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Gymnastics ready to defend title

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Thursday, January 12, 2, 2012

S Serving i the h U University i i off Al Alabama b since i 1894

Vol. 118, Issue 68

Alabama beats LSU, again

Petitioners at UAB seek to stop mine By William Evans Senior Staff Reporter wjevans@crimson.ua.edu

Joe Olson cares about the purity of his drinking water. In fact, he cares about the other 200,000 Birmingham residents whose drinking water he says would suffer from the impurities lurking in wastewater discharged from a proposed coal mine along the Black Warrior River. In 2007, Shepherd Bend, LLC, (a coal mining company owned by the members of the family who own Drummond Coal) proposed a coal mine

“We just want the University to come out on their own and acknowledge this is a good idea. — Joe Olson

CW | Margo Smith Freshman guard Trevor Lacey uses a screen from Tony Mitchell to drive to the basket against an LSU defender in Wednesday night’s victory. By Marquavius Burnett Assistant Sports Editor @Marq_Burnett msburnett1@crimson.ua.edu The Alabama men’s basketball team picked up where the football team left off with a decisive victory Wednesday over Louisiana State, 69-53. Wednesday was the Crimson Tide’s Southeastern Conference home opener, and 14,245 fans witnessed the rout. It was the

largest crowd for a home opener since Jan. 9, 2007, a sellout also against LSU. Key runs fueled the Tide throughout the contest. The score was tied at 13 with 10:57 remaining in the first half, but Alabama ripped off an 18-6 run to close the half. In the second half, LSU cut the deficit to eight points, but the Tide fired back with seven straight points and did not let up. Both runs were led by sophomore point guard Trevor Releford. “Trevor’s play has been consistent over

State continues winning streak By Tony Tsoukalas Sports Editor crimsonwhitesports@crimson.ua.edu @Tony_Tsoukalas

ing,” said Alexandra Tucci, a senior double-majoring in international studies and advertising. “Nowhere else in the country can you point to a state with that What has three national cham- much success.” However, with a rivalry as big pionships, two Heisman trophies, a dead tree and a passion that as the Iron Bowl, some students holds it all together? The state view a state-rival victory as bitter of Alabama. The Yellowhammer sweet. “I wanted Oregon to win,” Jake State serves as the home to the

the last several games,” head coach Anthony Grant said. “That’s a great word to be able to use with your point guard: consistency. It’s a product of the work and mental preparation that he has put in during practice.” Releford played an efficient game, attacking from all angles. He finished with 20 points on 9-of-11 shooting and constantly got to the basket against multiple defenders.

800 feet from a major drinking water intake of the Birmingham Water Works Board that filters water for 200,000 Birmingham residents. The proposed mine would discharge water from its settling ponds into the river just upstream from the Water Works drinking water intake at the Mulberry Fork of the Black Warrior River. The University of Alabama System owns the majority of the land of the proposed 1,773-acre coal mine. At the suggestion of Drummond Coal, the UA System sent out a request for proposals to mine the approximately 1,700 acres the UA System owns at the bend of the river near the town of Cordova, according to a 2010 Birmingham News article. According to University officials, no companies responded to the proposals, including Drummond Coal. That same year, Shepherd Bend applied for and acquired a permit from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management to discharge wastewater from its proposed coal mine site, according to the article. The Black Warrior Riverkeeper and the Southern Environmental Law Center have sued ADEM because of the issuance of the permit. The litigation has not concluded.

See MINES, page 2

See BASKETBALL, page 8

BCS Championship trophy to be displayed at Academy Sports on Skyland

IF YOU GO ... The Coaches’ Trophy, awarded to Alabama on Monday night after their victory over LSU in New Orleans, will be on display this weekend at three locations in Alabama. Fans will be able to have a photo taken with the actual crystal football trophy won by the

Crimson Tide at the Allstate BCS Championship, free of charge. The trophy will be in Tuscaloosa on Saturday, Jan. 14, at Academy Sports and Outdoors on Skyland Boulevard. It will also be available in Huntsville on Friday and in Vestavia Sunday.

• What: Coaches’ Trophy • When: Saturday Jan. 14 • Where: Academy Sports and Outdoor on Skyland Boulevard

Head coach Nick Saban is presented with the Coaches’ Trophy after the Tide shut out LSU in the National Championship game Monday night.

“As Alabama fans, we are used to winning. We are used to being No. 1. I think it is kind of cute that Auburn gets to claim a title. It’s really sweet.” — Alexandra Tucci past three national champions, with Alabama winning in 2009 and 2011 and Auburn winning in 2010. “It’s been that way for a long time,” Alabama head coach Nick Saban said. “And I think it makes it special and maybe a little unique that we have that kind of situation, and I think it speaks volumes for the programs in the state that what’s happened over the last three years has happened.” Students from both schools might not always get along, but many recognize that the run has been special for the state. “I definitely think it is excit-

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See RIVALRY, page 2

Appelbaum, a senior majoring in finance at Alabama, said. “But with that being said, looking back, it is pretty cool the state has won the last three. It is even cooler, though, that Alabama won two of those.” Students from Auburn hold the same passion and find it just as hard to root for Alabama. “I don’t know if it’s a good thing,” said Will Tillson, a civil engineering major at Auburn. “I would have rather Auburn win all three.”

P.O. Box 870170 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 Newsroom: 348-6144 Fax: 348-8036 | Advertising: 348-7845 | Classifieds: 348-7355 Letters, op-eds: letters@cw.ua.edu Press releases: newsdesk@cw.ua.edu

Briefs ........................2

Sports .......................7

Opinions ...................4

Puzzles.................... 11

Lifestyles....................9

Classifieds ............... 11

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GO ON THE

Page 2• Thursday, January 12, 2012

ONLINE

ON THE CALENDAR TODAY

FRIDAY

What: Special SUPe Store

VIDEO:

What: Bob Jones High School

What: Realizing the Dream

Exhibition

concert, tickets are $15

Where: SUPe Store

Where: Sella-Granata Art

Where: Moody Music Building

When: 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Gallery, Woods Hall

Hours

TRAY WALKING IN NEW ORLEANS Special Projects Editor, Tray Smith, went to New Orleans for his third installment of Tray Walking.

VIDEO:

When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. What: Faculty Biennial Exhibition reception Where: Sarah Moody Gallery of Art

Where: SUPe Store

When: 6 to 8 p.m.

When: 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Ashley Chaffin lifestyles editor

Evan Szczepanski graphics editor Drew Hoover photo editor

When: 7 p.m. Submit your events to calendar@cw.ua.edu

ON THE MENU LAKESIDE LUNCH Montreal Steak Herbed Mashed Potatoes Corn on the Cob Sauteed Mushrooms Chipotle Chicken Tortilla Soup Farfalle Pasta with Broccoli & Ricotta (Vegetarian)

DINNER Baked Cod Macaroni & Cheese Steamed Carrots with Brown Sugar Glaze Eggplant Parmesan Pizza Devil’s Food Cupcakes with Vanilla and Oreo Frosting Farfalled Pasta with Broccoli & Ricotta (Vegetarian)

Brittany Key 348-2598 Territory Manager Amy Ramsey 348-7355 National Representative Classifieds Coordinator Lauren Aylworth 348-8042 Creative Services Manager Nikki Amthor 348-8742 Greg Woods 348-8054 Tori Hall 348-6153 Rob Clark 348-4367 Will DeShazo 348-8041 Jessica West 348-8054

BURKE

BRYANT

FRESH FOOD

LUNCH

Barbecue Brisket on a Kaiser Roll Sweet Potato & Bacon Hash Seasoned Collard Greens Barbecue Chicken Pizza Saffron Chicken Eggplant Parmesan (Vegetarian)

Beef Stroganoff Honey Glazed Baked Chicken Steamed Broccoli Yellow Squash California Cruisin Chicken Sandwich Summer Vegetable Alfredo Tortellini (Vegetarian)

Breaded Pork Chops Steamed & Seasoned Carrots & Green Beans Spaghetti with Green Pepper & Mushroom Marinara Sauce Chicken Salad Sandwich Southwest Cheese & Corn Chowder Stuffed Portobello (Vegetarian)

ON CAMPUS Realizing the Dream Concert this Saturday The 23rd Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Realizing the Dream concert will take place Saturday, Jan. 14 in the Concert Hall of Moody Music Building at 7:30 p.m.

The concert will feature the Chris Kozak Jazz Quintet with special guest Eric Essix, as well as guitar-performing compositions by Chris Kozak and Tom Wolfe inspired by King’s 1964 Berlin Jazz Festival Speech.

Student Death Ethel Hunt Presley, 58, a University of Alabama senior majoring in early childhood education, died of complications during heart surgery on Dec. 15, 2011. Funeral services were held on Dec. 23 at Sweet Bethel Baptist Church in Condon, Ala.

ON THE RADAR

Daniel Roth multimedia editor

Emily Richards 348-8995 Advertising Manager cwadmanager@gmail.com

When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Bama Theatre

Tyler Crompton web editor

ADVERTISING

Museum

Explosion

SoRelle Wyckoff opinions editor

Jessie Hancock design editor

nese New Year”

What: Steve Brown’s Comedy

Tony Tsoukalas sports editor

John Davis chief copy editor

What: Museum Madness “ChiWhere: Children’s Hands-On

UA and LSU’s SGA held a local service project in New Orleans before the National Championship Game.

Jonathan Reed managing editor jonathanreedcw@gmail.com

Malcolm Cammeron community manager outreach@cw.ua.edu

When: 7:30 p.m.

BCS SERVICE PROJECT

Victor Luckerson editor-in-chief editor@cw.ua.edu

Taylor Holland news editor newsdesk@cw.ua.edu

What: Special SUPe Store Hours

EDITORIAL

Will Tucker assistant managing editor wjtucker1@gmail.com

SATURDAY

Rivals attack Romney’s business record as campaign moves to S.C. From MCTcampus COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Republican presidential sweepstakes shifted Wednesday to South Carolina, where former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney hopes to keep running the table of contests while his rivals try desperately to halt his momentum toward the GOP nomination. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and Texas Gov. Rick Perry fanned across the Palmetto State in hope of salvaging their campaigns by wooing the state’s large Christian evangelical popula-

tion and by raising questions about Romney’s conservative credentials. Gingrich launched a not-sothinly-veiled attack on Romney in Rock Hill. Without mentioning him by name, Gingrich dismissed the GOP frontrunner as a “Massachusetts moderate.” He also attacked Romney’s record with Bain Capital, the private-equity firm that Romney co-founded. The firm profited by investing in troubled companies, turning some into successes while others failed. Often jobs were shed in the restructuring process - which Gingrich and Perry are attacking as evidence of

Romney’s cold-hearted capitalism. A super-PAC backing Gingrich plans to spend $3.4 million in South Carolina airing a documentary that rips Romney as “more ruthless than Wall Street.” Romney has said that attacking his record at Bain “put free enterprise on trial.” But Gingrich insisted to a standing-room-only crowd at Rock Hill’s Laurel Creek Club that Romney’s time at Bain is fair game. “Criticizing specific actions in specific places is not being anti-free enterprise,” he said. “And raising questions about

that is not wrong.” Perry, who finished last in the six-man field in New Hampshire, also took shots at Romney for his work at Bain. “I understand the difference between venture capitalism and vulture capitalism,” Perry said at a Lexington restaurant. “I’m kind of like that old ad: I believe in doing it the old-fashioned way. I happen to think companies like Bain Capital could have come in and helped these companies if they were truly venture capitalists, but they’re not. They’re vulture capitalists. And that’s what I want the people of South Carolina to think about.”

The attacks on Romney will likely grow louder in the run-up to the Jan. 21 primary. South Carolina is perhaps the last best chance for Perry, Gingrich or Santorum to upset Romney, or to at least slow his momentum. But the three GOP candidates are courting the same pool of voters - the 60 percent of likely Republican voters who are selfdescribed Christian evangelicals. That bloc could be cool to Romney, a Mormon. About 150 evangelical leaders, wary of a Romney nomination, are scheduled to meet Friday in Texas to consider uniting behind a single alternative to Romney.

Ben Gordon 348-8042 Lauren Gallas 348-8042 Coleman Richards Special Projects Account Rep 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 on the first floor, Student Publications Building, 923 University Blvd. The advertising mailing address is P.O. Box 2389, Tuscaloosa, AL 35403-2389. 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 2389, Tuscaloosa, AL 35403-2389. The Crimson White is entered as periodical postage at Tuscaloosa, AL 35401. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Crimson White, P.O. Box 2389, Tuscaloosa, AL 35403-2389. All material contained herein, except advertising or where indicated otherwise, is Copyright © 2010 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.

RIVALRY

MINES

Continued from page 1

No matter which side fans in the state of Alabama are on, there is an agreement between everyone that the passion for football in the state is unmatched anywhere else in the nation. “I have many other teams that I’ve covered before,” Appelbaum said. “And they love their team just as much as Alabama, but there is something uniquely crazy about the Alabama fans.” Alex Rayfield, a junior majoring in civil engineering, echoed Appelbaum’s thoughts. “We live and die by it,” Rayfield said. “It’s just like that slogan, ‘At some places they play football, at Alabama we live it.’ It’s just a little bit different down here.” With fans of both teams being so passionate, Tucci

Continued from page 1

said it was good that both Alabama and Auburn have had the taste of success. “As Alabama fans, we are used to winning,” Tucci said. “We are used to being No. 1. I think it is kind of cute that Auburn gets to claim a title. It’s really sweet.” However, most fans had a hard time saying they could cheer for their rival if their own team was knocked out

of the title race. “No, [Auburn] had their year,” Rayfield said, “I’d give them one every half century.” Some fans might not even consider it. “Would there ever be a situation where I would pull for Alabama?” Tillson asked. “Probably not. I can’t think of one off the top of my head.”

Olson, a senior majoring in math and physics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, wants the UA System to declare a position on the proposed coal mine. The UA System has not issued a decisive yes or no to sell or lease the land to Shepherd Bend. University officials have said Shepherd Bend has not approached the UA System requesting to use its property. To strengthen his campaign to force a declaration from the UA System, Olson has initiated a petition that has attracted more than 3,500 signatures. “We just want the University to come out on their own and acknowledge this is a bad idea,” he said. “The University’s own mission statement says its main concern is to enhance the quality of life for the community and Alabamians,” Olson said. “That includes listening to Alabamians when they voice their opinions. The University should fulfill its mission by agreeing to neither sell nor lease its land for the Shepherd Bend mine.” Sarah Parsons, the senior organizer for the petition, said the issue lies in the property itself.

“The issue here is that the Shepherd Bend coal mine – the proposed site – takes up a large chunk of land owned by the UA System,” she said. “The signatures of the petition are there to urge the UA System to publicly commit to not selling or leasing the land to Shepherd Bend.” Olson will organize a rally outside the UA Board of Trustees meeting at UAB in February. This year will not be Olson’s first effort at announcing his protest to the Board of Trustees. “Last year, as the president of UAB’s student environmental group, we had rallies, we collected petitions by hand and we submitted those to the Board of Trustees,” he said. “The first petition had 700 signatures. The second had 1,000, but each time we just got a silent response. I decided then I don’t want to quit this job. I decided to take a step further. “This is not in the best interest of the city of Birmingham or the UA System for its reputation. They’re the ones who have the power to really stop this.” Anyone interested in signing the petition can find it at: http://www. change.org/petitions/stopthe-shepherd-bend-coalmine-from-polluting-birminghams-water.

The Crimson White

NEWS

Professors recognized by committee of peers By Kris Mitchell Contributing Writer T wo Un ive r s i t y of Alabama professors were named Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science last month. Arun Gupta and Robin Rogers, professors in the chemistry department at UA, received the honor bestowed upon them by their peers. Gupta is a researcher in UA’s Center for Materials for Information Technology. The Humboldt Research Award from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, which grants awards to internationally renowned researchers who are expected to continue producing cutting-edge achievements in their field, has also recognized Gupta for his contributions to his field, according to UA News. For his contributions to the field of ionic liquids by probing their fundamental nature while advancing their technological relevance, especially for advanced separations, Rogers was elected as a Fellow, according to UA News.

Gupta and Rogers received recognition from their peers. The creation of salt that is liquid at room temperature has a wide variety of applications, Rogers said. “We could use the ionic liquid to create new forms of medicine,” Rogers said. If the form of medicine is changed, then the same medicine could have different effects. Agrochemicals and nutraceuticals could also utilize this new research. His colleague, David Dixon, nominated Rogers for the f e l l ows h i p . “I am very honored by the fellowship,” Rogers said. The American Chemical Society also recognized Rogers by giving him the ACS Award in Separations Science and Technology. He received his bachelor’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Alabama and

has been on the faculty since 1996. Although he and Gupta have not yet worked together on a research project, Rogers has said that Gupta’s work is “amazing.” Currently the Robert Ramsay Chair in the chemistry department, Rogers is also the director of the Center for Green Manufacturing at UA. The Center’s mission statement is “to prevent pollution and save energy through the discovery and development of new knowledge that reduces and eliminates the use or generation of hazardous substances in the design, manufacture and application of chemical products or processes,” according to their website. AAAS was founded in 1848, and it includes 262 affiliated societies and academies of science, serving 10 million individuals, according to UA News. This year, 539 AAAS members were awarded the title of Fellow due to their scientifically- or socially-distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications, according to UA News.

Thursday, January 12, 2011

New assembly aims to bring colleges together By Jordan Cissell Contributing Writer In an effort to facilitate interaction among members of the University of Alabama’s academic colleges, the Student Government Association is working to establish an organization called Capstone Collegiate Council. The Council is set to hold its inaugural convention in April. David Wilson, SGA vice president for Student Affairs, who is spearheading the group’s creation, said the Council will serve as an allinclusive forum incorporating representatives from every college. “The Capstone Collegiate Council will be comprised of the leaders of the various colleges’ executive councils from each college across campus, the SGA Vice President for Academic Affairs and the SGA Vice President for Student Affairs,” he said in an emailed statement. Wilson also said Mark Nelson, vice provost and vice president for Student Affairs, will serve as the assembly’s faculty advisor.

Some colleges have not yet formed the executive assemblies from which the Council will compile its membership, but Wilson is confident that each division will be prepared for complete representation by April. “We are in the process of establishing or strengthening a collegiate council in every college, [in which] all of the leaders are students,” he said. “The colleges all determine how they elect their leaders.” Wilson said once each college has chosen its delegates to the campus-wide assembly, the Council will nominate their officers as well as share their goals for their individual colleges in the coming year. Michelle McClinton, president of the College of Communication and Information Sciences’ Student Executive Council, will serve as her college’s representative in April. She thinks the Council will prove an instrumental tool in tightening the links among the University’s academic divisions. “I believe the Capstone Collegiate Council will enhance communication throughout the University and serve as a powerful

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collaboration tool for years to come,” she said in an SGA press release. “I believe that, at times, we can become too involved internally within our own colleges, and I am looking forward to learning what other colleges throughout the University are doing.” Wilson, in concurrence with McClinton’s assertion, is certain the Council will have a direct, enriching influence on University pupils’ educational experiences. “This Council will strengthen and enhance student life in every college across campus and give more students more opportunities to make an impact on our University,” he said. Wilson and McClinton are not alone in their affirmations. Nelson also predicts significant campus benefits from the Council’s creation. “The Capstone Collegiate Councils in each college will be empowered to work closely with college administrators, faculty and staff to provide valuable insight into a wide range of issues,” he said in the press release. “I applaud the SGA for creating another avenue for student involvement in the life of the University.”

OPINIONS

A new year, a new chance to have your voice heard By SoRelle Wyckoff @sorellew

From MCTCampus

America has a responsibility to all By Austin Gaddis @austingaddis

Thursday, January 12, 2012 Editor • SoRelle Wyckoff letters@cw.ua.edu Page 4

{ YOUR VIEW } WEB COMMENTS IN RESPONSE TO “BCS TICKETS GO TO SENIORS”

“The University promotes ʻFinish in Fourʼ but punishes those students that do... What a shame.” — Tyler Barlett

“The title of this article should be ʻBCS tickets go to DONORS.ʼ With 57% of the available tickets, theyʼre getting more of them than all other groups combined.” — Tommy Baggett

President Barack Obama must accept foreign responsibilities. For the past year, a wave of reform and revival has energized the oppressed civilians of some of the world’s most ironfisted nations. This revolutionary charge, commonly known as the Arab Spring, sparked large-scale protests that significantly dismantled or toppled governments in Egypt, Tunisia, Bahrain, Yemen and Libya. With a relentless intolerance for the status quo and a yearning to claim inherent human rights, these protesters shook the foundation of their government and captured the spotlight of the world stage. The protesters eradicated the notion that the days of legitimate, organized protest activism were a thing of the past. The thousands of martyrs, sad byproducts of malicious regime control tactics, all gave their lives for a right so basic and intrinsic to the makeup of our idea of America – the right to be free. It would seem that support of an oppressed populace who repeatedly petitions their government for a redress of grievances would be at the forefront of our nation’s foreign policy agenda. However, Obama continues to ignore gross human rights violations at the hands of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The uprisings in Syria have been different than other nations affected by the Arab Spring. The Assad regime continues to slaughter hundreds of opposition protesters on a daily basis. Because the Syrian government forbids outside journalists, the flow of information outside of the country rests solely in the hands of brave amateur journalists who film or document the atrocities, which are then picked up by international media organizations. Men, women and children

of all ages have been slain in the middle of the streets as the regime attempts to crack down on the anti-Assad message. The Arab League has failed in its attempt to curb the violence by sending human rights moni-

on his political opposition. In the midst of all the turmoil, the United States – the leaders of the free world – continues to sit idly by the wayside, all for the sake of political advantage. Obama’s premature troop withdrawal from Iraq, drastic budget cuts to the Department of Defense and insanely irresponsible idea of a limit on the number of wars the country can be involved in all speak to his instability and inability to promote American interests to the world. The notion that the U.S. should play a limited role on the world stage is reprehensible and inherently un-American. Whether critics choose to accept it or not, the U.S. facilitates the important role of policing the world – especially in the case of a hostile government that unashamedly and blatantly continues to violate international law. The Obama administration has repeatedly called for Assad to

In the midst of all the turmoil, the United States – the leaders of the free world – continue to sit idly by the wayside, all for the sake of political advantage. — Austin Gaddis

tors into the country. Throughout their visit, amateur video shows the monitors walking through seemingly quiet villages with the roar of gunfire in the background – apparently another military crackdown. The monitors left the country with no real information, no sense of what was going on and no plan of action to end the massacre. The international community awaits Assad’s compliance with his promise to withdraw military forces from cities, release political opposition prisoners and allow the Syrians to hold antigovernment demonstrations. The promises, however, should fall on deaf ears. Assad’s stalling tactics are only allowing the murders to continue and allow him more time to get a control

step down as president of Syria, but the calls have no real power or authority. NATO should begin action to force Assad out of power by any means necessary. The United States must lead the international efforts to stop the slaughter of innocent Syrians who simply desire to have a voice. We must respond to the calls for immediate aid and action. Our nation was founded on the concept that a free society empowers citizens and creates incredible potential. The Obama administration should stay true to our core values and place the pursuit of basic human rights over political agendas. Austin Gaddis is a junior majoring in communication studies and public relations. His column runs weekly on Thursdays.

New Year’s Eve is my favorite holiday for a few reasons. Everyone recognizes the importance of New Year’s Eve. It is the end of the accepted calendar year, a fact that no one can disagree with. It is not a holiday centered on religion, and it does not separate society by specific cultures. There are multiple traditions throughout the celebration of the holiday, but for one night, every region of the world is celebrating the end of a year past and welcoming a new year to come. Besides the celebration that goes hand-in-hand with New Year’s Eve, the ideals and spirit behind the holiday fill many with hope and excitement, not only for the night, but for the year to come. The New Year offers a chance to start anew. The symbolic passing into a new year encourages many to vow to form new, healthier habits, list hopeful goals and make promises of change. As I passed through my New Year’s Eve celebration, few conversations were void of questions about my New Year’s resolutions. I had a few, as I truly consider the New Year the perfect opportunity to initiate lifestyle changes. This conversation, though, led me to think about the changes I would like to see made, not only by myself, but also around me in 2012. This University did not escape my list, and I eventually created a mental note for the Capstone community. Many say that the most important rule in creating resolutions or goals is to make sure they are achievable. So, with that in mind, I created a list of New Year’s resolutions for the University of Alabama that I believe can be achieved through the use of this Opinions page. 1) Initiate and allow dialogue about a range of topics that affect students and creates further discussion. Through letters to the editor, guest columns and web comments, different opinions have a chance to be heard. Discussion on this page will not only lead to others to think about these issues, but it will hopefully push them to take a stance. If you want something to be heard, use this page as a stage to voice your opinion. 2) Increase student involvement in conversations about where the University of Alabama is heading. If our University is to be a school that is for the students, the opinions of the students who attend this University should be considered. If issues are openly discussed, they become difficult to ignore. Pass on articles you think should be discussed, raise issues, submit opinions and start conversations on campus. 3) A more open-minded and understanding student body. It is perhaps cliché, but we cannot deny it is an area of necessary concern. This past year, we witnessed faculty and student disagreements, racial incidents and rifts throughout the student body, leaving numerous improvements that need to be made. To improve, one must make changes. What better time to initiate goals than the start of the new year? This page should be a tool for students to not necessarily create an arena for debate, but as an opportunity to share opinions, while at the same time, considering new ones and introducing new ideas of change and improvement. SoRelle Wyckoff is the opinions editor of the Crimson White.

Crimson Tide football ﬂourishes from spoils of redemption By Tyler Rigdon

EDITORIAL BOARD Victor Luckerson Editor Jonathan Reed Managing Editor Will Tucker Assistant Managing Editor SoRelle Wyckoff Opinions Editor John Davis Chief Copy Editor Drew Hoover Photo Editor Sarah Massey Magazine Art Director

GOT AN OPINION? Submit a guest column (no more than 800 words) or a letter to the editor to letters@cw.ua.edu

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TWEET AT US @TheCrimsonWhite The Crimson White reserves the right to edit all guest columns and letters to the editor.

To current students at the Capstone, the description of Alabama football dominance is epitomized through the Alabama Traditions video. As the video flashes clips of college football greatness paired with such words as “dominance,” “grit” and “heart,” one scene in particular speaks to the Alabama Crimson Tide of our generation. The scene: Rolando McClain’s open-field tackle of Florida’s Tim Tebow in the 2009 Southeastern Conference championship game. The word: Redemption. The Crimson Tide has flourished from the spoils of redemption, whether hardearned, like their return to the ‘09 SEC Championship, or hard-earned but amid controversy, like this tumultuous football season. Whatever the path, the Alabama Crimson Tide has owned up to their mistakes and set out to right their wrongs. However, unlike the ‘09 season, the Tide needed

some help from around the nation. It came. As Oklahoma State, Oregon, Stanford and Boise State fell – ironically, in most cases, on the legs of the kicking game – Alabama began their climb, and fate placed the Tide into the championship game. With over a month to prepare, redemption was the goal. Nick Saban, then 2-3 against Les Miles, could not withstand another loss. At the time, Saban was 6-1 in “revenge” games at Alabama, the only loss being the Nov. 5 showing against LSU. Another loss to Miles could symbolize that Miles had Saban’s number. The team could not afford a second loss to LSU in one season. In a season filled with BCS controversy, another loss would humiliate the Tide in the eyes of an already SECsickened country. Another loss would only raise the battle cries of the “belittled” Big12 and Pac-12 teams and fans. As Trent Richardson burst to the outside and down the

The scene: Rolando McClain’s open ﬁeld tackle of Florida’s Tim Tebow in the 2009 Southeastern Conference championship game. The word: Redemption. — Tyler Rigdon

sideline for the first touchdown from either team in a combined 90+ minutes of play, redemption was obvious. Redemption was obvious on the foot of Jeremy Shelley, who tied the bowl record of five field goals in a game and was four inches low on the blocked kick and one foot right from being a perfect seven for seven. Redemption was obvious through the play calling of exiting offensive coordinator Jim McElwain and the playmaking of a maturing AJ McCarron. The play action rollouts were effective in exposing LSU’s overload of the box, and McElwain and McCarron toyed with Heisman finalist Tyrann Mathieu in his weakest area; coverage. Redemption was obvious

through the play of the young Tide receivers who stepped in to fill the shoes of Marquis Maze. It was obvious through the play of the defense, especially through the pass rush and containment of Jordan Jefferson and the option. Jefferson’s impact in the original matchup was the key to LSU’s success. Given the history of backup/once-starter Jarrett Lee against Alabama, stopping Jefferson was key to Alabama’s success. Alabama proved they are the best team in the nation. Until the BCS format is altered, it does not matter that they were not conference or even divisional champions. They were redeemed within the BCS system, and to everyone outside of the states of Oregon, Oklahoma and the

village of Auburn, they are the champions. Moving forward, the Crimson Tide has their work cut out for them. Much like the 2010 season, inexperience on defense will be the biggest hurdle for the Tide. LSU will return with the hype of a much better team, and the country will place a target on the Tide’s back to help prevent another SEC national championship. Hopefully, the Crimson Tide will move past the redemption complex and move on to relishing and maintaining the college football peak in the years to come. However, come September 8, I hope to see a somewhataltered Alabama Traditions video half an hour before kickoff. As the clips progress, I want to see the gangtackling of a helpless Tyrann Mathieu on punt return, with the subtitle “Redemption.”

Tyler Rigdon is a junior majoring in marketing. His column runs bi-weekly on Thursdays.

The Crimson White

NEWS

Thursday, January 12, 2012

UA students raise more than $4,000 to ďŹ ght illiteracy Brett Saunders Contributing Writer

Literacy is the Edge, a student advocacy group at the University of Alabama, raised more than $4,000 dollars in 2011 to help fight against illiteracy. The groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campaign, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Empower Literacy,â&#x20AC;? raised awareness about functional illiteracy in West Alabama. The campaign began on Nov. 7 and lasted until Dec. 1. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nearly one in four Alabamians is considered functionally illiterate, meaning they lack basic reading, writing and math skills that make it hard to function effectively in day-to-day life,â&#x20AC;? said Jessica Carlton, president of LITE. The money LITE raised will go to the Literacy Council of West Alabama to help with their 2012 campaign against illiteracy among West Alabamians. To help LITEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts, the graduate students created brochures, flyers and promotional stickers to inform people

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nearly one in four Alabamians is considered functionally illiterate, meaning they lack basic reading, writing and math skills that make it hard to function effectively in day-to-day life.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Jessica Carlton, president of LITE about their campaign. Along with this, they released three public service announcements in partnership with WVUATV. The efforts of LITE resulted in more than 500 hours of work outside of class, 200 reading tutors and 2,500 students who heard about the campaign. LITE began as a class project in 2008 through the advertising and public relations graduate program. In 2009, the group became a formal student organization and started recruiting students. Two years later, in 2011, LITE took on their first client, the Literacy Council of West Alabama, to work on improving literacy rates for those living in West Alabama. â&#x20AC;&#x153;LITE exceeded our set

goals twofold, and we are happy it is making a difference,â&#x20AC;? said Patrick Boardman, vice president of communication and production for LITE. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mainly, we wanted to use interpersonal interaction,â&#x20AC;? Boardman said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We had tables at the Ferguson Center and asked, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Do you know about functional illiteracy?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; and we also worked with different fraternities and sororities. We worked with Zoeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kitchen, had an iPad 2 giveaway and we had a table during the Quidditch on the Quad matches. So, our main focus was interpersonal interaction.â&#x20AC;? For more information about LITE, their campaign or getting involved, email LiteracyIsTheEdge@gmail. com.

UA News Literacy if the Edge seeks to raise awareness and funding to ďŹ ght functional illiteracy in the state of Alabama.

Business research group hosts conference on state economy By Mazie Bryant Contributing Writer

The 2012 Alabama Economic Outlook Conference will be held today in Montgomery, Ala. Businessmen and industry leaders from across the state will meet to hear predictions for the national, state and local economies. The Center for Economic and Business Research, part of the University of Alabamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Culverhouse College of Commerce, has presented the annual conference since 1989 to cover the intricacies of the economy for a prosperous state and country. The conference was origi-

nally commissioned by the governor to assist the state government in making key decisions about the economy. However, the University soon became involved because of the time and expertise that the Center has committed to the analysis of economics. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We at the Center spend a lot of time researching the specifics of the Alabama economy,â&#x20AC;? Deborah Hamilton, associate director and project manager, said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We eventually found that holding a conference was a good way to disseminate the information we had put together.â&#x20AC;? Although UA now holds the conference, Annette Watters,

â&#x20AC;&#x153;This conference is a very good showcase for the College of Commerce, and it is highly valued all over the state. We are able to show off the data that we collect and highlight its usefulness in the real world of business and industry in Alabama.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Annette Watters project manager for the Center, insists that it is still focused on a larger audience. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Outlook Conference is not actually aimed at students and faculty of the University of Alabama,â&#x20AC;? Watters said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is really aimed at the decisionmakers of our state â&#x20AC;&#x201C; government officers and leaders of the private sectors â&#x20AC;&#x201C; so that

they are well-informed.â&#x20AC;? The conference has traditionally been held every January in the government center of the state to review the past year and foreshadow the next year of Alabamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy. It covers a broad range of topics, including employment and gdp, which concentrate on the nation and

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Alabama, looking closely at metropolitan areas within the state. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s keynote speaker will be David Altig, the senior vice president and director of research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. Altig will look at the economy from the national perspective in his speech, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Economy: A View from the Fed.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mr. Altig was chosen for his reputation as a wellrespected national economist. We have hosted him before and have found that the audience responds well to him,â&#x20AC;? Samuel Addy, director and research economist at the Center, said.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Not only does he convert economics to English, but he also gives us a view from the Federal Reserve, which is important during this time.â&#x20AC;? The Economic Outlook Conference will continue to be a paramount effort to address and correct the state, national and local economies through the University of Alabama. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This conference is a very good showcase for the College of Commerce, and it is highly valued all over the state,â&#x20AC;? Watters said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are able to show off the data that we collect and highlight its usefulness in the real world of business and industry in Alabama.â&#x20AC;?

Thursday, January 12, 2012

NEWS

The Crimson White

Fans lay an offering of Coach Nick Saban’s favorite snack in thanks for a championship

Oatmeal Creme Pies and beads were placed on Nick Saban’s statue on the Walk of Champions Wednesday in celebration of Alabama’s 14th National Championship.

Sigma Delta Tau looking to expand membership By Judah Martin Contributing Writer Sigma Delta Tau, a National Panhellenic Sorority originally founded at Cornell University in 1917, is looking to significantly expand its membership at the University of Alabama. Recruitment for the sorority will last from Jan. 30 until Feb. 22. Sigma Delta Tau Secretary Sarah Leonard said the sorority’s recruitment process will be vastly different from that of other greek organizations on campus. “Our recruitment process is very unique,” Leonard said. “Potential new members can expect a more laid-back, comfortable and fun recruitment experience that will allow each

by greek organizations at the time,” Leonard said. “Our chapter strives to create close bonds and sisterhood between each of its members, no matter their background.” Mona Lisa Ndaba, a senior majoring in social work, finds the idea of an all-inclusive sorority comforting. “Something like this really shows that our community is moving forward and advancing in race relations,” Ndaba said. Despite the uniqueness of Sigma Delta Tau, the sorority still provides typical greek experiences, such as swaps and date parties for its members, as well as sisterhood retreats and even tailgating at home football games, Leonard said. Members can

“Our chapter strives to create close bonds and sisterhood between each of its members, no matter their background.” — Sarah Leonard, Sigma Delta Tau Secretary

girl to truly come to know our members and the values our chapter lives by.” What is perhaps more unique about the sorority, Leonard said, is their inclusion of religious and ethnic minorities. In fact, Leonard estimates that half of the sorority’s 28 members are religious and ethnic minorities. “Our sorority was founded by seven women who had experienced subtle religious and personal discrimination

also expect to participate in a range of philanthropic duties with organizations such as Prevent Child Abuse America and Tuscaloosa One Place. “Sigma Delta Tau places academics and philanthropy as their first priorities and actively promotes these ideas in its members,” Leonard said. “We expect our members to maintain a GPA of 2.25 or higher, complete weekly study hours, attend weekly chapter meetings, complete a

attribute Sigma Delta Tau prides itself on minority inclusion.

required amount of volunteer hours, participate in greek and non-greek events on campus and actively participate in our philanthropy and chapter

events.” Thanks to the support of its alumnae and nationals, as well as the work of its members, Sigma Delta Tau expects

to expand in the near future. According to Leonard, they are currently exploring their housing options, as well. “I can honestly say that

every one of our members has been a great sister to me,” Leonard said. “Each new member can look forward to lifelong sisters.”

House divided stands as Bama, LSU rivalry heats up By Stephen N. Dethrage Assistant News Editor sndethrage@crimson.ua.edu It wasn’t difficult to find Alabama fans in Louisiana last week, but some fans, like Alabama alumnus Tyler Cummings, weren’t just in the state to party and watch the game. Some live there. Cummings graduated from the University of Alabama in December 2001 with a major in English and a minor in computer science. He’s lived in Louisiana since he graduated but said that neither being surrounded by purple and gold nor dating an LSU graduate and fan has changed the team he roots for. “Obviously, my loyalties lie with Alabama,” Cummings said. “I do pull for LSU when they aren’t playing Bama, and especially when they play Auburn. The loyalty hasn’t been hard to maintain. I think that once you graduate from college, no matter where

you are, your loyalties will always lie with that school.” Julie Burst, Cummings’ girlfriend, graduated from LSU in 2006 with a degree in mass communications and agreed that loyalties to her school overcame the pressures associated with dating a fan of a different team. “Of course my loyalty lies with my alma mater,” Burst said. “My veins bleed purple and gold, and I grew up tailgating on LSU’s campus even though I am not a Baton Rouge native. My time at LSU was wonderful, both academically and socially, and I have such pride in our state’s university.” The couple said that they keep it mostly civil, despite fierce fanhood for their football teams. “We keep the peace for most of the year, except when play each other of course. Toughest day for the household,” Burst said. “We somehow find a way to keep the peace and pull for the SEC,

“I decided to call it a night towards the end of the fourth quarter and sent out a few congrats texts to friends who are Bama fans. As hard as it was to witness, LSU did not deserve to win that game with our performance. Bama showed up when it mattered.” — Julie Burst but I have to admit, the game in Tuscaloosa was tough! He wore his colors proudly, as did I, and it was an experience for sure, walking around campus hand-in-hand.” The couple said that the rivalry was intense but entertaining. “We are both very passionate and loyal fans on each side and are very protective of our teams,” Burst said. “It’s the South at its best. Bring to the table top-rated defenses and/ or offenses, depending on the year, and you have a clash of the titans in the making.” It isn’t just the two schools and their history; the rivalry

now centers around one man. “I think the rivalry was greatly fueled when Bama hired Saban,” Cummings added. “He became public enemy No. 1 here overnight. I remember when they had a bonfire and burned a dummy dressed up like Coach Saban.” “Coach Saban definitely intensifies the rivalry, no doubt,” Burst agreed. “There are a few LSU fans that admire Saban for the great coach that he is and the legacy he had at LSU, which I can identify with, but there will always be a bitter taste in our mouths to see him leave the NFL and go back to

not only college football, but also another team in the SEC West. Our rematches over the last few years have not only been against the Bama team, but Saban himself.” Even after UA’s decisive shutout Monday, the couple remained friendly and were able to make the division caused by their loyalties to their teams seem insignificant. Cummings said the game didn’t put too much strain on his interactions with Burst, and the best thing it accomplished was to silence hecklers at his place of work, whose cries of “Tiger Bait” have been blissfully absent since Monday night. “I was in awe after the game; it was definitely Bama’s best defensive game of the year,” Cummings said. “Julie was pretty annoyed with the game, but she was a great sport and waited until after the third quarter before she left the living room and went

to bed.” “The experience was gutwrenching,” Burst said. “Tyler can attest that there were many shouts from my side of the couch and fits of frustration.” Burst said, however, that Cummings stayed civil, even during the Tide’s dominance, and avoided negative commentary about LSU’s performance and concentrated on UA’s efforts for a touchdown. “I decided to call it a night towards the end of the fourth quarter and sent out a few congrats texts to friends who are Bama fans,” Burst said. “As hard as it was to witness, LSU did not deserve to win that game with our performance. Bama showed up when it mattered.” “I may like to forget the loss on Monday,” Burst said, “but I am still proud of our team and our accomplishments in 2011. After all, it will make one heck of a rematch in Tiger Stadium this fall!”

MEN’S BASKETBALL

SPORTS

Several key games lined up for Coleman Coliseum By Brett Hudson Senior Sports Reporter bbhudson@crimson.ua.edu @Brett_Hudson Last season, head coach Anthony Grant transformed his team into a completely new beast at the beginning of Southeastern Conference play, following a mediocre nonconference schedule with a 12-4 SEC record including a perfect 8-0 at home. With the expectations raised this season, Alabama has one of the most difficult schedules in the SEC. The Tide has to go to Lexington to face Kentucky and play in several marquee home games.

Florida Feb. 14 Last season, Alabama traveled to Gainesville and suffered a 71-58 loss to the Gators, struggling to match up with seniors Chandler Parsons and Alex Tyus. The firepower Tyus and Parsons brought to the Gators has been adequately replaced, and possibly improved upon, by Kenny Boynton and true freshman Bradley Beal. Boynton is averaging 18.9 points per game, whereas Beal is at 14.3 after making four of six three-point attempts in his last outing against Georgia. The matchup with the Gators could be the proverbial meeting of the unstoppable force and the immovable object. Florida’s offense is sixth in the nation in scoring, averaging more than 82 points per game, while Grant’s philosophy has the Tide allowing less than 56 points per game.

a return trip to Tuscaloosa to give the Tide a chance to avenge last season’s controversial loss, which ended with a late out-of-bounds call on JaMychal Green. Vanderbilt has had a season much like Alabama’s. The Commodores did well in nonconference play overall, netting a 10-4 record, but hit a cold streak, losing to Xavier, Louisville and Indiana State, as well as barely beating Davidson in a 20-day stretch. The Commodores righted the ship behind the play of John Jenkins, averaging 19.9 points per game. His presence makes the game against Vanderbilt a difficult one for the Tide, forcing Alabama to take its young backcourt and guard one of the best guards in the SEC.

Tennessee Feb. 18

The Alabama-Tennessee basketball rivalry is a heated one, and should be another fun game to watch this season after Alabama’s overtime victory in Knoxville last season. At a quick glance, Tennessee’s nonconference season looks like a disappointing one. What the 7-7 record does not show, though, is a team that battled with then-No. 6 Duke to the end of the game and forced a then-No. 8 Memphis team to double overtime. The Volunteers also suffered tight losses to then-No. 17 Pittsburgh, as well as a consistent conference champion and NCAA tournament team, Oakland. Tennessee’s true merit showed in its SEC opener, hosting the then-No. 14 Florida Gators and winning, 67-56. Tennessee will prove to be a unique test, in that the Volunteers do not have one or two primary scorers that Alabama can key in on. The Commodores will make Tennessee scores by com-

Vanderbilt Jan. 19

mittee, with three players averaging more than 10 points a game, and another at 9.5, but no players over 15 points per game.

Mississippi State Feb. 25 Mississippi State has been the surprise of the SEC this season after getting hot with a win in the Coaches for Cancer Classic. The Bulldogs have climbed up to No. 20 in the most recent polls, after 11 straight nonconference wins and a tough loss to No. 7 Baylor at the final buzzer. Mississippi State’s insideoutside game could wreak havoc on Alabama’s defense, with Arnett Moultrie as a threat on the post and Dee Bost as a first-team All-SEC selection. Moultrie is averaging a double-double this season, with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Bost also averages 16 points per game and adds in three rebounds, four assists and two steals per game.

Page 7 • Thursday, January 12, 2012 Editor • Tony Tsoulukas crimsonwhitesports@ gmail.com

SPORTS CW | Margo Smith Head Coach Anthony Grant calls a play during Wednesday nightʼs game against LSU.

Upcoming Men’s Basketball Schedule 01/14/12 01/19/12 01/21/12 01/25/12 01/28/12 02/04/12 02/07/12 02/11/12 02/14/12 02/18/12 02/23/12 02/25/12 02/29/12 03/03/12

at Mississippi State vs. Vanderbilt at Kentucky at South Carolina vs. Arkansas vs. Ole Miss at Auburn at LSU vs. Florida vs. Tennessee at Arkansas vs. Mississippi State vs. Auburn at Ole Miss

Starkville, Miss. Tuscaloosa, Ala. Lexington, Ky. Columbia, S.C. Tuscaloosa, Ala. Tuscaloosa, Ala. Auburn, Ala. Baton Rouge, La. Tuscaloosa, Ala. Tuscaloosa, Ala. Fayetteville, Ark. Tuscaloosa, Ala. Tuscaloosa, Ala. Oxford, Miss.

3:00 p.m. CT 6:00 p.m. CT 11:00 a.m. CT 7:00 p.m. CT 12:30 p.m. CT 7:00 p.m. CT 8:00 p.m. CT 6:00 p.m. CT 6:00 p.m. CT 12:30 p.m. CT 6:00 p.m. CT 5:00 p.m. CT 7:00 p.m. CT 3:00 p.m. CT

this weekend THURSDAY • Women’s Basketball vs Mississippi State: 8 p.m.

FRIDAY • Women’s Gymnastics vs Georgia: 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY • Swimming & Diving vs Kentucky: 12 p.m. • Men’s Basketball vs Mississippi State: 3 p.m., Starkville

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8 Thursday, January 12, 2012

SPORTS

The Crimson White

Tide gymnastics to open season vs. Georgia By Marc Torrence Sports Reporter @marctorrence In 2011, the University of Alabama gymnastics team won it all. The Tide took home its seventh Southeastern Conference Championship and fifth NCAA Championship to cap one of the most successful seasons in school history. But 2011 is in the past. On Friday, the squad will begin its quest for a second consecutive NCAA Championship when it squares off against rival Georgia. “I feel really great about this team,” said senior Ashley Priess. “We have so much potential. We have a great starting point right now, and we have a ton of room to grow.” The Tide will be tested early. The Georgia Gym Dogs will bring one of the top teams in the nation into Coleman Coliseum on Friday night in one of the fiercest rivalries in collegiate gym-

nastics. “It’s still one of [our] biggest rivals,” head coach Sarah Patterson said. “Every year that we are going to win a championship, we have to get through Georgia. And if they want to win one, they have to get through us.” Alabama and Georgia boast two of the top programs in the country, with 15 NCAA championships between them in the last 25 years. Alabama has had Georgia’s number in recent history, however. The Tide has won its last four meetings against the Gym Dogs. While the team will prepare like it would for any season opener, players and coaches still know that an opponent like Georgia carries just a little bit of an extra meaning. “You do the preparation the same way,” Patterson said. “But I think there’s a little bit more bounce in their step when they’re competing against Georgia. Just like there was when our football team took on Tennessee.”

Patterson looks to Saban for inspiration following championship season One of the challenges Patterson will face this year will be a potential complacency from her team coming off of such a successful year. Like Patterson, there’s another coach in Tuscaloosa who knows the feeling. After Nick Saban led the University of Alabama football team to its 13th national championship in 2009, the team suffered a letdown of sorts, losing three games that were very much within reach. So Saban addressed the Alabama gymnastics team about a possible slump in a post-title season. “I love reading Coach Saban’s comments and his quotes,” Patterson said. “He came over and talked to our team numerous times when we went to the championship meets the last couple of years. Last year, he came over and we talked about how the year before, after winning in Pasadena, his team was

CW | Teresa Portone Teammates congratrulate Kim Jacob after her routine on beam. complacent.” The key to avoiding a letdown, Patterson says, is finding a team identity, growing throughout the season, and

peaking just in time for postseason play. “I totally understand that last year, we were not the most talented team, but we

were the team with the most heart,” she said. “You can have a lot of talent, but you have to have all the factors come together.”

BASKETBALL

overs. They had a visible size advantage against the Tigers and took advantage by outrebounding LSU by 10. Mitchell and Trevor Lacey each had 10 rebounds apiece. “The more you chase, the more you get,” Grant said. “We challenged our guards and told them they were going to have to go in and rebound. It was a necessity for us to compete on the backboard tonight.” LSU (11-5, 1-1 SEC) struggled to get into a rhythm all night. Unforced errors and missed

open shots hurt the Tigers when they cut into the lead. Head coach Trent Johnson said it was his team, not Alabama, that beat them. “What game were you guys watching tonight?” Johnson said. “When kids miss open shots and make unforced turnovers, it is what it is. Don’t take anything away from [Alabama], but it is what it is.” Next up for Alabama is a road trip to Mississippi State on Jan. 14 before returning home to face Vanderbilt on Jan. 19.

Continued from page 1

“He is picking and choosing when to go now,” forward Tony Mitchell said. “He’s also doing very well with his decision making. He played a great game tonight.” Alabama (13-3, 2-0 SEC) has won five consecutive games, including their first two conference games by double digits. The Tide scored 32 points in the paint and 25 points off turn-

CW | Margo Smith Above left: Alabama’s defense held LSU to just 53 points. Above right: Freshmen Trevor Lacey grabs a rebound for the Tide. Below: Ben Eblen and Nick Jacobs chase down a loose ball.

CW | Margo Smith Trevor Releford in-bounds the ball.

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LIFESTYLES

Thursday, January 12, 2012

High school art students’ work featured at UA By Julie Fry Contributing Writer High school artists hope to achieve a degree of notoriety in the Sella-Granata Art Gallery this month. For the second year in a row, Bob Jones High School in Madison, Ala. art students have an exhibit that is showing from now until the end of January in Woods Hall. Professors Craig Wedderspoon and Catherine Pagani, accepted an invitation to Bob Jones’ annual art festival two years ago in May. After Wedderspoon and Pagani visited the festival, they decided to invite select students to feature their art at Alabama. The gallery and exhibit are open to anyone throughout the day. UA students have been known to get inspiration from the show. The show tends to have a unifying effect between the younger artists and University artists. “This is a lot like the art that I did in high school. It’s interesting how alike we think,” Sloan Saunders, a UA sculpture student, said as he looked at a piece done with cardboard, a type of metal and stain that made an impression on him. Kelsey White, a freshman studio art major who knows some of the artists and their work, said the school’s art

instructor, Robin Lakso, and art teacher, Ms. Hughey, both taught her. “They’ve really improved since I last saw their art work,” White said. White also said she appreciated the free spirit that she and her classmates at Bob Jones had. “It was really hectic in there,” she said. “People went dumpster diving, and that’s why there are a lot of recycled materials. That gives the art the personality we all love. We didn’t have sufficient funds for paper all the time.” The Bob Jones artists use cardboard, siding, coffee stains, acrylic, oil, watercolor, charcoal, colored pencil and paint on plexi glass. “This exhibit is a wonderful opportunity for our students to get a taste of publicly showing their art work,” said Robin Lakso, the students’ teacher and instructor. “In past years, we have had a student or two attending U of A for art. This year we will send eight to 10, including one who plans on majoring in art history. Often, students do not even consider art history until they have experienced it in college.” Friday, from 4 to 6 p.m., students from Bob Jones will have a reception in the gallery, which is in the first floor of Woods Hall, and the show will hang in the gallery until Jan. 25.

LIFESTYLES in brief Moody to host concert in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Instead of the usual student musicians and visiting artists performing in the Moody Concert Hall, this weekend the venue will come alive with the 23rd Annual Realizing the Dream Concert. Each year, the concert is held around Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Music.

The purpose of the concert is to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The concert will feature Jazz and the Dream’s “How America’s Music Speaks for Freedom,” and The Chris Kozak Jazz Quintet with Eric Essix. The concert will be held on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. and will cost $15.

Submitted Works of art by students from Bob Jones High School will be on display in Sella-Granata Art Gallery.

Now Accepting Applications! To apply visit our website @: http://cmw.ua.edu/ For more information join us at

Get On Board Day! Applications due Friday, January 27, 2012 Please deliver completed applications to 284 Rose Administration All applicants must attend Convocation Sunday, January 29 at 6pm in the Ferguson Theatre

10 Thursday, January 12, 2012

LIFESTYLES

Novel adds maturity to young adult genre The Hunger Games series continues to gain popularity, with the first movie set to come out this March.

By Isabela Morales

By Ashley Chaffin Lifestyles Editor alchaffin@gmail.com

January is usually a month of working towards New Year’s resolutions, but February through December are usually months of forgetting about them. With school, work and a social life, many students let these goals fall to the side. However, there are some services the University of Alabama offers that could help students stay on track with these common New Year’s goals.

I want to get healthy/ lose weight

”

Every UA student knows about the state-of-the-art Rec Center on campus; however, for a little extra money, there are options that could help any student succeed. For students who may not know how to navigate their way around the gym, personal training is always an option. You can purchase eight or 12 sessions, a single session or a small group session. To anyone who feels weightlifting and the standard cardio machines aren’t for them, the indoor rock wall provides a full-body workout that is out of the ordinary. The first rock climbing experience is free for students and only $15 for unlimited access for a semester. You can also get a good cardio workout outside of the gym by renting a bike from the Outdoor Recreation Center. The Outdoor Recreation Center also offers outdoor trips that require some fitness with things like kayaking, rock climbing and biking. If exercise isn’t your problem when it comes to your health, but eating right is, the Student Health Center offers nutritional counseling to students. Each session costs $20 and can cover anything from general nutrition information to weight management help.

”

I want to quit smoking, drinking, drugs, etc.

cessful rebellion against the despotic Capital. The result? Punitive child-sacrifice in the form of a murderous, televised extravaganza called the Hunger Games. Each district must hand over one boy and one girl to fight to the death for the entertainment of the privileged Capital (oh, those horrible One Percenters!) This year, it’s Katniss who’s heading to the slaughterhouse, and despite the odds certainly not being in her favor, our protagonist poses a threat not just to the other competitors, but to the Capital’s oppressive system itself. The novel’s popularity and young adult categorization invites comparison with some other bestselling series, namely “Harry Potter” and “Twilight.” But that’s where the comparisons end. Katniss Everdeen is no conventional teenage heroine, and placing her next to characters like the beloved Hermione Granger and vilified Bella Swan only

makes that more obvious. For all her kick-ass spellcasting, Hermione was always the sidekick and requisite love interest, whose happily ever after was fore-ordained from the start. Meanwhile, disregarding the endless moody internal monologues, Bella was nothing more than a blood bag whose B-positive (or whatever) blood turned out to be catnip for supernatural creatures. Katniss is different. Yes, she has her own love triangle to deal with, but she has more pressing problems: for example, killing everyone. Katniss’ overriding goal is survival, and if there’s any transcendent dream she has, it’s vengeance, not love. For readers, odds are you’ll love it. Readers might also enjoy… “Alice in Deadland,” by Mainak Dhar; “Ender’s Game,” by Orson Scott Card; “The Forever War,” by Joe Haldeman

”

I want to be happier

”

Just as the Counseling Center helps with addiction, they can also help students who aren’t feeling quite like themselves. No matter what the reason for your current depression, there are places that can help get you in a happier state of mind. Two support groups the Counseling Center is currently offering are “Body Appreciation” and “SelfKindness.” There is also a tornado support group to help those coping with the aftermath of the April 27 tornado. The Women’s Resource Center is another place where women specifically can seek help. Similar to the Counseling Center, they offer support groups on everything from thesis support to relationship help to selfawareness problems. They also provide an opportunity to meet new people through groups such as the Brown Bag Lunch Series and various book clubs.

”

Submitted

For one-on-one help with addiction problems, the Counseling Center is the best place on campus to go for a much lower price than a typical visit to a psychiatrist around town. However, if one-on-one help isn’t for you, the Counseling Center offers other options. On an as-needed basis, the Center will set up support groups to help with any addiction or disorder. Just contact the Center directly about getting involved. They can also provide you with information about online programs that have been known to help students get past their addictions.

”

There’s nothing like child gladiators to up those network television ratings, am I right? That’s how it works in Panem, anyway – the totalitarian, post-nuclear holocaust North American government that takes reality TV just a little too far in Suzanne Collins’ wildly popular novel “The Hunger Games.” If you haven’t heard of “The Hunger Games” by now, it’s probably because you don’t watch TV, don’t go to the movies, don’t have access to the Internet, cannot read and have no literate friends (in which case, who am I writing this for?) Maybe you’re among the literati who turn up their noses at “young adult” (YA) fiction, or maybe you’re one of those incredibly annoying people who claim to be “too busy” to read for fun, or you started the series but quit in disgust when all the plebes fell in love with it. In any case, let me be perfectly clear: whatever your reservations or reasons for delay, “The Hunger Games” is a book that’s just plain good, YA fiction or not, mass-market appeal or not. Set in that dystopian future we love to hate, “The Hunger Games” (and its two sequels, “Catching Fire” and “Mockingjay”) is science fictional without being sci-fi, futuristic without being gimmicky, and utterly eerie and original. And if you want to be in the loop before the movie premieres this March, get thee to a bookstore at once. The novel begins in bleak District 12, the home of Katniss Everdeen, a 16-yearold girl who has been providing for her preteen sister and clinically depressed mother ever since a tragic coal mining accident killed her father. Basically, life is terrible. And once a year, it gets downright terrifying. Seventy-four years ago, the districts mounted an unsuc-

UA services help with resolutions

”

COLUMN | BOOK

The Crimson White

I want to volunteer more in my community

”

If your New Year’s goals are focused more on helping others than yourself, there are plenty of opportunities in Tuscaloosa to get involved. Whenever you’re having trouble finding the right place to volunteer, the Community Service Center is the best place to look. There is everything from helping with tornado relief to helping out with pet adoptions. The Service Learning Pro website can show you available projects as well as calculate your hours if you need them for a class or organization. For big projects, the Community Service Center provides volunteering days and alternative breaks. For spring break this year, there is a domestic volunteering opportunity with Habitat For Humanity and an international break in Guatemala. The Women’s Resource Center also provides opportunities throughout the semester to volunteer in their office and on projects that focus on women’s health and domestic violence.

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PAGE 11

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34 things to do that aren’t football

the

Scene

Now that your Saturdays are open... Sports:

CW | Drew Hoover

Gymnastics: Home opener this Friday, Jan. 13. Season runs through March. Baseball: Season begins Feb. 17 and goes through May 19. Softball: Season begins Feb. 10 and goes through May 7. Softball SEC Championship will be held May 10-12 in Tuscaloosa. Basketball: The season continues through March 3.

Page 12 • Thursday, January 12, 2012 Editor • Ashley Chaffin lifestyles@cw.ua.edu

LIFESTYLES

Submitted Photo

this weekend

The Bama Theatre:

THURSDAY • The Dirty Clergy ad Shaman Says: Green Bar, 10:30 p.m. • TKO Back to School Bass Bash: Brown’s Corner, 9 p.m.

FRIDAY • 23rd Annual Realizing the Dream Concert, Honoring the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: Moody Concert Hall, 7:30 p.m.

CW | Drew Hoover

Department of Theatre and Dance: Dance Alabama spring concert: Feb. 14-16 ‘Wonder of the World’: Feb. 20-25 ‘An Italian Straw Hat’: Feb. 27-March 3 ARDT Spring Concert: March 27-29 ‘FeFu and Her Friends’: April 9-14 ‘Chicago’: April 16-21

CW | Shannon Auvil

Bama Art House film series: Jan. 10-Feb. 21 The Fab Four: The Ultimate Tribute, Beatles tribute band: Jan. 20 Bryan Adams: Jan. 25 TCF Student Pilot Screening: Jan. 26 Railroad Earth: Feb. 1 Acoustic night featuring David Allgood and Mike Orlin with Sparrow and the Ghost: Feb. 5 The Act (Actor’s Charitable Theatre) performs ‘The Color Purple’: March 9-13 Tuscaloosa Children’s Theatre performs ‘Willy Wonka’: April 20-22

•Andrew and The Motions: Green Bar, 10:30 p.m.

SATURDAY • Breaking Aim and the Rhythm and Skeptic: Green Bar, 10:30 p.m. Submitted Photo

Submitted Photo

Art Galleries:

Submitted Photo

Bob Jones High School Exhibition: Sella-Granata Art Gallery – Jan. 11-Feb. 10 Faculty Biennial Exhibition: Sarah Moody Gallery of Art – Jan. 12-Feb. 17 Anne Herbert MA Exhibition: Ferguson Center Art Gallery – Feb. 2-28 Anthology: Sculpture and Drawings by Ann Norton: Sarah Moody Gallery of Art AND SellaGranata Art Gallery – March 1-30 Of Sumo and Samurai: Japanese Woodblock Prints from the Collection of Dr. and Mrs. William T. Price: Ferguson Center Art Gallery – March 1-29 National Tea Bowl Invitational Exhibition: SellaGranata Art Gallery – April 16-May 7 Roger Jones MFA Exhibition: Junior League Gallery, Bama Theatre – April 24-May 3

UA Outdoor Rec Trips: T-Town Pull Down Rock Climbing Competition: Feb. 4 Sipsey Wilderness Backpacking: Feb. 24-26 Spring Break Ski Trip, Snowshoe, WV: March 10-14 Road Biking, Chief Ladiga Trail: March 31 Whitewater Kayaking, Nantahala River, NC: April 6-8 Caving Tumbling Rock Cave: April 21

No School: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: Jan. 16 Spring Break: March 10-16 CW | Stephanie Brumfield

CW | Stephanie Brumfield