THURSDAY JANUARY 9, 2014 VOLUME 120 ISSUE 70 Serving The University of Alabama since 1894
SPORTS PORTS | GYMNASTICS
Reaching for the T begins season with Tide aaim set on championship By Marc Torrence | Sports Editor B It’s not exactly back to square o one for the Alabama gymnastics tteam, but it hasn’t been in this p position in three years. After winning back-to-back ttitles in 2011 and 2012, the Crimson T Tide ran into the buzzsaw that w was the Florida Gators, which ccounted a fall but still took home tthe 2013 NCAA title. Friday, No. 2 A Alabama will begin what it hopes iis a climb back to the top of the m mountain when it hosts Missouri iin its home opener. “You have to go into every year
with a clean slate and not worry about what happened,” junior Kayla Williams said. “It was hard, but once we left LA, we tried to leave everything that happened there so we could come back here and start fresh for this year. I feel like that’s something we did a really good job of. “Sometimes coming off a national championship, it’s not as easy. But I feel like we’ve done a really good job of that. Whole new team, whole new atmosphere, hopefully that shows.” There is still a certain pedigree that Alabama carries in women’s gymnastics, and the SEE GYMNASTICS PAGE 8
PLAN TO GO WHAT: Alabama vs. Missouri WHEN: Friday, 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Coleman Coliseum
CW | Aus Austin tin Bigone Bigoney ey After opening the past two seasons as reigning champions, cham mpions, the Tide competes against Missouri Friday, looking to t regain n national attention and a track to the championship again. a
SPORTS | FOOTBALL
TODAYON CAMPUS Professional prep WHAT: NPI Session 4: A Broader Perspective by Dr. Charles Nash WHEN: 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. WHERE: 300 Ferguson Center
Nussmeier reported to leave UA Offensive coordinator to take position at Michigan By Marc Torrence | Sports Editor
Campus conversation WHAT: Digital Humanities Brown Bag Lunch Discussion WHEN: 12:30-1:30 p.m. WHERE: 109A Gorgas Library
Honors College WHAT: Freezin’ on the River WHEN: 7-10 p.m. WHERE: Tuscaloosa River Market
Alabama offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier has been hired to the same position at Michigan, according to multiple reports. Footballscoop.com first reported the news Wednesday night, and CBSSports. com’s Bruce Feldmen and ESPN’s Joe Schad later confirmed the news. Wolverines offensive coordinator Al Borges was relieved of his duties earlier on Wednesday. The University of Alabama did not return a phone call seeking confirmation. The Crimson Tide averaged 454 yards and 38.2 points per game in 2013, Nussmeier’s second season as offensive
coordinator at Alabama. Quarterback AJ McCarron broke Alabama’s single-season passing record, throwing for 3,063 yards this year. Alabama could be looking to make a change in philosophy on offense. After a 34-28 loss to Auburn ended the Crimson Tide’s bid for a third straight BCS title, head coach Nick Saban brought in CW File former USC and Doug Nussmeier Tennessee head coach Lane Kiffin to evaluate the offense. “Lane is a really good offensive coach, and I’ve always had a tremendous amount
of respect for him,” Saban said at the time. “Just to come in and brainstorm a little bit, just some professional ideas with our guys, I think, is a real positive thing.” Saban has previously said there are “tremendous advantages” to a hurry-up offense and that “the time is coming when we’ll probably do it, too.” AJ McCarron said he thought the Alabama offense was at its best playing at a high tempo. “I think we play our best as an offense when we’re fast-paced,” McCarron said. “I just personally think we play better when we go fast-paced.” Nussmeier made $590,000 in his first year and received a raise to $680,000 in 2013. Nussmeier was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Washington from 2009-11 before joining Saban’s staff at Alabama in 2012.
NEWS | LOCAL POLITICS
Mayor Maddox to host town hall series
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• DISTRICT 1: Thursday at Oakdale Elementary School • DISTRICT 2: Thursday, Feb. 6, at Central Elementary School • DISTRICT 3: Thursday, Feb. 27, at Verner Elementary School • DISTRICT 4: Thursday, March 13, at Calvary Baptist Church Annex • DISTRICT 5: Thursday, April 3, at Arcadia Elementary School • DISTRICT 6: Thursday, April 17, at Woodland Forest Elementary School • DISTRICT 7: Thursday, May 1, at Skyland Elementary School
CONTACT
WHAT: Good Love WHEN: 10 p.m. WHERE: Green Bar
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WHAT: The Bama Gamblers with Ronnie Child and The Strange WHEN: 9 p.m. WHERE: Jupiter Bar
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Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox will host a series of town hall meetings beginning Thursday titled “Mayor’s Night Out,” where the mayor will travel to all seven districts in Tuscaloosa to talk with community members about their concerns and issues. Deidre Stalnaker, public relations coordinator for the city of Tuscaloosa, said the District 4 meeting would be pertinent to University of Alabama students because it will be addressing election information. “This meeting will take a look at election rules and procedures and highlighting changes,” Stalnaker said. “That’s where a lot of concerns originated.”
WHAT TO KNOW
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By Jessica Smith | Staff Reporter
August’s municipal elections created a stir of controversy for District 4 when UA alumnus Cason Kirby defeated incumbent Kelly Horwitz for the district’s seat on the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education. Horwitz challenged the election results, citing accounts of bribery and voter fraud. A Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court judge later dismissed Horwitz’s contest of the results in early November. District 4’s boundaries range from Jack Warner Parkway to 15th Street and Queen City Avenue to McFarland Boulevard. Maddox said District 4 is an important area because of its partnership with the University and issues related to the geographical area. He said he wants to answer any questions he possibly can and continue the city’s policy of an open and transparent government.
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WHAT: Philosophy Today Lecture: John Searle, ‘Consciousness, the Brain, and the Soul’ WHEN: 7:30 p.m. WHERE: 30 ten Hoor Hall
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CAMPUSBRIEFS
Thursday January 9, 2014
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UA signees named as nominees Alabama men’s basketball signees Justin Coleman and Riley Norris are nominees for the 2014 McDonald’s AllAmerican Game. Both players are candidates from the state of Alabama.
SCENEON CAMPUS
SGA to hold info meetings Monday The Student Government Association will hold two informational meetings for UA students who are interested in learning more about the SGA and how to get involved in the election process. SGA members will go over pre-election procedures and campaign guidelines, but attendance is not mandatory to be considered for candidacy in SGA elections. The meetings will be held in 309 Ferguson Center. The first meeting will be held Jan. 13 at 6:30 p.m. The second meeting will be held Jan. 14 at 6:30 p.m.
Safe Zone to hold training sessions The Safe Zone program will hold training sessions for any UA faculty, staff or students interested in participating. The training schedule for Spring Semester 2014 consists of sessions on Jan. 13 (1-4 p.m.), Feb. 12 (9 a.m.-noon), March 10 (9 a.m.-noon), April 11 (1-4 p.m.) and May 1 (1-4 p.m). Training sessions are free and open to any UA faculty, staff or student wanting to learn more about how to support the LGBTQ population at the University. To register, send an email to safezone@sa.ua.edu.
Photo Courtesy of Jonas Salna University of Alabama student Jonas Salna and his friends found a four-foot rat snake frozen solid while hunting for icicles near Jack Warner Parkway.
FRIDAY WHAT: Convocation WHEN: 12 p.m. WHERE: Moody Music Building
Career Center temporarily moved The Career Center has been temporarily moved from the Ferguson Center to the old Capstone Medical Center at 700 University Blvd. It will remain in this temporary location through both the spring 2014 and summer 2014 semesters but will be moved back to the Ferguson Center in time for fall 2014. Starting this semester, walk-ins will also be available in Gorgas Library for students looking for help with their resumes. To schedule an appointment with a career consultant, call 205-348-5848 or send an email to career@ua.edu. For more information, go online at career.ua.edu.
SATURDAY WHAT: Swimming and Diving vs. Arkansas and Kentucky WHEN: 11 a.m. WHERE: Aquatics Center
WHAT: Sigma Delta Tau Recruitment Party WHEN: 5 p.m. WHERE: Sigma Delta Tau House
TODAY WHAT: 75 Years of Abstract Prints WHEN: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. WHERE: 103 Garland Hall, Sarah Moody Gallery of Art
WHAT: Noa Baum: Storyteller – ‘A Land Twice Promised’ WHEN: 6:30-11 pm. WHERE: Tuscaloosa River Market
WHAT: Gymnastics vs. Missouri WHEN: 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Coleman Coliseum
WHAT: NPI Session 4: A Broader Perspective by Dr. Charles Nash WHEN: 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. WHERE: 300 Ferguson Center
WHAT: Hockey vs. Kennesaw State WHEN: 7 p.m. WHERE: Pelham Ice Arena
WHAT: Hockey vs.Tennessee WHEN: 8 p.m. WHERE: Pelham Ice Arena
P.O. Box 870170 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 Newsroom: 348-6144 | Fax: 348-8036 Advertising: 348-7845 Classifieds: 348-7355
WHAT: DJ Houndstooth WHEN: 9 p.m. WHERE: Jupiter Bar
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The Crimson White is the community newspaper of The University of Alabama. The Crimson White is an editorially free newspaper produced by students.The University of Alabama cannot influence editorial decisions and editorial opinions are those of the editorial board and do not represent the official opinions of the University. Advertising offices of The Crimson White are in room 1014, Student Media Building, 414 Campus Drive East. The advertising mailing address is P.O. Box 870170, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. The Crimson White (USPS 138020) is published four times weekly when classes are in session during Fall and Spring Semester except for the Monday after Spring Break and the Monday after Thanksgiving, and once a week when school is in session for the summer. Marked calendar provided. The Crimson White is provided for free up to three issues. Any other papers are $1.00. The subscription rate for The Crimson White is $125 per year. Checks should be made payable to The University of Alabama and sent to: The Crimson White Subscription Department, P.O. Box 870170, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. The Crimson White is entered as periodical postage at Tuscaloosa, AL 35401. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Crimson White, P.O. Box 870170, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. All material contained herein, except advertising or where indicated otherwise, is Copyright © 2013 by The Crimson White and protected under the “Work Made for Hire” and “Periodical Publication” categories of the U.S. copyright laws. Material herein may not be reprinted without the expressed, written permission of The Crimson White.
BURKE LUNCH
Steak Sautéed Zucchini and Tomatoes Grilled Vegetable Rotini Salad Steamed Mixed Vegetables Vegetable Lo Mein with Tofu
FRESH FOOD
LAKESIDE Temporarily Closed
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Thai Red Curry Chicken Honey Mustard Grilled Chicken Jasmine Rice Orange Spiced Carrots Lemon Sugar Snap Peas
LUNCH
Country-Style Baked Chipotle Orange Meatloaf with Gravy Chicken Chicken and Broccoli Meat Lover’s Mini Cheddar Panini Calzone Mashed Potatoes with Steakhouse Potatoes Corn Steamed Peas and Glazed Carrots Onions Grilled Veggie and Gazpacho Salad Black Bean Wrap
Lakeside Dining hall floods after pipes burst By Mark Hammontree and Andy McWhorter | CW Staff Students living in the residential communities near Lakeside Dining Hall were unable to eat there Wednesday after multiple sprinkler pipes burst, resulting in the closing of the dining hall as well as the Dunkin’ Donuts and the Lakeside Market that share the building. Cathy Andreen, UA director of media relations, said Lakeside closed at 8 p.m. Tuesday night, as multiple pipes burst before and after the closing. “The building will reopen as soon as the broken pipes have been replaced or repaired, ceiling tiles that were damaged have been replaced and the sprinkler system has been reset,” Andreen said in an emailed statement on Wednesday afternoon. Bama Dining hopes to have the entire Lakeside facility opened by Thursday afternoon, Andreen said. Fresh Food Company at the Ferguson Center, which typically serves breakfast and lunch only, opened its doors for dinner Wednesday night to serve those who would typically dine at Lakeside. Fresh Food Company served dinner until 8 p.m. Zachary Pulley, a freshman majoring in mechanical
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engineering, said he was pleased with the change of dining options because of location and food. “Fresh Foods is a little convenient for me because it’s closer to the engineering library,” Pulley said. “I usually come to Fresh Foods for meals over Lakeside, but for dinner, I don’t have a choice.” Not all the diners were as happy with the change. “You’re expecting to be able to go to Lakeside, and then you have to come over here,” Zane Parks, a freshman majoring in finance, said. “Lakeside’s a lot more convenient, and it didn’t seem as if the food was as good. Maybe they just weren’t prepared to cook dinner or something.” Parks also lamented the shorter dinner hours Wednesday night at Fresh Food Company and the absence of Late Night Lakeside when the dining hall reopens from 10 p.m.-1a.m. Monday through Thursday. “Then there’s no Late Night,” Parks said. “So you sort of have to eat now or go hungry almost.” According to Bama Dining’s website, Dunkin’ Donuts will reopen at 7 a.m., and Lakeside Market will open at 9 a.m. Thursday morning as regularly scheduled.
Steak Basa Sliders Steakhouse Potatoes Carrots Quinoa and Red Pepper Slider
INTHE NEWS TV set-top boxes would become energy-efficient under voluntary agreement From MCT campus Environmental advocates, government regulators and the cable and satellite television industries have reached a landmark agreement to save an estimated $1 billion a year in energy costs by making TV set-top boxes more efficient. The voluntary agreement aims to make an estimated 90 million boxes in people’s homes as much as 45 percent more energy-efficient by 2017. The boxes are considered energy hogs because they always are on, even when the television is turned off. The upgraded boxes could save enough power to run 700,000 homes, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council, one of the deal brokers. “It’s extremely significant when household names like Comcast, Motorola, DirecTV and AT&T all acknowledge that their TV set-top boxes are using billions of dollars’ worth of electricity each year,” Noah Horowitz, a senior scientist at the council’s San Francisco office, said. The Consumer Electronics Association has long said it preferred voluntary agreements rather than mandates to quickly boost efficiency and give customers improved products. “The expanded, voluntary set-top box energyconservation agreement … demonstrates our industry’s commitment in leading the way to provide consumers with products that reduce energy consumption and save money,” chief executive of the electronics association Gary Shapiro said. The U.S. Energy Department and the California Energy Commission have been working on their own proposed regulations. The energy commission said it would monitor the future energy savings before deciding whether there’s a need for mandatory standards.
p.3 Mark Hammontree | Editor newsdesk@cw.ua.edu
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Fraternity hosts clothing drive for winter weather
Scholarship program sees inaugural year on UA campus
By Mark Hammontree | News Editor
Submitted The Annexstad Leaders for Tomorrow Scholarship Program is offered at only 22 campuses across the country. By Rachel Brown | Staff Reporter When the recession hit, Steven Tice and his family thought they would not be heavily affected. But after a few months, businesses, including the one Tice’s dad worked for, began to feel the ripple effects. Tice’s dad lost his job, and within a month, his mom had been told her hours at work were being cut. During that month, Tice and his family went from living a fairly comfortable life to applying for government aid. Tice, still in high school at the time, picked up more hours at work to help out his family, and the money set aside for his college fund had to be used for bills and food. He was responsible for paying for his own education. “I was in complete panic mode,” Tice said. “I was going to have to take out tons of loans and would be graduating with a mountain of debt.” The summer before Tice entered The University of Alabama, he found out he was one of three students selected for the Annexstad Leaders for Tomorrow Scholarship Program. The program, offered at only 22 campuses across the country, is in its inaugural year at the University. “I definitely felt blessed,” Tice, a freshman majoring in marketing and advertising, said. The Annexstad Family Foundation’s
Leaders for Tomorrow Scholarship Program seeks to award students who have overcome adversity and proven leadership qualities, Kady Johnson, program administrator for the foundation, said. “Higher education and attending college is an enormous struggle that is facing America,” Johnson said in an emailed statement. “Students who come from challenging backgrounds face even bigger financial and personal struggles, especially when it comes to applying to colleges that are top ranked. The Annexstad Family created the Leaders for Tomorrow scholarship to make the dreams of college a reality for deserving students.” The scholarship program will provide the selected students $25,000 in scholarship funding, which will be payable for the duration of four years. The University of Alabama will join other schools, including Harvard, Vanderbilt and Stanford, who participate in the Leaders for Tomorrow program. “As the scholarship was being developed, the foundation selected the campuses that historically and academically gave students opportunities to become leaders for the next generation,” Johnson said. “The campuses that we work with are the top institutions in the country, where there is potential for the students who become
our scholars to get the best education, campus experiences and the campuses that will best prepare students for life after undergrad. The University of Alabama was an easy and obvious choice for the above reasons.” Christina Rice, a freshman majoring in biology, is another recipient of the scholarship. She said she was surprised when she was notified of her selection. “I was in shock, and I kind of freaked out,” she said. “I had scholarship money from academics, but I still didn’t have all of college paid for. So that helped take off some of the stress.” The Leaders for Tomorrow program awards students who not only show great resiliency but also show potential for being leaders in their field. After graduation, Tice said he hopes to work with nonprofits and ministries creating and running campaigns. Rice said she hopes to attend medical school and eventually become a cardiac surgeon. Both Rice and Tice said they have been amazed by the investment of the Annexstad Family in the scholars. Tice said Al and Kathy Annexstad came to campus at the beginning of the year to meet the scholars and have continued to keep in touch with them throughout the year. “There is actually a great deal of contact,” he said. “I was not expecting that.”
With temperatures dropping, students at The University of Alabama with spare winter clothing can donate their apparel to those in need through Phi Beta Sigma’s winter coat drive. “This clothing drive is to give individuals on UA’s campus an opportunity to donate clothing such as scarves, hats, coats, earmuffs, gloves, etc. to give to the homeless during this very cold winter season because it’s obviously colder this year than it was last year,” said Varrecke Johnson, president of the Theta Delta Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. Members of the fraternity will be present at the Ferguson Center food court from noon to 4 p.m. Friday to receive any warm clothing that students and faculty are willing to donate. “We’ll have boxes set up where they can place the clothing they want to donate to the homeless, and we’ll make sure that everyone knows that what this is going toward is for a good cause,” Johnson, a senior majoring in telecommunication and film, said. “After everything is collected, we as a chapter will take the clothing people donate and give it to a homeless shelter of our choosing.” Johnson said the fraternity is still in the process of determining which homeless shelter they will donate the collected items to. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. was founded in 1914, and the Theta Delta chapter was started at the University in 1976 and was the first black fraternity to have a house on campus at the University, Johnson said. “The purpose is not only to show UA’s campus that the Theta Delta chapter of Phi Beta Sigma desires to give back to the community, but it’s celebrating our 100 years of service because our founder’s day is actually Jan. 9,” Johnson said. “This is our centennial year, so it’ll be 100 years of existence.” Johnson said the Theta Delta chapter is in a rebuilding phase and currently has four active members but that it wants to join other chapters of the fraternity in celebrating 100 years of existence with service. “It’s pretty much all around Alabama, all around the world that our organization is conducting different service projects throughout the year just to celebrate this achievement,” Johnson said. The chapter chooses a service project each year, and Johnson said he wants to continue to increase the amount of service the organization is involved in moving forward. “It’s one of the three principles of our organization – we’re founded on brotherhood, scholarship and service, and we are a service-based organization, so we want to show the campus that we’re exemplifying the ideals of our organization,” Johnson said. “That’s pretty much what this whole service project is about, to give back to the homeless and live out what our organization was founded upon.
p.4 John Brinkerhoff | Editor letters@cw.ua.edu
Thursday, January 9, 2014
COLUMN | CONTRACEPTION
Freedom of religion does not guarantee exemption from law By Matthew Bailey | Staff Columnist
MCT Campus
COLUMN | CONTRACEPTION
Religious rights end where harm begins Nathan James | Senior Staff Columnist In 2008, the parents of 11-year-old Kara Neumann made a choice. They decided that, per their religious beliefs, they would not seek medical attention for their ailing child. Instead, they would pray over her. Rather than “put a doctor before God,” Kara’s parents allowed her to die in some pain and were summarily charged with reckless homicide. This tragedy provides both context and an important precedent for discussion on a recent federal health mandate. Effective this year, health care-providing organizations will be legally required to cover part of birth control costs as part of their employee health plans. In a Jan. 8 column, Claire Chretien framed several common arguments against this mandate. Briefly summarized, she stated that the mandate was a violation of
Nathan James religious freedom because it required Catholic organizations to provide funding for services they believe are morally wrong. Let’s be clear: Ms. Chretien is right when she says that all Americans have the right to free practice of religion. She’s also right that Catholic teachings condemn the use of contraceptives. But she’s wrong to assert that Catholic doctrine gives its followers license to ignore the health needs of others. Obviously, Catholics who adhere to provisions against contraceptives use abstinence to prevent pregnancy. But they need to understand
that, right or wrong, not everyone makes these life choices. For sexually active women, birth control isn’t a luxury good. It’s a tool that allows women to make their own decisions about reproduction, to safeguard their reproductive health and to dictate their own lifestyle. For many women who do not share Ms. Chretien’s particular beliefs, birth control is the thing that gives them the freedom to be self-governed and medically healthy. Therefore, by refusing to offer birth control coverage as part of their health care plans, Catholic business owners would be denying essential health care to anyone who does not share Catholic values. As in the case of Kara Neumann’s parents, Catholic business owners’ rights end when their expression restricts others’ access to crucial health care. In essence, every right has limitations. Freedom of speech doesn’t allow you to lie under oath. The Second Amendment doesn’t allow
you to carry firearms into a post office. The American right to freedom of religion has been curtailed many times because the expression of one’s rights ends when it inflicts a certain amount of harm on others. I genuinely sympathize with Catholics who own businesses and will soon be required to provide contraception to their employees. I can only imagine the difficulty of the situation they are presented with. However, it’s a sad fact that sometimes we have to choose which rights to honor, and, in this case, I sympathize more strongly with women who need access to birth control to maintain their health and lifestyle. Sadly, women’s reproductive rights must come at the expense of business owners’ rights to deny their employees health care. Nathan James is a junior majoring in public relations. His column runs weekly on Thursdays.
COLUMN | AMERICAN CULTURE
Film illustrates state of national politics By Kyle Jones | Staff Columnist Every holiday season, Hollywood releases a series of good movies. One movie in particular interested me: “The Wolf of Wall Street.” When I saw the movie, however, I found myself empty and sorely disappointed. It was three hours of wannabe Wall Street big shots taking enough drugs to anesthetize the Eastern Seaboard, screwing every hooker they could find and devoting themselves solely to debauchery and the pursuit of money. No vision, no goal, no plan. Instead, it was just some hard-partying fools trying to sustain the high. The most disturbing part was that it was based on a true story. The movie was based on the life of Jordan Belfort, former New York stockbroker and founder of Stratton Oakmont Securities. Even after the real Jordon Belfort was caught by the feds for securities fraud and money
Kyle Jones laundering, he spent a little more than a year in prison and has since returned quite successfully to public life as a motivational speaker. It’s easy to want to criticize Belfort for his past, but, at the same time, the problem is much larger. As long as Europeans have been coming to the Americas, it has been believed that, upon arrival, the problems of the old world would be long gone. They believed their impoverished past would be behind them and that an easy life was in front of
them. Somewhere along the way, this easy life became cemented into our psyche as the “American Dream.” Where once we as a people were driven to accomplish the impossible, now we are lucky if we can make a plan past Saturday. This malaise and selfserving attribute has infected society. Now the very political system that was created to preserve the rights of our citizens and serve the common good is nothing more than a playground for a select few. Congressman Trey Radel returned to Congress just recently after leaving rehab for a cocaine addiction. Last year, Congress quietly overhauled the Stock Act, using unanimous consent to protect themselves and staffers from having to disclose financial information that might prove insider trading of information gleamed from committee sessions. Youth involvement in politics has turned into nothing more than cheerleading for
a candidate or party by day, and then partying harder than the largest fraternity or sorority imaginable by night. Was this the goal of our revolution? Was this the dream that so many have fought and died for? The true American Dream is not that of an easy life, but a better life. It’s the dream of a just people, living in a just nation. It is the manifestation of our destiny and the willingness to sacrifice all happiness and comfort in order to fulfill our ambitions and visions. United, we as a people can create a new world. Before this can be achieved, however, we must take our eyes off the bread and circuses we have been taught to pursue in favor of a great and just society. Otherwise, we shall end up no differently than the republics which have predated us. Kyle Jones is a sophomore majoring in political science and Spanish. His column runs biweekly.
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Letters to the editor must contain fewer than 300 words and guest columns less than 800. Send submissions to letters@ cw.ua.edu. Submissions must include the author’s name, year, major and daytime phone number. Phone numbers are for verification and will not be published. Students should also include their year in school and major. The Crimson White reserves the right to edit all guest columns and letters to the editor.
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A column yesterday argued that the “Obamacare” mandate that employers cover birth control in their employee’s health plans is a clear tyrannical violation of religious liberty in the United States. The Matthew Bailey column unfortunately shows a clear misunderstanding of the legal issues surrounding the birth control mandate. The Constitution does not guarantee that every infringement against an individual’s religious liberty is unconstitutional. The Supreme Court has upheld burdens upon religious freedom many times. Justice Antonin Scalia’s opinion in Employment Division v. Smith held that neutral laws of general applicability do not violate an individual’s free exercise under the Constitution. In that case, the denial of unemployment benefits to individuals who had been fired after they ingested peyote in line with their religious beliefs was not unconstitutional. In an attempt to counter the court’s holding in Employment Division v. Smith, Congress passed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). According to the act, “government shall not substantially burden a person’s exercise of religion even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability.” To get around this requirement, the act allows for laws that are in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest in the least restrictive way. In order for the Little Sisters of the Poor, Hobby Lobby or any of the other groups that have challenged the mandate to succeed, they must prove these businesses have a religious liberty that is being substantially burdened by the contraceptive mandate and then that the law is not a compelling governmental interest that is the least restrictive way to further the governmental interest. The Little Sisters of the Poor have the most difficult argument because, as a religious non-profit organization, all they must do to obtain relief from the requirement is to sign a certification form expressing their religious objection to contraceptive coverage. The two-page certification form would take, according to the LA Times, five minutes to fill out. Even Hobby Lobby has a difficult argument in attempting to obtain relief from the contraceptive mandate. First, the corporation must argue that their business has a religious belief that could be violated under the First Amendment. Given the line of cases including Citizens United v. FEC, this is likely an argument the Supreme Court will be receptive to. The biggest question is whether the Supreme Court would accept the mandate not being a compelling interest. About half of all pregnancies in this country are unintended, and those unintended pregnancies can have adverse effects on the woman and the child. Also, despite what Ms. Chretien states, birth control is not something that is completely affordable. Many cannot take the cheaper generic version of the pills. That is to say nothing of the fact that Hobby Lobby would have to show that requiring birth control coverage is not in furtherance of the compelling governmental interest in the least restrictive way. Businesses would likely be more effective in arguing against the mandate if they are an LLC or a closed corporation, but corporations such as Hobby Lobby and publicly traded corporations would have a difficult time showing that their religious liberty would be violated by the contraceptive mandate. Obamacare’s contraceptive mandate is not a tyrannical religious liberty destroyer. In fact, it’s not even clear that the mandate’s requirement for large businesses such as Hobby Lobby is unconstitutional. It’s especially difficult for the Little Sisters of the Poor to argue their religious liberty is being infringed upon when they only have to sign a paper to exempt themselves from paying for birth control. Religious liberty is extremely important in this country, but having a religious belief doesn’t mean you are exempt from all generally applicable laws.
Obamacare’s contraceptive mandate is not a tyrannical religious liberty destroyer.
Matthew Bailey is a second-year law student. His column runs biweekly.
Last Week’s Poll: Would you support the Auburn Tigers if they made it to the BCS National Championship in Pasadena, Calif.? (Yes: 42%) (No: 58%) This Week’s Poll: Did the winter weather affect your travel back to Tuscaloosa? cw.ua.edu/poll
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Thursday, January 9, 2014
IceCube named ‘Breakthrough of the Year’ by Physics World
NEWSIN BRIEF Lecture spotlights tough questions John Searle likes to ask tough questions. Among those questions are ones about consciousness and the human brain. As part of the ongoing Philosophy Today lecture series, Searle, Slusser Professor of Philosophy at the University of California, Berkeley, will be speaking Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in ten Hoor Hall. This talk is sponsored by the UA Law School, the College of Arts and Sciences and the philosophy department. Searle’s lecture, “Consciousness, the Brain and the Soul,” is meant for everyone, not just philosophy students and professors. His talk will be the third in the Philosophy Today series, with a fourth scheduled for next month. Searle is well known for his work on consciousness, the philosophy of language and social philosophy but is perhaps most well-known for his “Chinese room argument” against strong artificial intelligence. “People say consciousness is hard to define, but I think it’s rather easy if you’re not trying to give a scientific definition,” Searle said. “I don’t know if we’re ready for a scientific definition, but I do have a common sense one. Consciousness consists of all those states of feeling or sensation or awareness that exist from the moment you wake up until you somehow become unconscious.” Searle received the Jean Nicod Award in 2000, an award given to a leading philosopher of the mind or a cognitive scientist, as well as the 2004 National Humanities Medal and the 2006 Mind and Brain Prize. The lecture is free and open to the public. Compiled by Danny Pelavin
Courtesy of Chad Carpenter. Ice Cube / NSF IceCube, a multi-purpose neutrino detector, has observed neutrinos from outside our solar system within its first years of operation. By Jessica Smith | Staff Reporter The IceCube project, a research project collaboration between several scientists, including professors in the University of Alabama physics department, was awarded the “Breakthrough of the Year” award for 2013 by the magazine Physics World. IceCube is a multi-purpose neutrino detector that is being used for several research purposes, including detecting exotic cosmic point sources that emit high-energy neutrinos. Though physicists have been trying to detect cosmic neutrinos for many decades, IceCube is the first neutrino telescope system with that aim; it has observed high-energy neutrinos from outside of our solar system within two to three years of its full operation. “This is the first time extremely high energy neutrinos have been detected outside of our solar system,” Dawn Williams, an associate professor of physics at the University, said. “We’ve seen neutrinos outside of our solar system once before, but those were lower energy from a supernova. These are much higher energy neutrinos. These are the highest energy neutrinos that have ever been seen.” Physics World is an international monthly magazine that covers all areas of physics. It is also the member magazine of the Institute of Physics, one of the world’s largest societies of physicists, and has significant influence worldwide, editor of the magazine, Hamish Johnson said. Johnson said IceCube’s success will inspire other physicists to propose similarly sized projects. “I think many physicists are
This is the first time extremely high energy neutrinos have been detected outside of our solar system. — Dawn Williams
very impressed with the work of the collaboration and are looking forward to more of its scientific results,” Johnson said in an emailed statement. The Physics World “Breakthrough of the Year” award has been issued annually since 2009, and the winner is chosen by a panel of six editors and reporters from the magazine. The selection criteria includes the fundamental importance of the research, significant advance in knowledge, strong connection between theory and experiment and general interest to all physicists. “Every year we publish hundreds of news stories about physics research, which we choose very carefully from the thousands of research papers published by physicists around the world,” Johnson said. “As a result we think we have a very good idea of ‘what’s hot’ in physics and who is doing the best work out there.” Johnson said the IceCube project stood out for a number of reasons, most importantly that it is the first “real neutrino telescope” and will allow astronomers to see neutrinos that are emitted by distant objects in the universe. “That was not really possible
before,” Johnson said. “It should help, for example, astronomers work out where cosmic rays come from, which is a long-standing mystery. IceCube has also joined the race to detect dark matter, an even more profound mystery of physics and will even be used to study neutrinos that are created at the center of the Earth.” Johnson said they were also impressed that the team managed to build such a big detector deep under the ice at the South Pole and that the detector was completed on budget and works better than expected. Donglian Xu, a student in the physics department at the University, said the UA department of physics and astronomy holds a strong neutrino research program. He said neutrino research at the University encompasses terrestrial reactor and accelerator sources, and IceCube complements and extends the UA neutrino research program by making use of the cosmic accelerators from the deep universe, which achieve energies that are not yet approachable on Earth. “Building and running a detector in Antarctica has brought along precious opportunities for researchers to explore the remote South Pole in person,” Xu said. “I myself have travelled with colleagues from UA to the South Pole in January 2011, on behalf of the IceCube collaboration to collect calibration data. This influential award in particular will introduce to the public a fantastic experiment that UA researchers are involved in and will potentially inspire younger generations in Alabama to participate in fundamental scientific research.” For more information on the IceCube project and its award, visit physicsworld.com.
p.6 Abbey Crain | Editor culture@cw.ua.edu
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Book Arts program exhibit explores patterns By Phoebe Rees | Contributing Writer In the modern age of e-books and publishing conglomerates, the craft of hand producing a book may seem like a lost art. At The University of Alabama, though, graduate students are keeping the tradition alive through the MFA Book Arts program, which hosts its annual exhibition in Gorgas Library this month. “Recently, we’ve seen an explosion in [the] craft in America,” Steve Miller, coordinator of the MFA Book Arts program, said. “People don’t just want to be sitting in front of computers. They need to make something that is real. The craft roots you in your hands, in the materials and the process.” The MFA Books Arts program at The University of Alabama is one of the only graduate-level courses in the nation, and was the first to be established Miller said. The course allows graduate students from a variety of academic disciplines to explore bookmaking from concept to production. Students in the program learn a variety of craft skills including bookbinding, letterpress printing and hand papermaking. The theme of this year’s exhibition is CW | Austin Bigoney patterns. Participants have explored the theme through a variety of techniques, The display is currently located on the second and fifth floors of Gorgas Library. employing a wide range of approaches,
PLAN TO GO WHAT: MFA Book Arts exhibition closing reception WHEN: Wednesday, Jan 29, 6-7:30 p.m. WHERE: Gorgas Library, 5th Floor from papermaking to three-dimensional design and found materials. “In book arts, we consider pattern as we plan the sequence of the page and image,” Jessica Peterson, juror for the exhibit, said. “We establish pattern through the shape of the page, the size of the margins, the typeface and image used, and consciously manipulate these elements to create contrast in order to excite and stimulate the viewer.” The exhibition is being hosted with The Southeast Guild of Book Workers, a volunteer organization that seeks to promote book and paper crafts through exhibits and education opportunities. This is the second annual exhibit for the Southeast chapter, which has been running for seven years. “Many of the members of the Southeast chapter come from the Book Arts program at The University of Alabama, either as students or alumnus,” Miller
said. “They have a lot of energy and want to show the best of the work that is happening in the Southeast in book arts.” Sonja Rossow, exhibition chair for the Southeast Guild of Book Workers, said that in the digital age, many young people may have never heard of book arts. “Everything in the exhibition and in the Book Arts program has been touched by human hands, whether that be setting the type, binding or sewing the book,” Rossow said. The winner of this year’s exhibition, Maria Watt, worked primarily with found materials to create her piece, “Eating with Chopsticks.” She uses a wide variety of chopstick wrappers in a twist on a recipe book. Many of the works in the exhibition also employ digital techniques alongside handcrafting. “Just because we’re talking about handmade doesn’t mean that we don’t employ modern technologies,” Rossow said. “One of our Alabama graduates publishes his book arts as an e-version on Kindle. It integrates the handmade and the technology and makes it more diversely available for people.” The exhibition is currently displayed in Gorgas Library on the fifth floor and on the second floor next to the Sanford Media Center. It will run until Wednesday, Jan. 29.
COLUMN | TELEVISION
Chelsea Handler redefines women in comedy on and off screen By Hannah Widener I have a girl crush. No, it’s not Katy Perry, Lena Dunham or any one of the Kardashians, although this particular lady is on the same network as them. My girl crush is a bit crass. She doesn’t care what anyone thinks, and she’s not afraid to be promiscuous. My girl crush is Chelsea Handler. At the age of 15, I can remember getting my hands on my sister’s copy of Handler’s first book, “My Horizontal Life.” Sitting on the old green carpet in my room, I gobbled each page up whenever my sister was downstairs, praying that she wouldn’t come upstairs and catch me reading it. Chelsea’s words were not dirty
in a “50 Shades of Grey” kind of way, but dirty in the best way possible: sharp and funny. Two days of secret reading and I was hooked on Ms. Handler. Since then, I’ve read all of her books, spent hours watching in-depth interviews with her and tuned into her show “Chelsea Lately” every night. Joan Rivers paved the way in 1986 for women in late-night TV but was shut out of the all-boys club in 1987. There has been a hole missing in the late-night lineup. Sure, you’ve got Kimmel, Fallon, Letterman, Ferguson and even Leno for just a little bit longer, but where are all the women? On July 17, 2007, “Chelsea Lately” aired for the first time on the E! network. If you
rewatch it now, she looks different, her jokes are more off the cuff, her guests are as D-list as it gets, and there’s a nervousness that you would never see with Fallon or Letterman. That’s because Handler had something to lose. If she failed, that meant they won, and all those late-night male juggernauts would be right in assuming that women can’t make it in the nighttime lineup. Almost 1,050 episodes later, she’s still here, with a new multimillion dollar studio, A-list guests and Chuy by her side. The highest-rated episode came in at 1.8 million viewers, and in comparison to other late-night hosts, that number is far from their standings. Handler differs from them not only
because she is a woman, but also because she has created a launch pad for all types of comedians. Try as she may to convince the audience that she does not care about people, her actions speak louder than words. Donations to charities and countless helping hands to comedians who were on their last dollar until they were featured on her show tell me that, through that thick skin, she really does care. She’s beautiful, smart and cusses like a truck driver, which is my kind of woman. This woman will be my “Woman Crush Wednesday” for years to come, because when it comes to Chelsea Handler, there’s no telling what she might do next.
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Thursday, January 9, 2014
Students stay fit with courses in kinesiology CW | Elayne Smith The department of kinesiology offers classes, such as weightlifting or zumba, that may help students keep long-term fitness goals. By Elayne Smith | Contributing Writer The University of Alabama department of kinesiology keeps students healthy by offering a variety of activity classes to work into their course load. Kinesiology is a wide field that ranges from sport pedagogy, which trains physical education teachers, to sport management on the administrative side, to exercise science, which entails the science behind athletics. As a professor of exercise science, Phillip Bishop’s advice regarding fitness is not about the magic fitness plan, but developing a fitness lifestyle. “Active is more than going to the gym and sweating,” Bishop said. “If you can’t keep it up, don’t do it. Do what you can do for the rest of your life.” Bishop suggests parking farther away, not taking the bus and walking between classes each week. The key to fitness, Bishop said, is keeping it up, which means
I don’t think I’m working out, I think I’m out playing. — Matthew Curtner-Smith
finding something enjoyable that makes sweating worthwhile. Bre’anna Elbon, a senior majoring in exercise science, is the president of the UA Exercise Physiology Club, which focuses on health and fitness. The club is involved with services like training faculty and staff for the Crimson Couch to 5K program and has a weekly physical activity for its members. Elbon said students need to be aware of the vitality of fitness and integrate it into their schedule to make the
commitment easier. “You have to make your schedule around being active,” Elbon said. “Instead of fitting it in where you can, work around it.” By taking classes offered by the kinesiology department, physical activity becomes mandatory. With a variety of options, the classes offer a way to get involved and learn more about an activity. Matthew Curtner-Smith, the head of the kinesiology department, instructs a running class where he teaches the necessities of running, such as where to buy shoes, how to sign up for races or how to join running clubs. “Sports and physical activities are a wonderful, human thing to do,” CurtnerSmith said. “It’s a complex in which you can grow personally in many ways.” Curtner-Smith’s advice for fitness planning is making realistic goals. He said too many people go too hard too early; the
emphasis should be on the difference in the amount of activity. Twenty-five minutes of activity a day is better than not doing any. Curtner-Smith said he does not even like to think of it as working out. “Too many people are working,” Curtner-Smith said. “To use the term again in physical activity is not helpful. Think of it as play. I don’t think I’m working out, I think I’m out playing.” Holly Judge, a junior majoring in mechanical engineering, took a kinesiology Zumba class to do something fun with her friends. She said taking the class together was one of their last opportunities to be in the same class and gave her a reason to go to the gym. “It was nice taking it as a class because you had to go. Other semesters I’d get tired and find an excuse not to,” Judge said. “I suggest it to other students because it helps them commit for an entire semester.”
CBDB’s ‘joyfunk’ sound to start off the new semester Weekend Band SCENE BARS
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
INNISFREE
The Wheelers
The Vegabonds
Plato Jones
JUPITER
The Bama Gamblers with Ronnie Child & the Strange
CBDB
DJ Houndstooth
RED SHED
The Lagoons
Plato Jones
Live Music
GREEN BAR
Good Love
Gold and The Rush
N/A
Velcro Pygmies
Wes Loper
RHYTHM & BREWS Cooter Brown
CW | Hannah Glenn By Amy Marino | Contributing Writer To the delight of many fans, the spring semester will begin with a performance by local band CBDB. They will be performing Friday at Jupiter – one of the band’s favorite venues. “They’ve got the bigger space, the good lights and the big sound system,” CBDB’s lead vocalist Cy Simonton said. This time last year, fans could hear CBDB’s progressive and experimental sounds each night in Tuscaloosa if they wished, but more recently, due to popular and expanding demand, CBDB must share the love with its quickly growing fan-base across the South. “Honestly, our goal is to grow as big as we can. We want to make a living playing music, writing music – to travel and have as much fun and make as much money as we can,” Simonton said. With its successful debut album known as “phone.keys.wallet” and another currently in the works, the band is growing closer to its goal. CBDB is a six-person band made up of Simonton on vocals and guitar, Kris Gottlieb on lead guitar, Glenn Dillard on saxophone and keys, Donald DeLoach on percussion, Paul Oliver on drums and David Ray on bass. Although most commonly recognized as a “jam band,” it has branded its sound as “joyfunk.” “[Joyfunk] is kind of evolving, really. I started out on acoustic guitar, so I guess the sound was a little more mellow,”
The band is charismatic – it actually has personality. — Caroline Hiott
Simonton said. “But now we’ve added a new bass player named David Ray, a much more progressive player, and I’m on electric guitar now, so the sound has definitely taken a turn more toward progressive rock.” Although Tuscaloosa now has to share CBDB’s sound and energy with the rest of the South, the band’s joyfully funky tunes remain a favorite among Tuscaloosa’s live-music lovers. “The band is charismatic – it actually has personality. You start out listening to a college band that’s jammy and good for easy listening, and then all of a sudden they play “Slow Foxes,” and a jazz feel breaks out, and everyone is dancing. We always love when CBDB plays,” Caroline Hiott, a senior majoring in international relations, said. CBDB’s “phone.keys.wallet” is available on Spotify and iTunes. After CBDB’s Friday show, they will open for The Wailersperform next Wednesday at Workplay in Birmingham.
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Thursday, January 9, 2014
MEN’S MEN S BASKETBALL
Obasohan, Bama set to roll into Athens By Charlie Cha Potter | Assistant Sports Editor
CW | Pete Pajor The Tide faces its second conference opponent in Georgia Saturday at 3 p.m.
Following a less-thanFo stell stellar nonconference skid, Alab Alabama bounced back Tues Tuesday night with a Southeaste eastern Conference win over Van nderbi Vanderbilt. N th Crimson Tide looks to Now, the n backwin back-to-back conference games when it travels tr when Saturday to Athens, Ga., to fac Ga., face the Bulldogs. Sophom S Sophomore guard Retin Ob asohan played a large part Obasohan Alaba in Alabama’s 68-63 win over the Com mmodo Commodores with 15 points and has see en his role on the team expand seen sin nce last season. since H said the Crimson Tide’s 6-7 He non nconfe nonconference record will only ben nefit th benefit the team moving forward. “ tre “It’s tremendous for myself and y team, my team,” Obasohan said. “We got an opport opportunity to play a very tough non nconfe nonconference schedule, and that deffinitely prepared us for going definitely o this S into SEC season.” T An The Antwerp, Belgium, native is
PLAN TO GO WHAT: Alabama vs. Georgia WHEN: Saturday, 3 p.m. CT WHERE: Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, Ga. RECORDS: Alabama 7-7, Georgia 6-6 TV: SEC TV second on the team with 13 points and 32.6 minutes per game. He leads Alabama and the SEC with 38 steals this season. “I think with every game he is gaining more confidence and he’s understanding what he is capable of doing,” coach Anthony Grant said. Fellow guard Trevor Releford shares the backcourt with Obasohan and has been a firsthand witness of his athletic ability. Obasohan is a crowd favorite at Coleman Coliseum for his strong dunks and powerful blocks. He
leads the team with 17 blocks. improve its record to more than “Retin, as you see, is one of the .500 this weekend against Georgia, best combo guards [in the coun- while Obasohan continues filling up try],” Releford said. “In practice he the stat sheet. is always in attack mode, and that Grant said Obasohan has been gets you ready for the game. I don’t one of the first players in and last think most of the players out of the guards I play have gym this season and the speed that Retin praised him for makbrings.” ing the most of his His ability to block opportunity. so many shots is “He’s a guy that astounding considloves the game of ering Obasohan is basketball, plays the 6-foot-1-inch tall. game of basketball He said he watches because he has a pas— Trevor Releford the taller players sion for basketball,” on Alabama’s team Grant said. “That’s to improve his techgood to see when you nique when he sails see kids that have a to block a shot from behind. passion to play, just in love with the “Most of it I’ve learned from game. I think those things allow Jimmie [Taylor]. He does an excel- Retin to continue to progress, and lent job in timing when to leave I think that’s the jumps that you’ve the floor to make plays likes that,” seen over the last six months … Obasohan said. “So I just try to imi- And I think he’ll just continue to get tate that on those plays.” better with that work ethic and that The Crimson Tide looks to attitude.”
Retin, as you see, is one of the best combo guards [in the country].
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Crimson Tide women search for first conference win By Nick Sellers | Staff Reporter The Alabama women’s basketball team (7-8, 0-2) might not have a win in the Southeastern Conference this season, but coach Kristy Curry feels her young team could achieve one Sunday against Ole Miss. “In this league, night in and night out, the team that makes the most mistakes isn’t going to be successful,” Curry said. “So we have to do everything we can to play a near perfect game to be successful.” The Crimson Tide will have to do it without freshman and former starter Karyla Middlebrook, whom Curry announced Wednesday would sit out the rest of the season and take a medical redshirt due to a hip injury. Senior guard Shafontaye
The team that makes the most mistakes isn’t going to be successful. — Kristy Curry
Myers, who leads the team in scoring and three-pointers, said she feels the Crimson Tide is equipped to compete without the possibility of a Middlebrook return. “It’s going to be a big missing piece,” Myers said. “We’ve done it before. I think we can get
through it. We went five games without her, progressed and did well without her. It’ll hurt us, but I think we’ll be able to manage and overcome that.” Middlebrook started the first seven games for Alabama before missing the next six contests. She then attempted to return to action against Kentucky in the SEC opener. “I think what we’ve been through the seven games after not having her and trying to get her back the past two, those previous seven games have helped prepare us, that this is not such a big shock,” Curry said. “Sharin Rivers, Brittany Jack – those kids have tried to step in and be a big spark for us.” The Crimson Tide is winless in conference play after falling to No. 9 Kentucky 85-63 on
CW File The 2014 gymnastics team will start its climb back toward the NCAA championship Friday.
Gymnastics team looks toward championship GYMNASTICS FROM PAGE 1
six-time champion Crimson Tide expects nothing less than everyone’s best in competition. While Alabama isn’t the reigning champion for the first time in three years, the team still says it believes there will be a target on its back. “Whenever anybody goes up against us, they’re looking at – this is one of the teams that’s going to contend for the national championship,” Alabama coach Sarah Patterson said. “Nobody really takes into consideration whether we have six freshmen or two. They don’t seem to care, they just know that you’re going to [be] prepared by the end. And to me, I use it as a compliment. I think, we have six freshmen, but I think our peers know that by the end we’ll find a way to mix the puzzle and get it put in place the way it needs to be.” A quick glance at the roster shows a lot of new faces that could make this look like a brand new team. The Crimson Tide welcomed six freshmen, a handful of whom could contribute immediately, said Patterson. Katie Bailey, Mary Lillian Sanders, Amanda Jeeter and Dominique Pegg all joined the team in the fall, while Aja Sims and Keely McNeer, two former members of the U.S.A.
gymnastics team, graduated high school a semester early, enrolled in January and will be able to compete right away. “I think it brings a new sense of energy when they pop in,” Patterson said. “I think they’re very talented. I think Aja [Sims], because she’s been here a little bit longer and was a little bit ahead of the game in training, I think she’s going to step right in and be out there some. I think it’s just a little lift when they come in in January.” Patterson also went out of her way to mention Bailey, saying she could be a candidate to regularly go allaround as a freshman, much like Lauren Beers last year. “She’s powerful. She has a great sense of awareness,” Patterson said of Bailey. “She comes very close to or can just stick a vault already. She’s a tremendous competitor. … She could have the most difficult tumbling on the team.” There are certainly big holes to fill – four graduating seniors played key roles on the 2013 squad. All-American Marissa Gutierrez regularly went three routines before an ankle injury ended her season. Becca Alexin was a regular on the uneven bars, while All-Americans Ashley Sledge and Ashley Priess carried a heavy workload for last year’s team. In their place, Patterson said the team voted senior Kim Jacob, junior Kayla Williams and junior Kaitlin
Clark to Alabama’s leadership team. “It’s an honor for me to be a leader on this team,” said Jacob, who competed in the all-around seven times last season. “I feel like we have a bunch of strong leaders on the team, everyone in their own way. But just to get to be voted by my teammates, it’s a real honor.” Patterson said she doesn’t necessarily want her team flying right out of the gate. She frequently talks about peaking at the right time, meaning a gradual climb throughout the season, where the team is at its best at the NCAAs. Unlike in sports like football or basketball, a team’s head-to-head record doesn’t necessarily determine a team’s postseason fate in gymnastics. “First of all, I want us to do a great job. I want us to walk out there and be confident,” Patterson said of the meet Friday. “And whatever skills, or whoever we put out in the lineup, I want them to hit and have a sense of confidence to start the season off. “We’re at home. I want it to be a great show. I want our fans to see a level of gymnastics – big skills, exciting, fun – so that they’ll want to come back. And I would like to set the tone for the rest of the country: ‘Wow, this is going to be a good Alabama team.’ And us getting that sense of confidence by having a good first meet does a lot for us.”
PLAN TO GO WHAT: Alabama vs. Ole Miss WHEN: Sunday, 2 p.m. WHERE: Foster Auditorium
Jan. 2 and losing to Texas A&M 73-58 on Jan. 5 in College Station, Texas. Myers admits the team’s youth has been somewhat of a stumbling block. “We have a lot of growing to do,” Myers said. “We’re young and still trying to progress and strengthen our chemistry. It’s kind of a struggle right now because [the freshmen] don’t have the experience, but once they get used to it I think they’ll be alright later down the line.”
Foster Auditorium has continued to be kind to Alabama, as the Crimson Tide has enjoyed a 5-2 record at home this season while going 0-4 in true road games. The team has picked up two wins on neutral sites in 2013-14. Curry noted the increase in student attendance Foster has seen throughout the season. The most heavily attended home game this season was the 113-105 victory over Troy on Dec. 20 last year, followed by the Jacksonville and Kentucky games, which make the last three home games the most attended home games of the season. “The support [has increased],” Curry said. “I can’t even begin to put into words how much we appreciate the support and the improvement we’ve seen in our student attendance.”
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Thursday, January 9, 2014
City concerns to be addressed in series MAYOR FROM PAGE 1
“There’s nothing that is off the table,” Maddox said. “One of the ways we accomplish this is to make ourselves available to the people who pay our salaries. I want to go out every year and talk to my bosses.” Maddox said he wants to talk to the community and see where problems can be solved. He said he understands he can’t solve every problem but is going to try. “We need to be where we can make a positive impact on the lives of the people we represent,” Maddox said. “I want to do as much as I can, and the first step is making that happen and listening. I’m really excited about this opportunity. I hope people will take advantage of this opportunity, and I’m looking forward to learning a lot.” Stalnaker said there is a specific time during each of the meetings to express concerns and ask questions. “Mayor Maddox has topic
I want to do as much as I can, and the first step is making that happen and listening. — Walt Maddox points he wants to go over specific to each district and different projects going on,” Stalnaker said. “He has time set aside so people can talk to him for whatever and voice concerns about different issues they might have, like a pothole on their street.” The meetings are expected to last from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Each meeting will begin with a meet-and-greet opportunity from 5:30 to 6 p.m., then Maddox will give an overview of things happening throughout the city, focusing on each specific district. A question-andanswer session will then be held from 6:20 to 7 p.m. For more information on the town hall meetings, contact Tuscaloosa 311 at 205248-5311.
CW | Austin Bigoney Mayor Walt Maddox addresses students at the Ferguson Center as part of the Honors College Town Hall Meeting.
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HOROSCOPES Today’s Birthday (01/09/14). Shout your love from the rooftops this year. Friends keep you dancing into February, when work heats up. Pay debt and grow finances with relative ease. Adapt your career to changing circumstances; reinvention bring gains, especially after July. Learn new tricks, and fall in love (again). Share your philosophies and deepest thoughts. Your happiness lights up the world. To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Aries (March 21-April 19) -- Today is a 7 -- Financial planning today and tomorrow provides power. Discover new ways to make money. Pursue ambitions with determination and advance your career. Persistence pays off. Don’t spend what you haven’t got, though. Consider the big picture with small choices. Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is a 7 -- Today and tomorrow hold fun action with the moon in your sign. You have extra power, an energy boost and renewed confidence. Personal matters need attention, and business calls. Balance everything with steady communication. Gemini (May 21-June 20) -- Today is a 7 -- Fine-tune your domestic environment. Today and tomorrow favor dreams, introspection and reflection. Get cozy and contemplative, quiet enough to hear your intuition. You’re under pressure regarding deadlines. Breathe deep and stay in action. Relax in hot water. Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Participate with your community. Friends want you to come out and play. Hold off on making a household decision. Schedule meetings for today. Group projects go well for the next few days. Communication flows. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Career matters and responsibilities claim your attention today and tomorrow. Potential clients and partners are watching. Handle details and keep your eye on the ball. When the
spotlight passes, relax with friends. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Set long--range goals today and tomorrow. An older dream could be possible now; attend to household chores and think it over. Make something happen for less by re-purposing used stuff. Stick to your philosophy. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- For the next two days, make big changes without spending money. Budget and pay bills. Publicize your efforts. There’s a choice to make. Figure the costs. Prayer and meditation are powerful tools. A clear head sees the road. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- Reject a far-fetched scheme in favor of a practical solution. Let somebody else direct the show for a couple of days. Let a partner come to the rescue, then find some way to reciprocate. Share the action. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -Today is a 7 -- The pace ramps up at work for the next two days. Put your ideas into action. A co-worker demands your time. Serve others with compassion for satisfaction. Share solutions for health. Breathe and relax. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is a 7 -- You’re attractive, and attracted, today and tomorrow. Love blossoms. Get the word out about your passion. Help someone stay relaxed and calm by sharing some fun. Time outdoors rejuvenates. Go play together. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is a 7 -- Home and family take priority today and tomorrow. Relief comes with expressed emotions. Handle home repairs. Fix something that was bugging someone. Work from home. Discover the truth, and new freedom and affinity arises. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is a 7 -- All of a sudden, everything starts making sense. You’ve got the talent, so study and do the homework today and tomorrow. A solution to an old problem is becoming obvious. Refine your understanding for power.
Public Intoxication? Minor in Possession? Driving Under Influence?
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p.10 Marc Torrence | Editor sports@cw.ua.edu
Thursday, January 9, 2014
FOOTBALL | Q&A
Davis: 2013 a ‘compelling season’ for college football ESPN studio host and University of Alabama alumnus discusses season upsets, Crimson Tide By Marc Torrence | Sports Editor With the college football season officially at an end and college basketball in full swing, The Crimson White spoke with ESPN studio host and announcer Rece Davis to get his thoughts on Alaba Alabama and college sports in general, as well as the Capital One Cup, which recognizes the top men’s and women’s college athletic programs in the country each year and of which Davis is a member of the advisory board. 2 Davis graduated from Alabama in 1988 with a dual degree in broadcast news and public affairs. The College of Communication’s broadcast department named him its outstanding alumnus in 2001.
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Was 2013 one of the craziest college football seasons you’ve seen from start to finish?
underscore “great.” It is a different discipline to be an analyst. And to take very complex issues, especially with the way his mind works from a football standpoint, and be able to disseminate them in a concise fashion, in a way that people can understand, and to have some energy and enthusiasm and some urgency when you disseminate those opinions and those perspectives, is a real gift. Nick has blown us away with how good he is as a television analyst. Everybody who has gotten a chance to be around him and to know him knows that he is a really, really smart guy.
It’s been one of the more compelling seasons that I can remember. Stunning upsets, remarkable turnaround from Auburn, which I’m sure won’t be fondly remembered by most of your readers, but certainly one of the more compelling stories of the BCS era. Alabama’s pursuit of a three-peat, Alabama’s defining of excellence over the final stages of the BCS CW | Austin – they were all really good storylines during the season. Bigoney The emergence of Jameis Winston, second straight redshirt In basketball, Alabama has struggled in its nonnon ESPN host freshman to win the Heisman Trophy. There are a lot of great conference SEC play with schedule but opened a Rece Davis stories in college football this year, and that’s why its popularity is win on Tuesday. What are your thoughts on thi this presents the really at its zenith and will continue to grow as we head towards season and the job Anthony Grant has done here? Sugar Bowl trothe playoff. phy to Oklahoma Anthony Grant is one of the finest people that I’ve ha had University on Jan. the pleasure to meet in coaching. I think he is a trementreme What were your thoughts on Alabama’s 2013 2 at the Mercedesdous role model, and I think he’s a tremendous coach. coach season, and what do you think went wrong? Benz Superdome. suc I’ve been a little surprised that they haven’t enjoyed more success on the court, but I think some patience is in order. I think any time that you finish 11-2, are a second away t From what I’ve seen last year and what I’ve seen this year, they from potentially playing for a third straight national Sanders need a talent upgrade. People hark back to the Wimp Sanderson championship and to question it – with all due respect days. He was a tremendous coach, but even coach Sanderson to Missouri, assuming that Alabama would have won Robe would tell you he was an even better coach when he had Robert that game if they’d beaten Auburn – when you get Horry, Latrell Sprewell, James Robinson, David Benoit, Ennis that close and to that point and you still put up that McK Whatley and people like that through the years. Derrick McKey, kind of record, the question becomes “what went t who I went to school with – those types of guys aren’t on the team wrong?” right now. They don’t have that level of talent. It’s probably a testament to the excellence that
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Nick Saban and his staff has built at Alabama. If we get to the point where 11-2 is some type of crisis, 11-2 and a last-second loss, and losing a bowl game is some type of crisis, then there’s probably bigger issues that need to be addressed. How do you think Saban has translated to TV as an an analyst on ESPN during the SEC and BCS championship games this year?
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He’s great on TV. You can bold type,
Alabama wasn’t listed in the fall standings, but with competitive gymnastics, softball and golf teams, does Alabama have a chance to make some so noise in the spring in the Capital One Cup?
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The Capital One Cup is very competitive in the race to determine the best in college sports overall. overal Alabama has built a broad-based program. The golf go pro program has been terrific; the softball and gymnastics programs have been great on the women’s side, so I certainly think there’s an opportunity to make noise. CapitalOneCup.com or It’s a cool thing for fans to follow on CapitalOneCup.com, Facebook or Twitter if you prefer, to try to get the braggin bragging A rights to have the best overall program in college sports. And the important part is that the Capital One Cup offers $400, $400,000 progra in scholarships for student-athletes to the winning program. It’s something that I’m proud to be a part of.
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Editor’s Note: Davis’ answers have been edited for length.