October 6 Issue

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October 6, 2011

Volume 80 No. 7

www.FlorAla.net

Student newspaper of the University of North Alabama

A night with Matisyahu @UNAFlorAla

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@FlorAlaSports

Check florala.net to see a backstage interview with Matisyahu by Juan Estrada and Trey Alexander.

A LOOK INSIDE

See page 2 SGA discusses possible options for excess student fee money.

photo by Kaylo Sloan

Matisyahu, a Hasidic Jewish rapper, performs at Norton with Ry Cuming Oct. 1. See page 11 Faculty and administrators work to strengthen the academic dishonesty policy.

See page 5 Students with children often find it difficult to juggle their home and academic lives.

See page 9 Marcus Dowtin continues to make big plays for the Lions’ defense. Check out his profile.

Official: Early Scholars program not in jeopardy of being cut

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When Matisyahu stepped on stage last Saturday, Oct. 1, Norton Auditorium turned into a dancehall. As soon as the music started, several hundred students fell into a groove that could be felt from outside and lasted the next two hours. Matisyahu performed many of his hit songs for the UNA crowd such as “One Day,� “King Without a Crown,� “Youth� and “Jerusalem.�

During the show, he shuffled around the stage, absorbed the bass from the monitors and even performed a solo beat box song. In the middle of the show, a rabbi came on stage and blew a shofar to ring in the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, which was welcomed with cheers from the audience. At the end of the show, Matis dove into the hungry crowd and surfed for several

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Freshmen this fall may be surprised to find themselves in the same classroom as high school students because of UNA’s Early Scholars program. Early Scholars is a university-funded program that pays for high school students to take up to five class hours each semester while still in high school, with the student required to only pay a technology and transportation fee of $58 for a standard three-hour class. Early Scholars currently has approximately 300 students attending UNA while still in high school, according to Kim Mauldin, director of the Office of Admissions, with only some of the students enrolling at UNA after graduation. “Our yield is around a quarter to a third of students who enroll here,� said Mauldin, whose office is currently in the process of recording the matriculation rate from the last three to five years. “The hardest students to get are the ones that are closest to the university.� According to Mauldin, every student that goes through the program has to meet the same requirements as a degree-seeking student, but they cannot take online classes and must come on campus to take the courses. “I believe part of the experience is getting on campus and meeting professors and other students,� Mauldin said. “In my mind, if the students have a good experience, it’s worth it.� Currently, the high schools decide which students are sent through the program and which students are kept out, according to Mauldin, but the administrative side of the university is looking at making a change to that. “We want the early scholars to be early scholars,� said Thomas Calhoun, associate vice president of academic affairs. “We don’t want to be a supplementary course of U.S. History. We don’t want to be just another high school course for them. “The point is not to be just a credit-granting opportunity. That is not an early scholars program. That’s housing a high school at UNA.� Calhoun said that the university is looking

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Students turn to legal weed alternative 2W[P ;SIOO[

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Many states and cities have banned or are working on banning synthetic marijuana, a substance made from natural plant material that is sprayed with chemicals to mimic the active ingredient in marijuana, THC. The use of synthetic marijuana is a rapidly growing trend among young people, and students at UNA are using it as well, according to officials. “There are a lot of serious side effects from it,� said Dr. Carol Grace, director of emergency

physicians at Shoals Hospital. Grace said many people who utilize Spice and K2, popular synthetic marijuana substances, don’t know what they can actually do to them. “It has a variety of symptoms,� she said. The chemicals could cause people to have side effects such as heart palpitations, suicidal thoughts and a multitude of other side effects. The symptoms and side effects can be abrupt, Grace said. “It stays in the system; it’s bound up in the system like THC,� Grace said. Many people do not know how harmful the photo by Barry Minor chemicals can be to their body, Grace said. Synthetic marijuana can be found at many

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stores where tobacco is sold.

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News

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SGA works to spend excess student fee money *ZIVLWV )VLMZ[WV

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SGA has taken part in complex discussion in the past few weeks on how best to spend the extra recreational student fee created when UNA did not purchase the Florence Golf and Country Club. According to SGA Senator Allison Ray, students paid an extra student recreation fee for the potential golf course. The deal never took place, which left UNA with an extra $125,000. Numerous ideas have been suggested and researched by SGA members and other students. A few of the main ones included renovations for Flowers Hall, building a disk golf course, an outdoor swimming pool, rock climbing wall, public announcement flat screens and more. “We are not sure how we want to spend the money,” said Emily McCann, senate vice president. “Right now, we are looking into cost, feasibility and all possibilities.” Almost all of these ideas were not met without noting the consequences of each project. Ray, who researched the possibilities of renovating the pool in Flowers Hall, noted that the cost will pose financial problems for UNA.

”We are not sure how we want to spend the money.” -Emily McCann “To renovate the pool will cost half of a million dollars,” Ray said. “I’m not sure if UNA has that right now. It is in a real tight spot.” The disk golf course was said to be feasible; however, it would most likely take away the traditional feel of the campus, as Senator Marshall Hess noted in his research. During the discussion, many senators were opposed to the idea of an outdoor swimming pool because of how far the fee will go to maintain it. “It is a huge expense, and $125,000 will not cover it,” Ray said. “That is where we need to know how the SRC is planning to help pay for it and maintain it.” A vote was carried out during homecoming last week for SGA to find student perspectives of which project met their best interests. According to the polls, 20 percent of the students who voted, making the majority 20 percent, favored the idea of an outdoor swimming pool. Trailing behind this percentage is the 18 percent who favored additional MANE card machines. “(We) hope to have a decision by next semester,” McCann said. Until then, SGA is open to more opinions from the students, McCann said. “I would like to spend the money on something that students will use the most,” McCann said. Many senators in SGA agree the most important aspect in this decision is to put the values of the student body before their own. “During the referendum vote, I try to advocate for what the average UNA student wants,” Ray said.

Thursday, October 6, 2011 • The Flor-Ala

Online classes can cause struggles 2WZLIV *ZILTMa

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Between day and night, three days or two days, and even regular and summer semesters, students have to pick through a lot of factors when they choose just one class, but the biggest choice facing many students now is whether to take a course in an actual classroom. Many classes across several degrees offered by UNA are now available through the Angel online platform instead of the traditional in-class method, so many students are left wondering which one to choose when it comes to decision time. “There are certain people online classes are not good for,” said Dr. Bill Huddleston, professor of communications who has taught online, in-class and hybrid classes. “There are also certain people online classes are good for: people who have to get the credit, people who have to work and can’t get to class at 9-10 a.m.” One of the major advantages online classes offer is flexibility, which, according to B.J. Wilson, coordinator of distance learning for UNA, can allow a greater mixing and matching when students have to decide on classes. “Many students find it very rewarding to have a combination of online and faceto-face classes,” Wilson said. “The key is finding the right mix of class styles for you.” Along with online and in-class options comes a hybrid of options of classes, where professors still teach in class but have special material or lessons students have to complete available on an online platform— in UNA’s case, the Angel system. “This is becoming one of the most

photo by Darrick Dawkins

Students at UNA, like many universities around the nation, utilize Angel. Angel is an online learning software that allows students to take classes from home. Students also can utilize tools online, even if they are taking a class in person.

popular forms of instruction,” said Wilson. “More and more face-to-face classes have some online element, even if they are not classified as hybrid. In any class at least the syllabus will be online, and sometimes PowerPoints, links or other notes.” Though hybrid classes can be used well, some students feel that professors aren’t using the hybrid idea to its full potential, and may rely on it instead of teaching in the classroom. “Most of the time when you have an online component, you have to do it yourself,” said Nic McIntyre, a second year student at UNA. “In class, the teacher goes over it with you. It’s just how I learn best.”

According to Huddleston, any class, whether it’s online, in-class or a hybrid, needs to form a teacher-student relationship, or it will not be a good experience for either one. “One of the problems I have is that students pay a lot to come here,” Huddleston said of how difficult it is to make a good classroom experience online or in-class. “The professor has to work on a relationship with the student. The student needs to remember there’s someone in an office working on this, and the professor has to realize there is more than just words on the blackboard.”

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In the past two years, 17 fire alarms have gone off on campus. Since 2010, the UNA Police Fire Safety Log shows 12 false alarms, and only two actual fire alarms caused by fire. “(The false alarms are usually from) smoke and weather,” said UNA police Chief Bob Pastula. Everytime the fire alarms go off on campus, Florence Fire Department responds to the scene, along with UNA and Florence police officers.

photos by Malisa McClure

(Above) Students pile out of Rice and Rivers Hall this past summer after evacuating the building due to a false fire alarm. (Left) Students leave the residence halls during a fire evacuation this past summer.

“It doesn’t cost the university anything (for us to respond),” said Chief Charlie Cochran of the Florence Fire Department. “It does increase risk for firemen who race through traffic lights just to get to a false alarm, but they are aware of that risk.” The Florence FD records show there have been 416 false alarms citywide since January of this year. UNA was only responsible for about 2.4 percent of the false alarms in Florence. Dillon Green, a Res Life staff member who lives in Rivers Hall, only recalls one

false alarm due to a power outage. The false alarm was not a big deal, Green said. “There hasn’t been enough in Covington to make it an inconvenience or annoyance,” said Covington Community Advisor Chelsea Calhoun. “Cluster residence halls seem to have more because of closed doors in the kitchens. With trapped heat, the alarms go off easier.” The University of Alabama fire safety logs show 22 actual fires on campus in the past two years, while UNA has had only two fires since October of 2009.

Thursday, October 6, 2011 • The Flor-Ala

News

Computer science majors move to College of Business 2M[[QM 4IUJMZ\

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UNA has decided to merge Computer Science and Computer Information Systems under the College of Business. Staff members believe the merge will clear up confusion related to the difference between the two disciplines. “There was always confusion among students,” said Dr. Kerry Gatlin, dean of the college of business. “There was always uncertainty on how Computer Science and Computer Information Systems were related. By putting them in the same department, faculty will be better able to answer questions related to either field.” The merge will make class scheduling more efficient. Currently, Computer Science and Computer Information Systems classes are held across campus from each other. By pulling the two disciplines under the same department, students will be able to take more electives across both disciplines without having to trek across campus to do so. Dr. David Nickels, professor of computer information systems, calls the merger, “one-stop shopping for students interested in computer sciences on campus.” Gatlin believes that this merge will make bringing Computer Science under ABET accreditation more efficient. Computer Information Systems has already been ABET accredited and is up for renewal in 2013. By that time, the merge will be complete,

and staff members can work towards getting Computer Science ABET accredited as well. Gatlin encourages students not to worry. “It’s not going to have an immediate impact on any of the students,” Gatlin said. “The students in Computer Science will still be able to earn a BS in Computer Science. The students in Computer Information Systems will still receive a BBA in Computer Information Systems.” Professors said the move will be beneficial. “We are committed to having it only be positive for the students,” said Dr. Paulette Alexander, department chair and associate dean for accreditation and technology for the College of Business. The merge will also have benefits for campus organizations related to the computer sciences. “The merge will provide the Association of Information Systems and the Association for Computer Machinery with an opportunity to collaborate and network out to other businesses to show what UNA’s computer group departments have to offer,” said Charles Caperton, senior computer information technology major. The merge has already begun, but students will not see changes in regards to scheduling until the spring semester. By next fall, Computer Science and Computer Information Systems will have completely merged under the College of Business For more information on the change, contact Alexander at 256-765-4409.

cause regular students will still get the first pick at preregistration. “By the end of preregistration, we are given the go ahead to fill up classes,” Mauldin said. “(For the fall,) students have to have paperwork in by Nov. 15.” Several previous early scholars have returned to UNA in later years. “It allowed me to free up my time to allow me to take classes I wanted to take,” said Dr. Miranda Bowie, an instructor of math and computer science at UNA who went through the Early Scholars program in ‘98. “It’s quite different, the amount of time you actually spend in class for college courses.” During Bowie’s time in the Early Scholars program, she took Trigonometry, Calculus 1-3, microeconomics and U.S. Politics, which helped her to graduate with a triple major in math, computer sciences and physics. “I really liked it,” said Ashley Stovall, a freshman student who is majoring in accounting. “It helped me to get to know the campus, know which professors not to take. Before I went to orientation, I knew where everything was.” Stovall took three classes, including Business Software Applications and World Civilization, under the Early Scholars program, and though she didn’t receive dualcredit for the classes she took, she still received college credit for the classes and, according to Stovall, was able to learn which time of day she preferred to take classes.

-):4A KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM towards a way to make the early scholars have a certain academic average in the classes they take—for example, a B average or a similarly high GPA. “I think the concept is great, but it does have some wrinkles to iron out,” Calhoun said. Calhoun said though the Early Scholars program does cost the university, the program will not be cut, and in fact may have a future addition to it. “I don’t foresee that at all,” Calhoun said

”Our university profits

from positioning ourselves to attract early scholars. If anything, we are looking to expand to 10th grade.”

-Thomas Calhoun about a possible cut. “I can’t think of any scenarios of that happening. This program does have a cost associated with it. We can’t incur a cost we can’t afford. “Our university profits from positioning ourselves to attract early scholars. If anything, we are looking to expand to 10th grade.” Students worried the Early Scholar students will take up precious class space shouldn’t worry, according to Mauldin, be-

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Thursday, October 6, 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 The UNA Gay Straight Alliance will host Coming Out Day on campus Oct. 11 to encourage students to “come out,” whether it be about their sexuality, personality or other hidden fact they wish others knew about them.

Whatʼs with the lack of school spirit? OK, I know I am not over- yourselves. flowing with school spirit. I know I cannot express how many I don’t walk around with UNA times I have gone to a UNA game gear on head to toe. I know and seen numerous peoI don’t have a room in my ple at the event proudly house covered in UNA memwearing their Alabama or orabilia, but I do at least wear Auburn shirt as if it’s all a UNA shirt to the sporting right. Well, I’m here to events on campus. say it’s not all right. People, come on! If you Just stay at home are going to go to a UNA 2W[P ;SIOO[ and watch your football, volleyball or what- 6M_[ -LQ\WZ beloved Tigers or ever game, at least wear a R[SIOO[(]VI ML] Crimson Tide if purple or gold shirt. You are at you are not going to support the a UNA game, not an Auburn, Lions. I sit with a few people who Alabama or Mississippi State follow SEC games while attendgame. Wal-Mart sells T-shirts ing the UNA game, but they wear really cheaply—I promise. I their Lion shirts proud. know the bookstore is high, but I’m not asking you to run there are alternatives. around town and be a cheerleadTo those students, and I have er, but be somewhat proud to be a seen a few staff members wearing member of the UNA community. their crimson and white or orange I admit, I’m a huge Auburn and blue in the stands at the UNA fan because my family would kill games, you should be ashamed of me if I wasn’t, but I still wear my

UNA shirt when it counts. I wear my orange and blue proudly when I go to a game in Auburn, but I sure wouldn’t wear my UNA shirt to an Auburn game. It’s just plain rude to the players who have worked hard to get ready for the game. When I moved to Florence to go to UNA, I removed my Auburn Tigers license plate, and traded it for a UNA Lions one. I am proud to go to UNA and be a part of what is going on here. Students who aren’t proud to go here or wear the wrong school’s colors at sporting events, should look around—there is a lot to be proud of at UNA. So, if you aren’t going to support UNA by at least not wearing another team’s merchandise, don’t come to the game. You are making the rest of us look bad in front of the other team.

Get to know the real David Shields Vice President of Student hobbies? Affairs David Shields is more A: “I really enjoy fly fishing.” than just another suit on camQ: What did little David pus. Among other things, Mr. Shields want to be when Shields parks at the Darby he grew up? parking lot and rides the bus A: “When I was with freshmen when he can. younger, I always wanted He rides the bus to show that to be a C.I.A agent.” if he can do it, then those Q: If you were a starting college can certainly superhero, who do it. I decided to catch a ride <ZMV\ +ZWVQV would you be with him in order to get to 0]UWZ +WT]UVQ[\ and why? know the real David Shields. \KZWVQV(]VI ML] A: “Batman. Q: What is a weird or little I remember watching the old known fact about you? Adam West Batman and he had A: “When I turned 50, I got a a gadget for everything. I used to tattoo of a clover on my back. It make my own Batman belt when has a knot in it, and each strand I was younger.” represents a family member.” Q: Stars Wars or Star Trek? Q: What has been your most A: “Eh, I like both, but I like embarrassing moment at UNA? Star Wars more.” A: “Every Halloween, my Q: If you were an Einstein’s assistant and I dress up togeth- Bagel, what kind of cream cheese er. One year, we dressed up as would go best with you? Tinkerbell and Peter Pan. I was A: “Jalapeño Cream Cheese. Tinkerbell. Tights and all.” I ate it one time and it made me Q: Do you get nervous before sweat.” you record Lion Alerts? Q: Before ANGEL Learning, A: “Nope. I have them written there was Blackboard, which out before hand.” some say was torture to use. Q: What are some of your Are you happy about the new

online services with ANGEL, or were you an advocate for Blackboarding? No relation to VP Cheney and Water boarding. A: “No, no, very happy with ANGEL. It has a lot of useful features.” Q: Favorite Bill Murray movie? A: “‘Caddy Shack.’ I still do impressions of that movie when I golf.” Q: Any hardships you had to overcome growing up that you’d be willing to share? A: “Growing up I was as round as I was short. Some kids called me meatball when I was younger.” After the interview, Shields remembered the time he got to ride in a jet with the Blue Angels. “We went almost the speed of sound,” Shields said. “We flew from Huntsville to the Shoals in five minutes.” I think this unofficially makes VP Shields the fastest man on campus.

A recent study shows that the FDA only inspected 2.06 percent of international food imports in 2010. The FDA expects that only 1.59 percent of all food imports will be expected this year, and 1.47 in 2012. The UNA Lions football team was named the No. 1 ranked team in the NCAA Division II league earlier this week by the American Football Coaches Association poll. Alabama Sen. Scott Beason referred to AfricanAmericans as “aborigines” in recordings for a federal gambling corruption trial. Democrats have called for Beason to step down as chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, but republicans said he would remain in his position. Beason recently apologized for his “careless” remark. Illinois recently expanded its safe haven law, which allows unwanted newborns to be left at police and fire stations with no questions asked, to include college police stations. The law is intended to prevent parents from abandoning their babies in environments that could be harmful. Since 2001, there have been 64 babies left at safe havens, where workers make sure they are taken care of.

Congratulations to Chris Pennie for writing last week’s story of the week!

Thursday, October 6, 2011 • The Flor-Ala

Life

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Student parents could use help A USA Today article suggests that colleges are opened to an endless list of classes, some with subjects as unusual as how to make maple syrup or looking at animals. Dr. Richard Hudiburg, chair of the Department of Psychology, pointed out that a college in Pittsburg had a class on how to make ice cream. The article continues and asks why universities wouldn’t offer special courses in parenting. Emily Kelley, parttime temporary coordinator at the Women’s Center, comments on having parenting classes. “I believe in teaching kids essential life skills before they graduate,” Kelley said. “So, when they enter the world they not only have the academic skills they photo Kayla Sloan For many students, balancing work, school and children need, but, more imsometimes can be difficult. As of yet, there are no univeristy classes portantly, geared toward teaching the basics of parenting, as well the life skills that they as no on-campus amenities for students’ children. need.” Dr. Lynne Rieff, *ZIVLWV )VLMZ[WV director of the Women’s Center, isn’t sure ;\INN ?ZQ\MZ that all courses should bear credit. [IVLMZ[WV(]VI ML] “I don’t know if those practical skills For students who are married or have classes should be for academic credit, but children, many may find it difficult to bal- as far as the possibility of some parentance classes, work and family needs. As ing classes in the near future, (continuing this applies to a number of UNA students, education) would be one potential (place some have been asking how UNA could for it), and I’m not certain that there’s not already something offered over there,” improve on these problems.

she said. Even though classes on parenting could be useful in universities, Kelley points out that no one has to be left in the dark about what it means to be a parent, as “most of the local hospitals offer parenting classes.” Even at UNA, there are a few courses through human environmental science and sociology that could help students learn a bit about parenting.

”I believe in teaching kids essential life skills before they graduate.”

-Emily Kelley “The sociology department offers a marriage and family class every semester,” Rieff said. “I know human environmental sciences already offer a course in family development. The greatest potential for something like (parenting) offered for academic credit would be some kind of arrangement between sociology and human environmental sciences.” The Women’s Center also does a great deal to help students by allowing guest speakers to come and present ways of developing certain life skills. “(It’s possible to), at some point, invite a guest speaker to make some sort of presentation related to parenting,” Rieff said. Another way that UNA might be able to help comes through SGA’s idea of establishing a day care center for the children of UNA students. SGA notes the struggle of students with their own

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Beating roommate woes: Adaptation, compromise -TQbIJM\P *ZWKS

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By this time in the school year, roommates are starting to reveal their true colors, as conflicts arise with every passing day among residents sharing the same space. Several anonymous students expressed complaints about roommates. “They leave their clothes scattered all over the dorm room floor.” “They have taken the space and created a social hangout in which other residents come and stay until all hours of the night while I am trying to study.” “They listen to the most horrible music and stomp around early in the morning getting ready for class never considering the fact that I am still asleep.” Health Services Counselor Lynne Martin has heard every complaint imaginable during her 10 years at UNA. On-campus students come to her all the time trying to free themselves of roommate problems: cleanliness, different morals and belief systems, schedule conflicts and more. “The key to getting along with your roommate is communication and respect,” Martin said.

photo by Barry Minor

Living with a new person in an enclosed space can be difficult at first, but there are ways to make dorm life easy and exciting.

Martin gives a few helpful hints in dealing with a difficult roommate: 1. “If cleanliness is the issue, suggest a chore list where the burden of keeping things neat is shared. By doing this, a sense of responsibility is formed in the offending party, and respect is developed

between the two.” 2. “Maybe the problem comes from the roommates having differences in morals and belief systems. If this is the case, boundaries must be developed, and communication is the key to doing this.”

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CAARS wonʼt let student grades crash )UIVLI )JMZVI\Pa

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The Center for Advising and Retention Services is focused on assisting UNA and other community students in achieving academic success. CAARS is available for free tutoring, advising assistance and academic counseling to all students. Heather-Unger Robertson is a learning support coordinator and academic adviser with CAARS. She works along with the CAARS staff to provide support services for UNA students and community members. The center has seen much success with student response to tutoring sessions. Robertson is excited about the additions CAARS has recently added to the math walk-in tutoring sessions available on campus. More tutors have been added to assist students with their academic needs, along with adding additional hours and locations where students can participate in the free service. Students can also contact CAARS to request one-on-one tutoring sessions for needed courses. Visit www.una.edu/advising and click “Need a Tutor?” to sign up. “CAARS is great,” said UNA student Sharon O’Conner. “Because of them, I was able to pass my math class the first time.” Robertson said the majority of all tutor requests from students are for math and math-related subjects, such as chemistry, statistics and accounting. CAARS also conducts study skills workshops available at no charge to UNA students. Students are invited and encouraged to attend these study skills workshops provided to assist students in increasing their academic success. Each session lasts 50 minutes and is held in Rayburn Hall 110. In addition, CAARS provides testing services, such as ACT, SAT, CAAP and PRAXIS, for the university and members of the community. During college, students at UNA can choose to take various tests to advance themselves further in their college education. The CLEP examination offers students the opportunity to earn college credit by earning qualifying scores on particular areas of expertise. Students may wish to participate in the CLEP exam if they feel they have gained knowledge from their education or professional experience and do not feel the need to repeat courses in material they already know. The MAT exam is available for students planning to attend any graduate school program that accepts MAT scores for admission. Students may be able to save time and money by learning more about these and additional testing services. Kenda Rusevlyan, testing coordinator, can assist with questions regarding qualifying for college credit examinations. E-mail khrusevlyan@una.edu.

Still curious about CAARS? • Check out Keller Hall 127 • Call 256-765-4722 • Email Heather-Unger Robertson at hurobertson@una.edu

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Images

Thursday, October 6, 2011 • The Flor-Ala

At the fair By Kayla Sloan - Staff Photographer - ksloan@una.edu The Lawrenceburg Fair is probably one of the biggest highlights of my year. I was first introduced to this particular fair last September by my friend Rachel Mckissak (pictured upside-down on the Ring of Fire), a UNA student and Lawrenceburg native. I told her about my love of fairs, carnies, and rides in general, and she told me that

the Lawrenceburg Fair beats them all. She was so right. This year, the last week of September couldn’t get here fast enough. When it finally rolled around, I went to the fair two nights in a row and even stayed until close on the last night. With my camera in hand, I rode every single ride and snapped away. These pictures are the result.

Feature

Thursday, October 6, 2011 • The Flor-Ala

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photos by Kayla Sloan

Arx Mortis

Arx Mortis, the largest haunted attraction in north Alabama, held a media night Sept. 28 before it officially opened. Several members of The Flor-Ala editorial staff got a taste of what the haunted house in Killen offers. Here are their reactions:

Until last Wednesday, I had not been to a haunted house since I was a child. I’m not dramatic or easily startled by things, so I wasn’t sure Lucy Berry what to expect when I arrived at Arx Mortis last week. However, I was pleasantly surprised by what the attraction had to offer. I tried to stay outwardly calm during my walk through the haunted house and Miner’s Hill, but inside I was genuinely frightened at points. There was even a moment where Andy said I jumped so high my feet almost left the ground.

Overall, I was really excited to go through the Arx Mortis attraction. I have been before, but, of course, me being a big wimp, I was scared at every turn. We Josh Skaggs went on media night, and the scares were “turned down,” according to the staff members there. They were wrong. I was scared the entire time, and my way of coping with being scared was talking to the monsters. If you are scared of blood and gore, Arx Mortis will not disappoint. Overall, Arx Mortis is a must-go for college students.

5)<1;A)0= KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM minutes before pulling the audience on stage with him for the last song of the night. The concert was the first ever sponsored by Residence Life, according to ResLife director Kevin Jacques. He thought the show went great. “I thought it was awesome,” he said. “The band was tight. Matis was in the groove. The audience was totally into it.” The students felt the same way. “Mind-blowing. Best I’ve ever seen. Stupendous. Insane. Incredible. So sick,” were some of the words used by students Ryan Crane, Cullen Akin, Justin Argo, Jake Tanner, Kyle Crown and Josh Hall to describe Matisyahu’s performance. Jacques was trying to appeal to a large audience when ResLife chose Matisyahu. “(Matisyahu’s music) is a kind of

music that can resonate with all walks of life,” Jacques said. “It’s not country, rap or metal. How many times do students get to see something like (Matis’ performance)?” Many students were surprised at ResLife’s choice of performer. “It’s amazing,” said senior Cara Depew, in her Matisyahu T-shirt. “It’s the best thing (ResLife) has ever done. I’ve seen him four times. He’s like my favorite artist.” While there were several students who were long-time fans, Matisyahu said it was good to see that not a lot of students knew all the words to his songs. “(The students) were great,” he said. “They were really warm. It was cool to see people who were not really familiar with my music be so enthusiastic about it.”

There’s an incredible time to be had at Arx Mortis. While the cast was holding back quite a bit and still getting used to their roles, you could only see Andy Thigpen so many bodies dangling from hooks, patients being electrocuted, and flesh being eaten from the back of robotic heads before you start to get a little nervous—or just laugh harder. Either way, Arx Mortis is a skin-crawling experience that will definitely make the girls scream and the guys squeal. Overall, Arx Mortis gives enough bang--or brains--for your buck.

When I went through Arx Mortis’ Covington Clinic attraction, I was expecting pop scares Jordan Bradley and silly decorations, but was really surprised by its overall chilling design and imagery that seemed to hit me rapidly while at the same time linger on after I saw it. Though not everything was running and ready on the Miner’s Hill attraction, it was still fun and offered a different experience than Covington Clinic.

?--, KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM “Depending on which chemical has been sprayed on, it could be up to 40 times worse (than marijuana),” she said. The effects are hard to treat because most of the time tests do not indicate the chemicals, Grace said. All doctors can do is treat the symptoms when people come in to the emergency room suffering the effects of the synthetic marijuana, she said. “You really don’t know what you are getting,” Grace said. “You don’t know what it was laced with.” Local law enforcement authorities are running into the substance more and are working to inform the public of its harmful side effects. “It will eventually be outlawed here, I would think,” said UNA police Chief Bob Pastula. “The DEA tried to have it outlawed. I’m not sure what the hold up is.” In many cases, the substance can cause effects that are worse than other drugs such as

marijuana, Pastula said. It impairs the ability to drive a car just as badly as other drugs and alcohol can, he said. “A lot of the parts of it are made from the cannabis plant,” Pastula said. “It’s not safe. Even though it’s legal at the moment, and it’s not marijuana, it’s still not safe. You don’t have any idea how your body is going to react. “We are starting to run into it a little bit more here.” UNA police responded to a complaint in the residence halls recently, Pastula said. It smells like marijuana and looks like marijuana, he said. The synthetic marijuana doesn’t show up on an officer’s on-site drug test, he said. “I think it has more effects,” he said. “Depending how much you take, it can have worse effects than marijuana. You don’t know what is in the synthetic marijuana. The harmful effects could be long lasting.”

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Thursday, October 6, 2011 • The Flor-Ala

Faceless working for recognition on campus )UIVLI 5K/W]OP

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Faceless International is an organization that seeks to raise awareness of the 27 million people enslaved throughout the world. Its goal is to promote ways to abolish this slavery by showing how each individual person has the capacity to help those in need. The UNA group is the only college chapter of Faceless that exists. Human trafficking is the second largest worldwide crime, following drug trafficking, according to the group’s website. The UNA chapter meets Thursdays at 8 p.m. in GUC 207. President Kassie Stanford, a social work major, plans to use the meeting time not only to discuss business matters such as upcoming events, but to help educate people about modern day slavery. Each week, a lesson or discussion point will be presented regarding specific aspects

of slavery, such as sex trafficking. For Stanford, Faceless has been an opportunity to grow. “Being a part of Faceless has empowered me to realize that, even though I am a poor college student, I can use the little things I am good at to help someone else,” she said. “It has pushed me to do more and given me the opportunity to do more.” The UNA Faceless chapter hopes to reach out to fellow students, as well as the Shoals community. “It doesn’t take a modern day abolitionist to go after this issue; if I can, anybody can,” Stanford said. “It’s just a matter of doing it, because the opportunities to help are limitless.” An educational fair is in the works, which would be offered free of charge to UNA students. Faceless plans to have a guest speaker as well as group workshops to educate people on modern day slavery, as well as ways that they can help eradicate it. The event is planned to take place sometime within this

photo by Malisa McClure

Kassie Stanford, president of the UNA chapter of Faceless International, discusses topics at the organization’s weekly meeting in the GUC.

semester. “It is our job to get the word out to help

the victims, and that’s what we are doing,” Stanford said.

Campus event to feature music, dialogue, voices of survivors from Civil War )UIVLI )JMZVI\Pa

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The Distinguished Events Series at UNA will present “Civil War Voices: Songs and Memoirs of 5 Extraordinary People,” a musical play depicting stories of real Civil War survivors. The performance uses actual words left behind in diaries, letters and other pieces of writing from that time period. The production comes to UNA from the Barton Theatre National Touring Production, one of the nation’s oldest professional regional theatre companies. “The style of which we do theatre is

more unique, and it’s a different kind of spectacle than the big Broadway shows … ours is more about individual connection and reaching into the heart and soul of people and really having a conversation with them in the theatre,” said Richard Rose, producing artistic director of Barter Theatre. The show will take place Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. in Norton Auditorium. Admission is free to students and the public. The production, arranged by composer Mark Hayes, features patriotic songs, hymns, and spirituals and follows the characters as they endure the conflict of the Civil War. James

Harris, playwright of “Civil War Voices,” will host a discussion and question and answer session following the presentation and 15-minute intermission. “Civil War Voices contains no fiction,” Harris said. “The stories are real … that’s something that people can understand, that we can relate to.” The play depicts the true-life events of the war by five individuals who live to tell them, featuring music with traditional arrangements by Mark Hayes. “Mark Hayes has taken all the greatest songs and music of the Civil War and has made music live again in a new form,”

families and has set a goal to start a day care center on campus, hoping to partner with the Child Development Center or Kilby School to make it work. “We receive reports of students with kids having trouble balancing time with school, work and children,” said SGA President Ralph Akalonu. “It’s not going to be an SGA thing only; we want to partner with someone who can help.” Dr. Mary Maschal, the director of Kilby School, stated that the CDC already has a day care center,

but SGA Senator Allison Ray suggests that it is not opened to the kids of UNA students. “Our goal is to have a campuswide facility for children of students,” Ray said. Maschal said that Kilby would be happy to offer some support, but not in the way of finances and spacing, as those resources are lacking. “In our current facility, there would not be enough space,” Maschal said. “We would be more than happy to offer technical support, but we do not have space and money.”

photo by Kayla Sloan

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A student takes her son to enjoy Leo and Una in the afternoon.

Harris said. “Mark is really truly one of the greatest living interpreters of traditional American music. He’s brilliant and his work on this piece is brilliant.” “Civil War Voices” is the first in a series presented by The Distinguished Events Series at UNA for the 2011-2012 school year. The series continues Nov. 15 with “Hey Boo: Harper Lee and To Kill a Mockingbird.” The Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble will perform Jan. 15, 2012 and the series will close with UNA’s Front Porch Storytelling Festival May 18 and 19. Check out the trailer at www.civilwarvoices.com.

:7755)<-; KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM 3. “If personality types are clashing too much to ignore, communication between the roommates is essential. An effort to find common ground needs to be made.” 4. “If it is a criminal situation, an extreme case of bullying, or any other dangerous or harmful position, then the best thing to do is to go to a higher authority, such as a CA or FYRE Fellow. Their job is to assist in situations such as these, and they would be glad to help. “When my sister and I were little, we used duct tape to draw a line in our room. This

was our boundary line, where we both agreed, ‘What is on your side is yours, and what is on my side is mine.’” Whatever the issue is, Martin is available to help. She and her coworkers desire to give an objective standpoint in conflicts such as these. Her office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday. She can be reached at Bennett Infirmary. To schedule an appointment, call 256-765-4328.

Sports

Thursday, October 6, 2011 • The Flor-Ala

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Dowtin continues to be big part of UNA defense 5ITQ[I 5K+T]ZM

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Marcus Dowtin, a 22-year-old linebacker from Upper Marlboro, Md., has become an important player for the Lions’ defense this season. Dowtin is a transfer player from Georgia, where he played in 11 games last season and recorded 57 total tackles. He was ranked 34th in the SEC with an average of 5.2 tackles per game. His career high came when he made 10 tackles against Florida and again at Auburn. UNA Head Coach Terry Bowden is pleased to have Dowtin on his team this year. “He has had a big impact on our defense and their ability to keep the other teams out of the end zone,” he said. This season at UNA, Dowtin has had 47 tackles overall, 18 of which were solo tackles. He recorded one interception for 23 yards against Central Oklahoma, the first game of the season. UNA Defensive Coordinator Tony Pecoraro found out about Marcus while he was recruiting another player from Georgia, Nick Williams. Pecoraro said that Marcus has fit right in with the Lions. “(The) first thing he’s got to do is back it up on the field, and he’s done that,” Pecoraro said. Dowtin originally chose Northwest

Bio Facts Hometown: Upper Marlboro, Md. Major: Pre-Business/Management Infomation Season: 47 tackles (18 solo), 1.5 sacks, and int. Hobbies: relaxing and listening to music, and spending time with his brother, Jamal Dowtin Favorite Music Artist:Beyonce and Wale Favorite TV Show: “First 48” Missouri over UNA, but changed his mind right before football camp started this summer. “It felt like more of a home here, with guys I could fit in with,” Dowtin said. “Plus, one of my best friends, Nick Williams from Georgia, transferred here too.” He also said that UNA had the best facilities and school that Division II had to offer. Dowtin said that his inspiration to play football comes from his family and everything he’s been through. After leaving Georgia, he was homeless for a little while. “It was definitely a humbling experience,” he said. “I feel like it happened for a reason. It took everything from me just to put me in

this spot to, you k n ow, photo by Malisa McClure get bet- Senior linebacker Marcus Dowtin has been a big part of the Lions defense. ter and He leads the team with 47 tackles and is a team captain. mature.” MarCowboys. He said that playing in Cowboys cus brought his brother Jamal with him to Stadium Sept. 17 was a dream come true. UNA. He spends his spare time hanging out After this season, Dowtin plans to rewith his brother and relaxing, as well as lis- turn to Georgia to graduate. He is majoring tening to music. in Pre-Business/Management Information Dowtin has played football since he was Systems. in the sixth grade. When he was growing Dowtin and rest of the No. 2 Lions are up, he played everything from basketball to scheduled to play at Arkansas Tech Oct. 8 soccer to t-ball. at 6 p.m in hopes of keeping the undefeated Dowtin has hopes of playing in the NFL record in take as well as the No.1 ranking. after college. His favorite team is the Dallas

Lions ranked No.1 in polls after win against Southern Arkansas 4I]ZMV -[\M[

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After a slow start offensively in the first half of last Saturday’s game, the Lions were able to make adjustments and defeat the Muleriders of Southern Arkansas 42-14 and keep the record perfect at 5-0. The pressure was on for UNA after No. 1-ranked Northwest Missouri lost to 16th ranked Pittsburg State 38-35, hours before the Lions kicked off. UNA was seated No. 2 before playing Southern Arkansas; therefore, grabbing the victory would likely move UNA to the driver’s seat in Division II rankings. “We stressed ourselves at halftime,” said Head Coach Terry Bowden “The football team knew what was on hand in this game, and they came back and responded and played like they should. We played up to our expectations the second half.” The first half, the Lions defense saw more of the field as UNA’s possession time was 9:42 and the Muleriders kept the ball 20:18. The game-changer in the first half was a 42-yard pass to Jason Smith from Lee Chapple, putting the Lions on Southern Ar-

kansas’ three-yard-line. After three incomplete passes, the Muleriders were off-sides, putting UNA on the one-yard-line, allowing Wes Holland to grab a touchdown with 34 seconds to play in the first half and Nathan O’Jibway hit the extra point, making the score 14-7 Southern Arkansas at halftime. “We just had to start playing with emotion,” said quarterback Lee Chapple. “Football is an emotional game, and it’s hard to execute with no emotion. We just had to start executing. The plays were there to be made the first and second halves. We just needed to start making them.” Returning from halftime, the Lions came out ready to play as they scored 35 unanswered points in the third and fourth quarters, however, 42 unanswered points in the game. The Muleriders did not score again after their one-yard run with 1:35 to go in the second quarter. Lee Chapple was 21-38 with one interception for the game, throwing for 321 yards and two touchdowns, his third time this season to throw for over 300 yards. Back-up quarterback Chris Alexander

Week at a glance

Player of the week

Volleyball When: Saturday- 1 p.m. m. Where: Flowers Hall

Janoris Jenkins Hometown: Pahokee, Fla. Major: Social & Behavorial Sci. Position: CB/KR/PR Stats: 89-yard go ahead touchdown against Southern Arkansas with a total of 123 return yards and a blocked kick

was 3-3 for 44 yards in passing and threw for one 34-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, his second of the season. The special teams made their presence known against the Muleriders, too. Janoris Jenkins was named GSC Special Teams Player of the Week for the second consecutive week. Jenkins had two punt returns for 110 yards, one being an 89 yarder for a touchdown. He also blocked a 44-yard field photo by Kayla Sloan goal in the fourth quarter. Senior quarterback Lee Chapple prepares to make a Defensively, Marcus Dow- throw during the homecoming game against Harding. tin lead in tackles with nine, “The defense didn’t give up a touchdown eight of them being solo tackthe second half, and the offense scored 42 les, and Tommie Westbrook had eight. Ofunanswered points,” Bowden said. “From fensively, Chris Coffey carried the ball nine times for 37 yards and a touchdown; Wes the last minute of the first half and the 30 Holland had seven carries for 23 yards and minutes of the second half, we got after it pretty good.” a touchdown. The UNA Lions will kick-off at 6 p.m. On the receiving side, Mo Miliam had next Saturday at Arkansas Tech in Russellfive catches for 84 yards and a touchdown, ville, Ark., ranked No. 1 in the nation in Diand Tristan Purifoy had four catches for 56 vision II. yards and a 30-yard touchdown.

Who: West Alabama

Soccer When: Friday- 7 p.m. m. Sunday- 2 p.m. Where: Pratice Field Who: 1. West Georgiaa 2. Valdosta St.

Football When: Saturday ay - 6 p.m. Where: Away Who: Arkansass Tech

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Sports

Thursday, October 6, 2011 • The Flor-Ala

Soccer team prepares for big week in conference play 7ZZMa *WT\WV

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The UNA soccer team moved to 2-0 in GSC play, 8-2 overall with a 1-0 victory last Thursday to Delta State and a 2-0 victory over Christian Brothers last Sunday. Sophomore Jennifer Osmond added two more goals to her breakout season along with junior Chloe Roberts adding a goal this past week. Both are top three in the conference in scoring, sparking the Lions to an impressive 8-2 overall record. Senior goalie Alex McLay, with help from great defensive play, recorded two shutouts, giving her five shutouts on the season. “We are very happy to be undefeated after two games, especially after shutting both teams out,” UNA coach Graham Winkworth said. “As long as we keep defending teams to only three shots on goal, then we have a good shot in every game.” UNA will host two weekend games against West Georgia (3-6-1) and a huge conference game against Valdosta State (7-3) this Sunday. Cydney Raymond leads

West Georgia with five goals but only averages a little over one goal a game. UNA could take advantage of lack of goals from West Georgia. The Lions are now first in the conference in goals allowed, with 0.56 goals per game.

”Itʼs going to be a hard weekend for us since we are coming off games in a short period of time. Valdosta will be very well rested and we hope to overcome it and come away with two wins.”

-Graham Winkworth “Organization is a huge part in good defense,” Winkworth said. “A lot of people just pay attention to the big saves, but organization can prevent a goalie from having to make those type of saves, and Alex (Mclay)

has done a much better job in organizing the defense this season.” Valdosta State comes to UNA on Sunday with a full week of rest and preparation, which could be a huge issue for UNA. Valdosta State is near the top in each category of the GSC Conference and second in goals per game behind UNA. Rebecca Miller photo by Darrick Dawkins for Valdosta State has scored seven goals Senior midfielder Hollie Loud races the ball down field against and is one goal be- Delta State. Lions went on to win that game 1-0. hind Osmond for the wins this weekend.” conference lead in goals. UNA will host West Georgia Friday at “It’s going to be a hard weekend for us 7 p.m. and Sunday against Valdosta St. at 2 since we are coming off games in a short p.m. with hopes to remain unbeaten in conperiod of time,” Winkworth said. “Valdosta ference play. will be very rested come Sunday. We hope to overcome it and come out with two more

Beer not likely at Braly Stadium

Conference destination still unknown

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The possibility of UNA following Troy University’s push to sell beer in its stadium is slim, according to Phil Stevenson, purchasing and public grants administrator for the city of Florence. Stevenson said that there are two problems with the situation: the first problem is that the stadium is city owned and is split between UNA and Florence High School. Stevenson said that the concessions are managed by the high school. The second problem is that UNA would have to amend a local alcohol ordinance. Stevenson said that the extra revenue brought in by beer sales would also mean extra expenses and extra security in order to prohibit sales to minors. “Whether it’s a good or bad thing, I don’t know,” he said. “That’s an opinion thing, and I won’t offer my opinion.” Darnell Jackson, UNA football player, said selling alcohol in Braly Stadium would be dangerous, and other students believe that it would have pros and cons. “I think it would bring in revenue,” said UNA student Katelyn Cosby. “The stadium is so small that a bunch of drunk people

wouldn’t be a good idea. Plus, half the people at the games don’t live within walking distance, so they’re going to drive.” Drinking and driving is one of the major concerns that campus police officer Ed Rhodes has. He said that campus police officers patrol the stadium even though it is municipally owned. “The biggest problem is that people won’t be considerate of others,” he said. “Kids are there to play, too. A person drinking would or could use foul language, and you don’t want that around kids.” Rhodes went on to say that people already drink when they tailgate. He said police officers are already having problems with people bringing alcohol into the stadium. UNA student Emily Gean thinks UNA should take the capitalistic approach. “I think they should be able to, because if you’re 21 and want to drink, then you’re going to drink anyway,” she said. “Why not make some money off it?” Troy University is trying to sell beer in the stadium because of the extra revenue that would be brought in. Sydney Atkins, Troy University’s athletic director, researched other schools that serve beer and found that safety hasn’t proved to be a problem.

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The future of what conference UNA athletics will be playing in Division I is still unknown, but discussions should heat up this month. UNA officials have been waiting on a decision from the Ohio Valley Conference on whether or not it is interested in adding UNA to its league, but as of now there is still no word from the league. “I have had very limited contact with the OVC,” said Athletic Director Mark Linder. According to Linder, the OVC visited the University of Northern Kentucky Sept. 28 to view their campus much like they did UNA earlier this year. Linder also stated that the presidents of the OVC are scheduled to meet later in October or early November to discuss their plans for expansion. According to officials, UNA’s primary conference target is the OVC because the geographic locations of the teams are all within a three-and-a-half hour radius from the Shoals area. Compared to the conference UNA is currently in, there are only three schools located in that radius. Joining the conference will also bring back some of the rivalries UNA used to have in the past, such as Jacksonville State and Tennessee Martin. “Being a fan of UNA since the ‘80s, it would be great to bring back those heated rivalries we used to have during that time,” said Florence native and UNA alum Roger Rinner. “It would also be great to travel to those games when played away because now they are just too far to drive.” If UNA is not chosen by the OVC, the

next choice of home would be the Southern Conference, which has teams from Tennessee and the Carolinas, including Samford and Tennessee-Chattanooga, but the geographic location is more spread out than the OVC. “I think that conference would be good to go into if we don’t get into the OVC, but we would have to travel a lot more to games and might have to build new rivalries,” Rinner said. With the conference outlook remaining undecided, the next few months should give a better idea of who is willing to bring UNA into their league.

photo by Malisa McClure

Senior running back Wes Holland runs the ball down the field earlier this year.

Your ad could be here. Gain exposure to thousands of college students.

(256) 333-0386 floralaads@una.edu

Thursday, October 6, 2011 • The Flor-Ala

UNA not among schools researching student wealth in acceptance process +PZQ[ 8MVVQM

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Prior to admission to college, many students submit their FASFA, in which schools evaluate their financial eligibility. Many top tier private schools, however, look at the students’ wealth as another way to be admitted. In recent years, dozens of private universities worked to enroll a diverse group of students who can afford all college expenses. But colleges are cutting down on that process, considering that even families that may make an estimated $200,000 a year are still qualifying for financial aid. Scholarship Manager Shauna James said UNA does not consider family income as an admission factor. “We simply look at the student’s expected family contribution (EFC), using that to determine how much financial aid they will need,” she said. Whether it is a scholarship or a subsidized loan, students would like the aid. In this economy, it is anticipated that students may wish to receive some type of financial aid. It is also expected that about 75 percent of UNA students will receive some sort of financial support from the

”I would expect a private institution such as an Ivy League school to look at a studentʼs full financial eligibility.”

-Shauna James federal government. “I would expect a private institution such as an Ivy League School to look at a student’s full financial eligibility,” James said. “Anywhere else would just be unnecessary.” The estimated total for UNA students receiving federal loans is $22.2 million. “The money does not affect UNA and will later be reimbursed,” James said. “UNA is very straight forward. We do not ask for much from the student.” James continues to express her opinion about financial admission. “It is not preferable for colleges, mostly private, to deny students simply because they cannot afford the full tuition without financial aid,” James said. “I would recommend giving the student financial counseling in means of getting the tuition paid.”

Follow us on Twitter! @UNAFlorAla

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UNA strengthens cheating policy -TQ[M +WNQMTL

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If there is any confusion about the university’s policy on academic dishonesty, it should be cleared up soon. A proposed addition to the policy, which will explain the rights of the accused, is being circulated and is currently seeking approval from the committee of Student and Academic Affairs. Author of the proposal, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost Dr. John Thornell, observed its necessity during a meeting this summer. “There was a great deal of confusion over the policy,” he said, adding that it is currently not “clear-cut.” Thornell made this clarification with students in mind. “If you are accused and don’t feel that it’s fair, you can pursue it,” he said. Currently, the only option for an accused student is to take the case to the Office of Student Conduct. As part of the new plan, the accused will have at least three or four opportunities to make a defense before the issue finds itself in Thornell’s office. “The purpose of the new policy is twofold,” Thornell said. “To clarify steps available to students, to test their accusation and to provide due process. We all appreciate a clear set of steps for due process.” UNA junior Colin Hughes shares in the optimism because he thinks it will require a fair amount of evidence to be considered before an accusation is made. “It will be good because it will keep teachers honest so that they have to have

photo by Barry Minor

Students who are caught cheating on campus are going to be dealt with harshly if new policies on academic dishonesty go into effect.

adequate evidence to accuse a student of cheating,” he said. He also believes that the current policy is working well. “The Student Conduct Office is very fair and will give you the benefit of the doubt,” he said. According to Dr. Matt Schoenbachler, a UNA history professor, cheating is not a huge problem in his classroom. “The main problem is plagiarism, and I address this depending on the situation,” he said. Fairness is a standard in Schoenbachler’s

classroom. “I realize that for some newer students, they don’t realize the problem behind what they’re doing,” he said. These students are given a chance to correct their work before being penalized. “For repeat offenders, their grade is seriously hurt, or they could be given a zero for the assignment,” he said. UNA freshman Hailey Boeck sees the importance of a fair system. “I think it is vitally important to be able to defend yourself,” she said. “Without that, you have no voice.”

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The Boxcar Voices hosted one of its monthly spoken word events last month at The Route of Art Gallery in downtown Florence. “The purpose of the Boxcar Voices events is, primarily, to have a good time and give writers a forum to share their art,” said Juliann Losey, who coordinates the event with Andy Thigpen. “As a writer, I have found that these kind of events facilitate an exchange of inspiration, and I have personally learned so much and have grown as a creative person from this event, and I hope that our participants and audiences have had the same experience.” The event has been taking place monthly since early March. “The inspiration for The Boxcar Voices came from (former UNA student) J.T. Bullock,” Losey said. Bullock used to host similar events during his time at UNA. According to Losey, there were around 30 people at the event, but they have had up to 55 people attend, including UNA students and members of the Shoals community. “I would love it if every person walked away from our event with a slightly different outlook or see an opportunity to think about something differently than before,” Losey said. “More than anything, though, I encourage all of our audience members to accept that they are interesting, that any contributions that they

have are valuable, and that everyone has a story to tell.” The event has inspired some students to read at future events. “I thought the event was both entertaining and inspirational,” said UNA junior Caitlin Plummer, who attended the event last month for the first time. “I would recommend this event to students who enjoy poetry, short stories and to those who could photo by Malisa McClure use a little inspiration. I Myra Hammond performs a spoken word piece at last month’s plan to read some of my Boxcar Voices at the Route of Art Gallery. own work at the next Boxcar Voices session.” Losey said. “The best way to keep up with The cost of attending the individual our events is to find The Boxcar Voices on events so far has been free. Facebook.” “We have no specifically scheduled events, although J.T. Bullock will be kicking off his tour with us in the next couple of months, we will have a regular Boxcar Voices event next month, and we may be helping with a few other projects in the future as well,”

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Tweets of the week

October 6, 2011 • The Flor-Ala

DISCLAIMER: The tweets below are public tweets found on Twitter by searching hashtags involving UNA, Florence and other universityrelated topics. Want to see yours on here? Be sure to hashtag UNA and Florence in your tweets.

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