Sept. 24 issue

DRAGON BOAT PREVIEW PAGE 1B

Sept. 24, 2015

Volume 84, Issue 6

www.FlorAla.net

Student newspaper of the University of North Alabama

PARKING ARKING

Parking Possibilities

Closing Circular Road creates space for new lot JOHN ED DEARMAN ;\]LMV\ ?ZQ\MZ RLMIZUIV(]VI ML]

photo by KALI DANIEL I Editor-in-Chief

Cars line Circular Road next to University Apartments. Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs Clinton Carter said the university is talking with city officials about closing the road and paving a new surface parking lot, adding about 400 parking spaces.

INSIDE

this week’s paper

NEWS . . . . . . . . 2A IMAGES . . . . . . . 4A VIEWPOINTS . . . . 7A

LIFE . . . . . . . . . 1B SPORTS . . . . . . . 4B EXTRA . . . . . . . . 7B

Parking relief is in the works as university officials plan for the construction of a new surface parking lot on campus.

A parking lot is being built next to the Science and Technology Building, said Clinton Carter, Vice President for Business & Financial Affairs.

“We’re now in discussions with the city about closing down Circular Road, beginning at where it intersects with Lion Drive to where it intersects with Stewart Avenue,” he said.

He said the new parking lot will combine with Lot O behind Flowers Hall.

“Right now there are 155 parking spaces in Lot O,” he said. “We’re going to increase that to 565.”

The budget for this project is about $2 million, Carter said. He said the university already has about $1 million saved due to excess funds from construction of the new residence halls.

He said the university justifies the use of that money because the new residence halls took out some parking spots.

The project will likely take a full academic year to complete, he said.

Carter said the parking lot will affect some of the apartments located on Circular Road.

“The big thing is that the university apartments are going to come down,” he said. “It is going to essentially become one big teardrop shaped parking lot.”

All the bi-level, quadruplex apartments on Circular Road

will be torn down to make room for the lot, Carter said in an email.

He said the new parking lot is strategically placed for ease of access to key buildings on campus.

”

RIGHT NOW THERE ARE 155 PARKING SPACES IN (LOT O). WEʼRE GOING TO INCREASE THAT TO 565.

CLINTON CARTER VICE PRESIDENT FOR BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS “You’re talking about parking that is very centrally located,” he said. “The new science building is right next to it. The new nursing building will be right across from it.

These people will have a clear shot to walk through campus.

“There just aren’t many easy solutions for the parking issues,” he said.

He said parking has been a problem for the past 20 years, and cost prevents the university from building a new parking deck.

“A new parking deck today runs about $17,000 per space as opposed to a ground surface parking lot, which generally runs about $1,000 per space,” he said. “For that reason, it is highly unlikely that we will build another parking deck in the near future.”

;MM 8):316/ XIOM )

VOLLEYBALL WIN STREAK .... 5B

Please recycle your paper.

2A NEWS

Sept. 24, 2015• The Flor-Ala

EMPLOYEES

Adjunct faculty at UNA as of 2009 - 32.9%

Adjunct faculty at UNA as of 2015 - 26.7%

:

:

UNA Prof e u d t S ent R s sor a tio

ge a r e v A Natio n al

information provided by the Office of Institutional Research, Planning and Assessment and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

Adjunct faculty numbers lower than national average ANNA BROWN

6M_[ -LQ\WZ VM_[(NTWZITI VM\

While universities across the country are hiring more adjunct professors, UNA maintains a high percentage of full-time professors.

Adjunct or part-time professors are hired to teach one or two classes for a certain semester. They do not receive benefits or have the responsibilities of full-time professors, he said.

“It is essential to use adjuncts because of the decline in funding for universities,” said Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Christopher Maynard. “With economic and enrollment fluctuations, sometimes it is hard to know how many professors

are needed to teach a certain class.”

He said wages for adjunct professors are close to minimum wage.

The cost to pay for full-time professors’ benefits and fixed costs to run a university continue to climb as well, making it more and more difficult to hire full-time professors, he said.

Over the past six years, the percentage of adjunct professors employed at UNA has decreased from 33 percent to 27 percent. The national average percentage of adjuncts on college campuses was 41 percent in 2011, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

Universities around the country are hiring more adjunct professors than ever before. He said this trend has increased significantly across the nation in the past five years.

UNA tries to pay close attention to the number of adjunct professors on staff, he said.

Adjunct professors are not required to have a terminal degree — the highest degree available in that field — like full-time professors, according to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools’ standards.

Most adjunct professors do not have the same amount of training as fulltime professors because they have not completed the research required to earn a terminal degree, Maynard said.

“Having adjunct professors without this research background is a limitation because they often do not have the same knowledge about research trends as fulltime faculty with terminal degrees do,” he said. “They don’t have the same skill

set.”

However, he said UNA has many highly-qualified adjuncts who do have terminal degrees.

Freshman Kathleen Cater said she does not see a difference in professors with or without terminal degrees.

“It doesn’t matter to me as long as the professor is qualified to teach the class,” she said.

Some adjunct professors are more specialized in a certain field because they have real-life work experience, said senior Wesley Daniels.

“I know we have a lot of adjuncts in the criminal justice department,” he said.

;MM ),2=6+<; XIOM )

NEWS 3A

Sept. 24, 2015 • The Flor-Ala

FACILITIES

Old bookstore to house Student Engagement, SGA offices JOHN ED DEARMAN ;\]LMV\ ?ZQ\MZ RLMIZUIV(]VI ML]

Old things become new as renovations on the old university bookstore in the Guillot University Center begin this academic year.

The old bookstore in the GUC will become the new location for the Student Government Association and Student Engagement offices, said Assistant Vice President for Facilities Administration & Planning Michael Gautney.

”W ,

E REALIZED THAT

SGA HAD

INADEQUATE SPACE SO WHEN THE BOOKSTORE MOVED OUT OF THE

GUC AND INTO THE

COMMONS BUILDING, THE UNIVERSITY DECIDED TO DEVELOP A NEW OFFICE SPACE FOR SGA WHERE THE OLD BOOKSTORE WAS.

MICHAEL GAUTNEY ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT FOR FACILITIES ADMINISTRATION AND PLANNING “We realized that SGA had inadequate space, so when the bookstore moved out of the GUC and into the Commons

building, the university decided to develop a new office space for SGA where the old bookstore was,” he said.

Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs Clinton Carter said the university initially underestimated the cost of the project.

“We went out to bid thinking that it was about a $350,000 job,” he said. “The lowest bid came back at $565,000. That’s almost double the price we initially thought.”

Gautney said the remodeling will begin in the next couple of months.

“We anticipate us being able to start this hopefully in November,” he said.

“Remodeling will take the next two months, and we will be finished by the first of January,” he said.

The project will use up the remaining funds in the deferred maintenance budget for FY 16, Carter said in an email Sept.

22.

Gautney said the idea for the bookstore remodeling has been in discussion for a while.

The SGA offices have relocated several times, Gautney said. The university intends for their current location in the GUC to be temporary until the bookstore is remodeled.

He said a local architectural firm designed drawings for the renovations.

The initial drawings included input from SGA President Nick Lang and Vice President of Student Affairs David Shields.

The renovations include two conference rooms, 10 offices, three storage rooms, a break room, a student work area and a receptionist office, Gautney said.

The current SGA offices previously were a faculty and staff lounge, and Gautney said it will return to that state once the remodeling is completed.

Freshman Diane Lopez said she

thinks moving the SGA offices to the old bookstore is smart. She said the space needs to be used.

Senior Bradley Raburn said it is very resourceful to remodel the bookstore for SGA offices.

“It’s good to use something we already have rather than building something else,” he said.

photo by KAITLIN DOUGLASS I Chief Photographer

The old campus bookstore in the Guillot University Center remains unused.

Officials say renovations to turn it into a shared office for the Student Government Association and the Office of Student Engagement begin this November.

ACADEMICS

Accreditation places interior design department in elite category ANNA BROWN

6M_[ -LQ\WZ VM_[(NTWZITI VM\

photo courtesy of Shannon Wells

Professor Dhrumil Patel discusses a project with interior design student Kaitlin Wallace. Patel said the department could not have gained accreditation without students’ work.

After a decade of planning and work, the Department of Interior Design gained accreditation through the Council of Interior Design Accreditation Aug. 10.

The accreditation ensures UNA’s interior design graduates are prepared to design beautiful, functional facilities that follow safety standards while protecting the earth and its resources.

“This accreditation is what all major design schools in the country seek,” said professor Dwight Bunn. “We are now in the top tier of interior design programs in the country. It’s a win in every way that you could possibly think.”

It is not unusual for it to take 10 years or more for a school to gain the accreditation, Bunn said.

While in the process of gaining CIDA accreditation, professor Dhrumil Patel said the interior design department also gained accreditation through the National Kitchen and Bath Association.

“We are the only interior design program in the state of Alabama to hold accreditation with both of these associations,” he said.

Because the interior design department works closely with the art

department, it is also accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art, said chair of the Department of Human Environmental Sciences Jane Wilson.

She said this means the department is technically accredited through three entities.

As part of CIDA requirements, student must complete a 350-hour internship to graduate, Wilson said. She said she thinks the accreditation will open doors for students to not only find more internship opportunities, but also better internship experiences.

“Many firms ask that question, and now students can say, ‘Yes, I am from a CIDA-accredited program,” Bunn said.

“I think that this will give them a leg up when they go out and seek internships and even entry-level jobs.”

Assistant professor and UNA interior design alumni Kendra McLain said this accreditation is the industry standard for interior design.

“Architects and design firms look for students who come from CIDAaccredited universities,” she said.

Senior interior design student Amy Nazarchyk said she chose UNA because it offered the only NKBA-accredited program in the state.

;MM )++:-,1<)<176 XIOM )

4A IMAGES

Sept. 24, 2015 • The Flor-Ala

▶

$PEND LESS, $AVE MORE

photos by SHAY REDD I Staff Photographer

Couponing

Senior Tia Nall cuts coupons out of a local paper to save money. There are numerous ways students can be frugal while in college.

SHAY REDD

Grocery Shopping

▶

Juniors Ariel Bell (left) and Jonathan Pruitt shop for food at Wal-Mart. Cooking may be time-consuming, but it saves money in the long run.

Filling Up

Senior Justin Shepherd knows where to find the cheapest gas around town. Checking gas prices is a great way to save as much as possible.

One of the biggest problems students face is how to budget money, and whether our source of income comes from a parent or our jobs, we still need to find ways to make our money last until the next paycheck.

Normally, students who work get paid every two weeks. I know a lot of us want nice things and would enjoy shopping until we drop, but depending on how much students make, that might not be the best idea.

Around campus, students try to get as much as they can with their money. Instead of going out to eat, many students cook or even split the cost of food with friends.

Also, few students are driving around with nice cars on campus. Even if students are not making a car payment, they still have to pay for gas, no matter which type of gas they buy.

Many students get involved with couponing, which can save a lot of money if done correctly. It is a great way to save money when the paychecks

▶

▶

;\INN 8PW\WOZIXPMZ [ZMLL(]VI ML]

Looking Around

are stretched thin.

We all know Wal-Mart is the place to be and has pretty much anything a student might need.

Many people are even going cheaper. Fred’s, Dollar General, Aldi and Family Dollar are the places to get little things such as toiletries, snacks and any type of supplies for a low cost.

To save money, some students, like myself, have to sit down and budget paychecks to not overspend.

Budgeting is a great way to figure out how much to spend on certain items, and it can help students realize what they spend too much money on.

To help students save that extra dollar, here are a few tips from usnews.com: • •

• • •

Get a bank account that will not charge overdraft fees.

Cook instead of eating out (or learn if you don’t know how). Even going to inexpensive places such as McDonald’s can add up quickly.

Save money for a rainy day.

Get rid of the non-necessities, such as cable.

Stay in when you can. Going out once a week is fine, but going out every day can be terrible for finances.

Freshman Zarif Shadman (left) and Karina Cisneros look for deals at Fred’s. Shopping at stores with lowerpriced goods helps students save money.

NEWS 5A

Sept. 24, 2015 • The Flor-Ala

TUITION

Masters in Education degree among most affordable in country JASMINE FLEMING

5IVIOQVO -LQ\WZ UIVIOQVO(NTWZITI VM\

The Top Masters in Education website released its annual ranking of most affordable degrees, and UNA’s Master of Arts in Education degree took fourth place out of 50 universities.

The board of trustees and UNA’s administration play a large part in keeping UNA affordable, said Donna Lefort, dean of the College of Education and Human Sciences.

“Many of our students do find it financially challenging to get a graduate degree, so I really do appreciate the commitment of our board to keep those costs as low as possible,” she said.

The rate for UNA in-state graduate tuition is $299 per credit hour, while the out-of-state rate is $598. The top school on the list, Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma, charges $233 per hour for in-state residents and $563 for out-of-state students.

UNA’s in-state rate is also lower than at similar regional universities, including the $334 at the University of West Alabama, $675 at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and $333 at the University of Montevallo.

Although cost can be a major factor when deciding to pursue a master’s

degree, the salary upgrade from a bachelor’s to a master’s in education can pay for itself, Lefort said.

“On average, a person who earns a master’s degree will recoup the entire cost of that master’s degree in two years because they will earn a little more than $6,000 per year beyond what they were earning when they held a bachelor’s degree,” she said.

”

MANY OF OUR STUDENTS DO FIND IT

FINANCIALLY CHALLENGING TO GET A GRADUATE DEGREE, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE COMMITMENT OF OUR BOARD TO KEEP THOSE COSTS AS LOW AS POSSIBLE.

DONNA LEFORT DEAN, COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN SCIENCES There are 203 students enrolled in the program this semester, according to the Office of Institutional Research, Planning and Assessment.

One of those students, Terri Wright, whose concentration is English Language

Arts, said she chose UNA’s master’s in education program after she easily paid for a bachelor’s at UNA, she said.

“Educators mainly get a master’s degree for the pay raise,” she said. “But if the school is not affordable, it’s hard to justify the work and the cost.”

Students who enter UNA’s master’s program in education also benefit from UNA’s partnerships with local schools, or P-12 Partners, Lefort said.

With these coalitions, the education program works with schools to ensure UNA’s education curriculum fits their needs for new teachers. In turn, the education program is able to easily place graduating students at these schools, Lefort said.

Other benefits of the program include small class sizes, Lefort said, and instruction from full-time, local professors.

The connection she has with her professors is the main reason junior Casey Wright, who double majors in secondary education and Spanish, plans to pursue her ESL education master’s at UNA, she said.

“I figured getting my master’s at UNA would be easier since I already know all of the professors in the foreign languages department,” she said.

All in all, receiving recognition for affordability is a benefit for UNA, said

senior Avery Jackson.

“This will help drive students to UNA,” he said. “People usually think of schools like (University of North Alabama) or (University of Alabama in Birmingham) when they think of Alabama schools, but now maybe they’ll think of us, too.”

TOP 10 SCHOOLS 1. CAMERON UNIVERSITY 2. MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY 3. EASTERN NEW MEXICO UNIVERSITY 4. UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA 5. WASHBURN UNIVERSITY 6. SOUTHERN ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY 7. NORTH DAKOTA UNIVERSITY 8. UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY 9. WEST TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY 10. ELIZABETH CITY STATE UNIVERSITY

6A NEWS

Sept. 24, 2015 â&#x20AC;˘ The Flor-Ala

SEASONAL

THE WRITERĘźS C RNER

Top 3 pumpkin spice products of the year

1. Pumpkin pie spiced Chobani yogurt

ANNA BROWN

6M_[ -LQ\WZ VM_[(NTWZITI VM\

September brings fall. Fall brings crisp, cool evenings and what else?

Pumpkin spice everything.

While I do strongly support and anxiously await the release of Starbucksâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; pumpkin spiced latte each fall, I think America has gone a little crazy with pumpkin spice-flavored and -scented products.

You can buy anything from pumpkin spice-scented air fresheners to pumpkin spice vodka. The former sounds like a great idea, but the latter â&#x20AC;&#x201D; not so much.

Despite these crazy-sounding products, there are some truly amazing pumpkin-spice items worth your money.

Here are my top three best off-the-wall pumpkin spice products.

Greek yogurt is great. Pumpkin spice is great. Put them together and find a creamy, delicious treat well-worth the drive to Wal-Mart at $1.29 per 5.3 oz container.

The yogurt is a little thinner than traditional greek yogurt, but it is still super delicious. The creamy yogurt with the pumpkin pie spices blend together nicely. It cut the usual tang of greek yogurt.

This also makes a delicious healthy alternative to pumpkin pie for dessert. I put one container in the freezer for about an hour. After stirring it to break up any super frozen lumps, I found a satisfying frozen treat.

I definitely would not eat this year-round, but it will make a regular appearance in my fridge this fall.

),2=6+<; KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) â&#x20AC;&#x153;Some of our professors have actually worked as police officers,â&#x20AC;?

Daniels said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think those professors are more specialized because of their experiences.â&#x20AC;?

Maynard said adjuncts are most commonly used in the English department. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have many sections of English Composition, so we need many teachers,â&#x20AC;? said Chair of the English Department Cynthia Burkhead.

Burkhead said most of the adjunct professors used in the English department teach First-Year Composition (EN 111), a class every UNA student must take to graduate.

It is impossible to have large classes of students taking First-Year Composition because a single professor cannot give each student the attention he or she needs, she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;These students are writing six to seven essays and revising those essays six to seven times,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The professor has to grade all those papers.

You hit a point where there are too many students for the professor to handle.â&#x20AC;?

Burkhead said if the university is not

able to hire qualified teachers, it will limit the number of First-Year Composition classes available for students.

Wages for adjunct professors are low across the region, and the amount UNA pays is lower than the regional average, Maynard said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ultimately, it hurts the students when the best and brightest teachers cannot get good jobs at universities,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If this trend continues and state funding continues to drop, faculty will peruse other careers. Students lose in the end.â&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;?

ULTIMATELY, IT HURTS THE STUDENTS WHEN

THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST TEACHERS CANNOT GET GOOD JOBS AT UNIVERSITIES.

CHRISTOPHER MAYNARD ASSOCIATE DEAN, COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

2. Pumpkin spice Oreos I confess I was a bit scared when I found this one. My first thought was, â&#x20AC;&#x153;How in the world is a chocolate cookie going to taste with pumpkin spice filling?â&#x20AC;? My fear subsided when I found the pumpkin spice cream smashed between two vanilla cookies.

Each season, Nabisco comes up with a seasonal flavor for its Oreo cookie.

This cookie is a welcomed veer from the traditional Oreo path.

Unfortunately, the special edition flavors tend to be more expensive than their regular counterparts. One 10.7 oz package of Pumpkin Spice Oreos costs $3.39 before taxes.

While the cookie is still extremely sweet â&#x20AC;&#x201D; like all Oreos â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the pumpkin spice flavor is not overwhelmingly sweet. But, I still could not eat more than two cookies at a time.

The pumpkin spice Oreo is a win in my book, but I will only eat them on a fall afternoon, complete with a cup of coffee and a sunset.

3. Marshmallow Pumpkin Spice line - Bath and Body Works Pumpkin spice-scented air freshener?

Yes. Pumpkin spice-scented candle?

Double yes. Pumpkin spice-scented body lotion? Nope.

Bath and Body Works introduces their fall-inspired fragrances and products annually in September. The line features body lotion, ultra shea body cream, bubble bath, body scrub, shower gel, fragrance mist and candles.

The marshmallow pumpkin latte hand lotion smells so good I could eat it, but I refrain.

While I love the scent of pumpkin spice, I do not want to smell like it.

However, I will gladly fill my home with pumpkin spice goodness via candle.

That being said, the Marshmallow Pumpkin Latte candle is delightful! I happily purchased the candle and left the lotion for Editor-in-Chief Kali Daniel.

)++:-,1<)<176 KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now with the CIDA accreditation, I am more confident that I will be marketable and competitive in the industry,â&#x20AC;? Nazarchyk said.

Eighty percent of the accreditation is based on student work, Bunn said.

The council must see proof students understand and can apply the curriculum before they grant accreditation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our students really rose to the occasion,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have done it without them.â&#x20AC;?

Patel said UNA hired him in 2007 to help the interior design department gain CIDA accreditation. He said much time, planning and effort went toward revamping the curriculum and building classes in line with CIDA standards.

Gaining CIDA accreditation was the departmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goal when it began, Bunn said. He said he thinks this accreditation is a great marketing too not only for the department, but also for the university.

McLain said many of UNAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interior design graduates have gone to work for large design firms around the country.

She used to work for Interior Design Associates, based out of Nashville, alongside other UNA students, she said.

â&#x20AC;?

OUR STUDENTS REALLY ROSE TO THE OCCASION. WE COULDNĘźT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THEM.

DWIGHT BUNN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

â&#x20AC;&#x153;CIDA is very important for interior design students because you have to have a degree from a CIDA-accredited school to get certified through the National Council for Interior Design Qualification,â&#x20AC;? said senior Heather Fields.

Senior Rebecca Armour also said many design firms want graduates who come CIDA-accredited schools. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m very excited that UNAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s program is accredited now,â&#x20AC;? she said.

VIEWPOINTS 7A

Sept. 10, 2015• The Flor-Ala

Music video urges support of assault victims

REVIEW EDITOR-IN-CHIEF KALI DANIEL MANAGING EDITOR JASMINE FLEMING NEWS EDITOR ANNA BROWN LIFE EDITOR MELISSA PARKER SPORTS EDITOR MIKE EZEKIEL ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR KADIN POUNDERS ONLINE EDITOR EMILY KAZUNGU BUSINESS MANAGER JORDAN BYRD GRAPHIC DESIGNERS PEYTON LAWLER MICHAEL MEIGS KELSEY WEATHERS CIRCULATION MANAGER ALAN KIMBREL CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER KAITLIN DOUGLASS STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS AMANDALYN DORNER KATLYN SHANNON SHAY REDD

JASMINE FLEMING

5IVIOQVO -LQ\WZ UIVIOQVO(NTWZITI VM\

“Sometimes I hate myself.”

These words flashed across the screen, written on a woman’s back, in Lady Gaga’s newest video, “Till it Happens to You.” The video, released Sept.

17, shows several women before, during and after a sexual assault.

The Flor-Ala has run numerous stories on the campus climate survey results released this semester, and Life Editor Melissa Parker had a well-written editorial on rape myth acceptance, which is an apparent issue on our campus.

Editorial Policy Content is determined by the student editorial staff of The Flor-Ala and has not been approved by the university.

The staff strives to maintain the integrity of The Flor-Ala through accurate and honest reporting. To report an error, call 256-765-4364 or email editor@florala. net.

Letters Policy Letters to the editor should be emailed to editor@florala.net or mailed to: The Flor-Ala UNA Box 5300 Florence, AL 35632 Letters must include name and telephone number for verification. Please limit letters to 400 words. The editor reserves the right to edit or refuse to publish a letter.

stress disorder as long-term affects, according to the Shoals Crisis Center.

Another phrase, and possibly the most frustrating to me, written on one of the women said, “Believe me.”

Helping someone figure out who to contact and letting them know they have support after they have been assaulted is instrumental to helping them move forward, according to Start by Believing, a campaign geared toward teaching individuals how to support sexual assault victims.

“A police officer doesn’t believe and refuses to conduct an investigation. A doctor or nurse doesn’t believe and fails to provide an exam. A friend doesn’t believe and accuses the person of ‘crying rape.’

Just a single negative reaction can mean the whole chain falls apart.”

The chain Start by Believing is referencing is the list of steps someone takes when reporting assault (telling

a friend, reporting it to the police, giving a testimony, etc.).

But as soon as individuals tells victims they do not believe them, the chain falls apart. After all, if a friend does not believe the victim, why would the police?

It would be naïve to say no one has ever lied about being the victim of a sexual assault. However, only law enforcement has the ability to make that determination. The best thing to do is to support people who say they have been assaulted and be there when they need a listening ear or any other assistance.

Whether a friend or someone you might not know well, if victims ask you to be there while they call the police or show up to a court date, be a link in the chain of support that helps get justice Do not let victims, or even possible victims, feel like they do not matter.

Kentucky clerk exemplifies religious discrimination

ADVISER SCOTT MORRIS

Corrections

But what I got from this music video was an issue concerning sexual assault that we do not often address.

We discuss how to obtain consent and that in not doing so, any resulting sexual act is a crime. We also talk about the process for reporting sexual assaults by talking to a police officer, and, if the assault took place on campus, a Title IX coordinator or reporter.

But what this video showed goes even further. It showed how the victims felt after they were attacked.

In addition to the aforementioned phrase, “I am worthless,” showed on another woman’s arm.

It might seem obvious to someone who has not been sexually assaulted that an assault is not the victim’s fault or they should not feel terrible about themselves, but that is not always the case.

Sexual assault victims often experience depression, low self-esteem or post-traumatic

ANNA BROWN

6M_[ -LQ\WZ VM_[(NTWZITI VM\

County clerk Kim Davis denied two same-sex couples marriage licenses in Morehead, Kentucky the morning of Sept.

1. The event sparked more debate about the Supreme Court’s June 24 ruling, which made it legal for same-sex couples to marry in the United States.

Davis said she had the right to deny the couples’ licenses “under God’s authority.” Also,

the state of Kentucky defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

Davis, along with many politicians and commentators, said she had the right to deny the licenses as part of her religious beliefs covered by the First Amendment.

As a firm believer in traditional marriage and strong supporter of the First Amendment, I think arguing Davis’ stand on the grounds of religious freedom is preposterous.

In my experience, many Christians overlook Romans 13:1-2 which says, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore, whoever resists the authority resists the

ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.”

This verse applies to you, Kim Davis. Even though you disagree, you must uphold the law of the land if it is your job to do so.

When an elected official takes office, he or she swears to be a law-abiding citizen.

The premise of “freedom of religion” does not give her the right to neglect her duties.

“To issue a marriage license which conflicts with God’s definition of marriage, with my name affixed to the certificate, would violate my conscience,” Davis said in an interview with The New York Times. “I have no animosity toward anyone and harbor no ill will. To me this has never been a gay or lesbian issue. It is about marriage and God’s

INTERESTED IN WRITING?

JOIN OUR WEEKLY WRITERSʼ MEETINGS SUNDAYS AT 4 P.M. IN THE STUDENT PUBLICATIONS OFFICE BEHIND WILLINGHAM HALL 643 N. WOOD AVE.

FOR THE RECORD...

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

•

In the Sept. 17 issue, David Montgomery provided photos for the ribbon cutting ceremony at the Science and Technology Building, not Shannon Wells.

word.”

While I agree with her views, I do not believe my constitutional right to practice my religion allows me to deny someone else’s constitutional right to marriage.

If a person’s job requirements conflict with their religious beliefs so strongly that he or she refuses to do them, then that person should step down from the position.

I do not believe Christians or followers of other religions have the right, in the United States, to force their religion on someone to the point they deny the person his or her constitutional rights.

Now that is religious discrimination.

No free citizen of the United States can say, “My right gives me the right to deny you your rights.”

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WRITER AND PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE WEEK! Monday Sanderson and Jackson Townsend

8A NEWS

Sept. 24, 2015 • The Flor-Ala

EVENTS

UPC plans 3 movie nights per month

SGA

IN

REVIEW

• HOMECOMING NOMINATION FORMS OPENED MONDAY, SEPT. 21.

NOMINATIONS WILL BE OPEN UNTIL SEPT. 28.

• SENATE - BEGAN DELIBERATIONS ON THE 2015-16 PROPOSED BUDGET. • SENATE - RELEASED A RESOLUTION SEPT. 1 THANKING FACILITIES ADMINISTRATION AND PLANNING AND GROUNDS MAINTENANCE FOR SUPPORTING SGAʼS INITIATIVE TO INCREASE CAMPUS BEAUTIFICATION AND NAVIGATION.

photo by TORI PATTERSON I Student Photographer

UPC Pro Tempore Amanda Areostatico (left) hands out soft drinks at the first Movie Mondays event featuring “Inside Out” Sept. 21. About 220 students attended the event.

ANNA BROWN

6M_[ -LQ\WZ VM_[(NTWZITI VM\

A line stretched down the hallway in the second level of the Guillot University Center Monday night as students waited for the first Movie Mondays event.

Movie Monday is one of two new movie nights hosted by the University Programming Council this fall.

“Our standard this year is one event per month from each of the five UPC committees,” said UPC Vice President Adam McCollum. “The movies and novelties committee has taken it to an even higher level and decided it wanted to go for three (movies) per month.”

McCollum said he hopes these movie nights will get students more involved with SGA and UPC. About 220 students attended the movie Sept. 21, said head of the movies and novelties committee Alyson Berry.

“I think it was the second highest number of students we’ve ever seen at a movie night,” Berry said. “We completely ran out of T-shirts, food and chairs.”

Movie Mondays and Throwback Thursday movie nights began this fall, he said.

Movie Mondays features films no longer showing in theater but not yet available for purchase. Throwback Thursday features movies from the late ‘80s and ‘90s most current UNA students watched growing up, McCollum said.

UPC also revamped the theme of the

Friday night movie nights. He said the theme of the Friday night movie night is now Film Fridays.

Berry said the committee scheduled the Film Fridays around key holidays each month.

Next month’s Film Friday theme is Halloween. She said they will feature a Halloween film Friday, Oct. 30.

”

THE MOVIES AND NOVELTIES COMMITTEE HAS

TAKEN IT TO AN EVEN HIGHER LEVEL AND DECIDED THEY WANTED TO GO FOR THREE (MOVIES) PER MONTH.

ADAM MCCOLLUM VICE PRESIDENT OF UPC Free food and drinks will still be available at each movie night like last year, McCollum said.

The food could range from snacks like popcorn and candy to something more substantial like pizza, depending on the cost of the movie, he said.

Like previous years, the movie nights are free. Students only need their Mane cards, he said.

The student activity fee was raised from $40 to $45 this fall and McCollum said he wants students to get the most for their money.

The funds from that fee go to purchase T-shirts, food and other items needed for the movie nights, he said. Additionally, the fee pays for the licensing through Swank Motion Pictures, Inc. for the unofficially released movies shown on Movie Mondays.

UPC held the first movie night Sept.

11 and featured “Max” in memory of the 9/11 attacks.

“The first movie night (Sept. 11) had about 150 students attending,” McCollum said. “We were really happy with that number.”

The freshman live-on requirement might have contributed to this increase in attendance, he said.

Senior Jennifer Sewell said she thinks attendance is higher at the movie nights this year due to the increased number of freshmen on campus.

“I really like having the movie on a Monday night,” said senior Justin Shepherd. “It gives students a fresh start to the week. Plus, UPC always shows great movies.”

McCollum said he hopes having more movie nights will strengthen the relationship between the students and SGA. “A lot of times, people don’t know what SGA and UPC do,” he said. “If they see us not just once a month, but five to 10 times a month out doing stuff for the students, it’ll get them connected.”

The next Movie Monday features Ant Man Oct. 19, Berry said.

8):316/ KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) Chief of University Police Kevin Gillilan said for the time being, students should utilize off-campus parking.

“In most cases, you will spend more time riding around searching for a spot than to park at an off-campus lot and riding a shuttle bus to campus,” he said. “I would like to see students take advantage of these services since we are providing them.”

Freshman Lucas Scott said he could

benefit from a new parking lot.

“I won’t have to drive all the way to the eighth floor of the parking deck just to find a space,” he said.

The lot should help eliminate some of the parking problems, Carter said.

“It won’t solve the parking problem on campus, but it will surely make a huge dent in it,” he said.

Having 400 extra spaces by Flowers gives students a good chance of finding

a place to park, said freshman Demetrius Baker.

“I think 400 extra spaces will definitely help with the problem,” Baker said.

Students benefit from any extra spaces on campus, said sophomore Laiken Mann.

“I think the university should use any extra space they can find for parking.”

• UPC - PREPARED FOR FIRST MOVIE MONDAYS EVENT HELD SEPT. 21.

FOR MEETING BRIEFS AND UPDATES ON THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION, PLEASE VISIT FLORALA.NET

CAMPUS CRIME LOG • SEPT. 11 THEFT OF

PROPERTY FROM

VEHICLE

LOCATION: PARKING DECK • SEPT. 9 MINOR POSSESSION OF ALCOHOL

LOCATION: PARKING • SEPT. 8 DISTRIBUTION OF

DECK

CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE

LOCATION: NOT AVAILABLE • SEPT. 3 THEFT OF PROPERTY LOCATION: EAST CAMPUS • SEPT. 1 THEFT OF PROPERTY LOCATION: RIVERS HALL FULL CRIME LOG AVAILABLE AT UNA.EDU/POLICE/CRIMELOG

LIFE

SECTION B

Sept. 24, 2015• The Flor-Ala

COMMUNITY

Teams participate in annual fundraiser for Kilby School MONDAY SANDERSON

;\INN ?ZQ\MZ U[IVLMZ[WV (]VI ML]

Food, laughter and brightly colored boats all make for a fun, charitable time. The Shoals Dragon Boat Festival hosts all of this Oct. 3.

The Shoals Dragon Boat Festival is a fundraising event for Kilby Laboratory School.

Last year, the event raised around $10,000, said Shoals Dragon Boat Festival publicist Carole Maynard.

The event kicks off at 9 a.m. with a ceremony called The Awakening of the Dragon, she said.

“It’s when we take one of the Dragon heads off of the boat and we have someone paint the eye on the dragon and that awakens the dragon,” she said.

“This year we’re really excited to have Kenneth Kitts awaken the dragon.”

After the ceremony, teams race in heats of 3 and their times are recorded. Each team races at least twice and the top 12 teams race a 3rd time, she said.

There will be plenty for people of all ages to see and do including a kid zone, food vendors and the UNA percussion group, Maynard said.

Junior Jose FigueroaCifuentes said he has been participating in the festival with ROTC since the first year. He

said he believes the festival has gotten better when it comes to attendance, but has not lost its true purpose.

“It expanded tremendously from the first year to last year,” he said. “There was more tailgating, but it was still a fundraiser and not just a ‘let’s hang out’ type of deal.”

The money for school comes from different sources, Maynard said.

also have merchandise for sale.”

There are people who walk around the grounds holding jars for donations, FigueroaCifuentes said.

The registration fee for a team is $1,250, according to the Shoals Dragon Boat Festival website.

“It’s a little steep because a lot of fundraisers

“We have some fantastic sponsors that donate,” she said.

“Then we have the people who register teams, so their fee adds on to that. We

don’t require you to spend that much money to get in,” said sophomore Graci Berryman.

“A lot of people don’t have that much money put together.”

Though the race is a competition, it is still a fun event, Figueroa-Cifuentes said.

“The first time it was more about having fun, but we did come in first place,” he said.

“Last year, it was more about trying to win.”

Teams compete in different categories for first, second and third places, Maynard said.

The College of Arts and Sciences will have a boat and a tent, said Dean of Arts and Sciences Carmen Burkhalter.

“It is an activity that I thought would benefit the university, since Kilby is a part of the university,” she said.

“It will also give our faculty an opportunity to meet each other, spend some time together and develop opportunities for research and teaching collaborations.”

The event is a lot of fun and a great addition to the community, she said.

Teams compete for the best theme, and some have worn costumes in the past, Maynard said.

“The first year the Kilby teachers dressed up as the Cat in the Hat,” she said. “Last year there was a team dressed up as Elvis.”

The winners will receive paddles decorated with the Shoals Dragon Boat Festival logo which were painted by local artist Marianthe Snyder, she said.

The festival is a great way to meet people and give back to the community, said junior Stormy Morgan.

“It is a unique experience,” she said. “It’s a lot of fun because it draws in a lot of students from UNA, so it’s a good way to socialize with others. You’re also donating money to Kilby which is kind of our younger sibling.”

People should come cheer on their favorite teams, Burkhalter said.

Currently there are 33 teams competing including the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Education and Human Services, College of Business, Honors Program and UNA Opera.

The Flor-Ala file photo

Teams participate in the 2014 Dragon Boat Festival at McFarland Park. The annual October event raises money for Kilby Laboratory School. Teams are awarded prizes for first, second and third place.

IN THIS SECTION

LIFE

SPORTS Home-school to college

Volleyball team is “killing it”

See page 2B

See page 4B

EXTRA Who is Eleanor Costello?

See page 5B

Events on- and off-campus See page 7B

2B LIFE

Sept. 24, 2015 • The Flor-Ala

ACADEMICS

Students discuss transition from home-school to college MIKE EZEKIEL

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

Starting college is stressful for most students. Class sizes, meeting new people and worrying about managing it all may overwhelm the bravest of students.

For those coming to college from a public high school, the transition can be less frightening than for those who have come from the smaller home-school classroom.

Yaschica Williams, Department of Sociology Chair, said she thinks the interaction public school students have with one another is the only difference between home-schooled and public school students.

“I’ve had home-schooled students in my classes and they transitioned well,” she said.

Freshman Katelyn Walton said as a home-schooled student, the largest classes she had consisted of five or six people.

“The size (of the classes) is probably the biggest difference,” Walton said. “All of my high school classes were smaller

environments. It went from a few people to 30-90 people, but it hasn’t been too hard.”

”

THERE WERE TIMES I FELT LIKE AN OUTCAST.

I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE HOW DISCOURAGING THAT CAN BE, SO I HAVE ALWAYS MADE IT A POINT TO REACH OUT TO PEOPLE.

BRITTANY HARRIS Walton said during high school, there were moments she would have liked to have gone to a traditional school, but has no second thoughts about it in college.

“In high school, a lot of my friends were in public school, so at times I felt excluded,” Walton said. “In college, it really hasn’t made any difference other than finding my classes.”

Walton said one of the biggest differences between her home-school

and college experiences is organization.

“Home-school is ‘go with the flow’ and move at your own pace,” she said. “I could get up at 10 in the morning and do whatever I wanted to. I could even go to school in my pajamas, but I can’t do that here (in college) without people looking at me funny.

“In college I can’t move at my own pace. College does push you harder and that can be good.”

When Walton or other home-school students need help learning the social aspects of school, senior Brittany Harris, a member of the Missions Ministry at the Baptist Campus Ministry, is there to help.

“Growing up, I didn’t exactly have a specific social group that I fit in with,” Harris said. “There were times I felt like an outcast. I know from experience how discouraging that can be, so I have always made it a point to reach out to people.”

Harris said she considers helping new and bashful students a privilege rather than a responsibility.

“Serving others has never been a task for me,” she said. “It is something I

love to do and have enjoyed from a very young age. If I can make the difference in one person’s life by showing them the love of Christ through my words and my actions, it has all been worth it.”

Sophomore Josh Grigsby, who attended a traditional high school, said he believes home-schooled students could have some key advantages coming to college.

“Sometime I wish was homeschooled,” Grigsby said. “I think there is more of a focus on school work than a clique or a group of friends. I wish I would have focused more on school and home-school would have helped.”

Grigsby said he has a lot of friends who came to college from home-school.

He said for some, they tend to be “socially awkward” because of a lack of interaction.

“We hung out a lot, and eventually they learned how to interact better,” he said. “If I had to do it again, I would still do public school because I like to be around people, but I do think there are a lot of positives to home-school.”

FINANCES

Financial aid helps pay for rising cost of college MONDAY SANDERSON

;\INN ?ZQ\MZ U[IVLMZ[WV (]VI ML]

Every year, college becomes more and more expensive. Students strive to earn a scholarship or work tirelessly day and night to attain a degree in higher education.

When it comes to paying for school, students have multiple ways to fund their education. To some students, however, loans are the most common.

Senior Sarah Baughman said she knows many families who struggle with the rising cost of attending college.

“I think that getting loans is the best way for students to get that large sum of money that you’ll need for college.”

Director of Financial Services Laura Bozovic recommends students borrow only what they need when it comes to loans.

“If you qualify for a student refund, take that and be very frugal with it,” she said. “Put a good bit into savings and try to make it last as long as possible.”

While loans might be the most

common, there are other programs that provide financial funding.

“I have two scholarships,” said freshman Kasey Womack. “One is the Vanguard scholarship, and the second is a band scholarship. I also (benefit from) the PACT program. A majority of my tuition is paid for, I just have to make up for housing and meal plans.”

Depending on how a student pays for school, his or her attitude toward school changes.

“School is a bit easier now because I’m not worrying about if I have enough money to pay for classes,” said senior Paige Hauck. “I never realized how stressful it is working and saving up money to pay for college. It wasn’t until I was able to get a grant and loans that I realized how hard it was.”

Junior Mitchell Lovell said he believes students who pay their way through school are more independent and responsible than students whose parents pay for school.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is a way for students to receive money for school.

Anyone can apply, no matter how much money the parents or students make.

“It’s a common myth that students won’t get anything,” Bozovic said.

“All students who apply for the FAFSA qualify for some form of federal funding.

When you apply for FAFSA, you’re applying for federal grants, federal loans and federal work study.”

Hauck’s advice for students who pay their own way through college is to create a budget and decide what is worth buying.

”

ALL STUDENTS WHO APPLY FOR THE FAFSA QUALIFY FOR SOME FORM OF FEDERAL FUNDING. WHEN YOU APPLY FOR FAFSA, YOUʼRE APPLYING FOR FEDERAL GRANTS, FEDERAL LOANS AND FEDERAL WORK STUDY.

LAURA BOZOVIC DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

Lauderdale Lanes Lauderd $2 Stud Student Deal! $2 Shoe Rental

$2 Games

Monday through Thursday 12pm-4pm.

Monday through Thursday 7pm to close.

Must show current college ID. Limited lane availability, first come, first served.

Not valid with any other coupons or offers.

Prices do not include tax.

LIFE 3B

Sept. 24, 2015 â&#x20AC;˘ The Flor-Ala

LIONS PLACE, LLC e r e i em r P e Th ge e l l o C y t i n u Comm www.lionsplace.net 256-760-8873

4 Bedroom 4 Bath Duplex with 2 Bedroom 2 Bath Minutes from UNA Your own bedroom and bath Individual leases Free cable & Wifi Appliances including Washer & dryer Front Porch & patios

Duplex with 2 Bedroom 2 Bath Nightly drive thru-security Two water heaters in each 4 bedroom Annual Court House Racket Club membership w/$29.95 initiation fee Lawn Maintenance Large yards Ample parking Quarterly Pest Control

4B SPORTS

Sept. 24, 2015 • The Flor-Ala

VOLLEYBALL

SCOREBOARD Lions boast nine-game winning streak SEPT. 15-21 Sept. 15 Volleyball at West Alabama 3-0 Win

Sept. 17 Soccer vs. Alabama-Huntsville 6-1 Win

Sept. 18 Volleyball vs. Shorter 3-0 Win

Sept. 19 Volleyball vs. Lee 3-0 Win

Sept. 20 Soccer vs. Lee 3-0 Win

UPCOMING Soccer Sept. 27 vs. Cumberland Oct. 3 at Valdosta State

Volleyball Sept. 25 at Union Sept. 26 at Christian Brothers Sept. 29 vs. West Georgia Oct. 1 at Alabama-Huntsville Oct. 3 at Mississippi College

Football Sept. 26 vs. Florida Tech Oct. 3 at Valdosta State

Golf Sept. 28-29 Saint Leo Menʼs Invitational (Dade City, Florida)

Cross Country Sept. 26 Rhodes College Invitational (Memphis, Tennessee) Games continued at roarlions.com

photo by SHAY REDD I Staff Photographer

Junior Andrea De Leon (24) sets up sophomore Lexie Bradley for a spike against Quincy University. The UNA Lions beat Quincy University at the 2015 UNA Volleyball Classic Tournament 3-1.

KADIN POUNDERS

)[[WKQI\M ;XWZ\[ -LQ\WZ [XWZ\[(NTWZITI VM\

The UNA volleyball team (9-2, 3-0) is one-third of the way through the regular season and appears unstoppable.

Despite starting the season off 0-2, UNA seems to have found its stride. The Lions are riding a nine-game winning streak and have swept their past three Gulf South Conference opponents.

“It’s exciting,” said head coach Stephanie Radecki. “The team is playing really well. I’m excited about the things we are doing right now.”

The winning streak provides the Lions with some needed confidence as UNA heads into the thick of conference play.

“I think (the streak) gives us a lot higher confidence, especially after beating Shorter,” said sophomore libero Ashtyn Kapovich, the team’s leader in digs. “We know that we’re capable of beating anyone that we want if we just work hard and put our minds to it.”

Much of UNA’s success is attributed to the Lions talented depth on offense, led by junior outside hitter Natasha Fomina, who leads the conference in kills per set.

“It doesn’t matter what rotation we’re in. We can give a ball to anyone and know they are going to kill it,” Fomina said.

“It’s a great thing to have in volleyball.

We’re not depending on just one person but anyone can produce at any time.”

Fomina leads the team in total kills with 175, followed by sophomore outside hitter Lexie Bradley with 121. The Lions are also getting production on the front

line from sophomore Jessica Austin and juniors Peyton Lang and Victoria Quintanilla, who have combined for 245 total kills.

“Each match we’ve had someone different really step up,” Radecki said.

“Natasha has been our leading hitter all season, but Victoria Quintanilla has had some great matches. Lexie can put the ball away, and Jess (Austin) can put the ball away.

”

I

THINK (THE STREAK) GIVES US A LOT

HIGHER CONFIDENCE, ESPECIALLY AFTER BEATING

SHORTER. WE KNOW THAT WEʼRE CAPABLE OF BEATING ANYONE THAT WE WANT IF WE JUST WORK HARD AND PUT OUR MINDS TO IT.

ASHTYN KAPOVICH SOPHOMORE LIBERO “The fact that we can still win sets and have someone struggling as a hitter is a great thing. We have some depth, and we’re going to use it if we need it.”

Following their last win over the Lee Flames, the Lions were first in the GSC in hitting percentage and second in kills per set. UNA is also second in the conference in assists per set with senior setter Andrea De Leon leading the conference in that category.

“Andrea is doing a great job leading the team,” Radecki said. “She’s distributing the ball to our hitters and allowing them to be successful, and that’s really exciting to have.”

De Leon said she commends her teammates diving for the ball to make a defensive play.

“I have to give credit to the defensive players,” De Leon said. “They are doing a good job defending the ball and passing it for me to be successful.”

The Lions will play their next two games on the road against conference foes Union and Christian Brothers Sept.

25-26.

2015 UNA LIONS VOLLEYBALL LEADERS • POINTS: NATASHA FOMINA

(200) • KILLS: NATASHA FOMINA (175) • ASSISTS: ANDREA DE LEON (466) • DIGS: ASHTYN KAPOVICH (169) • BLOCKS: LEXIE BRADLEY (22.0) • SERVICE ACES: LEXIE BRADLEY (22)

SPORTS 5B

Sept. 24, 2015• The Flor-Ala

PROFILE

Junior midfielder ʻbrings personality to the tableʼ KADIN POUNDERS

)[[WKQI\M ;XWZ\[ -LQ\WZ [XWZ\[(NTWZITI VM\

The UNA soccer team is off to a hot start, sitting at 4-0-1 on the season. The Lions are coming off a conference win over rival Alabama-Huntsville Sept. 17.

The early success for the Lions can be credited to on-the-field leadership.

Junior midfielder Eleanor Costello brings leadership with her play but further lifts the team with her personality.

“She’s definitely the team comedian, for sure,” said head coach Chris Walker.

“Personality-wise she’s fantastic. She gets along with absolutely every one.

She’ll make fun of you, and you can make fun of her. She brings that personality to the table.”

”

SHEʼS DEFINITELY THE TEAM COMEDIAN, FOR SURE. PERSONALITY-WISE SHEʼS FANTASTIC. SHE GETS ALONG WITH ABSOLUTELY EVERY ONE. SHEʼLL MAKE FUN OF YOU, AND YOU CAN MAKE FUN OF HER.

CHRIS WALKER HEAD COACH Costello, a junior from Stafford, England, has a sense of humor and is not afraid to laugh at herself every once in a while.

“When (the team) went to Florida, I forgot my practice kit,” she said. “I could’ve gotten into some trouble for that but they let me off.”

Junior defender Susan Lang, Costello’s teammate and roommate, can testify to Costello’s occasional

absentmindedness.

“I live with Ele, and I have been with her almost every day for three years,” she said. “Without a doubt, she is the most forgetful person I know. She would honestly forget her head if it wasn’t screwed on. But she’s great to live with and is one of the most approachable players on our team. She is a great friend.”

The one thing Costello cannot forget, however, is her skills on the pitch.

Costello, who first started competing when she was nine, played for Stoke City Ladies FC for eight years. She made a mark across the pond as a top goal scorer with Stafford College and England College’s under-19 team.

“When I went to (Stafford College), I was 16, and they put me forward for the England College trials, which is like the national team,” Costello said. “There were five different trials you had to go through, and I ended up making the squad, representing England for two seasons.

That was quite a big achievement.”

Costello’s success back home gained her some attention in America, where she eventually became a part of Walker’s first group of recruits at UNA. Costello said leaving England and coming to America was a big transition for her, but the move improved her confidence on and off the pitch.

“I think coming to America and to UNA has helped my confidence a lot, because I wasn’t very confident in myself before I came here,” she said. “It was tough moving abroad to America away from my family, but UNA has helped me settle in.”

When Costello feels good about herself, it shows in her performance on the field, Walker said.

“She can be one of the best players that we’ve got. It just lies on how confident

photo by JACKSON TOWNSEND I Student Photographer

Junior Midfielder Eleanor Costello takes control of the ball as she drives down the field. Costello and the women’s soccer team had a magnificent second half to come back and beat UAH 6-1 Sept 17.

she is,” he said. “I think this year she’s really hit the ground running. Through these first five games she’s played great, and I think when she’s confident she’s one of the best in the conference, by far.”

Off the field, Costello enjoys her free time keeping up with music and exploring nature with her friends and teammates.

“I’m quite into music,” she said.

“When I go back home, I try to go to

music events. The music is different here, so I’m trying to keep up with music in England and listen to music here.

“I also like to go to the river with the girls some days. We’ll just go for walks because it’s got that forest area, and we’ll just go on adventures.”

Costello’s next adventure on the field will be Sept. 27 at home against Cumberland in a non-conference matchup.

FOOTBALL

Lions approach Florida Tech game after bye week MIKE EZEKIEL

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

The game of football becomes demanding on the physical and mental structures of coaches and players.

As a result, many teams schedule open weeks as a time to heal injuries, rest players and have an extra week of preparation for an upcoming opponent.

For UNA and head coach Bobby Wallace, the bye week taken after a 3417 win against Mississippi College is a chance to rest and get healthy, but not much more.

“I don’t really see (the bye week) as either (an advantage or disadvantage),” Wallace said. “I think it could hurt you or help you depending on how you play next week. It gives us time to get healthy and refresh as a staff and as players.”

Teams who are coming off open weeks are often concerned if the week off helped or hurt their momentum, but Wallace said his team is not worried.

“We’ll get ready to play, and we will play the best we can, but I don’t think the bye week will have anything to do with it.”

”

I DONʼT REALLY SEE (THE BYE WEEK) AS EITHER (AN ADVANTAGE OR DISADVANTAGE).

I THINK IT COULD HURT YOU OR HELP YOU DEPENDING ON HOW YOU PLAY NEXT WEEK. IT GIVES US TIME TO GET HEALTHY AND REFRESH AS A STAFF AND AS PLAYERS.

BOBBY WALLACE HEAD COACH Wallace said planning the positioning of a bye week before the season does not matter from a momentum standpoint, but when players are hurt, bye weeks help tremendously.

“If we could predict how many

people would get hurt each week, you would want your bye week after that week,” Wallace said. “You never know.

You could have five people hurt and the bye week comes at a perfect time. That’s really all a bye week does.”

UNA had one key injury Sept. 12 against the Choctaws, senior defensive back Darvell Harris.

Harris, who had an interception in the season opener against Miles College, left the game in the first half with an apparent shoulder injury.

“This bye week came at a perfect time,” Harris said. “It gives me an extra week to heal my shoulder.

“I bruised it, but now I can move it around and do stuff I couldn’t do when I first hurt it. That’s a good sign, and I should be ready to go against Florida Tech,” he said.

Harris said he believes the effect of the bye week depends on how the extra time is utilized by the players and coaches.

“I think it’s more of an advantage, but

it goes both ways,” he said. “We get to work two more weeks on our opponent and feel them out more, rather than rushing everything in one week.”

Senior wide receiver Lee Mayhall said his favorite part of the bye week is the ability to “get his feet back under him.”

“I think the bye week is good for mental and physical rest,” Mayhall said.

“We get to practice and tune up our skills, but we also get some rest and recuperate our bodies.”

Mayhall said he recalls last season for the Lions, where the bye week came in week one. This did not give UNA time to rest from a previous game, but rather helped the team’s transition from fall camp to the season, he said.

“I think that gave us more time to tune up before we started the season,” he said. “We had a pretty good season, and we kept rolling, never losing focus.”

After two weeks of preparation, the Lions will face Florida Tech Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. in Braly Stadium.

6B SPORTS

Sept. 24, 2015 • The Flor-Ala

FINANCIAL AID

Walk-ons work for opportunity at limited scholarships MELISSA PARKER 4QNM -LQ\WZ TQNM(NTWZITI VM\

With nine scholarships available to over 25 baseball players and 36 scholarships available to over 100 football players, earning a scholarship as a walk-on athlete is next to impossible.

Junior colleges offered senior slot receiver Nolan Coffey scholarships in football, baseball and basketball, but he wanted to attend UNA, he said.

He earned a Leadership Scholarship, he said, and decided not to participate in sports but focus on his academics instead.

Coffey said watching from the stands was not as rewarding as playing.

“It was tough thinking that you’re good enough to be out there and want to be out there,” he said.

UNA Offensive Coordinator Cody Gross encouraged him to work out with the team during the summer, he said. His junior year he walked on, and within a year, was offered an athletic scholarship.

As a walk-on, Coffey said he feels he has to work harder to prove his ability not only to himself, but also to others.

“You come in here and have to start from the bottom,” he said. “You have guys who have been here — guys they’ve recruited personally.”

Coffey said he felt his teammates accepted him immediately.

“They did a good job here at UNA of not treating the walk-ons any differently

photo by TORI PATTERSON I Student Photographer

Senior slot receiver Nolan Coffey (21) is sent in motion by quarterback Jacob Tucker (16). Coffey was a walk-on for the Football team as a freshman. He earned a scholarship for his efforts last season.

than the scholarship players,” he said.

Coffey said he is proud he did well enough to earn a scholarship within a year.

“We have a really good team and a successful football program,” he said.

“It’s not a team you walk on and get playing time right away.”

Head coach Bobby Wallace said the football program encourages walk-ons and has had a lot of success with them.

Many great players have been overlooked in high school, he said.

Maybe their skills developed late or their team as a whole was not good enough to

attract recruiters.

Wallace said he would rather reward a player who has walked on and proven himself in academics, talent and character than go out and look for players.

“Nolan Coffey is a contributor to our team and fits all of that criteria,” he said.

Offering scholarships to Division II athletes is different from Division I, he said.

“In Division I, they’re limited to 85 (scholarships),” he said. “You’re either on full scholarship or no scholarship. In Division II, we work on 36 equivalences, which is the dollar amount of 36 full

scholarships.”

This means as long as money is available, they can have as many athletes on scholarship as they see fit, he said.

If a player shows progress within a year and contributes to the team, he usually gets put on scholarship, he said.

Baseball coach Mike Keehn said baseball does not see as many walk-ons as football.

“There are zero full-ride baseball scholarships,” he said. “We try to give a little bit here and there and help out as much as we can.”

A player’s contribution to the team and how well he does in school determines whether or not he is offered a scholarship, he said.

Keehn said senior second baseman Kyle Crabtree “came out of nowhere.”

“He decided to come out and then earned a starting position with us last year,” he said. “He had a really good year. He earned the scholarship for this year.”

After playing football for three years on a scholarship he earned his high school senior year, Crabtree decided to make the switch to baseball.

Being a walk-on has been challenging, he said.

“You can’t take a day off if you’re really wanting to get where you want to be,” Crabtree said. “That’s the tough part about being a walk on and having to prove yourself every day.”

MUSIC

Student athletes use playlists for motivational purposes XAVIER WHERRY

;\]LMV\ ?ZQ\MZ `_PMZZa(]VI ML]

The final moments before an athlete steps onto the field or court before gametime is the time to find determination.

Athletes tend to use music to get pumped up and get the adrenaline going before a game, to celebrate after a game or to get motivated in the weight room.

UNA strength and conditioning coach Ryan Wood said he keeps the speakers in the weight room on full blast for the benefit of the athletes.

“Certain athletes need motivation, and usually, music is the way to get them going,” Wood said. “I try to put on something that will get them going, since we usually lift early in the morning.

However, sometimes I put on something I know they don’t like just as a mental challenge for them.”

Wood said music becomes a distraction at times, especially when athletes are concerned about the playlist selection rather than the task at hand.

“One of my biggest pet peeves is hearing the athletes complain about the music or whining about what music is on,” he said. “Once the music gets going, I’m just focused on technique and (athletes) doing what they are supposed

to do.”

Wood said he recognizes music helps some players get going, but more importantly helps the players adapt to communicating with loud noises overshadowing them.

Adrien Coffey, a sophomore volleyball player, said pregame music helps her and her teammates emotionally invest in the upcoming game. “(Music) plays with your emotions,” Coffey said.

“We listen to a lot of rap music, and it gets us fired up. Before we played our last home game, we all got in (the locker room) and danced.

Before the game, we were already warmed up, so it got our emotions going. It definitely helps.”

Some athletes have a go-to song they use to achieve the right state of mind.

“One of (the volleyball team’s) go-to songs is ‘I Like to Cha-Cha,’” Coffey said. “It reminds us of an old teammate. It’s a fastpaced song, so it gets us in rhythm and pumped up.”

”

I TRY TO PUT ON SOMETHING THAT WILL GET THEM GOING, SINCE WE USUALLY LIFT EARLY IN THE MORNING. HOWEVER, SOMETIMES I PUT ON SOMETHING I KNOW THEY DONʼT LIKE AS A MENTAL CHALLENGE FOR THEM.

RYAN WOOD HEAD STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH

Senior football and rugby player Darnell Dothard said his favorite song to listen to before a rugby match or football game is “Rollin’” by Lil Wayne, while using headphones that reinforce a strong focus.

“Music is a getaway,” Dothard said. “In (the locker room), there is a whole bunch of noise going on, so I use my Dr. Dre Beats that have the sound cancellation. In my mind, I just go through what I have to do and my responsibilities on the field.”

While many athletes enjoy the camaraderie of yelling with teammates to get pumped up, Dothard prefers to get in his zone alone.

“I’m just in my own world, locking in on the task at hand,” he said.

“I’m not one of those “rah-rah” guys that gets super hyped. I’d rather be off by myself because I’m a quiet pump up person.”

EXTRA 7B

Sept. 24, 2015 • The Flor-Ala

EVENTS

Thurs., Sept. 24 3 p.m.

Military Veterans Alliance meeting @ GUC conference room 6-10 p.m.

Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) Training 7-11 p.m.

Sundown Coffee @ Wesleyan Foundation photo by KATLYN SHANNON I Staff Photographer

Fri., Sept. 25 4 p.m.

Film Club @ Communications Building room 124 8 p.m.

The Wildwood Ruminators @ Champy’s

The winners of Step Show 2014, Phi Mu, perform for the crowd. Their theme for the evening was Phi Mu Circus. Teams have the opportunity to participate in Step Show 2015 Oct. 3.

Mon., Sept. 28 8-11 a.m.

A.L.I.C.E (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) Training 4:30 p.m.

Homecoming nominations due

6 p.m.

UNA Football vs Florida Tech

Sun., Sept. 27

1 p.m.

UNA Soccer vs Cumberland

7 p.m.

Pizza Rolls, not Gender Roles @ Women’s Center

Fri., Oct. 2 4 p.m.

Film Club @ Communications Building room 124 6 p.m.

Step Show 2015 Flowers Hall

Wed., Sept. 30

Sat., Sept. 26 2 p.m.

Oktoberfest @ Singin’ River Brewery

5:30 p.m.

Singin’ River Brewery Running Club

Tues., Sept. 29 1 p.m.

UNA Volleyball vs West Georgia 2 p.m.

Spanish Roundtable @ 3rd floor of Wesleyan 2 p.m.

Model U.N. @ Wesleyan Hall 222

11 a.m.

Body Language sponsored by The Women’s Center Bibb Graves Hall 306

Thurs., Oct. 1 7 p.m.

UNA Volleyball @ UAH (Huntsville)

Sat., Oct. 3 9 a.m.

Shoals Dragon Boat Festival @ McFarland Park

Have an event? Send the title, location, date and time to editor@florala.net

8B EXTRA SOCIAL MEDIA OF THE WEEK

Sept. 24, 2015 • The Flor-Ala