TUESDAY JANUARY 14, 2014 VOLUME 120 ISSUE 72 Serving The University of Alabama since 1894
Class of 2013
$35,200 average college debt
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CW | Belle Newby
use Mint.com to budget and track spending
BUDGETING101 CULTURE | FINANCE
NEWS | FINANCE
Seniors encouraged to begin saving for future
Classes provide insight on managing personal finances
Students face increasing debt upon graduation every year By Alexandra Ellsworth | Staff Reporter The primary concern for the majority of college students in the United States is no longer social or academic, according to Time. com. In a July 2012 article, Time writer Dan Kadlec said students were “more stressed than ever,” and money is the reason why. Last May, CNN reported the class of 2013 is facing an average of $35,200 in college-related debt, according to a Fidelity survey of 750 college graduates. “We’re tending to find people are still surprised at the level of debt they’re graduating with, which suggests we still have a long way
to go in terms of having conversations about planning for college, saving for college and figuring out the best place to go [to college],” Keith Bernhardt, vice president of college planning at Fidelity Investments, told CNN. Not only are students in debt, but they may be unaware of how much they will be earning when they graduate. Susan Adams reported in a May 2013 Forbes article that a poll by consulting firm Accenture shows drastic gaps between graduating seniors’ expectations of the work world and the reality of recent graduates already in the workplace. “Just 15 percent of [2013’s] graduating seniors expect to earn less than $25,000 a year,” according to the poll. “But a third of SEE MONEY PAGE 9
HES offers certified financial planning courses, program
“Consumers need help in decision making. Let’s say your great aunt Sally leaves you $50,000. What are you going to do with that? How do you make good financial decisions? CFPs help with that.” The college still offers basic financial planning classes to any major, and the foundation course, CSM 204, gives students a basis for understanding and evaluating basic financial planning principles and how they apply to life situations and change over the course of a consumer’s life, professor and CFP Caroline Fulmer said. “Students start with the 204 foundations class, then take special classes in insurance, investing, retirement, estates and taxes,” Boschung said. “Financial planning as a career is ranked as a top career for the future.
By Jason Frost | Contributing Writer There are only 550 Certified Financial Planners in the the state of Alabama. While certification requires years of education, experience and a signed devotion to ethics, The University of Alabama College of Human Environmental Sciences, under Dean Milla Boschung, has made it possible for students to pursue such a demanding career in four years. Boschung started CFP certification tracks 27 years ago, aiming to give students the ability to get certified as soon as possible. “I have been on faculty since ’77, and I saw a demand immediately,” Boschung said.
SEE EDUCATION PAGE 2
NEWS | INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Delegation from Chinese college visits University of Alabama UA hopes to start partnership program in Shanghai, China By Andy McWhorter | Assistant News Editor A delegation of administrators and faculty from Shanghai Normal University Tianhua College in Shanghai, China, visited The University of Alabama on Monday, Jan. 13, as part of negotiations between Tianhua College and the UA College of Education to create an exchange program between the two institutions. The College of Education already has international programs in Latin America, but a deal with Tianhua would be the college’s
first foray into Asia. Peter Hlebowitsh, dean of the College of Education, said the first goal for the partnership is to establish a three-one program between Tianhua and The University of Alabama. “We were contacted by one of the representatives at Tianhua College to have a discussion about the possibility of having what they’re calling a three-one cooperative program,” Hlebowitsh said. “Three-one meaning that they’d like to send students to our campus for their senior-year experience with the previous three-year experiences on
CW | Austin Bigoney Delegates from Tianhua College of Shanghai, China, visit campus Monday to facilitate a SEE CHINA PAGE 5 partnership with The University of Alabama College of Education.
TODAYON CAMPUS
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WHAT: ‘Alive and Well’ WHEN: 7:30-9:30 p.m. WHERE: Bama Theatre
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WHAT: SGA candidate interest meeting WHEN: 6:30 p.m. WHERE: 309 Ferguson Center
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WHAT: Writing an Effective Resume…and Then What? WHEN: 9-10 a.m. WHERE: 301 Ferguson Center
WEATHER
WHAT: 75 Years of Abstract Prints at the SMGA WHEN: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. WHERE: Garland Hall
Student government
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editor@cw.ua.edu
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Tuesday January 14, 2014
CAMPUSBRIEFS Gallette’s to hold fundraiser Gallette’s will hold a fundraiser Tuesday from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesday to raise money for one of their employees, Jordan Wood, whose home in Fairhope burned down earlier this month. According to WKRG-5, Wood lived with his grandparents, James and Carmen Blevins. The home, which was uninsured at the time of its destruction, contained Wood, his family and his girlfriend – all of whom he helped escape the house. With the exception of James, who was burned on his back and head and is confined to a wheelchair, the family has since been discharged from the hospital. Now, Wood’s coworkers want to help them. Spearheaded by Barton Haddad, the event will cost $5 and feature “The Lagoons.” The minimum age to attend is 19. Those who cannot attend but still wish to donate to the family can do so at gofundme.com/blevinsfund.
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Culverhouse hosts conference The University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Commerce will hold the 26th annual Economic Outlook Conference in Montgomery Wednesday, Jan. 15. The conference is being organized by the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University’s Culverhouse College of Commerce. The conference will include presentations from David Altig, executive vice president and director of research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, and Dr. Samuel Addy, CBER director and associate dean for research and outreach at the University’s Culverhouse College of Commerce. Tom Broughton, chief executive officer and president of ServisFirst Bank, will also present on the future of Alabama’s banking industry. The conference will be held at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center. Check-in begins at 9 a.m., and the luncheon ends at 1:30 p.m. For the complete agenda, visit cber.cba.ua.edu. For more info, contact Edith Parten, UA media relations, (205) 348-8318, eparten@culverhouse.ua.edu. Compiled by Jason Frost
P.O. Box 870170 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 Newsroom: 348-6144 | Fax: 348-8036 Advertising: 348-7845 Classifieds: 348-7355
CW | Austin Bigoney A student walks her puppy sporting a rain jacket across the lawn of the Rotary House during a drizzle Monday morning.
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
WHAT: Southeast Guild of Book Workers Annual Exhibition WHEN: 8 a.m. WHERE: 2nd and 5th floor, Gorgas Library
TODAY WHAT: Writing an Effective Resume…and Then What? lecture WHEN: 9-10 a.m. WHERE: 301 Ferguson Center
WHAT: Off-Campus Housing Fair WHEN: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. WHERE: Ferguson Center, main floor WHAT: Skillport: What’s New? Staff session WHEN: 1-2:30 p.m. WHERE: Rose Administration Building G-54 Lab
WHAT: SGA Candidate Interest Meeting WHEN: 6:30 p.m. WHERE: Ferguson Center, Room 309 WHAT: ‘Alive and Well’ Film WHEN: 7:30-9:30 p.m. WHERE: Bama Theatre
WHAT: Men’s Basketball v. Mississippi State WHEN: 7 p.m. WHERE: Coleman Coliseum
WHAT: Kidney Smart Class WHEN: 3-4 p.m. WHERE: Tuscaloosa Public Library WHAT: Women’s Basketball v. Auburn WHEN: 7 p.m. WHERE: Coleman Coliseum WHAT: 88.9 FM 25 Years of Ministry Concert WHEN: 7 p.m. WHERE: First Wesleyan Church WHAT: ALLELE Lecture: Global Cooling By Grassland Soil in the Geological Past and Near Future WHEN: 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Biology Building
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LAKESIDE
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Barbecue Grilled Turkey Baked Sweet Potatoes Grilled Zucchini Squash Cream of Mushroom Soup Vegetable Enchilada Verde
Grillades and Grits Meatball Stromboli with Marinara Roasted Garlic Potatoes Corn on the Cob Peas and Pearl Onions
Grilled or Crispy Chicken Tenders Chicago-Style Hot Dogs Rotini Marinara Italian Green Beans Corn
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EDUCATION FROM PAGE 1
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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.
They’re analytical but love helping people.” The Honors College also offers a single-semester special seminar based on a more general view of consumer resources, UH 300: Finding Financial Freedom. Jan Brakefield, a CFP who teaches the single-slot course, said the course takes
a life cycle approach to family and personal finance as opposed to acting as a consultant. The course is intended to give students personal finance knowledge for their lives. “Where our other courses are training financial planners, this course assumes students are merely learning to make good financial choices,” Brakefield said. Students looking to go into a CFP career are advised to focus on a consumer sciences degree with a
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Stuffed Pork Loin with Pork Gravy Grilled Cheese with Bacon Baked Potato Wedges Capri Blend Vegetables Fresh Squash
concentration on family financial planning or consumer affairs. Internships are offered by numerous firms in cities such as Birmingham, Atlanta, Ga., and New Orleans, La. Though they are strongly advised, as CFPs require three years of experience with financial firms before they can be certified, they are not required. “Financial planners meet their clients at least once a year,” Boschung said. “Five years after graduation, you
FRESH FOOD LUNCH
Steak Baked Potato Bar Glazed Carrots Fresh Vegetable Linguine Alfredo Minestrone Soup Four Bean Salad
may want different things than you want now. Your risk tolerance may change. You may even want to buy a house.” According to Money Magazine, CFPs are expected to grow in number by 41 percent before 2016. Certification requires an exam offered by a CFP certification board, which is covered by case study classes. Boschung said CFP majors also make up a generous portion of contributing alumni, something she said helps students in all fields.
INTHE NEWS Google Inc. joins ‘Internet of Things’ with acquisition of Nest Labs Inc. From MCT Campus Google Inc. announced Monday that it will spend $3.2 billion to acquire Nest Labs Inc., a Silicon Valley company founded by former Apple Inc. employees to develop better versions of common devices for homes. “Nest’s founders, Tony Fadell and Matt Rogers, have built a tremendous team that we are excited to welcome into the Google family,” Google CEO and co-founder Larry Page said in Monday’s news release. Palo Alto, Calif.-based Nest last year introduced a connected
smoke detector to its product line, which previously included a thermostat originally launched in late 2011. At Apple, Fadell and Rogers led teams that created the iPod and the iPhone, and Nest had received backing from Google’s venture capital arm as well as Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. “We’re thrilled to join Google. With their support, Nest will be even better placed to build simple, thoughtful devices that make life easier at home, and that have a positive impact on the world,” Nest CEO Fadell said in the announcement. Nest will continue to operate
as a stand-alone company with Fadell at the helm, Google announced Monday, with the deal expected to close in the next few months. In a Q&A blog post, Rogers – now the company’s vice president of engineering – said Nest would continue to support Apple’s iOS mobile operating system as well as all Web browsers but mentioned a future where Nest uses Google products in new ways. “I’m betting that there’s a lot of cool stuff we could do together,” Rogers wrote. The Nest acquisition gives Google a foothold in one arena
of the Internet of Things, the growing phenomenon of connecting ordinary items to the Internet. Silicon Valley tech giants are laser-focused on the opportunity for growth in the field, with Cisco Inc. CEO John Chambers saying at CES this month that it represents a $19 trillion opportunity. “This will be potentially the biggest business opportunity in the history of people,” Janusz Bryzek, a vice president at San Jose, Calif.-based Fairchild Semiconductor, told the San Jose Mercury News last month about the Internet of Things. “We are changing the Earth.”
p.3 Mark Hammontree | Editor newsdesk@cw.ua.edu
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
NEWSIN BRIEF Initiative hosts info sessions Students interested in the fields of medicine, public policy, social work or who have a passion for service work are invited to learn more about Bama Covered, a nonpartisan, student-powered project focused on helping citizens of Alabama understand and sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. The organization was started by UAB graduate Josh Carpenter and Harvard grad Dan Liss. The group is recruiting and partnering with college students at campuses across the state. The initiative will send student volunteers into communities, hospitals and other health care facilities to provide community members with information about how the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, often referred to as Obamacare, will affect them and what their options are. Students interested in learning more about Bama Covered can attend one of four information sessions: Tuesday, Jan.14, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. or 8:00-9:00 p.m. in the Ferguson Center auditorium; Monday, Jan. 20, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. or 8:00-9:00 p.m. in the Ferguson Center Ballroom. Free pizza will be provided at the sessions. For more information, visit bamacovered.org.
Awards nominations accepted Nominations for the Capstone Heroes awards are being accepted by the Office of Student Conduct until the 15th of each month. The monthly award is designed to recognize UA students, faculty, staff, student organizations and members of the community whose contributions to life at the Capstone reflect the values within the Capstone Creed. The Capstone Heroes Award is given to individuals who embody the very best ideals of The University of Alabama and the Capstone Creed. The nominations form, which includes a short explanation of why one is making the nomination, is due by 4:45 p.m. on the 15th of each month. The form can be submitted in person to the Office of Student Conduct in 107 Burke Hall West or via email to Paula Perry at pperry@sa.ua.edu. The nomination form can be accessed online at sc.ua.edu. For more information, call 348-8234.
Students lead young peers Upperclassmen guide freshmen through transitional first year Courtesy of Litsa Orban Peer Leaders provides freshmen with upperclassmen mentors. By Emily Williams | Contributing Writer
WHAT TO KNOW
Starting at the end of January, the Office of First Year Experience will be WHAT: Peer Leaders application accepting applications for Peer Leaders. WHEN: Available Jan. 31 Peer Leaders is a program where WHERE: Online at fye.ua.edu upperclassmen are paired with freshman classes to act as mentors and aid the students in their transition to college life. The Peer Leaders work with professors and offer students advice, study skills, information about events on campus and suggestions for things as soon as possible. to do in Tuscaloosa. The leaders meet “We know there is value in connectwith students both in and outside of ing first-year students to their instrucclass, sometimes taking them to restau- tors early on, and we know there is rants or off-campus events. value in peer-to-peer relationships,” “I really enjoyed just getting to know Orban said. the freshmen and seeing their exciteMiya Ball, a junior who mentored ment for campus and their nervousness a class called “Get Involved, Become about this new advenA Leader, Make a ture as well as being able Difference,” said Peer to kind of guide them, Leaders was a great answer questions and way to get leadership help them follow the right experience and learn path,” Kelsey Curtis, a about resources on junior who has particicampus. pated in Peer Leaders for “I was hesitant at two years, said. first, I’m not going to The program began in lie,” Ball said. “It was spring 2012. Applicants something new and out are interviewed and of my comfort zone. But — Kyle Jones trained in the spring and now I’m doing differpaired with classes the ent leadership activifollowing fall semester. ties and going to differProgram direcent conferences, so it’s tor Litsa Orban said really allowed me to try Peer Leaders was started to get other things that I never would have incoming students involved on campus thought I would have done before.”
If you want to get involved, it’s a great opportunity to meet with other UA students.
For the freshmen who participated, the program gave them a chance to familiarize themselves not only with the campus, but also with the community of Tuscaloosa. Taylor Martell, a freshman who was mentored by Ball, found the small classroom environment a good opportunity to meet and get close to other students. “For me it provided an outlet for any questions I had about how to get involved,” Martell said. “The peer leaders were very helpful because they’ve been here for years, so they know what’s available. And for the first class they asked us what our interests were and they based it off of that, and they did research and told us what clubs to get involved it, what to check out.” Kyle Jones, a sophomore who worked in a class called “Transitioning from Military Life to Campus Life,” said the value of the relationships he built as part of Peer Leaders was one of the biggest benefits. “If you want to get involved, it’s a great opportunity to meet with other UA students,” Jones said. “I can honestly say by the end of the fall semester, everyone that got involved in the program was a closeknit family. It was a great bonding experience. It made us feel a much more personal connection to UA and to other students.” Peer Leader applications will be available Jan. 31 on the First Year Experience website at fye.ua.edu.
Crystal Ticket Giveaway! Come pick up your Crystal Ticket at the housing fair WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15 FROM 10 AM - 1 PM for a chance to win an iPad Air!
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p.4 John Brinkerhoff | Editor letters@cw.ua.edu
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
COLUMN | HEALTH
Venture outside campus, explore city of Tuscaloosa By Henry Downes | Staff Columnist
3. It is beautiful television. Even the early seasons deliver breathtaking scenes of the past, future and alien. From ancient civilizations, far away planets, nearly unimaginable spaceships, detailed foreign cultures and the futuristic “New New York,” “Doctor Who” is a visual masterpiece that offers its audience an ocular treat. These breathtaking scenes support the Doctor’s struggle between saving humanity as an intergalactic Dark Knight and the viewers’ struggle to see humanity as an equal player with other species in our world and worlds beyond our solar system. Wrapped in delightful special effects and excellent costuming and makeup, “Doctor Who” delivers a post-human love letter to its viewers. And can’t we all benefit from a bit of subversive, radical decentering of humanity? I think so, I think so. So, do yourself a favor with the extra time you have on your hands now that college football has wrapped up for the season. Log onto Netflix, and jump into the world of “Doctor Who.”
There is a lot to like about The University of Alabama in the fall. The campus surges with electricity and pulses to the rhythm of our stadium shakers as every week and weekend is scripted by the rise and fall of the Crimson Tide. Sun-drenched Henry Downs autumn afternoons on the Quad are interrupted only by the tailgate tents. Saturday is a holy day of obligation, on Sunday we recover, and then we get ready to repeat it. Indeed, when the leaves change and the thousands of outsiders descend, our campus feels like the epicenter of this state – a postcard setting of the perfect college experience from September to November. There’s really nowhere else I’d rather be. January starts off significantly colder. With greyer, rainier days and no ready-made weekly rituals to schedule life around, the familiar drumbeat of the fall lulls to a more relaxed pace. Spring seems like a logical time to retreat into the cozy comfort zone which sprawls roughly from Publix to the Rec Center. Without a doubt, one could eat and exercise, get sick and find treatment, sin and find God and do just about everything else in-between without ever setting foot off University grounds. And with on-campus services and activities multiplying daily to meet swelling enrollment, there seems to be less and less reason to venture out at all from the safe confines that hug University Boulevard and Campus Drive. Let’s fight against that mentality this semester. With all the electricity of fall left behind for a while in the Superdome, spring is truly the perfect time to engage in new and exciting ways with the city of Tuscaloosa – to explore its people, its culture and its character. The University of Alabama is the city’s central economic engine, employer and cultural hub. But we’d do well to remember that there is much more to Tuscaloosa than the University: In many important ways, we live in a town with a college – not simply a “college town.” As a large constituency within this multi-layered community, it is our civic duty as students and citizens to respect local issues and embed ourselves in community life responsibly. That relationship became strained last semester as greek organizations came under fire for allegations of voter fraud in local elections. With community-polarizing issues like that (and more and more disoriented out-of-state students arriving in town every year) it is more critical than ever that the University and its students work hard to foster close ties and a healthy relationship with the city. Preserving these community dynamics is important for all of us because embracing our city’s local flavor can enrich the academic experience in ways which cannot be fully replicated on campus, nor fully appreciated outside its organic setting. We need to develop an integrated community experience, not just a sterile campus life. I didn’t really know what to expect when I first arrived here from New England, but this city has grown on me in ways which I couldn’t have anticipated. I see it now as my adopted home, and after three years I am still consistently surprised and excited by its energy. I’m convinced that the more honest effort we put into engaging with the city and its people, the more fun and interesting place we all will have to call home. So this spring, attend Mayor Walt Maddox’s town hall meetings and make your voice heard; explore the beautiful lakes and parks which surround us; support the local small businesses downtown on “First Fridays;” check out some great restaurants that don’t accept Dining Dollars; volunteer for a local non-profit; go for a bike ride or a run on the (literal) other side of the tracks in historic West Tuscaloosa. Just go be a tourist in your own city – you might be surprised by everything it has to offer. We already know how proud the city of Tuscaloosa is to be the home of this great university. And if you give this city and its wonderful residents a real chance this spring, I promise you will find plenty of reasons to be proud of Tuscaloosa.
Michelle Fuentes is a Ph.D. student studying political theory. Her column runs weekly on Tuesdays.
Henry Downes is a junior majoring in economics and political science. His column runs biweekly on Tuesdays.
MCT Campus
COLUMN | GOLDEN GLOBES
Golden Globe Awards stuck in time By Noah Cannon | Staff Columnist The 71st Annual Golden Globe Awards were broadcast live Sunday night, offering much of the same glamour, banter and self-congratulatory speeches we love/hate. Indeed, if there’s one thing Oscar night’s trashy, booze-filled counterpart has going for it, it’s consistency. The Golden Globes ceremony has been held in the same room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel for the past 53 years, and the show itself has seen little changes in format over its life. However, this year’s show served as a disappointing reminder of just how truly stuck in the past the Golden Globes are when the overwhelming majority of awards were given to white, straight, cisgender actors and filmmakers. The lily white proceedings ended with “12 Years A Slave,” a film with a largely black cast and creative team, deservedly winning the prize for best drama film, but not before the film lost its other six bids for awards. Don Cheadle, Sofia Vergara, Lupita Nyong’o, Oscar Isaac, Barkhad Abdi and Kerry Washington all went home emptyhanded. Chiwetel Ejiofor and Idris Elba both lost twice. In terms of LGBTQ winners and nominees, the pickings were even slimmer. Jim
LGBTQ young people are left with very little to aspire to as their identities are ignored at best and made the punchline of jokes otherwise.
Parsons was, to my knowledge, the only publicly LGBTQ nominee. Instead of seeing LGBTQ people included in the night’s festivities, viewers were made to sit through Jared Leto’s uncomfortable jokes about waxing his body to play a transgender woman dying of AIDS in “Dallas Buyer’s Club” (all fun and games for him from the sound of it) and Michael Douglas’s cringeworthy declaration of “no homo” (in as many words) as he accepted a trophy for playing Liberace. So why does all this matter? It’s crass and absurd to suggest that anyone deserves a Golden Globe simply because they’re not white, not straight, not cis, etc., right? And these award shows are meaningless, right? As silly as award shows may seem,
this lack of representation does matter. LGBTQ young people are left with very little to aspire to as their identities are ignored at best and made the punchline of jokes otherwise. Representation starts to matter. Similarly, when young people of color see nominees of color passed over repeatedly and instead made into monologue jokes for Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, representation matters. When a film so heavily lauded and beloved as “12 Years A Slave” walks away with just one award and none for its individual parts, representation matters. Another Sunday night television event was the premiere of the new season of HBO’s “Girls,” a show that has been repeatedly criticized for its lack of diversity in casting. “Girls” and its unapologetically monochromatic cast serve as a reminder of the importance of telling stories that are diverse and specific and engaging. Representation of marginalized groups can be miraculous in the way it opens doors for young people in those groups. In the words of Marian Wright Edelman, “You can’t be what you can’t see.” Noah Cannon is a junior majoring in telecommunication and film. His column runs biweekly on Tuesdays.
COLUMN | DOCTOR WHO
‘Doctor Who’ series worth diving into this spring By Michelle Fuentes | Senior Staff Columnist After years of saying no, I’ve finally given in to the guilty pleasure that is the British Broadcasting Company’s hit television series “Doctor Who.” And it has been glorious. Has this magnificent cinema distracted me from writing my dissertation? Sure! Has it taken away from precious time when I should be sleeping? You bet! Have these late-night Netflix binge sessions caused me to sleep late into the next day and reduce productivity? Absolutely. However, I can’t recommend the series enough. The series is led by an idiosyncratic madman and genius, the Doctor, with his blue phone booth, which cloaks his ultra high tech time-and-spaceship. In this ship, the Doctor, his traveling friends and viewers seek adventures across the expansive universe and through all of history. The Doctor and his traveling friends can meet Shakespeare one morning and witness the destruction of a planet a trillion years in the future that same evening. (Before you jump in, just give up your belief in time as a linear function and consider it to be a ball of “wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey stuff.”) In case you’re not willing to take my word, here are the top three reasons you should give “Doctor Who” a try too: 1. With action, drama and romance, there is something for everyone. The viewing of just one trailer will evidence
that there is plenty of science-fiction, planet-exploding action jam-packed into each episode. However, there is also an abundance of on-the-edge-of-your-seat suspense as well as sincere, genuine relationship-driven drama. If you’d like to jump into the franchise with suspense, start with “Blink” from season three, and if you’d like to get a taste of the beautiful relationships that drive so much of the show’s success, start with “Amy’s Choice” from season five. 2. If you don’t like the Doctor, it’s OK; the lead actor changes every few seasons. As the last of the Time Lords, an alien race from the planet of Gallifrey, the Doctor, who is some 900 years old, has the ability to regenerate into a new body many times. This regeneration conveniently takes place every few seasons. (Always at the end of the season too!) So, if Christopher Eccleston isn’t your cup of tea, no worries. David Tennant, starting in season two, and Matt Smith, starting in season five, bring the Doctor to life with brilliant quirks, snarky humor and a new handsome facade. (My first and favorite is Matt Smith. His acting and personality shine in “Vincent and the Doctor” from season five.)
“Doctor Who” is a visual masterpiece that offers its audience an ocular treat.
EDITORIAL BOARD
WE WELCOME YOUR OPINIONS
Mazie Bryant editor-in-chief
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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Last Week’s Poll: Did the winter weather affect your travel back to Tuscaloosa? (Yes: 40%) (No: 60%) This Week’s Poll: Who do you think will be the next Alabama quarterback? cw.ua.edu/poll
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Tuesday, January 14, 2014
NEWSIN BRIEF Session offers insight into SGA
Submitted University graduate students receive top honors at the 2013 SAS Analytics and Data Mining Shootout competition.
Students win analytics award By Samuel Yang | Staff Reporter A team of University of Alabama graduate students took home top honors at the 2013 SAS Analytics and Data Mining Shootout, which tests students in their ability to wrangle and tame what Michael Adams, professor of statistics and one of the team’s sponsors, called “massive amounts of data.” “You’re trying to understand a phenomenon and make some various important decisions. It’s a really messy environment in which to work,” Adams said. “It’s like analytical detective work.” Adams said the role of statisticians and business analysts is to match and merge information in a variety of formats from a variety of sources. The process begins with a team assessing what is being asked of them. In the competition, the UA team was asked to review hypothetical health campaigns in the state of New Hampshire and rank
their cost-effectiveness. After that, students began working with data that Adams described as “terribly dirty” – often missing, inconsistent or incomplete. “A lot of time was spent just getting that data ‘cleaned’ and ready to put into a model,” said Kevin Crandall, a team member who was working on an MBA with a concentration in analytics and is currently a law student at Harvard University. He called the experience useful and applicable to his line of work, especially as big data becomes more commonplace. The next part of the process was designing mathematical models and choosing which to use. Xuwen Zhu, a graduate student in statistics, said the model choice was the source of much discussion, but the team was ultimately able to work together and choose the model they felt was best. “I think in statistical modeling, you can never say that your model is the best,” Zhu
said. “You can always improve. But given the time period, I think we [did] our best.” Model selection was one of the six categories on which submissions were judged. However, Rong Zheng, also a graduate student in statistics, said completion of the project offers no closure when it comes to model selection. “We didn’t know if it was the right one or the wrong one or if it would make sense in the judges’ eyes,” she said. “At that moment, we only can tell that we’ve finished it.” Still, not all teams reach that moment of completion. Adams said only 26 of the 62 registered teams submitted a complete project. “Just submitting a solution was quite an accomplishment,” he said. “Not only did we have the first-place team, we had another team that was in the top six.” The final step of the project, and another category in which the team was judged, was communication, as determined by a final
presentation in Orlando, Fla. It was the chance to go on that trip that initially lured Zheng and Zhu into staying an extra month during the summer to complete what had been a semester-long endeavor. But, in the end, the team members point to more intangible rewards than a Florida vacation. “There was a lot of searching and trying to learn new things. It was a very good experience,” Semhar Michael, a statistics graduate student on the team, said. “It was a very good hands-on experience to have for the future job market.” Adams said the problem posed to the competing teams was deliberately challenging and realistic. “[It was designed to] take you as far from a textbook problem as you can imagine,” he said. “The point of this competition [was] to find out which universities are best preparing students to handle those kind of complex, challenging problems.”
In an effort to give an early outline of the SGA elections process, the UA Elections Board will hold a candidate interest meeting for students interested in running for SGA elected offices in the Ferguson Center Room 309 at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14. The Elections Board, made up of University of Alabama students, faculty and staff, manages and oversees all student elections and is separate from the SGA. The board will review the process and guidelines for upcoming SGA elections. While the elected executive and senate positions will be discussed, attendance is not mandatory for candidacy. Pre-election procedures and new campaign guidelines will also be discussed at the meeting. The meeting is the second of two, as the first interest meeting was held Monday night, drawing both students looking to familiarize themselves with the election process for the first time and returning SGA members. “These meetings are good, especially for first-year and transfer students so they can make decisions and be informed about the campaign process,” Kelli Knox-Hall, a member of the UA Elections Board, said. Freshman Terrance Lewis used Monday’s meeting to learn more about SGA and to weigh potential involvement opportunities at the Capstone. “I want to see what Alabama SGA has to offer,” Lewis said. “I know SGA is about serving the student body, and one of the principles I like to live by is service.” This is the UA Elections Board’s third year holding pre-campaign interest meetings, and Knox-Hall said the feedback has been positive. “We started two years ago so that students will have information and resources available so they can make decisions and be informed about the elections process,” Knox-Hall said. The meeting serves as a precursor to SGA election season, which will begin next month. All statements of candidacy and campaign staff lists are due Feb. 12. The Election Board will certify candidate applications on Feb. 13-14. Student organizations wishing to sponsor candidate forums should submit their proposals to sgaelections@sa.ua.edu. The official campaign period is set to begin Feb. 24. Candidate forums sponsored by student organizations will be held Feb. 24-March 10. Other forums for executive positions will be held throughout the campaign period. SGA elections will be held March 11, from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. More election dates and details can be found at vote.ua.edu.
UA negotiates with Chinese university CHINA FROM PAGE 1
their campus, with some of the coursework being taught by our faculty on their campus.” Students studying primarily elementary education would study at Tianhua College in Shanghai for the first few years of their undergraduate career. Faculty from The University of Alabama would teach summer classes at Tianhua as part of the program. For their senior year, students in the program would come to The University of Alabama and complete a student teacher program at area elementary schools. High-level administrators from Tianhua College including Weiping Shi, president of Tianhua College, visited The University of Alabama to get a better feel for the institution. “I think for them, they just needed to physically see the place and to physically visit with some of the key people who are going to be involved with the project, to be sure that everything looks in pretty good order for their students,” Hlebowitsh said. Lisa Gaskill, a doctoral student studying gifted education, was among the group leading the delegation on the tour. Rain kept most of the tour indoors. “We’ve had to change our plans because of the weather, unfortunately,” Gaskill said. “But we took them to the business library [and] the business school, because one of the delegates is the dean at the business and management school. We will end up here in the education department, and we will also stop by one of the classes.” Despite the inclement weather, Shi thought the visit was successful. “We got a very good impression,” Shi said. “It’s great to be here and feel quite at home. They are well-organized
CW | Austin Bigoney The University hopes to partner with Tianhua College in Shanghai for a future exchange program. programs, and the president of the University found time to meet us in her office. We just got very effective discussions with our colleagues here. This is a very good start.” Another member of the delegation mentioned that people at the University had been very nice during their visit. Representatives of both the College of Education and Tianhua College said they hope that any agreement would be mutually beneficial. “For us, we realized there are some areas, like elementary educations, combined sciences, social sciences, social studies – these are common areas we developed very recently,” Shi said. “We lack experiences. Here, there’s rich experiences in these fields, so we can learn a lot.” “They certainly have some things to teach us as well,” Hlebowitsh said. “But I think what they’re looking at is what is the sort of American tradition of teacher education and can they select pieces that will make sense or supplement the experiences of their students.” Craig Shwery, director of international programs in the College of Education, said a partnership with Tianhua College would bring international recognition to The University of Alabama while providing research opportunities for faculty.
“We can become internationally known,” Shwery said. “Our program would become internationally known, and not just in South America … We benefit so much by this international teaching, that it truly helps us become more effective teachers.” Although any agreement would likely start with the three-one program, Hlebowitsh and Shwery said they are hopeful that initiatives like this could grow over time and produce additional opportunities. “We’re starting with something very modest here and hoping that the nature of it will produce more possibilities for cooperation and exchange and partnership,” Hlebowitsh said. Many details still have to be worked out before an agreement is made, including which courses will be offered, who will teach the courses in Shanghai and how other logistical needs will be met. “We’re still at the very tentative stages of discussion and agreement, but if we play our cards right I think that we’ll be able to have a good friendly partner with whom we’ll be able to expand and do all sorts of interesting things in the future,” Hlebowitsh said. Shi was also optimistic about the future. “The prospect is so bright for both sides,” Shi said.
p.6 Abbey Crain | Editor culture@cw.ua.edu
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
CW | Austin Bigoney Music performed on an organ on the first floor can be translated into music played by the 25 bells of Denny Chimes and stored in a digital song bank.
Chimes kept timeless by student, faculty By Elayne Smith | Contributing Writer For most, the small white-tiled room behind the metal door is a mystery. But for Nawar Yossef, unlocking the door to Denny Chimes is part of his job. Yossef, a second-year graduate student receiving his master’s degree in organ performance, plays in Denny Chimes as part of his assistantship. For the third semester, Yossef will be playing the organ that’s nestled against the white walls of the room in the base of the tower. As his fingers stroke keys, signals are sent to a black box mounted to a wall behind him. This system, an electronic carillon, then sends the signals to 25 bronze bells that are hidden behind a trap door looming above his head. “Every time I go there, go up the stairs, pull out the key and open the door, I can tell people in cars and people walking by are staring,” Yossef said. “It’s unusual to see a person going into the Chimes when most people don’t know how
to get in or how the chimes work or where the sound is coming from.” Denny Chimes was built in 1929 to honor George Denny, president of The University of Alabama at the time. Denny was considering leaving the University, so the students held a fundraiser to erect the bell tower, placed directly across from the President’s Mansion, as a reminder to Denny of his impact. Mike Largin, director of infrastructure support for financial affairs, is in charge of maintaining the tower. Largin said in the original tower, J.C. Deagan chimes were installed. A large frame with metal tubes of various lengths, the system was then replaced with an electronic system in 1945. In 1986, the 25 bells were installed. The current system was installed in 2009 and consists of an electronic carillon, allowing a performer to play the organ and have the key strokes correspond with the bells. Yet another type of keyboard can control the chimes; in the corner opposite the organ sits a small desk and a computer programmed
with songs that play daily. “We have upwards of 100 songs programed at this time,” Largin said. “The electronic carillon also has the ability to play songs in a variety of voices, including a replica voice of the original J.C. Deagan chimes, English bells, Flemish bells, harp or the actual cast bronze bells.” At 4 p.m. each day, the system chooses a song to play. For special occasions, the performer is brought in. Denny Chimes will play for memorial services, special requests, celebrating campus achievement or for football games. As the chaos of game days extended across campus, Yossef played the chimes. “My favorite part of playing the chimes is playing the alma mater because of what it stands for. I would be playing it and thinking of the people outside and how they like that song,” Yossef said. “When I play the chimes, I can hear from outside that people become closer.” Yossef has basic songs to perform for certain occasions but otherwise is left to choose songs
to reflect the ceremony. He plays 10 to 15 times a semester. He said playing in Denny Chimes feels no different than performing in a practice room, but can be difficult at times. “The most challenging part is timing: beginning on time and making sure everything is synchronized in terms of that timing to when I begin to when I end,” Yossef said. Largin performs maintenance jobs like checking each bell, replacing bell clappers and fixing any other damage once a month. Once a year, he performs a preventative maintenance check that covers the tower from top to bottom to make sure everything is still functional. “I feel extremely privileged to be able to support Denny Chimes,” Largin said. “To me it’s an icon of The University of Alabama. From 1929 onward, alumni come and expect to hear Denny Chimes still playing the way it was playing when they were here. The majority of alumni associate the ringing of the chimes with their time here at the University. It’s important that we maintain that.”
COLUMN | FOOD
Not-so-healthy Nutella still popular despite controversy With the ringing in of 2014 comes the onslaught of New Year’s resolutions, many of which are focused on altering the physical body in some capacity. Whether it to be to get healthier, fitter, in better shape, trimmer or any number of other euphemistic health terms – everyone seems to be kicking into high gear with new diet and exercise plans. As someone who frequently cycles between periods of either steady but not extreme exercise or complete stagnancy, I have decided not to make a resolution to get healthier, skinnier, fitter or (insert other adjective here) this year. Instead, I’m going to continue my regular diet and exercise habits, my favorite of which includes upholding what I consider to be a fairly accurate stereotype of college-age females dipping anything and everything in a jar of everyone’s favorite hazelnut spread, Nutella. Introduced to the public of Alba, Italy, in 1964, almost 50 years later Nutella is sold worldwide and marketed stateside by Ferrero USA Inc. Over the past five to 10 years, Nutella’s popularity in the U.S., as well as the rest of the world, has grown exponentially. One jar of Nutella is sold throughout the world every 2.5 seconds, which means with the U.S. Census Bureau figure that one person is born every 8 seconds, the world is producing and selling Nutella about three times faster than it produces people. Additionally, in 2009 Nutella was the third most “liked” page on Facebook, only trailing our nation’s president Barack Obama and America’s favorite drink, Coca-Cola. Despite Ferrero’s clever marketing of Nutella as a harmless hazelnut spread, in reality Nutella’s melted-chocolate-bar taste is indicative of its true nutritional value. By weight, Nutella contains 70 percent saturated fat and processed sugar, which means in a standard serving of two tablespoons there are 200 calories, 11 grams of fat and 21 grams of sugar. In 2012, Nutella came under scrutiny when a California mother sued Ferrero for false advertising by claiming that she fed her 4-year-old Nutella daily under the false pretense that it was part of a healthy, balanced breakfast. In keeping with the tried-and-true American tradition of ridiculous lawsuits, the case went to court, and Ferrero agreed to a $3 million settlement.
DO Y
OUR
By Tara Massouleh
HOME WORK Wikimedia Commons Ferrero USA Inc. has faced lawsuits over the marketing of Nutella as a healthy spread. As part of the settlement, Ferrero revamped its advertising campaign and added nutrition facts to the front labels of Nutella jars. Additionally, Nutella buyers, who were willing to go through the trouble of filing a claim and succumbing to the embarrassment of admitting Ferrero marketing duped them, could receive reimbursement for up to five jars of Nutella for a total value of $20. Personally, I might file the claim to receive the $20 then turn around and buy the five jars of Nutella. However, the 2012 case does not seem to have had any affect on the popularity of Nutella. Despite the shocking revelation that Nutella is, in fact, not entirely healthy, America and the rest of world seem to be just as enamored with the product as ever before. Just last month Chicago opened a new Italian-themed food emporium ingeniously titled “Eataly.” Of the 15 restaurants opened in Eataly, Nutella Chicago was easily the most buzzed about and undoubtedly the most eagerly awaited. Serving such specialties as Nutella cannolis, Nutella crepes and much more, Nutella Chicago perfectly exemplifies America’s obsession with the sinful spread. While Ferrero’s website now suggests Nutella as a mere “complement” to nutritious breakfast foods only to be used in “moderation,” I have a feeling that with new restaurants devoted solely to Nutella-themed menu items, America’s Nutella addiction is only likely to strengthen with every devilish spoonful consumed straight from the jar. I know I certainly won’t be giving up the treat anytime soon.
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Tuesday January 14, 2014
Submitted Virciglio’s 2011 production, “The Realm,” was the first live performance to be performed in stereoscopic 3D.
Dance faculty member branches into film By Drew Pendleton | Contributing Writer Whether in the dance studio or on a film set, John Virciglio said he has always considered himself an “outside-the-box thinker.” Besides his position as an adjunct dance faculty member at The University of Alabama, Virciglio also owns and operates a film production company. Virciglio said he has always been influenced by his childhood experiences as a dancer. “I always enjoyed the energy of dance,” Virciglio said. “My aunt ran a studio in Florida, and my older sister danced, so I was able to meet a lot of people who I had a lot in common with. That’s where I learned a lot about discipline and coordination, and those are two things that have helped me to this day.” Virciglio said the idea for Sharkbite Productions, based in Birmingham, stemmed from his collegiate experience, which is when he discovered videography. “When I was teaching during my collegiate years, I got bored of teaching the same kind of class all the time,” Virciglio said. “So I came up with a class where students would learn how to make a music video.” The course, called “The OnLocation Video Experience,” allowed Virciglio to explore videography. He said the concepts, attention to detail and dedication of the filmmakers he observed while watching behind-the-scenes DVDs of feature films was influential. Following the success of his course, Virciglio attended film school at the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles, Calif. When he returned to Alabama and founded Sharkbite Productions in 2004, he said he found a different landscape than before. “When I left, there were only two film studios around Birmingham,” Virciglio said. “When I came back, there were
tons, so I had to find a different niche.” Producing anything from dancers’ audition reels to high school athletics and projects ranging from small-scale and local to large-scale and national, Sharkbite Productions acts as a creative outlet, both for those involved in the production and for Virciglio himself. “We’re always looking for something new,” Virciglio said. “Anything they want, we can do. We’re all about the creative process.” Expanding to include graphic design and theatrical productions, the development of Sharkbite allowed Virciglio to bring the theatricality of dance and technology of film together. Following the 2008 production of “Frequency,” a multimedia piece that he produced, directed and choreographed in collaboration with the departments of art, engineering and telecommunication and film, Virciglio broke new ground in 2011 with “The Realm,” the first live performance to be performed in stereoscopic 3-D. “‘The Realm’ was all about creating a real-life environment in real time,” Virciglio said. “The performers were live, but their environment was in virtual 3-D. When the actors and audience put on the glasses, everything came to life.” Despite Sharkbite’s growth over recent years, Virciglio said he has been able to find a balance between the demands of Sharkbite and his teaching duties in Tuscaloosa. Depsite his success, Virciglio said he has been presented with several challenges in the production industry due to the industry’s oversaturation. “With the advent of the iPhone, anyone can go be a production house these days,” Virciglio said. “It’s hard to find a quality-driven individual, so if I’m doing a project, it’s got to be high-caliber.” Cornelius Carter, a professor of dance and director of the dance program at the University, said Virciglio’s
incorporation of technology and dance proves that he has an eye for what the future holds for dance. “John’s ahead of the game,” Carter said. “He’s very innovative. Very few people can see into the future, and John has a vision.” While Virciglio has been busy with Sharkbite’s largerscale projects, he said he has been devoting his time to the University, as he is currently working on a dance for the Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre’s spring production. Carter said he has enjoyed working with Virciglio at the University. “He’s a fantastic colleague,” Carter said. “It’s been great to watch him grow.” Virciglio said he has also been able to use his skills in videography and technology to help his students and encourage them to expand their skill sets. “On ‘The Realm,’ I worked with students to give them the skill set to do things themselves,” Virciglio said. “For any dancer, having the ability to create your own productions and do your own graphics and editing and video makes you a better hire.” Carter said technology skills are vital to aspiring dancers in the industry. “Most companies these days ask for websites and video reels,” Carter said. “If you don’t have a solid, clear online presence for yourself, you can’t get a job. Your presence determines future, and you have to be clear on how you present yourself.” Virciglio said he has advice for aspiring dancers and film producers alike. “Honestly, the first step is genuine, driven passion,” Virciglio said. “You have to be open to all opportunities, because whether you like it or not, you can always learn from it.”
Eating disorders more prevalent in springtime By Margaret Wilbourne | Contributing Writer Students are flocking to the gym to get in shape and slim down as they try to meet their New Year’s resolutions and prepare for spring break, but the goal of weight loss is not an easy goal to meet, and some find themselves stressed out and endangering their health. According to studies done by the National Eating Disorders Association, eating disorders typically begin between the ages of 18 and 21, the typical collegiate years. A 13-year study conducted at one U.S. college shows an increase in eating disorders by 23 to 32 percent among women and 7.9 to 25 percent among men. Spring seems to invite increases in risky eating practices, which can lead to eating disorders. Student Health Center nutritionist Sheena Gregg, assistant director of health education and prevention, said there are several factors behind the increase. “This can be due to students wanting to prepare for spring break by engaging in extreme forms of diet and exercise, or feeling pressured to lose weight [gained] from the holidays,” Gregg said. “Diets are difficult to maintain, and in turn, many people develop dangerous eating habits, which can then lead to eating disorders.” Dabney Powell, a junior majoring in nutrition, warned against methods guaranteeing to help you drop pounds quickly. “We did just get out of the holidays, and people consume a lot more and don’t work out as much,” Powell said. “They latch onto fad diets or skip meals where they don’t need to – this will only slow down your metabolism.” Powell said cutting out certain foods, rather than food entirely, is more effective and healthier for the body. “Not eating won’t help,” Powell said. “Instead, cut out salt, sugar, butter. Rather than go for processed foods, take time to keep yourself healthy – make it a priority to fix fresh foods.” Stress to slim down to what one considers a good spring break body or to lose extra weight from the holidays can also lead to dangerous habits. Kate Crawford, a counselor for Bradford Health Services in Northport, helps clients deal with stress, which can help prevent relapses into unhealthy behaviors. “Stress is difficult because it will always be a trigger and will always be present in a person’s life,” Crawford said. “I think the awareness of one’s own stressors and triggers can be benefi-
WHAT TO KNOW • According to NIMH the average age of onset for anorexia is 19 years old, bulimia is 20 years old, and binge eating disorder is 25. • Eating disorders are the mental illness with the highest mortality rate. • Nationally, freshman gain between 2.5 and 3.5 lbs on average, as compared to the mythical “Freshman 15.” • 25.5% of college athletes exhibited eating disorder symptoms at a subclinical level in a study of 204 female athletes from 17 different spots at three universities. • 35% of “normal” dieters progress to pathological dieting, and 20-25% progress to partial or full-syndrome eating disorders. http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/ sites/default/files/CollegeSurvey/ CollegiateSurveyProject.pdf cial to stop the ‘automatic’ response to stress that people adopt, [like dieting].” The University offers options to those seeking safe weight loss plans or who feel they might be using dieting or food restriction in an unhealthy way. “Resources are available on campus to help students reach their health or weight goals in an appropriate manner,” Gregg said. “Nutrition counseling appointments [are available] at the Student Health Center.” Gregg recommended contacting the UA Counseling Center as the first step if concerned about yourself or a friend who may be exhibiting dangerous eating behaviors. “Treatment and recovery for eating disorders involves a team approach of mental health therapy or counseling, medical observation from a primary care physician or psychiatrist and medical nutrition therapy provided by a registered dietitian,” Gregg said. For those seeking a support group on campus, Eating Disorders Anonymous is available to UA students. For more information, call (205) 348-0943. Body Acceptance and SelfKindness, a support group led by Counseling Center staff, can be reached at 348-3863.
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Tuesday, January 14, 2014
FOOTBALL
Robinson and Allen form defensive duo
CW | Austin Bigoney Defensive linemen A’Shawn Robinson and Jonathan Allen consistently placed pressure on opposing quarterbacks, including Oklahoma’s Trevor Knight in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. By Marc Torrence | Sports Editor When freshman defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson arrived on Alabama’s campus this fall, he made a bold proclamation, and he wasn’t totally joking. Robinson said he wanted to win the Heisman Trophy, an award usually reserved for quarterbacks and running backs. “They laughed at me when I said I wanted to win the Heisman,” Robinson said with a smile after the Sugar Bowl. “They said it’s impossible for a defensive lineman to do it. But I feel if I keep working and getting better, I can possibly win the Heisman.” This season, he and fellow freshman Jonathan Allen were regulars in Alabama’s defensive line rotation, which runs six and seven deep at times. While Allen is a smaller speed rusher, Robinson used his size and strength to move blockers, and he finished the season second on the team in tackles for a loss
If you don’t have work ethic, you’re not going to do anything here. — Jonathan Allen
with eight, and led the team in sacks with 5.5. Allen made 15 tackles on the year, three for a loss, and was credited with half a sack. “A’Shawn has a strength that I’ve never seen,” defensive end Jeoffrey Pagan said. “He’s one of the strongest guys I’ve ever met, and he’s just a freshman. He’s smart, and he’s just an animal out there. Jonathan Allen is fast, he’s really smart, and he has
really good instincts. I think both of them together are going to have a dangerous impact.” Listed at 6 feet 4 inches and 320 pounds, Robinson’s size is the first thing that stands out to people. But defensive coordinator Kirby Smart said as the season went on, the Fort Worth, Texas, native’s mastery of the smaller details is what made him so successful. “When we recruited him, we always thought he was going to be a special player, big size, speed guy, what you wanted athletically, didn’t know how developed he would be technically on the field,” Smart said. “He was a real raw talented guy. He’s come a long way, and he still has a long way to go. But he’s a talented young man. He’s worked his tail off this year to contribute, especially mentally picking up the defense early on.” Allen turned out to be a nice complement to Robinson. At 6 feet 3 inches and
264 pounds, Allen relies on his quickness rather than his size. “It was definitely the work ethic,” Allen said. “If you don’t have work ethic, you’re not going to do anything here. You have to earn the trust of the coaches, work hard, you’ve got to apply what you’ve learned off the field on the field.” The pair’s early development was a big help for Alabama this season, as it was able to regularly bring players in and out of the game, keeping everyone fresh as the game wore on. There’s no reason to believe that won’t continue to be the case, and Robinson and Allen’s roles should only increase with Pagan’s departure to the NFL. “Me and A’Shawn, we’re very close on and off the field,” Allen said. “We just made up our minds that we wanted to be great. And if you want to be great, you have to work hard all the time. And we were committed to us.”
INTRAMURALS
Intramurals offer ways to stay in shape By Danielle Walker | Staff Reporter As students begin to ease back into their normal routines, spring intramurals are also beginning at the University of Alabama Student Recreation Center. For some students like Matt Schmitt, intramural sports serve as a way to stay in shape and compete in a sport that they love. “I think intramurals are an awesome way to be active at school, outside of academics,” Schmitt, a fifth-year senior majoring in business marketing, said. “It’s a great way to meet people with similar interests and just a ton of fun.” Geena Marshall, a sophomore majoring in public relations, has participated in intramurals for two years. She said she loves playing intramurals, so she ran and was elected for the position of the director of intramural sports in her sorority. “I think intramurals are a great way to do what you love to the fullest,” Marshall said. “You aren’t pressured by practicing your life away or doing poorly in front of your coach or teammates because there are no coaches. You are simply out there to have fun and do what you love.” Some of the 16 intramural sports th offered
to students this semester include basketball, racquetball, soccer, bowling, softball, flag football, ultimate frisbee and kickball. Schmitt, who will participate in basketball, soccer, softball, flag football and kickball, said he is looking forward to the spring season of intramurals. “I’m most looking forward to getting back out there and competing, getting back in shape and, hopefully, winning a lot of games,” Schmitt said. Anyone can sign up for intramurals. There are four leagues students can sign up under: general participation, greek organizations, honors students and residential communities. The teams in these leagues will compete throughout each sport’s fiveweek season. If students are interested in playing an intramural sport, they can join one through the intramurals registration website, IMLeagues, which can be found on the University Recreation website, urec.sa.ua.edu. Once they are registered with IMLeagues, students can join existing teams as free agents or join a team with their friends. For questions and more information, contact the Office of Intramurals online or at 348-8055.
SPORTSIN BRIEF Bo Davis to coach defensive line Alabama has hired Bo Davis as its new defensive line coach, Southern California coach Steve Sarkisian confirmed in a release. BamaOnline.com and TideSports.com both reported the news Monday afternoon. Chris Rumph left to take the same job at Texas. Davis spent the last three years at Texas working under head coach Mack Brown. Davis was hired by USC last Tuesday before being lured back to Alabama. Before Texas, Davis worked under Saban at Alabama, the Miami Dolphins and LSU.
Williams to miss 2014 season Alabama junior gymnast and All-American Kayla Williams will miss the remainder of the 2014 season with an achilles injury, coach Sarah Patterson said on Monday. Williams, who was voted by her teammates as one of three leaders before the season, injured herself in warmups before Friday’s season opening meet.
Myneni chosen for Davis Cup Former Alabama tennis player Saketh Myneni will play for his home country of India in the Davis Cup Jan. 30 - Feb. 2. The Davis Cup will be held at the ITC Tennis Stadium in Indore, India. It is the world’s largest annual international team competition in sports, with 130 nations taking part in the event in 2013. Compiled by Keegan Elsner and Marc Torrence
WHAT TO KNOW Basketball, Jan. 14-21 Racquetball, Jan. 21-28 Indoor soccer, Jan. 21-28 Team bowling, Jan. 28-Feb. 4 Softball, Feb. 4-11 4v4 flag football, Feb. 11-18. Ultimate frisbee, Feb. 18-25 UREC fitness challenge, Feb. 25-March 4 March Madness pick ’em, March 11-18 World Cup soccer, March 18-April 3 Basketball skills challenge, March 31-April 4 Golf scramble, April 1-8 Sand volleyball, April 1-8 Homerun derby, April 8-15 Kickball, April 8-15 CW File Intramural sports offered include ultimate frisbee, basketball, racquetball, soccer and several others.
COLUMN | BASKETBALL
J.R. Smith benched for good reasons By Caroline Gazzara If you haven’t seen the latest joke in the NBA, let me be the first to tell you. It’s New York Knicks’ guard J.R. Smith. Yes, the same J.R. Smith that has had multiple issues in recent years. Now before I tell you what he did and why he was fined $50,000, try to remember the feeling you had when an elementary school bully went without punishment or received a punishment you didn’t see fit. That feeling sucked, right? Smith didn’t get fined because of a fight or anything violent; he was fined because he tried to untie an opposing player’s shoelaces. He was caught trying to do this twice before the NBA stepped in and fined him. And then he was benched last week. This isn’t his first altercation while playing for the Knicks. In fact, he’s racked up more than $105,000 in penalties. First off, why would a team continue to put up with a player who has yet to learn from multiple fines? Many have said he has learned his
He’s no different than any other player who just wants to play the game.
lesson, but has he really changed? Sure, he was benched for an entire game last Thursday, but do you really learn after one game? I get that he is a valuable player. He is the current Sixth Man of the Year, but why on earth would you let him get away with multiple incidents without due punishment? As Sir Isaac Newton said, “With every action there is an equal but opposite reaction.” But unlike Newton’s law, Smith keeps getting away with his childish antics. I’m glad someone finally stepped up and benched him. He needs to learn that at 28 years old, you need
to grow up and represent your team. But why let him pretend he walks on water when he is just like the rest of his team? He’s no different than any other player who just wants to play the game. Smith got a toe across the fine line between sportsmanlike and unsportsmanlike and exploited it. He did this to see how far he could go, and what’s worse is that he continues to make childish mistakes. If you look up J.R. Smith, you can see countless articles from every sports media outlet saying he’s learned from his benching. He said it for this and for his drug incident in 2013. But you can only cry wolf so many times before people stop believing you have changed. As my mother said, “I don’t want to hear you say you’ve learned and changed from your mistake. I want to really see that you have.” I spent many weeks grounded because of foolish mistakes that I have truly learned from. Smith can say he’s changed, but until he proves it, I don’t see why we should believe him.
p.9
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Credit cards, loans, saving largest issues MONEY FROM PAGE 1
recent grads report that they are making that amount or less.” To bridge the expectation gap and to help students cope with unexpected high debt, John Nauss, a financial consultant at TIAA-CREF, suggests students begin financially preparing for the future where they are now in school. “At TIAA-CREF, we recognize how important it is for financial education to start early and continue throughout school years,” Nauss said. “As a company, we want to make sure that our future workforce is capable of competing in an ever-increasingly competitive global marketplace.” Nauss suggested one of the best ways to prepare for life after college is to create a budget. Caroline Fulmer, assis-
tant professor in the College of Human Environmental Sciences, said she believedcreating a budget and living within it now in college can be a valuable habit that will carry over after graduation. The three biggest areas that students do not manage well after college are temptation of credit, payments on student loans and saving money, Fulmer said. Budgeting is one of the best ways to combat those areas. “Most people have to live two to three months tracking their spending to formulate a good budget,” Fulmer said. “This is a great way to spend your last semester in school. If you do, you will have a better idea of how to budget when you take a job.” February is actually one of the best months to begin budgeting, said Fulmer. It is only 28 days and exactly four weeks. Fulmer said she also recommends budgeting week-to-week to practice budgeting. Often, she tells students
to budget income from all sources, such as income from a part-time job, student loans, parents, etc. Then budget outflows and categorize them as fixed or variable. Fixed outflows would be controlled at the beginning of the month, for example, rent. Variable outflows would be adjusted to meet the budget once the fixed have been set. They would be gas, food and entertainment. Fulmer also recommends budgeting a small amount per week for little things that may only cost $1 or $2. For example, coffee or something you may not want to have to calculate whether or not it will fit in the budget. She budgets about $10 per week for small, regular expenses like those. “You should be able to track to the penny where all your money goes,” Fulmer said. Another problem for students is getting their savings account started, and making payments to it regularly.
Logan Watson, an Alabama alumnus, said he has heard several of his peers say, “What’s the point in saving if you never get to enjoy it?” Watson worked for Regions Bank in Tuscaloosa as a financial services specialist after graduating in December 2011. He worked there until deciding to move to Colorado, where he currently lives. Dave Ramsey, a financial author and adviser, suggests putting $1,000 into savings before beginning to pay off loans or other debt, and Watson said he likes his model. “It’s important to have a rainy day fund,” Watson said. “You never know when your car may break down or something like that.” Not only can there be unexpected surprises, but monthly expenses may be more than what some students expect. “What they don’t think about it is starting up a household is very different from living in an apartment with their friends and only
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HOROSCOPES Today’s Birthday (01/14/14). Friends are the spark that makes this year so exceptionally hot. The first half of 2014 builds heat from physical action, social fun and spicy romance. Assess your passions mid-year, and a new direction appears. Handle financial affairs with typical discipline. Share your deepest spiritual and philosophical ideas with someone who gets them. Explore and discover together. 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 -- Family and home issues take the forefront today and tomorrow. The impossible seems real. Your instinct is right on target. Challenge your own beliefs and assumptions. Give up an unhealthy habit for today. Perfection is possible. Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is a 6 -- Ask questions. Don’t talk freely about finances yet. Update your skills today and tomorrow. There’s more money coming in. Study new developments. Intuitive insights point you in the right direction. Seeds are germinating in the dark. Gemini (May 21-June 20) -- Today is a 7 -- Beauty need not require the most expensive choice. Venture further out. This is a test. Where’s the money coming from? Push for a fantasy. Pamper a strained muscle. Things get lucrative today and tomorrow. Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Today is an 8 -- You’re getting more confident and creative today and tomorrow. Make new contacts while filling present orders. Your productivity matches your focus. Ask yourself simple questions like, “Which direction?” Relax at home and dream about your trip. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Get into planning today and tomorrow. Copy the itinerary. Get help building your dream. Consult your spiritual advisor. Raid your piggy bank. Conditions are improving. Contemplate your next move. Care for kids, animals and the garden. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is a 6
-- Get together with friends today and tomorrow. Travel to or across water. Send out invoices as soon as the work’s done. You’re in the mood to throw things out. Balance activity with peace. Naps are nice. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Career opportunities hold your attention today and tomorrow, although romance could distract. The next two days could be profitable, and there’s a shot at advancement. Believe in someone who believes in you. Go for it, then celebrate. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- Your wanderlust is getting worse. Collect an old debt, and save for a trip. Plan carefully. Things fall into place over the next few days. Strengthening your infrastructure is a good investment. You gain clarity. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- Deal with financial obligations today and tomorrow. Friends offer good advice. Don’t get cocky. Consider new information. Provoke laughter. Store provisions away for the future. Big changes happen. Measure carefully. Improve efficiency. Prayer and meditation are powerful tools. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is an 8 -- Vivid feelings and expression of love occupy you for the next two days. Self-esteem grows. Find a need and fill it. Negotiations resume. Ask for more and get it. Update your skills. Abundance is yours in this partnership. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is a 6 -- Clean up messes and finish tasks today and tomorrow. Nurse someone or something back to health. Love will find a way. Cut unnecessary spending. Get the facts. Fictional characters carry you into another world. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is a 7 -- Come up with creative and unusual ideas to follow a dream to success. An amazing development shifts the situation. Something you have stored away proves useful. Somebody nearby looks good. Find joy in simple pleasures.
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Fulmur cautioned students with credit cards, though. “I recommend using only up to half the amount,” she said. “Running it up to the top of the limit is not good for your credit score even when you are paying it off every month. Even if your credit card limit is only $500 and you pay it off at the end of the month, creditors will wonder, ‘What if the limit was $1,000? Would he or she spend up to the limit on that?’” College graduation is one of the most long-awaited days as well as one of the most dreaded. It brings real independence, but also a lot of real-world stress. The habits that are formed in college can carry over into life after graduation. “Frugality in little habits now can end up saving you lots of money later,” Watson said. “Those patterns can end up saving you lots. Even if you feel like it’s only $5 or $10 here and there, those patterns of saving will overflow into other areas too.”
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worrying about rent, food and gas,” Fulmur said. Watson said car insurance and cellphone bills also can be more than what a new graduate would expect. When the graduate is no longer part of a family plan, bills will go up. Watson’s is more than $100 a month for both. If a person is living alone, then the rent for an apartment or house will be much higher, and health insurance can be costly as well. One thing Watson said he would suggest to clients when he worked at Regions was to get a credit card with cash back rewards. Cards like Chase and Discover that offer cash back allow a person to begin building credit but also to make some money in return. “I suggest putting your normal expenses on it, pay it off in full every month, and you will save $5 here and $10 there,” Watson said. “I think it’s a strong piece of advice. Just don’t go wild with it. Use it wisely.”
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p.10 Marc Torrence | Editor sports@cw.ua.edu
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
GYMNASTICS
The University of Alabama
Crimson Tide
I can’t tell you how excited I was on Friday, Jan. 10 as I looked up into the student section of Coleman Coliseum just moments after the doors opened for Alabama Gymnastics’ first meet of the 2014 season, and saw the student section filling up and fast! Of the 12,971 fans that had the Coliseum rocking Friday night, the more than 2,700 Alabama students in attendance were at the heart of it all, screaming, dancing and cheering our ladies on to the best opening meet score in our history. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, our students are AMAZING! I can’t tell you how much your support means to our ladies. That’s one of the reasons that so many of our prizes and giveaways each week – the iPads, iPod shuffles, American Express gift cards and so much more – are geared toward the student section. We want you to know how important your support is to us. It’s also why I hope you’ll make plans to join us on Friday, Jan. 24 in Coleman Coliseum for our 10th annual Power of Pink meet, along with each and every one of our five remaining home meets against teams like Florida, Georgia, Arkansas, Stanford and – to finish off the regular season – Auburn! It’s going to be a great season, and we need you with us every step of the way. I want to thank The Crimson White, especially sports editor Marc Torrence, for the tremendous coverage we’ve received to this point in the season. The CW does a remarkable job of keeping the students up to date with everything going on with your Crimson Tide. So, once again, a big “THANK YOU” to our students for getting us off to such a great start and please keep bringing your passion and support to Coleman Coliseum.
University of Alabama Head Gymnastics Coach, Sarah Patterson
Sarah Patterson CW | Hannah Glenn
Patterson applauds student turnout CW File Six-time national championship coach Sarah Patterson energizes gymnasts at the UCLA meet last season.