Nov. 7 Issue

Page 1

STUDENTS, FACULTY DISCUSS VETERANS DAY CEREMONY SPECIAL SECTION 1B

Nov. 7, 2013

Volume 82, Issue 12

www.FlorAla.net

Student newspaper of the University of North Alabama

FOOTBALL

CHAMPIONSHIP IN SIGHT

CONSTRUCTION

Commons Building will not be named for professor PAIGE SHEFFIELD

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photo by DALLAS MOORE I Staff Photographer

Luke Wingo scores the game-winning touchdown in overtime against the University of West Alabama. UWA was leading 27-24 when Wingo successfully completed a quarterback sneak to bring the Lions to a 31-27 victory.

Another win propels Lions to Championship position MATT SULESKI

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he UNA football team defeated the University of West Alabama 30-27 in overtime during their Nov. 2 game. The win leaves the Lions in position to win at least a share of the Gulf South Conference championship when they play Florida Institute of Technology on Nov. 9. “It’s complicated right now,” said Head Coach Bobby Wallace. “But if we win next

INSIDE

this week’s paper

week, we know we’ll be conference champions.” Offensive coordinator Cody Gross was the starting quarterback for the Lions when they won three consecutive national championships in the mid1990s. Gross showed up to the offensive meeting on Friday, Nov. 1 with his hand in his jacket. Gross had the five rings he had won as a player and coach on his hand. “I never bring them out, but I did then,” Gross said. “After I got done talking, I pulled

NEWS................2A PUZZLES.............5A VIEWPOINTS.........7A

my hand out of my pocket and showed them my rings. I told them, let’s get started on my other hand.” The team celebrated after the UWA victory, but Wallace did not want his team to lose focus and “drop an egg” against Florida Tech, he said. “We took a big step tonight,” Wallace said. “But we gotta finish it off next week.” The Panthers are 3-6 this season and average 338.1 yards per game on offense. Florida Tech has outscored an average of 31.7 to 23.0 each game this

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

season. UNA is currently 6-2 overall and 5-1 in conference play after starting the season 1-2. “Nobody was pointing fingers at each other when things didn’t go our way,” Gross said. “The defense didn’t point fingers at us when we struggled and we haven’t pointed our fingers at them when they struggled.” Gross contributes the teamwork to the way the team feels about each other, he said.

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he Honorary Degrees and Building Names Committee declined naming the Academic Commons Building after history professor Larry Nelson, despite a petition signed by 1,107 students and faculty members last semester. According to the Committee report, “In discussing the request, the committee necessarily had to consider the broader precedent that would be established by naming a building for an individual still actively employed at UNA. The committee was unanimous in its conclusion that there are moments in time (such as retirement or as a memorial) when some form of recognition is appropriate and should be considered, but that such a time is not upon us in this instance. The request, therefore, is respectfully declined.” Nelson has worked at UNA as a professor for 29 years and was diagnosed with a grade-IV brain cancer last spring. He said he was both appreciative and humble about the petition. “I’m actually a bit embarrassed, aren’t you supposed to drop half a mil and be deceased?” Nelson said. SGA will not challenge the committee’s decision as the Honorary Degrees and Building Names Committee has the final word. “We do not wish to challenge the committee and we have ways of recognizing Dr. Nelson in other ways,” said

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$21,000 FOR GPS UNITS? ...3A

Please recycle your paper.

2A NEWS

SAFETY

Nov. 7, 2013 • The Flor-Ala

TECHNOLOGY

Campus responds to Angel malfunctions Officials deem fire drill conduct unsatisfactory JASMINE FLEMING

;\INN ?ZQ\MZ RNTMUQVO (]VI ML] Residence hall fire drills were considered unsatisfactory due to a lack of student response time this semester. “We had a mixture of times that were not up to what the city or university’s standards would be,� said Kevin Jacques, director of residence life. “We also had some people that were extremely laxed in their sense of urgency when the alarm went off. Had it been a real fire, they would have died.� Each building is required to go through a fire drill each semester, said Vice President of Student Affairs David Shields. “We do one for each building,� Shields said. “We do these drills with the fire department so that they can validate and time our fire drills. We’re required by law to do these drills.� Alarms should be taken very seriously and evacuation protocol is listed on the back of each resident’s door, Jacques said.

�

WE ALSO HAD SOME PEOPLE THAT WERE

EXTREMELY LAXED IN THEIR SENSE OF URGENCY WHEN THE ALARM WENT OFF. HAD IT BEEN A REAL FIRE, THEY WOULD HAVE DIED.

KEVIN JACQUES “When the student hears the alarm, they are to put their shoes on, grab anything nearby that they need, and go down the nearest stairwell,� Jacques said. “Depending on what building they’re in, there’s a parking lot they are supposed to go to.� Whether the alarm is for a real fire or for a fire drill, all alarms should be taken seriously, Jacques said. “When an alarm goes off, treat it as a fire,� Jacques said. “We can’t plan fires, so we have fire drills. Sometimes the alarms go off because of smoke or something that happened in the building, but every person in the building needs to treat all alarms as a fire because it really is a life or death situation.� Sophomore Sarah NcNeely believes students will respond better to fire drills when they know when they will be occurring, she said. “When people don’t have any notice about fire drills, that’s when problems occur,� McNeely said. “I know they want to be spontaneous, but if you’re taking a shower or something it’s hard to respond right away.� McNeely also thinks the university should go over the procedure better for the alarms, she said. “The procedure is posted on the back of the doors,� McNeely said. “But at the same time, have you ever actually

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photo illustration by MARIE KARERA I Student Photographer

Students are upset as an error occurs while using Angel for a school assignment. The recent issues with the site were caused by a misconfiguration made by Blackboard, Inc. during a move to cloud-based data hosting, said Coordinator of Academic Technology John McGee.

JILL GLOVER

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Emails with the subject line “Angel timeout� have likely frequented the inboxes of student and faculty Portal accounts this past week, due to a misconfiguration made by Blackboard, Inc. during system maintenance. “On 10/25/2013, Blackboard had scheduled Angel to be moved from the Angel datacenter to the Blackboard’s cloud-based hosting,� said John McGee, coordinator of academic technology, via email. “The timeout issues were a result of misconfiguration made by the Blackboard, Inc. hosting team during the move.�

Regardless of recent hiccups, Angel remains the most reliable learning management system the university has used to date, McGee said. “Overall, Angel has been much more reliable than the previous LMS,� McGee said. “[It] was nearing end-of-life and was hosted on UNA servers. The move to Angel provided more features, improved stability, and more robust disaster-recovery options. Other than this initial stumble with the configuration, Blackboard, Inc. hopes this move to their cloud-based hosting will improve the reliability of our Angel system.� A system upgrade is currently under consideration, McGee said. “UNA is, and has been, evaluating Learning Management Systems for po-

tential replacement of Angel,� McGee said. Christian Baynes, the previous SGA representative for distance learning, thinks the university could do better, he said. “Angel does not have the best layout, and it’s not the most user friendly,� Bayens said. “There’s something better out there. I know Blackboard has an app that in some cases runs better than their online version.� Junior Natalie Martin wishes university technology professionals would give faculty members advance notice, she said. “If they are going to work on Angel

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RSO

Model UN group places in competition SIERRA KENNEDY

;\]LMV\ ?ZQ\MZ [SMVVMLa (]VI ML] Students participating in the UNA Model United Nations organization won an award for the “Outstanding Position Paper for Food and Agriculture Organization Council� at the 2013 National Model United Nations D.C. Conference, during the last week of October. The group recieved the award while representing the country of Tunisia at the conference. “Once a semester, UNA Model UN goes to a convention or conference to represent a country,� said Leah Graham, Model UN campus adviser. “There students can debate issues like education, gun rights, war, water and human rights.� The purpose of Model UN is to inspire learning about politics in the world and teach students skills in diplomacy, leadership and political agency, according to their webpage.

Model UN encourages students to become mock delegates of a country by participating in a UN committee, Graham said. “At conferences, students push their interests for the country they’re representing and try to find a happy medium for the rest of the world,� Graham said. “At these conventions, members realize why it is so hard to get the world to be concerned about these issues.� Model UN students take a lot of time to prepare for their upcoming conventions and conferences, Graham said. “Before every convention delegates write a policy paper explaining their country’s stance on the issues being discussed,� said Sarah Schiavone, Model UN member. “Then before meeting with other delegates you begin writing working papers that eventually become draft resolutions.� Once a member finishes their draft resolution it is then voted on to become a

resolution using diplomacy and effective debating, Schiavone said. “Any student can join Model UN, (and) we encourage students from all different majors to join because we can usually incorporate their major or interests into the research,� Graham said. “We also offer an optional Model UN Political Science class that students can get academic credit for.� Schiavone sees the conventions and participation in this organization as great professional development tools, she said. “I joined Model UN on a whim but after just a few meeting I realized that it was a great organization that really focused on development, both academically and professionally,� Schiavone said. “Not only was I learning about international affairs, but I was having a fun time doing it.� Model UN meets every Thursday at 2 p.m. in Wesleyan Hall’s room 222. Any student interested in joining Model UN can attend a meeting.

NEWS 3A

Nov. 7, 2013 • The Flor-Ala

TRANSPORTATION

RSO

Pastula: Additional systems cost $21,000 Marketing fraternity prepares for competition NICHOLE MORRIS

a tracking device breaks down, Pastula said. “We have 10 total buses, five routes that are running,” Pastula said. “When one of the buses with GPS breaks down it sort of becomes a problem just because we don’t have GPS on some of the buses (and) have to replace the bus that is broken

;\]LMV\ ?ZQ\MZ [UWZZQ[ (]VI ML] Members of the newly founded Pi Sigma Epsilon chapter will be competing in a regional competition in Birmingham on Nov. 15. The group will go up against other regional chapters of PSE, a co-ed marketing, sales and management fraternity, in a series of real life business scenarios, said Steven Steffel, chapter president. “Students will participate in individual competitions as well as an event called the Pro-Am-Sellathon,” said Jerome Gafford, the group’s adviser. “The people that go to these competitions get to practice their skills with real business professionals, who are also the judges. (Competitions give) the students the ability to go out and hone those business skills, while building a network around the country.” The event assesses students’ capacity to appreciate the role of a sales

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photo by Keanu Kirkpatrick I Student Photographer

Students board a campus shuttle bus during school hours. Although students can currently track the location of five of the buses through the UNA App, officials are looking to purchase an additional five location devices, said UNA Police Chief Bob Pastula.

MATT WILSON

;\]LMV\ ?ZQ\MZ UL_QT[WV (]VI ML] Safety authorities are currently evaluating plans to equip the five university shuttle buses that do not feature tracking devices with GPS units for the future. The purchase would cost the university an additional $21,000 per year, said

Chief of Police Bob Pastula. “There are plans to get additional GPS units for the buses without them right now,” Pastula said. “It is expensive though. Right now we pay $21,000 per year to operate the five units that are currently installed.” The problem is made more complicated whenever one of the buses carrying

4A IMAGES

Nov. 7, 2013 • The Flor-Ala

FEATURES OF FALL SARAH HOLLIDAY

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Autumn is my favorite time of year, especially on campus here at UNA. Generally, this time of semester is very stressful and when I get some free time, I like to unwind by taking a walk. I bring my camera along, of course. I think that UNA is one of the most

beautiful places to be during this time of year. As I walked around campus with no class to head to, I was able to truly enjoy the scenery. It fascinates me to see how many things my camera can capture that the naked eye misses. It creates a whole new perspective. So while you are amidst your studying and stress, don’t forget to take time to enjoy the beauty that UNA’s campus has to offer.

The Bell Tower on campus is surrounded by a sea of autumn colors and trees.

UNA’s campus mascot Leo rests in his campus habitat on a fall The walkway to Bibb Graves Hall is lined with hues of afternoon. red, yellow and green as fall sweeps across campus.

The cattails at the Harrison Plaza entrance of UNA’s campus blow in the wind.

The fountain in front of Bibb Graves Hall flows on a sunny afternoon.

NEWS 5A

Nov. 7, 2013 • The Flor-Ala .77<*)44 KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) “Coaches love each other, players love each other, coaches and players love each other,” Gross said. “It sounds weird in football, but it works.” UWA took a 24 -10 lead into the half of the Nov. 2 game. Tiger running back Javae Swindle finished the game with 232 yards on 30 carries. “(Swindle) was hard to contain,” defensive coordinator Chris Willis said. “We didn’t want to give him the edge, but

6-4;76 KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) SGA President Laura Giles. “As SGA members see fit, we will initiate other ways of honoring him for his service and ensuring he is still remembered on this campus even after his retirement in the future. He has touched many lives during his time at UNA, just as many other faculty members have, and that will never be forgotten by these people. It is just not possible for his honor to extend on campus in this manner.” Some students, like Matthew Jones and Will McAllister, have differing opinions on the Committee’s verdict. “I definitely understand the decision to not name the building after Dr. Nelson, said UNA student and SGA member Matthew Jones. “Even though the building will not be named after one of the greatest men I have ever met, Dr. Nelson doesn’t need a building named after him to continue to make an impact on the students’ lives.” McAllister still believes there is no other professor or individual more deserving than Nelson, he said. “As someone with an undergraduate in history who will soon graduate with a masters of arts in education with history as my content area, I have taken many history classes,” he said. “And while I have had many outstanding professors; no professor, or human being for that matter, has ever gone out of his or her

THERE ARE TWO

he got it anyway.” The Lions defense did not give up a score of any kind in the second half. Tavarius Wilson intercepted two passes inside the 10-yard line in the second half. “We’ve been a second half defense all year long,” Willis said. The Lions finished with 480 yards of total offense. The game was played in front of near packed Munipal Braly Stadium, with a crowd of 12, 526 people in attendance. Wallace had not seen a crowd like that since they won the national championship in 1995, he said.

way to stop a student that he recognizes on campus, remember all the things going on in that student’s life, and genuinely ask what he can do to help the student the way Dr. Nelson has done. Nor have I met a professor as optimistic about the University of North Alabama, or as praiseworthy of UNA’s administration.” Jones said he believes Nelson’s contributions to the school will continue to touch the student body even if a building is not named after him. “It was an honor to get to know Dr. Nelson in my class freshman year as well as outside of the classroom,” Jones said. “His legacy will continue to live on through the university even though the building will not have his name on it.” Despite his rigorous treatments, Nelson has continued teaching history this semester. Nelson does not plan to retire anytime soon, he said. Since his diagnosis and return to school, the administration has been accommodating and helpful, Nelson said. “They carved out a little office for me catty corner on the third floor so I don’t have to come all the way over here (Willingham) and go through all those stairs. Even football players and cheerleaders complain about those stairs,” he said. His wife Verlie Nelson said he does it all for the students. “He loves the students here,” she said. “This is why he is still teaching — it is his mission to help the students at UNA be successful.”

WRITERSʼ MEETINGS LEFT THIS SEMESTER.

BE SURE TO COME BY AND GRAB A STORY EVERY SUNDAY AT 4 P.M. BEFORE THE END OF THE SEMESTER!

photo by DALLAS MOORE I Staff Photographer

Quarterback Luke Wingo celebrates with teammate Kyle Crabtree after the 30-27 win on Saturday, Nov. 2. The win puts the Lions a step closer to the conference championship.

See your ad in this space! Sponsor The Flor-Ala crossword for as little as $40 a week. Find out how: businessteam@florala.net or 256-765-4427

6A NEWS

Nov. 7, 2013 • The Flor-Ala

ADMISSIONS

1,500 potential students attend preview day, game ASHLEY REMKUS

;\]LMV\ ?ZQ\MZ IZMUS][(]VI ML] Preview Day 2013 brought 1,500 potential students and their guests to campus on Saturday, Nov. 2. About 2,000 students originally signed up to attend the event, said Julie Taylor, associate director of admissions. “This number is higher than last year’s and is definitely one of the highest we’ve had in the past five years,� Taylor said. Preview Day is designed to give high school students an overview of the college experience and what it encompasses, Taylor said. Potential students have the opportunity to tour the campus and residence halls and to attend information sessions, which cover topics such as career planning, financial aid and scholarships, the first-year college experience and the study abroad program. Students were also able to browse an academic and student organization fair. “The academic and student organization browse fair was very beneficial because it showed me so many options that I have to choose from if I decide to attend UNA,� said Cherokee High School junior Amanda Marquart, a preview day attendee. Preview Day guests were also given free admission to the UNA - West Alabama football game Saturday afternoon, Taylor said. “It was just a perfect day — the weather was perfect, UNA won the foot-

8;- KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) professional, demonstrate the ability to perform in a competitive environment, test students’ verbal and nonverbal communication skills and comprehend the sales process in a business-to-business setting within a national competition, according to the national organization’s website. If the UNA chapter is able to win in the regional competition, they will advance to the national competition, which is to be held in Miami, FL in the spring. The events are also a great opportunity for students looking to get business experience to learn and network with real companies, Gafford said. “It’s an organization that reaches far beyond the collegiate level,� Gafford said. “Employers know that the thing students are prepared for by participating in PSE are the kinds of experiences they will need in the job market.� With over 20 members inducted in its first week, PSE is already gaining popularity on campus, Gafford said. “One of PSE’s catchlines is a business advantage for life,� Steffel said. “When you join PSE you are not joining a group of friends, but a network. You’re on gonna get what you put into it.� PSE offers students and members practical application through the various officer positions. These positions include chapter-specific positions such as administrator, human resources, marketing, president, finance and public relations, Steffel said. “(PSE can) really give you an idea about the career you are planning to go

photo by JAMES DUBUISSON I Sports Editor

A crowd of potential students and parents occupy the Preview Day section of Braly Municipal Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 2. 1,500 potential students attended the event that gives them a taste of life on campus, said Kim Mauldin, director of admissions.

ball game, our scholarship winner was there and attendance was great,� Taylor said. Marquart enjoyed the game, she said. “The game was so much fun,� Marquart said. I love the sense of tradition

that is shown at UNA.� Director of Admissions Kim Mauldin said those who attend Preview Day would not get a lot of one-on-one time, but that the purpose of Preview Day is to provide

them with an overview of campus. “If they [potential students] come back for a more personalized visit, they will get a look at what it’s like to be a

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AT A GLANCE • PSE MARKETING FRATERNITY WAS FOUNDED ON CAMPUS THIS SEMESTER.

• THE GROUP IS OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS AND FREE TO JOIN. • MEETINGS ARE HELD EVERY OTHER WEDNESDAY AT 5 P.M. into,â€? Steffel said. “What is going to set you apart in the job market is not your resume. Your resume gets you in the door, but your experience and what you’ve done are going to help you get that job.â€? Freshman Michael Stewart believes the organization will better prepare him for a career in human resources, he said. “I’m glad that UNA is starting an organization like this,â€? said Michael Stewart, a freshman. “As a human resources major and a freshman here, this really interests me. I’ll be joining soon, and I’m excited to be able to actually practice skills that I’ve learned in the classroom in real life.â€? Gafford said that he has encountered employers who are looking specifically for students who have been involved in PSE, and that many students involved are able to meet their future employers through involvement in the organization now. “It does give you that ability to work with people on a national level, both in education and in the professional life as well,â€? Gafford said. “We’re excited to offer this opportunity to students.â€? Editor’s Note: News Editor Pace Holdbrooks contributed to this report.

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VIEWPOINTS 7A

Nov. 7, 2013 • The Flor-Ala

Readers should contribute, offer feedback STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA

THE

CORINNE BECKINGER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF BLYTHE STEELMAN MANAGING EDITOR PACE HOLDBROOKS NEWS EDITOR KALI DANIEL LIFE EDITOR JAMES DUBUISSON SPORTS EDITOR ANNA GRACE USERY ONLINE EDITOR TEENA PATEL COPY EDITOR LAURA IVIE BUSINESS MANAGER KEVEN RIVERA-ORTIZ GRAPHIC DESIGNER LELA AARON-VICENTE CIRCULATION MANAGER WILEY BELEW WALTER HARTLEY KAYLA STINNETT ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES ALLI OWNBY CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER SARAH HOLLIDAY DALLAS MOORE ROGER WANG STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS REBECCA WALKER ADVISER

KALI DANIEL

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I was recently in the lobby at Lafayette, the Honors dorm, when I heard someone say that the writing in our paper was sub-par. “I know it’s a college paper, and it’s not that serious,” the subject said. “But I know people in high school that write better than this. It’s just unprofessional.”

Copyright © 2013 The Flor-Ala All rights reserved. First copy free. Additional copies $1 each.

pusher.” Countless times I’ve wondered if there is any consideration on how readers can change these ideas. The fact is, we have six editors doing six different jobs, all of us trying to come up with what we think this campus needs to know about. When we hear people complain, we’ve learned to take it as constructive criticism; however, I am of the opinion that it shouldn’t be all about us. This is your newspaper — this is your campus. If you have something you think is important that we should talk about, tell us. If we should cover an event, talk about something in the news or get more student opinion, tell us. If we should focus more attention on writing style and structure,

tell us. By staying quiet to our staff yet talking smack behind our backs, readers are doing a disservice to the paper and to every other person who reads the paper. Disagreeing with something written is fine — that’s going to happen, I understand. Disagreeing with the paper as a whole, however, is not fine. We all know the quote from Mahatma Ghandi, “be the change you wish to see in the world.” So if you think changes need to be made to the paper, come write. Come talk to us and offer feedback. Come give us story ideas. This is a community paper and it’s high time the campus starts to treat it as such.

Professionalism key to successful post-grad job

Letters Policy The Flor-Ala welcomes and encourages Letters to the Editor. • The deadline for submitting letters is 10 a.m. Monday, the week of publication. • Letters must not exceed 400 words. • Letters must be accompanied by the writerʼs name, mailing address, phone number and email. • The Flor-Ala prefers to publish your letters exactly as written, but reserves the right to reject slanderous or libelous material. • The publication of any letter is left to the discretion of the Editorial Board. • Priority is given to letters critical of The Flor-Ala, or written in direct response to an editorial, a column, or a news story. • When the editors deem it necessary for ease of understanding or to clarify facts, an Editorʼs Note may accompany a letter. • Address correspondence to The Flor-Ala. UNA Box 5300, Florence, AL 35632. Email: florala@una.edu. • Phone: 256-765-4364

While the student congratulated our staff and declared we were “definitely better than year’s past,” based on his prior statements I couldn’t see how he really believed that. College is a learning experience. Those of us on staff are learning what we need to be doing when we graduate — to hire professionals to run a college newspaper would be a waste of their time. To think we will be criticized for learning within our positions is ludicrous and petty. Countless times I’ve walked into a room and heard someone complain about the content or opinions written in the paper. Countless times I’ve heard them refer to a specific person on staff as being the “control freak” or “agenda-

ANNA GRACE USERY 7VTQVM -LQ\WZ WVTQVM(NTWZITI VM\

Finding a job right out of college can be a job in itself, or so I’ve heard. Often times I hear horror stories about job applications, resumes, interviews and social media “hacking”, but you know what? You just have to do it. Hang on for eight seconds and you’re golden. There are a few tips I have learned in my college career that were not given to me in class or through a worksheet or

even through a research paper. No, I’m not knocking UNA for its inadequacy as a university, but there are viable job skills professors simply forget to mention. I recently attended a journalism conference in New Orleans, LA. Aside from the hearty gumbo, copious amounts of beads and jazzy tunes radiating from downtown watering holes, I learned from the professionals in my field how to get a job. First of all, establish a strong handshake. This assures you are an assertive, strongwilled and serious individual. I can’t stand to receive frail handshakes – it ruins your credibility. Also, put on clothes for once — look like a real professional. You can celebrate in a comfy T-shirt and sweatpants with wine-drenched ice cream

after the interview if that is your celebratory cup of tea, but for an interview, dress appropriately. For women, a classic black pair of slacks is essential to our wardrobes. A southern woman can never go wrong with a pair of pearl earrings and a pearl necklace to look classy. For gentlemen, just look polished. Shave, press your pants, (even if your mother has to do it) and make sure every button on your shirt is clasped. Next, don’t just tell how you’re going to revolutionize the country and become ruler of the world, show them. Carry necessary materials such as resumes and work samples and compile them into a fancy professional word called a portfolio. Telling your future employers you have a portfolio is code for “I’m not an idiot. You should hire me.” To exert your assertive-

ness even more, bring a list of questions to ask your potential employer. And I must add, do not, I repeat, DO NOT, ask how much you will get paid. That will result in a backside ache and a restraining order. Instead, ask these simple questions: How would you describe a day in the life of this position? Would I be able to advance from the position I am into a higher role? Can I tell you about my qualifications? And to sum it up: Are there any other questions I can answer for you? Above all, don’t ask rhetorical questions and don’t ask the worst question of all questions in the world: Did I get the job? Finally, prepare for failure. If you think you’ll get the first job you interview for, think again. But with these professional tips, it may put that “dream job” within reach.

Congratulations to our Writer and Photographer of the Week! Ashley Remkus and Sarah Holliday

8A NEWS

Nov. 7, 2013 • The Flor-Ala

SGA

Senate discusses events, policies SIERRA KENNEDY

;\]LMV\ ?ZQ\MZ [SMVVMLa (]VI ML] SGA Senate met to discuss position changes, upcoming activities and policies on Oct. 31. SGA Senate elected Jordan Graham as the new Budget Oversight Committee chair at their last meeting. Graham will be replacing Tyrie Fletcher, who will graduate in December. Freshmen Forum will be selling candy grams in the GUC for $1 from Nov. 21 - 26. The candy grams will be distributed via UNA campus mail on Dec. 2. Freshmen Forum will also be having a Panera Night from 4 to 8 p.m. at Panera Bread in Florence. The proceeds from the event will go towards the SGA Endowed Scholarship fund. SGA Senate is continuing their push

)6/-4 KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) they need to let the professors know ahead of time so they will not schedule due dates on the days they are working on it,� Martin said. Nancy Atkinson, an associate English professor, said she thinks the LMS has been unreliable since the beginning. “I know that when we acquired it, it had so many problems that most of my students could not access my syllabus,� she said. “I ended up having to email about 160 students (I was teaching an overload). So my first impression was very bad.� These impressions have not changed over time, and Atkinson still refrains from using Angel whenever possible, she said. “I just do not find much use in it, other than saving the paper used in printing a syllabus,� Atkinson said. “I do not to give (like) a test this way, and I need hard copies to read (because of my neck arthritis). The Angel timeout caused problems for

,:144; KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) stopped and read it? The average person is not going to read that.� Robert Henning, a freshman, also think more information should be given on how fire drills work, he said. “They should get the information out there as much as possible,� Henning said. “I know they left a note on my door ex-

8:->1-? KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) student and will get that one on one time to get their more specific questions answered,� Mauldin said. Potential undergraduate applicants that like what they see will be admitted to the university based solely upon their academic performance, Mauldin said. “We admit entering freshman based on high school information, transfer students based on high school and the transcript from their previous institutions and both based on ACT scores,� Mauldin said. “It has nothing to do with financial information such as income; it’s totally academic� Senior Chris Vogelpohl didn’t know

for more recycling around campus and in the resident dorms. “We want to make buttons and posters for students explaining how to recycle and what is recyclable,� said Heather Fields, rules and regulations chairwoman. “We also want to create a map that shows students where there are recycling spots on campus.� Student allocation funding opened back up for RSOs to request funding for events that they want to host or attend on Nov. 1. SGA Senate proposed and passed a new vision statement that reads “To represent and advocate for students by encouraging academic success, embracing cultural differences, and promoting university pride and growth.� SGA Senate meets every Thursday at 3:30 p.m. in the GUC.

Abby Ruggiero, a freshman social work major, who was unable to turn in several homework assignments on time, she said. Kristen Wooten, a freshman, said she has not received a terrible impression of it. “It hasn’t really affected me because I haven’t even checked Angel that often,� Wooten said. Anna Dean, a senior HES major, only had a minor mishap last week, she said. “I’ve been kicked out of the Angel system and sent back to the home page where I had to log in again,� she said. “It only happened once or twice. I was just checking on assignments that I had due, but I wasn’t actually working on anything, thank goodness.� Dean actually prefers Angel over the LMS used at the institution she previously attended, she said. “It’s pretty easy to navigate. Here’s your calendar, here’s lessons, here’s your grades. It’s just all right there when you click on your class.� plaining the procedure. That’s helpful, but I know sometimes stuff like that can get pulled off the door and thrown away.� Drills will continue to occur in the residence halls until the response times improve, Shields said. “We might also start doing drills at 5 or 8 o’clock at night because fires don’t happen when everyone’s awake and ready to go,� Shields said. Editor’s note: To read the rest of this story, visit www.florala.net. of UNA having a policy for checking a student’s finances before admitting them, but that he really would not be surprised if they did, he said. “I don’t think they look at finances when they decided whether you are accepted or not,� said UNA freshman Kamisha Garner. Freshman Jonathan Barnett thought that demographics played a part in determining who would be admitted into the university, he said. In addition to academic performance, Barnett listed activities and services as other factors he thought were involved in the admissions process. UNA Senior Tiffany Wallace thought that ACT scores were probably the biggest determinate of admission to the university, she said.

photo by KEANU KIRKPATRICK I Student Photographer

Michaela Cameron boards the university shuttle bus in the parking lot of Woodmont Baptist Church.

/8; KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) down.� Members of the Student Government Association are also working to find a way to secure funding for the additional devices, said SGA President Laura Giles. Members of SGA originally approved a $2 per semester increase in the transportation fee earlier this year to fund the original five devices. “We have discussed the need to add the five units to the buses and funding that has been something we have had to try and figure out,� Giles said. “It was hard enough for us to make the decision to bump up the transportation fee once before.� The GPS units were installed on the buses when the university developed and released an application for smart phones that allows students to track the realtime location of buses as they make their routes. “I think it is a good app,� Pastula said. “I think it is worth the money we spend especially if we are going to be making some students park off campus.� Junior Andy Page does not believe that a continual investment in a GPS system is a wise use of student or university money, he said. “I believe it would be wiser for the school to use it’s money to perhaps improve the quality of living in the dorms, improve the internet connection speed and have functioning computers,� Page said. “That is what students paid for —

not GPS in shuttles that take them to Walmart or around campus. It’s unnecessary and ridiculous to think so.� Giles see the current transportation system, featuring the app and regular shuttles, as vital for the future, she said. “Not a lot of people have addressed it (the app), but everything I have heard has been good,� Giles said. “I don’t feel like a huge percentage of the students use it or the buses right now, but those who do use it, it is very helpful for them. Getting this system up and running now, and getting the students used to using it, is going to be so beneficial in the future.� Sophomore Jordy Searcy wishes that students were kept more in the loop about how their money is being spent, she said. “However, I don’t remember being informed once by email or otherwise on student-controlled budgets or being asked to vote or give an opinion this semester,� Searcy said. Maintenance of the buses has been somewhat of an issue but not a problem, Pastula said. “I think it is a combination of getting the buses repaired in a timely manner and finding someone who can actually work on these buses,� Pastula said. “The buses are old so they do experience some wear and tear, but there aren’t a lot of people around here who work on these buses so it is sometimes hard to find someone to work on them. But we do have someone who does it, it is just a matter of getting them over there and getting them back on the road.� Editor’s note: News Editor Pace Holdbrooks contributed to this report.

VETERANS DAY

SECTION B

Nov. 7, 2013• The Flor-Ala

CEREMONY

Gather to Honor Veterans to be honored during ceremony at Memorial Amphitheatre PACE HOLDBROOKS 6M_[ -LQ\WZ VM_[(NTWZITI VM\

People across America will gather at 11 a.m. to hold ceremonies commemorating the lives and service of our nation’s veterans and active military members on Monday, Nov. 11. The university will hold its own Veterans Day ceremony at this time in the Memorial Amphitheatre, barring weather issues. “UNA has developed our Veterans Day ceremony into a quality event that is shared all across our campus,” said Laura Giles, president of the Student Government Association, which will host the event. “Having the event on Nov. 11 nationwide each year helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day, which is to celebrate and honor our veterans for their patriotism and service to our country. Patriotism is not limited to veterans, and we wish to utilize this event to spread patriotism across our university.” The ceremony will last about an hour and will feature a number of guest speakers, including Col. Buddy Brook, an alumnus who is currently the highest ranking active duty officer to graduate from the UNA ROTC program, said retired Lt. Col. Wayne Bergeron, chair of the shared governance committee that plans the event. President William Cale and Giles will also be speaking at the event, he said. Although SGA is responsible for planning the event, the ceremony can be seen as a collaboration of multiple groups on campus, said SGA Senator Sarah Emerson. “It truly is humbling to see the impact former UNA students have had in our military and remember the ones that we’ve lost,” Emerson said. “It really is an amazing experience for anyone to attend and definitely reminds us of how important

our military are to our campus.” The ROTC cadets will be doing something special for the ceremony, said Lt. Col. Michael Snyder, director of ROTC. “They are going to read the names of every commissionee from our program for the Veterans Day Ceremony,” he said. The Pride of Dixie Marching Band and the university’s choral ensemble will also participate during the ceremony, Bergeron said. “By allowing the students to participate in this time to honor our military veterans, it brings us all closer to one another and develop a sense of community among our UNA family,” Giles said. The university’s Military and Veteran Alliance will create a display that will be shown in the days leading up to, and immediately following the ceremony, Bergeron said. “In the past three years, the MVA has always tried to do something in addition to the actual ceremony,” he said. “This year they decided to create a display remembering all of the casualties of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. It will consist of the 5,667 flags that will be out on the quad (amphitheatre area) in a display and should be pretty cool.” The memorial will remain up for several days as a reminder of the importance of the sacrifice so many have made on behalf of the American people, Bergeron said. “Especially these days we have to keep in everybodys mind just how important Veterans Day is,” said Calvin Lyles, president of MVA. “(UNA has) had such a strong tradition with the military going all the way back to the Civil War. It’s something that I’ve always been proud of, and I know that the people at UNA are proud of our veterans too.”

photo by KEANU KIRKPATRICK I Student Photographer

IN THIS SECTION

Eating disorders affect males See page 3B

Saying goodbye to Sodexo manager, alum See page 4B

Menʼs basketball preview See page 5B

Cross-country runner Olivia Brady See page 6B

2B VETERANS DAY

FUNDING

64,000

military veterans

call Alabama home

Nov. 7, 2013 • The Flor-Ala

EDITORIAL

Soldiers remain true heroes

CORINNE BECKINGER -LQ\WZ QV +PQMN MLQ\WZ(NTWZITI VM\

68%

receive only one benefit from veterans affairs

Since 2007, unemployment rates of veterans have doubled Veterans rely on monthly benefits check information gathered from http://www.va.gov/vetdata/

PAIGE SHEFFIELD

;\]LMV\ ?ZQ\MZ M[PMNNQMTL(]VI ML]

The government shutdown is over and veterans at UNA said they were anxious to see their benefits check on Nov. 1. These students said they rely on their benefits to not only pay for their education, but to pay for other critical expenses, too. “I have not heard of any student veterans that have been adversely affected by the shutdown,” said Veteran Affairs Specialist Jeannie Kilpatrick. “However, there were many that were nervous about the possibility of not receiving their monthly benefits on Nov. 1.” Many student veterans on campus spoke about how uneasy they felt during the week of Nov. 1. They did not know that they would be affected by the shutdown until closer to the end of October, when there was talk about the next benefit check not coming. “I rely on my benefits to not only pay for school but also my living expenses,” said Pedro Maldonado, an Army veteran. “I had money saved in the event the shutdown did not end before Nov. 1.” The Veterans Benefit Administration has gone back to work and tried to prevent the delay of check distribution by

the Nov. 1 deadline. The veteran affairs claims processors were unable to work during the shutdown, which led to a backlog of claims that caused a scare for no checks on Nov. 1. “With the shutdown over, we are all very grateful that the Nov. 1 benefit checks will go out to approximately 5 million veterans and other beneficiaries as scheduled,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki. “In the coming weeks and months, we will fight hard to regain ground lost as a result of the government shutdown. We remain committed to eliminating the disability claims backlog in 2015.” Veterans like Maldonado say they rely on these benefits, and in most cases they are their only source of income. These students assume it will be “business as usual” until January 2014, when the debt ceiling comes up for a vote. Student veterans say they are worried about another possible government shutdown in January which could put a hold on their education. They are preparing for the worst by saving and taking on parttime jobs, they said. “If things go bad in January before I receive my benefits, I will not be able to go to school in the spring,” Maldonado said. “My VA benefits are my total support.”

When I was in ninth grade, my friend’s father was deployed. Every morning at the bus stop, we would listen to her give us the official countdown until her father was home. It became a part of our morning routine and we started looking forward to the day her dad was going to be home, too. One day my friend did not come to the bus stop. Later that day, my mom told my sister and I that her father had been killed by a roadside bomb. The countdown was at five days. I have spent my entire life surrounded by a military family, both literally and figuratively. When your Dad has a military career you learn quickly that a family is not tied together strictly by blood. The entire post responded with an outpouring of love and support for the family. Students of the four post schools signed large banners and wrote cards. On the day of the memorial service we lined the streets with American flags, posters

and yellow ribbons along with the rest of the community to honor this man’s life. Many of those people had never met him, but they were there nonetheless. When my family moved to Alabama the following summer, we bought a home off post. For my sister and I, it was the first time we had ever lived off post, and it was a big change. I didn’t see as many American flags hanging outside or any yellow ribbons proudly displayed on windows and cars. I couldn’t understand how a community so close to a military post could forget about the soldiers just down the road. It almost felt like they were invisible. This Monday, we will be celebrating Veterans Day — a day meant to honor all the men and women, past and present, who have faithfully served our country. UNA ROTC will host their annual Veterans Day ceremony and some may stop to listen as the ROTC cadets read out the names of the fallen soldiers. This Veterans Day, though, I hope students stop to shake a veteran’s hand. I hope we give more than a passing glance at the cadet reading the names of those who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. I hope we pause to remember. I ask that students stop and say a simple “thank you” to our fellow students wearing a uniform that day. These men and women have made a commitment to

;MM -,1<7:1)4 XIOM *

LIFE 3B Anorexia, bulimia diagnoses include men Nov. 7, 2013 • The Flor-Ala

HEALTH

ARIEL BELL

;\]LMV\ ?ZQ\MZ IJMTT (]VI ML]

When the topic of eating disorders is discussed, people may assume that females are the only ones who are affected. However, recent studies have shown that males are not immune to suffering from eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. According to The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), approximately 10 percent of individuals who seek professional help for eating disorders are male. “I don’t know any guy friends of mine with an eating disorder,� said student Darby Garrison. “And if they do have one, I highly doubt they will discuss it with anyone. Guys don’t talk about that kind of stuff.� A major reason for the lack of discussion about male eating disorders is the fact that males are taught by society and their environment to not complain about certain issues, said Jennifer Berry, a professional counselor at Student Counseling Services and major advocate for eating disorder awareness. “I would assume it’s much like any other topic when it comes to mental or emotional health,� Berry said. “Men are typically taught not to talk about it.� Since males are unlikely to come right out and speak about any eating disorders they may have, there are many resources

1 in 10

people with eating disorders are male information gathered from http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/

available online and on-campus that can offer counseling and inspiration. “On the NEDA website they have ‘Stories of Hope’ and there are males, and females, that share their stories of hope about recovery,� Berry said. “As in any situation we always would encourage anyone to tell somebody. “ Signs of an eating disorder in both genders are generally

the same and usually appear in adolescents and teens, the highest number of diagnoses being between the ages of 18 and 24. Signs of an eating disorder can occur in patients as young as nine and can be treated in patients as young as 11. Eating disorders that are not treated early can carry over and become more extreme the older the individual becomes. A difference in eating dis-

orders among males versus females is that males generally exercise to lose weight unlike females, who favor dieting. The reason for this comes from a cultural ideal of the “muscular man� who possesses an athletic “V-shape.� The image can be seen multiple times in media and reinforced in sport and fashion industries. Thoughts and feelings of a negative selfperception can begin early on

and are heavily affected by such factors as media influence and environmental pressure. For young males, the concept of staying muscular and fit can have both a mental and physical toll, making them obsess over their fitness and health. Males with an eating disorder will begin working out excessively at ages as young as seven to acquire the perfect six-pack or “V-shape.� Male athletes such as wrestlers, body builders and runners are especially vulnerable to eating disorders because of weight requirements for their sport. However, despite the knowledge of eating disorders among males, may remain a relatively unknown issue in society. Students are encouraged to talk to a doctor, a friend, a loved one or a counselor if they are experiencing any kind of issue. There are self-checks available online through the counseling services website that can give students suggestions on what to do if they fall in the category of disordered eating or eating disorder behaviors, Berry said. For more information on male eating disorders, research on eating disorders or resources to find help and support, visit www.nationaleatingdisorders. org or contact Student Counseling Services at counselingservices@una.edu.

ENTERTAINMENT

Experimental film project anonymously ties local artists together KAITLYN TEW

;\INN ?ZQ\MZ S\M_(]VI ML]

An estimated 115 people piled into the end. theatre in downtown Florence on Oct. 31 to see “The Untitled Silent Film Experiment.� The event brought together local writers, filmmakers, musicians, photographers and artists — many of whom were UNA students — to create short silent films that were shown for Halloween. The event came together by accident, said Scott Long, the founder and artistic director for the end. “I was trying to decide what I wanted to do on Halloween,� Long said. “I realized what other

shows were playing in the area that night and I was (thinking), ‘OK, we need to do something really different.’� The writers wrote scripts for the short films and the drafts were randomly distributed to the filmmakers, musicians, artists and photographers. The filmmakers made a small film based on their perspective on the stories, the musicians wrote scores to coincide with the film and the artist and photographers created or snapped images based on their interpretations. The catch was there was absolutely no collaboration between the individuals that contributed to the films until the day of the event, Long said. “I personally wanted to see

what would happen when you throw it all together,� he said. “All these different people having never spoken to each other, some of them not even knowing each other. I wanted to see how it played out.� He was very happy with the outcome, Long said. “There were some things in there that you could have sworn were choreographed,� he said. “Just perfect timing on a few things that were just unbelievable.� For many of the films, the bands were playing their original scores backstage without watching the film that was being projected.

;MM .145 XIOM *

photo by ROGER WANG I Staff Photographer

Scott Long presents films at the end. theatre for the Untitled Silent Film Experiment on Halloween. The experiment involved the work of local writers, filmmakers, musicians, photographers and artists.

4B LIFE

ALUMNI

Nov. 7, 2013 • The Flor-Ala

16 years of service

Sodexo manager, alumnus bids farewell to UNA UNDREA RANDOLPH II ;\]LMV\ ?ZQ\MZ ]ZIVLWTXP(]VI ML]

The last day for a UNA staff member who has been here for 16 years was Nov. 1. Cem Demir, manager of Towers Hall and World of Wings, will be leaving for New York City on Nov. 9 to work with a friend in business. Demir came to UNA on Aug. 19, 1997, from Istanbul, Turkey as an English as a Second Language student. Demir said he came here without any friends, without a job and without a handle on the English language. “(In) 1998, January, I started working in Towers (Hall),� Demir said. “(I started working there) as a dishwasher.� For the next year he continued to work as a dishwasher before working up to the pizza station, the grill and the deli, eventually earning a cashier position. After that, he was moved to the GUC, where he worked at Grill 155 and A&W Burger, Demir said. He graduated in 2004 with a degree in Business Management and a minor in Human Resources. It took Demir 10 years to become the manager of Towers Hall or, as he called it, “taking the office.� He then started WOW from the ground up, with the approval from his boss Alan Kinkead, he said. Demir leaves not only as the manager of Sodexo at UNA, but also as the District Labor Manager for Sodexo for the state of Alabama. He trains on labor at eight other universities in the state, while managing Towers and WOW. “UNA and (the) people I work with make me who I am today,� Demir said. Demir recalled Carlene Blackburn, ESL instructor, and Larry Adams, Eng-

lish department chair, as two of his favorite professors or mentors at UNA. Blackburn said Demir was one of her first students in the ESL department. He was eager to learn and always did his work, she said. “I’ve just been amazed at how well he has transformed himself into a successful employee of UNA, from being not even an academic student at first (but), just being here as an ESL student,� Blackburn said. “So he has come from that — of not being able to speak very much English at all — to being able to be so proficient that he’s in charge of a lot of people, which is amazing.� Demir came through the intensive English program, but was not the best English speaker at first, Adams said. “The defining moment — the key moment — was when it was finally clear that he was beginning to understand and think in English,� Adams said. Adams said Demir was the type of person who always made his day better. “Cem is a one in a million sort of person,� he said. “He is very driven and very good at what he does.� Demir said he remembers back to the time when there was a road in front of the GUC, and students used to come to campus the night before to park, in order to have a spot. “Parking’s always been a problem,� he said. “It’s 2013, and it’s still a problem.� Demir said that although he is excited about his future in New York, he hopes to be remembered at UNA. “I promise I will come back to this area and live here because this is home,� Demir said. “I’d like to be remembered as the nice, crazy, Turkish guy (who) has left the building — Elvis style.�

UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE SHOALS • BOXCAR VOICES NOV. 7 AT 8 P.M. THE END. THEATRE

• FLORENCE CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE NOV. 16 ALL DAY DOWNTOWN FLORENCE

• SNOW WHITE NOV. 7-9 AT 7 P.M. SHOALS COMMUNITY THEATRE

photo courtesy of SHANNON WELLS

After graduating with a business management degree in 2004, Demir became manager of Towers and opened WOW. Demir leaves for New York City on Nov. 9.

• W.C. HANDY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION NOV. 16 AT 11 A.M. HANDY MUSEUM

.145 KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM * “I thought the most interesting thing about it was how the music and the film came together and as the film came together and as the scenes would hit, the music would hit at the same time,� said Tate Hipps, one of the filmmakers for the event and a UNA student. Hipps said he liked the fact that there was no collaboration. “Sometimes, in this life collaboration is one of the greatest things we can do to make something better,� Hipps said. “But sometimes no collaboration can also make something wonderful. I hope they do it next year.� Brandon Pennington, a UNA student who attended the event, said he would go back every year. “I was very impressed,� Pennington said. “There were a lot of good films. I

was very pleasantly surprised how they all turned out, especially with the contributors not being able to collaborate on the projects.� Although many of those who attended said they enjoyed the event, the possibility that this will become an annual event is uncertain, Long said. “It depends on everyone that’s involved,� he said. “The audience wants another one, and that’s fantastic, but the audience always wants something they’re comfortable with. I don’t like giving them what they’re comfortable with.� In order for this to happen again, some things will have to be different, Long said. “I feel like this experiment served its purpose,� he said. “Will we do something similar? Maybe, (but) it really depends on every artists that’s involved. Something will have to change. The stakes need to evolve, because as an experiment, we have a solution. We know how this turned out.�

SPORTS 5B

Nov. 7, 2013 • The Flor-Ala

Quote of the Week

”I

T DOESNʼT MAKE SENSE

TO RUN A QUARTER HORSE AT A THOROUGHBRED PACE OR VICE VERSA.

BASKETBALL

Team slows down pace

BOBBY CHAMPAGNE, menʼs head basketball coach on why he is thinking about slowing the pace of this yearʼs team down.

Week of Oct. 30-Nov. 4 Wednesday, Oct. 30 SOCCER Win UNA @ The University of Alabama-Huntsville 2-1

Friday, Nov. 1 VOLLEYBALL Win UNA vs. Kentucky State University 25-23, 25-16, 25-22

Saturday, Nov. 2 FOOTBALL Win UNA vs. The University of West Alabama 30-27

WOMENʼS BASKETBALL Loss UNA @ Vanderbilt University 103-50 (Exhibition)

Sunday, Nov. 3 SOCCER Win UNA @ Christian Brothers University 2-0

FOR

SPORTS BRIEFS AND THE LATEST

ON EVERYTHING

LOG

UNA ATHLETICS:

ON TO FLORALA.NET/SPORTS OR

TWITTER @FLORALASPORTS.

FOLLOW US ON

AT

photo by ROGER WANG I Staff Photographer

Tyler Pritchard looks for a play while teammate Calvin Dade back peddles to get into defensive position during a practice in October. The men’s basketball season will begin in Huntsville against Stillman University on Saturday, Nov. 9 and continue against Fort Valley State University on Nov. 10.

JAMES DUBUISSON

;XWZ\[ -LQ\WZ [XWZ\[(NTWZITI VM\ Despite being selected to finish first in the Gulf South Conference this season, the men’s basketball team will head into their first game of the year with a different pace than they have had in the past, said head coach Bobby Champagne.

UNA starts their season against Stillman University in Huntsville on Nov. 9. It is the first time Champagne has had to change the pace of his team, he said. “We hadn’t had to (slow down) in the past,” he said. “We are going to try to be somewhat fast. We are going to go as fast as our talent allows us and as slow as we need to to win.” The team did not suffer any severe injuries during the offseason and Champagne said he has liked the team he has seen on the floor. UNA lost three players from last season, including two starters — guard Kaynan Jackson and forward DeAndre Hersey. Reserve player Corey Ricks transferred after the season. The loss of Jackson and Hersey will affect the Lions the most off the court, Champagne said. “When you lose players like them, the biggest loss is not their points and rebounds — which were significant — but the overall chemistry is what is affected

most replacing those two,” he said. As for their replacements, Champagne has three players on his mind, he said. “There are three guys that will replace them — Jeff Hodge, Nathan Spehr and Calvin Dade,” Champagne said. “And Luke Corkery, who redshirted last year, will play this season.”

”

THE GOALS OF THE TEAM ARE TO WIN THE GSC AND COMPETE FOR THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

RASHAUN CLAIBORNE Champagne calculated that by losing those players, there are around 60 minutes of lost playing time per game from last season, he said. Hodge, who is from Center Point High School in Birmingham, is the sole freshman on the Lions roster. He will most likely play shooting guard this season, Champagne said. “He can play some (point guard) but probably as a freshman he is not really ready for that,” Champagne said. “He is really good at shooting, (and) he knows how to play. He is just probably a little bit better moving off the ball.” He would like to see the team win ev-

ery game this year, Champagne said. “We lost nine games last year, (and) we would love to get that to zero,” he said. “That would make my life a whole lot less stressful.” The goals of the teams are simple, said Rashaun Claiborne, a senior guard. “The goals of the team are to win the GSC and compete for the national championship,” he said. The biggest improvement to be made is the amount of shots that go into the basket, he said. “As a team, I would like to see our field-goal percentage on offense go up and our field-goal percentage on defense go down,” he said. “We are concentrating on contesting every shot, and if you can limit teams to only one shot, that would help.” Champagne would like to see more students come to the game, he said. “You already pay for it, so why wouldn’t you come?” he said. “I really want the students to know we have a really good team this year and would really appreciate it if they the games so we could give them a good show,” Claiborne said. The goal for Champagne this season is a simple one, he said. “Get better everyday,” he said. “If we can do that, the winning will take care of itself.”

6B SPORTS Running stems from junior high basketball

Nov. 7, 2013 • The Flor-Ala

PROFILE

MATT WILSON

;\]LMV\ ?ZQ\MZ UL_QT[WV (]VI ML]

Hard work, determination and skill led Olivia Brady to the UNA cross country team in 2012. The sophomore from Trussville started running to get in shape for her junior high basketball team, she said. “Back in seventh grade my basketball coach made the team run to get in shape,” Brady said. “I realized then that I actually liked running.”

”

BACK IN SEVENTH GRADE MY BASKETBALL COACH MADE THE TEAM RUN TO GET IN SHAPE. I REALIZED THEN THAT I ACTUALLY LIKED RUNNING.

OLIVIA BRADY

photo by DALLAS MOORE I Staff Photographer

Olivia Brady takes a practice run around the fountain near Keller Hall. Brady has been running competively since eighth grade.

She realized she was good at running when she was in eighth grade and was asked to come run for the high school team, Brady said. “In eighth grade, the high school cross-country coach pulled me up to the team and wanted me to run,” Brady said. “I just remember not wanting to let anyone down. I wanted to do my best and not disappoint anyone.” Brady is a secondary education major who sought out UNA on her own as opposed to being recruited by the crosscountry team’s head coach Scott Trimble. “When I was still at Hewitt-Trussville I knew that cross country was something that I wanted to continue doing, and I contacted some coaches, including coach Trimble,” Brady said. “Once I came and checked it out, I was sold.” As a member of the Honors program and the Infinity Project, Brady said she is spread thin. “Helping get the Infinity Project up and going and being in the Honors Program keeps me pretty busy, but I also volunteer at the animal shelter here in town any weekend when I’m not at a

meet,” Brady said. She has enjoyed her time at UNA, she said. “I like UNA,” Brady said. “It’s one of those environments where you can have fun and learn at the same time. All the classes let me use everything I learn and that’s really what school should be about.” When she is not competing or volunteering, Brady said she likes to try and get away from the hustle and bustle of life. “I like to just take a hammock down to McFarland (Park) and just read a book or take a nap,” Brady said. “I do try and find time to just relax and get away from things.” Her future is not exactly mapped out, but she does have some aspirations that she is planning for, she said. “Ideally, I would like to teach high school history and maybe coach,” Brady said. “Eventually I would like to get my doctorate and teach at the college level and coach as well. I’m just hoping that whatever I gain from UNA I can utilize to the best of my ability.”

OLIVIA BRADY AT A GLANCE • • • • •

CLASS: SOPHOMORE MAJOR: SECONDARY EDUCATION HOMETOWN: BIRMINGHAM HIGH SCHOOL: HEWITT-TRUSSVILLE ATHLETIC TEAM: WOMENʼS CROSS COUNTRY

• EXPERIENCE: HAS BEEN RUNNING COMPETIVELY SINCE EIGHT GRADE.

• ACTIIVITIES: MEMBER OF THE HONORʼS PROGRAM,

MEMBER OF THE INFINITY

PROJECT.

• SERVICE: VOLUNTEERS AT LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTER ON OFF WEEKENDʼS.

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VETERANS DAY 7B

Nov. 7, 2013 • The Flor-Ala

VETERANS

Alumnus reflects on Vietnam Era JACOB HALE

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Niles Floyd was registering for classes for his junior year at UNA (then Florence State Teachers College) in 1965 when an officer from ROTC called to him. 48 years later in a dining room in Tuscumbia, Niles explains to me, “I’d done basic ROTC earlier in college and they’d been trying to get me into Advanced ROTC for a semester or two, but I didn’t want to. But I knew he was going to try again.”

photo courtesy of NILES FLOYD

First Lt. Niles Floyd wearing his Army Greens in 1968. Niles was a student at the University of North Alabama when he entered the Advanced ROTC program and later was assigned to a base in South Korea to train soldiers.

Niles came over and the officer asked him, “Niles, what are you going to do when you graduate?” Niles replied, “I’m going to go work as a chemist for a chemical company.” “No you’re not,” the officer responded, “you’re going to graduate and three months later you’re going to get your draft letter, you’re going to go to basic training and then you’re going to Vietnam as a private.” Niles had entered UNA in 1963 and during his first semester, John F. Kennedy was assassinated and the war really began to escalate. “It wasn’t until Johnson took over that it started becoming an issue. I called it Johnson’s war in college. I wanted no part of it, but it was just a fact that if you were over 18, healthy, and out of college, you were drafted. So I decided to take Advanced ROTC so I could become an officer and have a better chance to survive.” He entered into Advanced ROTC and began preparing to go to Vietnam. Niles recalls those years at UNA, “The pressure on the young men in college was intense. My senior year, I was newly married, working 11pm-7am shifts at a canning plant, and studying as much as I could to stay alive in a Vietnamese jungle.” When asked why he married so young,

HISTORY

Audio interviews keep history alive SIERRA KENNEDY

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Year-round the Historical Truth 101 staff interviews war veterans, Holocaust survivors and research experts to preserve the non-renewable history of those interviewed. Based out of the Shoals, Historical Truth 101 has traveled to Virginia, New Orleans, Texas and 17 other states to preserve history through audio and video interviews. The inspiration to start Historical Truth 101 came from a desire to share the wisdom of those interviewed, said Historical Truth 101 interviewer Angela Broyles. “All of the World War II vets, Holocaust survivors, Vietnam and Korean vets all have a lot of wisdom that needs to be shared,” Broyles said. “All of their stories are very inspiring in their own words,

and our oral and videotaped interviews make sure that their story is told.” When asked how Broyles and her team find veterans to interview she said they come to her. “It’s amazing, they pretty much contact or come to us and we can recognize more and more people,” Broyles said. It is Historical Truth 101’s goal to make “truth” accessible, according to the group’s website. They seek to honor those who have actually lived history and those who make it available and seek to promote people, places and opportunities of true historical value. Historical Truth 101 has been interviewing war veterans for the past eight years through oral history, Broyles said. “We wanted to make the website available to honor the people that we have interviewed and for people to learn more about the past,” Broyles said. By listening to first-hand experiences,

viewers can get an understanding of how the world used to be, Broyles said. Broyles told the story of a war veteran who she had interviewed that continued to pray he would be able to come home for Christmas so he could meet his 18-month-old daughter for the first time. The soldier was able to come back to the United States for Christmas and hitched rides to his home, Broyles said. “A farmer carrying the soldier had reached his destination and dropped him off even though he was several miles from home,” Broyles said. “The farmer then turned around and gave the veteran his truck and told him to return it after Christmas. We live in a world today where that would never happen, because people don’t trust people anymore.” Historical Truth 101 will continue to interview war veterans, Broyles said. They are in need of volunteers to carry out interviews, do editing and to market and promote their website.

Niles explained, “Well, I had given myself a 50/50 chance of living to be 25. I didn’t have time to wait or be patient.” Niles graduated and was assigned to a base in South Korea to train American and South Korean soldiers. “It was funny actually. They had pulled so many officers from Korea to Vietnam, that they didn’t have enough for Korea. So they sent me there. God was answering a prayer I’d prayed since my senior year to never have to kill a man.” Niles’ faith was central to his life and dealing with the war. “I remember being in an airport in Seattle waiting for a plane to take me to Korea, and I was so frustrated. My wife was three months pregnant with our first child and I was leaving them because of a stupid war. I just wanted to say, ‘Screw the government’ and go home. “But what would that accomplish? I’d go to jail and my wife and child would still be without me. I realized then that I wasn’t really free.” Niles put his faith in God. “Some man in Washington was controlling my life. The only real choice I had was whether or not I was going to trust God. I may not have control over where I go or what I do, but I can choose to trust God and trust He is in control of the men in control of me.” When asked what advice he’d give students today. Niles said “Really, I don’t see a lot of difference between students back then and students today. The only difference is that we had the pressure of a war. We both face similar issues in one way or another. The advice I’d give students today is the same I’d give myself if I could go back: Strive to know and learn about Jesus Christ and trust God. Stand strong for your faith.”

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serve our country and have agreed to protect our freedoms so the rest of us could sleep peacefully in our beds at night. They’re heroes in the making, and some of them are only 18 years old. I couldn’t do what they’re doing. There are a lot of action movies promoting the idea of a superhero. We expect heroes to be able to fly and read minds, but, really, we walk beside heroes every day. Those soldiers will never have action figures modeled after them and young children will not bother to learn their names like they do for popular sports icons. The real heroes out there are soldiers. They’re people like my dad, who spent 34 years putting on a uniform and tying his combat boots before walking out the door. They’re the students who come in to class on Monday mornings after a long weekend of field training. No, they don’t wear capes and they can’t read minds either, but I firmly believe my Dad, and all of those who serve, or served, in our armed forces have superpowers.

8B EXTRA

Tweets of the week

Nov. 7, 2013 • The Flor-Ala DISCLAIMER: The tweets below are public tweets found on Twitter by searching hashtags and keywords involving UNA, Florence, Shoals and other university-related topics. Want to see yours on here? Be sure to hashtag UNA and Shoals in your tweets.

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