Sept 25 Issue

King Author s Society Page 1B Sept. 25, 2014

Volume 83, Issue 6

COMMUNITY

www.FlorAla.net

Student newspaper news sp pa ape p r of of the University Univers sity itty of North tth h Alabama Ala

SAFETY

Residents nt share student neighbor problems ASHLEY REMKUS

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Waking up to her front yard covered in beer bottles was not what Florence resident Carol Covington had in mind for starting the day.

Residents say cars blocking driveways, party remnants littering streets and yards, and loud noise blaring all hours of the day and night are some of the plagues associated with sharing a neighborhood with college students. “That’s not what we want in our neighborhood,� said Olive Street resident Stan Simpson. “When I moved in, it was one of the best streets in town, and I don’t want my street taken over.�

Covington said on many occasions she called police because student neighbors were disturbing her.

�

WHEN I MOVED IN, IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST STREETS IN TOWN, AND I DONĘźT WANT MY STREET TAKEN OVER.

STAN SIMPSON FLORENCE RESIDENT “I had to call the police several times because they would pull their couch out in the front driveway and have their parties there instead of being on their back patio or something where it’s not as noisy,� she said. “I would wake up after one of their parties, and I would have to go clean my front yard, and their cars were parked in front of my house.�

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INSIDE

this week’s paper

Students question elevator safety NATALIE BEE

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Expired certifications have prompted discussion among students about the safety of campus elevators.

The state of Alabama mandates all elevators be inspected and recertified once per year, however, campus elevators were not inspected until about one month after the expiration date, said Alabama Department of Labor Chief Inspector Ralph Pate.

Assistant Vice President for Facilities Administration and Planning Michael Gautney said if the elevator inspections were done after

the certifications expired, “It’s because we have to schedule for the company to come in, and (the inspections) might be done after that date.�

The certifications expired June 19, and the elevators were inspected July 24, making the process about 30 days late, Pate said. “A little over 30 days is not that unusual, especially this time of year when new budgets are kicking in,� he said. “We have a 60-day grace period after the expiration date before we send somebody to do the inspections.�

Freshman Maddie Bette said she believes the university should have the elevators inspected prior

to the expiration date, allowing enough time for the recertification to be completed by the time the old certification expires. “They should have received the papers by June 2014,� Bette said.

Gautney said a few problems were identified when the inspection of the elevators was completed, including call lights and an emergency phone being out of order.

Before a new certification is issued, all identified problems must be corrected, Pate said.

All institutions are required to hire a private company to inspect and repair on-site elevators, according to

the Alabama Department of Labor.

Inspectors charge $90 for the inspection of each conveyance, and no certificate of operation can be issued until all corrections are complete and a $75 invoice is paid.

Gautney said the corrections that need to be completed are turned over to the university’s contractor, Otis Elevator, and some issues can be fixed in one day while others repairs may have to be scheduled for a later date.

He said he thinks there are still a few problems the company needs to fix.

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photo illustration by DALLAS MOORE I Chief Photographer

Students Laura Lopez, Kenson St. Remy and Jasmine Spencer prepare to take the elevator to the second floor of the GUC. Campus elevators were not inspected until about one month after their certifications expired.

NEWS . . . . . . . . 2A PHOTO ESSAY . . . 4A VIEWPOINTS . . . . 7A

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

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN SPORTS ...6B

Please recycle your paper.

2A NEWS

Sept. 25, 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ The Flor-Ala

SAFETY

Lack of funding postpones SNAP service MELISSA PARKER

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As a result of university budget reorganization, the campus police department is working with less funding.

The Student Nighttime Auxiliary Patrol, or SNAP, is usually up and running at the beginning of the semester, but this fall it has been delayed until Oct. 1.

SNAP employs student workers to escort students on campus who do not want to walk alone at night. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re still able to adequately escort people around campus,â&#x20AC;? said UNA Police Chief Bob Pastula. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Typically we have other funds that come in that would cover that lapse in funding. This is the first year it never came.â&#x20AC;?

The departmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s funding is approximately $4,000 below where it was when Pastula began working at UNA five years ago, but, he said, it is even further below where it was last year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My budget has been increasingly going up since Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been here, then this year it just dropped down to below the first year that I was here,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re well below $25,000 less than we received last year.â&#x20AC;?

He said the department is forced to cut back on all areas of spending. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been driving less vehicles, patrolling on foot more, patrolling on bicycles more, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve cut back on making

copies and are trying to do everything electronically,â&#x20AC;? he said.

SNAP is partially funded through student worker money, but that is not enough to cover the cost, Pastula said.

Sophomore Tra Armstead said cuts to the police department budget make campus feel less safe. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I guess it depends on what the money is going towards, but at the same time I feel like itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s less safe, and I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think they should be cutting money from it,â&#x20AC;? Armstead said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I guess SNAP is like peace of mind, and if theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re taking that away, we wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have that peace of mind.â&#x20AC;?

SGA leaders say they would like to help provide more funding for the police department so programs like SNAP remain available to students.

One of SGAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goals for the year is improving campus safety initiatives.

Vice President of Senate Nick Lang said he has talked with Pastula this week and is waiting to get a breakdown of the budget. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have to make sure we get the breakdown of everything before we address it,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Lang said Pastula predicted the police department budget would possibly run out in the coming year as well. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re trying to do now, before that gets there, is find out where his budget money is, and then weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to decide what we can do to help,â&#x20AC;? he said.

He said students have expressed concerns to SGA about the postponing of the SNAP program, so they are doing

everything possible to address the issue. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We see (SNAP) as something students definitely care about â&#x20AC;&#x201D; something that they utilize â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and one of our goals is improving campus safety and awareness, so that falls right under it,â&#x20AC;? said SGA President KeKoria

Greer.

Freshman Tori Shaw said SNAP is important for making students feel at home on campus.

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photo by ASHLEY REMKUS I News Editor

A SNAP vehicle sits unused outside a storage facility at the former campus police department on Waterloo Road. SNAP is postponed until Oct. 1 because of significant cuts in the police departmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s budget, said UNA Police Chief Bob Pastula.

GREEK LIFE

Assistant director reviews Greek-related conduct cases ASHLEY REMKUS

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Officials said they expect changes in the way student conduct cases are handled will make the educational experience more effective.

Cases involving minor offenses by Greek students or students attending Greek events are now heard by the Office of Student Engagement. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The way our conduct system works is I serve as Chief Conduct officer,â&#x20AC;? said Director of Student Conduct Kim Greenway. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So, I get all the reports, and depending on what level the report is, what area itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in and who I think can handle the case, I disperse them to other conduct officers. Those people know what affects those students and what the best sanctions are.â&#x20AC;?

Various campus entities, such as residence life, have conduct officers in place to hear cases that relating to their areas of expertise, Greenway said, so sending Greek-related cases to the Greek adviser or the Assistant Vice President

for Student Affairs follows suit. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our conduct system is educational,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re trying to do is identify did a violation occur, if it did occur, how do we best educate the student to keep it from happening again.â&#x20AC;?

Greenway said the Greek communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s judicial board has historically handled Greek cases. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We used to let all of our Greek cases go to the Greek board, but very honestly what I found was they were not being educational enough with each other,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They were being either too punitive or not educational enough.

So some years ago I took that process back and said I was going to hear all the cases.â&#x20AC;?

The former assistant director of Student Engagement for Greek Affairs took those cases under his jurisdiction prior to leaving UNA for another position.

Greenway said she feels like people who are involved in the studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; communities have a better understanding than she does of what will educate those students and help them in the long run.

The discussion of sending Greek cases to the Greek adviser was based around three points, said Assistant Director of Student Engagement for Greek Affairs Julie Fletcher, who began hearing cases during the spring semester.

Fletcher said one benefit of having

â&#x20AC;?

YOU CAN SEE IF A CHAPTER IS NOT DOING WHAT THEYĘźRE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING â&#x20AC;&#x201D; MANAGING AND POLICING THEIR

OWN EVENTS WITH THEIR RISK MANAGEMENT

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; WHETHER THATĘźS WITH THEIR CHAPTER MEMBERS OR THEIR GUESTS.

TEAM

JULIE FLETCHER ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF STUDENT ENGAGEMENT FOR GREEK AFFAIRS those cases come through her office is the ability to track whether specific organizations are having consistent

problems.

The student conduct software program keeps track of all student names and Greek chapter names that are entered into the system and lists all offenses committed by those students. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Since you can track it, you can see if thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a bigger issue there,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You can see if a chapter is not doing what they should be doing â&#x20AC;&#x201D; managing and policing their own events with their risk management team â&#x20AC;&#x201D; whether thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s with their chapter members or their guests. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re supposed to be covering that.â&#x20AC;?

She said because she serves as a liaison between the chapters and their various national organizations, she is upto-date on national policies regarding the conduct of the groups. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have more well-rounded knowledge because of what my position is,â&#x20AC;? she said.

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NEWS 3A

Sept. 25, 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ The Flor-Ala

ONLINE

NOT IN SERVICE Net neutrality legislation impending changes AUBREE WHITE

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Net neutrality, or the concept we receive the same Internet speed as everyone else, could soon be changing for Internet users.

The Federal Communications Commission proposed rules in May that would allow Internet service providers to decide at what speed users receive service.

The term â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;net neutralityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; signifies Internet service providers should treat all data on the Internet equally, meaning the providers cannot send content from different websites or through different platforms at different rates of speed, thus having a concept of â&#x20AC;&#x153;open Internet.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;In a world without net neutrality, (internet service providers) can choose how fast your services come to you on certain sites,â&#x20AC;? said Chair of the Department of Communications Gregory Pitts. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If net neutrality is upheld, ISPs could decide to up the cost of delivering faster bandwidth and raise the monthly fee they charge for net access.â&#x20AC;?

Because carrying Internet traffic is getting more expensive for providers, they are looking to force users to absorb the costs, Pitts said.

Junior Jordan Ellis said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;If we are paying for a certain Internet service, we shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be cheated out of getting the highest possible quality.â&#x20AC;?

The FCC began considering two options regarding net neutrality: Permit varying broadband lane speed, which would compromise net neutrality, or consider broadband a telecommunication service to preserve net neutrality.

Internet service providers, such as Comcast, argue the Internet today is a very different from the early days when the net neutrality principle

was protected, Pitts said.

They say because users are streaming video content from sites like Hulu, YouTube and Netflix, they should be allowed to charge the sites and users more to provide the content, he said.

Students who subscribe to these on-demand services could see not only their bills from service providers increase, but also the cost of subscription.

Pitts said cellphone companies, such as AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint, have currently been exempt from nnet neutrality. However, the FCC has stepped forward to ccorrect this issue. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The question before the FCC is cell phone companies are providing data and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not covered by net neutrality, so should we bring them into the fold as well?â&#x20AC;? he said.

Pitts said students will want to know they are getting what they pay for concerning their Internet service. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Assuming it goes through, and we establish network neutrality, it would benefit UNA students because when they access something online from their smart phones and other devices, it wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be throttled down by companies trying to make a profit,â&#x20AC;? Pitts said.

Without net neutrality, users may get a bill reflecting their usage, and those who video-on-demand services would be charged more, Pitts said.

Senior Jessica Rikard said she was unaware of the control ISP monopolies had on her Internet service. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I like the proposition of net neutrality because I believe everyone should have access to the Internet without having to pay an arm and a leg for services,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I believe this could benefit us.â&#x20AC;?

Rikard also said bringing awareness to the concept of net neutrality will hopefully allow students to realize this could benefit them, too.

Loading...

-4->)<7:; KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) However, he said he did not have the reports in front of him at the time.

Students identified concerns with various on-campus elevators including those in Floyd Hall, Wesleyan Hall, Stevens Hall and The Commons.

Senior Robin King, who works in Stevens Hall, said she had to use an elevator in the building over the summer and had a negative experience. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Some time in June I was unable to use the stairs like I usually do, so I decided to use the elevator,â&#x20AC;? King said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I got on and the doors closed, and that was it. The buttons wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work, and I

couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get the doors open.â&#x20AC;?

King said she had to call her boyfriend to come push the outside button of the elevator to get it to move again. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Floydâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s elevator is slow and the inspection certificate inside is expired,â&#x20AC;? said sophomore Savannah Thompson. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you look at some of the older elevators, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d probably find expired certificates too.â&#x20AC;?

Pate said owners will typically call someone before the expiration date for inspections but it does not always get done on time.

Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s note: News Editor Ashley Remkus contributed to this report.

;6)8 KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) â&#x20AC;&#x153;It makes students feel safe on campus, and I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s definitely necessary, especially for freshman living on their own for the first time,â&#x20AC;? Shaw said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It gives them a sense of comfort if theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re scared to walk across campus.â&#x20AC;?

Pastula said the people most affected by the programâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s postponement are the student workers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had to rearrange schedules, take some dispatchers off the schedule, and replace them with officers,â&#x20AC;? Pastula said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have some absolutely dedicated workers, not only police officers, but SNAP workers who volunteer their time

just to keep the campus safe.â&#x20AC;?

He said while grants help cover some costs, they are becoming harder to come by. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re still moving along,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nothingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to fall apart.â&#x20AC;?

Any student in need of an escort should contact the UNA Police Department at 256-765-4357, and an officer will be sent to drive the student to where he or she needs to go.

4A IMAGES

Gathering

Sept. 25, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

of the Geeks

▶

Michonne Christina Clark poses as Michonne from AMC’s “The Walking Dead.” Clark posed many times for photos during the Geek Gathering convention Sept. 20-21 in Sheffield.

DALLAS MOORE

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Spooky Jams (Top) Clara Belle and the Creeps perform during the first day of Geek Gathering. ▶

Peter Parker, “photographer” of the elusive Spiderman, was my alias Saturday as I made my way around the second Geek Gathering in Sheffield. The two-day event was hosted at the Sheffield Recreation Center by co-owners John and Cori Alsbrooks. “Geeks” from all over the South showed off their costumes and sold their wares to other convention-goers.

Many UNA students and alumni took part in the event as vendors and cosplayers. Former student Christina Clark drew much attention dressed as Michonne from “The Walking Dead.”

Clark was even able to take a photograph with one of Michonne’s pet “walkers” from the show and given autographs with other characters from the show.

Other costumes included Kingpin, Harley Quinn, several Maleficents and many, many others. Monica Haddock, who dressed as one of the Maleficents, won the female costume contest hosted by podcaster Chip Valentine and ChipatNite.com. A fully mobile Dalek from the “Doctor Who” series won the male costume contest.

Other entertainment included Clara Belle and the Creeps, decked out in zombie makeup, and Doctor Osborn, a balloon artist who uses his mad scientist persona to entertain convention-goers.

Before the end of the day, he had me wearing a viking helmet complete with braids — all made out of balloons, of course.

Held on the top floor of the recreation center were panels with the special guests of the convention, as well as gaming tournaments provided by For The Win game store of Florence.

▶

Compare and Contrast Phillip Clark (left) and Michael Smith, dressed as characters from the Fallout video game series, compare Pip-Boys. Clark’s wife, Christina, looks on as Michonne from “The Walking Dead.”

▶

Dueling Students (Bottom) UNA Students play games at a tournament hosted by For The Win game store.

NEWS 5A

Sept. 25, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

EMPLOYMENT

Local employers seek UNA grads as new hires JASMINE FLEMING 7VTQVM -LQ\WZ WVTQVM(NTWZITI VM\

UNA degree holders are not only sought after in the Shoals area, they also perform well in their careers, employers say.

Riverbend Center for Mental Health looks to UNA as a major source of applicants, said Marty Sims, director of human resources.

Riverbend’s internship program usually gets students interested in working for them, he said.

“We employ a lot of our staff once they complete the internship program,” Sims said. “UNA graduates perform well above average for our needs and purposes.”

In terms of bachelor’s degrees, Riverbend generally employs those with expertise in social work, sociology, counseling and other social science fields, he said. Masters degrees are usually in the social work and counseling fields.

“Now that UNA has partnered with (Alabama) A&M to provide social work masters degrees, we get a lot of those majors, too,” he said.

First Metro Bank in Florence also hires a large number of UNA students and graduates.

“Over 95 percent of First Metro Bank employees who have obtained a college degree are UNA graduates,” said LeAnn Long, human resources director.

First Metro Bank offers students positions that often turn into full-time employment once students graduate from UNA, she said.

“We have found that both UNA students and UNA graduates are high performing employees who embrace our mission and commitment of delivering valuable financial products and services to meet the needs of our customers,” she said.

UNA graduates were a major part of the bank’s success when it began almost three decades ago, and Long said she fully expects that trend to continue.

“We have personally experienced the positive results which occur when you take a local university like UNA (and) pair it with a local community bank like First Metro Bank — where both are committed to building a strong community,” she said.

Marty Abroms, president and managing shareholder of Abroms and Associates, P.C. and President Pro Tempore of the UNA board of trustees, said whenever they hire new professional accounting staff, they hire almost exclusively UNA graduates.

“My experience is that most UNA graduates perform at a high level,” Abroms said. “I know for a fact that a UNA accounting graduate that is motivated can certainly compete with, and have as much or more success than students from the so called Ivy League ranks or big universities.”

One way Abroms and Associates

Yogyata Batra, an MBA graduate student, said she sees why many employers in the area prefer to hire UNA grads.

“I think the close-knit community around UNA makes it easily approachable for employers to look for possible employees,” she said. “The students are also really prepared from their classes, so I think it’s an easy decision to hire UNA graduates.”

However, she said, job prospects for international students in the area don’t seem to come so easily.

“I haven’t spoken to any international students who have easily gotten a job in the area,” she said. “International students don’t seem to come by the same opportunities as easily.”

photo by DEANNA KAMPMEYER I Staff Photographer

Alana Parker, a First Metro Bank employee, assists a customer over the phone. Parker is a 2004 graduate of UNA and one of many UNA grads who work for First Metro.

Congratulations to the 2014 Promising Alumni!

Christian Bayens Samantha Fotovich Jordan Graham KeKoria Greer

picks potential employees is by hiring UNA accounting students part-time to see if they can be punctual and professional while meeting deadlines, he said.

By this arrangement, the students can also see whether or not they truly enjoy the work, Abroms said.

“Many times if the UNA part-time associate wants to stay in the Shoals, the student knows he or she has a fulltime job with benefits and a career path before even getting a diploma,” he said.

The classes at UNA prepare students well for life after graduation, said Deondrick Orr, a senior and entertainment and technology industry major.

“The classes I’ve taken have been very hands-on,” he said. “The concepts I have been taught are very easy to understand and comprehend so that I can use them after I graduate.”

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6A NEWS

SGA

Sept. 25, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

IGNITING THE PRIDE

SGA hosts off-campus homecoming bonfire KRISTEN GOODE

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One of the Student Government Association’s goals for the year is building campus traditions and spirit.

Members of Senate and UPC’s Spirit Committee say they are working to achieve this goal by hosting the Ignite the Pride homecoming bonfire Oct. 2 from 8-10 p.m.

The event will be held at Camp Westmoreland, located near Shoal Creek, about a 15-minute drive from campus, said SGA Treasurer Adam McCollum, who organized the event.

SGA hopes this event will become an annual tradition for the student body, McCollum said.

“One of the things people miss the most about high school is the homecoming bonfire,” he said. “This is an opportunity to bring passion and tradition to the university.”

The event’s location could make it

hard for students to attend, said Junior Zachary Hurst.

“It is slightly inconvenient being off campus, but I would go if I was not already committed that Friday,” Hurst said.

”

WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO

COME OUT AND SUPPORT THIS EVENT SO IT CAN CONTINUE TO GROW IN THE FUTURE.

ADAM MCCOLLUM SGA TREASURER

McCollum said liability concerns prompted university officials to require the event be held off campus.

He encouraged students to utilize campus buses that will be available to transport students to and from Camp

Westmoreland.

The buses will leave Rivers Hall at 20-minute intervals between 7 p.m. and 7:40 p.m., he said.

For students who choose to drive, directions to the camp can be found on SGA’s website.

There will be free T-shirts, a s’more bar, a hot chocolate bar, and a cornhole competition, McCollum said.

“We want to encourage every student to come out and support this new tradition so it can continue to grow in the future,” he said.

Junior Kaihlynd Ogle said she will likely attend the event with her friends.

“It will be a good time to socialize and meet new people,” Ogle said.

Freshman Victoria Woods said although she cannot attend the event, she believes it will be a great environment for students.

“Getting people who don’t know each other together in a great environment is a good thing,” Woods said.

McCollum said members of the UNA

Reserve Officer’s Training Corps and the UNA police department will provide security for the event, and the Lauderdale County Volunteer Fire Department will also be on site.

SGA has also taken out an insurance policy for the event, he said.

There are no “immediate safety or security concerns,” said UNA Police Chief Bob Pastula.

Even with extensive preparation, McCollum said he realizes, “This will be a learning experience, and we will take what we learn to improve next year.”

Senate and UPC have not finalized all cost analysis of the bonfire yet.

So far the organizations have spent $1,100 on the event. $300 provides a donation to the volunteer fire department, and $800 for admission to Camp Westmoreland.

McCollum said the $800 pays for 400 students’ admission to the camp.

VIEWPOINTS 7A

Sept. 25, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

Leaders must prioritize campus investments EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ANNA GRACE USERY MANAGING EDITOR KALI DANIEL NEWS EDITOR ASHLEY REMKUS LIFE EDITOR MARI WILLIAMS SPORTS EDITOR DUSTIN POLLARD ONLINE EDITOR JASMINE FLEMING BUSINESS MANAGER UNDREA RANDOLPH II GRAPHIC DESIGNERS JOHN BAVIS SHILO CUPPLES JORDAN FERRELL CIRCULATION MANAGER LORI BLANKENSOPP ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE KAYLA STINNETT CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER DALLAS MOORE STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS DEANNA KAMPMEYER KATLYN SHANNON

ASHLEY REMKUS

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I think it is fair to say most people were happy for faculty and staff members when a 3 percent cost of living adjustment was announced at the quarterly board of trustees meeting earlier this month.

The people who come to work at UNA each day and ensure the success of students deserve to be thanked for their service.

The problem is many of them say they will not benefit from the pay raise.

Letters Policy The deadline for submitting letters is 10 a.m. Monday, the week of publication.

Letters must not exceed 400 words.

The Flor-Ala prefers to publish your letters exactly as written, but reserves the right to reject slanderous or libelous material.

The publication of any letter is left to the discretion of the Editorial Board.

Priority is given to letters critical of The Flor-Ala, or written in direct response to an editorial, a column, or a news story.

When the editors deem it necessary for ease of understanding or to clarify facts, an Editorʼs Note may accompany a letter.

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

bathrooms across campus are not properly maintained, campus safety initiatives are postponed (see page 2A) and academic facilities are in ruin.

The conversation among many students is they do not understand how new buildings are being financed and built, yet the buildings that are already paid for and constructed are not being maintained because the university cannot afford it.

“Doesn’t even make sense that they don’t have the money for upkeep of the showers and restrooms but have money for all the nice buildings that are going up and have recently been added,” a Facebook user commented on the campus bathrooms article shared on The Flor-Ala Facebook page.

Some students have even attributed falling enrollment to the poor building quality.

I agree. I do not know

anyone who would come to campus for SOAR, stay in a building where cold water falls on his or her head while he or she uses the bathroom then decided they would like to live there.

The problem here is setting priorities.

Campus administrators should consider what will benefit UNA most when establishing the budget. They should put the money where their mouths are.

With falling enrollment (less tuition revenue) and crumbling facilities, leaders have to make tough decisions about how they will spend the minuscule funds they have.

In this case, the right decision is investing in the people who pay the bills — students.

Job searchers should work hard, tier expectations

ADVISER SCOTT MORRIS

Letters must be accompanied by the writerʼs name, mailing address, phone number and email.

In the days following my reporting of the board meeting, I heard from many faculty and staff members who said they will be bumped to a higher tax bracket, making their pay increase an actual decrease.

To avoid moving tax brackets, some faculty members could be forced to drop a class. But, either way, they will still be earning less money.

Some of the faculty and staff members I talked to said they wished the money would have been used for something else — something that would benefit students.

This semester The Flor-Ala published two articles about the poor quality of campus facilities that results from what officials call a “lack of funding” for the projects.

Many students currently live in residence halls that do not meet quality standards,

KALI DANIEL

5IVIOQVO -LQ\WZ UIVIOQVOMLQ\WZ(NTWZITI VM\

Last year as the Life Editor, a student came to me and asked to write a column. I told her I’d be happy to give her space in the Life section, however I was unsure of her writing abilities having just met her. I simply asked her to write a few stories for The Flor-Ala to make sure

she was dedicated.

She turned in one story – three weeks late.

This year, another student approached our Life Editor, Mari, about writing a “Dear Abby” style column regarding sex. Mari said she would need to make sure they were dedicated and their writing abilities were strong. The student took two stories and both came in late. Neither of the aforementioned writers have come back to write.

This is not an uncommon practice. All our lives we have been handed exactly what we ask for.

As a fellow student and someone working three jobs, I have taken it upon myself to

issue a wake-up call: you have to work hard at things you dislike to get the job you want.

Student expectations are much higher than reality — ask people in any job market and they will tell you that they did not just apply for the position and happen to get it.

They worked for it. Whether they beefed up their résumés with interpersonal skills or humbled themselves to take on an experience that was totally outside of their realms of expertise, they were not spoonfed the job they desired.

Students (and many adults) should not necessarily lower their expectations, but they should tier them. Become the best salesperson then become

Congratulations to our Writer and Photographer of the Week!

Email: florala@una.edu.

Phone: 256-765-4364 Copyright © 2013 The Flor-Ala All rights reserved.

First copy free.

Additional copies $1 each.

Kayla Luttrell and Dallas Moore

the best manager, the best owner, the best CEO. “Be the best you, you can be” is a cliché, but it is directly applicable to the job market.

Those who work at their jobs better than anyone else are often the ones rewarded.

I wrote as a student writer for three months, a staff writer for nine months, a Life Editor for one year and now I hold an executive position. I have worked tirelessly to reach where I am today. It has been a challenging two-and-a-half years, but I sleep easy knowing I have the job I want because I worked hard, remained dedicated and did not expect more than I deserve.

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. 18 issue, Michael Gautney should have been referred to as the Assistant Vice President for Facilities, Administration and Planning.

8A NEWS 6-1/0*7: KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) Simpson said he and other residents want to maintain the neighborhood’s formerly family-oriented atmosphere.

“A lot of times if there was a party, they have trashed the neighborhood,” he said. “There were Solo cups and beer cans in yards and on the street, and one time one of the neighbor’s young children walked in with a beer bottle and said ‘look what I found in the front yard.’”

City Council President Dick Jordan said he regularly receives complaints from the community members about the way students treat the city.

One of the most common concerns among citizens is students do not respect the different type of lifestyle families live compared to their own, Jordan said.

“Students need to remember these are residential neighborhoods,” he said.

“We have small children, families, the elderly and working adults, and they live on a completely different schedule.”

Freshman Zakaria Alibrahim said his student neighbors sometimes disturb him and the other people who live on Pine Street.

“Two weeks ago they had party until 1:30 or 2 in the morning,” Alibrahim said. “The police came to them. They told them you can’t be loud after midnight in the week.”

He said some of his other neighbors

Sept. 25, 2014 • The Flor-Ala are older people who probably have very different schedules from most college students.

Parking issues top the list of complaints city officials receive, Jordan said.

The city’s zoning ordinance prohibits parking on grass, parking on the side of the street where traffic is oncoming and designating more than 25 percent of a property for parking.

Jordan said when multiple students move into a single-family home in a residential area, they are violating the ordinance.

“The big thing is when you have three or four or five people parking at a residence, and they’ve all got cars,” he said. “The max you can really have is two to three people.”

A home zoned as R-1, or singlefamily, should have only members of one family plus one other relative or friend living there, according to the ordinance.

Florence resident Susan Goode said many members of the community, like her, invest their life savings in their homes.

Goode said cars parked on the grass, high levels of traffic and loud noise drag down the values of those investments.

The “real problem,” she said, is a city ordinance that bans these actions, but does not allow enforcement.

Florence Building Official Gary Williamson said when a complaint is filed about parking on grass or multiple people living in a single-family home,

his office sends a notice of violation to the property owner of tenants.

“If the problem keeps happening or they don’t get it corrected, we can send a letter for them to appear in municipal court,” Williamson said.

Goode called on city leaders to enact a new ordinance that allows police to do something about the violations.

“We need a good neighbor ordinance — one that can actually be enforced,” Goode said. “We can’t solve the problem, but our city leaders can.”

Jordan said he plans to address these concerns by working with other councilmen to revise the current city ordinance or by bringing forth new legislation.

He also said better communication between the city and the university will improve relations between residents and students.

“I want to get with the administration, city leaders, the students and the SGA president to discuss these problems,” he said.

Vice President for Student Affairs David Shields said these problems are not unique to UNA and Florence.

“This is happening at colleges across the country,” Shields said. “Typically if we receive a complaint about a student the police chief or I will try to get over there and say ‘we’re getting complaints on you.’”

Editor’s note: To read the rest of this story, visit www.florala.net.

photo by KALI DANIEL I Managing Editor

A group of cars litter the front lawn of a Willingham Road home. Neighbors of students are beginning to voice their concerns to the city. City Councilman Dick Jordan said students need to remember these are residential neighborhoods with small children and families who are on a completely different schedule.

+76,=+< KWV\QV]ML NZWU XIOM ) “I have built relationships with chapter headquarters,” Fletcher said.

“Some of it is that I get the Greek life.”

She said hearing the cases would also be beneficial to her throughout her career in higher education.

“The discussion in having me do some judicial cases is for experience in the profession,” she said. “Judicial is a big component in higher education.”

Greenway said she performs training for campus conduct officers.

“They watch me do cases, and I watch them do cases,” she said. “All

conduct officers are required to be Title IX certified as well.”

She said officers who hear cases that could result in a student’s suspension from the university also have the option to attend training with the Association for Student Conduct.

Junior Derek Davis and Freshman Jerico Garrett said they see good and bad things about the Greek adviser hearing Greek-related cases.

“I think the ability to track the cases will be beneficial to the overall Greek community,” Garrett said. “There is some possibility for bias. Those students might not get as much punishment.”

Greenway and Fletcher said there is no concern Fletcher would have any

bias toward Greek students because of her affiliation with them and the Greek community in general.

“The software system keeps us all accountable,” Greenway said. “Every time anything is done in the system, I get a notification. I go in and review all the cases.”

Davis said having someone who is not affiliated with Greek organizations could offset concerns of bias.

“But, it depends on how closely the cases are monitored and how often,” he said. “I could see where (the students) might be able to get away with some things to make the groups look good.”

SGA in Review • UPC - Unanimously approved allocating $5,000 to fund a comedy show featuring Pete Davidson at the Mane Room Nov.5 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

• UPC - Began debate on its 2014-15 budget.

• Senate - Allocated $1,100 to fund a homecoming bonfire to be hosted Oct. 2 at Camp Westmoreland from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

(See page 6A).

• Senate - Began discussion of its 2014-15 budget.

• Freshman Forum Brainstormed ideas for the upcoming year at its first regular meeting of the semester and finalized plans for its annual retreat.

LIFE

SECTION B

Sept. 25, 2014• The Flor-Ala

CLUBS

New group welcomes creative writers MONDAY SANDERSON

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

T

here are a variety of organizations one can join at UNA, although few are geared specifically toward students with a passion for creative writing.

Thanks to freshman Jasmine Joiner, students can now participate in the unique writing opportunity King Authors Society.

When Joiner first arrived here in spring 2014, she said, she quickly realized there were no organizations on campus she was interested in.

“At first, I considered joining a theater troupe and then a film group,” she said. “Writing, however, was what came easiest to me. With writing I wouldn’t have to struggle and also balance my classes.”

Joiner said she brought the idea to start the group to her English professor at the time and spent the spring semester and summer finalizing her plans.

“My goals for this group is to bring people together who can meet on an artistic level because it’s really hard to find people who enjoy writing,” she said. “I wanted to create that environment and make it safe for people to express that skill or that hobby.”

King Authors Society does not discriminate based on majors.

“Even if you don’t want to pursue it as a career, you can come and write,” Joiner said. “We do writing exercises, but we also try to provide opportunities for if you want to be published.”

Joiner said she wants the organization to feel like a support group.

“You get feedback and support because writers are secretly egotistical and want feedback,” she said.

The turnout at the interest meeting and later emails indicate King Authors Society will do well, Joiner said.

Sophomore Colton McCormick was one of the ten attendants of the first meeting.

“Even though I’m interested in writing, I have trouble making time or finding motivation to write,” he said. “When I heard about this group, I thought it would be a good chance to meet other writers and have a space to talk about writing in general and our projects.”

King Authors Society will give students a chance to gain knowledge about opportunities with writing and publishing, said freshman Ambreia McDaniel.

“I hope it teaches me how to write properly,” she said. “I want to have more involvement with people who are either too

IN THIS SECTION

scared to join the club or don’t have the time.”

Currently, Joiner does not plan on registering King Authors Society as an RSO. She said she hopes the group will have a solid foundation before making that step. However, she said in the meantime she has a range of ideas for the club.

“I had thought of doing writing competitions similar to the tournaments during King Arthur’s period,” Joiner said.

“The competitions would be either just amongst the group or we could look for outside competitions.”

Joiner said she is considering applying for a booth at the Renaissance Fair in Wilson Park, in an effort to bring in new members.

“There was a suggestion from Dr. Richards that since we have the King Arthur allusion that we should participate in the Renaissance,” she said. “We would also have monthly pamphlets ready that have excerpts from the group’s writing.”

While some people believe creative writing only constitutes as fiction or poetry, any style or genre is welcome in this group, she said.

“Anybody who just wants to write is welcome,” Joiner said. “We want to make this a good place for anyone who doesn’t write as much as they want to, to come in give them that push and support they would need. I don’t want to limit the choices, because we might be missing out on some great talent.”

Meeting Times mes Wednesdays or Thursdays ays at 5:30 p.m.

The Commons, 2nd floorr For more info contact: Jasmine Joiner at l.com kingauthorsociety@gmail.com

SPORTS

LIFE Student reviews Poplar South See page 2B

Feather designed by Halfazebra Studio from the thenounproject.com

Take the FaceQ Quiz See page 3B

Lions ready for Valdosta State See page 5B

Domestic violence in sports See page 6B

2B LIFE

Sept. 25, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

REVIEW

Local deli offers delicious meal at reasonable price ANNA BROWN

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

It was 5:15 p.m. on a fair afternoon.

I had just gotten out of class, and my stomach was unsatisfied with the meager offerings I threw its way. Hungry and ready for a solid meal, I headed to Poplar South Deli and Café.

Upon entering the door I was greeted at the counter by a sweet lady. I placed my order from the menu on the counter and decided on the Monte Cristo sandwich with fresh homemade French fries. The drinks were set up like a “selfserve” bar. I poured myself a big glass of unsweetened tea and was shown to my table.

There were not very many places to sit in the dining room, maybe only five or six small tables.

The restaurant held the same atmosphere as one of the many old “hole-in-the-wall” restaurants from my hometown of Tuscumbia.

I knew an amazing meal awaited.

While I sat anticipating the taste of my food, the owner brought me a sample of the restaurant’s in-house made sourdough bread. The bread had a nice tangy, yeasty smell. It was soft, yet chewy and had a pleasant sour taste at the end of each bite. I’m certain that I could have eaten the entire loaf by myself.

The steaming hot basket of food

photo by ANNA BROWN I Student Photographer

Student Writer Anna Brown recently reviewed Poplar South Deli and Cafe. She said she enjoyed the Monte Cristo sandwich and homemade french fries served with strawberry habanero dipping sauce.

arrived at my table within five-10 minutes of being seated.

My beautiful Monte Cristo sandwich was served in a basket lined with black and white checkered parchment paper. It was dusted with white powdered sugar.

Beside the sandwich sat a mound of greasy, homemade French fries and a small cup of strawberry habanero dipping sauce.

I was a little unsure of a sugarcovered sandwich dipped in strawberry habanero sauce, but the first bite washed away doubt. My tongue was bombarded by an avalanche of sweet, cheesy, meaty, chewy, spicy goodness. The meats and cheeses were perfectly warmed and melted. The bread was lightly browned

on the outside and warm and chewy on the inside. The powered sugar added a perfect sweet note to follow to heat of the strawberry habanero sauce. I confess I did get powdered sugar all over my nose, but the mess was totally worth the taste.

The French fries had a pleasant oiliness that was not at all offensive.

Generally, I am not a fan of greasy fries, but those were the exception. They were so crispy they were crunchy — almost like a potato chip, but better. The fries were also dusted with a spicy seasoning salt.

I cleaned my entire plate. Poplar South also makes homemade sweets.

I took home two of the cream cheese pumpkin muffins to eat for a late night

study snack.

Around 8 p.m., I enjoyed my muffins with a cup of coffee. The inside of the muffin was moist and flavorful. The nutmeg and cinnamon spices made the pumpkin stand out. The cream cheese center was not sweet at all, though I expected a super sweet filling like one would find in a muffin from a coffee shop. I personally enjoyed the not-sosweet filling because it balanced out the intense flavors of the spices and pumpkin in the muffin.

Overall, my meal cost $13.37. That paid for my sandwich, fries, drink and two pumpkin cream cheese muffins. It was on the more expensive end of a deli sandwich meal and worth the price.

HEALTH

Lengthy naps proven detrimental to internal clock ALEX RICHEY

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

For most busy college students, the mid-afternoon nap is a saving grace. It is that point during the day where one might feel the most tired from lack of sleep and is often void of activity.

These situations can be a power nap waiting to happen.

Assistant Professor of Nursing Michelle Nelson said she agrees.

“The time between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. in the afternoon is the point at which melatonin levels in our body rise and it’s not uncommon for people to feel sleepy,” she said. “How we deal with that is what matters. Most experts agree that if taking a nap, you should not sleep for more than 20-25 minutes. Anything longer, and it may affect your sleep drive, thus making it more difficult to f a l l

asleep at bedtime and lead to sleep deprivation.”

Circadian cycles are characterized by physical, mental and behavioral changes following a roughly 24-hour cycle, according to the National Institute of General Medical Sciences.

Sophomore Darius Asher said he takes the mid-afternoon nap to the extreme.

“Around 3 p.m. I get out of class, and I take a nap,” he said. “I feel so slumped that I might fall asleep for five hours.

Once I sleep for that long, it’s over. I’ll be awake until the sun comes up, and then there’s no reason to fall back asleep.”

Junior Derek Conner said the sacred mid-afternoon nap is crucial to his dayto-day life.

“When I stay up late and get around four to five hours of

sleep, I need a nap to function and get things done.

Without those extra hours of sleep, I would feel terrible and not want to do anything,” he said.

Sleep deprivation is something that can dramatically a f f e c t one’s performance in school, Nelson said.

“Sleep deprivation h a s enormous effect on memory consolidation, which is essential for learning new information,” she said. “Even your quality of life suffers to a degree that might lead you to do worse

in school.”

Sleeping the right number of hours is important, Nelson said. A normal sleep routine, free from things that are not contributive to sleep, will alleviate sleep deprivation.

Senior Christian Clark said his responsibilities cause him to lose hours of sleep.

“A few years ago, I would get very few hours of sleep at night because of practicing and studying I did,” he said. “I was forced to sleep during the afternoon.

This year however, I have been trying to get eight to nine hours of sleep at night and it has made a difference with the amount of things I get accomplished.”

LIFE

Sept. 25, 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ The Flor-Ala

APP

3B

Students construct friends avatars using FaceQ NATALIE BEE

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

FaceQ is an app that allows users to create themselves or a friend as a cartoon avatar. With many options for hair, eyes

and skin color, its easy to create someone from reality as a cartoon using only a cell-phone. The eight students below were asked to use FaceQ and construct avatars of their friends. Test your quiz skills below and see if you can guess whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s who.

A.

B.

C.

Cymantha Hansen 2.

Junior

D.

E.

F.

Madison Freeman 3.

Senior

G.

H.

Garret Grisby Freshman

1.

Answers:

Tavius Gilbert Junior

4.

Cassie Gobble Junior

5.

Kristen Wilson Senior

6.

Jordan Edgerly Junior

1. D 2. G 3. H 4. E 5. A 6. F 7. B 8. C

Ty Martin Freshman

7.

8.

Conveniently located in the new Student Commons building on campus!

Over 100 rotating flavors Over 50 toppings to choose from Mix and match to create a one of a kind taste that you love!

4B SPORTS

Sep. 25, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

START PUSHING YOURSELF EVEN FURTHER. ST

START YOUR JOURNEY. START DISCOVERING NEW TALENTS.

START MOLDING YOUR STRENGTHS. START BUILDING YOUR CAREER.

START OUT ON TOP.

START AHEAD OF THE CROWD.

START STRONG. SM

There’s strong. Then there’s Army Strong. Many influential government and business leaders started with the help of Army ROTC. When you enroll in Army ROTC at the University of North Alabama, you get hands-on leadership training to give you a strong start after college as an Army Officer. Army ROTC also offers full-tuition scholarships to help pay for your education.

To learn more about scholarship opportunities, contact Rae Atencio at 256-765-4458 or visit us online at goarmy.com/rotc/z271 ©2008. Paid for by the United States Army. All rights reserved.

SPORTS 5B

Sept. 25, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

SCOREBOARD Sept. 18-25 Thursday, Sept. 18

FOOTBALL

Lions ready for first big test of season

SOCCER

UNA @UAH 3-1 Win

Friday, Sept. 19

VOLLEYBALL

UNA @ UNIVERSITY OF WEST GEORGIA 3-1 WIN

Saturday, Sept.20

FOOTBALL

UNA vs. Langston University 56-7 Win

VOLLEYBALL

UNA vs. UAH 3-0 Win

Sunday, Sept. 21

SOCCER

UNA @ Lee University 0-2 Loss

Tuesday, Sept. 23

VOLLEYBALL UNA @ Union University

results @ roarlions.com

Wednesday, Sept. 24 SOCCER UNA vs. Shorter University results @ florala.net

Upcoming

Friday, Sept. 26

VOLLEYBALL UNA vs. Valdsota State University 7 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 27

VOLLEYBALL UNA vs. University of West Florida 3 p.m.

FOOTBALL UNA vs. Valdosta State University 6 p.m.

CROSS-COUNTRY Rhodes College Invitational @ Memphis

Tuesday, Sept. 30

VOLLEYBALL UNA vs. University of West Alabama 6 p.m.

SOCCER UNA

VS.

SPRING HILL COLEGE 4 p.m.

photo by DALLAS MOORE I Chief Photographer

DUSTIN POLLARD

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After dominating its first two opponents by a combined score of 114-7, No. 5 UNA will turn its attention to Gulf South Conference rival No. 21 Valdosta State University.

This Saturday will mark the 15th time both teams have entered the game being ranked, creating another testament to how rich the tradition is between the two schools.

“I’m looking forward to a great football game because this will be two great programs with tremendous tradition,” said head coach Bobby Wallace. “Since 1990 both of us have won 200 plus games, and we’ve both won three national championships since that time. It’s just two programs that are very similar in tradition.”

The Lions (2-0, 1-0) have yet to be tested this year while the Blazers (21, 0-1) have already faced two ranked opponents, No. 15 Winston-Salem State University and No. 12 Delta State University. VSU lost to GSC opponent DSU last week 49-32.

“They got beat last week by Delta but they turned it over four times, and they still had 500 plus yards on offense,” Wallace said. “That game was a shoot out and they have a really good football team.

It will be a very high intense game.”

The Lions will try to keep their high potent offense rolling when they face its first ranked opponent of the season.

UNA has scored 50 points in back-toback games for the second time in school history.

“I’m proud of how our guys are playing, their execution has been pretty good,” said offensive coordinator Cody Gross. “The competition is about to pick up so we’re about to see what we’re made of.”

UNA has also started both games fast as they have scored on 12 of its 14 possessions in the first half.

Junior running back Lamonte Thompson tries to break free from a Langston University defender’s tackle Sept. 20. Thompson rushed for 118 yards and a touchdown on only 10 carries as the Lions defeated Langston 56-7.

The Lions have also displayed tremendous offensive depth as the 16 total touchdowns have been scored by 13 different players.

“We have a lot of weapons on offense and as the year goes on some of them will emerge as the go-to guy,” Wallace said.

“Right now it’s just have a cluster of guys and you see that in the scoring. It’s just a lot of weapons that the defense has to defend.”

The Blazers boast an offense averaging 415 yards and 30.7 points per game.

“Our guys on defense love competition, and when a team like Valdosta comes to play we know how we must prepare,” said senior defensive lineman Taylor Carney.

Valdosta State senior quarterback Jake Medlock has passed for 456 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 141

yards and three touchdowns. Standing 6’3” and weighing 226 pounds, Medlock is a big athletic player the Lions defense will try to contain.

While sophomore quarterback Kaleb Nobles has also got in on the action with 298 passing yards and three touchdowns.

After leading the NCAA in interceptions last season the Lions have already forced nine total turnovers in just two games, and UNA’s defense knows turnovers will be key against the Blazers.

“We pride ourselves on turnovers,” Carney said. “We know if we win the turnover battle, we’ll win the game.”

This may be a home game for UNA but it does not necessarily give the Lions the advantage, Wallace said.

“The visiting team has gotten the upper hand the last six meetings,” Wallace said. “We need to reverse that trend this weekend.”

photo by DALLAS MOORE I Chief Photographer

Junior running back Diamond Simmons prepares for the handoff from junior quarterback Luke Wingo Sept. 20. Simmons was one of eight Lions to score a touchdown against Langston University.

6B SPORTS

Sept. 25, 2014• The Flor-Ala

PREVENTION

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN ATHLETICS Athletics department educates players on the issue MELISSA PARKER

;\]LMV\ ?ZQ\MZ UXIZSMZ!(]VI ML]

Domestic violence has been a hot topic in the NFL thanks to the recent incident involving former Baltimore Ravens player Ray Rice.

Although the UNA Athletics Department has no policy in place dealing directly with domestic violence, the university does.

“We have the Code of Student Conduct that says if you do any of these things, it’s a possible violation.

And assault is one of those, including domestic violence,” said Kim Greenway, director of Student Conduct and Student Affairs Assessment.

She said the sanctions in place for inappropriate behavior include ineligibility to represent the university in athletics, organizations and intramural sports, or suspension from the university.

“There’s no discrepancy in how we deal with an athlete or another student when it comes to domestic violence,” she

said. “We deal with domestic violence pretty seriously around here, too, and you can easily be suspended for it.”

As of March 2014, domestic violence falls under Title IX, a portion of the Education Amendments of 1972 to help fight gender discrimination and sexual violence, so every situation that is gender related goes to Tammy Jacques, Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs and Title IX Coordinator.

Greenway said Jacques’ conducts a full investigation, determines if that accused person is responsible and if found responsible, he or she is sanctioned appropriately.

“I’ve never had, that I can recall in my 20-something years here, a serious domestic physical situation that we didn’t suspend somebody,” she said.

Last year UNA hired a national firm of attorneys to evaluate all processes, Greenway said.

“As an institution we wanted to be on the forefront of the changes in Title IX and domestic violence and gender related issues falls under that,” she said.

PROFILE

Runner triumphs on, off field MATT SULESKI

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

Tender-hearted and caring of all those around her, UNA cross-country runner Katherine Steinman excels on the field and in the classroom.

Steinman can be spotted by students spending long hours on the track and the streets all around campus preparing for cross-country meets.

“Her personality is always bubbling over,” said head coach Scott Trimble.

“It’s rare to see her without a smile on

photo courtesy of Joe Romans

Senior runner Katherine Steinman finishes strong in the Fleet Feet/Earl Jacoby Memorial Invitational Sept.

13. The women’s team finished fourth.

her face.”

She also spends many quiet hours in Collier Library working just as hard at being a great student.

“Coach Trimble reminds us that athletics are second and academics are first,” Steinman said.

She said as a future social worker, she really wants to help people and make their lives better.

“Growing up, my parents were foster parents and the children that stayed with us were so amazing,” Steinman said.

“It really made me want to help others that are not in position to always help themselves.”

The opportunity to meet other athletes before coming to campus has been beneficial, she said.

She is at the very beginning of her senior year but realizes the importance of the impact her actions can have on others.

“I want to be remembered as someone that was always nice to everybody,” Steinman said. “Somebody that always said ‘hello’ and hoped that I could make their day better.”

Steinman wakes up with the mindset of how she can make someone’s day better, Trimble said.

“She’s a phenomenal person and is one of the finest young women I have ever coached,” he said. “Losing her will be bittersweet.”

UNA is trying to do a lot more proactive programming, and the office of student engagement will be instrumental in bystander intervention by teaching people about domestic violence and relationship issues, Greenway said.

“As a campus we’re moving that way in all forms of harassment, domestic violence, stalking, sexual misconduct, consent, ,” Greenway said.

Sports teams have been under scrutiny for not punishing athletes enough in the past for domestic violence, and freshman Rosa Lira said the athletes sometimes receive special treatment. “(Domestic violence) is a crime, and they should be punished, which means no more sports,” she said.

The Athletics Department is trying to be more proactive as well, Athletic Director Mark Linder said as the department conducts an NCAA Life Skills program to help.

He said the Life Skills classes, usually held once a semester, are made to be impactful as they cover topics such as how to cook in a microwave, how

BCM

to balance a checkbook or how to act responsibly with the opposite sex.

“Obviously, there’s a right way and a wrong way to conduct yourself,” Linder said. “We try to do our best to try to educate that violence of any sort is not going to be tolerated.”

Linder said he wants UNA to always to the right thing when it comes to handling these situations.

“Whenever an accusation comes against one of our student athletes our first and foremost obligation is to make sure the legal system is involved right away and also the Student Conduct office is notified right away,” he said.

Linder said he never wants UNA to have a perception out there that they think they are above the law.

“We don’t want to ever be in a situation where we’re viewed that we’re trying to protect a student athlete because he’s a student athlete,” he said. “Because they’re people first and anytime there’s a violation, there’s a victim. Violence in general is inappropriate.”

stries

s Mini u p m a C t s i t Bap 670 N. Wood Avenue Florence, Alabama

Aftermath Mondays @ 8pm

UNA

U!

OR YO A PLACE F Follow us on Twitter: @unabcm Find us on Facebook: UNA Baptist Campus Ministries

David Sumner Campus Minister david@bcmuna.org

Noonday Lunch Wednesday 11am-1pm

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Monday throug gh Thursday 12pm-4pm.

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SPORTS 7B

Sept. 25, 2014 • The Flor-Ala

GOLF

DUSTIN POLLARD

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UNA golf enters the fall 2014 season ranked in the preseason top 10, according to a poll released by the Golf Coaches Association of America.

The expectations have not changed for the Lions despite finishing tied for ninth out of 18 teams at the Kiawah Island Invitational in their first match of the season. The second round of the invitational was canceled due to the weather.

“I’m really disappointed that they called the second day off because we were playing so much better,” said coach Jason Vaughn. “We shot seven under (par) and would’ve probably moved up to the top five, possibly top three, if they counted the scores.”

Par is the number of strokes a golfer is expected to need to complete each hole.

Due to the cancelation of the second day, all scores that would have counted from the next round did not.

“I really hate to see that the score wasn’t in the books,” Vaughn said. “I’m still very proud of our team, though.

They battled hard in the rain and played wonderful the last day.”

The Lions as a team shot a 293, tying with Georgia College. A trio of

players finished with a 73 — senior Paul McClure, sophomore Forrest Knight and junior Chris Atchley, leading UNA. McClure said he was also disappointed to see the tournament get canceled on the second day, but despite the final score, it will not change his high hopes for the team this season.

“After the second round I’m feeling really good about this year’s team,” he said. “The team’s depth is much greater than what it has been in recent years. The top five could be interchanged at the drop of a hat.”

McClure said being ranked No. 9 in the preseason does not mean much to him because the team knows its own potential.

“We know what we can accomplish this year,” he said. “But it all depends on how hard we work this year.”

The Lions return five lettermen from last season, including McClure, the 2013 Gulf South Conference individual champion.

“We have a good group of seniors,” Vaughn said. “We have a lot of good players back, actually, and Chris is a really good player that is a (junior college) transfer.”

The Lions will now turn their focus to the AFLAC Intercollegiate in Columbus, Georgia Sept. 29-20.

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Lions maintain high hopes despite disappointing tournament

8B EXTRA

Sep. 25, 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ The Flor-Ala

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