02 10 14 The Crimson White

MONDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2014 VOLUME 120 ISSUE 84 Serving The University of Alabama since 1894

NEWS | BUSINESS

UA FOOTBALL

30%

TUSCALOOSA ECONOMY MORE THAN FOOTBALL

TUSCALOOSA LOCAL ECONOMY

70% OTHER ATTRACTIONS

ECONOMIC IMPACT PER UA FOOTBALL GAMEE

ALABAMA: TUSCALOOSA:

CW | Hannah Glenn and Belle Newby

City profits from variety of attractions outside of football

By Taylor Manning | Staff Reporter It’s no secret that University of Alabama football provides a significant boost to Tuscaloosa’s economy, but it may not make up the percentage of the city’s income that most people would think, Tuscaloosa Tourism & Sports Commission CEO Susan West said.

“UA certainly is the driver of tourism spending, but it’s not all football,” she said.

“Football itself [represents] about 30 percent of the total tourism spending in our city.”

Football brings in an average of $17 million to the local economy per game, West said.

However, most tourism revenue comes from home games, which only represent seven of the year’s 52 weeks.

“It depends on how you look at it,” she said.

“Thirty percent from seven weekends is pretty huge, but there are 45 other weekends that are generating 70 percent.”

Other tourist attractions, including the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater, the Riverwalk, Little League, youth sports, Moundville,

$25.1 million $17.5 million

hiking trails, cultural arts and other UA sports comprise 70 percent of yearly tourist dollars and help make Tuscaloosa County the sixth most-visited county in the state, West said.

“All activities that draw visitors to the local area have a significant impact on the local economy,” Ahmad Ijaz, an economist with the Center for Business and Economic Research, said. “The only difference is that football draws a significant amount more.”

Tuscaloosa businesses are making a large amount of money in a concentrated time period. Each UA football game has an overall economic impact of $25.1 million per game

Tuscaloosa makes up $9.8 billion of Alabama’s $184 billion economy.

on the state and $17.5 million per game on Tuscaloosa, Ijaz said.

“Alabama’s economy is about $184 billion, and the size of Tuscaloosa’s economy is around $9.8 billion,” Ijaz said. “So the football games and the University in general do have a significant impact on the economy.”

A recent study by Ijaz and Sam Addy, associate dean for research and outreach, estimated that visitors brought in $122.9 million during home games in the 2011-12 school year. Other UA athletics, including swimming, baseball, SEE FOOTBALL PAGE 2

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Gymnastics team sees win after strong final rotation

By Marc Torrence | Sports Editor

Scheduling session WHAT: Culverhouse Honors Scheduling Session WHEN: 5-8 p.m.

WHERE: 1st Floor Classroom, Ridgecrest South

Travel abroad WHAT: Mathematicians of the Renaissance Travel Abroad Info Session WHEN: 7 p.m.

WHERE: Ridgecrest South 2nd Floor Media Room

Campus performance WHAT: “Blood Wedding” WHEN: 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Allen Bales Theatre

CULTURE | FAIR LABOR

Group to host speakers on fair labor Student organization looks to promote workers’ rights

By Tara Massouleh | Staff Reporter The average University of Alabama T-shirt at the Supply Store costs about $20. For most people, this is the only cost associated with the shirt, but for the students involved in the University’s United Students Against Sweatshops, the price for the crimson script “A” printed on a standard cotton blend is much higher.

“You might feel removed from the working movement when you go to the SUPeStore and buy a UA T-shirt, but you don’t know if the person who made that T-shirt was sexually harassed by their manager while making that T-shirt or wasn’t allowed to take a bathroom break while making your T-shirt,” AJ James, a

INSIDE

Monday

Tuesday Cloudy

Ice pellets

47º/32º

43º/33º

recycle th i se

per • Ple a

12 11 11

tomorrow

pa

Sports Puzzles Classifieds

today

Submitted United Students Against Sweatshops conducts a letter drop in President Judy Bonner’s office to encourage the University to embrace a sweat-free campus.

s

2 4 7

WEATHER

SEE SWEATSHOPS PAGE 6

today’s paper Briefs Opinions Culture

SEE GYMNASTICS PAGE 7

CONTACT

WHAT: ‘A Life of Struggle: The Case of Louise Thompson Patterson’ WHEN: 5 p.m.

WHERE: 125 ten Hoor Hall

Ple a

Scottsboro Boys

per •

WHAT: ‘Derek Cracco: Love Songs’ WHEN: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

WHERE: Woods Hall

Coming off a big road loss to LSU and trailing Georgia after three rotations at home, it would have been easy for the Crimson Tide to cut its losses and look to next week.

Instead, Alabama finished with a bang on floor and came away with a huge victory as the season ramped into high gear.

The No. 7 Crimson Tide blew its

really hard. Now this is the reinforcement.

What we did worked, and we just need to continue it.”

Trailing by just .05 heading into the final rotation, Alabama got two scores of 9.95 from seniors Kim Jacob and Diandra Milliner, followed closely by scores of 9.925 from senior Sarah DeMeo and sophomore Lauren Beers that brought the crowd to its feet.

Alabama’s 49.625 team score on floor was higher than any single rotation this season by .15.

pa

Art exhibition

season high score out of the water and was aided by two falls from Georgia on balance beam. It narrowly avoided its first home loss since 2009 and took down the No. 5 Bulldogs 197.5 to 196.825 in front of a rowdy Coleman Coliseum crowd.

“I felt like because some teams might have been discouraged that they lost by almost a point at LSU, and we didn’t have a bad meet,” Alabama coach Sarah Patterson said. “So I think for them to come in and step it up like this, I think mentally, that is what we need right now.

And sometimes you need a reinforcement.

Because every week they come in and work

s

WHAT: PRSSA Coffee Break fundraiser WHEN: 7:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

WHERE: Reese Phifer Rotunda

UA comes back against Georgia

recycle thi

Public relations

se

TODAYON CAMPUS

email

editor@cw.ua.edu

website cw.ua.edu

CAMPUSBRIEFS

Monday February 10, 2013

p.2

Advising award nominations due The University of Alabama is taking nominations for the Outstanding Commitment to Advising Award. This award celebrates an individual who has excelled in their commitment to academic advising.

A nominated individual must meet the criteria of professionalism, availability and student involvement. The advisor desires to see students succeed in both career and academic goals.

Nominations can be made by students, faculty, staff and alumni. Applications are due Feb. 12.

SCENEON CAMPUS

FYE accepting leader applications First Year Experience is expanding its freshman mentoring initiatives. It is taking applications for Peer Leaders.

A peer leader is an upperclassman who will be a point of contact for incoming freshman students. They are mentors, positive examples and points of reference. A peer leader strives to help ease freshmen’s transition into the University by answering questions and providing resources for success.

Peer Leaders will be paired with faculty members.

If you are interested in being a peer leader for the 2014-15 academic year, the freshman year experience application is due by Feb. 27 at 2 p.m.

CW | Austin Bigoney

Ambassadors to be named soon

A hint of spring weather brings students to explore the trails of the Tuscaloosa Riverwalk Sunday.

Capstone Men and Women are having their round two interviews Wednesday. This competitive application process began two weeks ago and consists of a written application and five-minute interview. It is not only new students applying, as current Capstone Men and Women must reapply every year.

A male and female who have made it to round two will be interviewed together Wednesday. Final decisions regarding the new Capstone Men and Women class will be made by the end of the week.

The Alabama men’s basketball team fell on the road against the No. 3 Florida Gators, 78-69, Saturday afternoon in Gainesville, Fla. Senior guard Trevor Releford led the Crimson Tide with 25 points, four assists and four steals. Alabama dropped to 9-14 on the season and 3-7 in SEC play.

The University will next host Ole Miss Tuesday at 8 p.m.

P.O. Box 870170 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 Newsroom: 348-6144 | Fax: 348-8036 Advertising: 348-7845 Classifieds: 348-7355

EDITORIAL editor-in-chief

Lauren Ferguson

production editor

Katherine Owen

online editor news editor

Marc Torrence

Christopher Edmunds

video editor

Daniel Roth Austin Bigoney

lead designer

Sloane Arogeti Elizabeth Lowder Lauren Robertson

LUNCH

Grilled Curried Chicken Bacon and Cheddar Grilled Chicken Crispy Zucchini Basmati Rice and Peas Broccoli and Cheddar Soup

LAKESIDE DINNER

Meatloaf Spicy Chicken Chipotle Sandwich Mashed Potatoes Creamed Spinach Seasoned Corn

ADVERTISING

territory manager

special projects manager

creative services manager

account executives

WHAT: Spanish Movie Night: ‘Santitos’ WHEN: 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: B.B. Comer Hall

WHAT: Honors Weekly Coffee Hour WHEN: 7-8 p.m.

WHERE: Ridgecrest South Lobby

BURKE

John Brinkerhoff

photo editor

advertising manager

WHAT: African-American Literacy Read-In WHEN: 5-7 p.m.

WHERE: 312 Ferguson Center

Mark Hammontree

sports editor

community managers

WHAT: Three Views of Viola – LaDonna Smith, Jessica Pavone and Wendy Richman WHEN: 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Bama Theatre Greensboro Room

WHAT: Update on the Economy lecture WHEN: 6:30-8 p.m.

WHERE: Birmingham Room, Bryant Conference Center

Mackenzie Brown

culture editor

chief copy editor

WHAT: “Blood Wedding” WHEN: 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Allen Bales Theatre

WHAT: The Morgan Collection exhibit WHEN: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

WHERE: Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center

Anna Waters

Abbey Crain

opinion editor

WHAT: PRSSA Coffee Break fundraiser WHEN: 7:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

WHERE: Reese Phifer Rotunda

WHAT: Managing Your Time in College WHEN: 4-5 p.m.

WHERE: 230 Osband Hall

Mazie Bryant editor@cw.ua.edu

managing editor

visuals editor

WHAT: Scottsboro Boys: The Fred Hiroshige Photographs WHEN: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

WHERE: Paul R. Jones Gallery

WHAT: IInternational Spouse Group WHEN: 9:30-11:30 a.m.

WHERE: 105 B.B. Comer Hall

TODAY

Men’s basketball team falls at Florida

WEDNESDAY

TUESDAY

Tori Hall 251.751.1781 cwadmanager@gmail.com

Amphitheater, spring sports boost city revenue

Chloe Ledet 205.886.3512 territorymanager1@gmail.com

FOOTBALL FROM PAGE 1

Taylor Shutt 904.504.3306 osmspecialprojects@gmail.com Hillary McDaniel 334.315.6068 Ali Lemmond William Whitlock Kathryn Tanner Camille Dishongh Kennan Madden Julia Kate Mace Katie Schlumper

The Crimson White is the community newspaper of The University of Alabama. The Crimson White is an editorially free newspaper produced by students.The University of Alabama cannot influence editorial decisions and editorial opinions are those of the editorial board and do not represent the official opinions of the University. Advertising offices of The Crimson White are in room 1014, Student Media Building, 414 Campus Drive East. The advertising mailing address is P.O. Box 870170, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487.

The Crimson White (USPS 138020) is published four times weekly when classes are in session during Fall and Spring Semester except for the Monday after Spring Break and the Monday after Thanksgiving, and once a week when school is in session for the summer. Marked calendar provided.

The Crimson White is provided for free up to three issues. Any other papers are $1.00. The subscription rate for The Crimson White is $125 per year.

Checks should be made payable to The University of Alabama and sent to: The Crimson White Subscription Department, P.O. Box 870170, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. The Crimson White is entered as periodical postage at Tuscaloosa, AL 35401. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Crimson White, P.O. Box 870170, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. All material contained herein, except advertising or where indicated otherwise, is Copyright © 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.

basketball, gymnastics, softball and swimming, were conservatively estimated to have had a $5.8 million impact on the Tuscaloosa area.

In the 2012-13 school year, the University made about $89 million in revenue from football, $13 million from basketball and $7.5 million from all other sports combined, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

Together, revenue from UA athletics totaled approximately $143 million.

Some gameday earnings spill over to nearby cities. About 80,000 people come from out of town on a gameday, yet there are only 3,000 hotel rooms in Tuscaloosa, West said. People unable to reserve a room in Tuscaloosa stay in hotels in neighboring towns or drive home the same day.

Chad Elkaffas, front desk representative at the Hotel Capstone, said football season dramatically affects Tuscaloosa’s hotel industry.

“That’s the main moneymaker for us, really,” Elkaffas said. “Typically, August to December is our peak season.”

He said while weddings, family reunions and corporate meetings bring in a large amount of business during the spring, the Hotel Capstone still makes more money in the fall.

While gas and lodging are some of the biggest expenditures on gamedays, West said restaurants benefit the most financially.

“When I look at our numbers tourism-wise, restaurant spending is

LUNCH

Rigatoni and Meatball Casserole Bistro Chicken Sandwich Garlic Toast Brussel Sprouts Vegetable Enchilada

FRESH FOOD LUNCH

DINNER

Roast Beef with French Au Jus BLT Horseradish Mashed Potatoes Fried Okra Grilled Portobello Sandwich

almost three-to-one to hotels,” West said. “When you think about [it], you could put two people in a [hotel] room, you’re still paying that one rate, whereas both people are going to eat. And everybody that comes is not staying overnight.”

Matt Leverett, assistant manager at Mugshots Grill & Bar, said his restaurant is busier during home games than the rest of the year but that it doesn’t necessarily make more money in the fall than it does in the spring.

“There are more spring sports going on,” Leverett said. “We get a huge boost from gymnastics, softball, baseball, men’s tennis, swimming and diving. It all draws in a good crowd in the springtime. Our biggest days are on gameday Saturdays, but as a whole, if you compare the two quarters, they come out pretty evenly.”

Mellow Mushroom also receives a lot of business in the fall, Jonathan Stephens, kitchen manager, said.

Though home games are some of the restaurant’s busiest days of the year, away games are some of its slowest.

He said spring offers more consistent business for Mellow Mushroom, and it is usually packed with graduation parties during this time.

While gameday rules Tuscaloosa in the fall and constitutes a third of the city’s tourism dollars, West Tuscaloosa still has more to offer than football alone.

“Football is certainly a crown jewel for us, but I think there are so many other things going on in Tuscaloosa that merit us as a wonderful city to visit,” West said. “We’re more than just seven weekends.”

Kung Pao Pork Brown Rice Steamed Yellow Squash Mushroom and Onion Quesadilla Roasted Corn and Potato Soup

IN THENEWS House panel backs bill MCT Campus A Washington State House panel has unanimously backed banning medical efforts aimed at changing a child’s sexual orientation, a surprising outcome given concerns expressed by Republicans last month.

It is unclear whether the bill will get support in the GOP-controlled state Senate, but the unanimous House committee vote will certainly help.

Republican committee members signed onto House Bill 2451 last week after negotiating an amendment to make clear that supportive therapy and religiousbased counseling would still be permitted.

For licensed health-care providers, the bill would make it “unprofessional conduct” to conduct sexual-orientation-change efforts on a patient under 18 years old.

Two other states, California and New Jersey, have similar laws.

But the idea was thought to have little chance in Washington state, where a proposal last year to study the issue failed in even the Democrat-controlled House.

This year, the bill sponsored by then-Rep. Marko Liias, D-Mukilteo, (he moved to the Senate Jan. 22) got an uneven reception in the House Health Care & Wellness Committee. Democrats expressed support, but Republicans had concerns.

p.3 Mark Hammontree | Editor newsdesk@cw.ua.edu

Monday, February 10, 2014

On-campus jobs provide experience

By Emily Williams | Staff Reporter

CW | Anna Waters Senior Abby Melton juggles academics and her job in a Morgan Hall computer lab.

While many college students work in stores or restaurants, one of the largest employers of students is the University itself.

Vaishali Patel, recruitment specialist for the Department of Human Resources, said the University employs more than 4,000 students, and 52 percent of those positions are filled by undergraduates. These positions range from office jobs to lab assistants or research positions, and the number of positions varies each semester depending on the needs of each department.

“While most on-campus jobs are usually in high demand, office assistant positions are typically most popular because they tend to be entry-level and have the most flexible hours,” Patel said.

Dani Beach, a junior majoring in entrepreneurship, works as an assistant in the Office of Student Employment. She has worked for the University in various positions since her freshman year and said working on campus, rather than for an outside company, has allowed her to make localized connections.

“You get to meet people on campus, and I have actually met people who have been mentors to me through my job, like professors and things like that, that have helped me and talked to me about what I want to do after college,” Beach said.

Most student positions require between 10 and 20 hours of work each week. Beach said she typically works 12, which is the standard.

Shuwen Yue, a sophomore majoring in chemical engineering, said she has the distinct opportunity to work as a researcher in the Alabama Innovation and Mentoring of Entrepreneurs center.

Her work at AIME investigates the business potential of new technology and testing prototypes.

“I have the chance to work with all the staff members at AIME, particularly Dan Daly, and they have taught me so much about the business and innovation side of science and research,” Yue said.

“I have also had the opportunity to meet with many corporate executives from regional companies.”

In addition to researching at AIME, Yue is also an resident advisor, which she said has taught her an entirely different set of skills.

“Being an RA is requires a lot more of communication, organization and leadership based responsibilities,” Yue said.

“Instead of the methodical approach of research, RA responsibilities are more focused on community development and being a constant resource for residents.”

Christian Smitherman, a senior majoring in psychology and political science, also works for Housing and Residential Communities as a key assistant.

“I work usually anytime anyone gets locked out during the day when it’s on campus,” Smitherman said. “What I do, if anyone gets locked out, they’ll call the front desk for their community, and then the front desk will call me, and then I’ll go unlock their doors.”

Smitherman said the benefits of working on campus include a short commute and a student-tailored work schedule.

“Usually your bosses are pretty accommodating with your class schedule and all, and a lot of these positions are work-study positions, so not only are you able to work and make some money to pay bills and all, but you also might get to do some homework and sort of really furthering your education,” he said.

Smitherman, who said he plans to go to graduate school for psychology, admitted that working for the HRC doesn’t directly pertain to his career path, but it has taught him valuable skills for dealing with people at their best, and sometimes their worst.

“Being a desk assistant in addition to being a key assistant, I get to see both sides of people, the happy face and a little bit of the not-as-well side sometimes,” Smitherman said. “It hasn’t really taught me about working in labs or writing a thesis or anything like that, but it’s definitely helped me working with a broad base of people, a very diverse group of people.”

Student organization hosts lunches to spark diversity

By Jason Frost | Contributing Writer A green tablecloth in the Ferguson Center Food Court sets BLEND apart from other patrons on Thursday afternoons. Students sitting at the table range in ages and interests, but they have all been invited by BLEND to come together and meet other students on campus.

Founded last fall, BLEND is a student organization that invites students to eat lunch and mingle with people from various backgrounds and beliefs every Thursday outside the Ferguson Food Court.

“I was just sitting by myself, and they asked

me to eat with them,” John Stephenson, a sophomore majoring in management information systems, said. “I just got to meet new people and make friends.”

Students across campus come to BLEND day events from international students to representatives from the Greek system.

“We’re here from 11:30 to 1:30,” secretary Velmatsu Lewis said. “We just set out a tablecloth, sit down and talk to people. I’ve made so many new friends just sitting here. It’s great.”

BLEND began as part of a communication class, when four students were given an assignment to create a social project that

could bring people together on campus.

“We wanted to find a way to address important things and bring people together,” Mary Sellers Shaw, BLEND president, said. “It started as a way to integrate sororities, but we realized there was more we could do. We realized there were others separating themselves off into niches, not just by race, but also by religion or sexuality, what have you.”

University President Judy Bonner and Mark Nelson, vice president of student affairs, were originally scheduled to attend a BLEND event but had to cancel due to weather. Shaw said they are in talks to reschedule for one of their annual Pulse Day, when they conduct

regular meets with student organizations.

“Dr. Nelson came a couple of weeks ago, so they’ve been very supportive,” Shaw said.

Though BLEND has thus far only hosted weekly luncheons, they are also working on hosting events with other student organizations on campus, including Crimson Kindness and the Mallet Assembly.

“The name is what it sounds like,” vice president Haley White said. “Just a blend of anyone. Different cultures, different backgrounds. Everything. We encourage anyone eager to make BLEND available to anyone, even those not in any clubs.”

p.4 Monday, February 10, 2014

John Brinkerhoff | Editor letters@cw.ua.edu

OURVIEW

University’s responses inconsistent

conventional food.

One of the most potentially harmful medical pseudo-scientific beliefs is that vaccines cause autism or other developmental disorders. Once again, there is a broad scientific consensus that there is no link between vaccines and autism or other developmental disorders. Despite that, anti-vaccine campaigners such as Jenny McCarthy and blogs on sites such as Huffington Post spread these ideas.

The result of the spread of this pseudoscience is that since June 3, 2007, there have been 1,324 vaccine-preventable deaths in the United States. Additionally, the herd immunities in many communities have decreased, putting the vulnerable, such as children and elderly, at risk.

It’s important that we have debates and investigations into the effectiveness of technologies and programs to make our government more effective, but these debates must be founded on the evidence that studies give us. Other non-scientific ideas that continue to be pushed into the public forum include homeopathy, creation science, faith healing and refusal to believe that homosexuality is not a choice.

If we are going to continue to move forward as a society, we need to push back against these, in some cases, dangerous ideas and instead focus our debates on objective and positive goals.

Over the past two weeks, students have seen two extremes of The University of Alabama’s weather preparedness.

When a snowstorm hit Alabama Jan. 28, the Capstone, as well the majority of the state, was caught entirely off guard. By the time classes were finally canceled, students attempting to get home were faced with extremely treacherous roads and hours of waiting in stand still traffic.

Even after dozens of students had been involved in automobile accidents, IN SHORT: Student and it became abunsafety should be dantly clear that the prioritized through temperatures would not melt the snow transparent decisionfor several days, making. the University still waited until late afternoon to cancel operations for the following day.

However, the University took the opposite approach last week and canceled classes out of an abundance of caution, even as the winter storm was not predicted to reach Tuscaloosa.

As the University operations ended, students, faculty and staff were able to make their way home with no issue. The feared winter weather only barely touched the administration, and, as such, classes could have proceeded.

Out of these two scenarios, we believe the second to be obviously preferable. While the University was not alone in its delayed action, that should not excuse the University from its obligation to student safety, particularly with the April 27, 2011, tornado fresh in recent memory.

When credible weather hazards exist that have the potential to substantially threaten student safety, the University should always err on the side of caution. The cost of having a day of classes canceled and a little chaos in reconfiguring a syllabus pale in comparison to the 90 automobile accidents in Tuscaloosa County and mass chaos that occurred two weeks ago.

Furthermore, the University should also take more steps to e m p owe r students.

The University states in its severe weather policy, printed on every syllabus, that “personal safety should dictate the actions that faculty, staff and students take.”

However, in the face of professors that refuse to excuse absences or go over missed work in the event that students follow this direction, that simple statement isn’t enough.

The University should publicize the criteria analyzed by its Emergency Preparedness and Response Policy Group so students can truly understand what constitutes a legitimate threat to their safety, worthy of canceling classes.

Being forced to wait until a final decision, which was made well after snow began falling both this year and last year, is not an effective way of informing students of their options.

Times in which severe weather poses such a threat are rare. Taking a more cautious stance would not be unrecoverable in regard to classroom work or university events. To that end, it is good that the University took steps to ensure student safety last week by canceling classes.

Had another snowfall actually occurred, the student body would have been extremely grateful.

As the University moves on from the snowstorm, it is important that the lessons that guided last week’s cancellation not be forgotten.

Whether it is a worsening of severe weather conditions that are expected this evening or a potential tornado in the spring, student safety should always be the priority.

Matthew Bailey is a second year law student. His column runs biweekly.

Our View is the consensus of The Crimson White Editorial Board.

MCT Campus

COLUMN | CAMPUS DINING

Our campus needs La Lola Loca Bama back

By Claire Chretien | Staff Columnist I miss Lola. Lola, formally known as La Lola Loca Bama, was the colorful food truck who graced campus with mobile Latin cuisine last year.

Lola sold tasty food for reasonable prices. She provided students with access to well-prepared lunch, dinner and snack options. Lola accepted Dining Dollars and Bama Cash, was open late on campus and boasted a glorious Twitter feed.

Lola was discontinued in November.

Her disappearance has made my junior year on-campus dining markedly melancholy. I often find myself longing for Lola as I eat lunch on campus, elbow-toelbow with a slew of fellow undergrads.

Given how crowded dining halls can become during peak hours, Lola was a nice option for people who wanted to eat lunch while sitting on the Quad or walking to class.

Lola’s prolific social media accounts are another part of her legacy that I’ll never forget. Sometimes Lola’s spirited tweets about her location gave me time to plan a visit to Bama Dining’s vibrant vessel of delight. At other times, Lola

Claire Chretien was strangely elusive, but this just added to her mysteriousness and magic.

Her ever-changing location made my frequent searches for food a campuswide treasure hunt. She was a beacon of hope for all hungry students.

And, as evidenced by her sporadic yet strategic 2 a.m. fraternity row parking, Lola knew how to make money.

Lola also wasn’t shy about inviting students to participate in food giveaways that provided us with ample opportunities to enter contests for free food.

Lola’s quality food, bright appearance and amusing social media

posts spread her personality all over campus. Her absence is horribly noticeable.

If the University is interested in expanding on-campus dining options, it should resurrect Lola and acquire a fleet of food trucks. It might not be possible for us to experience the food trucks a city like Nashville, Tenn., offers, but adding one or two more would provide students with more variety.

If the University brought Lola back and acquired additional food trucks, late night on-campus dining options wouldn’t be limited to Dunkin’ Donuts and Late Night at Lakeside. The University would also be able to continue expanding vegetarian options for students.

On-campus food trucks would provide students with convenient, fairly cheap and tasty food options. Until Lola returns – and I sincerely hope she does – I’m stuck remembering her glory days and searching for a food truck with a Twitter account as animated as hers.

Claire Chretien is a junior majoring in American studies. Her column runs biweekly.

COLUMN | SCIENCE POLICY

America’s pseudo-science problem

By Matthew Bailey | Staff Columnist I chose to sit at home last week and watch the “debate” over evolution between scientist Bill Nye and creationist Ken Ham. It was particularly illuminating the way that Ham, by the end of the debate, essentially just admits that his Young Earth Creationist beliefs are not based on traditional scientific observations.

These types of pseudo-sciences are, unfortunately, common with individuals across the political spectrum and are certainly not confined only to conservative Christians. Many of the most liberal and conservative individuals across the American political spectrum spend a lot of time fighting against programs, technologies and education that are no longer considered controversial, to society’s detriment.

Conservatives continue to attack concepts that are well-supported through scientific research such as climate change. Between November 2012 and December 2013, geochemist James Powel found that out of 2,259 peer-reviewed climate articles from 9,136 authors, only one rejected man-made global warming. One would think that since the scientific community is so sure that man-made global warming is happening, there would be a consensus among political parties, but there isn’t.

Many Republican leaders, along with think tanks like the Heartland Institute and Heritage Foundation, push an ideology that fossil fuel industries support,

Matthew Bailey which states that global warming either does not exist or is exaggerated by scientists for funds. Both of which have been proven to be incorrect and cause the U.S. to continue to refuse to take action against global warming.

Many liberals have pushed heavily against this anti-science political stance, but many of the same liberals who are attempting to help protect the earth believe in pseudo-scientific ideas as well. Environmental activists have gone out of their way to attack genetically modified foods.

Rather than criticize herbicide and pesticide use common in modern farming or the patent right problems with GMOs, they support the idea that GMOs are going to cause consumers to get cancer and other diseases.

This is despite broad scientific consensus that food on the market derived from GM crops poses no greater risk than

EDITORIAL BOARD

WE WELCOME YOUR OPINIONS

Mazie Bryant editor-in-chief

Letters to the editor must contain fewer than 300 words and guest columns less than 800. Send submissions to letters@ cw.ua.edu. Submissions must include the author’s name, year, major and daytime phone number. Phone numbers are for verification and will not be published. Students should also include their year in school and major. The Crimson White reserves the right to edit all guest columns and letters to the editor.

Lauren Ferguson managing editor Katherine Owen production editor Anna Waters visuals editor

Mackenzie Brown online editor Christopher Edmunds chief copy editor John Brinkerhoff opinion editor

When credible weather hazards exist that have the potential to substantially threaten student safety, the University should always err on the side of caution.

Last Week’s Poll: Do you know how Bitcoins work?

No (36%) Yes (33%) What are Bitcoins? (31%) This Week’s Poll: What is your favorite locally brewed beer? cw.ua.edu/poll

p.5

Monday, February 10, 2014

Student organization battles obesity, diabetes

By Josh Sigler | Contributing Writer Every year, Alabama and Mississippi struggle to determine which is the top state in the nation in obesity and diabetes. While the state is usually happy being in contention for number one in sports, this particular competition raised concern for Koushik Kasanagottu, a senior majoring in biology. Kasanagottu decided to form UA Diet in Spring 2012 to combat related issues.

The purpose of the group is to go into rural areas of the state and educate people on the leading causes of diabetes and obesity as well as ways to prevent them.

“Diabetes is highly preventable, but because people in these areas do not have easy access to the Internet or doctors, they are unable to educate themselves on the causes,” Kasanagottu said.

Alex Morris, a junior majoring in premed and music performance and the director of events for the club, said one of the main reasons rates of obesity are so high in rural areas of Alabama is limited access to the Internet and professionals who could educate them.

“In many rural communities in Alabama, people have to drive two or

Our greatest strength is that we go to them rather than making them come to us.

— Koushik Kasanagottu

three hours just to see a doctor at all,” Morris said.

The project was originally started by a group of medical students from The University of Alabama at Birmingham who were unable to devote more time to the project and handed it on to Kasanagottu. Shortly thereafter, Kasanagottu asked Austin Hardaway, a senior majoring in biology and Spanish, if he would want to get involved, and the group was formed.

“Almost every case of type 2 diabetes can be treated by a lifestyle change, and these changes can be taught by students,” Hardaway said. “I feel like there is a disconnect between UA and these communities, but they need our help.”

Hardaway said the main things the group teaches during its sessions are what diabetes is, what sorts of diets and

exercises can help prevent it and how to manage stress.

“The more you’re stressed, the longer it takes your body to recover from anything,” Hardaway said. “As far as exercise, instead of telling them what exercises to do, I like to ask some of the reasons why they don’t have time to exercise, and then it is just a matter of problem solving.”

Personal interactions are very important to members of the group, who try to do everything they can to work with the people they are trying to reach.

“Our greatest strength is that we go to them rather than making them come to us,” Kasanagottu said.

Some events the group has done in the past include information sessions in the Ferguson Student Center and on the Quad. Last year, they were able to get Denny Chimes illuminated in blue, the color for diabetes awareness. The goal for the group moving forward is to be able to have at least two education sessions per month, with each session reaching at least 30 attendees.

Anyone who is interested in health education is welcome to get involved with the group. For those wanting to get more involved, the group’s website is alabamadiet.org. An application form can be found there as well.

CW File Last year, Denny Chimes was illuminated in blue, the color for Diabetes Day.

Campus honor societies open applications online

By Maddison McCullough | Contributing Writer The Coordinating Council of Honor Societies opens applications Monday to its 13 societies, but some students wonder what the benefits of membership to one of these societies are.

While there are more than 34 honorary societies on campus, the CCHS sponsors 13 of these organizations. According to its website, CCHS aims to “increase campus awareness of honor societies and supporting the initiations and events of member groups.”

Andrew Goodliffe, assistant dean of the graduate school, said honor societies realistically do not factor into whether or not

one is accepted.

“The answer to the question is probably not what you would think – to be perfectly honest, being in an honor society does not usually play a large role in graduate admissions. The graduate application process is what I like to term ‘holistic’ – it is far more complex than undergrad admissions and a lot of things are taken into account,” Goodliffe said.

“This includes GPA, admission test scores, statement of purpose, reference letters and student involvement. Student involvement may include such things as honor societies, participation in undergrad student clubs and undergrad research involvement. Involvement in honor societies is nice to see, is far from a

deal breaker.”

So while honor societies might not increase the chance of acceptance into a graduate program, Goodliffe also said that honorary societies are still important.

“In regard to jobs, a large factor in getting an interview is very often who you know. This is where honor societies can be useful, as the connections you make as a member may help you with professional networking – and this can help you get an interview,” Goodliffe said. “Of course, once you are in the interview, it is up to you to convince the recruiter that you are the best person for the job.”

Mary Elizabeth Sweeney, president of the Golden Key

Honor Society, said the benefits of Golden Key go past the basic networking and academic goalsetting of most honor societies.

“The benefit of joining an honor society is that you become a part of a group of people who work together to serve the UA students through leadership across campus and a commitment to service in the community,” Sweeney said.

“Not only do members of Golden Key develop friendships within the UA chapter, but they also get the opportunity to interact with and learn from members of other Golden Key chapters across the world.”

Darius Taylor, president of CCHS, said the development of relationships is also important.

“The long-term benefits of join-

ing one of these honor societies are seen through the development of friendships, leadership abilities, service-based learning, character and academics that are not regularly promoted in other campus organizations,” Taylor said. “Many of the honor societies on campus have a system of encouraging members to be active in both the University and surrounding communities. While many use honor societies simply as a resume builder, the member groups of CCHS continually promote growth and excellence from their members, preparing them for life after graduation.”

Applications are due Feb. 21.

For more information about CCHS and how to apply, visit honorsocieties.ua.edu.

Got the design bug?

Apply for an Advertising Creative Services Design Internship with The Crimson White Gain valuable experience without leaving campus!

No prior experience is necessary.

There is a possible hiring at the end of the internship for any intern who has shown strong creative skills, a willingness to learn, and dedication to their work.

Email Hillary at: cwcreativemanager@gmail.com

for more information or to set up an interview

p.6

Monday, February 10, 2014

STUDY ABROAD | FRANCE

Students dive into French culture

By Heather Buchanan | Contributing Writer Each summer, students immerse themselves in French culture by staying with host families as part of the University of Alabama in France faculty-led study abroad program.

Michael Picone, UA professor of French and linguistics, currently serves as the program director, taking between 15 and 18 students on a five-week trip to France.

Students take six credit hours in various courses, including subjects like grammar, literature and civilization. All courses are taught in French by highly qualified instructors.

“Their profession is to teach French to individuals who would like to acquire it,” Picone said. “Various American universities and universities from around the world send their students there for that purpose.”

An added bonus of the trip is the week spent in Paris prior to the month of classes. Picone, who lived in France for nine years, uses his knowledge of the area to ensure his students get

a tour of both the well-known and lesser-known attractions.

“I know sites that are of interest to take students to that are a little bit off the beaten track, so it has that dynamic as well,” Picone said. “And then we also take in performances, which is something that, if you were on your own, you wouldn’t think necessarily to do.”

The cultural immersion continues into the academic portion of the program.

Host families serve as the only housing option, providing students with another outlet for practicing their French.

“We wanted to really profit from the fact that they’re in France and to make sure that they can have contact with French and use their French with French people,” Picone said. “This is easier said than done, because you can’t just go up on the street and say to someone, ‘I’m from America. I’d like to talk to you in French.’”

Rebecca Mast, a junior minoring in French, participated in the program last summer. She said she enjoyed spending time with her host mother during her

free time.

“She was great at explaining things, and I learned as much from her as I did in my classes,” Mast said. “She always had to explain the television shows to me, because I didn’t always understand what was going on.”

Overall, the experience has proven to be a life-changing one for the participants. Jean Luc Robin, an associate professor in French, traveled with the group last year and said he noticed a significant change in his students.

“From the first day when we go from the airport to the hotel and the last day when we go from Tours to the airport, they are completely changed,” Robin said. “They are different persons.”

Mast said one of the most valuable experiences she gained through the program was improving her French.

“Immersion can do amazing things to one’s ability to speak a foreign language,” she said.

The UA in France program will take Submitted place during the Summer I term. The Students participate in weekend excursions to famous sites deadline to apply this year is March 21, like Mont St. Michel.

Program sponsors heritage trips to Israel for Jewish youths

By Taylor Manning | Staff Reporter Since 1999, the non-profit TaglitBirthright Israel program has sponsored more than 350,000 Jewish youths on heritage trips to ancestral Israel.

Application deadlines for its upcoming summer tour are fast approaching.

“Taglit-Birthright Israel’s founders created this program to send young Jewish adults from all over the world to Israel as a gift to build a connection between Jewish young adults of the diaspora and Israel,” Pamela Weinstein, senior public relations associate at Taglit-Birthright Israel, said.

Apart from a $250 refundable deposit fee and the cost of lunches, the organization covers all expenses for a 10-day excursion, including airfare and hotel stays, as well as breakfasts and dinners. Participants immerse themselves in Israeli culture and visit sites that are meaningful to Judaism, including the Submitted Masada, an ancient fortification, and the Western Wall, a historic site for pilWith the Taglit-Birthright Israel program, Jewish young adults grimage and prayer. can travel to ancestral Israel. and New College, started the USAS group at the University last year with a campaign to get Alta Gracia products, SWEATSHOPS FROM PAGE 1 the only living wage brand on the college logo market, sophomore majoring in carried in the SUPeStore. microbiology and Spanish, He said it is important for said. the University to host speakJames said coming from ers like Akter and Sikder a working-class family that because it forces students to has experienced injustices think about issues outside similar to those who USAS their own immediate realms. works against influenced “At times UA can seem dishim to join the group. As a connected from the broader national, student-led orga- world,” he said. “Bringing nization, USAS focuses on speakers like this to campus building solidarity within a gives students an opportuniworkers rights movement at ty to hear about issues that more than 150 different cam- they have some direct, albeit puses across the country. distant, relationship to and, “The aim is to get stu- more importantly, can plug dents involved in issues that them into a movement that will eventuis working to ally affect us change the down the line elements of when we do The aim is to get students a global ecostart worknomic system involved in issues that ing, ” James that produces eventually affect us down these worksaid.

As part ing condithe line when we start of USAS’s tions.” working. efforts to Ortiz said raise awareUSA S is ness for fair currently — A.J. James labor, The working to University of make the Alabama will University a be hosting a sweat-free campus. To be visit from Bangladeshi labor a sweat-free campus, Ortiz organizer Kalpona Akter said the University has to and Bangladeshi garment be aware of where all the worker Reba Sikder, who clothing it sells is made and survived the world’s largest also have the ability to take industrial factory collapse action if the companies it at Rana Plaza last April. The sources from are found to be two will be speaking Monday mistreating workers. in Lloyd Hall Room 38 at 6:15 He said the easiest way p.m. about their experiences to get closer to becoming organizing in Bangladesh for a sweat-free campus is to better working conditions, affiliate with the Worker as well as how students can Rights Consortium (WRC), get involved with the cam- an independent labor watchpaign here in the U.S. dog organization that works The goals of USAS are to with more than 180 colleges promote employers to pro- and universities across the vide employees with a living nation to monitor workwage rather than a minimum ing conditions in garment wage, fight for safer working industry factories. USAS conditions in factories inter- has previously reached out nationally as well as fight for to administration, including basic workers’ rights here in conducting a letter drop to the U.S. President Judy Bonner, but Mark Ortiz, a junior has not made any progress majoring in religious studies in its endeavors.

USAS works to form sweat-free campus

PLAN TO GO WHAT: USAS hosts Kalpona Akter and Bangladeshi garment worker Reba Sikder WHEN: Monday, Feb. 10, 6 p.m.

WHERE: Lloyd Hall Room 38 In order to help increase awareness for workers’ rights worldwide, USAS will host a candle-light vigil led by Akter and Sikder in remembrance of the people who passed away in the factory collapse at Rana Plaza.

Ciara Malaugh, a freshman majoring in political science, said the issues brought up through the workers rights movement requires students to change their habits, which makes it harder to garner a wide range of support for the cause.

“I think it’s hard for people to connect to that, especially when it might involve some sort of change to your daily life,” she said. “It’s hard to be sweat-shop free even in your clothing.”

For the members of USAS, the upcoming visit from a Bangladeshi labor organizer and garment worker offers the University a chance to properly address the issue of workers’ rights on an international level.

“When it comes to issues, especially internationally in working conditions, it’s more of an out-of-mind, outof-sight kind of feel, where as long as I don’t see workers being mistreated in making the clothes I wear, then it’s okay to sweep the issue under the rug,” James said.

“Affiliating with the WRC will force the administration to become more aware of potential violations of basic rights that are committed in the name of a crimson T-shirt.”

“Israel [was] the refuge for Jews after the Holocaust,” Eric Sterling, editor of the book, “Life in the Ghettos During the Holocaust,” said. “It is the Jewish homeland and has much history and cultural significance. ” The program has sponsored students and young professionals, ages 18 to 26, from 64 countries and 1,000 North American colleges. This year marked the largest winter round yet with 17,000 participants, Weinstein said.

“This organization is important because they’re trying to bring young Jews to Israel just to show their connection with Israel,” said Danielle Freedman, a junior majoring in accounting and a member of the Jewish student union Alabama Hillel.

Freedman has participated in the program before and said she bonded with her trip companions quickly.

“When we met each other, we all had the connection of being Jewish, so it wasn’t awkward,” Freedman said.

“It was very easy to connect to each other.”

Freedman said the trip is much different than the average family vacation because participants travel with people of the same age.

Freedman said she particularly enjoyed being in a country where the majority of people shared her religion, in sharp contrast to the southern U.S. “As a Jew in the South, you can forget your religion, because it’s so foreign to others,” Sterling said.

Trips run during the winter from November to March and in the summer from May to September. Registration for the winter tour usually begins in September, Weinstein said. Past applicants can register for the upcoming summer tour on Feb. 18, and new applicants can register on Feb. 19.

Interested candidates should visit birthrightisrael.com to apply.

“No matter what their knowledge or interaction with Judaism, this trip introduces our participants to Israel’s history, culture and modern society as a technology capital,” Weinstein said.

p.7 Abbey Crain | Editor culture@cw.ua.edu

Monday, February 10, 2014

Random acts of kindness sweeping campus

By Cokie Thompson | Contributing Writer When someone used the hashtag #randomactsofkindess on Facebook, Jennifer Hodnett decided to do a little research. Hodnett, a senior majoring in human development and family studies at The University of Alabama, stumbled upon the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation.

On the foundation’s website, Hodnett found a map showing all the places across the country that have a kindness organization.

Hodnett went on to start Crimson Kindness, a student organization designed to help spread acts of kindness across The University of Alabama. The group is hosting Random Acts of Kindness Week Feb. 10-14, coinciding with International Kindness Week.

Mary Alice Porter, coordinator of First Year Experience and Parent Programs and one of Crimson Kindness’ sponsors, said the group’s goal is to inspire acts of kindness in the community.

“I think an organization with that goal has a tremendous effect on our campus culture and is much needed,” Porter said. “It’s important to set an example of consciously seeking out simple ways to be considerate of others.”

Last year, Crimson Kindness put together a daily challenge sheet and posted it around campus. It also has a challenge sheet for 2014, but the event has grown significantly

since last year, with 30 organizations registered to participate in some way. Some organizations are hosting public events, and others are conducting members-only projects such as writing encouraging notes to faculty members.

“We wanted to unite the campus in kindness,” Hodnett said.

The increase in size is due in part to sponsorship from SGA. Through the Delegates Program, Hodnett brought the idea to SGA, and they used their resources to help organize and promote the event.

“It gives them an extra level of assertiveness,” Elliot Spillers, deputy director of engagement for SGA, said.

Spillers met with Crimson Kindness and helped contact groups around campus to get them involved. By going through existing organizations, Hodnett said Crimson Kindness hopes to reach more students than if the group were on its own.

New student organizations have a chance to get their messages out during the week.

BLEND, a group started in the fall, is dedicated to celebrating diversity and creating new relationships. All week long, BLEND will be giving out kindness cards and high fives.

“We’re encouraging anyone who wants to join in to give high fives that day or, better yet, all week long,” said Haley White, a senior majoring in communication studies and BLEND’s vice president. “If you try to high five without smiling, it’s basically impossible.”

Crimson Kindness reached out to offices that are not just for students, like the Career Center and the Women’s Resource Center.

“It’s nice to be connected to something campus-wide,” Elle Shaaban-Magaña, director of the Women’s Resource Center, said.

The group is partnering with the Triota Honor Society to create a Standing On My Sister’s Shoulders honor tree. Friday, the group will have a table in the Ferguson Center where anyone can come by and write a message on an ornament for a woman who has supported them in some way.

“So many of us have had those women and girls in our lives that we didn’t think to thank at the time,” Shaaban-Magaña said.

Crimson Kindness is hosting “Send Some Love,” an opportunity for anyone to write a message to someone they care about.

Participants will write a note on a dry erase board and then take a photo with the message. Crimson Kindness will share the photo on its Instagram and Facebook, and participants can send the photo to their loved ones.

Friday is Valentine’s Day, and Hodnett said International Kindness Week always falls on the holiday. She said the week allows for a celebration of love for one another, not just romantic love.

Hodnett said she and other members of Crimson Kindness are excited to see how the week goes.

“Let’s see what we can do. Let’s see if we can get the whole campus involved,” she said.

Photo courtesy of Elliott Spillers Crimson Kindness will be promoting Random Acts of Kindness Week Feb. 10-14.

COLUMN | FASHION

Valentine’s Day perfect opportunity to dress for festivities

By B Bianca Martin

Submitted

IIt is a universally known truth th that everyone has an opinion ab about Valentine’s Day. For some – I like to call them the optimists – it is a wonderful holiday that is meant to celebrate all types of roma romantic and platonic love.

For others, it is a stressful day, one wh where you are worried about what you your significant other is going to do for you to prove his or her love or what you are going to do for him or her.

For the rest, it is a day of self-reflection, and sometimes self-loathing, about being single on the holiday of love.

But like all holidays, it can be another good excuse to dress up and be festive.

Whether you are going out for the first time with a special someone or are having your thousandth best friend date, it is always fun to have a theme to dress for.

If you have casual plans, such as mini golf or cooking at home, a comfortable and girly outfit can be perfect. If you are not a huge fan of Valentine’s Day, or even if you are, try something with a neutral color palate so you do not overdose on red and bright pink.

A good example would be a pretty white or dusty pink top with skinny jeans. Try a top that has lace details in it, making it a little more dressy and feminine. Finish the look with flat boots for comfort. If you want to be a little more festive, add pretty red and gold rings or earrings or give yourself a fun Valentine’s Day manicure.

For fancier plans, a nice dress will make your date say, “Wow.” Again, if you do not want to wear typical Valentine’s Day colors, try a dark blue or black dress. Nobody can go wrong with a little black dress, and there are many different styles to choose from.

To give your outfit a punch, wear a shade

of red lipstick.

However, a hot red dress can definitely make you look … well, hot. Pair your dress with heels that are gorgeous but will not kill your feet. Wear a leather or a motorcycle jacket over the dress to offset the girliness.

Even if you are feeling like a bit of a Grinch about the holiday, Valentine’s Day can be a fun day to celebrate, no matter whom you are celebrating with. Whether you are going out on a fun date or having a great night with friends, pick a pretty outfit, tell someone you love them, and do not forget to eat chocolate … a lot of chocolate.

Alabama looks to build on momentum GYMNASTICS FROM PAGE 1

Georgia’s Brittany Rogers and Sarah Persinger suffered back-to-back falls on balance beam that put the Bulldog win out of reach.

“I was really proud of Lauren tonight,” Jacob said.

“She’s stepped it up. She’s been working so hard in the gym, just get in on every event to push everyone harder. She went out there tonight and did her job.”

Patterson said she is still tinkering with her lineup, mixing in four freshmen on nine routines tonight. She held freshman Katie Bailey out of the all-around for the first time all season and didn’t put Jacob on all four rotations either.

And as the Crimson Tide enters the grueling part of its schedule – at Auburn, a quad meet with Oklahoma and Michigan, and home against Florida – Alabama has something to build off of as it looks to get back to the top of the NCAA world.

“And I just feel like this is what our schedule is going to be like,” Patterson said.

“Our next three meets will be exactly like this. We go down

CW | Austin Bigoney Sophomore Lauren Beers accomplished a career-best 9.925 on the floor exercise Friday against fifth-ranked Georgia. to Auburn, and it’s going to be just this tight. And then Oklahoma, No. 2 team in the country. And then Florida.

“I feel like even though last week we had some mistakes, and LSU was better on that night, I was so proud of how the ladies have, each week when we come back in the gym on Sunday, they’ve responded, and I think tonight they saw the difference and how we got better. We’re still not as good as we can be, but we got better.

And they finished strong.”

Finishing strong will be the point of emphasis in the coming weeks, since low starts have plagued Alabama this season.

“I think we need to figure

out how to start meets how we end meets,” Milliner said.

“Because we’re ending them really great. We just need to have that momentum through the whole meet.”

Milliner’s 9.925 led Alabama on vault, but Georgia, the No. 1 bars team in the country entering the weekend, held a full tenth-of-a-point lead after the first rotation. The Crimson Tide closed the gap in the second rotation on uneven bars, with senior Kaitlyn Clark’s 9.925 and senior Kim Jacob’s 9.9.

In the third rotation, Alabama and Georgia turned in identical scores of 49.225 to keep it close heading into the final round.

Littering Place all waste materials in trash receptacles, to ensure they do not make their way into our local bodies of water.

For questions, concerns, or to report potential stormwater violations, contact the Office of Environmental Safety at 348-5905

p.8

Monday, February 10, 2014

COLUMN | FILM

Hoffman leaves behind legacy of iconic work

By Drew Pendleton On Feb. 2, American cinema lost one of its finest contemporary actors when Philip Seymour Hoffman was found dead of a suspected heroin overdose in his apartment in New York City. A modern icon on the screen, Hoffman’s career had nowhere to go but up, until it was tragically cut short.

This isn’t the first time a fine actor has fallen victim to drugs in recent years. Perhaps most notably – and eerily – similar is Heath Ledger, who died in 2008. Like Ledger, Hoffman left us way too soon, but not without a wide resume of performances by which to remember him. Like Ledger’s final complete performance as one of the most terrifying villains of recent memory in “The Dark Knight,” one of Hoffman’s final performances was in a hit film series, as head Gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee in “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.” (At the time of his death, Hoffman allegedly was close to finishing his work on the two-part series finale, “Mockingjay”.)

But Hoffman, like Ledger, shouldn’t be defined by his final decisions. Instead, he should be known for the massive, varied body of work he gave movie fans throughout MCT Campus his career and the performances he gave.

Debuting as a college student in “Scent of a Philip Seymour Hoffman was recently known for his role in “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.”

Woman” in 1992, Hoffman first caught the

eyes of commercial audiences in the 1996 hit “Twister,” where he starred as an energetic storm chaser alongside Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton. Through the late 1990s and early 2000s, he turned in multiple smaller, yet no less stellar, performances as a supporting cast member, including a personal assistant in the Coen brothers’ cult classic “The Big Lebowski” to a sympathetic nurse in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Magnolia.”

After his Oscar win in 2005, Hoffman’s career became even more high-profile, if it wasn’t already.

He picked up three more Oscar nods for his supporting performances in “Charlie Wilson’s War,” “Doubt” and “The Master” and provided his own special brand of chameleonic acting in acclaimed hits “Moneyball,” “The Ides of March” and “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.” His final films, “Mockingjay,” the spy thriller “A Most Wanted Man” and the Sundance drama “God’s Pocket,” are all due to hit the screens within the next two years.

What makes Hoffman’s untimely death so sad isn’t just the way he went, but also the fact that few actors could give a consistently great performance like he could. Whether playing the villain in “Mission: Impossible III” or facing off against Meryl Streep’s head nun as a priest accused of a terrible crime in “Doubt,” Hoffman’s talents were always on

display, and as a viewer, it’s easy to see how he put everything he had into every performance.

But maybe one of the most iconic Hoffman moments is in “Almost Famous,” where he delivers a line that encapsulates more than just a warning. In a late-night conversation with the main character William (Patrick Fugit), an aspiring journalist, Hoffman’s character, Lester Bangs, gives the “uncool” William some words of wisdom.

“The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what we share with someone else when we’re uncool,” he says. With the matter-of-fact delivery, Hoffman tells the audience something. He’s telling us to not worry about being different and not losing our own identities for anyone else, but rather to go for the relationships with those who take us for who we are. Even now, as the film itself has ascended to the status of a coming-of-age classic, that scene still stands as one of the film’s best and isn’t just a great movie quote, but a little slice of lifestyle delivered by a great actor.

Philip Seymour Hoffman may be gone, but he surely won’t be forgotten. He will be missed, and thanks to his wide array of performances and immense talent, he will go down as one of the greatest actors to hit the screen.

Students showcase filmmaking skills at MovieFest

By Matthew Wilson | Contributing Writer The 2014 Campus MovieFest finale filled the Ferguson Center Theater Friday as students, faculty and families filed in to watch the top student films produced during the annual competition.

Out of 40 films, 16 were screened for the audience. Of those 16, three films – “Glimpse,” “Weider ‘Zam” and “Check, Mate” – went home with the top awards of Best Drama, Best Picture and Best Comedy, respectively, with “Heads or Tails” taking home the award for Best Cinematography. David Kilgo won Best Actor for “Glimpse,” and Elizabeth Perkinson won Best Actress for “Royal.” John Wachs was awarded the Warrior Award for his film “Cut.” One thing the winning films shared in common with the rest is a limited budget with which to work. According to the Campus MovieFest website, each student who entered in the festival was given a Panasonic HD camcorder and Apple Macbook to use for the contest. Having seven days, the student filmmakers were challenged to make the best films they could with the

resources provided.

Sean Davé, who directed the Best Picture and Best Production Design winner “Wierder ‘Zam,” said having a budget of only $300 did not affect the story he was trying to tell.

“I guess it depends on how you look at it,” Davé said. “Everyone, of course, wishes that they had an unlimited budget to make the movie of their dreams. One thing that could be said for a limited budget is that it kind of forces you to get creative and become a problem solver.”

For Alex Beatty, who directed the Best Drama winner “Glimpse,” taking advantage of the resources available to his team was the key to succeeding. He said having access to equipment and CMF support through the contest helped give the contestants an added boost.

“It forces problem solving and having to create something with limited resources,” Beatty said.

“I think some of the better parts about it is that it does challenge you to think outside the box and find new ways to make things happen.”

For “Check, Mate,” the film that won Best Comedy and Best Editing, directors Cayce

Ring Ring g Ring g Ring Ring g Ring

Week Week Week Week Week Week

Order Your Class Ring Now February 10th - 14th 10am - 4pm University Supply Store - Ferguson Center To participate in the Univeristy of Alabama Ring Ceremony on April 12, 2014 in the Zone at Byant Denny Stadium you must place your ring order by February 14, 2014.

www.supestore.ua.edu t d

Miss an important issue?

No worries.... we’ve got you covered!

For only $5 you can have a back issue mailed to your home.

Visit http://store.osm.ua.edu and request the one you missed today!

Savage and Leah Dunkel did not have a budget.

Savage said she didn’t find working without a budget very difficult.

“We try to make a policy of only using people who we know we’ll get along with, so we don’t need to pay them,” Savage said.

Savage and Dunkel had their friends act in the film rather than search for actors from an outside source and created a rig for the camera with two skateboards.

Davé used local resources to help recreate the World War II era of his film. He and his team filmed at a historic home in Tuscaloosa, and the machine gun embankment used on the set was made with burlap sacks from a feed store in Northport filled with sawdust, two tripods and a sheet, Davé said.

Savage said she doesn’t believe a limited budget affects the scope of a story.

“I don’t think at all that it affects the type of stories,” Savage said. “I think it affects the film quality often, and you can tell who’s willing to be a professional, who’s willing to put in their own money and who’s not.”

WHAT TO KNOW BEST DRAMA: “Glimpse” BEST PICTURE: “Weirder Zam” BEST COMEDY: “Check, Mate” BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: “Heads or Tails” BEST ACTOR: David Kilgo for “Glimpse” BEST ACTRESS: Elizabeth Perkins for “Royal” WARRIOR AWARD: John Wachs for “Cut” BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN: “Weirder Zam” BEST EDITING: “Check, Mate” AUDIENCE FAVORITE AWARD: “Blackout”

p.9

Monday, February 10, 2014

Options open for internships

By Drew Pendleton | Contributing Writer

The hunt for finding an internship this summer is in full swing. Deadlines may be fast approaching, but these internship opportunities are still open to those who may find them the right fit.

MARKETING JELLYVISION, CHICAGO, ILL. DESCRIPTION: A company focusing on interactive communication and entertainment, this 10-week, paid internship with The Jellyvision Lab, Inc. will give interns experiences in the marketing industry such as email communication, project and vendor management, team coordination and website design.

QUALIFICATIONS: Students graduating or on schedule to graduate in 2014 or 2015 are eligible to apply.

GRAPHIC DESIGN/ PHOTOGRAPHY

HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT

GRAPHIC DESIGN/ PHOTOGRAPHY INTERNSHIP, CAMPUS CONNECT, DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, SILVER SPRING, MD.

HOSPITALITY SUMMER INTERNSHIP RESORTQUEST NORTHWEST FLORIDA, DESTIN, FLA.

DESCRIPTION:Running from June 2 to Aug. 8, this internship is aimed at those with a passion for media and graphic design.

Expected activities include participation in editorial and advertising photo shoots and creating production-ready artwork.

QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants must be juniors or seniors pursuing degrees with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

ADVERTISING/ TELECOMMUNICATION AND FILM

DESCRIPTION: Running from May 17 to Aug. 10, this internship aims to introduce juniors and seniors to the property management systems of ResortQuest and provide experience in guest services, recreation and retail.

QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants must be junior or senior students seeking degrees in hospitality management or a related field with a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA.

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

ADULT SWIM DIGITAL PRODUCTION INTERN, TURNER BROADCASTING, ATLANTA, GA.

INTERN, ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING VERIFICATION, VOLVO GROUP, GREENSBORO, N.C.

DESCRIPTION: In this program, intern responsibilities will include managing online messaging boards and site comments, ensuring the quality of video placed on the site, running tests on online games and providing support for the production team.

DESCRIPTION: Working side by side with professionals on projects for Volvo Electrical Engineering, students have the opportunity to contribute their knowledge and skills to projects in a way that benefits both them and Volvo Electrical Engineering.

QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants must currently be juniors, seniors or graduate students with Microsoft Office proficiency, organizational skills and clear oral and written communication skills.

QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants must have 30 hours of coursework toward a degree in electrical engineering prior to the internship and a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA. For more information and to apply: volvogroup.com.

CW File

205.345.0564

13th Street living with ALL the amenities!

NOW LEASING FOR FALL 2014

FREE

wifi & high speed internet!

Private pool access, walking distance to UA campus, lounge areas, & more!

Leasing Office: 601 13th ST, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 Hours: Mon-Fri 9-5, Sat-Sun by appt

p.10

Monday, February 10, 2014

Students market art online

By Francie Johnson | Staff Reporter Working while in college can mean anything from interning at a relevant company to asking, “Would you like fries with that?” and everything in between. For some students, though, a day at work doesn’t involve folding clothes, answering phones or waiting tables. It involves painting, carving wood and melting crayons.

Many University of Alabama students sell custom artwork on Facebook in order to do what they love and make a little extra money at the same time.

Sarah Day, founder of Rags to Riches Artwork, developed her love of painting while taking art classes in middle school. Her passion for art continued to grow, and in the summer after her freshman year at the University, Day said she found her artistic purpose. thing your “You can be good at something w why,” Day whole life and not know 11, I began said. “The summer of 2011, transforming piecess from an antique store in Fairhope, Ala., into beautin ful restored pieces. I began to see Jesus in this as it so closely mirrored my life.” oth Day said her faith both nt. inspires and enables her to paint.

“Just five hours ago it was a res white sheet, and now, if it inspires ay, one person, it is worth it,” Day, a senior nursing major, said.

“Jesus gives me a way to just be a vessel for my paintings. I am able to see their beauty and know thatt e in it may be my hands, but it is His life me.”

Like Day, Huiying Zheng, a recent UA graduate originally from China, said she has loved ses as a art ever since attending painting classes m art to child. After taking a five-year hiatus from gai in focus on school, Zheng started painting again December.

“I do it as a hobby, and people can support me to do that because all the canvases and paints [are expensive],” Zheng said. “If people can support me and I can practice, it’s a good idea.”

Zheng founded her business Acrylic Blends and Colors Designs in January. Her artwork depicting Nick Saban and the Alabama football team will soon be on display at Swen on the Strip, but her most popular commissions are portraits painted from photographs of people and their pets. “[I paint pets] because I love animals,” Zheng said. “I had three cats and one dog in China, and so many people here love pets.”

Jordan Cowie, a senior majoring in criminal justice, also paints, but rather than working with canvas, she paints on wooden pallets she creates from scratch. To make these pallets, she carves and sands plywood and then uses nails and a drill to connect the pieces together.

“I hand-paint and draw everything, including the letters,” Cowie said. “I have never used a stencil, so none of my pieces look exactly the same.”

Cowie founded her business, Wood Ya Look at That, after her friends started asking her to make them artwork.

Color Me Creative founder Beth Barnes also creates her artwork using an entirely different approach, tape and melted crayons.

Barnes’ first venture into crayon art involved gluing crayons to a canvas, blasting them with a hair dryer and letting the colors drip down the page to create a version of the Internet-famous crayon-rainbow piece.

“I always liked the idea of crayon art,” Barnes, a junior majoring in history, said. “I just thought it would be a cool idea. Everyone can do quotes with paint, but crayon creates a whole different texture. The colors are a lot brighter. There’s a lot more options.”

After experimenting with her roommate’s birthday present, Barnes developed a method

for incorporating quotes into her artwork. She fashions letters out of masking tape, places them on the canvas and melts crayons over the entire piece. Finally, she removes the tape, leaving behind white letters in a sea of color.

Barnes started selling her work on Facebook at the end of fall semester as a way to financially support herself during dead week and finals week. She sold four pieces in those two weeks, but said she hasn’t received any new orders this semester.

“The only difficult thing is trying to find people to buy [the art],” Barnes said. “I could make the stuff all day, but if no one’s gonna buy it, it’s a little bit harder.”

Barnes, Cowie, Day and Zheng all use book as the Facebook their primary advertising method, sh also relies on word of mouth but Zheng said she cus to attract new customers.

Cowie has onl only sold a handful of pieces so w keep her business smallfar. She said she will scale, local and cash-based for now.

However, she said she hopes to eventually cr create a PayPal account, w which would let her sell to more people a and expand her business beyond jjust Tuscaloosa. lov painting and craft“I love i does not feel like a ing, so it job,” Co Cowie said. “And since I am just doing local jobs and accepting cash, the business s side is not a hard t task at all.”

None of the Huiying four artists relies Zheng a their primary on art as source of in income. Instead, they view it as a side project, a way ext money doing to make a little extra th enjoy. something they “T business side is not too hard,” “The Da said. “Because this is just a supplemental Day income, it’s never something super stressful.

When someone needs a painting, and I have time, I do it. It’s that simple.”

Depending on the month, Day sells anywhere from five to 20 paintings. She said she uses the money to support charities and cover some of the minor expenses of college life.

Even as a side project, running a business can often be time-consuming and challenging to balance with school, work and other activities. Barnes and Day spend anywhere from an hour to a day on their pieces, and for Zheng and Cowie, a single piece can take from a couple days to a week.

“It’s very hard to manage school and my love for art,” Day said. “I am in my last semester of nursing school, and I’ve made a few bad grades due to a study night that turned into a painting night.”

Besides making a profit, artists often find other, generous uses for their artwork. Barnes said she likes to give her melted crayon pieces as gifts.

“It’s unique,” Barnes said. “You’re not gonna be able to find anything exactly like it. No two are the same. And because you can customize it, you can make it say anything you want. I think it’s more special than just going and buying a gift card or something.”

For Day, creating art provides an outlet to give back to the Tuscaloosa community. Last year, she held Remember Art Show to support Alberta Baptist Church’s efforts to rebuild after the April 2011 tornado. One hundred bracelets and 75 canvases later, she raised $3,500 for the church’s tornado relief fund.

At the end of the day, art is more than just a business for these four students; it’s a way of life.

“Even if the business side of things does not pan out, I will always paint and craft for myself and friends,” Cowie said. “I will never buy a piece of art or something that I think I can do myself. I love the challenge and satisfaction of being able to do it myself.”

CW | Austin Bigoney Huiying Zheng sells her art through her business Acrylic Blends and Colors Designs.

Huiying Zheng Huiying Zheng

Huiying Zheng

Huiying Zheng

p.11

Monday, February 10, 2014

CLUB SPORTS | HOCKEY

Frozen Tide comes up short, falls against Razorbacks in SEC ďŹ nals

By Elliott Propes | Contributing Writer Alabama and Arkansas are very familiar with each other, and the Frozen Tide lost to the Razorbacks, 2-1, in the Southeastern Conference finals Sunday.

The two teams have a championship history, with the past four SEC winners being Alabama or Arkansas.

It was easy to see from the start that these teams did not like each other. “Every time we play Arkansas, we know it’s going to be a battle,�

sophomore Zach Appleby said.

The Frozen Tide came out strong, allowing no goals in the first two periods.

After a long stalemate, Alabama got on the scoreboard. Appleby broke free and scored with 8:13 left in the second period. With that goal, Appleby had scored in all three games of the tournament. “He stepped up huge for us,� junior Kenny Janssen said. “He works harder than about anyone else on the team.�

Frozen Tide coach Mike Quenneville also had some compliments for Appleby. “He’s probably been our most improved player,� Quenneville said. “We are glad for him.�

But Alabama allowed the Razorbacks to come back and score two goals in the final period. Arkansas scored the go-ahead goal with only 6:45 left in the game and never relinquished the lead after that. “They gave 110 percent,�

Quenneville said. “We had no energy

at the end, and that’s what we asked of them.�

Before the finals versus Arkansas, Alabama was skating in top form.

The Frozen Tide defeated Vanderbilt in the first round, 7-2, and beat Florida, the No. 1 seed in the East, 6-1.

Alabama had a great tournament and hopes to be ranked high enough to receive a bye from regionals. “We played well,� Janssen said. “I’m very proud of everybody.�

The rankings will be announced

MARKETPLACE

RATES

$1.25 for the first 5 words, $0.25 for every additional word A border around your ad is an additional $0.50 per ad

IN THE

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.

DISCOUNTS:

5% off for 4 issues - 10% off for 8 issues - 15% off for 16 issues

DEADLINES: Classified line ad deadline is the previous business day by 4:00 p.m.

HOUSING 2 Nice Lofts Downtown: 2 bedroom, 1 bath Available: August $950/$1150 (205)752-9020-or-(205)657-3900 Efficiency & 1 Bedroom Units Available now. Also, pre-leasing for Fall 2014. Starting at $425 per month.

Walking distance to campus. No Pets.

next Friday, and if Alabama is ranked in the top two in the South, it will go straight to nationals. If it is ranked between numbers three and 10, it will play in the South regionals two weeks from now. Winners of regionals move on to nationals.

With the time off, Alabama will have plenty of time to get ready for the next match. “We are really banged up, and we need to get healed up,� Quenneville said. “Then we need to get back in shape for the next match.�

Call 205-752-1277. Email: crissy@ tiderentals.com

ANNOUNCEMENTS Part-time Maintenance Grass cutting, light painting and clean up. $8/ hour. 205-657-3900 / 205-752-9020.

Sudoku

“When other jewelers say no, Tom says yes�

Tom’s Jewelry Repair Like on Facebook & get a free cleaning!

Jewelry Sales

HOROSCOPES Today’s Birthday (02/10/14).

You’re learning about health, work and love this year. In each arena, following your heart grows it stronger. Align practices for optimum spiritual, mental and physical vitality.

Renew work and home spaces over the spring, prompting a new phase in romance and partnership (6/10 eclipse). Learn to play from children. Creative adventures inspire the journey.

Pay it forward.

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 -- Home has your focus today and tomorrow. Family matters need attention. A project seems overdue. Find out what’s needed and fill it. Communications, transportation and travel could develop complications. Get into organization for a lifestyle upgrade.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) -Today is an 8 -- Set your sights on an upgrade in career status.

You’ve got the talent; now do the homework today and tomorrow.

Learn about money, what your target market wants, and different ideas for providing it.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) -Today is a 9 -- You’re entering a two-day period of practical effort. A new assignment brings in more revenue. Bring home the bacon, and fry it up in a pan. Business or educational travel seems alluring. Save your ducats.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) -Today is a 9 -- Expect transformations today and tomorrow.

Inspire, rather than demanding.

Assertiveness works well now.

Drop the game controller and get more public. Step into the light. Review plans and setup backups, then you can launch.

You’re empowered.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Make more time for contemplation today and tomorrow. Allow extra time in your schedule for surprises. Start by cleaning out your closets. Slow down and consider options.

Get philosophical. Ask yourself, “What would my ancestors do?�

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Today and tomorrow are good party days.

Committees grow more effective. Friends have the necessary resources. Make sure what you build is solid. Hold meetings.

The group builds a shared vision with greater ease.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Career opportunities pop up over the next two days. You’ll be held accountable, so go for reality over fantasy.

Don’t encourage the wild beasts when you all should be quiet and respectful. Lose the sharp commentary.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -Today is a 9 -- Should you stay or should you go? You’ll find what you seek today and tomorrow. Travel may appeal, but it’s not without peril. Consider before buying tickets. Maybe virtual conferencing will do.

Saving is better than spending now.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- Money’s more of an issue for the next two days.

Financial planning makes all the difference. Pay bills and send invoices. Put away provisions for the future. Consider an investment in your own education.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is a 9 -- Push yourself forward. Consult with experts over the next few days. Accept a practical suggestion. Respect your partner with small kindnesses, like sharing homecooked treats or opening doors.

A smile goes a long way.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -Today is a 9 -- Refocus on work today and tomorrow. The details are important, so dive in with concentration. Banish distractions for a while. It’s getting busy, and your quick reflexes save time. Provide excellent service.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -Today is an 8 -- Creativity and passion simmer and bubble today and tomorrow. Use tested recipes. Stir it up, and season to taste. Invite your connections for a sample when it gets delicious.

2300 McFarland Blvd East (205) 758-2213

Leasing NOW & Fall!

1HZN¡V H[SUHVV &DIH %UXPILHOG¡V 5HVWDXUDQW DUH QRZ KLULQJ FDVKLHUV VHUYHUV EDUWHQGHUV OLQH FRRNV &RPSHWLWLYH ZDJHV HPSOR\HH PHDO GLVFRXQWV &DOO WR VHW XS DQ LQWHUYLHZ

1HZN¡V

%UXPILHOG¡V

Public Intoxication?

Minor in Possession?

Driving Under Influence?

Randal S. Ford, Esq. (205) 759-3232 www.tuscaloosacourt.com

“No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.�

1, 2, & 3 Bedrooms

Minutes from Campus & Malls

*Monitored Security System

*Gas Logs/Fireplaces *Tanning Beds Fitness Center; 2 Resor t Pools

Onsite Management 3201 Hargrove Road East

205-554-1977 palisadesapthomes.com

PER M U to B ARE R E C P BUM TAL CAR TO

205-556-8411 TIDE DISCOUNTS 12% OFF up to $100 Mention Crimson White when you drop off car. Other terms apply.

3017 McFarland Blvd

p.12 Marc Torrence | Editor sports@cw.ua.edu

Monday, February 10, 2014

COLUMN | OLYMPICS

MEN’S TENNIS

Olympic gold medal winner returns focus to original purpose

By Matthew Wilson UA Athletics The UA men’s tennis team had a rough weekend as it surrendered two games on its home turf to Oklahoma State and Oklahoma.

Crimson Tide drops pair of games

By Caroline Gazzara | Staff Reporter Even with Daniil Proskura’s fist pumps and Andrew Goodwin’s enthusiastic shouts, it still wasn’t enough to keep the Crimson Tide men alive. Fans in the stands were leaning over glass barriers just to keep the Alabama men’s tennis team fired up, but once the fourth match was lost, it was over.

Alabama closed out the finale of the ITAKickoff Weekend by losing to Oklahoma State, 4-0, Saturday and No. 7 Oklahoma, 4-1, Sunday. Freshman Sean Donohue won the lone point for Alabama against the Sooners.

“We felt that the other team wasn’t necessarily better than us, but we were afraid to lose [Saturday],” Alabama coach George Husack said. “[Sunday] we had to come out and make it physical, make it draining for the other team. Bottom line, on paper, they are more talented than we are. Logic may say that talent trumps everything, but we

went into this match and our passion, our fight had to trump logic.”

Alabama struggled early in the doubles matches against Oklahoma, losing 6-1 and 6-3. During the singles matches, Alabama tried to come back and take charge, but Proskura’s singles loss sealed the deal for the Sooners.

“Danny’s got to stick to his game plan all the time,” Husack said. “I think sometimes where he gets burned a little bit is when he just sticks to his game plan, and sometimes that’s an opponents strength. In his case, his opponent picked it up at the end, and he ripped forehands, that was his strength, and he was too good.”

Donohue’s singles win could have marked a turnaround for the Crimson Tide, who at the time still had three singles matches going. Goodwin and Stuart Kenyon were both in their third set when the match ended.

“The thing I pride myself on is I don’t want my teammates looking over at my court thinking, ‘Aw man, Andrew’s getting crushed,’” Goodwin said. “I want them looking over every time, no matter what the scoreboard is saying, [to say] ‘He’s fighting his butt off, playing as hard as he can trying to get us a point.’”

The Crimson Tide dropped to 4-4 overall in the season with the pair of weekend losses.

Alabama has a two-week break before heading to Montgomery for the Blue Gray National Tennis Classic.

“We’re less than a handful of points away from being in the top ten,” Husack said. “But at the same time, we can also [drop]. We’ve got to take what we learn here and use that.

We’re not satisfied by any means with a loss, but it was certainly a big improvement from [Saturday] in terms of their spirit and their fight.”

SPORTSIN BRIEF Alexis Paine sets school record

Softball sweeps weekend

Senior pole vaulter Alexis Paine set a new UA record and won the women’s pole vault Saturday at the Samford Multi and Invitational. Paine’s new record sits at 4.35 meters, breaking the last record she set at last year’s SEC Indoor Championship.

The No. 6 Crimson Tide softball team swept its competition in this weekend’s Troy Subway Invitational, closing the weekend with a 7-1 win over Troy Sunday afternoon. Alabama opened the tournament with a pair of wins Friday, beating Kennesaw State, 6-0, and North Florida, 10-1.

Alabama opened day two with a 16-0 victory over Northwestern State, followed by a 9-1 win over Middle Tennessee State.

Women’s basketball downs Missouri The Crimson Tide women’s basketball team won on the road Sunday, defeating Missouri 59-56. Junior Sharin Rivers led Alabama with a career-high 18 points, advancing the team to 11-12 on the season and 4-6 in the SEC. Alabama will next take on Arkansas on the road Thursday at 7 p.m.

Compiled Kayla Montgomery and Charlie Potter

Despite the news of the terrible conditions coming out of Sochi, Russia, that has filled news outlets all week, Sage Kotsenburg drew coverage back to what was supposed to be the main point of the Winter Olympics – athletic spectacle.

The 20-year-old Utah native brought in the United States’ first gold medal Saturday in the inaugural slopestyle event. Kotsenburg dubbed his medal-winning trick the “Holy Crail,” which is officially called a “1620 Japan Airmute Grab.”

During the jump, Kotsenburg shot himself into the air performing a helicopter twirl that rotated for four-and-ahalf rotations. He then finished the move by grabbing the back of his board and flexing his legs.

Kotsenburg landed the jump, cleanly receiving a winning score of 93.5, which none of the other competitors in the 12-man finalists could top. Kotsenburg secured the first gold medal for the U.S. with a well-performed trick, but more importantly, he brought focus back to the events.

News outlets have focused the past week on the horrible conditions athletes and journalists have been exposed to in Sochi. Angry journalists have taken to news outlets to voice their displeasure with the housing conditions of the hotels they’re staying in.

Johnny Quinn, an American bobsledder, made the rounds on Twitter after having to break through a locked bathroom door. Many have complained about the drinking water being unhygienic and discolored.

Kotsenburg did something phenomenal in that he gave fans a chance to cheer and clamor. Despite the conditions mentioned above, Kotsenburg brought back the sense of glee and excitement of watching the best athletes around the world compete with their hopes on bringing glory to their countries.

Maybe this is the lesson many people can learn from the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi: Despite horrible conditions and circumstances, people can still find an opportunity to do something extraordinary and spectacular. For a moment as Kotsenburg rotated effortlessly above the snow, Sochi’s poor conditions and the outrage of many people faded away. For a moment, all that mattered was the pursuit of Olympic gold.

Whether this is what people will remember when they reflect back on the 2014 Winter Olympics is another story, but for a moment, the United States cheered on its victor as he brought them their first gold medal. Kotsenburg brought the focus back on the purpose of the Olympics, even if only for a moment.