2. Smoking poses many

ANNA BROWN

News Editor news@florala.net

Procrastination. We all do it. As the end of the semester draws near, procrastination runs rampant on campus.

No matter how color-coded our planners, how strict we make our schedules or how well we plan study sessions, all students will complete an assignment mere moments before it is due.

Psychologytoday.com reports 20 percent of people chronically avoid difficult tasks and deliberately look for distractions to keep from completing them.

I confess to being one of

those students. On Sunday night, I started a major assignment at 9:30 p.m. When was it due? 10:59 p.m.

I thought I did not have time to complete the assignment throughout the past week, but when I look back, I had plenty of time.

That night, when I did nothing but watch Food Network and look at wedding decorations on Pinterest, I could have completed my assignment.

That two-hour car ride to Birmingham Saturday?

I could have completed my assignment.

Now, please hear that I am not against personal time. Yes, down time is a must to sustain sanity during the semester, but time can be used in a way that prevents time-crunch stress.

The brain is only designed to handle stress for about 30 seconds, according to brainrules.com. It was not built to handle long-term stress, the type of stress that continuously

affects individuals.

This is unfortunate because when the brain is under heavy stress, cognitive functions begin to fail.

Stress damages the ability to remember basic tasks and information. When stress occurs over a long period of time, it can dampen the immune system and cause weight gain due to excessive cortisol, the stress hormone.

Sadly, many college students face this type of stress every semester, me included.

With many college students working a part-time job while attending school full-time, it is hard to imagine a life without stress and procrastination.

However, here are some basic tips to help avoid the procrastination bug and relieve yourself of unnecessary panic: 1. If you can do it today, do it.

If you have the time and energy to accomplish something now, do not wait. If you put it off today, you will

put it off tomorrow.

2. Make a schedule and stick to it.

Let’s say you want to finish that paper tonight so you can start on your other homework tomorrow. Do what you set out to do. If your friend calls and asks if you want to go out tonight, tell him or her that you have work to do and do not feel guilty. Trust, me, avoiding stress by doing things when you should is better than a lazy night out.

3.Schedule fun events at the end of the week.

Remember what I said about down time? To motivate yourself to get work done, schedule a fun night out on Friday or Saturday and do not allow yourself to go unless you get all your work done. This might mean you have to stay up late for a few nights, but at least you can do something fun at the end of the week without worrying about the work you did not do.

Congratulations to our Writer and Photographer of the Week! Xavier Wherry AND Amandalyn Dorner

LIFE 5A

Nov. 19, 2015• The Flor-Ala

An Alabama Adoption Student’s adoption story shows ‘change is possible’ WENDIE ROBINSON Student Writer wrobinson1@una.edu

Not all children grow up part of a loving family. At any given time in the state of Alabama, hundreds of children in foster care are waiting for someone, anyone, to take them in. Some stories come with happy endings.

During the summer after eighth grade, my life changed forever.

I never had much growing up. My family moved from trailer to trailer, my father was in and out of jail, I was in and out of foster homes and my mother was not mentally capable to care for a child due to epileptic seizures.

I did not like my stepfather when I first met him, and that dislike remained throughout the years I lived with him.

Soon after my mother and stepfather married, it became obvious that he was not the man my mother had thought he was.

We realized he had bipolar disorder and needed medicine to cope with the mood swings and other symptoms that accompanied his disorder. Not only that, but he was a drunk and not the happy kind. He would yell and hit my mother, sister and me.

My mother decided to leave him one day, so we packed our bags and stayed with his sister for a while.

His sister informed us that his drunken state and bipolar disorder were not the only things we needed to be aware of. We found out my stepfather was a registered sex offender.

Regardless of all the things working against my stepfather, my mother decided to move back in with him, children in tow. My sister had to go live with her dad. I, however, had to stay, at least until the summer after eighth grade.

Once again, my mother decided to leave him, but this time we moved closer to my grandmother. One night, a few months after we had moved, mother began packing her bags and talking about going back. Enraged at the thought of being beaten anymore, I put my foot down. She did not like my defiance and threw the first punch.

After a few hits, my mother called the police, and I spent the weekend in the local Juvenile Detention Center. I was put on probation for a year and had to stay within that county, which was not where my stepfather resided.

I was 14 when my mother left me to fend for myself while she moved back in with my stepfather.

I dabbled in illegal drug activities, and my 19-year-old boyfriend lived with me. I lived with my aunt for a while, but she soon kicked me out because I often fought with my cousins.

See ADOPTION, page 6A

SHAY REDD I Staff Photographer

Junior Wendie Robinson talks about her childhood and the struggles she faced growing up in a troubled home.

Her life changed when the Robinson family fostered and, later, adopted her.

6A LIFE

Nov. 19, 2015 • The Flor-Ala

KATLYN SHANNON I Staff Photographer

Shoe Carnival on Cox Creek Parkway will be open Thanksgiving evening, but Jo-Ann Fabrics and Craft Store will close its doors to allow employees to spend the holiday with their families. Many retailers have opted to begin holiday sales on Thanksgiving rather than wait until the traditional Black Friday.

Employees not giving thanks for required holiday workday ANNA BROWN

News Editor news@florala.net

Ready or not, the holiday shopping season has begun. Shoppers can begin fighting the crowds searching for those special deals as early as 3 p.m.

Thanksgiving Day. Traditionally, stores opened their doors early Friday after Thanksgiving to start Christmas sales. Business owners soon discovered if they reduced prices, more people would shop.

When business owners documented their sales losses and gains on pen and paper, accountants marked all sales gains in black ink and losses in red ink.

Therefore, the Friday after Thanksgiving earned the name “Black Friday” because of the huge increase in profit from the sales and increase of shoppers.

Some retail employees do not like the idea of working on holidays.

“I wish (businesses) would say, ‘we’re going to take Thanksgiving and Christmas and be closed the whole day,’” said Victoria’s Secret manager Marcie Linley.

Several national retail stores in Florence will open at 3 p.m. or later Thanksgiving night and stay open all night, according to theblackfriday.com.

While many people enjoy shopping on Thanksgiving, there are some who

dislike the idea of making retail workers leave their families on Thanksgiving.

“I don’t really dread (Black Friday), I just wish that they would take into consideration people’s families and stuff,” Linley said.

”

I WISH (BUSINESSES) WOULD SAY, ʻWEʼRE GOING TO TAKE THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS AND BE CLOSED THE WHOLE DAY.ʼ”

MARCIE LINLEY

MANAGER, VICTORIAʼS SECRET Senior Haley Fields works at Kohl’s and survived her first Black Friday retail day last year, she said.

“It does get kind of crazy,” Fields said. “I haven’t seen anything happen at Kohl’s while I’ve been there. I understand that it’s fun and stuff, but I don’t really see the point of getting that aggressive over something you want to buy.”

Last year, a line wrapped around the entire store, she said. The store stayed open all night and into the next day.

“Last year I opened, so I got there at 5 p.m. Then, I left at like one or two in the morning,” she said.

National retailers in Florence, WalMart, Best Buy, Target, J.C. Penney Co. and Walgreens, will open their doors on Thanksgiving Day this year to kick-start the Christmas shopping spree.

The Florence Mall on Cox Creek Parkway will open at 3 p.m. Thursday for sales at the “anchor” stores like Belk, Sears and J.C. Penney, according to store management. The mall will be open all night.

Linley said most of the other retail stores in the mall will open at 6 p.m.

Thursday for Black Friday sales.

“If people really want to get the deals on Thanksgiving Day, they need to get to the stores early,” she said. “They will probably run out quickly.”

Along with many national chain department stores, some local shops are hosting Black Friday sales.

Nellie Mae boutique in Tuscumbia is having a sale, but store management said the sale is “top secret,” and they will release information closer to Thanksgiving.

However, retail stores are not the only businesses opening for Black Friday.

Many fast food restaurants are opening Friday morning to feed hungry shoppers.

Chick-fil-A in the Florence Mall will open at 6 a.m. Friday morning. Other restaurants will open early, too.

Manager Andrew Johnston said he is scheduled to work from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.

“I loathe Black Friday,” he said.

“However, it is the biggest business day of the year.”

For more information about which retailers will be open—or closed— Thanksgiving and Friday and where to find the best deals, visit the website blackfriday.com.

drugs and became a straight-A student.

A year later, the Robinsons made me a permanent part of their family.

The adoption not only changed my name, but it changed my life. It signified that someone wanted me. It gave my life new meaning.

Although I often feel the bad choices my biological parents made could have shaped the person I became, I now have a purpose.

I live to help people and show them that change is possible.

November is National Adoption Awareness month. It is also the month to remember all the things to be thankful for.

Remember not all families are perfect.

Not all families are related by blood.

Families come in all types. A family is a group of people who have come together, united by love.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

STORES OPEN ON THANKSGIVING

K-MART DICKʼS SPORTING GOODS WAL-MART OFFICE DEPOT BEST BUY TARGET J.C. PENNEY CO. WALGREENS KOHLʼS FIVE BELOW BELK BURKEʼS OUTLET SHOE CARNIVAL GOODYʼS GANDER MOUNTAIN

ADOPTION, continued from page 5A At the end of my ninth grade year, the Department of Human Resources placed me in foster care.

I went to live with a teacher from the high school I attended. Though I had never been in her class, she had heard about me, and none of what she heard was good.

Mrs. Robinson asked other teachers for advice about whether or not she should keep me. All but one of the teachers were

against the idea of me living in her home.

The one teacher on my side taught ninth and 11th grade English. He was the only teacher that saw through the bad things and actually saw my potential and believed in me. Because of this, Mrs. Robinson decided to let me stay.

I ran away once and got into trouble here and there, but overall life was better.

It was hard adapting to the new life and breaking my habits. I stopped doing

Nov. 19, 2015 • The Flor-Ala

SCOREBOARD NOV. 13-15

SPORTS 7A

CHAMPI NS

Nov. 13 Womenʼs Basketball at Nova SE 102-61 Loss Menʼs Basketball at Saint Leo 97-90 Loss

Nov. 14 Football vs. West Alabama 52-14 Win Womenʼs Basketball vs. Barry 75-67 Loss Menʼs Basketball vs. Tampa 78-63 Loss

Nov. 15 D2 Playoffs (Second Round) Soccer vs. Tampa 1-0 Loss Volleyball at Valdosta State 3-1 Win

UPCOMING Basketball Nov. 17 Men vs. Fisk Nov. 19 Men vs. Oakwood Nov. 21 Men vs. Kentucky Wesleyan Nov. 19 Women vs. Tuskegee Nov. 21 Women vs. Montevallo Nov. 24 Women at Arkansas Tech

Football NCAA D2 Playoffs (First Round) Nov. 21 vs. Newberry

Volleyball GSC Volleyball Tournament 2nd Round (Florence) Nov. 21 vs. Winner of UWA/VSU Games continued at roarlions.com

JACKSON TOWNSEND I Student Photographer

Senior running back Lamonte Thompson (24) weaves through defenders during UNA’s 52-14 victory over West Alabama on Preview Day Nov 14. The Lions won their third straight Gulf South Conference championship and will host Newberry in the first round of the playoffs Nov. 21.

Lions win conference, host Newberry in playoffs MIKE EZEKIEL

Sports Editor sports@florala.net

For the third straight year, players and coaches rushed the field in celebration after winning the Gulf South Conference championship Nov. 14.

With its 52-14 victory over rival West Alabama, the UNA football team shares the 2015 conference championship with West Georgia, finishing the regular season 8-2 (6-1 GSC).

The Lions’ conference three-peat marks the second such streak in school history, with the first consecutive string coming in 1993-95. The 1995 Lions, who also won the national championship, were in attendance for the West Alabama game.

“Our consistency over the three-year period has been remarkable,” said UNA head coach Bobby Wallace. “I’m real proud of this group. They’re so similar to the last group to do it in ’95 with their academics and leadership.”

The Lions found out Nov. 15 they will host Newberry in the first round of the playoffs, beginning Nov. 21. West Georgia earned the top seed in Super Region two, followed by UNA, Catawba, Valdosta State, Carson-Newman, Tuskegee and

Newberry.

Wallace said the final standings did not surprise him.

“Our region is pretty cut and dry,” he said. “Newberry is really who everyone assumed would get the seventh seed.

We saw them (on film) against Florida Tech at the beginning of the year. They’re very good and even beat Florida Tech.”

”

WE GOT KNOCKED OUT A LITTLE PREMATURELY LAST YEAR. THATʼS JUST EXTRA MOTIVATION GOING INTO THE

PLAYOFFS.

JACOB TUCKER

QUARTERBACK

After falling short to Valdosta State in the first round of last year’s playoffs, junior quarterback Jacob Tucker said redemption is inevitable.

“We got knocked out a little prematurely last year,” Tucker said. “That’s just extra motivation going into the playoffs. Seeing (the selection show) point out (how good) all the other teams from other regions are and not our region gives us a little startup juice.

This is a good year for us to go a long way.”

If the Lions advance past Newberry, they will face the winner of Catawba and Tuskegee, both of which did not play UNA this season.

While Wallace is happy to play someone new and outside the GSC, he said it will be a challenge to study an unusual opponent with a short amount of time to prepare.

“We usually get rematches with GSC teams (in the playoffs), but we escaped that this year,” Wallace said. “If we can get to the last region game, we may get to rematch with a GSC team, but the first two will not be against someone we’ve already played. It will be a lot more interesting.”

With UNA’s two losses coming on the road, nobody has beat the Lions inside Braly Stadium in 2015. Sophomore wide receiver Dre Hall said hosting in the playoffs gives the team a confidence boost.

“Hosting is a big thing during the playoffs,” Hall said.

“The fans are what help the most. We like having the fans support us.”

Hall’s teammate, senior linebacker Antonio Curry, said having a home crowd of 10,000 not only encourages the Lions but also distracts opposing teams.

“Our crowd is great,” Curry

said. “It really feels like we have a 12th man out there on the field. Anytime you can get a home playoff game, it’s an advantage. ” Curry said the key to a championship run in the postseason is to continue moving forward.

“Those losses were a test of our character,” he said.

“When you lose games, it’s in the past. It’s what you do next that counts. We showed our perseverance winning the conference championship. We need to continue that going into the playoffs.”

The first round playoff game against Newberry kicks off at noon Nov. 21 inside Braly Stadium.

SUPER REGION 2 1.

2.

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WEST GEORGIA NORTH ALABAMA CATAWBA VALDOSTA STATE CARSON-NEWMAN TUSKEGEE NEWBERRY

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Last-second score ends Lionsʼ season KADIN POUNDERS

Associate Sports Editor sports@florala.net

The UNA soccer team’s season ended Nov. 15 with a 1-0 loss to Tampa in the second round of the NCAA Division II South Region Tournament.

With just two seconds left in the game, Tampa’s Cici Gonzalez found a goal to end the Lions’ season in heartbreaking fashion.

“When you get to the Sweet 16, anything can happen at that point,” said head coach Chris Walker. “We played well against Tampa, but we didn’t make the possession count and came up a little short at the end.”

The Lions, who finished 15-3-2 and 10-2 in the Gulf South Conference, had their chances in the game. UNA out-shot the Spartans 16-12 and had five shots on goal to Tampa’s three. However, the only shots that really count are the ones in the net. In that regard, Tampa was better.

“You play until the final whistle,” said junior and First Team All-GSC defender Susan Lang. “You play until the last second. Tampa did and got the goal. It’s just a hard one to swallow, losing with that little time left.”

Tampa contained senior forward Chloe Richards, who was only able to take four shots in the game. Richards is Division II’s leading scorer with 30 goals on the season.

“As you get into the postseason, it’s always going to be more difficult to score goals,” Richards said. “Defenses get better when you get further into the

national tournament, and I knew I was going to be heavily marked. (Sunday), the goal was to get the ball to my feet, lay it off and go from there. We just couldn’t get enough opportunities on goal.”

Freshman Kylie Huey and junior Ele Costello took four shots each while freshman Margarida Sousa finished with two shots on goal.

The Lions did not end the way they wanted, but no one can deny the success UNA had this season.

The GSC coaches picked the Lions to finish third in the conference, but UNA defied expectations, winning both the regular season and the conference championship.

“The season can’t be judged on the last kick of the game, basically,” Walker said. “To win the regular season — our conference isn’t easy at all — then to win the conference the way we did was remarkable as well.

UNA held a remarkable 9-1-1 at home this season and hosted regionals, which was also a first for the soccer program.

“At the beginning of preseason, Chris (Walker) sat us down and asked everyone to come with some goals for this season,” said Huey, who earned GSC co-Freshman of the Year honors. “I am pretty positive we met a lot of those goals we picked, which says a lot. I could not write a better story for my freshman year. This season was one for the books.”

The end of the 2015 season also marks the end of collegiate careers for two Lions. Richards and fellow senior Melanie Leonida played their final match in a UNA kit Sunday afternoon, but

TORI PATTERSON I Student Photographer

Junior midfielder Stacey Webber sprints with the ball during UNA’s second-round playoff game against the University of Tampa Nov. 15. The Spartans eliminated the Lions, scoring with two seconds left in the game.

both leave legacies of determination and leadership.

“I hope that I’ve instilled that hard work clearly achieves what you want to achieve,” Richards said. “I think that mindset has had an effect on the other players, and I hope that’s something that continues.”

Leonida’s only wish is her career left an impact on her teammates.

“I like to think my leadership skills helped the team this past season and in previous seasons,” she said. “I hope that

I’ve shown the girls how to be a leader and the attributes you need on and off the field to be successful.”

As successful as the Lions were this season, Walker is optimistic that the future is just as bright for his team.

“We have a great junior class that will hopefully step into (Richards and Leonida’s) roles and do a good job there,” he said. “I think we’ve got a great class coming up. We lose two good players, but we’re excited about what the future holds.”

Newly formed swim club ‘makes a splash’ JAKE RODGERS

Student Writer jrodgers2@una.edu

UNA added a swim team to its club list this semester. As the popularity of the club continues its growth, more and more students are anxious to get their feet wet.

The requirement to form a club on campus includes a minimum of 10 participants.

When head swim coach Ryan Wolf, swim team President Stormy Spencer and Vice President J.T. Gilley walked into the meeting, they found 30 students waiting to sign up for the club — far more students than the staff anticipated.

Wolf said the person behind the program is UNA’s Senior Administrative Assistant for University Events Gigi Broadway.

Broadway said when she was hired

by Director of Events Bret Jennings, he

AMANDALYN DORNER I Staff Photographer

A student on the swim team pushes off the wall preparing for a backstroke during practice. UNA added the swim club this semester and has 47 members.

took her on a campus tour. When they went to the off-campus book store and saw no UNA swimming shirts, she said she knew that had to change.

“He was showing me the shirts because I needed some UNA apparel.

They had UNA bass fishing and UNA softball, but not UNA swimming. I told him my dream was to have a shirt that said UNA swimming.”

Her dream came true, as Broadway said the shirts will come in this week.

Broadway, a life-long advocate of the sport, is the adviser for the group.

Although her role does not require her to be at practices, she said she enjoys being around enthusiastic students eager to swim.

“I go to most of the practices, since we’re just getting started,” she said. “I’m there to support them, and if there’s any questions, I’m there to help as well as to encourage. I’d say I’m there a good 90 percent of the time.”

Since the swimming season is from February to September and the first meeting was Oct. 6, the UNA Swim Team will have to wait until next semester to compete against other universities.

However, competition is not the main priority for the members.

Wolf said one of the reasons for the growing success of the swim team is how

relaxing and calming the pool is.

“We no longer have a beginner group, but now more of a medium class,” Wolf said. “The team has done everything right in a short amount of time. Feeling comfortable in the water is key with the opportunity to succeed against competition.”

Each week, members affiliated with the club recruit more students to join the swim team. As each practice begins, either some of the swimmers bring a friend or new faces join the team by word-of-mouth.

Even UNA athletes are joining in on the fun and taking advantage of the pool for extra exercise. Members from the cross-country team, basketball team and a few football players have reached out and participated in some swim team practices.

With the rapid succession of the swim team, some members are looking for more challenges.

“We are mainly doing cardio for right now, but I would like to do more (exercises) in the future,” said swim team member Josh Basham.

As membership has increased to 47, there is no sign of slowing down the team’s progression.

“The sky’s the limit for the swimmers,” Gilley said.

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design by MICHAEL MEIGS I Graphic Designer

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Alumni project survives decades of history JASMINE FLEMING

Managing Editor managing@florala.net

The Memorial Amphitheater is the place to gather for some of UNA’s most prominent events — The Big Deal, Culture Fest and Take Back the Night to name a few.

As much as current students might feel it is only a part of their history at UNA, the Memorial Amphitheater’s history goes back decades to humble beginnings.

The Memorial Amphitheater started out as a clearing for Locust Dell Academy students to gather for campus activities, according to the UNA World War I Memorials pamphlet by Robert Steen, a former director of human resources and affirmative action at UNA. Locust Dell Academy was a girl’s school that operated from 1834-1843.

When LaGrange College became Florence Wesleyan University, the university’s second name, it moved to the current Florence location, and the university created a stage for the area in 1919, according to the pamphlet.

This area held events such as the Alabama Historical Pageant and meetings for veterans.

During World War I, 288 students at State Normal School at Florence, the university’s third name, left school to fight in the war, and previous Alumni Secretary Susan Jones Price decided to plan an amphitheater construction to honor them, according to a Jan. 15, 1934, article in The Flor-Ala.

”

THIS IS WHERE WE USED TO SIT WITH

OUR BEST BEAU OR GAL ON A BALMY SPRING EVENING OR MAYBE EVEN A COLD WINTER NIGHT.

SARA SPAIN

FEATURE EDITOR 1956 THE FLOR-ALA Price enlisted alumni help to fund a majority of the project, raising nearly $3,000, according to the article.

The university took Price’s idea to the Olmstead Brothers, two Massachusetts architects, who worked with Price’s design.

Almost 15 years later from the time they met, in 1934, the Civil Works Administration built the Amphitheater, which looked similar to its current design.

The Amphitheater underwent a few more changes, including the addition of lights and refurbished steps over the years, but one thing has remained the same: it has always been a place for students to gather and enjoy events.

“This is where we used to sit with our best beau or gal on a balmy spring evening or maybe even on a cold winter night,” said Sara Spain, the 1956 feature editor of The Flor-Ala. “This is where he finally got up courage to ask her to marry him.

This is the stage from which we made our famous speech for the presidency of the SGA. This is the place where our college life ended as we walked across the stage to receive our diploma.”

In her article, Spain said the Memorial Amphitheater had held events like plays and dances in years past.

Now, the Amphitheater hosts many gatherings, and current

students make their own memories.

Senior Donglin Jia said he has heard a lot of excellent music at concerts at the Memorial Amphitheater.

“I really liked the music I have heard at all of the events I have went to,” he said. “UNA has a lot of great musicians, and the music at different events is a great part of UNA.” The Big Deal was a significant memory for freshman Alex Curling.

“When I first got here, I went to the Big Deal at the Amphitheater, and it was hype,” he said. “I loved seeing so many different people come together there and realize that we are all UNA students regardless of our age.”

Senior Katrina Helms said one of her most memorable amphitheater moments was the response to an unexpected guest speaker.

“One time when the (openair preacher) was spewing his hate, a guy got up and started playing his guitar and singing loving Christian songs,” she said. “It was quite nice.”

Pride keeps Victory Flame burning EMILY KAZUNGU Online Editor online@florala.net

The Victory Flame, a symbol of pride at UNA, burns brightly in front of the Guillot University Center.

“It’s the flame we light when we have some sort of event we want to celebrate,” said Director of Engineering, Maintenance and Grounds Mike Thompson.

Some UNA students are aware of the Victory Flame and consider it an important part of campus.

“I like (the Victory Flame),” said freshman Ryleigh Hilliard. “I think it adds something to the campus.”

Freshman Kip Capley said he really likes the Victory Flame.

“I’m glad to see it lit because it means that we won,” he said. “But when it’s

not lit, it is kind of sad because we lost.”

Senior Robert Bellamy said the Victory Flame acts as a good motivator for athletes.

“It increases school spirit,” he said. “It gives the football team a goal to accomplish in order to keep the flame on.”

The Victory Flame originally burned in front of the old bookstore as a pool of water surrounded by a gas-powered torch.

The construction of the Guillot University Center in 1986 extinguished the flame.

“In 1995, the National Alumni Association spearheaded the Campaign for (the) Victory Flame to bring both the flame and its tradition back to campus,” according to a school magazine “From Cubs to Lions: Your Guide to Success at the University of North Alabama.”

“With the theme ‘Together We Shall Achieve Victory,’ the A s s o c i a t i o n ’s Board of Directors raised over $30,000 to redesign and rebuild a new victory flame.”

Bringing back the Victory Flame was a necessary but costly project. UNA asked the community to help them raise funds to build the new victory flame, according to “Legends in the Making,” the 1996 Diorama.

“For donors who chose to give $50 or more, bricks were offered,” according to the yearbook. “These bricks could be given ‘In honor of’ or ‘In memory of’ a loved one, relative, a classmate, organization or the donor’s name.”

During a Homecoming pep rally Oct. 27, 1995, the new and current Victory Flame officially claimed its spot in campus history.

The Victory Flame was built in the heart of UNA’s campus, according to a 1995 UNA magazine. Not only was it built in the center of UNA’s campus, it was also recognized as the heartbeat of UNA.

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“When I first came (to UNA) for preview day, I instantly knew this was the school I d ye a l ll) wanted to go to. From the teachers to p a I b t “ e sk a b at the classes to the overall atmosphere, d h t n t a ’ l n l as ba (foot chool. I w hough I everything about UNA is great.” enever a h s W t “ l h a ’ll sing I , n o in hig t football, ell in s e m song co w a really t y a t t a o t n e e r ’m I r g ng to it. op o l a d might ” . u l o d l Y i . a h g d u b t r, tho ou do y good singe baske f i s r a e r you

Who is the real

Nick Lang?

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“I like to list en to rap music . I really listen to mus ic more for t he sound than t he actual lyr ics, so if it has a good beat to it, I like it.” photo courtesy of Shannon Wells Information gathered by JOHN ED DEARMAN I Student Writer design by MICHAEL MEIGS and PEYTON LAWER I Graphic Designers

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BAD TO THE BONE

Badminton guru stays active Former trainer still healing athletes MIKE EZEKIEL

Sports Editor sports@florala.net

As faculty and students walk into Flowers Hall, it is not hard to miss the man in his Under Armour brand sweatpants and matching T-shirt setting up gym equipment for his next class.

Whether he is roaming around Flowers, teaching an outdoor class or volunteering with the UNA athletic program, Don McBrayer is not hard to miss. McBrayer, who is in his 43rd year at UNA, positively influences many people on campus with his presence, whether or not it was his original intention.

“I didn’t want to come to Florence, Alabama,” McBrayer said. “I came here for a tournament a long time ago and just wasn’t impressed at first, but I look back now on the last 42 years and what a ride it’s been. I’m in the right place. UNA means everything to me.”

McBrayer, who is 70 years young and proud of it, said his love for the university is what keeps him from retiring.

“I don’t consider myself an icon, but rather a blessed person that’s fortunate enough to be here (at UNA),” he said.

“I’ve had the best job in America for the past 42 years. Whatever is said of me, I just hope it’s that I’m a good person, I treat people right, I love God and I love my family.”

Many recognize McBrayer for his badminton skills, as he earned national honors in the sport, including multiple bronze metals.

Every Tuesday and Thursday at noon, people can find McBrayer on the gym floor with a badminton racket in hand.

McBrayer and three others meet twice a week to play. As many students and staff members test his skill, McBrayer shows

no signs of rust in his golden age.

“I must have my grandmother’s genes because she lived to be 102,” he said. “I’ve been active since the day I was born. I still play tennis, badminton and other sports with all my classes. I’m just afraid to quit being active because I’ve been pushing it for so long.”

Thomas Coates, the chair of the Health, Physical Education and Recreation department at UNA, said although McBrayer is technically an adjunct professor, he contributes more to the university than some of his full-time peers.

”

I DONʼT CONSIDER MYSELF AN ICON, BUT RATHER A BLESSED PERSON THATʼS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE HERE (AT UNA). IʼVE HAD THE BEST JOB IN AMERICA FOR THE PAST 42 YEARS.

DON MCBRAYER

PHYSICAL EDUCATION INSTRUCTOR “Adjunct faculty does not usually give that much extra time to what they’re doing like he has,” Coates said. “He is one of our strongest faculty members and a very strong supporter of our curriculum. He is indeed an icon here at the University of North Alabama.”

While faculty members notice McBrayer’s efforts in and out of the classroom, his students experience it firsthand.

Senior Bekah Benson, a nursing major, said although her major does not require physical education courses, she enjoys taking McBrayer’s classes for fun.

See MCBRAYER, page 6B

MIKE EZEKIEL

Sports Editor sports@florala.net

Performing the same duties for over 40 years, even after retirement, makes it hard to deny someone’s passion.

Johnny Long, a 44-year member of the university, is part of the UNA Hall of Fame as the university’s former head athletic trainer. Long may have retired from the head position, but he still has a hand in its operation, and people can find him on the sidelines of almost every UNA football game. “(Being on the sideline) is fun, and I still enjoy doing it,” Long said. “The biggest thing I have gotten out of being here is when a player comes back on homecoming or a big event and they thank me for helping them somehow.

That means a lot to me.”

Although Long has a large impact on many people at UNA, he said the university as a whole has an impact on him.

“UNA has been my life,” Long said.

“I got my education here, and I was involved in sports. When I got hurt, I started getting into athletic training. I’ve worked with a lot of great people.”

Josh Penny, UNA’s head athletic trainer since 2003, said he considers Long a mentor.

“He is Mr. UNA,” Penny said. “He’s given me a lot of direction on how to handle certain situations. I go to him for advice still to this day. We’ve built a great mentor relationship, but also kind of a father-son relationship.”

Penny said one of his most memorable moments was at Long’s facility-naming ceremony, where the athletic training room was named in his honor. Penny gave an emotional speech on Long’s impact

on UNA’s athletic training program.

“I was very honored and excited to speak on his behalf,” he said. “I’ve been working for a long time to give Johnny the respect he deserves. He’s done so much not only for the athletic department, but also the physical education department.

“I know a lot of people know who Johnny Long is, but it was nice to go out there and tell the crowd who he really is and what he means to UNA.” Freshman Bubba Allen, who is a newcomer to the athletic training program, said it did not take long for him to realize how important Long is to UNA. “He’s not even the athletic trainer here anymore, but he still shows up for every game,” Allen said. “He’s one of the best guys you’ll ever meet. Everybody knows him around here and loves him.

The first day I walk in, I see the pictures of him in the training room. I realized right away he was special here.”

Long often jokes about being a “legend” at UNA, downplaying his honors and achievements. He said he is thankful to touch the lives of enough people to even receive the considerations of a legend.

“I tease people about the legend thing all the time,” Long said. “I don’t want to be cliché, but it makes me feel like I did something. It’s an honor. I’m just so thankful that I have been selected (for the hall of fame) among a great group of men and women.”

One of the biggest perks of being a professor and athletic trainer for Long is helping students and athletes not only graduate college, but overcome injuries, he said.

See LONG, page 6B

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University brand arches over campus KALI DANIEL

Editor-in-Chief editor@florala.net

What began as an architectural detail reflective of a popular style quickly transformed into a university brand.

When Wesleyan Hall was built in 1856, the Gothic Revival style was evidenced in the unique arch over the doorway to the main entrance. Now, that same facet is featured on almost every building on campus and even in the campus logo.

Junior Erica Davis said she had never recognized the pattern before.

“I think it’s mostly artistic,” she said. “It gives it a medieval look.”

The arch style on each building has a different influence, said Assistant Vice President for Facilities Administration and Planning Michael Gautney.

“Local architects used that similar style in Lafayette, Collier and even Bibb Graves Hall, but they would be considered Art Deco,” he said. “We also have a Dutch Revival style in Keller Hall where it’s built into a flat wall.”

The most recent implement of the arch was in the Commons Building, which opened March 13, 2014.

The architect, Hugo Dante of Create Architects, chose to keep the arch for the entrance to the building.

“The style is blended to look like it’s been here forever, but also adding a lot of class,” he said. “(The arch) is trying to relate what is on campus and make it blend with everything. It’s trying to emphasize that relationship.”

That relationship was equally important to Mindpower, Inc., who designed the university logo in 2008. Officials in the Department of University Communications and Marketing said the company took the stylistic arch they found on each campus building and saw it as a symbol of the university itself.

“I guess people don’t notice (the arch) because they are busy socializing with their peers on the way to class,” said senior Cory Moss. “Or they may be in a hurry, or simply many people don’t care to take the time to really look at architecture like that.”

Moss said he sees both the artistic perspective and the unification in the arch.

“It’s important for the campus to look aesthetically pleasing, but it’s also important for it to feel fluid and like it all goes together,” he said.

For more photos of campus arches and to hear from a LaGrange Society member, visit www.florala.net.

KALI DANIEL I Editor-in-Chief

The “Wesleyan arch” has been replicated in numerous buildings, including the Guillot University Center (top), Collier Library (left) and Bibb Graves Hall. The arch can also be found in university logos.

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What symbolizes UNA to you?

”

Football. I love to be in the crowd

cheering the team on and just having a good time every Saturday.

Sophomore

I think of the sports. All the sports are really good here, and they leave such a good legacy. I play volleyball. It’s an honor to play here.

”

The lions. They represent pride in UNA. No other campus can say they have lions.

Bailie Hannon

Carai Cortez

Freshman

”

”

everyone thinks of the lions when they think

William Ballard

Samantha Kauffman

The lions. They’re our mascot and about

MCBRAYER, continued from page 4B “He’s a vital part of the staff at UNA and in the HPER department,” said senior Bekah Benson. “He’s in the pressbox to help with stat books. He’s at school early to make sure his students have the best facilities. He’s definitely an icon.”

Junior Aubrey Champion said McBrayer’s energy encourages him to stay active.

“You can’t even tell he’s 70 years old,” Champion said. “He walks in with his athletic clothes like he’s ready to go to work. He’s so energetic, and it motivates me to be energetic.”

Kristan Miller Freshman

”

Football. Football here has shown me you don’t have to be an actual family to act like a real family. There’s a lot of pride in our team.

Jamal Jackson

Sophomore

I think of the area. I come up here with friends a lot, and we skate around campus. It’s a lot of fun.

Junior

The fountain. It’s a beautiful landmark, and it’s the center of campus.

Terresar Swopes Freshman

Dale Porter

”

My husband coaches and my son plays.

”

When asked about his secret to staying active, McBrayer provided a simple answer.

“Back in my day, I would stay outside from daylight until dark,” he said. “We didn’t have cell phones back then. We were always doing something active in our neighborhood, whether it’s playing football in the yard or riding bicycles.

“I knew from day one that I would be one to stay active. I had a love for sports and for being active, I stayed involved and here I am.”

Information compiled by Life Editor Melissa Parker

I think of our mascots, Leo and Una, and how they represent UNA’s spirit.

KAT SHANNON I Staff Photographer

”

Freshman

”

The lions. When you see UNA stuff, you see the lions.

UNA.

Faith Whisman

Freshman

Freshman

LONG, continued from page 4B

”

UNA means everything to him, and I think UNA as a whole cherishes the fact that he’s around.

Leslie Taylor

Junior

Junior Leslie Taylor, who works in the athletic training room, said it encourages her to see Long still involved in the program.

“He’s definitely a mentor and here to encourage us,” Taylor said. “He is very knowledgeable and experienced, so it’s really good to have him on the sidelines.

UNA means everything to him, and I think UNA as a whole cherishes the fact that he’s around.”

Large 1 BR apt. Safe, quiet, well-maintained. Hardwoods, patio, garage, laundry. $475 with most utilities. 702 Sherrod Ave, 256-648-1365.

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1974

first Leo adopted by UNA president Dr. Robert M. Guillot

1988 Leo I dies

July 1988 Leo II comes to campus

Nov. 18, 2002 siblings Leo and Una are born

2000 Leo II dies

1997 Leo II selected nation’s “Second Best Mascot” by Sports Illustrated

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photo courtesy of Shannon Wells

March 2003 Leo and Una come to UNA

2012 Leo and Una rank No. 1 in Totalsports.com 25 Best Real Animal Mascots in College Football

design by PEYTON LAWLER I Graphic Designer information gathered by SPENCER BROOKS I Staff Writer

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Nov. 19, 2015 • The Flor-Ala