Oct. 24 Issue

COACHES VS. CANCER HONORS FORMER LIONS PLAYER SPORTS 6B Oct. 24, 2013

Volume 82, Issue 10

www.FlorAla.net

Student newspaper of the University of North Alabama

SGA

ENTERTAINMENT

Petition could ban smoking on campus Mix offers

new music talents DERRICK FLYNN

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photo by DALLAS MOORE I Staff Photographer

If SGA collects 1,000 signatures on the smoke-free campus petition from faculty, staff and students, senators will initiate plans to make the campus of a smoke-free zone, said Senate Pro-Tempore Sarah Emerson.

SIERRA KENNEDY

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hroughout the month of October, SGA senators have been passing around a smoke-free campus petition for students to sign.

If passed by Senate, the smoke-free campus petition would require a no-cigarette

smoking rule on campus.

Senate chose to start the petition because of the results they received earlier this month from the UNA Smoke Free Referendum Survey students were required to complete in order to cast their vote for this year’s Homecoming Court.

SGA Senate Pro-Tempore Sarah Emerson initiated the student petition after repeated com-

ments she heard on campus, she said.

“I wanted to start this petition because of how UNA is seen and experienced by students,” Emerson said. “I hear LaGrange members saying that they had to walk a tour right where smokers are and hearing students complaining about having smoke blown in their face while they are walking to class.”

Of the 832 voters, 68 percent voted in favor of adopting a smoke-free policy, 18 percent were not in favor and 14 percent had no opinion, according to the survey.

“I’ve gotten a lot of feedback, most of it being positive, and a lot of students are also passionate about this,” Emerson

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CRIME

Alleged sexual assault under investigation PACE HOLDBROOKS 6M_[ -LQ\WZ VM_[(NTWZITI VM\

A

n alleged sexualt assault in Rivers Hall was reported

by UNA police on Sunday, Oct. 13. The assault allegedly occurred Aug. 20, although the alleged victim, a female, did not notify university police until Oct. 12, said police Chief Bob Pastula.

INSIDE

this week’s paper

“(The alleged crime) was between known parties and is being investigated by the police and the student conduct board,” Pastula said.

The case does not represent a current threat to the campus community, since the two individuals involved knew each other, Pastula said. Similarly, the campus community was not alerted because the crime had already occurred, he said.

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

“If (a crime presents) a danger to the campus then we will send out a Lion Alert,” Pastula said.

Members of the student conduct board learned of the investigation during a group meeting, said Kevin Jacques, director of residence life.

“We heard about it during this past week, during a weekly conduct ad-hoc meeting that we had,” Jacques said. “This is a

LIFE...............1B SPORTS...........5B EXTRA.............8B

unique case in that it happened that night and was reported later.

Our Title IX coordinator Joan Williams is doing the investigation, per federal law.”

Once Williams has completed her investigation, the board will process her findings and determine what the next steps in the case should be, Jacques said.

Residence Life officials and

he Mix Concert brought an eclectic blend of musicians to UNA on Friday, Oct. 18.

Located in the GUC Performance Center, the concert showcased five Christian artists with songs related to their specific genre. Jordy Searcy, The Bear and the Bride, J. Forgiven, McKenzie Lockheart and Star all put on energy-driven performances.

Travis Dykes and Phillip Towns, two entertainment industry students and musical directors, put the concert together to highlight the talent in the Shoals by allowing friends and family to help produce an event that showcases local musicians, Towns said.

The hope is the concert will occur once each semester, he said.

“Basically, we created it because we wanted to give an opportunity to get their music out to a broader audience, and a wider variety for the whole community,” Towns said.

Having a different blend of artists creates more room for the audience to enjoy what they already like to listen to while discovering something new, Dykes said.

“Another reason we wanted to do this was to expose people to different genres,” Dykes said.

“For instance, one minute you will have a someone doing rap, and the next minute you could have a folk artist. The artists just really want to get their name out there.”

Each artist is doing this on his or her own time and of his or her own will, said Brett Burcham, stage man-ager and entertainment industry student.

“They’re not getting paid, so this is completely voluntary and just about the message,” Burcham said.

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FROM THE SHOALS TO AFRICA...1B

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Please recycle your paper.

2A NEWS ACADEMICS

Oct. 24, 2013 â&#x20AC;˘ The Flor-Ala

CONSTRUCTION

Graduation Hermitage expected to reopen in Ęť14 credit-hour requirements to decrease JASMINE FLEMING

;\INN ?ZQ\MZ RNTMUQVO (]VI ML] Students concerned with credit hour requirements and graduation dates may be surprised to discover that university officials have proposed lowering the current graduation requirement of credit hours from 128 to 120.

Because 128 hours can lead to a higher cost for an education, the University Curriculum Committee was prompted to approve a proposal that allows departments to lower the credit hour requirement to 120 hours that will go into affect for the 2014-2015 school year, said John Thornell, Vice President for Academic Affairs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We at the Curriculum Committee received (the proposal) to lower the requirement from the Council of Academic Deans,â&#x20AC;? said Matthew Fitzsimmons, Professor of Philosophy, History, and Political Science. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They made the proposal to initiate the move from 128 to 120 credit hours at the Oct. 1 meeting. At the Oct. 8 meeting, several departments made the change to lower the requirements for the bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree.â&#x20AC;?

The drop in credit hours is to help offset costs for students, Thornell said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A 128-hour program almost inevitably requires students to stay an extra semester or even year,â&#x20AC;? Thornell said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They incur significant cost to do so, not only in terms of attendance costs but also delay in entering the job market. As tuition has risen, we as a university must be sensitive to containing costs, and a reduction in hours required for a degree is an important step.â&#x20AC;?

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to note that the change to 120 hours isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t universal and that the

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DEPARTMENTS

THAT HAVE

AGREED TO CHANGE THEIR CREDIT REQUIREMENTS â&#x20AC;˘ BIOLOGY â&#x20AC;˘ CHEMISTRY â&#x20AC;˘ COMMUNICATIONS â&#x20AC;˘ CRIMINAL JUSTICE â&#x20AC;˘ ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY â&#x20AC;˘ FOREIGN LANGUAGES â&#x20AC;˘ GEOGRAPHY â&#x20AC;˘ HISTORY AND POLITICAL SCIENCE â&#x20AC;˘ MATHEMATICS â&#x20AC;˘ PSYCHOLOGY â&#x20AC;˘ SOCIOLOGY â&#x20AC;˘ ELEMENTARY EDUCATION â&#x20AC;˘ SECONDARY EDUCATION â&#x20AC;˘ INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES

photo by ALLI OWNBY I Chief Photographer

A speed limit sign remains at the site of the Hermitage Drive bridge, which is currently being rebuilt. With this section of Hermitage Drive closed, campus transportation and police have chosen new operational routes, Pastula said.

PACE HOLDBROOKS

6M_[ -LQ\WZ VM_[(NTWZITI VM\ The recent closing of a section of Hermitage Drive in Florence has forced students and campus transportation to find news ways of traveling to campus. The closing is the result of a needed bridge replacement that will last up to ten months, said UNA Police Chief Bob Pastula. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s getting to the point where (the road bridge) canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hold larger trucks, or busses would be running the risk by driving over them too,â&#x20AC;? Pastula said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think they are planning on being done by June of next year.â&#x20AC;?

UNA Police were informed that the bridge would be closing Oct. 7 by the Florence road department. The closing affects the route of one campus shuttle bus that travels to apartments along the

connecting Helton Drive.

The emergency route police use when responding to calls at the universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s east campus will also be affected, Pastula said.

Police are currently working with Transloc, Inc. to update the GPS so that the shuttle running the new route will not appear to be straying from the designated path, he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will just go down Florence Boulevard,â&#x20AC;? he said â&#x20AC;&#x153;If we are running lights and siren it shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t affect our response time.â&#x20AC;?

The closure will not affect police response to apartments along Helton Drive, as these are within the jurisdiction of the Florence Police Department and university police only serve as back-up response for these locations, Pastula said.

Students find this road closure annoying because it wastes valuable time and

gas, said Bailey Witt, a senior. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Well obviously its annoying, but it uses so much gas,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Taking any detour around the stadium is horrible on gas because that area has so many hills.

The stop and go of all the traffic lights on Florence Boulevard and downtown doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help either.â&#x20AC;?

Witt has been for forced to fill her gas tank twice in recent weeks for in-town travel, which has been made more difficult by cross-town traffic clutter caused by the closure, she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With the road closed itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really aggravating and I can tell that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m having to fill up my car more often because of the detour,â&#x20AC;? said Jeri Willoughby, a senior. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I do a lot of going back and forth from downtown campus and my

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RSO

Military alliance searches for office space MARI WILLIAMS

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Once many offices on campus are relocated with the completion of the Academic Commons Building, registered student organizations looking for space will turn to recently vacated spots in the Guillot University Center. Among these is the Military and Veterans Alliance, which hopes to find space to establish a Veteranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Support Center for students, said current advisor retired Lt. Col. Wayne Bergeron. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been talking to David Shields about getting us a permanent meeting place in the GUC,â&#x20AC;? said Calvin Lyles, president of MVA. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The latest Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve heard is that with all this shifting and rearranging going on with the new buildings coming up itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to be a while before

we get some kind of permanent meeting place.â&#x20AC;?

Though there is not a space currently available to accommodate the MVAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs they expect better options to open up as the new buildings under construction on campus are finished and other spaces begin to open up, Bergeron said.

The veterans need a place they can go to between classes that they can call their own, Bergeron said.

The alliance was created three years ago by veteran students who felt they needed a voice on campus, Bergeron said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We purposely used the alliance model because we want it to be more than just veteran students, we want to include faculty, staff and the community,â&#x20AC;? Bergeron said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The organization is there to number one be an advocate for veteran students, to give them a voice.â&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;?

THE ORGANIZATION IS THERE TO NUMBER ONE BE AN ADVOCATE FOR VETERAN STUDENTS, TO GIVE THEM A VOICE.

WAYNE BERGERON What the organization could eventually provide is intangible since the services it provides not firmly established as far as a certain building students can visit is concerned, said Kimberly Young, a member of the MVA. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What it provides is assurance that there is something on the way to being built, maybe before I graduate,â&#x20AC;? Young said.

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NEWS 3A

Oct. 24, 2013 • The Flor-Ala

TECHNOLOGY

DINING

Students, faculty question email usage Sodexo offers high-quality, costly steak

JILL GLOVER

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Students and professors are facing surmounting pressure to keep in touch and are questioning whether email is still fit for the task.

“I’m not really sure the younger students are responding to email anymore,” said Nick Mauriello, associate professor of English.

Mauriello said he realizes the significance in the fast-paced developments in communication and how they could affect his classes.

“There’s a lot of research out there about getting students where they reside, and a lot of students are texting more and more,” Mauriello said.

He has tried texting with his classes before, but has since decided this form of communication felt unprofessional, Mauriello said.

“It was a disaster because it blurred the boundaries [of professionalism],” he said. “Students were asking me my opinion on trivial things. If we’re going to deal with students we need to use the outlets that the university mandates, and right now, that is Portal or Angel.”

Cali Tidwell, a junior fashion merchandising major, said she is used to informal communication with professors, having had a chorus professor at a junior college she transferred from who used Twitter for regular, daily announce-

ANNA GRACE USERY

photo illustration by SARAH HOLLIDAY I Staff Photographer

An Office 365 email inbox goes unchecked. Various developments in technology could affect faculty-student communication, said Nick Mauriello.

ments. She only checks her email “once daily,” while she spends a significant more amount of time on her social media, Tidwell said.

Elise Adkins, a public relations major, said she felt frustrated when using Angel and Portabl to communicate with professors.

“Angel needs to be kept up with the times,” Adkins, a junior, said.

Lauren Copeland, a junior, said social media could be a possible compromise.

“In classes that have used Facebook it opened up the opportunity for more discussion,” Copeland said.

Elizabeth Tyson, a junior, said communication between students and profes-

sors should be kept strictly professional, but that Angel should be utilized more efficiently.

Even though Mauriello disagrees with professors texting or “friending” students on social media while they still attend the university, he said he agrees that students would respond better to a different medium of communication than email.

He has been using Angel more now than ever, since it does offer options like chat forums and discussion boards. However, if the university would sanction an application through the already existing one offered, such as mass automated texts he would use it, he said.

7VTQVM -LQ\WZ WVTQVM(NTWZITI VM\ Sodexo services will host its first night of “prime perfection” with premium steaks hot off the grill in Towers Cafeteria Oct. 30 from 4:30 to 7 p.m.

Sodexo is trying to experiment with different options to give students variety, said General Manager for Sodexo Campus Services Alan Kinkead.

“This program has been very successful at other schools in the nation, and we want it to be at UNA as well,” Kinkead said.

The night will feature an upscale menu consisting of a four-course spread prepared by the staff of Towers Cafeteria.

The meal will be comprised of an appetizer, soup and salad, a 12 oz. cookedto-order ribeye, a choice of onion rings, baked potato, corn on the cob and garlic bread and a chocolate molten lava cake dessert.

Students who have purchased a meal plan can swipe his or her mane card and pay $10 to attend steak night while nonmeal plan holders can pay $15, Kinkead said. Students can pay using dining dollars, cash or credit card.

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4A IMAGES

Oct. 24, 2013 • The Flor-Ala

One resident warns those who pass that they should beware of his or her dorm room. Some residence halls held decorating contests for Halloween this year.

The residence halls across campus are decorated to signify the beginning of fall and the impending Halloween holiday.

A skull door-knocker hangs on a resident’s door in one of the residence halls on campus.

DECK THE H LLS WITH HORROR Student explores campus residence halls ALLI OWNBY

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One of the coolest parts about living on campus in the dorms is the sense of community. This feeling is reinforced by all the activities that go on in the residence halls, specifically door decorations around fall and Halloween.

This year, several residence halls had contests for the autumn decorations, and residents prettied up the halls in time for fall. In LaGrange, one door is completely wrapped in toilet paper, mak-

Some residents choose to decorate their doors with cut-out images of pumpkins, as well as fake leaves and garland.

ing it a huge mummy. Some other residents have hung streamers from the ceiling, creating a tunnel to walk through. Some girls have placed pumpkins outside their doors, and one room even has a bowl of candy with a “Trick-or-Treat!” sign.

In Rivers, a door on the second floor has been decorated as a huge 3-D tree using brown paper.

It’s obvious just how much work the students put into these ornate decorations.

The dorm decorations do more than just spruce up otherwise dull, white hallways. They’re fun, creative, and make the halls feel like just what they are — a community.

For more seasonal content, check out The Flor-Ala’s special Halloween section in the Oct. 31 issue.

NEWS 5A

Oct. 24, 2013 • The Flor-Ala ;57316/ KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) said. “There are students that are saying it is your right if you want to smoke, but what is interesting is most of our students do not smoke.”

Magan Fromhold, a senior, signed the smoke-free campus petition in favor of campus courtesy, she said.

“I feel that students shouldn’t have to walk through a group of students smoking at the entrance of a building,” Fromhold said. “If the rule of no smoking within 30 feet of a building entrance was enforced my opinion might change.”

);;)=4< KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) staff follow specific protocol during investigations such as this, he said.

“What we do with everything is that we provide support to any victim (by working) with conduct and with police,” Jacques said. “If there’s been any kind of no-contact issues ordered, then we can notify our staff that there is not to be contact. Mostly what we do with this and all of our situations whether it’s physical violence, sexual misconduct or assault or

51@ KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) The audience members are not the only ones who get something out of the concert, Towns said. “(Artists) have an opportunity to sell merchandise, but the only way they’re actually going to sell it is by making a connection with the audience,” Towns said. “I really think that it’s about making connections and being true to who they are and their art.”

Samantha West, a student, said she was very pleased with the concert.

“Bear and the Bride and Stars were my favorite,” West said. “I liked their style of music. I love how Star referred to God as his guidance during the performance. I would definitely pay to go see

Student Trey Alexander said he does not believe the petition has any merit on a college campus, however.

“This isn’t a high school — we are a university and almost everyone at this university is of age to smoke,” Alexander said. “I am not a smoker, but I do not want to take away someone else’s rights.”

SGA senators are currently in talks with UNA Police Chief Bob Pastula and Director of Student Conduct and Student Affairs Assessment Kimberly Greenway as preparation for the possibility of the bill passing, Emerson said.

“I am talking to Chief Pastula and Kimberly Greenway for ways that we can enforce this since it is a primary concern

of students,” Emerson said. “The first thing we would do is place signs all over campus and a system that would hold our students accountable.”

Another concern about the smokefree campus petition is if it would apply to students who live on campus. In upcoming years, many freshmen will be required to live on campus for their first year at UNA. “With the feedback that we received from the homecoming survey, we are looking to include the areas around the residence halls,” Emerson said. “The areas around the residence hall are where most of the smoking on campus happens.”

Fifteen college campuses have gone smoke-free in Alabama, according to the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation. Since the fact sheet was released, the University of Alabama-Huntsville and the University of Alabama in Birmingham have also gone smoke-free on their campuses.

Senate’s goal is 1,000 faculty and student signatures. If they reach this goal, Senate will propose a bill to make UNA a smoke-free campus and vote on it.

SGA senators will be taking signatures for the petition until Thursday, Oct. 31.

anything is we really try to be there from a support standpoint.”

Residence Life staff rely on campus safety officials to communicate crime to the campus community, which is why residents were not immediately notified of the current investigation, Jacques said.

“We don’t want to impede in any investigation because those are so prescribed on what has to be done,” he said.

“When it comes to any sort of notification, we defer to Chief (Pastula) and Mr. (David) Shields to make those notifications because they go out from that safety standpoint, whether it’s through a Lion

Alert (or) an email. If we’re told we need to get stuff out, we jump. We can’t sit and wait.”

Jacques believes that students have become overly comfortable with the overall lack of crime on campus this semester, he said.

“I think our students right now are feeling really comfortable, just based on some informal conversations we’ve had, almost to the point of being too comfortable,” he said. “That’s where our concern comes in. We’ve had to have conversations with students about leaving ID cards hidden somewhere so they cannot

have to worry about going out for a run or a key hidden somewhere because they didn’t want to take it out with them.”

Good campus safety practices start with the choices of each individual, Jacques said.

“We’ve got to be the ones that really watch out for ourselves,” he said. “We’ve got to be the ones to really watch out for our neighbors and there’s a lot of different ways to do that. We need to keep that at heart.”

them.”

Dykes and Towns both plan on hosting the event again, with hopes of more success, they said.

“We really want a bigger venue next time,” Towns said. “We also want more artists next time — I think we’re definitely going to have a new set of artists. I think that more support from the community or people that would like to donate to us would be a great help.”

Extending their reach beyond UNA is also a goal for the next concert, Dykes said.

“We want more heart and people than just Florence or the school,” Dykes said. “We want people outside of UNA to come in and enjoy what we have to offer.”

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6A NEWS

Oct. 24, 2013 • The Flor-Ala

VIEWPOINTS 7A

Oct. 24, 2013 • The Flor-Ala

Student, ResLife teamwork key to safety 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 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

JAMES DUBUISSON ;XWZ\[ -LQ\WZ [XWZ\[(NTWZITI VM\

It is 9:45 a.m., and I’m about to head to my first class of the day when alarms begin to go off in my residence hall.

It’s not that big of a deal for me to get my stuff together because I’m leaving for my 10 o’clock class anyways. I exit my room and the halls are empty and there is virtually no movement from inside the other rooms on my floor.

As I walk down the stairs to exit the building, there are only three or four people evacuating the building with me — and I’m not even evacuating; I’m just going to class.

When I get outside of the building, about 10 other stu-

dents are standing in the parking lot with pajamas on, still weary from being woken up by the alarm.

I head on to my class, not thinking anything else of the drill.

Later on in the day, a friend tells me that we had failed the fire drill and would have to have another one in the near future.

On Oct. 14, my roommate and I received a letter from the Department of Residence Life informing us we had failed the fire drill and another drill will take place soon.

Do not get me wrong, I believe safety should be the most important job of the Department of Residence Life and a fire drill is an important way to ensure that safety.

As a resident, I feel there are a few problems with the strategy they have for handling the failed fire drills.

The first is the timing of the drills. The one I was around for took place at 9:45 a.m. If I still had to get dressed or put books in my book bag, I would not have risked being late for my

class to rush out of a building that was not even on fire. And if I had been late for my class because of a fire drill, I would have been pretty angry with the Department of Resident Life.

The second is the proverbial “crying wolf” effect. The next time I hear the fire alarm go off, I will not be in any hurry because my first thought is goint to be that it is a drill and does not matter. This thought process would put me in more danger than a failed fire drill.

I believe the Department of Residence Life should reevaluate the way they approach fire drills. How are we supposed to pass a test we never had notes on? I never realized there were instructions on what to do in case of a fire on the back of our dorm room doors. The residents should know what to do in advance and where to find instructions on what to do.

They should also reevaluate the timing of the drills. If there were a drill at 9:45 a.m., then obviously nobody would be super fast to react and evacuate. And at that time, most of the residents have started their

classes for the day and are not aorund the residence halls.

Maybe they should have it around 3 p.m. or early in the night so that students are more likely to evacuate the building and have a true practice run at evacuating the buildings. There would also be a larger amount of students in the residence halls.

Obviously my argument is not the most logical from the safety side of view. I think other students and I should try to avoid having my point of view about this and take every drill seriously because the Department of Residence Life does have ourbest interest in mind. And if we pass a drill, then we won’t have to be woken up by those annoying alarms anymore.

In the end, it will take a team effort between the Department of Residence Life and the students to keep the res halls safe. With more strategic drills and more cooperation from students during drills, when an actual emergency occurs we will be ready for it.

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FOR THE RECORD...

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We strive to get it right the first time, but when we donʼt, we are happy to set the record straight.

•

In the Oct. 17 issue, the article “Senate talks retention, hirings, smoking” discusses the future of leadership scholarships. However, the Scholarship Committee has not yet met to vote on these matters.

8A NEWS

Oct. 24, 2013 â&#x20AC;˘ The Flor-Ala

)441)6+- KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM )

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hopefully there will be an actual visible place for me to go to relax or get the stuff I need.â&#x20AC;?

As students graduate and move on there will be periods of great activity as well as lesser. The MVA began three years ago and we have been working hard to make our vision of an integrated and fully resourced Military and Veteran Support Center a reality, Bergeron said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If there is one thing I have learned about military members and Veterans is that when given a mission â&#x20AC;&#x201C; they will not fail â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it just isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t in their DNA,â&#x20AC;? Bergeron said.

The MVA is actively searching for new members. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got something between 250 to 350(students) receiving veteranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s benefitsâ&#x20AC;? Lyles said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We got a good base for a stronger voice.â&#x20AC;?

;<-)3 KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) Jacob Hale, a senior, thinks the event sounds like a terrible idea, he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If I want to spend $15 on a steak, I can go almost anywhere else and have a lot more faith that the quality of the steak will be good,â&#x20AC;? he said.

The hand-cut ribeyes are coming fresh, not frozen, straight from their meat supply to the grill, said Chef Manager Paul Teran.

â&#x20AC;?

IF I WANT TO SPEND $15 ON A STEAK, I

CAN GO ALMOST ANYWHERE ELSE AND HAVE A LOT MORE FAITH THAT THE QUALITY OF THE STEAK WILL BE GOOD.

JACOB HALE

photo illustration by ALLI OWNBY I Chief Photographer

A student examines their course requirement sheet. The University Curriculum Committee approved a proposal that allows departments on campus to lower the credit hour requirement, starting with the 2014-2015 school year.

+:-,1< KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) change in credit hours will also not effect current students unless they change their catalog year, Fitzsimmons said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;None of the departments necessarily have to adopt the proposal,â&#x20AC;? Fitzsimmons said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is just the minimum number of requirements for the University. But, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s up to the individual departments to set their minimum number.â&#x20AC;?

The proposal was agreed on mainly to bring more students to UNA, Fitzsimmons said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One the reasons the requirement was made was to compete with surrounding universities,â&#x20AC;? Fitzsimmons said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For Example, Auburn, South Alabama, the University of Alabama, and UAB all have 120 as their minimum requirement.

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only a handful of institutions that have a requirement over 120.â&#x20AC;?

Although there will be less hours needed to graduate, students will still

have the same requirements for the majors, Fitzsimmons said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The change in hours is meant to change the number of general education classes students take,â&#x20AC;? Fitzsimmons said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Since the classes required for each major wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t change, you will be reducing the number of general education classes needed for graduation.â&#x20AC;?

Christopher Clayton believes lowering the credit hours will help UNA be more affordable, he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a pretty good idea, especially if it will help UNA keep up with other universities in terms of affordability,â&#x20AC;? Clayton, a sophomore said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I know the cost of living is continuously going up, and tuition is not going down anytime soon.â&#x20AC;?

Lowering the credit hour requirement earlier would have also helped me be less stressed, said Lindsay Hanlin, a senior. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m taking 21 credit hours right now in order to graduate on time, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really stressful,â&#x20AC;? Hanlin said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I feel like I would get more out of my education if I

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are simulating this to feel more like a restaurant-type setting,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We hope to start off small, with 45-50 ribeyes, and see how the program works.â&#x20AC;?

Though Stone Steakhouse will be in full swing, Towers Cafeteria will still be offering each of its popular food items such as the salad bar, vegan bar, sandwich bar and hot bar with pizza, fries and burgers.

Lily Mitchell, a freshman, is excited Sodexo is offering some variety to students but has her doubts about the cost, she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;While Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m glad the variety is expanding, I do not agree with us having to swipe our meal plan, which we already had to pay for, than having to pay an additional $10 for it. For people off campus, I understand a fee, but not as high as $15,â&#x20AC;? Mitchell said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;However, since itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a onetime thing maybe it could slide, but if we want to bring in a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Steak Nightâ&#x20AC;? or anything else it needs to be where we all can enjoy and participate in it without having to jump through hoops.â&#x20AC;?

If the night is a success, they will look at having other events such as a seafood night, Kinkead said. It is a shame to see perfectly good items wasted when he and the staff included worked so hard to prepare it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We want students to realize you can have all you care to eat, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s okay to get a small portion, eat it, and if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re still hungry go get something else to eat,â&#x20AC;?

Kinkead said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Many students end up pilphoto by ALLI OWNBY I Chief Photographer ing plates high and letting their eyes be A sign sits off to the side of Hermitage Drive during construction hours. Students bigger than stomachs.â&#x20AC;? may be frustrated finding routes around Hermitage, said Felecia Crowder.

could take it slow and not have to worry about financing extra hours.â&#x20AC;?

The lower requirement would serve as a motivation factor for students, though it is not necessarily the right decision, said Cameron Needham, a freshman. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think that being one of the few colleges that mandates 128 hours makes UNA a step above the rest,â&#x20AC;? Needham said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With 128 hours versus 120, it says that UNA upholds a different standard. Students can say that they went to a school where the long haul was a little bit longer, and they still succeeded.â&#x20AC;?

Overall, the university has to do what is best for the students, Thornell said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our responsibility as a university community is to do all that we can to serve the best interests of our students, and the 120 hour minimum is a response to that high purpose,â&#x20AC;? Thornell said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I applaud the College of Arts and Sciences Chairs and Dean for taking this step and encourage all departments to use this opportunity to revisit graduation requirements for their programs.â&#x20AC;?

0-:51<)/- KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) apartment so Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been trying to cut down on my trips. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just going to be trial and error for a few weeks to find the best routes.â&#x20AC;?

Cross-town traffic may vary for students depending on the time of day, said Felecia Crowder, a senior. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Traffic might get a little crazy like in the morning and evening but what I do not like is having to drive around â&#x20AC;&#x153;Americaâ&#x20AC;? just to get to Helton when I normally can cut through Hermitage,â&#x20AC;? Crowder said.

Crowder has found adjusting to new traffic patterns to be a headache, although she understands the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision to rebuild the bridge, she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m excited about the improvements I just wish they started the project earlier like during the summer when schools were out and there was better weather since itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about to get colder,â&#x20AC;? Crowder said.

LIFE S ALUMNI

ECTION B

Oct. 24, 2013• The Flor-Ala • Life Editor: Kali Daniel 256-765-5233

From Alabama to Africa

photo by COURTNEY WATKINS I Student Photographer

Alumnus Michael “Nick” Nichols presented his book “Earth to Sky” at Norton Auditorium on Friday, Oct. 18. Nichols’ presentation also described the details in his exhibit “The Short, Happy Life of a Serengeti Lion,” now open at Court Street Market.

Alumnus discusses photography, finding jobs KALI DANIEL

4QNM -LQ\WZ TQNM(NTWZITI VM\

The words “Lions, Elephants and Giants” covered the back wall of the Norton Auditorium stage on Friday, Oct. 18 as alumnus Michael “Nick” Nichols, National Geographic editor-at-large, spoke to the community about his photography — both personal and for the magazine.

The first of the Distinguished Events Series for the 2013-2014 school year, Nichols’ presentation was preceded by an introduction by President William Cale and the reading of a Proclamation of Recognition by business professor and Colbert County Commissioner David Black.

IN THIS SECTION

“I’m told that wherever he went on campus he was always seen with a camera around his neck and a booksack on his shoulder,” Cale said. “The suspicion is that the booksack didn’t really contain books, it contained additional camera lenses, film and other paraphernelia for his photography.”

Nichols photography career began when he was drafted into the U.S. Army’s photography unit, according to his online biography. He became a staff photographer for National Geographic in 1996 and became editor-atlarge in 2008.

In 2007, Nichols founded the Charlottesville, Va. LOOK3 Festival of the Photograph.

“This three-day celebration of

Arx Mortis Review See page 2B

”

FIND A JOB YOU CAN GET. FIND A SUBJECT THAT CAN OPEN DOORS AND ITʼS NOT IN AFRICA — ITʼS HERE.

NICK NICHOLS peace, love and photography creates a space for photographers to meet as a community of equals, to be renewed, and to share their views with a broader audience,” his website reads.

Nichols involvement with his photography is strictly professional, he said. While in Africa observing mountain gorillas, he noticed the police chief’s son attempting to sell a baby gorilla.

“That was the day that I

What will you be for Halloween?

See page 4B

thought, ‘Am I going to walk away from this gorilla?’,” Nichols said. “‘Am I going to photograph it or am I going to save it?’

And what you do when you’re in my position is you walk away or you become an activist on the spot. As long as I’m working, that’s not my job. I don’t do it lightly. I cried that night. But I couldn’t take that gorilla. What was I going to do with it? It was going to become my life if I took it.”

Observing nature take its course has been fairly easy, he said.

“If I see a lion killing another lion I’m not going to do anything,” he said. “That’s the

;MM 61+074; XIOM *

What is the best conference in college football?

See page 5B

Concert to honor former player See page 6B

2B LIFE

Oct. 24, 2013 • The Flor-Ala

STUDENT REVIEW

Local Arx Mortis ʻworth the ticket,ʼ highly interactive ISAAC NORRIS

;\]LMV\ ?ZQ\MZ QVWZZQ[(]VI ML]

I have an addiction to the adrenaline rush I get from jumping into something I know is going to scare the hell out of me.

That being said, I recently got together with some friends of mine and took a trip to Arx Mortis, a 50,000 square foot Halloween attraction located in Killen.

From the beginning I was not there for any of it. The clouds of artificial smoke and dust were looming heavy in the moonlight (there was a full moon, of course). My friends and I could hear people shouting with surprise from the outside and that’s when the butterflies set in.

We walked into the front entrance of the attraction, paid for our tickets and waited in line to enter the haunted house.

The attraction itself is split into five stereotypical Halloween scenes: the haunted woods, the battlefield full of zombies, the haunted house, the haunted circus and the haunted hospital.

We got through the door, and the horror began. I had not even set foot on the attraction floor when, all of a sudden, some cloaked fool with a scythe jumped out of a corner and started chasing us down a hallway. There were booms, bangs, flashes of light and shots of air being blasted at our feet — it was just the beginning.

After the front entrance, we came

upon the outside portion of the attraction: for me, the worst part. The entire time, there was someone – something, a redneck zombie, walking beside me. He was looking right at me, and I didn’t even notice until the end of the outside portion.

After the outside portion, we entered the actual house. Costumed workers were jumping out of every corner, chasing and scaring us. They were all very good actors. The only complaint I have about the attraction is that sometimes, it’s hard to tell which direction you’re supposed to be going it. There were several times that we had to be turned to the right direction, which I guess could be part of the deal anyway.

Without giving too much away, it was well worth the $20 ticket and if it’s any consolation, I shouted so much that I lost my voice for the entire day after.

FALL HOURS • OCT. 24-27, 30-31 • BOX OFFICE OPENS AT 7 P.M. • ATTRACTION OPENS AT 7:30 P.M. • LAST ENTRANCE AT 10 P.M. ON WEEKNIGHTS

• LAST ENTRANCE AT MIDNIGHT ON FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND HALLOWEEN

file photo by KAYLA SLOAN I Senior Staff Photographer

Arx Mortis, located in Killen, is a haunted attraction covering 50,000 square feet.

The attraction is divided into five scenes, including a circus and hospital.

LIFE 3B

Oct. 24, 2013 • The Flor-Ala

STUDENT APP REVIEW

ibotta pays to grocery shop KALI DANIEL

4QNM -LQ\WZ TQNM(NTWZITI VM\

If you have to go to the grocery store every once in a while and you are a broke college student, Ibotta is the free app you are looking for.

After registering with the app, you are taken to a screen with four separate products. Under each product is a red button with the words “Earn” and so many dollars. By swiping to the right or left, you are able to see around 40 products, dependent on the week.

When you click the earn button, you are given small assignments that range from “Take a Poll” to “Learn a Fact,” to sharing your experience and how-to guides. After participating in each assignment (which cumulatively take less than a minute), you earn anywhere from a quarter to a dollar, depending on the individual product. But here is the catch: You haven’t really earned the money yet.

The app is clever in that you may answer as many polls or testify as many times to various products to earn money, but you do not earn anything until you buy the product itself. It involves going to the store, purchasing the product, taking a picture of the receipt and scanning the barcode on the product itself.

For example, I am scrolling through, and I see Eggland’s Best Eggs. I buy eggs at the grocery store every week, so I know I will be buying some. I am given the option to watch a video and earn 25

cents and then take a poll and earn 25 cents. I do both and the total of 50 cents is added to my pending balance at the bottom of the page. After I buy the eggs, I click “Redeem” on the side panel and am directed to take a picture of the receipt.

Next, I scan the barcode on the eggs. In less than an hour, I am given verification that my purchase went through and the 50 cents that was pending is now confirmed and in my Current Earnings.

After acquiring $10, you are able to withdraw cash using PayPal. Ibotta also dedicates special offers to certain stores — you can get some goods at Target, Walmart or Sam’s Club that you cannot get anywhere else but those individual places.

Overall, I have enjoyed Ibotta. I wish it was updated with more than two items every week, though I understand the marketing strategies that make it win-win. It seems time-consuming, but when I remember that this is already money in my pocket since I have bought those products, it is fairly easy.

Products range from frozen foods to cookies to Kool-Aid to styling products, and I have even seen Blu-rays (Barbie Blu-rays, but Blu-rays no less). In two weeks of grocery shopping at about $40 per trip, I have earned $6. To some that may not seem worth it. However, knowing that at the end of the month I will have an extra 10 dollars to spend on a meal at Einstein’s is totally worth it.

App, App, &

A w a y

GymPact rewards exercising Duolingo teaches language GymPact, an app available for both iPhone and Android, allows you to work out and get paid to do it. For those who want to keep healthy in the coming cold weather, GymPact is the perfect

app to hold you accountable for monetary benefits, however not without cost.

GymPact is for those who want to work out but need reminders and want to get paid to exercise.

PR O S

CO NS

• WORK OUT ANYWHERE — HOME, GYM OR RUNNING PAID FOR EVERY

WORKOUT

30

MINUTES OR

PAID UP TO FORTY

CENTS PER WORKOUT

• CREATE

A PACT FOR THE

WEEK TO WORK OUT AS MANY

(OR

AS FEW) DAYS

AS YOU WANT

• QUIT WHENEVER YOU • SCHEDULE BREAKS

ALL MONEY YOU COULD

HAVE GAINED WHEN YOU FAIL

MORE

• GET

MONEY WHEN YOU FAIL

A PACT

• LOSE

OUTSIDE

• GET

• LOSE

WANT

ONE DAY

• REQUIRES INTEGRITY • ONLY PAYS THROUGH PAYPAL • MINIMUM LOSS IS $5 • CANNOT LEAVE EARLY

ANNA KATE TIPPETT ;\]LMV\ ?ZQ\MZ I\QXXM\\(]VI ML]

The app Duolingo allows users to learn a language for free in a fun, easy way. It is simple to download and install onto a phone or tablet, and it is available on both the App store and Google Play store.

It currently offers five different languages for English speakers to choose from, including Spanish, German, French, Portuguese and Italian. The app also gives Portuguese, French, Spanish and Italian speakers the option to learn English. Users simply select the language they wish to learn, create a user name and password and then users are all set to learn.

The app is set up similar to a game.

It divides the language into different categories, such as food and then each category is divided into three of four lessons.

When users start a lesson, they are given a number of hearts, or “lives.”

Each time users get a question or exercise wrong, they lose one. If the user loses all of his or her hearts, then he or she has to start the lesson over. Each time users complete a lesson, they are

awarded points which allow them to level up in the language.

Users can choose to strengthen skills outside of completing a lesson or even to choose to “test out” of lesson or category if they know some of the language already. The app encourages users to keep learning the language by giving them the chance to compete against friends and by sending device and email reminders to practice the language if users have not logged in recently. However, the app does not spam either the device or email.

Each lesson consists of different types of questions and exercises. They are designed to teach users not only how to speak and respond in the language but also how to read and write it as well.

Some exercises require users to translate the foreign language into English or to write what they are hearing. If users allow the device to use their device’s microphone, then it can also ask the user to read words and sentences aloud to it. The app will pronounce the words repeatedly throughout the lesson as often as the user chooses. The user can listen to the individual words or the

;MM ,=7416/7 XIOM *

4B LIFE

Oct. 24, 2013 â&#x20AC;˘ The Flor-Ala

H ALLOWEEN MAN ON THE STREET

What will you be for....

â&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;?

A FLASHER. IĘźLL WEAR A LONG TRENCH COAT WITH FLASHLIGHTS INSIDE IT.

PARRISH TUGGLES

â&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;?

MY SISTER AND I ARE GOING TO BE WALTER WHITE AND JESSE PINKMAN FROM ĘťBREAKING BADĘź.

LESLEY SCOTT

COLTON MCCORMICK

whole phrase itself.

The app does a great job of teaching users the names of things and how to pronounce them. Each lesson focuses on learning certain new words and creating sentences and phrases using both those words and words from past lessons. Unlike most high school and college language courses, the app does not focus on teaching the formal language. Instead, it teaches the user the language he or she would actually use to communicate with native speakers.

This app is not perfect, however. Languages such as Spanish and Italian have different verb endings. While the root of

61+074; KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM * natural order. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m just there to document.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not that you do it without cost, but if you get involved then youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re becoming something else.â&#x20AC;?

Nichols encouraged young adults to think locally to find their ideal job. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I started at The Flor-Ala,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Find a job you can get. Find a subject that can open doors and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not in Africa â&#x20AC;&#x201D; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s here. People donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t care about the subject. They care about the vision and in writing, the voice. Own your subject and make sure itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something you really care about. I started with caves here. That opened doors for me, not who I knew.â&#x20AC;?

Nichols advised one student in the au-

the verb will always remain the same, the ending of the verb will vary depending on whether one is referring to I, you, we, him/her or them. While the app does explain that the verb endings change, it does not teach the user when and how to use them very well.

Overall, Duolingo is an excellent choice for learning another language. It makes the language simple to learn and remember. It teaches the user to speak, read, and write the language. Also, it is free for users to download.

The app requires the user create an account to save his or her progress. It gives users the option of creating a new account or using their Facebook account instead.

dience to simply pursue their dreams. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What I want to make very clear is that I have a lot of drive,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve become so obsessive compulsive I can hardly live on this planet and my photography has caused that to happen. But I had a dream and I went after it. I never looked back, I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t afraid, but I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expect you to do that. Whatever it is you want to do, try to do it. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be afraid of your dream. Go for it. It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be something big like Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done. Anything.

Something youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re satisfied with.â&#x20AC;?

Nichols returned to America in February and plans to return to Africa late next year. His exhibit â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Short Happy Life of a Serengeti Lionâ&#x20AC;? is open at Court Street Market downtown through Thursday, Oct. 31.

KOURTNEY KARDASHIAN.

MY BOYFRIEND IS GOING TO BE SCOTT DISICK.

NIKKI MESSER

CODDY MACNEILL

MILEY CYRUS WITH A WRECKING BALL.

,=7416/7 KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM *

â&#x20AC;?

ALFALFA FROM THE ĘťLITTLE RASCALSĘź.

â&#x20AC;?

A BEE, BECAUSE IĘźM BUSY LIKE ONE.

SARAH EMERSON

SPORTS 5B

Oct. 24, 2013 • The Flor-Ala

NATIONAL

Proof in the

NUMBERS? 4.4 4.1 3.3 4.0 5.1

*

4.2

Number of teams in final poll

Average number of teams in final AP Top 25 poll SINCE 2002 2

Division I FBS Conferences

*

School not included in the Bowl Championship Series conferences.

Numbers are rounded.

SEC still most dominant conference in the nation JAMES DUBUISSON ;XWZ\[ -LQ\WZ [XWZ\[(NTWZITI VM\

The Southeastern Conference has been the host of the Bowl Championship Series National Championship for seven years in a row and has averaged the highest number of teams in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll.

On the week of Oct. 13, the conference had eight teams ranked in the AP Top 25 poll, which broke the record for most teams from one conference in the Top 25 at one time.

“There is no question that they are the toughest conference in college football,” head football coach Bobby Wallace said.

The importance of football in the south is the reason for the SEC’s dominance, said Lesley Carter, a student.

“That’s one thing the South knows how to do — play some mean football,” she said.

And that helps in recruiting, said Delhan Holland, a student.

“Recruiting is key,” he said.

“A lot of the top 100 players are from the Southeast, that simple.”

The Big 10 has the second highest average amount of teams in the Top 25 since 2002. Ohio State University is the only current Big 10 team to have won any National Championships since 2002. They have won two.

“With me being a (Florida State University) fan, I obviously think the ACC is the best conference,” said Courtney Geiger, a student. “I think living in the heart of SEC country (makes) people kind of forget about the ACC but a lot of great teams are in that conference.”

Since 2002. the ACC has ranked third in the highest average number of teams in the Top 25. The University of Miami in 2002 is the only team from the ACC to win a BCS National Championship in that time span.

The PAC 12 has an average of 4.1 teams finish in the Top 25 each year. The University of Southern California’s 2005 National Championship is the only one the PAC 12 has had since 2002.

The Big 12 averages the lowest of the big conferences with

3.3 teams finishing in the Top 25 each year. Quarterback Vince Young led the University of Texas to the 2006 National Championship — the only time a Big 12 team claimed the title since 2002.

Teams outside of the BCS conferences average four teams a year in the Top 25. No team outside the listed five conferences has won a National Championship since 2002.

Editor’s note: Student writer Darien Pippens contributed to this report.

6B SPORTS

Oct. 24, 2013 • The Flor-Ala

VOLLEYBALL

Concert celebrates former playerʼs life JAMES DUBUISSON ;XWZ\[ -LQ\WZ [XWZ\[(NTWZITI VM\

Following the Oct. 26 Valdosta State University match, a concert will be held to honor the life of a former UNA volleyball player. The match will also be the second annual “Coaches vs. Cancer” match.

Former UNA player Caroline Neisler, 21, of Jacksonville, Ala. died of acute myeloid leukemia on May 15, two weeks after being diagnosed.

“It was a shock,” said senior volleyball player Hope Rayburn. “It broke my heart.”

Rayburn played with Neisler from their sophomore year in high school until the 2012 season with the Lions.

“She was really a people person,” Rayburn said. “She always had a smile on her face. If you look at any of her old game photos, she is always smiling.”

Head volleyball coach Stephanie Radecki coached Neisler for three seasons.

“Caroline was a very special student athlete; she was very special to me,” Radecki said. “She was one of those players that made you smile every day, she made me want me to be a better person and a better coach. So, I definitely think it was extremely hard to see her family go through that and our players and all her friends that lost her.” photo courtesy of UNA Sports Infornation Neisler transferred to Samford Uni- Caroline Neisler prepares to make a play in a match during the 2012 volleyball season. Neisler died from acute myeloid versity following the 2012 fall semes- leukemia May 15. The volleyball team will hold their second annual ‘Coaches vs. Cancer’match Oct. 26. ter. Rayburn knew Neisler was going to Several coaches and businesses from Rayburn talked to Neisler every day knew her, they would say she was one of transfer before the end of the 2012 fall around the area donated the items for the the best people they ever knew.” while she was sick, she said. semester, she said.

The volleyball team has been host- auction, she said.

“She wasn’t allowed to have any vis“It was something she really wanted Fans at the game will also be able to to do and I know she was happy there,” itors once she started her treatments, so ing an annual cancer awareness match for pledge a certain amount of money per ace we would facetime every day,” Rayburn five years, Radecki said. she said.

“The American Cancer Society ap- that is served during the match, she said.

Getting the news that Neisler was said. “Some days when she didn’t feel The Lions will host the University of good, we would just text but we talked proached us two summers ago to change sick caught Rayburn off guard, she said.

“It was a shock because you have the every day. She still had a smile on her our ‘Dig Pink’ event over to ‘Coaches vs. West Georgia on Friday, Oct. 25, at 7 p.m.

Radecki thinks the game against VSU thought, ‘that can never happen to me,’ face everyday. Towards the end, she still Cancer’ and that they would work with and I never thought that would happen to had a smile on her face, but you could tell us,” she said. “And the money we raised, on Oct. 26 is important, but she realizes instead of going to a foundation far away, what is more important. it wasn’t easy.” her,” she said.

“When it comes down to it, a volRayburn was able to find peace it goes to a local branch.”

Radecki had a hard time talking with There will be a silent auction that will leyball match is a volleyball match,” she through her faith after Neisler died, she Neisler’s former teammates, she said. begin at noon the day of the match and said.

“It is hard to know what to say,” she said.

“Just knowing she is in a better place will end at the end of the second set of said. “We called a meeting of the team and some her former teammates to let helps a lot,” she said. “She was definitely the match, Athletic Development Directhem know that we were there for them.” a Christian and if you ask anybody that tor Megan Lovelace said.

RACE FOR THE FALLEN Shoals Conference Center Florence, AL Saturday - 11.23.13 @ 7:00 PM w www.raceforthefallen.com Race features: fi i h medals finishers d l for f everyone, glow in the dark t-shirt, glow gear, after-party and awards ceremony, food and beverages, music/DJ, prizes and giveaways

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Benefiting the:

SPORTS 7B

Oct. 24, 2013 • The Flor-Ala

FOOTBALL

Forced turnovers, passing game key in win

MATT SULESKI

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photo by SARAH HOLLIDAY I Staff Photographer

Diamond Simmons runs the ball in the home game against Texas A&M-Kingsville on Oct. 19. Led by a defense that forced three interceptions, the Lions defeated the Javelinas 49-17.

MATT SULESKI

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The Lions intercepted the Texas A&M-Kingsville offense on three different occasions, leading the way to a 49-17 win on Saturday, Oct. 19.

Two of the passes were picked off in the first half and the third was returned for a touchdown by pre-season AllAmerican safety Caleb Massey.

“They were trying to get the ball to number seven, and I baited him and boom it was a pick six,” Massey said.

The Javelinas were held to 313 yards of total offense with a large amount of those yards coming with the Lions second unit in.

“We don’t like to give up points, but

with a lead we were able to get the young guys some reps,” said defensive coordinator Chris Willis.

For the first time all year, UNA’s offense was able to get more yards through the air than on the ground. The Lions gained 366 yards of total offense with 245 coming through the air and 121 coming on the ground.

“I don’t care about stats and balance,” Willis said. “I care about winning.”

UNA opened the game with a fiveplay, 68-yard drive that was capped off by a one-yard touchdown run by quarterback Luke Wingo.

The Lions went on to score touchdowns on their next two possessions to get to a 21-0 lead by the end of the first quarter.

“We talked about starting fast,” said head coach Bobby Wallace. “When things went against them early, they didn’t respond well.”

UNA now turns their attention to the defending national champions when they travel to Valdosta, Ga. to take on conference rival Valdosta State University.

Valdosta State brings a 5-1 (3-1 in conference) record into the contest.

The Blazers are coming off a 35-30 victory over the University of West Georgia.

Conference title hopes for both the Lions and Valdosta will be up for grabs this weekend, as both teams will need a win to have a realistic chance to capture the Gulf South Championship crown.

“We’ve got to win this one to keep

our conference championship hopes alive,” Wallace said.

The blazers will bring a high-octane offense into the game that has averaged just over 432 yards per game.

“Defensively we’re going to have to stay sound in our assignments,” Willis said.

Defensively the Blazers have given up 366 yards per game and the yards have been mainly through the air.

“We threw the ball well tonight,” said offensive coordinator Cody Gross.

“That’s going to make Valdosta prepare for both aspects of our offense.”

The game is set for a 2 p.m. kickoff at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium in Valdosta, Ga.

SOCCER

Rainy senior night ends in draw for Lions JAMES DUBUISSON ;XWZ\[ -LQ\WZ [XWZ\[(NTWZITI VM\

The Lions soccer team played the University of West Georgia Wolves to a 0-0 tie on a rainy senior night Wednesday, Oct. 16.

The Lions outshot the Wolves 24 to three but were unable to get a shot to go in, said head coach Chris Walker.

“We got off 24 shots all night,” Walker said. “We have to do a better job of taking our chances so that it doesn’t come back to bite us. We were saying all night long (that) we can have 24 shots, but one of them has got to go in at some point or it is going to come back to bite us.”

UWG had two of the best shots all

night in the last minutes of the second overtime. The Lions did not do anything different on defense to allow them to get those two good shots, Walker said.

“We just broke down and we were still pushing to get (a goal),” Walker said.

“Fortunately Rachel (Beninati) makes two good saves at the end. Three shots in 110 minutes of soccer, I will take that.

We just have to do a better job of finishing the game off.”

Forwards Chloe Richards and Stacey Webber were suspended for the game because of red cards they received in a previous game, and Walker said the team was lacking without them.

“We missed them tonight,” Walker said. “I mean (with) 24 shots. They are

usually on the end of a few of them so it will be nice to have them back for the rest of the games.”

Seniors Julia Osmond, Jennifer Osmond, Emily Black and Abby Fannin were honored before the game.

Walker said he was proud of the seniors and wished that they could have gotten the win on senior night, but getting the point in conference play was important.

The focus for the Lions and Walker has shifted to the game against Shorter University, he said.

“We will work on a few things in practice and get ready for Shorter next week,” he said.

UNA will be on the road for the rest

of the regular season games, Walker said.

“On the road is never easy — especially in the conference we are in,” he said.

The Lions will play Shorter Thursday, Oct. 24. They play Valdosta State University, the University of AlabamaHuntsville and Christian Brothers University on the road in their final three matches.

“We travel to Shorter, then to Valdosta to finish off the conference season, and then we have UAH and CBU on the road as well,” Walker said. “Hopefully we played enough away games so far (that) hopefully we can start picking up some points.”

8B EXTRA

Tweets of the week

Oct. 24, 2013 â&#x20AC;˘ 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.