THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 VOLUME 121 | ISSUE 74
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SERVING THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA SINCE 1894
Page to Stage
3 Towels at Rec
4 Our View
Folk singer Katie Campbell and writer Wayne Flynt bring to life Southern classics like “To Kill a Mockingbird” with the Page to Stage performance at the Bean Brown Theatre in their second collaboration with Theatre Tuscaloosa.
The University’s Rec Center began charging $4 per shower towel this month due to budget cuts. The new price will remain in effect at least through the end of the current semester.
The Crimson White Editorial Board calls for a presidential search that is transparent and includes input from a broad, representational cross section of the UA c community. c
NEWS | ADMINISTRATION N
Search for president to launch UA board has 8 months nths to hire next president nt By Rachel Brown | News Editor
The University of Alabama system is officially in the beginning stages esident. of the search for a new president. ner subCurrent President Judy Bonner o retire mitted her letter of intent to in September 2015 on Dec. 15, 2014, tees giving the Board of Trustees ct a nearly eight months to conduct ure presidential search and ensure en a smooth transition between or administrations. Chancellor he Robert Witt will spearhead the search for the 29th presidentt of the University. hip on “The search for leadership e most our campuses is one of the ncellor important things the chancellor einhart, undertakes,” said Kellee Reinhart, ations. vice chancellor for system relations. Reinhart said Witt will be handsng the on during entire process ing the of selecting esident. next president. [Hasselmo] is a The firstt step veteran search in the process elect an was to select consultant. outside search nt, and consultant, rrently – Kellee Reinhart – Witt is currently g Ann engaging sselmo, Die Hasselmo, former president of Hendrix earch. College, to serve during the search. “[Hasselmo] is a veteran search d. “She consultant,” Reinhart said. was the consultant when Dr. Witt ired 13 was recommended to be hired years ago.” The consultant’s role is to help cast a wide net across the country for top-notch candidates and to idenently be tify those who may not currently on the job market. ent ran An ad for the role of president on Jan. 9 in the Chronicle of Higher SEE PRESIDENT NTT PAGE 10
INSIDE briefs 2 newss 3 opinions 4 culture 7 sports 12
coming for the
CATS
Alabama basketball returns home to host unbeaten No. 1 Kentucky By Sean Landry | Assistant Sports Editor
Alabama basketball coach Anthony Grant came to the University just under six years ago, a former assistant to one of the top college basketball coaches in the country – Florida’s Billy Donovan – and fresh off an impressive record with mid-major Virginia Commonwealth. Since then, he’s built a team based on veteran athletes culled from impressive, if not five-star laden, recruiting classes, augmented by transfer athletes. His philosophy is one of hard work, of basketball played “94 feet, both ways,” which has had Alabama on the verge of breaking through as an SEC contender. SEE BASKETBALL PAGE 10
Captain Levi Randolph leads the Crimson Tide in scoring this season, averaging 15.1 points per game. CW / Layton Dudley
CONTACT email editor@cw.ua.edu website cw.ua.edu ttwitter @TheCrimsonWhite
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THURSDAY January 15, 2015
SCENE ON CAMPUS Karolyn Perry, a senior majoring in finance; Kiana Bryant, a junior majoring in management; and Kalyn Lee, a junior majoring in political science and communication studies, sell tickets to an O.G. Maco live performance. CW / Layton Dudley
P.O. Box 870170 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 Newsroom: 348-6144 | Fax: 348-8036 Advertising: 348-7845
EDITORIAL editor-in-chief Andy McWhorter editor@cw.ua.edu
TODAY’S EVENTS
CAMPUS BRIEFS
Art exhibit
Campus Movie Fest now accepting registration
WHAT: “Juvenile-in-Justice” by Richard Ross WHEN: 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. WHERE: Sarah Moody Gallery of Art
managing editor Tara Massouleh visuals editor Sloane Arogeti online editor Beth Lindly opinions editor Patrick Crowley chief copy editor Peyton Shepard news editor Rachel Brown
Photo exhibit WHAT: “Fishes of Alabama” WHEN: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. WHERE: Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center
culture editor Reed O’Mara sports editor Kelly Ward photo editor Pete Pajor lead designer Ashley Atkinson community manager Francie Johnson
ADVERTISING
Film exhibit WHAT: “Seek You” experimental film, video art and video installations WHEN: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m WHERE: Sella-Granata Art Gallery
advertising manager Keenan Madden 251.408.2033 cwadmanager@gmail.com
territory manager Chloe Ledet
205.886.3512 territorymanager@gmail.com
special projects manager Taylor Shutt 904.504.3306 osmspecialprojects@gmail.com
creative services manager Hillary McDaniel 334.315.6068
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 © 2014 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.
Physics tutoring WHAT: Free physics tutoring WHEN: 2-4 p.m. WHERE: 108 Osband Hall
Chemistry tutoring WHAT: Free chemistry tutoring WHEN: 3-5 p.m. WHERE: 310 Gorgas Library
Theater performance WHAT: Improbable Fictions present Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” WHEN: 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center
Any student wanting to make a movie by Tuesday, Jan. 20 can enter The University of Alabama’s Campus Movie Fest by registering at campusmoviefest.com/bama. Participants will receive a laptop with Adobe Creative Cloud, a Panasonic camera, external storage and training to make
their movie. Those who participate will have their movie shown as well as the potential to win the $300 first place prize. Compiled by Lauren Lane
University Programs to hold discussion on Paris shooting Wednesday, Jan. 21, University Programs will host a discussion about the recent terrorist attacks in Paris regarding Charlie Hebdo in Room 313 of the Ferguson Center. According to the event page, UP hopes to create a safe environment in which
students can be informed and able to debate their personal opinions on the issue at hand. Register for free at upua.tix.com. Compiled by Lauren Lane
Garner named fellow of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recognized UA associate professor and interim Student Health Center Executive Director Margaret Garner as a fellow. The academy cited Garner’s leadership in a campus-wide planning strategy to focus on specific health issues college students face, such
as alcohol and substance misuse, tobacco, mental health and eating disorders. Garner was recently awarded the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, the highest recognition for a University faculty member. Compiled by Lauren Lane
Astronomy department to host public comet viewing The University of Alabama is providing the public with six opportunities throughout this semester beginning Friday to search the sky using the school’s high-powered telescopes. Visitors are welcome to visit Gallalee Hall from 7 to 10 p.m. and view Comet Lovejoy, Jupiter and the Orion Nebula. The sightings will not happen again for another 8,000 years
according to the event listing and those who are interested are encouraged to attend. This event is being hosted by William Keel, professor of physics and astronomy. Compiled by Lauren Lane
Hudson Strode Program to host ‘West Side Story’ showing The Hudson Strode Program, part of the University’s English department, will present “West Side Story” free of charge Monday at 7:30 p.m. at the Bama Theatre. Anyone who is interested in seeing the movie or learning more about the Hudson
Strode Program in Renaissance Studies is welcome to attend. Compiled by Lauren Lane
Painting event WHAT: University Programs’ Late Night: Different Strokes WHEN: 8-10 p.m. WHERE: 2nd Floor, Ferguson Student Center
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Watoto Children’s Choir to perform weekend shows Central High School will host the Watoto Children’s Choir, an ensemble made up of 18 Ugandan orphans, at 7 p.m. Friday. Another show will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday during one of the services at University Church of Christ. The children will
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perform an all-new production and will share personal stories of their time with The Watoto Child Care Ministry.
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Compiled by Lauren Lane
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Editor | Rachel Brown Newsdesk@cw.ua.edu Thursday, January 15, 2015
$
Compass Scholarship Database currently holds more than 1,000 scholarships
The University of Alabama created Compass for about $85,000 compared to the University of Arizona’s database, which cost about $350,000 per year for three years. CW / Claire Whorton
Students create scholarship site By Alana Norris | Contributing Writer
During the fall of 2013, SGA Chief of Staff Mary Wills conceived the idea for an external scholarship database after reading about a similar program offered at the University of Arizona. She brought her idea to Mark Nelson, dean of the College of Communication and Information Sciences, when he was in Student Affairs and was met with enthusiasm and support. This year, her idea came to fruition when Compass Scholarship Search officially launched in early January. Compass Scholarship Search is an initiative made possible by a partnership between the SGA and management information systems students. The new online database is for University students who are looking for scholarship money to ease the financial burden of college. The website, compass.ua.edu, collects information from students when they log in for the first time. The database can then automatically search for every scholarship the student qualifies to receive. Direct links send students to the application form they need to fill out to be considered for the scholarship. “People think they’re not going to get a scholarship because they don’t have the GPA to get it, but when you actually look at some of these scholarships it’s not necessarily all about the GPA,” faculty mentor Brett Coburn said. “There’s a lot of them that are out there for people in certain life situations, people who are veterans trying to pay their way through college, people who come from regions of the country that are traditionally impoverished, people who are the first person in their family to go to college.” Students can favorite scholarships they are interested in to make them easy to find later. They can flag scholarships that have already been given out to notify the website maintenance team of outdated information that needs to be taken off the site. Compass currently accesses about
1,000 scholarship offers. The SGA and the MIS department hope to create a team that can continually add scholarships to the website. “The main goal is to help as many students as possible who have maximized internal resources and are looking externally but are overwhelmed,” Wills said. Wills said she found an article in a technology magazine about a program the University of Arizona put in place called Arizona Scholarship Universe. Alabama reached out to Arizona in hopes of buying their program, but Arizona was hesitant to sell because it worried it would cut into their students’ scholarship options. Alabama then decided to look internally and contract the MIS program on campus to undertake creating the website as a senior Capstone project. Arizona spent $350,000 a year for three years on their scholarship website, while Alabama was able to create Compass for about $85,000 over the past year. “This was a project that was studentinitiated, student-led, and then the system they came up with was studentbuilt,” Coburn said. “I’m incredibly impressed by what they’ve done. I think it’s a great sign overall of how strong the students are at this university, that we can come up with something ourselves that I see as better quality than what somebody paid a consultant for.” The team had a soft launch in the fall for MIS and SGA students to fix glitches and get feedback before the entire student body joined. Now they have started promoting the website for all undergraduate students to access. Shawn Branham, a senior majoring in management information systems, worked on setting up the website. “Yesterday alone we had 250 people sign up for it,” Branham said. “It’s gaining popularity and people are starting to notice it.” Branham said they hope to have the website linked to myBama soon.
Stormwater runoff is the rain and melting precipitation that flows off streets, rooftops, lawns, and farmland. The flowing water carries salt, sand, soil, pesticides, fertilizers, leaves, oil, litter, and many other pollutants into nearby waterways. In developed areas much of the land is covered by buildings and pavement, which do not allow water to soak into the ground. Storm Sewers are used to carry the large amounts of runoff to nearby waterways.
Emily Fields, a senior majoring in nursing, works out at the University Recreation Center, which recently began charging $4 each for shower towels. CW / Katie Shepherd
Rec Center charges $4 each for shower towels By Katie Shepherd | Assistant News Editor
Upon returning to classes after winter break, many students were surprised and angered to find the University Recreation Center no longer offers free use of shower towels. “As high as the tuition is already, they should be throwing them in for free,” said John Dugdale, a sophomore majoring in finance. Previously, the University Recreation Center offered both smaller workout towels and larger shower towels upon request at no cost to patrons. Under a new policy which became effective Jan. 5, patrons who wish to use shower towels must purchase them for $4 each. Ryan Wyatt, a junior majoring in finance, said though he prefers to use the smaller workout towels, which will remain free of cost, he is angered by the new policy. “I think it’s ridiculous,” he said. “As a student we pay for enough already.” George Brown, executive director of University Recreation, said students are not the only ones who are upset by the new policy. The change in policy came as a result of budgetary necessity. “The only reason was budget,” he said. “The sheer volume of towels that we were having to purchase and repurchase to maintain this service, coupled with a budget that was pretty tight and continues to be pretty tight, just proved to be a very unsustainable operation.” Andre Love, director of University Recreation Programs, said a large number of towels are lost or damaged throughout the semester, which became a problem of sustainability. “For whatever reason the towels disappear,” he said. “There’s a service we’ll ask for the towels, and usually by the time we make it through the semester, between the laundering of them, they are pretty beat up. With the loss also, some that are being stolen or misplaced, it’s a combination of those things.” Brown said the intent of the new policy is to only be temporary, and University Recreation is already in the process of developing a better system. He said he is working alongside Love and Kristin
Durham, director of University Recreation Services, to create an alternative to the new policy. “What we are doing right now is we are analyzing for the remainder of at least the spring semester, perhaps even the summer,” Brown said. “We are looking at this reduction in service and we, in that time, feel like we can give ourselves some time to not only save our budget, quite frankly, but secondarily we can research ways that maybe we can reinstitute it and bring it back.” Brown said one of the options they are considering is a for-fee service which would allow patrons to pay a certain fee per month in order to have swipe-in access to a clean shower towel upon each visit to the Rec Center. Durham said this potential system would work similarly to the current membership check-in process, and would likely be on a monthly basis. “If you paid that fee for a month, your action card would be activated, you could swipe at the equipment desk and get a towel, and then turn it back in to be laundered,” she said. Though University Recreation has begun planning for a new towel system, Brown said what is valued most is student opinions. “We are very anxious and hoping to get some patron feedback in the coming months on this,” he said. “We are anxious to see two things: whether people are willing to pay for a towel service, and if so, at what price.” Brown encouraged students to offer their opinions on possible towel rental policies through the student affairs website’s complaint portal or through contacting University Recreation directly. “Students are a very powerful catalyst for change, and we appreciate that,” he said. Brown said the University Recreation hopes to make an announcement of their new policy plan by this summer. Presently, Rec Center patrons still have free access to workout towels upon request, and can purchase a shower towel from the equipment desk for $4, which can be paid for with cash, credit card or BamaCash.
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Editor | Patrick Crowley Letters@cw.ua.edu Thursday, January 15, 2015
OURVIEW
Search must include more student input
Tribune News Service
COLUMN | POLITCAL CORRECTNESS
Islamic faith not to blame for tragedies in Paris NATHAN
James Staff Columnist
It’s hard to know how to respond to Joe Puchner’s recent column on political correctness. On the one hand, I understand the need for reservation when speaking about such sensitive topics as religion. On the other hand, Puchner’s comments are so logically inconsistent and veer so close to outright Islamophobia that I feel compelled to respond. The thrust of Puchner’s argument is that extremist Muslims are “protected by a shield of political correctness.” He asks, “Why is it okay to take cheap shots at the Pope for following his religion, but not okay to call out a Muslim extremist for his acts of terrorism?” First of all, let me say how odd is it that Puchner doesn’t think the Pope should be held to a higher moral standard than terrorists. Second, I would like to point out Puchner’s comments aren’t at all reflective of reality, because Muslim extremists have been more harshly condemned by our culture than perhaps any group since Soviet Russia.
Members of both political parties assert that ISIL is not only evil, but must be destroyed to protect our country. And the recent attacks in Paris have been broadly condemned as one of the worst atrocities in recent memory. Furthermore, I have never heard anyone argue that it is not okay to criticize al-Qaeda, ISIL, Hamas or any other Islamist terrorist organization. Puchner‘s assertion that Catholic leaders are under constant attack is similarly perplexing, because I’m hard-pressed to think of a time that the media attacked Catholic individuals rather than Catholic doctrine. For example, despite Puchner’s claims, there is no article on The Crimson White criticizing Pope Francis. Most of the criticisms of Catholicism I’ve seen involve either sex abuse scandals or the role of Catholic doctrine in the public sphere, both of which I think are topics deserving of discussion. At this point, I’d like to address the most worrisome element of Puchner’s column – the suggestion, thinly hidden in subtext, that ordinary Muslims are to blame for terrorism. Early in his piece, Puchner complains political correctness has led some to claim that we “should not condemn the entire religion of Islam because of these attacks.”
EDITORIAL BOARD Andy McWhorter editor-in-chief Tara Massouleh managing editor Beth Lindly online editor
I would like to ask Puchner: What’s wrong with not condemning the entire religion of Islam for terrorism? Approximately 1.6 billion people are Muslim. Should they all be accountable for the actions of three French extremists? Should we blame liberal businessmen in Saudi Arabia, conservative Shiites in rural Iraq and third-generation immigrants in France? If the answer is yes, should we blame every single person for every atrocity committed by those on the fringes of their religion? Puchner’s column ends on a threatening note: “Our inability to stand against [violent extremists] has been hampered by this shield of political correctness, ultimately leading to grave and deadly consequences.” I’d hate to believe that when Puchner criticizes “political correctness,” he’s really talking about Islamic tolerance. And I’d especially hate to believe he’s blaming Islamic tolerance for the recent tragedy in France. But given recent comments to that effect by pundits like Bill Maher, I think it’s important to take the subtext of Puchner’s column seriously – and to expect better in the future. Nathan James is a senior majoring in psychology. His column runs weekly.
WE WELCOME YOUR OPINIONS Sloane Arogeti visuals editor Patrick Crowley opinions editor Peyton Shepard chief copy editor
Letters to the editor must contain fewer than 300 words and guest columns fewer than 500. 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.
For the third IN SHORT: time in three years, The next president will The University of decide the future of the Alabama is seekUniversity. Students ing a new president. Judy Bonner deserve a say in who became the first makes that decision. female president of the University on Nov. 1, 2012, one day after Guy Bailey resigned from the post after two months. Bonner’s own resignation from the presidency leaves the University and the Board of Trustees in a familiar state. This selection process, though, should be different. It should be better. The selection of Ann Die Hasselmo, who was a consultant in the selection of Robert Witt in 2003, suggests a desire for a new president who will continue the rapid growth that began under Witt. The expansion that has been maintained for the past 12 years cannot continue. The growth in enrollment will slow in coming years and this particular chapter of the University’s history will slowly come to a close. Whoever becomes the next president will have to face this challenge, but they will also have a chance to define the University’s identity for the foreseeable future. The students, faculty and staff of the University have the biggest stake in this decision and therefore deserve a bigger seat at the table. With that in mind, we believe the search committee that will be convened in February should include more student representation than just SGA President Hamilton Bloom. The multitude of diverse views represented across campus deserve more than just one student representative. The careful creation of a selection committee that encompasses a representational cross section of the UA community will be the only way to select the right candidate. The search committee must therefore include more student and faculty representation. The search committee must also release consistent and informative updates about the selection process. Dialogue between the search committee and the larger UA community would create transparency, more productive discussion of University needs and ultimately yield the best candidate possible. The candidates’ privacy and legal rights must always be respected, but the right of the UA community to know what is being done in their name must also be recognized and honored. The Crimson White hopes for a more transparent process with consistent updates for all stakeholders in the UA community. Whoever is selected in the end for the position must be ready to transform the University by looking to the future, not the past. Our View is the consensus of The Crimson White Editorial Board.
Last Week’s Poll: Do you think UAB’s football program should continue? (Yes: 76%) (No: 24%) This Week’s Poll: Do you think the smoking ban will be enforced? cw.ua.edu
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OPINIONS Thursday, January 15, 2015 COLUMN | GOP
Republican revolution may have worked, but Republican revolt won’t ANDREW ANDR
Parks Par Staff Col Columnist
When you pay close attention to politics, there are two people you’ll see Republicans like myself quote frequently: Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan. These two former presidents are quoted both because of the significant influence they’ve had on our nation’s history, and because of the examples they set for future Republicans to follow in providing the kind of leadership this country needs as it faces new challenges. Unfortunately, some of us have lost our way in that regard. Perhaps the most famous thing President Lincoln ever said is that “a house divided against itself cannot stand.” When he made that famous remark in 1858, Lincoln was referencing the growing conflict within the United States over the issue of slavery. In Lincoln’s opinion, a nation that was half-free and half-slave couldn’t continue to exist; the pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions were too galvanized to give in,
and one was simply going to have to beat the other. History teaches us that Lincoln’s words were prophetic. One did eventually beat the other. On a lighter note, one of President Reagan’s more famous quotes was his “11th commandment,” which simply states, “thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.” This rule, coined during Reagan’s 1966 bid for California governor, stems from infighting during the Republican presidential primary of 1964, which featured harsh attacks by one wing of the party on eventual Republican presidential nominee Barry Goldwater – attacks so effective that they prevented the party from coalescing behind Goldwater during the general election, which many believe to be the largest contributing factor to Goldwater’s eventual loss. To my fellow Republicans: Sound familiar? By now, you’ve probably figured out where I’m going with this column. The message here is simple: We Republicans need to stop eating each other alive. The 1964 primary should remind most of us of 2012. Barry Goldwater should remind us of Mitt Romney. But this issue isn’t confined to presidential primaries. Just last week, we saw
Get
intraparty conflict play out in the U.S. who cast votes against Speaker Boehner House of Representatives, where the last week claim they wanted to force a race for Speaker was only a handful second vote to “show their strength” of votes away from being forced to the within the party. They failed, showing ultra-rare second ballot. This marked their numerical weakness within the the largest rebellion by a party against House’s massive Republican majority. its sitting speaker since, interestingly Those who stayed home in 2012 effecenough, the Civil War. tively said that they would rather hand Why is the party experiencing this an election to a candidate they agreed much conflict? Those perwith about 10 percent of petuating it will tell you the time or less than vote that the party “isn’t confor a candidate they agreed servative enough,” and with 70 percent of the time that we have too many or more. Exclusivity never “Republicans in name You don’t need to be a only.” They say that “true Vulcan to figure out that works as a political conservatives” need to isn’t very logical. strategy. “take back the party.” My This factionalization own Congressman, Randy must end. Exclusivity Weber, echoed such rhetonever works as a political ric when he cast his vote strategy. You don’t win for Rep. Louie Gohmert elections and get things – or rather, against “RINO” Speaker done by kicking people out of the party John Boehner. At the individual level, over marginal differences of opinion, you’ll often hear voters saying simi- you do so by reaching out and bringing lar things about candidates. In fact, I people in based on common ground. remember many that I knew personally It’s time we stop acting like children who simply didn’t vote in 2012 because and start acting like Republicans again. they didn’t feel Mitt Romney was If we don’t, we will tear this house apart. conservative enough. The fact is, this conflict makes no sense. Andrews Parks is a senior majorThis “true conservative” rationale is, in ing in political science. His column truth, self-defeating. The Republicans runs biweekly.
On
2015
Board day
Come out to GOBD, where you can interact with 400+ student organizations, departments, and vendors! At UA, there is no ONE way to get involved…find yours. Tuesday, January 20th from 5pm-9pm Ferg. 2nd Floor & Ferg. Ballroom General Student Organizations & Departments
Wednesday, January 21st from 11am-1pm Ferguson Center 2nd Floor Sponsored by The Source Honor Society Preview
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NEWS
Thursday, January 15, 2015
New Design for America chapter to be established at UA By Heather Buchanan | Staff Reporter
A group of more than 30 students are in the process of establishing a chapter of Design for America on the University of Alabama campus. Emma Smith, a sophomore majoring in communication studies and urban design, serves as marketing director for the UA group. “[DFA is] all about human-centered design, which to me means pinpointing areas in the community based on what the community expresses [its] needs to be,” Emma Smith said. The mission of the organization is to use creative thinking skills to address local problems. DFA is forming three new studios this year and the UA group has passed to the second round of the admissions process to become one of the final three. Megan Smith, a junior majoring in economics and political science, is one of the co-founders, or studio leads, of the future UA branch. “DFA is a national network of college campuses, and they have studios at some of the most prestigious universities – that’s what your organization is called on campus, it’s called a studio,” Megan Smith said. Once formed and selected for membership, studios form smaller action groups to choose a local issue and brainstorm creative ways to address it. Joey
Weed, a junior majoring in mathematics and economics who serves as co-studio lead, said the organization’s mission would benefit the University and the surrounding community. “The connection with the local Tuscaloosa community was the hook for bringing DFA to The University of Alabama,” Weed said. Garnering interest was phase one of the application process, which the UA group passed in the last month. Phase two requires the group to select an issue in the community and participate in a workshop called Design Thinking Bootcamp led by a DFA representative. Megan Smith said the group chose to address functional illiteracy in the surrounding area as their first project. “[We are] not only looking at what is life like for someone who is functionally illiterate, but what is it like for that person’s child, what is it like for that person’s health care provider, what is it like for someone who works with that person on a daily basis,” Megan Smith said. Emma Smith said the group is trying to reach outside of what most think are design-focused courses of study. “[DFA] seems pretty daunting to a person who is a math major who is like, ‘I think I want to be creative, but are they gonna reject me?’” Emma Smith said. “So we have to brand ourselves so well so that we aren’t an exclusive society or club.”
Design for America now coming to The University of Alabama
Over 2,000 student members with 100 different majors.
To find out more information, follow DFA on social media:
UA Design for America @UA_DFA Design for America UA, @ua_dfa Send any questions about getting involved to designforamerica.ua@gmail.com
CW / Claire Whorton
Weed said expanding the general population’s concept of creativity has been one of the biggest hurdles in recruiting members. “Most people think they’re not creative enough,” Weed said. “It’s just not true. Anyone can be creative if put in the right environment. Creativity is not about drawing pictures or wearing skinny jeans
– it’s about challenging assumptions and building off ideas around you. The two-hour Design Thinking Bootcamp will take place Feb. 9 at 5 p.m. in a location to be determined and announced via email and social media. Any students interested in joining the group can email designforamerica.ua@gmail.com and follow the group on social media.
7 Exhibit showcases biodiversity in Alabama Editor | Reed O’Mara Culture@cw.ua.edu Thursday, January 15, 2015
By Margaret Wilbourne | Contributing Writer
“Fishes of Alabama,” an exhibition containing over 50 original illustrations by acclaimed artist Joseph Tomelleri, is being featured at The University of Alabama’s gallery in the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center located downtown. The gallery will present a sample of Tomelleri’s prints from “Fishes of Alabama,” a book published in 2004 that showcased Alabama’s often unknown rich aquatic natural resources. “Alabama has more freshwater species than any other state in [the lower 48],” he said. “The diversity is just incredible, and unless you’re out in the creeks with nets, very few people actually understand how many species there are.” Tomelleri has been illustrating fish since 1985 and his work has been displayed in over 1,000 publications, including multiple books and retailers like Outdoor Life and Eddie Bauer. Tomelleri, who studied botany and range management as an undergraduate in Kansas, happened upon the beginnings of his artistic career as a graduate student. “That’s when some [fellow] students and I did a book about the fish that lived in the creek that ran through campus,” he said. “We wanted to illustrate book with colored pictures, and [after we unsuccessfully] tried to take photographs, I decided to just draw them; I drew as a hobby and I knew I
Joe Tomelleri’s book “Fishes of Alabama” is the source of the prints now hanging in the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center’s exhibit. Dinah Washington Gallery
could do that.” Following this first success, Tomelleri continued his illustrations, and met Herbert T. Boschung at a conference in San Francisco. Boschung is a professor emeritus of biology at the University and the author of the “Audubon Society’s Field Guide to North American Fishes.” “I met Boschung in 1989 at a fisheries conference where I was doing an exhibit,” Tomelleri said. “He told me he needed an illustrator for an
upcoming project. That was how I got attached to ‘Fishes of Alabama,’ and it [became] really the biggest project I’ve done.” Tomelleri, along with curators of the University’s Ichthyological Collection, took several trips a year for almost five years in total, to net, photograph and preserve the species in order to create the most accurate portrayals possible. “I wanted to see them alive to see what the colors were, and then [we’d] preserve them so I would have a specimen to look at later,” he said. “We’d load up a Suburban and travel around, and get in that damn red mud that gets on your clothes and doesn’t get out.” He drew over 200 illustrations with Prismacolor pencils for the project. Just as the distinctive colorations of each fish vary from species to species, so do the hours required to produce each realistic image and he said some drawings take up to 20 hours of work. Tomelleri’s attention to detail has garnered attention from more than just the artistic community, having provided a resource to the world of science as well. “I have [Tomelleri’s] ‘Fishes of Alabama’ book on my desk, and it’s a mainstay in my research laboratory,” said Ryan Earley, a biology professor at the University. “His work is absolutely, positively invaluable for the scientific community and has provided a resource that I feel is simply
PLAN TO GO WHAT: “Fishes of Alabama” WHEN: Weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Feb. 2 WHERE: Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center
extraordinary in both its accuracy and its aesthetics.” Earley said, beyond serving a strictly aesthetic purpose, the illustrations offer the opportunity to serve as a visual reminder of the ecological wealth of Alabama’s aquatic ecosystems. “Tomelleri’s artwork is a perfect fusion of science and art, and promises to impact many more generations of aspiring fish biologists, recreational fishermen, and students of the natural world,” he said. “Simply a tribute to fish, to science, to creativity, it compels us to preserve the beauty within our waters. It’s perhaps the most impactful way to inform the public about, and the need to, conserve dwindling populations of many of the gorgeous, behaviorally dynamic creatures featured in his artwork.”
Look like you’re on the -list. The Supe Store is the easiest way to be ready for this semester. Whether it’s keeping in style or picking up course materials and computers, we have you covered. Shop on campus at one of four convenient locations, including the bigger and better Ferguson Center, or online at supestore.ua.edu.
Brennan Johnson, History and Political Science graduate.
8
CULTURE
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Page to Stage to feature folk, literature readings By Stephanie Gaytan | Contributing Writer
Theatre Tuscaloosa will present Page to Stage: Kate Campbell and Wayne Flynt, a performance that will readings by Pulitzer-nominated historian and writer Wayne Flynt and folk singer and storyteller Kate Campbell. This is the second time that Flynt and Campbell will be performing for Theatre Tuscaloosa. “Kate Campbell was a graduate student of mine and she brought up the idea,” Flynt said. “Kate and I have been doing this for about four years now in different locations such as college campuses, libraries and clubs.” Some of the readings done by Flynt include excerpts from books such as “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café” and “Salvation on Sand Mountain.” These readings coincide with Campbell’s original folk songs to create what is known essentially as a reader’s theatre. Adam Miller, the managing director at Theatre Tuscaloosa, said he makes sure all of the preparations are in place. “Page to Stage is a series of performances that Theatre Tuscaloosa invented. It’s all about a series of scenes based on literature that celebrates Alabama authors and is performed with local actors,” Miller said. Tickets are $22 for adults,
CW / Taylor House
Duo set to play at Green Bar By Kinsey Haynes | Contributing Writer
Folk singer and storyteller Kate Campbell will perform at Page to Stage: Kate Campbell & Wayne Flynt. Photo Courtesy of Michael Wilson
PLAN TO GO WHAT: Page to Stage WHEN: Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 2 p.m. WHERE: Bean-Brown Theatre, Shelton State Community College $18 for seniors and $14 for students and children. Tickets can be purchased online at theatretusc.com, by phone at (205) 391-2277 or at the door.
10 Cent Cigars, a band from Bayfield, Wisconsin, will make its Tuscaloosa debut at Green Bar Saturday. The band formed in 2011 and their name stems from a novel by J. Edgar Rice. The band’s name was originally The Little Sisters of the Poor. Ethan Hyde, vocalist, guitarist and drummer for the band, said the name was already taken by a group of nuns. Hyde and Sawyer Cohee, vocalist, guitarist and drummer for the band, have been friends since high school. Getting where they are now has been a challenge to set themselves apart from other bands, they said. “We really had to develop our own sound, one that they would enjoy, as well as one that stays true to who we are and what we like and feel,” Cohee said. Being from a small town shaped how the band operates, Hyde said. In their to wn, seeing live music wasn’t as simple as heading downtown. With live music lacking, Hyde and Cohee decided to hit the road, which proved to have its own problems. “My favorite part of touring is seeing new parts of the country, playing and meeting bands from all over,” Cohee said. “My least
10 Cent Cigars comes from a small town in Wisconsin and will be performing at Green Bar this Saturday. Photo Courtesy of Derek Bonney
favorite part would have to be not being able to do this full time, as we are independent, and everything is out of pocket for us. But money isn’t why we do this.” The band has plans to continue to tour throughout the year and is preparing to release its third album. “We don’t play on a cardboard drum set anymore,” Hyde said. “We have nice equipment now.”
Experimental film exhibition ‘Seek You’ explores Morse code By Andrew Laningham | Contributing Writer
Inside the Sella-Granata Art Gallery, light bounces off of the walls, telegraphs buzz, fish swim under ice and goats can be heard running through a field. This is Erin Colleen Johnson’s “Seek You.” “Seek You” is an experimental film installation currently on display at the Sella-Granata Art Gallery, located in Woods Hall, Room 109. The title of the exhibit comes from a code in the Morse Code Community, CQ, which is also the title of one of the pieces in the exhibit. “Seek You” is comprised of many different installations, ranging from images of the historic Marconi transmitting station to audio of an interview with an ice fisherman overlaid with images of Johnson trying ice fishing for herself. “Hole,” which documents Johnson’s foray in ice fishing, is housed in a wooden box. The box is reminiscent of one an ice fisherman would use and helps draw the patron into Johnson’s setting. Most pieces in “Seek You” center around Morse code in some way. In her piece, “In to Sea,” Johnson overlays an environmental report on the state of the ocean written in Morse code over
Located in Woods Hall in the Sella-Granata Art Gallery, “Seek You” is an experimental film installation. CW / Hanna Curlette
16 mm film of the sea, resulting in the ocean being encapsulated in dots and dashes. “Morse code was the first digital technology, and when it was invented, people projected many utopian ideals onto it,” Johnson said. “I am interested in the
history of Morse code, but even more interested in what it means in this 2015.” In “If It Won’t Hold Water It Won’t Hold A Goat,” Johnson follows the story of an elusive local legend called The Goat Man. The film is laced with Johnson playing with and feeding her own goats, combined with interviews with people who knew The Goat Man. Johnson said that “Hole” and “If It Won’t Hold Water It Won’t Hold A Goat” appropriate a documentary style narrative that signals an agenda of truth telling and demystification. She also said she is interested in Werner Herzog’s thoughts on facts not necessarily constituting truth, but instead a search for an ecstasy of truth. “I learned of the Goat Man from various individuals in the community: local goat farmers and historians. I then began my own search into who he was and what he meant to the people he met,” Johnson said. Johnson said the best part about filming these pieces is meeting people and hearing their thoughts about the world. “It is hard to go back through all of the footage and audio recordings and pull out the gems,” she said.
PLAN TO GO WHAT: “Seek You” WHEN: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. WHERE: Sella-Granata Art Gallery
“The possibilities feel endless.” The Sella-Granata Art Gallery will be hosting a gallery talk and reception for “Seek You” Thursday at 5 p.m. “I think there are going to be many more people come view the exhibit once the reception happens,” said Dabney Powell, an employee at the Sella-Granata Gallery. At the core of “Seek You”, however, is the desire to connect and communicate with other people, whether it be through Morse code, the oral histories of The Goat Man, or through finding common experiences through ice fishing, Johnson said. “I think of all of these works as exploring the desire to connect and to communicate, to understand someone else, to take up their actions in order to find yourself,” she said.
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CULTURE Thursday, January 15, 2015
Chilean student enjoys American ‘pride’ for education By Luisa Sanchez | Contributing Writer
Valentina Araya Barrientos is a 21-year-old student from the University of Chile in Santiago, Chile, who came to Alabama looking to improve her English skills and get to experience life in the United States while studying at the University’s English Language Institute for the spring semester. Barrientos is a junior majoring in geology. Why did you come to the United States and Alabama?
Back home, my university had an arrangement with The University of Alabama and at the end I decided to come here because UA offers good and affordable programs for students who want to study English.
What is the most different from your home country? People in the United States are really open minded and don’t have any prejudices. Also, the amount of programs and opportunities offered here is bigger compared to Chile’s. What is the weirdest thing Americans do?
What do you like about campus? Eat unhealthy food every day. In Chile, colleges are usually far from each other because it is an urban campus. Here, everything is close together which is really convenient for foreign students. What do you not like about campus?
Valentina Araya Barrientos CW / Luisa Sanchez
CREATIVE PEOPLE (we know you’re out there)
Marr’s FIeld Journal is now accepting submissions of: • Poetry • Photography • Fiction Prose • Nonfiction Prose • Spoken Word • Drawings • Paintings • Ceramics • Graphic Design • Mixed Media • Original Music • Original Film • Original choreography (with original music) • Original monologues
SUBMIT AT: mfj.ua.edu/submissions
DEADLINE IS JANUARY 30
OPERATION
Submit GET PUBLISHED • MFJ
The co munity bathrooms, because sometimes you lack privacy.
What is your favorite thing Americans do?
I like the pride they have for their schools and the importance given to sports. How do you feel about Alabama’s weather? Right now it is summer in Chile and so far, Alabama’s weather has been pretty cold this past week.
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THURSDAY January 15, 2015
Tide looking for first win over No. 1 team since 2004 NCAA Tournament BASKETBALL FROM PAGE 1
Grant has lacked a signature win for his tenure at Alabama. Under the Miami native’s direction, Alabama has defeated just three ranked opponents, and never one ranked in the top 10. His team’s best win came at home against a Kentucky team then-ranked No. 12 in the nation. Now, poised on the edge of national consideration and building a resume that currently places them as an NCAA Tournament “bubble team,” Alabama has a chance to announce itself as a team to be reckoned with and to win possibly the most important regular season game of Grant’s tenure when it hosts No. 1 undefeated Kentucky Saturday. Alabama hasn’t defeated a No. 1 ranked team since 2004 when it took down Stanford in the NCAA Tournament. “Obviously, Kentucky is coming in as the No. 1 ranked team in the country,” Grant said after Tuesday night’s loss to South Carolina. “They’re extremely talented, extremely well-coached and they play really hard. We’ve got to focus on what gives us the best chance to be successful and get ready for Kentucky.” Kentucky leads the nation in scoring margin, blocks per game and defensive field goal percentage, and is second in the nation in scoring defense. The Crimson Tide, meanwhile, has built one of the most elite defensive programs in the SEC. Alabama has conceded more than 60 points just twice since a loss to Xavier on December 6. Offensively, the team is growing into its own, and through three SEC games, leads the conference in two-point field goal percentage and defensive field goal percentage. Senior captain and guard Levi Randolph is the cornerstone of Alabama’s team this season. Alabama’s leading scorer, Randolph’s second-half performances have helped lead the Crimson Tide to its 12-4 record this season, and the former Mr. Basketball for Alabama had a chance to complete the Crimson Tide’s comeback against South Carolina Tuesday night before his contested threepointer fell short, ending the game with a 66-68 loss for Alabama. “Every year, your role on this team changes,” Grant said earlier this season. “In Levi’s case, he has really stepped up. He’s been our leader and deserves all the success that he has had. It’s always going to be a team game and a lot of things that we are trying to do are teamoriented. But he’s the first guy to tell you it’s about getting a win. That’s where he has really stepped up, in his willingness to be vocal and compete on a nightly basis.” Alabama has defeated Kentucky just twice in Grant’s tenure, with both wins coming at the Crimson Tide’s home court. Alabama is undefeated at Coleman Coliseum this season, and is 31-4 against conference opponents at home since 2011. “We got a tough game, we got to go to Alabama, I bet you they haven’t lost there yet,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said. “They’re playing well, had Wichita State down 10 with two and a half minutes to go. I mean, they’re a Top-20 RPI team. So, it’s going to be a hard one for us.”
Search committee to be formed by end of January PRESIDENT FROM PAGE 1
Education, the publication of record for the higher education community. The ad lists qualities of the University rather than a description of the job itself, saying The University of Alabama has seen a 75 percent increase in student enrollment, has more than 600 enrolled National Merit Scholars, and has “one of America’s most beautiful residential campuses.” Reinhart said it is designed
The Crimson Tide men’s basketball team will play No. 1 Kentucky in Coleman Coliseum Saturday. CW / Layton Dudley
to be more an enticement to encourage qualified applicants to pursue the opportunity. Candidates will be chosen by direct application or nomination, and the Search Advisory Committee will begin reviewing candidate materials in February. The Search Advisory Committee is the second stage of the search. Committee members will be announced before the end of January, and will include faculty, staff, students, alumni and members of the board, among others. The committee is supposed to representative of all constituent groups at the University, and will develop
criteria and discuss their priorities for the search in an organizational meeting, which will be open to the media. Once the committee has narrowed the candidate pool down to a few select applicants, they will present the names to the chancellor. The chancellor will review those names and make a recommendation to the board. There may be multiple candidates who come to interview on campus during this stage of the search. The search will conclude when the chancellor makes his recommendation to the Board of Trustees, after which the board will vote
on whether or not to approve the recommendation. Reinhart said the selection should be complete by the end of the summer to allow time for a smooth transition between administrators. During the 2012 presidential search, Guy Bailey was invited to interview on campus in July and then approved by the board to begin his presidency the upcoming fall. This was not the same process used in the selection and board approval of Judy Bonner, who had previously served as interim president and was then approved by the board after Bailey resigned two months into his presidency.
THURSDAY January 15, 2015
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How to place a classified: For classified line ads visit www.cw.ua.edu and click on the classifieds tab. For classified display ads call (205) 348-7355 or email cwclassmgr@gmail.com for a free consultation. The Crimson White is published four days a week (M, T, W, TH). Each classified line ad must run for a minimum of four days and include no less than 16 words.
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HOROSCOPES Today’s Birthday (01/15/15). Patience and persistence win big this year. Small actions add up. Complete old projects over winter, and new ones flower this spring. A creative partnership sparks; make detailed plans, then launch after 4/8. A new educational direction beckons after 10/13, but domestic responsibilities after 10/27 could stall travels. Share your passions with the ones you love. 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 -Make budgetary modifications. Allow extra time to clear up a misunderstanding or garbled communication. Expect shipping delays. Consider new financial options. Problem areas show up. Don’t gamble. Guard and protect a treasure. Be careful what you say. Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is a 7 -- Don’t get intimidated or make hasty assumptions. You were afraid of a paper dragon. Patience with misunderstandings pays off. Breakdowns and obstacles slow things. The trick is to keep what you’ve learned. Disregard an impetuous or impertinent suggestion. Seek funding. Gemini (May 21-June 20) -- Today is a 6 -Confusion reigns. Messes at work require your attention. It’s a whole new world. What seems hopeless now works out in the long haul. New information stirs up old worries. Rest, so you’ll
be ready to move quickly later. Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Today is a 7 -Postpone travel, expansion or launches. Focus on your practice. Tell friends you’ll see them later. Theory and practice clash, on paper as well as in your mind. Incorporate music or other sounds. Invite expert opinions. Follow love.
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has room to grow. Hold onto what you have. Stand up for yourself. Build status by keeping promises. Cut entertainment spending for now.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is a 6 -Slow and easy does it. Keep your head down. Something you try doesn’t work. Expect travel and shipping delays. Express your feelings. You’re more creative working with a loved one. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is a 6 -- Make Temporary confusion could slow the action. home repairs now to avoid greater expense. Relax. Family can help out, but there could be misunderstandings. Allow extra time to get Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is a 7 -everyone on board. Work together to build trust Friends can help you beat a deadline. Obstacles and partnership. Address everyone’s concerns. and roadblocks require navigation. Keep quiet Rest in your nest. and focused. Take a philosophical view of your work. Group efforts get farther. Call home if Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Edit you’re going to be late. Appreciate your team. writing for clarity. Put in a correction. Follow the rules, although that could seem like a moving Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is a 7 target. You feel changes intensely. Don’t go yet. -- Sidestep career pitfalls and ask friends for Keep a promise. Discover something valuable advice. Postpone launching new initiatives. that’s been stored away. Don’t spend to impress others. Handle chores and routine tasks. Save money by cooking Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Study at home. Clean your desk to make space for the errors to gain expertise. Reset your goals. exciting new work. Take off in a new direction at work. Avoid a confrontation and focus on making money. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is a 7 -Postpone a celebration. Travel another day. You come to a fork in the road. A disagreement Reveal your conclusions. Simplify and relax. about priorities could slow the action. Postpone an outing. Cut entertainment spending. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- Persuade everyone to your way of thinking. Get a breakthrough moneymaking idea. Make Offer encouragement, and be patient. Wait out notes on steps to achieve the goal. Self-esteem a storm.
SUDOKU
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Editor | Kelly Ward Sports@cw.ua.edu Thursday, January 15, 2015
Gymnastics travels to Arkansas By Kayla Montgomery | Staff Reporter
Meoshanti Knight dribbles a basketball. CW / Layton Dudley
Crimson Tide prepares for No. 15 Bulldogs By Elliott Propes | Staff Reporter
A Thursday bye could not have come at a better time for the Alabama women’s basketball team. A injury and two losses have Alabama 0-4 in the SEC. The bye will give extra time to prepare for No. 15 Mississippi State, which just suffered its first loss Sunday against Vanderbilt. The Crimson Tide will travel to play the Bulldogs Sunday at 3 p.m. “I think [the bye] comes at a great time. Most importantly having Ashley [Williams] out, our leading scorer,” coach Kristy Curry said. “I think too, with our team it certainly gives us a chance to take a deep breath and to keep this in perspective, and focus again on just getting better everyday.” Williams was injured last week during the South Carolina game when she suffered a concussion. Curry said she has not been practicing yet, but they have been keeping a day-today monitor on her progress. Freshman Quanetria Bolton along with senior Brianna Hutchen played the most minutes at the vacant forward position next to junior starter Nikki Hegstetter. “I looked at NeNe [Bolton] before the Ole Miss game and said, ‘It’s us two,’” Hegstetter said. “You have to have that mentality that it is you two against the world when you are down low. So you work with whoever you got, and that is your partner.” The Bulldogs enjoyed an 18-game win streak to begin the season, the longest in the program’s history. It is the first time MSU has landed in the top 15 since the 2002-2003 season. The team is lead by freshmen Victoria Vivians and Morgan William. They are the two leading scorers on the team and combine for 25.5 points per game. Vic Shaefer is in his second season at Starkville, Mississippi, and has turned the program into an SEC contender. “He has inherited a nice core group and really built around that core group. They are very athletic,” Curry said. “The good thing for us is the fact that we have played Kentucky, we’ve played Ole Miss. The styles are very similar. So it’s not a new preparation for us this week. I think it will really benefit our team.”
Katie Bailey flips on balance beam. CW / Pete Pajor
The word “first” has become a common word around the Alabama gymnastics team this season. For the first time in 36 years, the Crimson Tide has a new head coach, and after getting her first meet under her belt, Dana Duckworth and her team will travel to Arkansas to compete in their first road meet of the season A 20-year veteran of the program, Duckworth said her familiarity with the Arkansas facilities will play to her advantage as she leads her team out of Coleman Coliseum for the first time this season. “I know the arena,” she said. “I know what it feels like to be in that arena, so that gives me a leg up. It’s not like I’m going to a brand new place. I know what the locker room looks like. I know where we’re going to stay, where we’re going to eat and what our team is going to do. Some of that is nice because it’s familiar.” The Crimson Tide won its first meet under Duckworth, topping Arizona 196.225-194.375. Though the team performed well, first-meet jitters were present before the team finished with strong performances on beam and floor. Duckworth said she expects some of these jitters will be present this weekend as the team competes away from its large fan base, and the team’s efficient warm-up practices will be paramount. “Typically, when you go on the road, it’s new equipment, it’s different equipment, and I think it takes you a couple of extra turns to get adjusted
to be reassured that everything is going to be fine,” she said. “But honestly, you have to get in there, figure it out, and the teams that adjust the best are always the teams that are going to do better. Our ladies have a choice. You anticipate whatever you can, you adapt once you get in there, you overcome anything that hits your way, then you execute.” In order to continue progressing, junior Lauren Beers said it is important to establish a travel routine with the team, as well as expose the younger girls to the pressure that comes from a road match. “The first road meet is always a test of how well the team is going to travel together,” Beers said. “We always have a great time and we always bond so much. Having an away meet under our belt will be a good thing just for more of our confidence. Once our first one is out of the way, you can kind of relax a little more and know what to expect going in, especially for the freshman who haven’t experienced it yet.” While conquering the first road meet certainly helps confidence, sophomore Katie Bailey said a strength of the team is its ability to support each athlete, helping to calm nerves and jitters, especially if each athlete sticks to the mental cues she creates in practice. “I think with us, with the team, it helps us to be able to calm each other down,” Bailey said. “With the mental cues, if you do it just how you do it in practice, it will turn out just how you want it to. But, I think the team has a lot to do with it, just calming everyone down.”
Tide looks to make impact at Invitational By Caroline Gazzara | Staff Reporter
After a two-month break, the Alabama track and field team begins its spring season Saturday, competing in the Auburn Invitational in Birmingham. The meet will host conference and non-conference teams. Excitement levels are high across the team. For two months the team has been practicing and now it is ready to compete. Coach Dan Waters said the team had a great offseason practice. “I’m most looking forward to seeing our athletes compete as a group for the first time this season,” Waters said. “We had an intra-squad meet in December at the CrossPlex, in which we split up into two units, but it will be good to see how we come out in the opener after working so hard in the offseason. It’s the beginning of another season for us to see where our program is in year four of our staff being here, so it’s always an exciting time.” Senior Sarah Thomas said she was eager to get back onto the track. “For me, this is my last season, so I’m definitely excited to get the ball rolling on everything,” she said. “And as far as our team goes, we’ve been
PLAN TO GO WHAT: Auburn Invitational WHEN: Saturday, all day WHERE: Birmingham CrossPlex
training really hard during the fall and it’s all leading up to this moment. We’re all really excited ‘cause the coaches kicked it up a notch. And we’re excited to see what the results heel.” Thomas said there was an increase in training intensity over the break with an emphasis on higher expectations. She said the coaches push the team more in preparation for conference championships later in the spring. With the team itching to get back on the track, Waters said the Auburn Invitational will hopefully yield positive results. “Our expectation is always very simple – we want our athletes to come out with the right mindset, ready to compete and give their best effort,” he said. “To do things the way they know how, and to approach their events with the
Senior sprinter Sarah Thomas takes the baton from senior sprinter Dominique Kimbel in a relay. UA Athletics
mindset and the focus that will make them successful. At this point of the season, part of the deal is simply getting back into the swing of indoor competition. That said, we come in with high expectations and the goal of competing to our best level right away.”