MONDAY, MOND DAY A , JANUARY 26, 2015 VOLUM ME 1 ME 21 | ISSUE 78 VOLUME 121
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SERVING THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA SINCE 1894
Gymnastics G ymnasti
6 Professor Beeler
7 Music Festivals
One week aafter losing its first r ad meet oof the season, the ro road gymnastics Alabama gy mnastics team posted its hhighest ighest score of the take season to ta ake down visiting No. T-1 and defending co-national champion Florida in Coliseum Coleman Co oliseum Friday.
History professor John Beeler is known as a humorous, intelligent educator by his students and colleagues. The British history specialist will travel to Scotland for research this semester.
Lineups for summer music festivals have begun rolling out and tickets are on sale now. Check out our guide to nearby festivals to catch the best shows without breaking the bank.
Alabama coach Anthony Grant gestures to the Coleman Coliseum crowd in celebration after the Crimson Tide’s 57-55 comeback victory over in-state rival Auburn and the Tigers’ first-year coach, Bruce Pearl. UA Athletics
Men’s basketball team tops Auburn in comeback win By Sean Landry | Production Editor
It was a messy affair, dominated by fouls, questionable refereeing, sloppy play and poor shooting, but when the final buzzer went, one thing remained. Alabama beat Auburn.
The game didn’t look like it would turn out that way. Alabama (13-6, 3-3 SEC) trailed for most of the game, leading for only seven total minutes. Starting point guard Ricky Tarrant was ejected from the game with eight minutes to play. The clock was winding down in the second half and it looked like Auburn had all the momentum. But Alabama’s seniors wouldn’t let it lose. After Tarrant’s ejection, senior
INSIDE briefs 2 news 3 opinions 4 culture 7 sports 12
guards Levi Randolph and Rodney Cooper combined for 15 total points as Alabama went on a 16-8 run to end the game. With six seconds to play, Cooper rebounded Randolph’s miss, stuffing the putback home to give Alabama its last lead of the night, winning the game 57-55. “Great job finishing the game,” Alabama coach Anthony Grant said. “Levi, Coop and really our whole team
made plays down the stretch to be able to get it done. Really odd situation there with Ricky being ejected from the game. I thought our guys really rallied from that point forward. Really happy for Ricky, he was very emotional when that happened and then after the game, emotional again. I think his teammates really stepped up in his absence and did SEE BASKETBALL PAGE 12
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MONDAY January 26, 2015
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A federal judge in Mobile struck down the state of Alabama’s ban on gay marriage Friday. U.S. District Judge Callie Granade ruled Cari Searcy could not be denied a second-parent adoption for a boy she had helped raise since birth, according to a decision filed Friday. Searcy and Kimberly McKeand, the co-plaintiff in the case, have been legally married in California and raised McKeand’s biological child since his birth, but the state of Alabama refused to recognize Searcy as the child’s legal parent. In her ruling, Granade found Alabama’s Marriage Protection Act and Sanctity of Marriage Amendment to violate both the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment and are therefore unconstitutional. “Those children currently being raised by same-sex parents in Alabama are just as worthy of
protection and recognition by the State as are the children being raised by opposite-sex parents,” Granade wrote. Brendan Kirby of AL.com said Attorney General Luther Strange, the defendant in the case, will request a stay of the decision and continue to fight the case pending a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court. Granade’s ruling does not open the door for the issuance of gay marriage licenses, according to a release from the Alabama Probate Judges Association. “As probate judges, our duty is to issue marriage licenses in accordance with Alabama law and that means we can not legally issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples,” said Judge Greg Norris, president of the APJA. “The recent federal ruling does not change that.” Compiled by Andy McWhorter
Alabama track wins four events at Vanderbilt The Alabama track and field teams accrued four event victories and eight event times in the school’s top 10 best at the Vanderbilt Indoor Invitational this weekend. Junior Alex Amankwah set the school record in the men’s 800 meter with a time of 1:46.86, the fastest time in the country this season, breaking an 11-year-old school record. Alabama sophomore Tony Brown, a cornerback on the football team, won
the 60 meter hurdles in 7.89 seconds, seventh alltime in school history, in his 2015 indoor debut. Senior Remona Burchell, the defending NCAA champion, won the women’s 60-meter dash with a time of 7.25 seconds. Sophomore Alex Gholston won the 400 meter with a time of 53.9 seconds. Compiled by Sean Landry
27-year-old University of Alabama business student dies University of Alabama student Michael “Chris” Burroughs died Thursday, Jan. 22, according to a press release sent Thursday afternoon by Stacy L. Jones, associate dean of students. He was 27 years old and a senior majoring in business as part of the Culverhouse College of Commerce. According to his obituary
on TuscaloosaNews.com, visitation will be held Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Heritage Chapel Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Tuscaloosa Memorial Park. Compiled by Katie Shepherd
‘ARTifacts’ workshop to create homemade soap Soapy Jones from the Left Hand Soap Company, a local soap making business, will be on campus Monday for a soap-making workshop. The soap-making tutorial is part of a series of workshops called “ARTifacts” being hosted by the Office of Student Involvement’s Creative Campus. The tutorial will be held in Riverside West from 6 to 8 p.m. During ARTifacts’ workshops, students are edu-
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cated on the history and methodology behind each product. With the assistance of Soapy Jones, students will be able to create and take home their own bars of soap. The Left Hand Soap Company, located on 14th Street in downtown Tuscaloosa, makes a variety of soaps, insect repellants, salves and other products.
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Editor | Rachel Brown Newsdesk@cw.ua.edu Monday, January 26, 2015
Social Media in Classrooms Dianne Bragg @dimariedia #BamaMC401
Steven Ramey @SRameyStudyRel #AsiaNewsUA
Michael Altman @MichaelJAltman #REL100UA
Cool at Hoole @CoolatHoole #TuscaloosaTuesday
CW / Claire Whorton
Professors use Twitter for teaching purposes By Heather Buchanan | Assistant News Editor
From tweeting test tips to sharing news related to class topics, some professors at The University of Alabama have been able to enhance their classrooms with the integration of social media. Dianne Bragg, an assistant professor in the department of journalism, said practicing with social media while still in school can help students know how to use it later in their careers if it becomes applicable. “I just think that if you’re going to be a journalist [today], you have to be engaging with social media,” she said. She uses the hashtag #BamaMC401 on Twitter to keep in touch with her students. She said she retweets posts that are relevant to her mass communication law and regulation class and encourages her students to do the same.
“It’s like, ‘If you see something, tweet that to me,’” Bragg said. “It might be something we want the whole class to see and know that’s happening.” Waverly Jones, a sophomore majoring in social work, is in a Survey of Asian Religion class this semester. She said she thought she was getting the chance to learn by participating in Ramey’s Twitter assignment. “I think that this is a really interesting way to submit assignments,” she said. “I liked being able to go and see the articles that other students had submitted while I was researching mine.” Michael Altman, an assistant professor in the department of religious studies, also uses Twitter. He said students can tweet questions during lecture with the hashtag #REL100UA, which show up on the screen in real time.
“If it only helps four or five people who use it a lot, who would not speak in class otherwise, then that’s a success for me,” Altman said. Jones said one challenge of using social media in class is trusting students to use it professionally. “I think it is interesting, but I don’t know if I would want this to be a regular thing,” Jones said. “A lot of students don’t really know how to separate their personal and academic or professional lives.” Some faculty members share Jones’ concern about keeping professional and personal social media usage separate. Amy Chen, a Council on Library and Information Resources postdoctoral fellow, manages the social media accounts for the Division of Special Collections (Cool@Hoole). “Posts or tweets or status updates that are just educational can be dry and fail
to find an audience, but those that are just entertainment don’t really fit the mission of an educational institution like UA,” Chen said. Bragg said collaboration is key when first testing out social media for classes. “Go to someone who is successfully incorporating it into their class and see what they’re doing, and then start small,” she said. Chen added that different departments and even colleges might be able to use social media differently depending on various factors. “I think social media has a role in the classroom, but I think faculty members need to find what works for them and try one approach at a time,” Chen said. “Plus, every class is different – subjects, instruction styles, class sizes all dictate what works and what doesn’t.”
University given national community service award By Elizabeth Elkin | Contributing Writer
The Corporation for National and Community Service and the U.S. Department of Education have named The University of Alabama to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction for the fifth consecutive year. The President’s Community Service Honor Roll is a national award presented each year to institutions that demonstrate commitment to community service. The application requires each university to submit their overall community service and service-learning hours, as well as the number of students participating in each. Each university is also expected to give in-depth descriptions of three outstanding service projects it has performed. A national committee reviews all applications and releases the Honor Roll, Honor Roll with Distinction and Presidential Honor Roll. “It’s been very exciting to see the growth in UA student involvement in community service and service-learning initiatives over the past five years,” said Heather Christensen, research project coordinator for the University’s Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility. “Each year, we have more and more students choosing to serve and actively address problems in Tuscaloosa, West Alabama and beyond.” Christensen said she helped put together the University’s application for the Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll award for five years.
UA Recognized Among 600 Schools for Community Service 26,000+ students completed
approx. 770,000 hours of community service, with more than
183 community partners. 8,500 students participated in
136 service-learning courses led by faculty members.
“In addition to more students serving each year, we’ve also noticed a significant increase in the number of students choosing to serve 20 hours or more with a single community partner,” Christensen said. “This increase lets us know that UA students aren’t just showing up once for a few hours of feel-good service. They are really interested and invested in making a difference in their community.” The University was one of 661 to be
CW / Claire Whorton
named to the 2014 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll and one of 121 schools to receive the honor with distinction. In addition, it was one of 194 schools named to the inaugural Education Community Service Honor Roll. “I think that the prestige of this award resounds not only in our campus and community but across the nation,” said Courtney Thomas, director of community service at the Center for Sustainable
Service and Volunteerism. “One of our pillars is service, and we live that everyday.” Thomas said this distinction shows the importance of service to some students at the University. “The fact that UA continues to win this award year after year shows that this is truly a part of the culture of our students,” she said. “Students come to the University as people who already want to serve. We attract students who want to serve. They see that this is a place where they can go and live out their passions and be involved.” According to a press release by the University, more than 26,000 students completed approximately 770,000 hours of community service with more than 183 community partners during the 20122013 academic year, and approximately 8,500 students participated in 136 servicelearning courses led by faculty members. “The thing about college is it focuses us completely on the future,” said Alise Wenner, a freshman majoring in criminal justice. “When nothing is ever in the present moment, it can be horribly frustrating, but community service is immediate. You can see the good that you do actually means something, as opposed to hoping you’ll make a change ‘one day.’” Students who wish to get involved in community service on campus can choose from a variety of activities, including a weekly trip to the food bank and the Al’s Pals Mentoring Program.
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Editor | Patrick Crowley Letters@cw.ua.edu Monday, January 26, 2015
COLUMN | INEQUALITY
Economic mobility critical for equality CHISOLM
Allenlundy Staff Columnist
the application of human rights happening in the United States today. American liberals love claiming they are on the forefront of the American social justice scene and are constantly saying that they are all for human rights, but when we look at their record on defending these smallest members of the human family, it is clear that they are just spewing empty talking points. It’s hard for me to take seriously an individual who claims to stand for social justice yet is the first to unequivocally defend an individual’s “right” to an abortion. If we, as a country, wish to create a society where all human beings can live in peace and are guaranteed even the most basic rights, we must end the violence against the smallest among us. We are more than capable of creating a society where both women and their pre-born children are able to thrive and coexist. After 42 years, and after 55 million missing children, it is imperative we rethink our collective attitude that tolerates abortion.
America has long taken pride in its namesake ideal, the American Dream. Indeed, our nation has been built on the backs of generations of people who believed they had a better chance of succeeding here than anywhere else. Yet the ladders of opportunity now exist in the possession of those with access to wealth building infrastructure, such as quality schools, economically healthy communities and social capital. In contemporary debates over income distribution, Americans are often solely fixed on the issue of income inequality. To be sure, the level of inequality America currently grapples with can be detrimental to widespread growth and prosperity, but we cannot mistake it for the core of the issue. That issue, rather, is the great lack of social and economic mobility that has long plagued the home of the American Dream. Even if there were massive income discrepancies among low-, middle- and upper-class families, we would not likely be too concerned if every child had an equal chance of earning their respective income. Unfortunately in America, that is not the case, nor has it ever been. This lack of economic mobility for all Americans remains one of the biggest looming threats to the ideal of opportunity on which America has strived to base itself. A child born into the bottom income quintile has a 42 percent chance of staying there and only a 6 percent chance of moving to the highest quintile, per a recent Brookings report on income mobility. These numbers are a far cry from the 20 percent figure we would expect to see across the board in a society truly fueled by equality of opportunity. More importantly, social mobility is highly variable across the country, with some areas enjoying high degrees and others having low levels not seen by any other developed nation. The state of Alabama, unfortunately, occupies the latter half of this spectrum. A recent Pew Research Center report suggested Alabama had lower relative mobility than every other state besides Mississippi and South Carolina, which were only one percent lower. The twin ideals of liberty and equality for which the United States is best known are manifested in social and economic mobility. We cannot measure the level of freedom in our country simply by how much or how little the government interferes with our daily business. When being born poor reduces a child’s chances of attaining wealth to that of a coin flip, we do not know freedom.
Joe Puchner is a sophomore majoring in mathematics and economics. His column runs biweekly.
Chisolm Allenlundy is a senior majoring in philosophy and economics. His column runs weekly.
CW / Kevin Pabst
COLUMN | ABORTION
Abortion violates basic human rights JOE
Puchner Staff Columnist
On Jan. 22, 1973, the United States Supreme Court issued a ruling that stripped a certain class of humans, pre-born humans, of their right to life by legalizing abortion on demand in the United States. In these past 42 years, abortion activists have attempted to create a right to abortion in the United States by claiming that the idea of “reproductive freedom” enables individuals to choose whether or not a pre-born human has the right to develop and live. Today, however, thanks to a greater understanding of both fetal science and civil rights, it is apparent that this so-called right to abortion is incompatible with even a basic understanding of human rights. Today, due to advancements in technology and science, there is no doubt that from the moment of conception, or fertilization, a whole,
distinct and living human being comes into existence. All of the genetic material of this new human is present, and the only things that make him or her different from you and me are size, level of development, environment and degree of dependency. So then why does it matter if a preborn child is a human or not when it comes to discussing abortion? Well, given that these brand-new individuals are, at the most basic level, members of the human family, why do we deny them the most basic human right, the right to life? In the past few decades, one reason abortion was justified was because of a fuzzy understanding of fetal science – the humanity of the pre-born child was still up for debate, because the technology that could confirm the humanity of the fetuses did not exist as it exists today. While some still deny this basic science and dehumanize the pre-born in their justification of abortion, many American liberals actually do understand that the pre-born child is a member of the human family yet continue to lobby for unlimited access to abortion as a human right. This is perhaps the greatest inconsistency in
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OPINIONS Monday, January 26, 2015 COLUMN | EDUCATION
Free community college raises everybody’s equality and welfare NATHAN
James Staff Columnist
Education in America is a doubleedged sword. On one hand, it represents a stepping stone. It serves as a ladder, a tool with which enterprising young people can achieve their dreams. On the other hand, education represents a barrier. It is a partition separating those who can afford a first-rate education from those who cannot. It is a wall made out of time, tuition and demands that separates Americans from the jobs and freedoms they crave. Statistics back up both of these images of education. Americans with more education earn better pay, acquire better jobs and possess increased social mobility. But Americans are increasingly unable to access education at prices affordable to the lower and middle class. Student debt in America clocked out at over $1.2 trillion in 2014, making it the highest source of private debt apart from mortgages. This statistic is even more concerning
in light of another fact: By 2020, two out of every three jobs in America will require some higher education. That means we are spiraling toward a system where Americans need training they can’t afford before they can even enter the job market. It means your standing in America will depend on, perhaps more than ever, the money that your parents have available to pay for college. And on a chilling economic note, it means an education bubble of massive proportions is forming – one that threatens the stability of our country’s future as well as the integrity of its principles. All of these things are what make it so important that Obama proposed federally subsidized community college in his State of the Union address Tuesday. In his proposal, Obama indicated he would like to make community college free for students who get good grades and stay on track to graduate. Opponents have argued this plan isn’t economically feasible. To be sure, it will be expensive. But I suspect most Republicans will agree that it is in the country’s best interests to reduce the number of Americans stuck on welfare. By giving more Americans access to their dreams, we’re also creating more productive participants in the
economy, more taxable jobs to fund the government and a renewed emphasis on America as a leader in science and industry. This plan will also have significant side benefits. By ensuring Americans have access to decent free education, Obama would ensure that conventional universities have incentive to keep costs low and avoid waste. Currently, many universities are in the practice of charging whatever they want for tuition, knowing full well how desperate their applicants are for the future a good education affords. This has contributed to college tuition inflation that has far outstripped national inflation rates. But if Americans had the option of a decent, free education, universities across the country would be forced to take a long, hard look at their pricing options. It is worth noting, however, this plan won’t work without a significant overhaul of the way community colleges work. Today, only about a quarter of all community college students will finish their degree in six years, and only 12 percent will receive a bachelor’s degree. If these numbers don’t change, free community college won’t be of much use to anyone. Tennessee and Chicago, which Obama used as examples of free
WHAT I THINK • In the future, more and more jobs will require higher education that some students will not be able to afford. • Affordable education will help make the American Dream achievable. • Welfare rates should decline with more educated Americans. • Our current college system isolates poor and underpriviledged Americans.
community college done right, have also instituted largely successful reforms to improve these numbers. With some changes to community colleges’ operation and oversight, Obama’s plan represents a fantastic way to get America’s education system back on track. It’s not a cure-all, but it may constitute a significant push towards equality – and productivity – in our country. Nathan James is a senior majoring in psychology. His column runs weekly.
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NEWS
Monday, January 26, 2015
UA history professor known for humor, friendly spirit By Alexis Winborne | Contributing Writer
James Mixson, another professor in the department of history. “He is a remarkDo not be dissuaded by University of ably gifted scholar and teacher, as well Alabama history professor John Beeler’s as a warm and wonderful human being. dark wardrobe – this man’s inner color is I could not imagine a better friend released with the thunderous sound of and colleague.” his voice. Humorous, warm and intellecBeeler is known for his humor. Mr. tual is how students and colleagues alike T will often make appearances in class describe him. and in answers to questions on tests. Hailing from Greensboro, North It is no secret to the history departCarolina, Beeler said he was direct- ment that goofy answer choices on ly influenced by his historian father tests and quizzes were trademarked and was, by his own confession, “an by Beeler, although he might not be so academic brat.” From North Carolina, quick to take ownership Beeler traveled to the of it. Some of Beeler’s University of Illinois for his favorite answer choice doctorate before winding examples are: “according up at the University in 1993. He is a remarkably to the theory of mercantilBeeler said he considers ism – all trade goods had gifted scholar and himself lucky that he gets to be inspected by a man to do what he loves, and teacher, as well as a who lived in a cave north it shows. Geneva.” John Young, a graduate warm and wonderful of Beeler voluntarily student at the University, cooks meals for departhuman being. enrolled in Beeler’s ment meetings, gatherings Britain and the World and parties. He opens his Wars class in the spring — James Mixon — home to the department of 2010, making it one and graduate students a of the first upper-level few times out of the year history classes he took for a North Carolina-style during his undergraduate years at barbeque cookout, affectionately named the University. “Dr. Beeler did an excellent job of mak- “pork-o-rama” by him and his wife. This ing the material accessible and inter- catering has continued for 20 years. Beeler is on sabbatical this semester esting,” Young said. “His passion for teaching was evident from the first day and will embark on a journey to spend and he continues to bring to the history six weeks in Scotland, where he will department not only expertise in his explore the personal life of Admiral Sir field but a positive attitude and an Alexander Milne. “It’s just such a warm environment excellent sense of humor.” Young isn’t the only one who has here and a wonderful place to work,” noticed Beeler’s enthusiasm for Beeler said. “I could go up and down the hall and say that these are all great his work. “Dr. Beeler is one of the most people, fine colleagues and friends generous souls I have ever met,” said as well.”
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Students and colleagues use words like “humorous,” “warm” and “intellectual” to describe history professor John Beeler. CW / Amy Sullivan
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Editor | Reed O’Mara Culture@cw.ua.edu Monday, January 26, 2015
Summer music festivals release lineups, offer variety By Francie Johnson | CW Staff
In the past few weeks, music festival lineup announcements have been dropping left and right. For those who plan on being in Tuscaloosa this summer, there are a variety of music festivals in the Southeast that are just a short drive away by car. Here are a few of the many options available.
Bonnaroo
CounterPoint
Since its formation in 2002, Bonnaroo has been a festival scene staple, bringing in big-name headliners like Paul McCartney, Kanye West and Red Hot Chili Peppers. This year, the Manchester, Tennessee-based four-day festival will take place June 11 through 14. Billy Joel, Mumford and Sons, Kendrick Lamar and Deadmau5 will headline this year’s festival. The lineup also features Hozier, Flume, Robert Plant and Childish Gambino. General admission tickets are $324.50, not including additional fees.
Based in Atlanta, Georgia, this electronic-and-jam-band festival will take place May 22 through 24. Widespread Panic, Zedd and The Roots will headline this year’s fest, with other notable acts including Kygo, Dillon Francis, Umphrey’s McGee, Zeds Dead and Chet Faker. Three-day general admission tickets start at $175, and for those who choose to camp at the festival’s camping site, general admission and camping tickets start at $205.
Wikimedia Commons
Photo Courtesy of ConcertTour (Flickr.com)
Hangout
Shaky Knees
Alabama’s own Hangout Music Festival, based in Gulf Shores, is a threeday music festival usually taking place during the third weekend in May. The 2015 headliners are Foo Fighters, Beck and Zac Brown Band, with other notable acts including Skrillex, Foster the People, My Morning Jacket and Spoon. This year, the festival will take place May 15 through 17. Three-day general admission tickets start at $249.
The Atlanta-based Shaky Knees Music Fest, taking place this year May 8 through 10, will feature headliners The Strokes, The Avett Brothers and Wilco. Pixies, Ryan Adams, Neutral Milk Hotel, Old Crow Medicine Show and others. Three-day general admission tickets are $199 and $99 single-day tickets will be available to purchase soon.
Photo Courtesy of staceymk11 (Flickr.com)
Wikimedia Commons
COLUMN | GAMING
Video game industry lacks interconnected superhero universe By Matthew Wilson
Superheroes are more popular now than they’ve ever been. They’ve invaded both cinemas and televisions with movies like “The Avengers” and television shows like “Arrow.” Next year alone, eight superhero films are scheduled to be released, and the number of television shows based on comics is only increasing. It would seem superhero-based endeavors are a hot commodity, but looking at video games, many wouldn’t know it. The only superhero video game release for 2015 right now is Rocksteady’s “Batman: Arkham Knight.” Looking back on previous years, the story remains mostly the same: there aren’t many good superhero-based video games and even fewer great ones. When Marvel released “The Avengers” in 2012, it sent shockwaves through Hollywood. For the first time, movies could be interconnected and form a living, breathing universe.
By and large, the video game industry is still lacking that watershed moment. Rocksteady’s “Arkham” series has proven superhero games can perform well and tell mature stories. Likewise, the “Infamous” series showed original superhero properties can be successful. Outside of these two franchises, the video game industry hasn’t produced a good superhero game in the past few years. Video games should be the medium in which superheroes thrive. Controlling a modern-day god should be an exhilarating experience rather than lackluster. Marvel’s cinematic formula would translate well into the video game industry. Making a series of interconnecting games that combine together would let players experience a variety of different powers and tell a large array of twisting stories. A different approach would be to tell a smaller more personal story examining the burden of having powers and being a superhero. Spider-Man is a character who lends himself well to this mature type of
game. Throughout the character’s history, he has faced many arcs such as “The Death of Gwen Stacy” that would lend themselves well to the medium of video games. With a rogue gallery of villains rivaling Batman’s, there’s room for a great Spider-Man game. Despite this, the majority of the video games based on Spider-Man have been lackluster. The stakes in many of the games don’t feel real. The storylines don’t offer consequences and dilemmas for the player to ponder. The majority of the games’ storylines haven’t done the wall-crawler justice. The “Arkham” series shows how important a well-written storyline is to capture the character’s essence. Why are there so few great or even good superhero video games? The problem lies both in the execution and the way the stories are handled. Many superhero games have been rushed to release for the next upcoming movie. To make a great superhero video game, or any video game for that matter, requires both time and care. The games often fail on both of these fronts.
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Maybe the video game industry will change in the next few years and start to see the value in superheroes. Maybe they’ll look at the “Arkham” series and the “Infamous” series as an example of melding gameplay and great stories. Maybe Marvel will develop its own video game universe to rival its cinematic version. Until then, the question will remain – why aren’t there many great superhero games?
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CULTURE
Monday, January 26, 2015
Find new spring clothing to keep you warm, fashionable By Stephanie Gaytan | Contributing Writer
n.com
Sperry Saltwater Duck Boots for women and Avenue Duck Boots for men have become very popular this year. The new designs are a mid-height waterproof boot with quilted detailing. The shoe has a micro-fleeced lining that provides warmth under the foot, and the non-marking rubber lugged outsole provides ultimate traction for slippery surfaces. These are great when traditional rain boots won’t work for the day.
OUTERWEAR
Hunter Original Tall Rain Boots are a classic when it comes to walking in the rain. Made of natural rubber, these are some of the best boots to keep you dry. The boots contain quick-dry nylon lining and a sturdy grip sole. The boots come in men and women’s designs and are also available in a shorter boot style. n.com
Amazo
Walking around campus creates the need for a good rain jacket that will keep you fully covered from the water. North Face Venture Jackets for men and women come in 26 different color combinations. The jacket was recognized by Backpacker Magazine for its eco-conscious construction. The jacket is made out of a breathable, waterproof outer layer; zippered underarm vents that maximize airflow; an adjustable hood with a drawcord; and a Velcro closure to seal out the rain.
Amazo
In order to stay warm and dry, try a Patagonia Re-Tool SnapT Fleece Pullover for women or an M’s Synchilla Snap-T Pullover for men. The pullovers come in a multitude of colors and patterns. They are made out of Polartec and Thermal Pro polyester fleece, and over half of the polyester is recycled. The pullovers also come with pouch-style hand warmer pockets. Patagonia became the first brand to officially join the network of Bluesign system partners, an environmentally friendly company that oversees the design process and incorporates as many environmentally friendly aspects as they can into dyes, buttons and materials.
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FOOTWEAR
The start of the spring semesmester ushers in Tuscaloosa’s a’s rainy season. To keep dry and stay warm, try some of these rainy-weather essentials.
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Spring II registration begins By Stephanie Gaytan | Contributing Writer
Spring II registration has begun and a multitude of classes is being offered for this term. Some classes include Religion and Genocide, Terrorism and Cyber Crime. Matthew Chesley, a senior majoring in international studies, is currently taking the Terrorism course. He said the class consists of the bigger topics of religion, ideology and psychiatry that play a role in terrorism and how it began and is being done today. “We’ve talked a lot about what classifies [a terrorist] versus a freedom fighter in class,” he said. “A lot of people just point a finger and say it’s terrorism when it’s not. It was really interesting to come to class a day or two after the shootings in Paris. It was very real and nothing that the teacher could prepare for.” Cathy Andreen, an assistant for the Office of the University Registrar and director of media relations, helps students with the registration process and any add/drop decisions. “Spring II provides an excellent opportunity for students to pick up an additional class that can count toward their degree,” she said. “Spring II also allows students who previously dropped a course and need to return to full-time status to do so easily.” To find Spring II classes, select the “Spring II (10 Week)” option from the Parts of Term drop down menu in Schedule Builder, Andreen said. Emma Clements, a freshman majoring
Spring II Semester Class Highlights CJ 325 – Cyber Crime CJ 422 – Terrorism REL 223 – Holocaust Historical Perspective REL 410 – Religion and Genocide COM 300 – Human Communication Research CW / Claire Whorton
in telecommunication and film, said she wants to add a class to her schedule using the Spring II registration time. “Right now my schedule is easier than I thought it would be, so I really want to add an interesting class for the semester,” she said. “Not only would it give me additional hours, but it’ll also just be a cool class to look forward to going to every week.”
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CULTURE Monday, January 26, 2015 COLUMN | THEATER
United Kingdom encourages innovation in theater, US fears risk By Luke Haynes
The argument can now be made that London's West End has surpassed New York City's Broadway when it comes to theater. Wikimedia Commons.
Broadway seems to be limiting itself to “foolproof shows” like big, flashy musicals adapted from movies or featuring the songs from everyone’s favorite rock band or, you guessed it, shows that have already found success in London. Recent Broadway smashes like “Matilda” and “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the NightTime” both originated in London and were later brought over to the States. And while it’s true we’ve been able to send a few gems their way, it
© 2014 Vera Bradley Designs, Inc.
There’s nothing like Broadway, right? Well, maybe there is. In fact, it’s possible that across the pond there’s something even better. While we love to think Broadway is the haven of all things theatrical, there is certainly a counterargument to be made. London’s West End – the U.K.’s Broadway equivalent – is the better version of Broadway. Now, while I want to be chanting “USA” right there with you, some of the evidence is pretty compelling, and it looks like if you want to see, or produce, a theatrical spectacle, it may be time to leave good old ‘Murica behind. For one thing, the political climate in London is far more inviting to producers. Much of their work is supplemented with government grants or at least comes with tax breaks, which means producers can risk less and possibly return more on their investments. Additionally, the crowdfunding laws in the U.K. mean a show needn’t rest on the shoulders of a few independently wealthy backers. A clever Kickstarter campaign could be its ticket to success instead. While this is quite a pull for anyone wanting to produce a piece of theater, for the spectators, it means West End theaters can take more chances and put on newer, more daring shows. With financial loss less of a concern, the Brits have more freedom to pour money into developing new shows before they commit to even performing the production. This means West End is cultivating exciting and innovative theatrical spectacles.
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seems like a disproportionate amount of innovation lies in that tiny island across the Atlantic. Of course, in all honesty, while we could choose to be intimidated by London’s advantages, it maybe better to see it as a brilliant partner rather than a competitor. After all, if theater’s purpose is to enlighten, entertain and excite its audience, then why should continental boundaries inhibit that? While I do proudly sing “God Bless America,” I suppose God can “Save the Queen” as well.
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SPORTS
Monday, January 26, 2015
UA gymnastics tops No. 1 Gators By Kayla Montgomery | Staff Reporter
“That was a lot better than last week,” she said. “This is the kind of beam team Only a week after a melt- we are. Last week, we’re going to look down on the balance beam cost back at the season and hope that it was a the Alabama gymnastics team good reminder, keeps you honest. You’ve its first road meet of the season, got to stay focused and hopefully continthe team responded in a big way. ue to get better. We were good on beam – The Crimson Tide defeated the we weren’t great. We can be even better.” Sophomore all-around athlete Katie top-ranked Florida Gators 197.4 to 196.8 Friday in front of a crowd of Bailey said the team’s struggles last weekend were rooted in more than just 13,778 in Coleman Coliseum. The falls that plagued the Crimson skill, and the group has since worked to Tide on balance beam were nowhere increase its energy across the board. “After last weekend, more than focus to be found this week, and the team rode solid scores on vault and floor to on skills on beam, we just focused on beat the defending national champions, our overall energy within the team,” she said. “I noticed a big difference on leading after each rotation of the night. Coach Dana Duckworth had one word every event, not just beam, but it defito describe her team’s performance after nitely helps having 17 people behind you screaming for you and posting its best total of supporting you. It’s the season. nice to know they’re “ A w e s o m e , ” behind us.” Duckworth said. “So Junior Lauren Beers proud of these ladies. made her first appearThey worked so hard Having a team who has won a ance in the all-around this week. They worked on mental toughness, national championship come to competition on the way to the victory, we worked on our disyour arena just gives you the something she said cipline, our focus, our she had been looking energy. I’m so proud opportunity to show what you forward to throughout of having over 13,700 have to offer ... her career. screaming fans. It “It’s been my goal makes a difference, the three years now since energy they bring.” — Dana Duckworth — I’ve been here, so it With Alabama ranked was great to finally second nationally on the get up there for the vault, sophomore Keely first time,” she said. McNeer set the night in “There’s always ways motion on the apparato improve, but I’m tus in the first rotation of the meet. The team posted a 49.5 the happy and it was a good start.” As a whole, Duckworth said the night rotation, led by senior Kaitlyn Clark who was not all about a win but was an opporposted a 9.975, her career best. The team came in with a 49.225 tunity for the team to put their talent on display against the reigning national on bars. The largest question of the night was champions, although it’s still important how the Crimson Tide would perform that her team stay focused on itself. “We will face great teams all season,” on balance beam after last weekend. The team suffered three falls last week, Duckworth said. “This being early in the counting two, but did not drop a rou- season, was a great opportunity to see tine this week. Kayla Williams started where are we compared to other people, off strong for Alabama with a 9.85 while not that we’re comparing ourselves, but Katie Bailey led the way in the rotation to get an idea. I think that having a team who has won a national championship with a 9.90. Duckworth said she expected her team come to your arena just gives you the to regain its identity on the beam this opportunity to show what you have to week, leaving last week in the past as a offer, what your team can do, no matter who that is.” reminder to continue to work hard.
The Crimson Tide took down Florida, the defending national champions, with a score of 197.400 at home on Friday. CW / Pete Pajor
MONDAY January 26, 2015
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Today’s Birthday (01/26/15). Fortune smiles on teamwork and partnership this year. Get involved in community projects. Take leadership and strengthen support networks. Save the gravy from a profit surge after 3/20. A new phase in romance arises after April, and you could be tempted to bold adventure. Grow family prosperity this autumn. Ignore petty distractions. Focus on what’s important. Prioritize 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 9 -- Focus on making money today and tomorrow. Cash flow improves nicely. Enjoy this lucrative phase. Take advantage and keep accounting current. Record where the money’s coming from and where it’s going. You can beautify without breaking the bank.
Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is a 9 -- No more procrastination. Tackle a personal challenge. You’re stronger for the next two days, with the Moon in your sign. Things go easier, and you’re especially suave and debonair. Someone’s paying attention. Prepare to launch a passion project. Gemini (May 21-June 20) -- Today is an 8 -You’re especially sensitive and intuitive today and tomorrow. Get quiet and listen to the unspoken clues. Contemplate your next move. Something’s coming due. Worry wastes time. Review priorities, and plan the steps to take. Slow down and rest.
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Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Today is an 8 -- A friend comes up with a new money-making scheme. Shipping or mechanical delays could disrupt the plan. Support their game and they’ll be there for you. Encourage and propose solutions. Provide food at an opportune moment.
up over the next two days. Your admiration grows. Share you appreciation. Give in to romance and caring. Love fills you up.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is an 8 -It’s getting busy. Add elegance to the proceedings by dressing professionally. The pace quickens. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is a 9 -- Crazy Put your back into your efforts. Follow the rules. dreams seem possible. Take on more responsibility Provide value. Over the next two days, work to get over the next few days. Forge ahead with a your ideas into action. career upgrade. Assume leadership. Talk over the possibilities with your partner and friends. They Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is an 8 -Play the game you’ve been practicing. Apply your can see your blind spots. Listen. creativity to artistic pursuits. Make decisions about Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- color and design. Spend time with family, and relax Craft your itinerary over the next two days. Make with hobbies, sports and amusements. Focus on plans and reservations. Research the best prices doing what you love with dear ones. and locations. Expand your territory and your mind. New opportunities for adventure present Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is an 8 -themselves. Explore new flavors and exotic ways Stay close to home for a couple of days. Get into interior decoration and style. Plan a project, and of thinking. put together a budget before you shop. Household Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is a 9 -- Attend matters need attention. A little color goes a long to shared finances over the next two days. Manage way. accounts and file documents. Prepare to negotiate carefully. Keep insurance, fees, bills and policies Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is an 8 current. You can get the terms you want. Ask for -- You’re extra brilliant for the next two days. Dig deeper into a favorite subject. You feel like specifics. Wheel and deal. you’re emerging from a cocoon. Talk about a Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- transformation you’re experiencing. Share it with Negotiate for the long run. Let a strong leader take someone who could benefit. Teach what you’re charge. Listen graciously. Your partner really shows learning.
SUDOKU
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Editor | Kelly Ward Sports@cw.ua.edu Monday, January 26, 2015
Vanderbilt denies Alabama’s comeback By Elliott Propes | Staff Reporter
With 9.4 seconds left in Sunday’s Alabama women’s basketball game against Vanderbilt, the score was 55-52 with the Commodores in the lead. Alabama had chance to send the game into overtime, but junior guard Khadijah Carter’s three-pointer bounced off the front of the rim. Vanderbilt won 55-52. “The first 10 minutes of the game were extremely embarrassing and disappointing,” coach Kristy Curry said. “We’ve got to understand that we want to win games.
Cooper’s late tip-in caps Alabama’s rally BASKETBALL FROM PAGE 1
a great job tonight. Really gutty, gritty win.” Just 48 hours after a late tipin saw Alabama fall in overtime in Fayetteville, Arkansas, the Crimson Tide out-rebounded Auburn 31-29, including the decisive putback.
We are here to win. We have to understand that we have got to put 40 minutes together.” Alabama did not have its first field goal until 10 minutes into the game. Karyla Middlebrook hit a mid-range jumper to stop Vanderbilt’s 15-3 run. Alabama then began to file away at the lead. Freshman Hannah Cook caught fire. She made three baskets in a row, with two of them being threepointers. She continued to shoot well and finished 4-9, 3-6 from downtown. Her 11 points were second on the team.
Alabama’s defense came out strong in the second half. The Commodores hit 50 percent of their shots in the first half, but the Crimson Tide kept them to 19 field goal attempts in the second. Vanderbilt made eight of those shots. Vanderbilt’s leading scorer from the first half, Morgan Batey, was held to only two points in the second half after a 12-point first half. Alabama’s defense also forced 13 turnovers in the half. “I just thought our energy was a lot higher, and our effort. We became more active on the defensive
end, and that’s the kind of energy that we should have started the game with,” Middlebrook said. Alabama split the SEC weekend. Thursday, Alabama ousted rival Auburn 51-50 on a game-winning block by Carter. Alabama was missing guard Breanna Hayden after Thursday’s controversial fight with Auburn. Hayden was ejected after throwing a punch at Hasina Muhammad. Next on the slate for Alabama is a rematch with No. 1 South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina. The game starts at 6 p.m. Thursday.
The women's basketball team fell to Vanderbilt 55-52 Sunday. CW / Hanna Curlette
“That’s basketball, you know?” Grant said. “That’s basketball and we’re fortunate to be on the right side of it this time.” Randolph finished the game with 18 points, 11 of which occurred in the second half and all after Tarrant’s ejection. From that timeout, Randolph stole the ball and drove for a dunk and Alabama’s defense locked down, allowing only nine more points. “It was a big lift,” Cooper said. “Levi, me, we’re both
upperclassmen so we just wanted to make plays for the team. They look up to us, so we just want to be the leaders on the court.” Halftime saw the presentation of the Foy-ODK Sportsmanship Trophy to Alabama football coach Nick Saban for the Crimson Tide’s win in the Iron Bowl in November. The in-state rivalry was a little more vitriolic throughout the rest of the game. Tarrant earned his first technical for his reaction to a hard foul
early in the first half, before what Grant termed an “inadvertent elbow” led to his disqualification. “It’s a tough situation there, because I’m sure his first reaction was that he let his team down,” Grant said. “Just happy that our guys were able to rally for him, and it’s a learning lesson for him. It’s his first game in the rivalry so it’s a great learning lesson for him.” Auburn’s Cinmeon Bowers made a point of encouraging
the sell-out crowd in Coleman Coliseum to boo. More often than not they willfully obliged. Both Grant and Auburn coach Bruce Pearl spent time in the faces of the referees, who called 19 fouls on each team, many of them hard fouls along with a few flagrant. “I mean, Auburn-Alabama,” Grant said. “I’ve been here, this is my sixth year, and it’s an intense rivalry. It’s as intense as any I’ve ever been around. I think it’ll always be that way.”