Oct. 27 Edition

October 27, 2011

Volume 80 No. 10

www.FlorAla.net

Student newspaper of the University of North Alabama

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@UNAFlorAla @FlorAlaSports

A LOOK INSIDE

See page 2 State bans synthetic marijuana and seizes product from stores.

Months after controversy erupted among City Council members over the purchase of the Florence Golf and Country Club property, UNA officials continue to look for locations to house a health science management program with a business partner from China.

UNA President William Cale said the university is in the process of working with Guizhou Shenqi Group, which

manufactures and researches herbal medicines, to find land to establish an international college for graduate students to study integrative health science management. Apartment-style housing would also be a part of that vision.

Though Zhiting Zhang, chairman of the Chinese business, originally hoped to purchase the Florence Golf and Country Club property for $2.1 million in June, he is now looking to build the international college elsewhere in the Flor-

ence area, according to Cale.

Although the property location has not yet been released, Cale said it is near the UNA campus. He also said UNA officials anticipate an on-campus visit from Zhang in November, where discussions will take place with the owner of the potential property.

“Almost no one’s doing photo by Malisa McClure photo by Barry Minor this (type of program),” Cale said. “It seems like a really From left to right: SGA President Ralph fabulous niche that UNA can Akalonu and UNA President William Cale

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Safer buses soon at UNA

say the new health science program would benefit the local community.

ADEM awards grant to promote recycling in Florence, on campus

See page 11 University conducts economic impact survey on athletics.

photo by Darrick Dawkins

UNA student Ben Mills recycles reusable materials near campus.

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4QNM -LQ\WZ XI\PQOXMV(]VI ML] See page 5 Flor-Ala staff members experience the haunted side of campus and share their reflections of what happened.

photo by Kayla Sloan

UNA is in the process of buying two new 44-passenger buses for student use. Officials said the new buses will replace current buses, which will continue shuttle routes on campus.

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See page 8 Glee Give a Note is donating $1 million to at-risk music programs.

See page 9 Football team gets back in action this weekend against rival West Alabama.

UNA will soon have two new buses in its vehicle fleet after bids were sent off to purchase two 44-passenger buses for use by the university community, officials said.

The buses will replace the current buses in use and allow those buses to continue their shuttle routes on campus.

“We are looking at two buses that are designed to go over the road,” said Vice President for Student Affairs David Shields. “They are a little different than our current buses.

Our current buses are for small trips and shuttle trips.”

Shields said the current buses would be capped at 120mile round trips to ensure the

safety of passengers. The new, larger buses will allow groups on campus to take longer trips and to have a safer mode of transportation, he said.

The buses could be on campus by early spring, Shields said. Due to the higher cost of the buses, the purchase will have to go through a bidding process, he said.

Shields said they went with the 44-passenger buses because of the cost. The cost for a typical charter bus, which the university rents for athletics events, is in the upwards of $500,000, he said. The university will spend close to $120,000 on these buses, which will save the university a considerable amount of money, Shields said.

“Because (the money is coming from capital and student fee funds), they are uni-

versity buses,” Shields said.

“It doesn’t mean that they are solely for athletics. The idea is not to make these exclusive to athletics--they are campus buses.”

The money being used to purchase the buses will be taken from the student parking fee and the university’s capital fund. The student parking fee typically pays for parking decals, shuttle buses on campus and the maintenance of the buses. Shields said the money they are using has been in reserves.

“These buses will give us the opportunity to do over the road trips,” he said. “Our shuttle buses are really just for shuttling.”

The new buses would allow students and other members of

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Earlier this year, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) adminstered a grant that was intended to strengthen ties between the City of Florence Recycling Center and UNA, in terms of the ability to recycle.

The $113,000 grant will be used in various local places as far out as Rogersville, but one big goal is to purchase equipment that will facilitate easier recycling on campus. It will also let people—students, in particular— know about it.

“UNA has been recycling a long time,” said Rachel Mansell, education outreach coordinator for the Solid Waste Street and Recycle Department. “They kind of have an underground system going on. The student population doesn’t really know about it, but the staff does.”

According to the Annual Recycling Report done every year through Michael Gautney’s office, UNA recycled over 48 tons of material ranging from aluminum and plastics to office paper to the left over kitchen oil used in the GUC restaurants. Outside of the administration, faculty and staff offices, and Sodexo, other recycling on campus is at a minimum.

Part of the grant’s purpose is to bring the recycling issue into the light. Together with Michael Gautney, director of Facilities Administration and Planning, Mansell hopes to make the recycling issue something that can’t

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Thursday, October 27, 2011 • The Flor-Ala

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Student organizations all over campus are getting ready for the annual Step Show competition Nov. 1, hosted by the University Program Council.

Students attending Step Show can expect to see changes in structure and presentation. There will be no predetermined theme for the show, as well as a cap on the number of participants allowed to be on each team. This year, groups will also be allowed to use props during their performance. Instead of the usual seven-minute time limit, groups will be permitted up to 10 minutes of performance time.

Jori Chatman, chairwoman for Step Show, is looking forward to the new modifications.

“I really enjoy the changes this year,” she said. “It’s going to be awesome to see something different come to UNA that we haven’t tried before.”

Cheryl Mathis, coordinator of programming, said the biggest change students will notice is the lack of theme.

“This year, there’s no overarching theme for the show,” she said. “Each group participating has created their own unique story to tell. We really wanted to challenge the groups to be super creative and see how far they could take and develop their own ideas.”

Teams will only be allowed to have a maximum of 20 students. Mathis said this policy allows each group a fair chance to showcase its talent, as well as increase the overall competition. A limit on team size also provides Step Show with more consistency and uniformity, she said.

Participants are also facing the new idea of, for the first time, being able to incorporate props into their routines.

“I’ve been to other step shows where props were used,” Chatman said. “I think the students will find it really cool.”

In the wake of incidents in years past, Mathis and other Step Show coordinators are working hard to prevent future issues with the judging and scoring of Step Show.

Mathis said every measure is being taken to ensure that no judge selected is in any way connected with the university. Judges with some level of expertise in stepping are also being sought out this year.

“With the combined ticket sales of both Step Show and Step Sing, we help to fund around two percent of the operating budget at United Way of the Shoals,” Mathis said. “It’s important that students support this cause.”

In addition to charity, Chatman said students can enjoy Step Show for other reasons.

“Even if this event is not held during Homecoming, students can still come out and enjoy it,” Chatman said. “It’s something fun to do, which is what students are always looking for.”

Step Show will be held in Flowers Hall Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $7 and can be purchased online at www.una. edu/boxoffice.

As of Oct. 24, synthetic cannabis, also known as “spice,” will be banned completely from Alabama stores.

Gov. Robert Bentley ordered spice to be removed by state police and the Alcohol and Beverage Control police force Oct. 14, giving stores a 10- day grace period to stop orders and remove the substance. The substance will also be categorized as a Schedule 1 drug, making the list with heroin and cocaine.

Spice was sold in packages decorated with a skull and crossbones design along with the phrase, “Not for human consumption” on the bottom.

“Why would you advertise it as being OK, yet the product itself had a skull on it,” said Suzanna Taylor, instructor of criminal justice at UNA. “Just because it’s legal doesn’t make it OK.” Synthetic weed only had one molecule different than actual marijuana, making it legal. The new ban now covers the loophole.

“While it is molecularly legal, k2 and spice are molecularly lethal,” Taylor said.

UNA hasn’t had many known problems with students using the drug, but they have been caught with it on campus.

“We have gone into rooms and found it,” said UNA police Chief Bob Pastula. “It

smells just like marijuana. We then send (students) to the Student Conduct office.

Now that it’s illegal, they could be arrested or suspended from the university.”

While the ban covers more substances, officials believe people will always find a way around the law.

“They’ve banned stuff like that before, and they get more creative,” Pastula

said. “ T h a t ’s how they came up with this one in the first place.

Kids in general always find something to alter their reality.”

While the ABC police

deal mainly with alcohol, they received special instructions from Gov. Bentley to help with the removal. The process of removal includes visiting the retailers and having them sign a consent to search form.

This allows them to search every inch of the stores. The substances found are then counted, boxed and taken away.

Spice is lethal because it gives the user a higher high than actual marijuana. No deaths have been confirmed in Alabama from using spice alone, however.

“We are not sure what it is,” said ABC police Officer Monty Merryman. “It’s in the process of being analyzed. Most places just ordered the pre-packaged bags labeled ‘not for human consumption,’ but some places were mixing their own. They were lacing, we suspect, with synthetic material that we are now analyzing.”

The police aren’t done yet.

“We are still getting reports of people selling it, but after the 24th, it will be like they were selling crack,” Merryman said.

The ban now specifically covers incense and other household items to keep Alabama safer.

photo by Barry Minor

University recognizes NPHC organizations with garden thanked the university administration for their continued support of the NPHC organizations on campus.

“This occasion, on behalf of the NPHC, is to be cherished,” Jones said. “This garden is now our very own.”

Jones specifically thanked Jacques and Shields for their continued work and dedication to getting the garden on campus.

“Finally, NPHC has something that we can call our own,” she said. “It shows that we do good, and it gives us motivation for our services.”

Other students in organizations affili-

”Remember that you are

photo by Barry Minor

National Pan-Hellenic Council President Shermika Jones thanks members of the UNA administration after the NPHC Garden was dedicated on campus Monday.

The NPHC Garden is located in front the GUC.

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UNA officials opened a new garden Monday in honor of the National PanHellenic Council organizations on campus.

The garden, located in front of the GUC, is a place for students to call their own, officials said.

“Dr. Cale wanted me to express to you his sincere pleasure and congratulations,” said Vice President for Student Affairs David Shields. “Each of you have made this a celebration.”

NPHC executive council members

and members from their respective groups thanked Shields and Director of Student Engagement Tammy Jacques for their continued work to bring a garden to campus.

“This is more than just a garden,” Shields said. “It is a recognition for black organizations (on campus).”

Shields emphasized to the students present that the UNA community cherishes them.

“Remember that you are important to your chapter, your community and your university,” Shields said. “You are forever a part of the history of UNA.” Shermika Jones, NPHC president and president of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority,

important to your chapter, your community and your university.

You are forever a part of the history of UNA.”

-David Shields ated with NPHC are honored and proud to have a place to call their own.

“It represents that the university recognizes the historically black Greek fraternities,” said Ralph Akalonu, SGA president and brother of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity Ralph Akalonu. “It’s a great feeling that the university recognizes us as a community service organization.”

The NPHC currently has six groups on campus, and hopes to add the other three organizations under their umbrella to have the full “Divine Nine” on campus. The garden has three open spots for these organizations to be added, officials said.

Thursday, October 27, 2011 • The Flor-Ala

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Light pollution is a serious problem on campus, according to UNA Assistant Professor of Astronomy and Director of the Planetarium and Observatory Dr. Mel Blake. He spoke at a recent SGA senate meeting on the effects and problems associated with the issue.

Blake said light is widely misused on campus and elsewhere.

“There is no reason to send half the light you’re paying for up into the sky,” he said.

And according to him, that’s exactly what some of the older light fixtures on campus do. He said that the spherical light fixtures, along with many other inefficient designs, on campus send more than half of their light upwards rather than toward walkways or dimly lit areas.

But the problem does not stop at extra energy cost for the university, Blake said.

“Light pollution can have an effect on human health,” he said.

Blake gave Rice and Rivers halls, dormitories with one side each facing the bright practice field lights, as examples of ways light pollution could affect student health.

“Too much light at night can affect melatonin release,” he said. “Melatonin is an antioxidant that clears out all the bad stuff from the day.”

Too little melatonin can lead to cancer, according to Blake.

The solution, as proposed by Blake, is full cutoff light fixtures, which are boxshaped fixtures with mirrors inside, directing light to its intended target so none goes into the sky or sleeping students’ dorm rooms. More efficient lighting means a lower wattage bulb, Blake said.

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photo by Barry Minor

Harrison Plaza at night is lit up with many sources of light. According to some UNA community members, too much lighting could lead to light pollution on campus, which carries a wide array of problems.

“Low light pollution is better for human health, cheaper for the university and, of course, it’s good for me, too,” he said.

Blake said campus light pollution affects the Planetarium and Observatory.

“When the field lights across the street are on, we can only see what we can observe with the naked eye,” he said. “So, during the practice season, we can’t do anything with (the Planetarium and Observatory). I lose a quarter of the year.”

Blake is campaigning to change the fixtures on campus, but hopes to later expand his cause.

“I was working on a grant a couple years ago for TVA to fund a light pollution campaign,” he said.

Blake said TVA might have an interest

in reducing light pollution in the Shoals because of growing concern about having to build more power plants to support increased energy use in the area.

Blake said he wants SGA to start spreading the word about the issue to get the students involved.

SGA President Ralph Akalonu said he sees Blake’s point.

“A lot of what he said made sense,” Akalonu said. “(Reducing campus light pollution) could potentially save the campus a lot of money. This is something the university should look into.”

SGA will further examine the issue and determine what role, if any, it should play in the solution, according to Akalonu.

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Hearings for Corey Langley Griffin, 20, a UNA student and former tennis player, have been delayed until Nov. 8, according to officials at the Colbert County Courthouse.

Griffin was charged with second-degree rape and sodomy in early September after allegedly sexually assaulting a fellow UNA student.

Muscle Shoals Police said Griffin was allegedly intoxicated when he Griffin called the victim for a ride home. Upon arrival, Griffin forced the victim, a 20-year-old female UNA student, to perform oral sex and raped her in the front seat of her car, police said.

According to Mark Linder, UNA director of athletics, Griffin was suspended from the team after the charges were brought against him. Linder said all athletes charged with felonies are suspended from the team.

Stay with The Flor-Ala as this story develops, and visit florala.net for the latest information.

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Student Nighttime Auxiliary Patrol is a security program that will transport any student from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week.

Just call the police number 256-7654357, ask for SNAP, and it will take students or professors anywhere on campus.

“I think it is a really effective way to get students and professors around campus (at night),” said UNA police Chief Bob Pastula.

SNAP has been around for a year, and Pastula is in charge of it. He said he saw similar programs at other schools, and that is how he got the idea for SNAP. “(SNAP) responds pretty quickly and almost immediately,” Pastula said.

Pastula said that everyone should take advantage of SNAP, and that it is not only for escorting students, but also provides extra security around campus. photo by Kayla Sloan SNAP will take anyone around campus, even to the Appleby sorority dorms, but Members of the Student Nighttime Auxiliary Patrol check buildings for security as will not cross Pine Street. “(Their) first priority is the personal well as transport students on campus. safety of the students, safety of themselves trouble. SNAP also locks up many of the and then comes the protection of property,” buildings at night. said Steven Stracener, a SNAP team mem“It’s an honor to serve the student body ber. and university by providing safe passage Stracener said that right now there are and comfort to students traveling at night,” six or seven SNAP team members. said Nathan Daniels, another SNAP team SNAP members act as observers so they can protect their own safety, and they also ;MM ;6)8 XIOM unlock various buildings around campus for students and will help anyone with car

UNA is teaming up with First Fridays of the Shoals Nov. 4 as part of UNA’s Purple Reign Week festivities.

According to Josh Woods, director of University Communications, the event will be a time when the positive aspects of UNA are going to be showcased. Many university organizations and clubs are going to be a part of the evening.

“I have been impressed with the number of groups wanting to get involved,” Woods said.

According to his count, there will be 20-25 different UNA departments and programs that are going to have presentations at the Nov. 4 First Friday, a community event that typically features businesses and artists from the Shoals area as they open their doors or set up booths in downtown Florence.

“The goal is to make the community more aware of the huge things happening at UNA.” Woods said. “The transition to Division I is just one piece in a much larger puzzle.”

Examples of this, he said, include the UNA Nursing Program. The Nursing Program just received the highest level of accreditation possible. The College of Business is also working to accomplish this

”The goal is to make

the community more aware of the huge things happening at UNA.” -Josh Woods goal.

Woods cites the expanding of campus as another of the aspects of UNA he hopes will be made aware of through events such as the upcoming First Friday.

Woods said that the First Friday will be “basically showcasing great things going on at UNA in a fun way.” He gave the example of a children’s magic show involving chemistry, the Culinary Program having a presentation, and the Golf Team exhibiting a putting green.

“People who may not have been to First Fridays may go to support the university,” Woods said. “We want to see as much purple and gold as possible.”

His prediction may come true, according to Elise Cofield, freshman in the UNA Honors Program.

“It might make more students who have never been before encouraged to go,” Cofield said. “I have not been before, and it makes me want to go.”

Fellow Honors freshman Alyson Berry also had enthusiasm for the upcoming event.

“It’s so exciting to see the community rally around the UNA Lions,” Berry said.

But it’s not just freshman that are looking forward to Nov. 4.

“I have never been to First Fridays before,” said Allison Stark, UNA junior majoring in Integrated Communications.

“I am excited about going to this First Fridays because it has the potential to bring students and other members of the area together.”

Thursday, October 27, 2011 • The Flor-Ala

Viewpoints

Student newspaper of the University of North Alabama LUCY BERRY EXECUTIVE EDITOR JOSH SKAGGS NEWS/MANAGING EDITOR ANDY THIGPEN LIFE EDITOR TOMMY BOLTON SPORTS EDITOR ALEX LINDLEY COPY/OPINION EDITOR JORDAN BRADLEY ONLINE EDITOR DEVIN KENNAMER AD MANAGER SAVANNAH COMER GRAPHIC ARTIST EVAN KING CIRCULATION MGR MALISA McCLURE CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER KAYLA SLOAN BARRY MINOR DARRICK DAWKINS STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS REBECCA WALKER ADVISER

EDITORIAL BOARD: LUCY BERRY ALEX LINDLEY

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 writer’s name, mailing address, phone number and e-mail.

• 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 Editor’s Note may accompany a letter.

• Address correspondence to The Flor-Ala. UNA Box 5300, Florence, AL 35632.

E-mail: florala@una.edu.

Letters may also be submitted through our website at florala.net.

• Phone: 256-765-4364

Copyright © 2011 The Flor-Ala All rights reserved.

First copy free.

Additional copies $1 each.

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PAWS UP, PAWS DOWN Calling it like we see it at UNA, in the Shoals, across the state and around the world

FBI asks for new Internet, hipsters Citing growing security to shut down power plants, etc.)? threats due in large part to terrorThat’s not to mention it’s ist groups looking to hire hackers probably a lot cheaper for these to attack critical systems, like theoretical terrorists to just bribe power plants and financial net- or force people with access to works, FBI Official Shawn Henry the “secure” system to give them called for a secure, alternative their login information than to Internet Oct. 20. He suggestpay hackers. ed a system that eliminates And just wait until anonymity, requiring every Anonymous, the hackuser to have an access code er group dedicated to or password. civil disobedience and Oh my.

Internet humor, gets Where to even start with ahold of this little nugsuch a moronic idea? First )TM` 4QVLTMa get. A dead off, this already exists. It’s +WXa 7XQVQWV[ -LQ\WZ serious, criticalled an intranet, which is ITQVLTMa(]VI ML] cally impora closed system of websites tant Internet for a business or other smaller filled only with vital information network. Intranets are still con- supposedly secured from everynected to the Internet, though, one but the “get offa my lawn” because they use the technology old men who appear to run everythat powers it. thing? Perfect.

That’s why it’s called THE But, according to Henry, “We Internet. can’t just tech our way out of So, if this alternative network the cyber threat.” So we should will be just like the Internet, “invent” some new technology what’s stopping these hackers to not tech our way out of it by from figuring the new system out making the Internet we already and having open access to a net- have more secure? work that only contains the good Another genius idea straight stuff (critical information, ability from the mouth of bureaucracy.

And aside from the painfully obvious flaws in the FBI’s new Internet, there is another, subtler, and arguably more dangerous and annoying, threat lurking in the darkest corners of the Internet.

Hipsters.

If a private, highly exclusive Internet is made, hipsters everywhere will drop their white tea infused with acai berries and run for the nearest computer to be the first to have access to this system that everyone else probably hasn’t heard of.

The clamor to be the first comment on the newest government specialized information extraction instructional video on OurTube will breed a new generation of hackers—hipster hackers.

The only thing the FBI’s new system will secure is a guarantee that hackers—hipster, nerd and terrorist alike—will try to breech it.

If the terrorists and hackers don’t figure out the new Internet, the hipster hackers will—and God only knows what they’ll do with it.

Immigration bill a black cloud over state The Flor-Ala editorial board is absolutely opposed to the new Alabama immigration bill. And how couldn’t we be? The bill may have started with good intentions by legislators, but what it really comes down to is state-sponsored racism.

Not only is this bill an embarrassment to the state, only enforcing preconceived notions of many other Americans that Alabama is backwards and racist, it is bad for it economically.

Lawmakers created the bill with the childish notion that all the evil illegals would be forced out of their jobs so “real” Americans can take the jobs to support their families.

But the reality is few Americans want the backbreaking work associated with agricultural jobs typically held by illegal immigrants. Many Alabama farmers have complained that they won’t be able to maintain crews large enough to harvest their crops now that illegals are afraid to show up for work.

The outcry from the farmers

was serious enough to cause Gov. Robert Bentley to start a statewide program to help farmers find Americans interested in filling the void left by the new immigration law. As of Oct. 20, 260 people had signed up (across the entire state) and about 30 replaced the hundreds of immigrant workers who fled the state or refuse to show up for work in protest or fear or both.

The bill is bad for Alabama’s economy, and it does nothing to solve the national economic problems associated with illegal immigration. Immigrants have simply fled to other states to take jobs where they can feel safe and not oppressed by their governments and their neighbors.

But one of the most absurd parts of the bill is Gov. Bentley’s reaction after the bill caught its share of much deserved flak. He said he won’t be the face of the immigration bill, even though he was at the forefront of the bill when he signed it earlier this summer. You can’t pick and choose what you’re remembered for.

And though The Flor-Ala

editorial board is wholly for the separation of church and state, it is still surprising that, in the buckle of the Bible Belt, so many Christians support a bill that completely opposes the Christian Bible. Exodus 22:21 says, “Do not mistreat an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in Egypt.”

Thankfully, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently sided with the Obama administration, temporarily blocking public schools from checking the immigration status of students and their parents and blocking police from charging immigrants unable to prove their citizenship—some of the more fascist-state features of the bill.

The final decision on the bill won’t arrive for a few months, but The Flor-Ala editorial board hopes that the courts will make the right decision and lift this “black cloud” from the Alabama skyline.

The opinions expressed are the collective ideas of The FlorAla editorial board.

Members of UNA’s Alpha Delta Pi sorority will be trick or treating this Halloween for items listed on the Ronald McDonald House Charities’ wish list. Items collected will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House for families with children undergoing medical care.

After complaints from downtown Florence store owners, Florence police installed six fixed cameras surveying the most trafficked streets to deter graffiti and vandalism to downtown buildings.

UNA’s National Pan-Hellenic Council held a ceremony Monday night to commemorate the new NPHC garden in front of the GUC. Some NPHC representatives told The Flor-Ala they have felt underrepresented at UNA in the past, and the new garden acts as a place they can finally call their own.

Lifesouth held a blood drive last week on campus, and gave out University of Alabama and Auburn University T-shirts as incentives instead of UNA T-shirts.

Congrats!

UNA student Blythe Steelman has been named a Staff Writer for The Flor-Ala.

Congratulations to Matt Wilson for writing last week’s story of the week!

Thursday, October 27, 2011 • The Flor-Ala

Life

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Flor-Ala editorial staff, writers, photographers stay in allegedly haunted buildings on campus last weekend Last Friday, Oct. 21, several members of The Flor-Ala editorial staff, three photographers and two staff writers spent the night in allegedly haunted places on UNA’s campus: Rogers Hall, Norton Auditorium, Wesleyan Hall and Coby Hall. These are their stories.

Dawkins, who were staying in Norton Auditorium.

Talkin’ With George Jordan Bradley - Online Editor

Norton is supposedly one of the most haunted buildings in Florence, and the story of George, an unfortunate construction The Beginning worker who fell from a high beam and died Andy Thigpen - Life Editor during Norton’s construction, has appeared The night began unremarkably. The in several books about Southern hauntings.

We got to Norton around 11 p.m. and sky was brown and cloudy. The music from Valhalla could be distantly heard. The drop tried out several cameras and recording devices in the auditorium. We got nothing but in temperature made gusts of wind and our breath visible creaking from the as Malisa McClure, catwalks.

Ann Harkey and Legend goes I walked to Rogthat if you stand ers Hall to check on Norton’s stage on Josh Skaggs and by yourself with Shelby Boman who all the lights out were posted up for and yell “Hello!” the night. We were George will reon our way to Coby spond to you in Hall and had just left Alex Lindley, Kayla photo by Kayla Sloan some way, so I Sloan and Tommy Desks lined up in Room 312 of Wesleyan Hall had to try that Bolton in Wesleyan where the door shut on Alex Lindley while he out. With a night vision camera on, to see what they was trying to leave.

I screamed “Helcould see. lo,” “George,” and a few other words, and When we arrived at Rogers, it became then asked for any kind of sign that someobvious that Josh and Shelby were bored. one was there.

Darrick came back in and The only noises they had heard they determined to be the ice machine downstairs. reviewed the camera footage. A minute into Luckily, we had a Ouija board to try to liven the footage, Darrick got a call. His original things up and have some healthy paranor- model PS3 had died.

Around 2 a.m., Andy, Malisa, Ann, mal conversation. Devin Kennamer joined Josh and Devin came over to see our setup us; we lit a candle and began to speak. and try out the Ouija board.

Nothing happened.

We took the board off-stage to NorAfter a lot of questions and laughter, we decided that Rogers might not be the ton’s creepier and darker rooms. Everyone most haunted place on campus. We took but Darrick circled around the board and

photo by Darrick Dawkins

Jordan Bradley sits on the Norton Auditorium stage while having a heart to heart with the resident spirit, George.

Josh with us and proceeded to Coby Hall to drop off my supplies and look around.

While there, Ann and I played a few pranks on Josh and Devin, who let out a good squeal.

Before getting settled, we all went to check on Jordan Bradley and Darrick

put their hands on the pointer. As soon as everyone was touching it, and without asking it a question, it started to move, first to G, then E, then O, R, G and finally to E again.

We immediately started to ask it questions, but after a few mixed responses and

garbled answers, Andy asked if George wanted to talk to us, and the board answered “No,” and then “Goodbye.”

With that burst of activity, we moved the board back to Norton’s stage, and tried again. This time, when the board started spelling random words, Josh asked if George was messing with us. The pointer immediately flew to “Yes.” We asked a couple more questions about George’s identity.

After a moment of inactivity, we asked if George was really there.

The answer “No” came back. We asked where photo by Malisa McClure he was, and the board spelled “W-E-S-L.” The Ouija board became a key feature of the night as we When we asked if he was communicated with the spirits in campus buildings. in Wesleyan Hall, George colorful expletives from the group, I desaid “Yes.” Andy asked why George was in cided to check the door, which I had pushed Wesleyan and the pointer moved to “Good- back open when it hit me, again. Again, it bye.” We took that as a sign, packed up and whooshed and shut towards me. moved to Wesleyan.

No one was behind the door.

Opening Doors Alex Lindley - Copy/Opinions Editor I didn’t expect to see anything during my night in Wesleyan Hall, but I did. I can’t explain any of it, and I think it’s better that way.

We arrived at Wesleyan around 9 p.m.

Everything for the first three hours was uneventful, except for running into a guy who was there late using the WiFi and finding out that we couldn’t lock the front doors.

We camped out on the third floor with all the lights off. Around 12:30 a.m., we heard a noise in the stairwell. After a fruitless investigation, we decided to make a trip to the bathroom on the second floor. As we descended the first flight of stairs, we heard the stairwell door (which had a doorstop under it) close abruptly.

The bathroom would have to wait.

Tommy and I began checking the classrooms to see if anyone was upstairs. We found no one. I called Andy to tell him what happened. He said that the group was at Norton about to set up the Ouija board.

We said we’d keep each other posted and hung up.

While Tommy and I were checking the classrooms, Kayla went into a classroom by herself. Moments later, she ran out terrified after we heard the classic Windows startup sound. The computer had turned on by itself.

Things had just gotten real. After a short break downstairs to gather our wits, we decided to check the classroom again.

As I walked towards the opened classroom door to check if anyone was behind it, the door closed towards me suddenly with a loud “whoosh.”

After a brief heart attack and some

Andy called back a few minutes later and asked if anything had just happened. I told him about our occurrence, and he told me about theirs. At the same time that the door shut on me, George was telling them that he was in Wesleyan with us.

Once the group joined us and got the Ouija board set up in the haunted classroom, we began a conversation with George. He was fairly talkative. He said the reason he was in Wesleyan Hall was because he had been woken up. Who woke him up? “A-NN … No, A-L-E-X,” he said.

Just great, I thought. I was relieved when he said he liked me, though.

During the conversation, in which we asked George if he had turned on the computer and he said yes, the computer turned on and off twice in a matter of 30 seconds.

Through the Ouija board, George identified himself as a Christian and a dead human. He also said he would follow us when we left, but only to Coby Hall. He also specifically said that he would follow Kayla, but, when asked if he was joking, said “Yes.” As everyone was packing up to head to Coby, Devin walked past the open classroom door.

It shut towards him in front of everyone.

Dusk TILL Dawn Andy Thigpen - Life Editor We left Wesleyan in a hurry. It was 3:45 a.m., and we hadn’t even spent any time in Coby Hall. We all decided that we would take the Ouija up to the attic, see what happened and then go home.

Some of the employees there had told me that they always hear sleigh bells from

;MM 0)=6<16/ XIOM

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Images

Stop the violence

By Malisa McClure - Chief Photographer - msmcclure@una.edu Religious intolerance. Interracial relationships. Sexual violence. Gender equality. These are just some of the issues students addressed when they made Tshirts during the Oct. 20 Stop the Violence campaign.

The campaign consisted of two parts. The Clothesline Project took place during the day, where students were encouraged to decorate a T-shirt in a way that spoke out against violence or other issue and display them on a clothesline.

During Take Back the Night that evening, students shared their stories, listened to music and watched a dance performance at the end of the night.

When I arrived at noon that day, there were about 15 shirts hanging from the clotheslines lining the back yard of the Women’s Center. By the end of the day, there were 70.

I walked around looking at

the shirts while Bob Dylan’s “How does it feel?” played in the background. I saw one shirt that said “Childhood Shouldn’t Hurt,” while another said “Equal Rights for All.” There was even a shirt that said “Smith. US Army.

I Fight Because My Brother Couldn’t!”

That evening, during Take Back the Night, the clothesline acted as a blanket around the perimeter of the Women’s Center’s backyard.

There were some performers and singers, and there were many students who got up and shared their stories of sexual and domestic violence.

Some people had shared their story many times before, while some were sharing for the very first time. One student shared his story through a poem about his experience.

The evening culminated with a performance by the dance stu-

dio Star Struck. They performed a dance to Eminem’s “Love the Way You Lie.” They acted out violent scenes, and the light coming from behind them on campus made it look very dramatic.

When the dance was over, there was a big cheer from the audience.

The Stop the Violence campaign was all about empowerment. The students who participated not only confronted violence, but also took on other issues such as inequality, racism and intolerance.

Overall, the event was very uplifting, and the students who participated were truly inspiring.

WANT MORE?

To view additional photos from this series, visit our website at florala.net

Thursday, October 27, 2011 • The Flor-Ala

Thursday, October 20, 2011 • The Flor-Ala

Feature

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Chills, thrills for Halloween

By Malisa McClure - Kappa Sigma’s haunted house at UNA Oct. 20-21

*=;-; KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM the UNA community to travel more safely to locations due to their ability to take longer trips and give riders a more comfortable ride. “(The current buses) are safe; they are just not meant to be over-the-road buses,” Shields said. “I would feel much better with these buses. These two buses will alleviate (the use of shuttle buses for trips) a little bit.”

The new buses will be available just like any other vehicle on campus, Shields said. The buses can be checked out through the university like the other vans in the university’s motor pool.

“They are open to anybody and everybody to use; they are not exclusive to student activities or athletics,” Shields said. “They will be part of the university fleet; they will not be assigned to a specific person or group.”

The buses are a positive thing for the university not only because of the safety they offer, but because they have many other features, Shields said.

“We are also going to get these buses wrapped,” he said. “They are going to be wrapped with UNA information.”

The buses will feature admissions information and other contact information for the university, Shields said.

“I think it’s going to be wonderful for our marketing and branding as an institution,” Shields said. “It’s a moving billboard.”

photo by Kayla SLoan

Students use the shuttle bus on UNA’s campus near the visitor and faculty parking lots. UNA is in the process of purchasing two new 44-passenger buses for student use. David Shields, vice president for student affairs, said the buses will be available for checkout through the university.

:-+A+416/ KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM be missed.

According to Mansell and Gautney, UNA will be purchasing 18 gallon containers for every classroom, 96-gallon rolling carts for every building, aluminum can and plastic bottle receptacles and a 6 x 10 trailer for the Grounds Department to haul recyclables off campus. The Recycling Center will also be purchasing new conveyor belts and scales for their trucks to help expedite the recycling process.

Mansell is hopeful about the effect the new containers will have on students.

“It will make the containers visible,” she said. “If there’s a container in every class, they will know it. I

know I would.”

Another part of the grant will be for public relations and education of the campus and community. The education of the student body falls, in

”You always have to find new, creative things to keep (students) engaged with anything.”

-Ralph Akalonu large part, on the SGA. “We’re trying to push the initia-

tive from the student’s perspective,” said Ralph Akalonu, SGA president.

“SGA’s goal will be educating the students. I think a lot of students know about it, but they don’t know how to do it and that it’s so easy.”

Beginning with an event scheduled for Nov. 15, National Recycling Day, the SGA plans to follow up with more educational opportunities throughout the year. Akalonu hopes that these events will help keep students’ interest peaked.

“You always have to find new, creative things to keep (students) engaged with anything,” Akalonu said.

“If they’re not interested, then they’re not.”

8:78-:<A KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM UNA and individuals across the United States.”

The original proposal from Zhang to buy the golf and country club property fell apart this past summer when City Council members Sam Pendleton and James Barnhart expressed opposition to the partnership between UNA and the Chinese company. Soon thereafter, UNA officials advised Zhang to not buy the golf and country club property, Cale said.

“Once the comments were made, we recommended to him that he not pursue the purchase of the golf and country club,” Cale said. “We felt that the negative comments coming from the City Council did not bode well with a partnership with our Chinese partner.”

Last September, the UNA board of trustees voted to approve the purchase of approximately 60 acres of the country club property, which includes a golf course, tennis courts, swimming pool and clubhouse, for $1.2 million, Cale said.

Since last September, the university has collected a $1-per-credit-hour fee from students to pay for the maintenance and facility costs of the country club property had UNA completed the purchase.

Because UNA no longer plans to buy the property, students now have the opportunity to decide how the collected $125,000 will be spent at the university.

SGA President Ralph Akalonu said a student referendum was held during Homecoming elections in late September to determine how the money will be used. An outdoor swimming pool and extra MANE card machines were the highest voted options by students, Akalonu said.

“The (referendum) gave students a chance to say what they wanted on how that money needs to be spent,” he said. “(SGA) is trying to be as transparent as possible and is not using that money on anything other than what students want.”

Akalonu believes the addition of a health science management graduate program in Florence would positively impact the local community.

“I think it all boils down to the university as a whole taking the next step toward D-I,” he said. “With that program, there could be a whole lot of potential in that.”

Dr. Keith Malone, associate professor of economics and finance, worked with his department to determine the spending impact of a typical UNA student. If UNA partnered with Zhang for the health science management program, the economic impact of students enrolled would be comparable to the 2007 data, Cale said.

The estimates report that full-time UNA students each spend an average $4,077, and international students spend $2,620 each year. Full-time students have an economic impact of $6,079 in the Shoals each year, and international students an average $3,907.

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Life

Thursday, October 27, 2011 • The Flor-Ala

Glee fundraiser giving $1 million to at-risk music programs *Ta\PM ;\MMTUIV

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Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and the National Association for Music Education recently launched a campaign to award grants to 73 high school music arts programs across the U.S. Following the success of the television series “Glee,” as well as the extraordinary sales of “Glee” on DVD, TCFHE and NAfME were excited to announce that $1 for every DVD and Blu-Ray sold would go towards the $1 million worth of grants being donated to high school arts programs.

High schools across the country were encouraged to submit videos detailing why their program deserved to receive one of the 73 grants. People can go online, watch the videos and vote for the school they feel is most deserving. The winning schools will be notified in December.

0)=6<16/ KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM up there around Christmas time, and that a student had once run out screaming after seeing a Civil War soldier standing close by, watching him.

Surely someone would be home to talk.

The attic was cold and slightly terrifying. Christmas decorations were in the corner, pipes ran around the floor, and hundreds of red nails poked through the roof from the shingles outside. In the center of the room there was a big ventilation fan

Courtesy of Glee Give a Note

Phil Campbell High School is one of 396 schools in the running to receive one of these grants. The school is also one of only three schools in Alabama in the contest.

Ryan Collins, UNA student and summer band camp instructor at Phil Campbell High School, is encouraging the community to get involved with this cause. that, according to Ann Harkey, looked like the type of thing that one of us would be thrown into if the night had been a horror movie.

We set up shop and asked, “Who is here tonight?” Slowly, with our hands on the piece, the letters “M-A-R-G” were spelled. I asked if her name was “Margaret” and she said, “Yes.” Margaret was a previous owner of the house who died in 1851. Nothing else she said made sense.

We asked if she was the woman in the black dress, she said “No,” even though Margaret is the woman in the black dress

“Music programs are often the first programs cut in a high school budget,” Collins said. “It’s unfortunate because music is a good outlet, and, for some students, it’s all they’ve ever known.”

Michael Butera, the executive director of the National Association for Music Education, also believes that awarding schools these grants is important.

“Millions of kids are attending schools where music programs have been cut,” he said. “Each week, ‘Glee’ is sticking up for school music, giving a voice to students and teachers who understand that music is essential to a complete education. Our organization is fighting every day to keep music in our schools so that every kid has the chance to experience it.”

The grants will vary in amounts. Three schools in the nation will win $50,000 each, 10 will receive $25,000 each, and 60 will win $10,000 apiece.

Collins said that any money a high pictured in the foyer of Colby. She did say she was from Florence, but that she didn’t live in Coby Hall. She said she died when she was 81, even though the “other Margaret” died when she was 57.

Then the air began to get tense.

We asked if she was friendly, to which she promptly said, “No.” When asked if she wanted to talk, she said “Yes.” She also said that she didn’t want us to leave.

Darrick, who didn’t want to touch the pointer, turned to me and said, “Ask her if she wants to hurt us.”

The spirit, hearing his statement, moved the pointer over “Yes.” We asked “Would you hurt us if you could?” and the pointer never moved away from “Yes.” The air was cold but thick. One more question.

I asked if she was involved in the Civil War, and the pointer immediately moved to “Goodbye.”

That was enough for us, so we scrambled out and decided to go to the place where all stories go to rest: Waffle House.

At some point during my gluttonous treatment of my All-Star Breakfast, the waitress told us we didn’t have to worry about our tickets and pointed to a man in the booth next to us.

At 5 a.m. on Saturday morning, a man bought all of us breakfast after we spent all night ghost hunting and participating in

school music program can receive is put to good use. In Phil Campbell’s case, the school still needs instruments vital to run an effective concert band, as well as sheet music, stands and chairs, following the devastating tornadoes that took place this past April.

Collins is encouraging the community and UNA students to keep the same level of initiative and drive-in voting they have already shown.

“Just remember to vote every day,” Collins said. “People tend to jump on the bandwagon in the beginning to support a good cause, but then they forget about it towards the end. Post the link on your Facebook every day, and encourage your friends to do the same.”

Only one vote per IP address is allowed per day. To view submission videos and vote, visit www.gleegiveanote.com. Voting ends Monday, Nov. 7.

photo by Malisa McClure

Portrait of Coby Stockard Brubaker, Coby Hall’s namesake, located in the foyer.

paranormal activities. The night could not have ended better.

The Flor-Ala staff would like to give a very special thanks to Bret Jennings, Dr. Vagn Hansen, Kim Mauldin, David Shields, Chief Bob Pastula and the UNA Police Department for their support, patience, and cooperation.

photo by Kayla Sloan

From left to right: Andy Thigpen, Darrick Dawkins and Tommy Bolton at Waffle House trying to recover from a night of spirits and paranoia.

Sports

Thursday, October 27, 2011 • The Flor-Ala

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Football team gets back on field this weekend 4I]ZMV -[\M[

;\INN ?ZQ\MZ TM[\M[(]VI ML]

After falling in the polls due to a 30-24 loss to previously ranked No. 2 Delta State, the Lions are now ranked No. 5, moving the Statesmen up to No. 1.

The overtime loss to Delta State Oct. 13 has been brushed aside, as UNA will face another GSC rival, West Alabama, in Livingston Thursday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. UNA defeated the Tigers last year at home 24-23 after the Lions scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter in a “come from behind” victory.

Unranked West Alabama, 5-2, will demonstrate the usual vengeful rivalry characteristics, led by running back Matthew Willis, who has already managed more than 900 rushing yards and six touchdowns for the season. “(In order for us to win Thursday), we have to digest the Delta State game and move one in order to win or lose against West Alabama,” said linebacker Luke Darr.

“We have a little bit of an advantage.

This is our off week, so we have some extra time preparing, so hopefully we will be as polished as we can for the following week when we play them.”

The tigers of West Alabama bring a strong running game to the table. UNA has seen such with teams like Central Oklahoma and their leading man Josh Birmingham who was shut down by the Lions in week one.

Birmingham managed just 44 yards on

12 carries. Matthew Willis for West Alabama will be the guy to watch, averaging better than six yards per carry and 128 yards a game.

“As far as changes, there’s nothing drastic we need to do; what we do, it works,” Darr said. “We have to continue to execute, prepare and keep putting in a great effort.”

UNA and UWA share a common thread that many schools do not.

West Alabama’s head coach Will Hall was UNA’s starting quarterback in 2002/2003 seasons and was a Harlon Hill trophy winner and set 16 records while in Florence. This will give the Tigers an advantage, as a previous Lion will be coaching against the Lions with old game plans in hand.

“It’s no secret that we don’t like West Alabama, so it’s going to be another emotional game like Delta State was and Valdosta in the future,” Darr said. “We also have a former player who was the photo by Darrick Dawkins offensive coordinator, but now the head Senior quarterback Lee Chapple scrambles away from a sack during UNA’s last game coach for the Tigers. He will have intri- against Delta State. The Lions look to bounce back this week after suffering an overtime cate knowledge of what we do over here. loss to Delta State.

At the same time, we have a little bit of really good jump start on them.” tion of winning at North Alabama, regardunderstanding of what he does.”

UNA will be battling not only to mainless of the situation or what happened the UNA punter Michael Schuster said tain their top fi ve ranking, but to keep the previous week. Whoever we are playing, the Lions need to come out of the starting playoff s hope high, as well as establish we’re going to want to dominate them, so blocks fast like they did against Abilene themselves in the GSC with their fi rst vicit’s pretty much business as usual.”

Christian earlier in the season. tory over an opposing GSC team.

The UNA football team will travel to “We need to play fast,” Schuster said.

“It’s a big game, a conference game, and Livingston to take on the Tigers of West “We scored 16 points on Abilene Christian quick. We’ve been slow getting started, es- you want to win after a loss,” Darr said. “The Alabama Oct 27. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at pecially on the road games; we need to get a bottom line is we always have the expecta- Tiger Stadium.

Aldridgeʼs passion for rugby helped start program at UNA 5ITQ[I 5K+T]ZM

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munication with city officials, the team is able to play at Veterans Park in Florence.

Aldridge is currently recovering from an ankle injury and has been unable to play for a couple of weeks. Rugby, he said, is a much more demanding sport than other more traditional sports.

“I’ve played football and baseball, and rugby’s a lot more wear and tear week in and week out,” Aldridge said.

Because of his injury, Aldridge was unable to play Oct. 15, when UNA rugby played against Freed-Hardeman, his former school.

During his free time, Aldridge likes to hunt deer and duck and go fishing. The biology major said he loves being outside, and he’s been hunting and fishing for as long as he can remember.

Stats: The UNA soccer team finished up the weekend with two wins against UAH and West Florida. The win against West Florida was the first victory over the Argos in school history and also clinched a share of the Gulf South Conference title.

Caleb Aldridge helped bring rugby to UNA and is also a member of the rugby team. The rugby team will be back in action Nov. 12 at home.

Week At A Glance

Players of the week

UNA Soccer

He chose to come to UNA because it was a good fit for him at the time. Being a larger school than FreedHardeman, UNA offered more academic programs.

Also, the school is closer to home for Aldridge.

“It had everything but rugby, and I had to add (it) on,” he said.

Now that UNA has rugby, Aldridge is feeling at home. He said he loves North Alabama and thinks that Florence is a great town.

The Rugby team will play on Nov. 12 at home at Veterans Park in Florence. photo by Malisa McClure

Caleb Aldridge, 22, discovered rugby when he was a freshman at Freed-Hardeman in 2008. After transferring to UNA in the fall of 2010, he started the first rugby team at UNA. Aldridge, who graduated from Hubbertville High School in Glen Allen in 2008, was introduced to rugby while he was attending Freed-Hardeman.

When he transferred to UNA, he was disappointed that there wasn’t a rugby team.

“I guess it was about a month into school, I realized how much I missed playing,” Aldridge said.

That’s when Aldridge decided he wanted to start a rugby program at UNA. Though

he originally was just hoping to find a few guys interested in learning about the sport, he found many guys that were interested in playing.

While Aldridge was starting the UNA rugby team, he met Eddie Roberts, who said he was interested in coaching the team.

Roberts, who played rugby at Tennessee Tech University, is the former rugby coach of Lee University.

Roberts said that Aldridge is “a tremendous young man,” and because of his leadership, Roberts expects the rugby program to continue to do well after Aldridge graduates.

“If it wasn’t for (Aldridge), the team wouldn’t be there,” Roberts said.

Aldridge said that Roberts has been instrumental in finding a field for the team to play on. Because of Roberts’ com-

Volleyball When: Friday - 7 p.m.

Saturday - 2 p.m..

Where: Flowers Hall Who: Valdosta State West Georgia

Soccer

Football

When: Monday, 7 p.m. .m.

When: Saturday y - 7 p.m.

ldd Where: Practice Field

Where: Away

Who: Kentucky West.wwww stt.w ww ww ww ww

Who: West Alabama abama

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Sports

Thursday, October 27, 2011 • The Flor-Ala

Soccer team gets big win, clinches share of GSC title 7ZZMa *WT\WV

;\INN ?ZQ\MZ WJWT\WV(]VI ML]

Game recap

The UNA Lions capped off an impressive weekend with a • The Lions picked up two wins win over Gulf South Conference against UAH and West Florida, power West Florida (2-0) and giving the Lions a 14-3 overall ended the other team’s 54-game record and a 6-1 record in conconference winning streak. ference play.

With the win over West Florida, the Lions (14-3, 6-1) moved • The win against West Florida into a tie for first place in the fiwas the Lions’ first ever victory nal GSC standing. It was the first against the Argos in school hiswin in program history against tory. the Argonauts, and it opens the door for a possible rematch in • Alex McLay recorded her tournament play starting next eighth shutout of the season week in Pensacola, Fla. against UWF and her school “It is a huge confidence record 25th for her career. booster for our team,” said UNA coach Graham Winkworth. “It have outshot all 17 teams. With one of the was very important to finally be able to get best goalies and center forwards in the the victory over West Florida, and it shows country, I really believe we have a shot in photo by Malisa McClure the girls that they can beat them. It was defi- every game.”

Junior midfielder Nikki Brown pushes the ball down the field against Valdosta State nitely a milestone victory for our program.”

UNA is going into the last regular sea- earlier this season. The Lions soccer team got a big win against West Florida over the UNA shares a three-way tie for first with son game with the top two goals scored by weekend, giving the Lions at least a share of the conference title.

West Florida and Valdosta State, which Chloe Roberts (15), leading the way, and girls have put these expectations in them could be crucial in determining who the a tie for second is Jennifer Osmond (12). In too early.”

The expectations are much higher now from the start of the season and have put Lions will be matched up with in the tour- all offensive and defensive categories, the for the Lions going into the tournament even bigger expectations on themselves nament.

Lions are ranked first or second, including Whatever seed the Lions are in next the most goals scored, assists and goals in after capping off the best regular season in than anybody.

UNA women’s soccer history. The waiting “One reason for that is because we want week’s GSC tournament, the momentum the conference. game begins for the Lions to see who their to win championships, and that has been is on the side of UNA. The Lions will roll “The girls are confident, and they know into the tournament with five straight wins that Sunday’s win against West Florida isn’t next opponent will be, but the momentum our goal since the preseason.”

The Lions have one game remaining unas the team who took down the invincible the main goal on the season,” Winkworth and work ethic will be there for the Lions when tournament play begins. til the conference tournament begins Oct. West Florida last Sunday. said. “Practice this week will be back to re“I believe since we have an experienced 31 at home for senior night against Ken“If all 11 of our girls play the way we ality and will be a hard, treacherous week of team, the girls are certainly able to handle tucky Wesleyan with kickoff at 7 p.m. played on Sunday, I feel like we can beat practice. It is important that we get a reality anybody in the country,” Winkworth said. check, and we don’t want our season to peak the expectations,” Winkworth said. “I don’t believe it will be much different because our “Out of all 17 games we have played, we

UNA Sports Center

GSC Football Standings

GSC Soccer Standings GSC Volleyball Standings

Team Conf.

All Delta State 2-0 8-1

Team UNA

6-1

Valdosta State 1-1 6-2 West Alabama 1-1

6-2

UNA

0-1

6-1

West Georgia

0-1

4-3

All

14-3

Team Conf.

West Florida 10-0

Valdosta State 5-1

11-4

Christian Bro 7-3

21-7

West Florida 5-1

10-3-2

UNA

18-6

Conf. All

7-3

18-8

UAH

3-2-1 5-8-2

West Alabama 7-3

Christian Bro.

2-4-0 6-8-2

Valdosta State 4-6 14-13

West Georgia

1-3-1 5-9-1

UAH

3-7

8-19

19-8

West Alabama 1-3

6-10

West Georgia

2-8

8-19

Delta State

4-11

New Orleans 0-10

2-16

0-6

Gulf South Conference Leaders Football Passing:

Soccer Goals:

Volleyball Kills:

DSU Micah Davis, 2575 yds. 17 tds Chloe Roberts-UNA 15 goals UNA Lee Chapple, 1931 yds. 14 tds Tina Murray-UWF 12 goals VSU Austen Roberts, 1034 yds. 7 tds. Jennifer Osmond-UNA 12 goals

Natalie Marsh-UNA 345 Angela Sanders-UWA 309 Jessica Ruple-UAH 305

Rushing:

Assists:

Assists:

UWA Matt Wilson, 1025 yds. 8 tds.

VSU David Bailey, 516 yds. 2 tds.

VSU Theseus Jackson, 420 yds. 1 td.

Tina Murray-UWF 10 assists Ashley Lala-VSU 953 Chloe Roberts-UNA 10 assists Alexis McHale-UWA 946 Kelsey Miles-CBU 932 Nikki Brown-UNA 9 assists

Receiving:

Goalkeeping:

Digs:

UNA Mo Miliam, 558 yds. 4 tds.

Alex McLay-UNA 0.55 GAA UWA Gerald Worsham, 599 yds. 6 tds. Lauren Byrd-UWF 0.75 GAA DSU Chance Dennis, 704 yds. 5 tds. Olivia Mills-VSU 1.15 GAA

Lauren Greenhill-UNA 462 Corinne Doder-CBU 458 Casey Byrnes-UWA 369

Thursday, October 27, 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ The Flor-Ala

News

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University conducts economic impact survey â&#x20AC;˘ Study to look into impact of UNA athletics on local economy )UIVLI 5K/W]OP

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UNA is conducting an Economic Impact Survey for UNA Athletics to determine the revenue being brought into the community through athletic events. The survey is being conducted at UNA football home games on the home side as well as on the visitor side. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our goal is to determine the economic impact on the number of jobs generated by UNA athletics in our area,â&#x20AC;? said Dr. Keith Malone, of the Center of Public Policy and Economic Research (COPPER).

â&#x20AC;?With the transition to

Division I, this can potentially help with future planning.â&#x20AC;?

-Dr. Jim Couch The survey consists of five questions in order to estimate how much money people are spending at the games. If someone is visiting from out of town, then the estimated costs of a hotel room, dining, gas and other incidentals will also be included in the estimate since these items were bought because of the individu-

alâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attendance at a UNA game.

Student volunteers conduct the survey at the entrance gates and by walking through the ticket lines. So far, this has helped generate several hundred surveys. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We appreciate people being cooperative, because the more completed surveys we have, the better estimates will be made,â&#x20AC;? Malone said.

The purpose in the survey is to let people in the area know the economic results of a UNA home game, to know the benchmark and how they can affect jobs in the area.

The results will be able to compare what UNA spends for a home game with what local attendees and visitors spend. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With the transition to Division I, this can potentially help with future planning,â&#x20AC;? said Dr. Jim Couch, professor of economics and finance, who is helping with the survey. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We photo by Kayla Sloan are just providing the numbers.â&#x20AC;?

The UNA football team squares off against Delta State University. COPPER, the universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Three years ago, an economic research department, is looking at how much a game day brings to the Shoals economy. impact survey was done with a comweâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done an exclusively athletics survey ready in December. The results will also bination of information about academics for inclusion in the total economic impact be a part of a greater survey being conand athletics. of the university.â&#x20AC;?

Malone said. ducted to determine the economic results â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have been collecting information The last survey will be conducted at of UNA as a whole. about UNAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s academic impact since the the UNA VS. West Georgia game Nov. 5 spring semester, but this is the first time at 6 p.m. The results from the study will be will use it again. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think it makes girls feel very safe, taking them to their dorms, and I would recommend SNAP to my friends,â&#x20AC;? she said.

Nathan Johnson, a UNA junior, has

;6)8 KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM member.

Baleska Benitez, a UNA freshman, said this was her first time using SNAP, but she

used SNAP before. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a pretty cool, safe and effective,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I visit the library a lot for studying, so for me itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nice to have a way to quickly get back to my dorm.â&#x20AC;?

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Tweets of the week

October 27, 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ The Flor-Ala

DISCLAIMER: The tweets below are public tweets found on Twitter by searching hashtags 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.